Tristania's streets were normally busy, but as it was the day before the ceremony was set to begin, the path the entourage would be travelling was full of workers ensuring that the roads were stable and barricades put up to block horse and carriage traffic across the intersections. It wasn't set to take place in any of the most major routes, and as Centurion walked down the footpath towards his destination, there were few enough people that they paid attention to who they bumped into, many of them civilians going about their day and briefly bowing to the man before continuing on.

He had guards ahead of and behind him, blending in with the crowd, but he didn't really need the protection. Here in the capital, his name was power, and he was no stranger to the streets after visiting here so many times.

As he rounded a corner, he narrowed his eyes, and as he recognized the street, made a concentrated effort to walk around a particular spot, heading into the mostly empty road for a few moments before returning to the sidewalk, and though he felt a few commoners' stares of confusion at the seemingly random detour, he ignored them as he went on his way.

The rest of the walk went smoothly as he headed into a private residence on the planned path, a simple two-story house that looked like any other. Despite the unassuming style and location within the commoners' residential area, he found himself stopped by a guard that had been directing road workers around the premises.

"Lord Centurion." the knight said, bowing to him before standing at attention again, keeping his hand well away from his sword's hilt in order not to appear threatening to the duke. "I was informed by the young master that you would be visiting. He is currently bathing, so unfortunately I must request that you wait in the sitting room."

The man nodded, allowing himself to be guided inside and briefly letting his eyes wander around his surroundings. As unassuming as the exterior, if he didn't already know then he wouldn't have guessed a noble lived here. "That's acceptable, I'm aware he isn't fond of company when he isn't prepared."

"Marlo, it's alright. I've already finished." came the voice of Frances de Erikson, the boy arriving in the sitting room, reaching his hand into his sleeve to adjust the bandages he used as his wand. "Lord Centurion, thank you for coming."

Normally, the boy's appearance didn't draw much attention, but with him having just gotten his clothes on and his shoulder-length green hair still weighed down by remaining water, his feminie features were more obvious, a fact that he seemed aware of by his crossing his arms when he finished adjusting his hidden wand. "I'm sorry for the surroundings, I prefer living in small spaces. It isn't as luxurious as your estate."

The duke shook his head, standing up and holding his hand out to the boy. "It isn't a problem, and I have already spoken with Duke Erikson about your involvement. I should apologize to you, I hadn't expected his son to be younger than Louise and still living on his own."

Frances shrugged, accepting the handshake before waving Marlo away, the knight returning to his post outside the house. "You wouldn't have known, it was a decision made after the semester ended. I have every intention of taking over the agency when my father retires. It was just coincidence that my home happens to lie on the path the soon-to-be Queen will take."

He motioned for the older man to sit back down, crossing the small room to plant himself on a loveseat as Centurion leaned forward to pick up a newspaper that had been on the coffee table in front of him, looking over the first page and turning his attention to the Marchion. "Already on top of current events, to have already had an interview with Andriy von Vindabona. As expected of the heir to the Tristain News agency, even I have not yet met the man."

Frances smiled, evidently happy to talk about his work as he nodded. "His Highness is an interesting man, but his way of speaking when answering my questions tells me that he was probably expecting a script. He's very straightforward, I feel like I tripped him up with things he thought I wouldn't cover."

"Duke Erikson's name is well known even in Germania, but your identity is largely dark outside of Tristain. He thought that the son would have the same avid personality as the father, not the cool demeanor you keep with your interviewees." He leaned back, reading over the article as he spoke. "Here in Tristain, you have a reputation built up as someone even more honest than him, regardless of the consequences. Don't you know how much trouble it causes us in power when out of the blue, you release an article branding someone nearly-unknown by the D-word? If it wasn't legal by the loophole of ethical journalism, you would be executed for that behavior."

The grin on the boy's face made it all too clear his personal thoughts on the matter. "It wasn't my own personal feelings. I was told by Bishop Sophia that she considered him a Demon, and so I will use that in my report."

"Sophia...So that's the name the Church gave to that Guldenhorf 'princess'." Centurion said, setting his elbow on the chair's armrest and resting his cheek on his fist. "She only has her title because of her rank, and Guldenhorf's independence is still under debate. King Otto has said himself that he considers himself nothing more than a councilman of Tristain."

"With all respect, that isn't my business until I become Duke." Frances replied, lacing his fingers together and humming. "A good journalist keeps his opinions to himself, and writes only the objective truth. It is true that bias is perfectly fine when the author is honest about it, but I prefer to write as the world truly is. That said, I also enjoy writing about things I'm interested in myself. This dispute with Reconquista, and their successors the Inquisitors. Speaking with an orcish prince known to be cowardly. A man so bent on living by his own desires that he broke free of Summon Servant and murdered a former noble without a second thought."

"Your father has informed me of your unusual interest in Lord David. I've heard you are classmates, is that perhaps why you have shown a personal interest?"

The boy blinked, before humming in thought, his smile lowering to a more neutral expression. "It has played a part, yes. Admittedly, with that man I was first blinded by my own personal grudge against Gandalfr, but I would say my feelings changed when he showed a clear desire to fight against the unnatural devotion the runes force upon familiars."

"You don't deny your affection for him?" the duke asked, surprised. "The cold and calculating logic you're known for giving every detail of the world around you makes it hard to believe that you would fall for someone who shows little tact and a distaste for rank and tradition."

"I could say the same of you and Lady Karin." Frances responded, moving his eyes sideways to look at the man. "There are parallels that can be drawn...And I'm not as stony as you seem to think. I have Ludwig and Kelly, they are genuinely my friends and I would give my life and title to protect them, and I am not immune to irrational thinking. Despite how much I seem like a golem acting on a directive, I still possess a human heart."

"You certainly are capable of making mistakes like arguing with your superiors." Centurion said, moving his other hand to run his fingers along the side of his beard in thought. "But, that does explain the mood swings your father has told me you're plagued with. Always keeping up that persona, as well as the other secret you're hiding...If you intend to pursue Lord David, then you will have to tell him before you can go very far."

"Please don't tell me what I can or can't do." Frances replied with an annoyed tone. "I informed him before I departed the Academy that I had something to say, and I intend to keep that promise. Now that he is a Furst, there won't be significant problem, and if he chooses to reject me, then I will cross that bridge when I get to it." He shook his head, sighing. "Aside from that...The reason I asked to arrange this meeting."

The duke sat up straight, crossing his arms and nodding. "Yes, I believe you wished to interview me as well? I will have you know, we Vallieres are not as transparent as your family."

"Of course, and as you know, I will not twist anything you say to mean something it does not. I won't be asking anything specifically to do with your estate and its affairs, only to gauge your thoughts on the upcoming ceremony."