Howdy,
Constructive criticism is welcome.
Disclaimer I own nothing.
Leon
"Why are we doing this?"
Ange "Well, my Champion, we are taking the royal artifact ship on a tour of the capital and surrounding islands to prove we can command it and as a show of strength."
"No, why are we still waving so far out?" Truthfully, I had stopped some time ago.
Ange lowered her hand "Your right, I suppose I'm still a little shocked after everything." She gave me an impish grin. "I wasn't the only one. You looked like a fish when the Arch Duke declared you are to be his ward and heir."
"It was just as suppressing that my tea instructor is the Arch Duke."
Ange "And finding out your mother is the heiress of a secret royal offshoot. It's almost like a fairy tale how well things have gone after returning from vacation."
I had Luxion forge and plant records of my mother's family in the royal archive, so not really. The mess of how it had upended my family's dynamic... It's best not to think of that.
"I think your father had a hand in pushing some of that to be accepted so easily."
Ange "You gave him the Saintes's bracelet as collateral for his help in court. I don't think you realize how much finding that has elevated your standing."
I couldn't help but wince at that. "I just stumbled upon it by chance."
Ange "In a dungeon that has been searched over and over for it. It's like fate guided you to it. And then being recognized by this ship..." She blushed at that, and I felt my cheeks heat as well.
Flashback
The nobles that knew of the royal ship had gathered in its hanger as if it was some sort of ceremony. There were more people that knew of this 'secret' than I had originally thought. Maybe I was naive, given how big it is, maintenance, and how pivotal it has been in several points of Holtfort's history. Of course, most of the palace nobles knew of it.
And that brings up another plot hole. With almost every noble of Count rank or higher related to at least one of the founding families, why can't any of them make a suitable match? Are nobles that devoid of love or are most not allowed to try?
Luxion assured me it would react to me, too. What, did each of the founders pull a Genghis Khan? Is half the kingdom related to those five?
Queen Mylene "Leon Ralpha Bartford, please stand on this platform, and we can explain how the ship chooses it's masters." It's a gaudy thing like it came from an expensive Valentine's Day parade float. "For the second person.." Gilbert Redgrave said something to Ange before she stepped up to the platform with me.
As we entered the center of the platform, the devise lit up and spoke. "One hundred and eight points for her, eighty nine points for him. You're so close to getting him girl, a kiss could seal the deal." I don't know if the roar was the crowd or the blood rushing to my face. Ange took the voices advice and pulled me in for a kiss, my first kiss in either life.
Ends of Flashback
"Ange.." "Leon.." We got close enough that her breaths are tickling my lips. No words were needed after that machine had laid everything bare. Our position on this ship was proof enough that we need not fear rejection.
"Is this a bad time?" We jumped apart as if a cattle prod had been placed between us.
"Luxion!"
Luxion "I have completed my assessment of what has transpired as you and your team were gone from the capital. But if you'd rather I can return another time."
Ange "No, you may give your report now." And under her breath, "You already killed the moment." I had shown Luxion to everyone on my island, though I downplayed his abilities to be on par with a good human butler.
Luxion "Regarding Marie and the five, public opinion has degraded significantly. While it varies widely for each individual, mistrust in their ability to lead in and out of combat is a common theme. Their insistence that the 'Redgrave team' cheated has also only further degraded their image."
Ange "Meanwhile we have only risen in status and prestige, according to my family. Please, if you would, the details on Marie's group."
Luxion "As you wish. Brad Field has gained the moniker 'Adulterine mage' and 'Incompetent mage spear'. His lack of awareness in his tea invitation makes many believe his territory will be riddled with corruption as Brad will provide little over site to prevent it. I have noted those who spoke of this positively as future trouble."
Ange "Good, I'd like a list of those names at your earliest convenience."
Luxion "Indeed. Secondly, Brad continued to have tea parties right up to being disowned, causing many to question if he would stay to one bed, given he was engaged and has a paramour. Interestingly, many people have suddenly recalled how close the king was to Misses Field. As womanizing is a trait of the king, certain paternity questions are in the rumor mill."
Ange "More likely someone is weaponizing the rumor mill. Who is most vocal about that one?"
Luxion "The Field family."
Ange "What! The strain that will cause between the families, they should be trying to suppress such talk, not amplifying it."
"It does do much for moving the stain on the family from the Feilds to the Holtforts. If Sir Feild thinks the Royal family is in decline.. well, rats flee sinking ships."
Ange in a vary quite voice. "For them to fall apart so quickly."
"Just means thing between them have been weakening for some time. Luxion continue."
Luxion "For Greg, the question is why he used such an Armor. Most believe the Seaberg family is having extreme financial problems."
"Is there any chance that is true."
Luxion "Not on that scale, though they were not thriving. They raised taxes as a result of decreased yields from Seaberg managed dungeons due to over hunting. As the ecology of these dungeons will not recover under their management, as they have no other industries, neither will Seaberg coffers."
"That explains why they let Greg get away with so much. With the possibility of finding a lucrative find adventuring and an advantages marriage, he was their hope to bring back the family glory."
Luxion "Indeed. Now, however, the Seabergs raising taxes combined with the rumor will drive more money out of the territory. People believe the lords will tax them beyond reason to make up for shortfalls in their income. Combine that with the cannon fodder fear presented during the duel, the Seaberg territory will soon lack both wealth and people as those who can, will flee to safer, less expensive territories. The Archlights are in a similar predicament."
"I thought they were gaining influence."
Luxion "Correction, Archlight main house is losing as the branch house takes over. When Arthur exposed that the Saint sword style has devolved from a form to use in war to scoring points in tournaments, it fostered a lot of resentment. As palace nobility with a role of enforcing law, they are often asked to handle more violent issues."
"Let me guess the branch family was the ones to lead the fight."
Luxion "See you can understand if you apply yourself, master."
"How cheeky of something that would still be rusting in a closet without me."
Luxion "My body is incapable of rusting."
Ange "Boys. Let's stay on track."
Luxion "Yes, mistress. The choice to seek glory in games and not on real battlefields has been seen as both cowardly and underhanded. The Sword Saint tried to deny it. However, his vassals demanded that he prove he still deserved the title of Sword Saint in real combat. It resulted in a losing streak for Sir Archlight. Chris has been heard many times saying if the fight had been a fair fight between gentlemen, he would have won. He has been mocked rather ruthlessly for the naivety that war has anything to do with fairness or gentlemanly conduct. It has had an unforeseen positive component. In finding the flaws in the Sword Saint style, they believe they know how to negate the Black knight of Fanoss."
Ange "Will it actually work?"
"The principle is the same. Don't engage the enemy in the manner in which they have the biggest advantage. And they are both specialized in swords."
Luxion "Next is Jilk Marmoria. It can be argued that he and his family have been hit the hardest. His inability to confront Miss Atlee has shown how inept he is to advise royalty. The longer he waits, the worse it will be. For the moment he is saying how he never actually accepted the side wager as his means of escape. Even his fighting style has lent strength to the argument that he can't handle conflict or threats. Many say it must be a learned habit, so the Marmorias have been largely ignored as cowards of late. The family is being called such names as the royal boot lickers. Where as once they were viewed as wise advisors, now they are seen as the palace, yes men, that will agree to whatever foolery the throne wants just to avoid even a hint of conflict."
Ange "As palace nobility that could mean the end of the house."
Luxion "On it own that is true, with how he showed his ineptitude it is most assured." Dan did call out Jilk's foolishness for long-range equipment in a small arena and how he wasn't ready despite knowing it was coming.
"Thanks Luxion, what of the rest of the kingdom?"
Ange "No, there's one more." She gave my hand a squeeze. "After realizing he wasn't the man I was raised to believe he was, I got over him if not what he did to me." That's the closest to I'm ok, I'll get from her.
Luxion "Julius' situation is complicated. You could not have destroyed him better if you had tried master." I could only cringe at that. It wasn't what I was going for. "He blames the other four for the loss. As if he could have won against Arraganze if you had followed through with the fight. He is now only ever seen with the others when Marie is also involved, and even then, it has been described as tug of war, Julius vs. the others over Marie. Your various supporters have been pointing out how he ignores the terms of the duel to be with her. Many are saying how if he can't keep so simple a promise now how can we trust his words as king. And they are saying it loudly. Your words of how he could have had Marie without making a problem hit hard, but not as hard as his own about how the kingdom and it's people are less important than his 'little woman' in his eyes. For all their flaws in seeing what they want instead of reality, the new human women of the kingdom do still have an instinct of self-preservation. Julius's only remaining supporters of note seam to be his mother, Marie, and a Marquise Frampton."
Ange "That man doesn't know when to cut his losses."
Luxion "He strikes me as the type that is arrogant enough to not believe he could fail. That brings me to the last pertinent item. Master Vincent has been pushing for you to be crowned prince."
"What?! The plan was to have Princess Erika engaged to Gilbert. What happened?"
Ange started rambling, "Father mentioned Roland was pushing back hard against the idea of his daughter's marriage. Dad even has taken to wearing the bracelet of the Saintes, as a reminder that the Redgraves are her last known descendants. It has gone a long way to gain us more support in court but hasn't swayed the king. But even Queen Mylene is pushing for Erika and Gil to take the throne. Ah, he may be trying to force the King's hand."
I inadvertently solved a lot of problems, handing that bracelet to the Duke, but now I need to get it away from the Duke to give to Livia... somehow... if necessary. "So, it's a we have another option, deal now or loss it all?" It's clear the real power in Holtfort now belongs to the Redgrave patriarch. It's funny that I may have subverted the game's plot of, Fanoss invasion, by destroying the Holtfort kingdom myself and making way for the Redgrave kingdom. At least it's much more peaceful this way.
Luxion "Possibly, the shear number of people the Duke has brought to his side far exceeds any calculation. It is almost as if a major factor was left unaccounted for. Though I can't tell what it could be, it is most vexing."
"Not even you, my metal friend, can account for everything." It feels like an Outer Worlds fly the ship into the sun ending but still an ending. As long as there aren't any bad surprises to balance out the good, "Roll credits."
Ange "Roll what?"
"Nothing, just a passing thought." I'll figure the details out later. For now, I place my arm around Ange, and I can see the next island on the horizon.
Ange "A copper for your thoughts champion."
"I'm never going to get an easy, quiet life at this rate."
Ange "Why not?" I could only stare dumb founded at her. "I was trained to be queen. I can handle the household and politics as society dictates a woman should. If we hire Livia as a steward to help, you'd honestly just get in our way. All you need to do is stay on friendly terms with the other boys. Other than that, do what makes you happy, I just ask you to always come home to me." She leaned into my side and hid her face in my chest.
She wasn't wrong. She did skip over war duties, but as an Arch Duke, I'm too high up to fight directly, but with Luxion commanding, it would be easy. What did that leave for me? Was I really just a plus one for my betters? "Thanks Ange it's a lot to think about."
