A Keith Interlude
Three days after the ladies tea party, it was the men's turn. Keith Claes wasn't really looking forward to the event, but he needed to be there to represent the duchy with his father. Despite all the admiration and sheer presence of his mother, and how welcome her presence was in social situations, those same traits made people… reluctant to treat with her in negotiations, unwilling to face her force of personality in that dueling arena. People who wished to have dealings with the duchy in general and House Claes in particular instead approached his father, and more recently himself.
It was a dynamic as old as The Executioner and The Dragon Slayer from the time of myth. Some of the few words his father had given him that weren't simply unwaveringly supporting him no matter who Keith chose to marry were to advise him that he and his future spouse should learn to devise a similar dynamic between themselves.
Today was likely no different. There'd be negotiations couched in informal conversation. Agreements made here would be as important as the ones formally conducted in private rooms, and would cover wider topics. Father had told him that he wanted to meet with a certain Tasmerian noble whose territory produced chocolate that, while hardly the most sought after, mother absolutely loved. Such private transactions were often, but not only, the focus of negotiations during events such as this. Dreambrew from Hallig would be exchanged for Xiarmen lotus silk, and fine Catarini beverages that were never specified (read: illegal Siegbrau) traded for the use of certain private hideaways in Drang.
Oh, there'd be people negotiating for the 'boring stuff', as father put it, but anyone bringing such negotiations to something like this was either desperate or acting like some sort of middleman to facilitate multiple trades so that they'd get what they needed. The former was just sad, and occasionally found someone to take pity on them, while the latter usually interesting to watch as they brought several nobles together in an elaborate web of trades.
However, it consoled him that he and his father wouldn't be alone. Father and Uncle Henryk had been making clear over the course of the assembly that they were putting a united front, and Cousin Watson was also going to be present as uncle's assistant since his female cousins couldn't be present.
"There's no need to be nervous, Keith," his father reassured him as the four of them walked towards the hall the tea party was going to held in, following one of the castles many servants. Keith knew he'd encountered the man before, but for the life of he couldn't recall the man's name. If Katarina were here, she'd likely know, and would have asked him about what he'd been doing since they last met, and probably remember if the man's cousin's son's birthday was coming up soon. "It's just another gathering, it just has foreigners in it. You've been dealing with them all week, you'll be fine. "
"It's not that, Father," Keith said. "It's just… I don't often go to events like this without Katarina. I suppose I'm just feeling anxious at not being able to keep an eye on her."
"I'm sure Cousin Katarina is fine," Watson said. "The girls are with her, helping her with her new project."
Keith groaned. "Oh, please no. It was embarrassing enough when it was only Katarina interviewing women."
"Now Keith, they're only doing it because they care," Uncle Henryk laughed. "Besides, it's harmless fun on their part. There are few better reasons to ask other women nosy questions than 'I want to find out if you'd be a suitable wife for my brother'."
Keith waited expectantly, but there was no cheerful chirp of 'or husband'. Not that he liked men like that—not even Nicol, no matter what everyone said!—but now that there wasn't anyone saying it, it felt a little strange. He immediately resisted the urge to say it himself. "Still… it's a bit embarrassing, given some of the questions I head big sister was asking…"
"Ah, don't worry Keith," Father said. "This morning, Katarina sent your mother and I a list of the questions she and the girls intended to ask approval. Rest assured that there's nothing too embarrassing there that your mother wouldn't ask herself."
Keith was about to let out a sigh of relief when Uncle Henryk said, "Oh dear. They're that bad?"
Eh? "Eh? Wait, bad?"
The two dukes exchanged amused looks. "Keith… you don't think your mother would just approve some conniving Marchioness to marry you, do you? She needs to be the right kind of conniving Marchioness—or whatever rank the lady has—that will stand by you and put your interests ahead of anything else."
Keith drooped. "Maybe I can recluse myself at home after all this is done…?" he muttered. Well, whimpered, really.
"It's not that bad, Cousin Keith," Cousin Watson said. "I know what you're going through, but after we put it all behind us, Maryam and I found we were quite suited for each other, and most of that was from the questions that the girls asked when they were vetting her. She forgave them for that… eventually."
Keith blinked. "Who's Maryam?"
"Oh, haven't I told you? She's my fiancée, Sir Morstan's daughter."
"Wait, you have a fiancée?" That was news to Keith.
"Ah, I haven't told you. My apologies, Keith. I'm just so used to everyone knowing… Yes, I have a fiancée back home. We've been engaged for some years now."
"Congratulations?" Keith said, then shook his head. "Sorry. Congratulations! I'm glad to hear you two are happy together."
"Thank you. However, my point was that the girls questions were quite instrumental in the two us becoming betrothed. Trust them to have your best interest in mind. You're family, after all. Family takes of each other." Father and Uncle nodded. Ahead of them, the servant was studiously acting like he couldn't hear a word.
Keith managed a sickly smile that said while he was certain of that, he wasn't sure how effective they'd be. It wasn't like he could just say he didn't want to marry anyone else, that the person he loved was—
Fortunately, they seemed to understand his unease. "It's all right Keith," Father said. "Any girls would still have to deal with Mili, unless you suddenly fall in love at first sight at one of the girls in particular. Put it out of your mind for now. Focus on seeing if we can get a deal on Tasmerian chocolate for your sister."
Ah. That was an almost familiar set of priorities.
"For Viola and Eileen as well," Uncle Henryk nodded.
"Mother and mother would probably like some as well," Watson said.
…
"Everyone is going to be trying to get chocolate for their wives and mothers, aren't they?" Keith said blandly.
"And daughters, mistresses, betrothed, sisters, nieces, aunts and friends, probably," Father said.
Keith sighed.
They reached the doors of the hall, and the servant leading bowed as they waited to be dismissed.
"Thank you…" Keith racked his brain, and a tentative name came to the fore, "Robert, was it?"
The man blinked, than smiled, "Yes, my lord. I'm surprised you remembered."
Keith nodded, hiding his relief. "I'll tell Lady Katarina you said hi, shall I?"
"If it's no trouble, my lord," he said.
"Have a good day, Robert," Keith said, officially excusing the man, who turned away with a cheerful spring in his step.
Fahter, Uncle Henryk and Cousin Watson were all looking at him,
He shrugged. "He's friends with Katarina," he said. "Shall we go in before all the chocolate is spoken for?"
The tea party was already getting started as they entered, though at a casual glance there seemed to be less tea than normal. While there were always those who chose to drink wine during these events, there seemed to be a bit more of those than usual.
The four slowed only to take in the lay of the land, then headed towards the refreshments table to give themselves time to assess what they saw. For all that Katarina complained about how people ignored the food during these events, the drinks were never neglected. At the refreshments table, however, Keith met a familiar face.
"Rafael?" he said upon seeing the red-haired young man.
Keith blinked, then gave him a smile. It looked much more genuine than the smile he used to give during his Student Council President days. "Ah, how kind of you to remember me, Lord Claes," he said, and if Keith hadn't known better, he'd have missed the teasing tone. "You're looking well. Graduating from the Academy seems to have agreed with you." He gestured towards the group of people with him, wearing ministry robes over their suits, and why did that man have a plunging neckline? "May I introduce my colleagues from the Ministry? This is Director Nathan Hart of the Magic Tool Laboratory, Lord Chad Braddington of same, and Lord Nix Cornish, also of the department." The three gave their bows at being introduced.
"It's nice to meet you," Keith said. Then, because there was no reason to snub Rafael and his colleagues, he replied in kind, and introductions were made.
"So, you're Lady Campbell's young man," Father said with a smile. "I've heard of you. How is your brother, Master Walt?"
Keith was reminded that Rafael Walt was a master at hiding his expressions when the man didn't even look surprised at the abrupt question. "Sadly, my late brother has passed on, your grace. In his memory, I've chosen to shoulder his sins and make what amends I can."
Ah. Although Father was smiling… there was something about the look in his eyes…
"How responsible of you," Father said, still smiling.
"Father, please stop threatening him," Keith said casually. "He's one of Katarina's friends, like Lady Selena."
Father sighed. "Our wonderful daughter, making friends everywhere she goes," he said. He fixed Rafael with a stare. "Do not repeat your brother's mistakes, young man. Lady Campbell has proven an excellent judge of character. I will trust her in this instance."
"You are very kind, your grace," Rafael said with a bow. Standing behind Rafael, the three Ministry officials had straightened indignantly as Father spoken, but didn't seem confused about what he was implying. Interesting. Did they know, then?
"Do we want to know?" Uncle Henryk asked.
"I believe it is best if dear Katarina herself explained later, Henryk," Father said. "Keith, why don't we split up? We can cover more ground that way, and you can catch up with your friend."
"Are you sure, father?"
Father waved him off. "Yes, yes. Try to have some fun with your friends, and see what you can manage on your own. It will be good for you, either way."
"Do you mind if I stay with Keith, Uncles?" Watson said. "I don't really know anyone here."
"I don't mind," Keith added.
The two dukes exchanged looks, and nodded. "We will meet you two later," Uncle Henryk said. "Come on Luigi, I think I see the person you described. Is that them over there?"
"Oh! Good eye, Henryk. Come on, let's strike while no one else has drawn aggro…."
They wondered off.
Watson eyed Rafael. "You're Katarina's friend?"
"Yes. I probably don't deserve it, but that wasn't my choice," Rafael said. "And there were strange circumstances involved."
"I believe those are perfectly normal for Cousin Katarina."
"Stranger," Rafael emphasized, and Keith nodded in agreement.
"Ah. Then I'm eager to hear it, then. Though before everything, I must ask…"
"Why is Director Hart shackled to my leg?"
"Yes."
"He gets lost easily."
There was a beat.
"Well, that answers my questions," Watson said. "Keith, where should we go now?"
Keith paused, then turned to Rafael, who shrugged. "We were just about to split up ourselves," he said. "If you don't mind Nathan coming along, I'm fine with coming with you."
"I'm sorry for the intrusion," the man shackled to Rafael's leg said sheepishly.
The other two Ministry officials glanced at Rafael. "Are you sure you don't need us to come with you, Director?" Chad Braddington asked. For some reason, he was raising one arm up and down, apparently without realizing it.
"I'll be fine, Chad. Go, mingle. If you spot anything, don't get involved and report it to me later," Rafael answered instead of Nathan.
The two men exchanged glances, but nodded. "All right, Director. Have fun, I guess." The two wandered off.
Keith raised an eyebrow at Rafael. "Director?" he repeated.
Rafael shrugged. "It's a Ministry thing. Do you mind if we go looking for Nicol? I haven't had a chance to say hi yet."