45 Chapter 45 Peter The Ra (2/2)

”I don't mind if someone else proposes it, as long as it gets done!” said Joseph, picking up his 'doc.u.ments' and heading for the door. The others followed shortly.

As they settled in, court had barely started, and Joseph was amused to see the n.o.bleman, Duke Harold Winston speaking to the king. He was still in his, I'm kissing b.u.t.t, stage, so they hadn't missed anything.

He thought about how a crafty old b.a.s.t.a.r.d the duke was. He thought over the story behind him, that he had heard from Charles the day before. His father had only daughters through his legitimate wife, and he was the oldest from the mistress, so he was formally adopted to ensure the family line went on. He was raised to be mean and greedy to ensure that the family would continue to grow.

Joseph had seen the tax reports on his household, and knew they he was having to bribe someone for it to be so low. His territory was the largest along the mountains and had the largest iron mines in the kingdom. He must have the entire treasury department under his foot to keep them silenced.

As Duke Winston continued on to his actual report, Joseph was amused to see that he was presenting the roads proposal that Peter had been given. With a chuckle, he also noticed that no one seemed to have verified that they all had the same doc.u.ments. The plan he was presenting was wrong on some of the numbers, and as the duke read through them, he saw them immediately. Apologizing to the king for the errors, then continuing on without a missed beat.

The king was very surprised when he realized that Duke Winston was presenting the work as his own, but didn't look towards Joseph at all. The duke went on for almost two hours, presenting the information, and Joseph was impressed with his memory and speaking ability by the end. He was sure he would never have made it last that long without repeating himself at least once. There was enough flattery and self-back patting to make up for it though.

Joseph wasn't sure if he needed to work on that particular part of political speaking or not. As the duke turned away, finally done, he glanced at him with a smug look, but the look soured when it was obvious, he wasn't going to make the child cry. Glancing in Peter's direction, he saw that he was pale white, and refused to make eye contact. He would definitely have to keep an eye on him in the future.

That evening, after he had returned to his rooms with Stella and the guards, he was surprised to see Charles waiting for him.

”Sir Joseph, I'm sorry to bother you, I wasn't away that you would be in court today.”

”That's alright, it was a last-minute decision.”

”I doubt anything is last minute with you, but I have been charged with the task of seeing to your readiness for the ball at the end of the month. I belief the dances we conduct here in the Oxalium Empire, are vastly different from what you are familiar with.”

Joseph nodded, handing the doc.u.ments he was holding to Stella for her to put away.

”Fas.h.i.+on here by the ocean is much more revealing that that of the central kingdom. Our wardrobe has shorts that are down to the mid-calf, instead of the ankles.” He pulled out an example, and Joseph studied it. His mother would have found it scandalous. As long as no one wore a thong, he would be fine, he was sure.

The court dances that Charles proceeded to show him would be a problem. The n.o.bles here danced much closer together than in the central kingdom. They didn't swing dance, like the commoners and sometimes lower n.o.bles did, but the distance they were to keep from their partners was next to nothing. In his home kingdom anything under two inches was indecent.

They were going to have to practice more, after Charles left, to ensure that they made a good impression at the ball, but Stella was less than impressed. Joseph considered just jumping around like hooligans, and finally gave in, throwing in some monkey hoots while he was at it. Stella finally gave in and started laughing. The rest of the evening went far smoother.

When he stopped to allow her to head to bed, she surprised him. She had managed to buy her sleep down as well. He could tell she greatly enjoyed not being as vulnerable during the night.

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