35 Chapter 34 (1/2)

The welcoming dinner had begun without much of a hitch. The King's servants had opened a large set of mahogany doors, letting us out into a particularly large dining hall. Each of us sat down in our respective seat. I was placed next to Richard, who continued to wear a disinterested expression as he looked everywhere but at me.

It was honestly a bit frustrating. I had it in my mind to start attacking him with Seduction and Eye of the Beholder. However, Denova had said the likelihood every one of the nobility had magic detection was high. Even if they couldn't resist my charm, and that was a big if, they would detect that magic was being targeted on them and alert the guard immediately.

So, as a result, I'd have to do this the long way. Although to be honest, I didn't even know what Denova wanted me to do yet. Integrate into the royal castle. I had to become accepted by all of them. It seemed like the 4th prince had already accepted me. Although I had hoped after the last few days with the knight rescuing the princess routine he'd be a little more into me, at the very least I could trust him in some respects.

Meanwhile, the third prince would take some work. The seduce skill was only at level 3 at the moment, so I would need a few more levels before I could truly be better. Of course, for that, I would need to find an appropriate outlet both to practice and perhaps learn some tricks. I didn't plan to waste my time in the castle. I was still haunted by that nightly visit from Denova. He had to die. There was simply no other way.

As we settled ourselves in for our meal, a servant informed the King that the first and second princes would be joining them shortly. He nodded and made a grunt, although he continued to give me looks that I could only call desire. While Richard continued to be aloof, Devon and least had the decency to look embarrassed by his father's looks.

”Big brother…” He spoke up, ”Perhaps you should find out a little bit more about your betrothed.”

”That's right!” The king snapped his fingers, ”I haven't seen you since you were only two. What kind of woman have I agreed to have my son marry.”

”Oh, well, I never got out much, although I didn't live in the castle with my father. I spent most of my time on the estate. I rode horses, held tea parties, and occasionally dabbled with magic.”

”Oh ho… so you can use magic?”

”Just tier one, your highness.”

He asked me a few questions, and I gave answers. This was actually really boring idol chat. My responses were the generic responses of a boring princess. As Denova had explained, if I seemed boring and like an airheaded princess without much there, I would quickly be left alone to my own devices.

”What kind of tier two magic do you wish to possess?” He asked, ”I for one have mastered the power of telekinesis!”

He burst out with a jolly laugh when I gave him a questioning look. It was Devon who brought out the answer.

”Father learned wind magic and light magic. However, he has uncanny control of it. I suspect he has a special skill he won't reveal, but he can move objects with his magic. He is incredibly precise. When we were younger, he used to sword practice with us, although he'd be sitting down. It… was informative, fighting a disembodied sword flying at you from any direction.”

”Really?” I asked, ”That's amazing!”

”Oh ho, well, perhaps I should show you some of my magic!” The king laughed and gave me a wink.

Although I got a flirtatious vibe from him, I still answered. ”Yes, I would love a demonstration.”

If I was going to ingratiate myself with the king, I'd have to stroke his ego. I flashed him my best princess smile, a bright-eyed and charming look. It was not an attempt to seduce him, but my charisma was getting higher all the time and before I knew it both the fourth prince and the king had blushes on the face.

After a moment of silence, ”Well… my boy, you may have the pleasure of waking up to that smile every morning, you should consider yourself a lucky man.”

He was, of course, speaking to the Richard, who finally raised his head, ”Of course, father.”

It was a respectful response, but he seemed to be completely unmoved by my presence. I would need to find a time to seduce him properly. It was really starting to get under my skin and I just me the guy.

”So, what kind of magic do you want to learn?” Devon asked before an uncomfortable silence formed.

”Oh, right… actually, I'm kind of interested in potions and enchantments.”

”Really?”

The person who asked was Richard, who seemed genuinely surprised by my comment. The sudden attention that he gave me, along with the surprised look on the other two, led me to realize these were uncommon choices.

”I-is that weird?” I asked.

”Well… it's just they're a bit… pedestrian, don't you think? A commoner's skills.” He wore a look of disgust as he said that, turning the little attention he gave me immediately sour.

”What brother is trying to say is that noble's tend to go for the flashier magics. Things that can be seen. It's considered quite tedious to learn how to enchant potions and items, and you could always buy them from someone else who is assuredly better at it. Anything you produced would be subpar compared to a skilled worker and would offer no tangible evidence you made it. Meanwhile, the other six magics all offer many notable benefits, thing that money… well… not that I'm saying your choice is bad!”

Finishing his thought, he was saying that since nobles were rich, they could buy potions made by level 10 potion makers with level 10 magic. I had made my first in what will probably be a lot of blunders. To me, being able to create things or invent new things gave me a sense of interest. Just my little experiment with orc semen had already proven that things can come from unexpected places. However, my mind still hadn't left the idea that this was like an RPG. It seemed like a lot of them favored enchantments and potions as both a source of fast cash and becoming overpowered. I also had a passing hope that if I studied enchantments, I could remove this cursed ring.

”Still… my father didn't let me do a lot with potion making. I was hoping while I was in the castle, I might be able to take lessons from a nearby alchemist?”

”You don't even need to go that far!” The king spoke up, ”Our castle has an alchemist on staff.”

”I don't think Reinheart will take on a student, especially to fulfill a princesses whim.” Richard snorted.

I was starting to not like him at all. I realized that me and this husband to be are not going to get along. Fortunately, I had no intention of marrying him, so there seemed to be no problem here.

”Nonsense… If he tells you no, just come to me.” The king nodded.

I shot the king another ingratiating smile, while Richard just rolled his eyes. This guy. This fucking guy. He's not even good enough to fuck. I've fucked orcs, and you're quickly going lower on my list than them.

”Ah, father, good afternoon!”

A voice exploded into the room and a flamboyantly dressed man came in. I froze at the sight of him. It wasn't that I recognized him, it was just that he was so unexpected. He was wearing makeup, for starters, deep red lipstick and powder on his face. His hair was dyed a deep green and wrapped into something that looked like a cone. His clothing was brightly white, and it glittered with silver bobbles.

Next to him was a more modestly dressed guy, although he wore the same kind of smile, and was holding the other guy's hand. If I had to guess with any more information, it looked like a transsexual and his homosexual lover. Except…

”Ah yes, I see you've finally made it.” The king responded curtly.

”Oh, yes, let me introduce you. This is the first and second princes, my brothers, Julian and Gregory.”

I was glad that I had increased my concealing ability up so high because it was the only thing that kept me from spitting our right there. Instead, with deception fighting the strains of these flamboyant men, I instead gave them a golden princess smile that was becoming my fallback option. If I just kept smiling at everyone, then perhaps I could avoid too many issues. I also tried to focus on the important parts, like how both princes were quite handsome if you ignored the other parts.

”Well look at this, Gregory, is this not the most beautiful specimen you have ever seen?”

The 1st prince, Julian, the one dressed like a cone-headed peacock strutted to the other side of the table and with a flourish fell down to his knee, grabbing one of my hands in his. Meanwhile, his more modestly dressed counterpart went the other direction, twirling until he landed on my other side, taking my other hand in his.

”Why yes, my brother, she does have quite the allure, doesn't she?”

Both men simultaneous kissed each of my hands before standing up.