Fifteen minutes later, Dominic had a hefty bill paid, and a half dozen suitable outfits for Royal events where he was not wearing Sorcerer robes.
At the small price of two months’ wages.
But with the reward that he had gotten from the first round of attacks, Dominic still had a fairly significant amount of wealth stored in his cube and ring. It was a strange feeling to realize that he was actually wealthy for once, but all his daily expenses were normally covered, so he rarely spent anything.
Pops walked in after most of an hour and found Dominic polishing his boots in preparation for the evening’s formal dinner.
"Good, you’re ready. We have a lot of catching up to do. How did you even end up in consideration to be engaged to the Princess? I’m assuming it’s a matter of politics." The old Dwarf asked.
Dominic nodded. "They’re going to ask for southern Wavemates as reparations for the war. So they need a link to the old Wavemates Nobility or Royalty. The cities turned on the Dagos occupation force the instant that Cygnia showed up with an army.
They don’t want that to happen to them when it’s their turn to occupy the territory."
Pops tapped the table as he did the mental math. "That explains the options. But what they forgot to factor in was the chance that the Princess would object. It’s not unknown for Cygnia Princesses to make their suitors fight for the position in the most literal sense of the word.
And, she’s a rather accomplished Paladin."
Dominic smiled at the thought of Lord Johnathan facing off against Princess Alexis in single combat. That would not have ended well for him.
But it might be a diplomatic incident if she took that route with the foreign candidates.
Pops poured them a drink, and Dominic explained the events of the siege as they waited for the time to get ready for dinner.
The maid eventually knocked at the door, and entered with a huge smile on her face.
"Advisor Dominic, you have been summoned to a formal dinner with members of the Royal Family, as well as foreign guests." She announced.
Dominic gave her his best pouting look. "You’re not going to just leave me hanging like that, are you? Who all was invited?"
The maid shook her head. "We were sworn to silence, we’re not allowed to say any more than that about who will be in attendance."
She made a gesture with her chin, meaning the guards at the door were listening to make sure that she didn’t break the rules.
"Alright, I will be ready in ten minutes."
He just had to freshen up one last time and put on his new clothes for the event.
The maid was still waiting when Dominic came back out, and she led him toward the private dining rooms that the Royals used for important guests.
They stopped at the door of a Salon, and the Royal Herald began to speak. "Royal Advisor Dominic Wavemates, Lord Sorcerer and War Veteran of Cygnia."
That sounded suitably grand to Dominic, and he entered easily as the Herald motioned him forward.
Dominic entered, and nodded politely at Prince Alex, then at a few minor Nobles he recognized from the garden party. The Salon was more of a social gathering room, but there were multiple dining rooms off this one, and once everyone had arrived, they would be separated off to join their arranged dining partners.
It was a devious way to keep the suitors on edge, but Dominic wasn’t going to stress about it. Worrying about things that you couldn’t change only made you tired.
A tall man with dark hair and black eyes noticed him the moment he entered, and immediately began heading toward Dominic.
"Lord Wavemates, I am Thorvald North, third son of Duke North of West Keria. It appears that I might actually have some competition to gain this marriage alliance."
Dominic noticed the General’s badge and the military medals on Thorvald’s coat, and nodded in appreciation as he shook the man’s hand.
"At the very least, I can say that your father most likely sent the best son for the job. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord North."
A third Noble came to join them, and Lord North patted his back in a friendly greeting.
"Sorcerer Wavemates, meet Marquis Corwin Bridgegover of Midfield. Marquis, this is the Royal Sorcerer Dominic Wavemates. Advisor to Princess Alexis, and fallen Prince of Wavemates, according to my research."
The Marquis gave Dominic a slightly disdainful look, then glowered at Thorvald.
"At the very least, can’t you get the order of introductions right?" He demanded.
The General laughed and patted him on the shoulder hard enough it tilted the other Noble forward.
"Relax, we’re all friends here. Plus, he’s still a Prince by birth, right? That’s got to count for something, even if the nation doesn’t exist anymore."
Marquis Bridgegover pointedly ignored him and turned to Dominic.
"Well met, Lord Sorcerer. Forgive my impertinent friend. We went to school together, and he has a most unfortunate habit of forgetting proprieties."
Thorvald laughed and stepped up beside the Marquis again. "Corwin, you are too uptight. You know, I heard that the Lord Sorcerer was ten years old when he first killed a man. If anyone understands my sense of humour, it’s him."
Dominic realized what he was doing. Casually dropping bits of information that he had gleaned about Dominic to flex his superior resource gathering, and to get the other Nobles talking about the carefully curated questionable history of the competitors.
If he waited, Dominic was sure that Thorvald would do the same to Marquis Bridgegover in just a few minutes.
But Dominic wasn’t ashamed of his past.
Dominic tilted his head back and laughed. "You have quite the intelligence gathering network, so it’s only fair that I tell you something that they wouldn’t have known. While I was ten the first time I killed an enemy soldier, I was fourteen the first time that I used a weapon to do it."
The sound of shattering crystal had every head turning in their direction. A nearby young Noble had dropped his wine glass, and he was staring at the trio in horror.
"Oh, Dicky! Come, join the conversation. Dominic, do you know Dicky? He went to school with us as well. Dicky is the younger son of Count Herthamia." Thorvald insisted.
"My name is Richard, second son of Count Herthamia. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Sorcerer."
"Well met, Lord Richard. Come join the party, we will all be seeing each other much more often in the near future." Dominic replied.
There was no doubt, the other two had definitely bullied this man wherever they had gone to school.