"Your Highness, it is time to get ready for the luncheon event." Alexis’ maid informed them, ending the discussion.
Claudius waved his hand. "Go, get ready, and I will discuss the finer points of the parenting plan with Lord Dominic."
Once she was in the other room, the Crown Prince turned on Dominic.
"Do you feel that you have an honest chance against the others? The son of a Duke, and a titled Marquis, especially." He asked.
Dominic nodded. "They certainly have the advantage from the start. Generational wealth, estates, titles and good reputations. But magitech is a disruptive force to the balance of wealth in the world.
Marquis Bridgegover has a rather sizeable holding as I recall, but how long would that take me to catch?
Now, obtaining land might be impossible without the favour of the Crown. But now that I have the reputation of the Royal Forges behind my work, how hard would it be for me to sell a hundred Rare Grade rifles? Or a thousand?
At that point, it certainly wouldn’t be unthinkable that I could get the daughter of an impoverished Noble with no sons to arrange a marriage.
However, just like the Princess, that is not what I aspire to in life."
Crown Prince Claudius looked to the ceiling, contemplating the truth behind Dominic’s words.
He wasn’t wrong. Many magical engineers had become fabulously wealthy in the last generation, and the majority of them had married into Noble Families if they were not already from one.
And many more of them had been born into lower Nobility and married up to bolster the finances of a branch family.
"And what is it that you aspire to in life?" Prince Claudius asked.
"Well, that’s a rather variable answer. A year ago, I would have said vengeance for the people of the village I grew up in. Or perhaps become a recognized master at the Royal Forges.
But lately, my vision has expanded somewhat." Dominic replied slowly.
"So, you no longer aspire to be a master of the Forge?"
Dominic smiled at the Prince. "Oh, I didn’t mean that, Your Highness. Only that it’s now part of a growing list of things I would like to accomplish."
Claudius nodded. "In that case, you should return to your quarters to prepare for the luncheon. I wish you well in your attempt to win my sister’s hand."
Dominic bowed formally to the Crown Prince, then left for his room in Pops’ suite to change.
It was on the way to the formal dining room for the luncheon, so it wasn’t really out of the way, and Dominic noticed that he had a guard following him.
"New security policy?" He asked the Royal Guard following him, who was wearing the marks of one of the King’s guards, not one assigned to Princess Alexis personally.
"Standard procedure. Both for the Princess’s safety and to ensure that suitors don’t try anything underhanded to defeat each other." The Guard replied.
Dominic tried not to laugh at the thought that they would actually be playing fair.
There was zero chance of that.
"You just started thinking of underhanded ways to win the Princess’ hand." The guard commented dryly.
"You did mention it. But rest assured, I will not try anything that might be criminal or require guard intervention." Dominic agreed.
That was not what the Guard meant.
The emphasis should have been on ’just’, as he had expected the Advisor to have already incorporated the most underhanded methods he believed that he could get away with into his courting plan.
"Do you have a plan for the luncheon?" The Royal Guard asked.
"I have insider information, so I can dress to match." He joked.
He had actually seen the maid bring in three different gowns, all different colours. But if there were someone listening in on them, it would be relayed to the others before Dominic even finished changing.
The Royal Guard waited in the main room while Dominic changed into a formal suit, but went with just a vest instead of a full formal coat.
Technically, it was still within the dress code. It was just unusual that anyone ever took off their jacket, as either the room would be freezing, or so incredibly hot that most would sweat through their shirts the moment they entered.
He had gone with a black shirt this time, and blue stripes on the tie to match the Princess’s eyes. But it was missing something.
It was quite stylish and formal, but utterly boring.
Dominic sorted through the junk in his storage cube and came up with a polished brass rope wire that he could wear as over his shoulder. There was no Royal or Military position that used a brass coloured aiguillette, so there would be no conflict with proper decorum.
No, that looked too military.
Not that the Princess objected to military men, quite the opposite, actually. But it didn’t suit Dominic’s overall appearance if he wasn’t wearing a military coat.
He tossed the rope back in the cube, and searched for more items, then came upon a collection of keepsakes.
None of them were valuable, but they all had personal meaning to him, and one was perfect for the day. It was just a simple aluminum chain, but he had set a Dire Bear’s claw on a metal ring attached to it.
It was the first time that he had come close to dying, but more importantly, it was an adult Dire Bear claw, and it would look great hanging over his tie.
A real conversation piece.
He came back out to the main room, and the Royal Guard smiled. "None of the dresses that were brought to the Princess were black or dark blue."
Dominic winked at him. "I know that, and you know that, but how many of the maids and errand boys know that?"
The Royal Guard chuckled. "Psychological warfare? I like your style, Sorcerer. Are we ready to leave?"