Dominic served a round of drinks after purifying them, and sat down on the advisor’s chair along the wall as Princess Alexis launched into an annoyed tirade.
"So, we get to watch the political theatre in Dagos play out, while trying not to get too deeply involved, but also not so uninvolved that our allies feel that we’ve left them hanging in the wind. Lovely." She declared.
The Prince shrugged. "I don’t see why you’re so upset about it. This comes with the position. We sit around, listen to Nobles whine, make sure that things go our way, and then leave.
It’s the same everywhere that we go. The only difference is that this time we’re in Dagos and not some disgruntled Border Baron’s estate.
Coincidentally, we’re running low on those.
Too many of the border Barons were swayed by either coin or promised reforms under the Dagos Monarchy that would have made them virtual Tyrants on their own land.
The sort of thing that we did away with centuries ago.
I shouldn’t be surprised, I suppose. There were always Nobles who complained about the limits put on their power. We just didn’t see the betrayal coming."
Alexis rolled her eyes at the comment. Some of them had seen it coming. The moment that the Dagos Prince started to promise them unlimited rights to abuse the peasantry, it was inevitable that many of them would turn.
She was well aware of just how despicable many of them were.
There were still some suitable options, though.
"Well, once we get this all sorted, I have an entire Regiment full of loyal Nobles in need of titles and lands." She suggested.
"Well, we can discuss that after the war is properly over. I will have my men set up for the evening. Where is your tent set?" Prince Alex asked.
Alexis gestured to the truck and the Prince frowned. "You didn’t set a tent? I suppose that’s reasonable if you’re in hiding. Speaking of which, I don’t see your ladies in waiting."
The Princess smirked at him. "I didn’t bring them. A little taste of how the other side lives, with no domestic staff and no devoted servants to stroke their ego. Well, maybe just not as many. I’ve still got Dominic."
The Second Prince chuckled. "You know that Claudius is going to be furious, right? Not just a little upset. But properly furious. I hope that you thought this through."
The Princess nodded. "I did. And I suspect that there will be more consequences than simply Father’s anger that I didn’t marry into wealth.
It may have only been Dagos involved in the attack, but I don’t recall any of the other Royals being too upset at the apparent end of the Dragon King’s lineage. Bringing a Wavemates Prince back into Royal life is going to ruffle more than a few feathers."
The Prince nodded, his pale eyes sparkling with amusement. "And it doesn’t matter if he tries to calm them or if he loses his temper. There is no way to win. Either they will accuse him of bewitching them, or of having gone feral."
Dominic chuckled, and Prince Alex simply shrugged. The Dragonkin gunsmith might be popular in the Cygnia Palace, but that didn’t mean anything to strangers and foreign Royals.
"I am more concerned about how the Dagos Nobility will react when they see me in Albroles. The last time that I checked, they still consider me a war criminal." Dominic reminded them.
The two Royals frowned.
"That could be an issue. But perhaps the Viscount will see sense. I suppose that we could disguise you, but I suspect that he already knows who you are. If you just keep a hat on, it should be fine for the first round of meetings." Alexis suggested.
Prince Alex shrugged. "I say that we put him up front with his hair slicked back, so nobody misses the horns, and a Dragon Core in his hand. Like a living tactical weapon in waiting."
"Level 200 berserk Dragonkin in the throne room. I like it, solid intimidation tactic." Alexis laughed.
Dominic sighed. "I really do need to put more work into levelling my spells. If I’m supposed to be the one doing the dirty work in the background, I should really have the skills to actually do it."
Prince Alex nodded. "I have advantages as a Battle Mage, since I can make Mana Cores to imbue spell gems with power, though they take too long to make to be efficient. But if you can’t get to level ten on at least one or two combat skills, it will be difficult for you in the future."
Dominic nodded. "I’ve got spells at level eight now. So, not too much further to go. I’m just short on monster cores. Well, sort of. I’ve got some, but I’m going to need them soon for spending money."
"Understandable. If you’re going to ask for a Princess and a Peerage, you will need as much money as you can get." Alex joked.
"Well, it’s unlikely we will get actual war reparations, so I’ll have to figure something out. Maybe I should ask for a rural Peerage, so we can go out and hunt monsters with the Manor Guards." Dominic replied.
Alexis laughed, but the Prince nodded in agreement. "It might be the only way to keep her happy. A stocked Library and plenty of monsters to hunt. Perhaps somewhere north of Wistfield? That area is very rural, and there are plenty of monsters of all sorts, but good fields.
Assuming you can keep the farmers alive to work them."
Dominic shrugged. "I’m sure that we can arm and train a guard detachment relatively easily. That’s one part of the Noble skill set that we are certainly not lacking in."
Prince Alex smiled at his sister, then nodded in agreement with Dominic.
"Good point. Frontier Monster Hunting might just be exactly the sort of life for you two. I just hope that you don’t steal too many of the Paladins when you go."