Chapter Eight
Asteropaios heads to where Chantal told him to go in order to meet with Count Jebuk Aznárez. Viscountess Ariel Kilnjin and Lumturie were following him, filling him in on the various people they see. Ariel was gifted to him as an aid by the Empress the day after he arrived, her proving useful on several occasions since then. He goes to knock on the door and hears talking on the other side, causing him to pause and hesitate on announcing himself.
"Very well, Prince Ericus, if that's your true goal then I shall aid you. But remember, if you betray her Majesty, our the empire, you will be my enemy." Count Jebuk says, his voice not giving away any emotions he may be feeling.
"Thank you Count Jebuk, I won't let you down." Ericus replies, then opens the door. "Hello Prince Asteropaios, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Prince Ericus Hyldetan of the Pribairus Empire, it's lovely to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is mine Prince Ericus, I was hoping to meet you soon. I've heard tale of your storytelling, mayhaps you can share a few later?" Asteropaios replies without missing a beat.
"Of course! But now, I must make my rounds as I've finished my business here. Good eve gentlemen." Prince Ericus excuses himself, receiving farewells as he wanders off.
"Prince Asteropaios, to what do I owe the honor for a visit from you?" Jebuk asks as they both take seats, the servants pouring fresh glasses of wine for them.
Asteropaios considers what he's heard, the Duke himself, and what to say in reply. The stone-faced man wasn't one to trifle with. "Duke Jebuk, I've heard many great tales pertaining to you, so I wished to make your acquaintance. I honestly hope we can become friends."
Jebuk takes a moment to consider this, swirling his glass. "If I may be so bold, your Highness, but my only friends are friends of the empire. So long as you prove yourself worthy of the grace from her Majesty, I will be an ally as well."
"That's a relief to hear, seeing as I have no intentions to do anything to harm the Empire of Kuxecaea. You are far more knowledgeable about the empire than I, may I rely on your knowledge from time to time?" Asteropaios replies.
"You may seek my council, and I shall keep it confidential and remain unbiased between you two Princes." Jebuk states, giving him a nod.
"Thank you Duke Jebuk, I shall take my leave as I fear I've taken too much of your time. Enjoy your evening." Asteropaios bids as he leaves, receiving a likewise farewell. He sighs once they are far enough from the room, feeling relieved and more secure. He returns to see Jun ending his third song, many ladies and gents surrounding him and having small talk to the shy man. "Consort Jun, would you like to take a small break?"
"Yes, that would be nice. Please excuse me for the moment." Jun replies, grateful for the chance to get away from the attention as he follows Asteropaios back to Bertila and Chantal.
"Thank you so much for entertaining everyone Consort Jun! It was wonderful!" Bertila greets him happily, handing both a drink. "Please do tell me if you need anything else."
"I'm fine…" Jun looks away with a slight blush before he hesitantly asks them "Did I do well?" This caused the ladies around him to squeal and immediately rush to reassure him.
"Consort Jun, you've done well. Empress Yanelis would be proud of you." Chantal tells him, causing him to slowly beam with joy.
"Would you like to remain here with her Highness Princess Chantal, or would you rather make some rounds with me introducing ourselves to other nobles?" Asteropaios asks him, patiently waiting for his reply with a relaxed demeaner.
"I-I'll wait here…" Jun replies, not at all feeling brave enough for that.
"Very well, I shall take my leave then and bid you all a great evening." Asteropaios states with a short bow before moving off. Count Gyda Brecc was their current target, a woman that wasn't a great warrior, but was rather competent and a decent manger of troops and training. She helped to manage the provisions for troops and was a central hub for troop movements. Though she was often stern and decisive, she held a love for exotic cultures.
"Prince Asteropaios, greetings to you this evening." Count Gyda and a few lesser nobles she had been conversing with greets him as he draws closer.
"Greetings to you all as well, I hope you are all in good health." He replies in his native tongue, catching them off guard with immediate interest. "My apologies, greetings to you as well." he says in their tongue.
"Is that the Kingdom of Phasikar's native tongue? How delicate it sounded!" Count Gyda says with wonder as she eyes him.
"It is, the okruni language is rather extensive and not well known outside of the realm. I could teach you a few words sometime if you'd like." He responds kindly causing the group of nobles to beam with excitement.
"Indeed, I would enjoy learning something to catch Marquess Zenobia off guard! Ha, she always boasts about knowing so many languages, I can't wait to see her surprise!" Lord Marshall Breckenridge says boisterously. Ariel was efficient to quietly tell him who each of the ones before them was and a brief informative introduction to each.
"Marquess Zenobia? I'm afraid I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her as of yet." He says cordially as he accepts a snack from a waiter nearby.
"That's because she likes to stay to herself. Marquess Zenobia mac Arailt is a joy, but a type that values knowledge to a high degree and thus refrains from most gatherings in ley of studying. I do believe she's here tonight though, escorting her siblings and such." Count Gyda answers him, her fan covering her mouth as she speaks.
"I shall like to meet with her and see if she does know okruni or not. Did you all enjoy Consort Jun's performance?" He changes the subject with most none the wiser.
"Yes, I was rather surprised that he was so talented! He looked the picture of an angel gracing us with harmonious melodies." Lady Camille Brecc, Gyda's younger sibling, enthuses.
"It's barely a wonder why her Majesty keeps him as a consort with such wonderful and refreshing talents." Gyda adds, gaining agreements from around her.
After a bit more conversing, he takes his leave to hunt down either Viscount Haraldus Lévêque, or Marquess Zenobia mac Arailt. He checks in with Jun once more, him soon getting back onto the piano to play a song requested by Chantal. He finds himself being led through some halls by a servant tasked to take him to see Marquess Zenobia by Bertila, leaving them after she announces his arrival to a room that held three people. "After hearing about you, Marquess Zenobia mac Arailt, I am not surprised to find you in a reading room. These must be your siblings, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is ours, Prince Asteropaios Crandomna. To what do we owe the honor?" Zenobia asks with curiosity, though her eyes showed caution as well.
"I had heard tale that you may know my native tongue of okruni, I so hope you can." He tells her, watching her hesitate ever so slightly before replying since he was speaking his native tongue.
"I know some of okruni, but am not well versed. Many apologies, your Highness." She replies in stunted okruni, to his surprise. None the less, he switches to their native tongue of eeynovuin.
"I am glad that you know any, it's a pleasant surprise! I heard you had studied many languages, and thus was hopeful." He continues as he takes a seat.
"Yes, I do know seventeen different languages, but some of the more obscure ones is hard to find tutors on." Zenobia says elegantly as she places down the book she had been holding.
"Can I propose a trade then? We help tutor one another on the languages we know, I myself am versed in ten with half being more obscure." He offers genuinely.
"That would be beneficial, I shall ask Empress Yanelis for permission on this." Zenobia tells him after a moment of consideration. Her sibling looking at them with curiosity and a bit of worry.
"Lady Isaella, Lord Leifus, I hear this is your third social gathering. How have you enjoyed your experiences?" He asks them with interest, catching them off guard.
"It's been pleasant, but tiresome at times." Leifus replies first, being direct.
"I find it a bit noisy for my senses, your Highness. Spending time away from the commotion is rather calming to one's nerves." Isaella says demurely.
Asteropaios laughs at this. "My apologies, but what you've said is true. Of course, for us bearing the titles we must also bear the weight of it. To partake in these gatherings is important and help foster allies for when you need them most. Please continue to become accustomed to the environment, I promise it gets easier."
"Thank you for your kind words and advice, your Highness." The twins reply with a bow.
"I'm glad to help, but I must take my leave now." He bids his farewells, then moves on. Having another servant escort him, he finds himself being announced to a library on the opposite end of the castle. When he enters, he sees Viscount Haraldus Lévêque with two other men and a woman. "Greetings to you gentlemen, I hope all is well."
"It is, greetings your Highness Prince Asteropaios. How may we assist you?" Haraldus asks while Ariel tells him the trio were Lord Frederick Thuriya, Lady Audofleda Menak, and his younger brother Lord Tereus.
"My apologies, I hadn't intended to interrupt your conversation." He states smiling kindly at them.
"No apologies needed, we were simply catching up, your Highness." Audofleda replies, returning the smile as she fans herself.
"I believe his highness hoped for a private conversation. If you would be so kind as to follow me, I know of a nearby office we can converse in." Haraldus states, then leads the way after he agrees to it. The others watch them go, but Lumturie and Ariel would wait outside the doors.
"Viscount Haraldus, I would like for us to be friends." Asteropaios bluntly says.
"I believe allies is a more suitable stance, may I ask what exactly you had in mind?" Haraldus responds while studying him.
"A simple agreement to help one another in the best way we can to obtain our goals. We are forbidden to do anything to harm the empire, or the Empress. I will state now though, I don't care to be her Majesty's Emperor, I simply wish to help her and do what I can for all." Asteropaios tells him confidently, not beating around the bush as this man wouldn't stand for that.
"Are you aware as to what will happen to you shall her Majesty not choose you?" Haraldus questions him with a furrowed brow.
"No, I'm afraid I don't. Please enlighten me if you know." He replies with interest.
"You will either become a consort, or sent to marry another. If you aren't in a strong position here, how will you offer me help?" Haraldus asks with a stern gaze.
"Not only will we be able to trade information in that instance, we can also foster trade and good relations between the realms. But, you are already aware of this. What is it that you would like to seek from this arrangement most?" he asks him with a sharp gaze.
"When this mess of who will be the Emperor is over, I wish for your assistance with gaining a suitable match for Tereus. Shall anything happen to me, you must promise to take care of my siblings until they are able to handle the barony fully." Haraldus states, not breaking eye contact.
"And do you plan to die early, Vicount?" He questions before adding on "We have only just met, what a request to make of someone that you don't know."
"I hold no plans of dying early, but one cannot control their fate." Haraldus answers, then continues with a smirk. "Not to mention, I have heard of how you handle Consort Jun. All of that goodwill and positive public image you've been cultivating wouldn't allow you to turn down a dying request from a friend. Nor would it allow you to betray my siblings, so I have faith you'll be a suitable one to entrust with this."
Asteropaios scrutinizes Haraldus again, from his black hair and grey eyes to his slim unassuming build. He throws his head back and laugh heartily at this, only speaking after regaining his composure. "Very well, if that is how it's to be then I must place a request for you shall I die early. You must foster the conquering of the Kingdom of Phasikar, with the complete execution of the noble houses and royal family."