"I'm serious, your actions do not align with the station with which you were born." [Azalea]

Neidr stared at her and though,

'I'm too lazy to have an argument about this with you.' He stood up, bowed and said,

"My apologies madam, it won't happen again." [Neidr] Azalea paused in her actions and nodded her head slightly,

"As long as you know." [Azalea] Neidr gestured for her to take a seat and Azalea nodded gracefully and sat down. Her dark blue dress was covered with frills and the skirt went down to her ankles. As always, she wore her gloves. Her pink eyes stared deeply at Neidr and she said,

"You should move your things to this room as soon as you get back. Additionally, I shall send letters to that location in the future." [Azalea] Azalea handed a piece of paper to Neidr with a room number on it. Neidr let out a big breath of relief. He didn't want to fight with Liam tooth and nail all the time. He preferred to have enemies he could just kill. Liam was necessary to deal with the future upheaval. Neidr slid the paper into his pocket and said,

"Very well, I appreciate your help."[Neidr]

"Think nothing of it."[Azalea]

"Frederick Bizen! Third Prince of the Flirordian Kingdom! Entering!" [Palder]

"Rafael Bizen! Second Prince of the Flirordian Kingdom! Queller of Revolts! Seeker of Knowledge! Entering!" [Palder]

Augustus Bizen First Prince of the Flirordian Kingdom! Sage among men! Warrior Prince! Hero of the Southern Front! Bringer of Justice! The Crown Prince of Flirord is entering!" [Palder]

Neidr's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He couldn't help himself, but to say,

"Impressive." [Neidr]

"Indeed, my future fiancée is the hero of the whole of Flirord." [Azalea] Neidr tilted his head and said,

"I'm meant that Palder could remember all of that."[Neidr]

"Who's Palder? The Master of Ceremonies? I thought you said you would act with a Noble air from now on. Come with me to greet the Princes. Do not mess this up." [Azalea] Neidr shook his head and said,

"Wouldn't it be safer to go see them on your own? Who would bring an uncultured noble from the sticks to show off in front of their Fiancée?" [Neidr]

"Future Fiancée."[Azalea] Neidr lifted an eyebrow and Azalea harrumphed,

"You may not know this, but my father is the most influential noble in Flirord. I can have my pick of men. Even the Princes. Of course, the most important woman shall wed with the most impressive man." [Azalea]

'sure hun.'

"I see, then I wish you luck in your endeavor."[Neidr] Neidr stood up and offered his hand to Azalea, so she could stand. She took it a little unnaturally. "I wouldn't want to get in the way of your greeting."[Neidr] Azalea gave a small nod and made off towards the First floor. Neidr shook his head in exasperation. Like hell he would talk to the first Prince. That damn perfectionist wouldn't let go of a single wrinkle in Neidr's shirt. As a good enough sort of guy, Neidr would mix with him like oil and water. Except if you insult the water you lose your head. As for Azalea getting her pick of Prince? That's half true. If her Father were still in the public eye, it would be doubtless.

He wasn't though, Neidr knew very well that the Iron Duke had been missing for quite some time. The only person that believed to still be alive was Azalea. He had personally led an expedition over the Fischer mountains in the North to deal with raiders from the Dusts once and for all. He never returned. Three years passed, and none of the Cerns servants had any faith left. Those that didn't leave embezzled. That is not to say that their estate is empty, they still wield plenty of power, comparable to the other Duchies. The problem was one could count the number of loyal servants of one hand. This is why Azalea's ship was so empty. Its various allies and vassels no longer returned the family's letters. The family was crippled without a male heir. It was left alone, and poor, a shadow of its former self. The only one keeping up appearances, Neidr looked over to Azalea's confident stride towards the stairs as she prepared to speak with the Princes, was Azalea. She had single-handedly reforged several alliances and was keeping to house alive on albeit shaky ground. Three years ago, when her father vanished, she was just sixteen.

Sometimes he wondered if she was strong at heart, or just delusional. The vassals of the Duchy had already been vying with one another to hold the title. Could she hold on with just old man Gunther? Neidr shook his head. Azalea was impressive, no doubt. The fact that the family had not yet collapsed was due to her prudent leadership. However, a small grin spread on Neidr's face,

'Compared to her sister, her ambition is lacking.'

***

In a dusty library, two man sit across from each other. They both wear Wizards robes, one sat with a hunch in his back looking down at the table. His youthful skin cast a contrast to the man sitting opposite to him. An old man with wrinkly skin and a white Goatee.

"Should we extend the trial?" [Uneasy Professor]

"And make what we're doing obvious! Don't be ridiculous."[Grumpy old man]

"But... This is the largest amount of people who have ever passed the trial. The whole number is larger than the survivors from the last ten years combined." [Uneasy Professor}

"You think I don't know that! It's that bastard Liam and that Bitch Elizabeth! Listening to their camp, the praising that those lowly people sing of them is sickening." [Grumpy Old Man]

"It would be better if they weren't here! Why did they come? Why did they have to come?"[Uneasy Professor] The Grumpy old man showed a small smile for the first time in a long time.

"You're right. it would be better if they weren't here. Ants cannot cause trouble without their Queen." [Grumpy old man]