Erik slipped through the doorway for the Royal Lunch making little effort to keep his tardiness hidden -- he'd made such a regular habit out being the last one to arrive, that he'd long since passed the threshold where he felt that excuses were required.

"Your highness." Erik gave a curt bow to the Queen who he had yet to see that day. "Uncle." Erik's gesture towards the king had lost some of the zeal that it had possessed for the queen. He settled into a seat opposite Nadia and Aleksandr, his hands find their place in his lap. "I have half the mind to prove your father right..." Erik muttered to his cousins from across the table, his voice low as to not be overheard. "I almost find being a [i]drunken half wit[/i] to be endearing when it comes from him." He gave a warm grin, as he peered down at his uncle for half a second, before looking back to his cousins.