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[indent][sup][color=ab274f]Attire:[/color] [url=https://i.imgur.com/rijwHsc.jpg]Business & dinner fit[/url]
[color=ab274f]Time:[/color] 6:00 pm
[color=ab274f]Location:[/color] Castle Dining Room
[color=ab274f]Mention(s):[/color]
[color=ab274f]Interaction(s):[/color] [@princess] Alibeth, Edin, Anastasia; [@Potter] Ezra
[/sup][/indent][/cell][/row][/table]Despite Anastasia's words, it was clear that she was in no way ‘okay’. [i]Something[/i] must have happened between when he had last seen her and now. But what?

However, Wulfric let the matter rest, and sat down. [color=ab274f]“My day has been…eventful, to say the least.”[/color] By his tone, there didn’t seem to be anything troubling him, though several concerning matters had occurred throughout the day. It was also true that it had been a packed schedule till now.

[color=ab274f]“Things are going quite well at the Guild, father,”[/color] Wulfric answered Edin. He kept up the pleasant politeness as he was wont to do when interacting with his father. Even those who knew of his dislike for the king (such as his mother) would see nothing amiss in his expression or demeanour. He had years and years of experience tolerating idiots and imbeciles on a daily basis, after all…his father the prime culprit among them.

He chuckled at his father’s words, as if in affectionate agreement. [color=ab274f]“Of course; the Guild knows perfectly well who holds true power. Why; we are at the heart of economy, not just Caesonia’s, but the world’s. It is precisely because of the connections you have established and empowered that we enjoy this position,”[/color] he flattered, taking a page out of Calbert’s book.

And why not? The man was good at what he did. Wulfric did not enjoy feeding the old man’s ego trips, but there was something he wanted.

The prince raised a wine glass in a pre-dinner toast. [color=ab274f]“As you say, father…To a strong and thriving kindgom.”[/color] He hid a smirk behind the glass as he took a sip. His finely crafted smile didn’t falter even at the utter nonsense that he should follow his father’s example. The idea that he wasn’t yet ready was even more ridiculous. [color=ab274f]“Of course, I will.”[/color] He [i]would[/i] succeed; he’d ensure it.

He turned to mother when she expressed concern for his youngest brother. [color=ab274f]“He should have guards with him,”[/color] Wulfric noted, eyes narrowing minutely.

He ignored his father’s habitual denigration of Callum. Besides, the arrival of unexpected guests caused an interruption. [color=ab274f]“[i]You,[/i]”[/color] Wulfric made no effort whatsoever to conceal his displeasure as he turned a look of frosty disdain upon Ezra.

Not only had he formed an instinctual dislike for the man upon their first meeting, this fool was once again ogling Anastasia. He had [i]also[/i] disrupted the angle Wulfric had begun to establish with Edin as to the direction he’d wanted to lead their conversation in.

Ezra and his helpers had brought both food and gifts. Thankfully, there were plenty of their family's loyal servants nearby. Wulfric motioned for one of theirs to come closer, and ordered for the gifts to be thoroughly inspected and the confectionary to be taste-tested. It wasn’t only because he happened to mistrust the baker; it was the standard procedure. After all, the prince – having once been poisoned in his childhood due to his own carelessness – was cautious enough to even have his family’s daily meals regularly inspected.

[color=ab274f]“Father,”[/color] he turned to the man with a note of concern in his voice. While he was genuinely wary, he modulated his response so as to appear both respectable and reasonable. [color=ab274f]“I realize you esteem this man enough to have invited him. It is certainly very thoughtful of you to have prepared such a surprise for us, and these creations of his seem fitting enough to grace our tables.”[/color] Not that he intended to have any, as he had no fondness for sweets. 

[color=ab274f]“But is there truly a need to keep him at hand while we dine? I admit, I have not formed a particularly good impression of him last night,”[/color] he complained mildly. Wulfric was well aware food was quite the weakness of his father’s. But at the very least, Edin usually respected his opinion enough to take it into account. Hopefully, the man’s food and gifts would be inspected, he and his employees thanked for their work, and then, Ezra would be promptly dismissed.

However, the prince had the unhappy suspicion that he would be forced to endure this impudent baker’s presence far longer than the peasant deserved.