[color=lightgray][center][h1][color=DDB775]King Edin[/color] & [color=ab274f]Wulfric[/color][/h1][/center]

[color=DDB775]“Wulfric.”[/color] King Edin set down his fork to look over. [color=DDB775]“I see you’ve returned… The cake was deemed safe if you would like some.”[/color] He offered and locked eyes with him, [color=DDB775]“So were the gifts. I believe you may actually enjoy yours. I had the others' gifts brought to their rooms.”[/color]

Wulfric didn’t shy away from his father’s gaze. He absolutely did not feel he had anything to be reproved for. [color=ab274f]“That is good,”[/color] he stated. At the offer of cake, he shook his head. [color=ab274f]“No, thank you,”[/color] he declined as he took his seat. However, he did have a cup of green tea brought to him. [color=ab274f]“What were the gifts?”[/color] he asked, mildly intrigued. Even though he had no intention whatsoever to lessen his distrust of Ezra, he was curious what the man had picked out for them.

[color=DDB775]“I won’t ruin the surprise. You’ll see when you get to your room.”[/color] Truthfully, King Edin just hadn’t paid attention to what they had been.

[color=ab274f]“Were you interested in a report from the Guild?”[/color] his son then asked, moving on from the previous topic. At the go-ahead, Wulfric gave it. His visit hadn’t been aimed at gathering an overview of the most recent economic happenings in Caesonia. However, he’d still learned some intriguing news from simple casual chats. 

[color=ab274f]“The northern areas of Montague are remarkably thriving after that flood a few years back. It is clear the support we have provided to reinforce key bridges, re-pave the local roads, and build better embankments has paid dividends.”[/color] He kept each tid-bit brief and to the point, gauging his father’s reaction in the meanwhile. 

[color=DDB775]“Lord Damien never fails to impress. I received word he handled a lot of the reconstruction with that ordeal.”[/color]

Wulfric thought that if he was so impressed, Edin could do more of the same himself. Sometimes, conversations like these were a good way to nudge the king in certain directions, or imprint on him certain ideas. Such as that ‘giving out money’, strengthening ‘the lesser of the two duchies’, or even ‘brownnosing to the damn Varians’ (as Edin termed cooperative efforts) were indeed advantageous.

[color=ab274f]“There are some concerns that heavy industrial areas are a slight against Aquena and Tempestes.”[/color] This was somewhat ridiculous, but he supposed Luddites would exist as long as technology did. [color=ab274f]“Meanwhile, production is in ever high demand.”[/color]

King Edin scoffed at that. [color=DDB775]“I did order that those damn factories be relocated where people cannot see them… Especially Duke Vikena. That Hartforth in Vermillion especially remains a town of smog. Duke Vikena ought to speak to Count Emil about it and have it sorted.”[/color] 

Finally, Wulfric moved onto the topic of present interest. [color=ab274f]“Are you familiar with the company Black Rose? Or its leader, Marek Delronzo?”[/color] he questioned bluntly. [color=ab274f]“The company is the one renting the warehouse at which the party was held last night. Since drugs were involved, the company may very well be involved in the black market. I suspect Delronzo is making rather illegal profits. I don’t know if he intended last night to be so ruinous, but it is certainly suspicious and concerning.”[/color]

Edin's eyes darted around the room briefly before settling back on his son. His brows furrowed, and a faint hint of worry flashed across his face that was only noticeable for perhaps a split second. [color=DDB775]“I know of him.”[/color] He confirmed, [color=DDB775]“In that case, I’ll have some of our people sent over to investigate.”[/color]

His father’s nervousness did not by any means escape Wulfric. [color=ab274f]“May I lead the investigation on our end?”[/color] he requested. [color=ab274f]“I have already arranged for a few people to look into one of his establishments.”[/color] Those few who’d follow Anastasia with an additional mission. 

As he continued gazing at his father, he mirrored his previous expression of concern. [color=ab274f]“But father,”[/color] he gentled his tone with understanding. [color=ab274f]“How do you know him?...Has he caused trouble before?”[/color] His expression was one which invited the sharing of worries. After all, he [i]dearly wanted to know[/i] just what it was that Edin did.

[color=DDB775]“... Yes you may. Keep me updated on the results you obtain, Wulfric. I expect you to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. I am not getting any younger, and one day, this…”[/color] He tapped his crown with a grin, [color=DDB775]“Will be all yours.”[/color]

The grin was easy to mimic. [color=ab274f][i]May it be soon.[/i][/color] But all he said was, [color=ab274f]“Of course, I will.”[/color]

King Edin rose and he began to approach his son. [color=DDB775]“He has not caused me any trouble before. I have heard of his name and his financial success over the last year…  I’m sure you’ll be able to uncover more information.”[/color] His expression started to darken as he came to stand before him, glaring down at him, [color=DDB775]“Wulfric… [i]There is no room for errors in your actions.[/i]”[/color] He held his gaze with intensity, [color=DDB775]“I may have mentioned this before, but it's crucial that you understand it now more than ever. Your reputation must remain untarnished. Every decision you make holds immense importance, including the choice of your future wife…”[/color] He narrowed his eyes as he admitted, [color=DDB775]“I hope to hear that you've made progress in that regard.”[/color]

Wulfric stood up to face him, and folded his hands behind his back. This action was born largely of habit than of any true respect. [color=ab274f]“I know,”[/color] he intoned gravely. [color=ab274f]“I have been acquainting myself with ladies whom I have not known previously. It is the courting season, after all…I foresee no issues in picking one by the end of this summer.”[/color] He liked Mayet so far, though didn’t mention it as he was aware his father did not. Besides, there were still some others he’d prefer to meet and get to know better. He would rather not settle for someone; yet given his age, that was not a reason his father would accept.

More importantly, the king had [i]evaded[/i] the previous issue. There had been that initial worry, so he had to know more than he was saying. [color=ab274f]“It is unfortunate some were involved in last night’s scandal. You know how fainthearted women can be, and how they love to gossip…”[/color] He was sure he owed more than one silent apology to womenfolk everywhere for that comment. However, he had to turn the topic back somehow. [color=ab274f]“It would be [i]reassuring[/i] to all for this to be settled sooner rather than later. So, please, if there is [i]any[/i] other concern regarding Delronzo, would you share it with me?”[/color] He tilted his head, and took a guess, [color=ab274f]“Does he know something he shouldn’t? Or are there perhaps strange rumours surrounding him?”[/color]

King Edin had not interrupted him, perhaps to Wulfric’s surprise, and let him finish speaking before he told him softly, [color=DDB775]“Make sure whichever woman you choose is attractive and has a smile that will enchant the people… People make most of their judgments off looks alone. Secondly, she must be submissive and obedient. You are right that women are very fainthearted and they cannot be trusted to make decisions. Be wary of women who overestimate their self-importance. If you long for the company of different women over time, it is perfectly fine for you to accumulate as many mistresses as you may like. Just make sure the one who stands at your side is one who knows her place.”[/color]

His thoughts moved far off for just a moment, [color=DDB775]“It does not matter in the end what happens behind closed doors as long as you keep them there, Wulfric. All that matters is what is seen.”[/color] The King looked down at his son once more and grinned, [color=DDB775]“As for I, what’s seen of my appearance is more than enough for most, however, you have a little of your mother in you so you might need to do a little more work.”[/color] His words were accompanied by a hearty laugh, revealing his smug amusement. Wulfric had merely nodded wherever appropriate thus far, not revealing any of his disagreement or distaste. His father’s ‘joke’ prompted an eyebrow to slowly creep up in disbelief at the old man’s conceit. However, he kept any comments to himself.

[color=DDB775]“Just kidding… Well, sort of. Anyway, Delronzo will pose no issue for us. He will be addressed and we will uncover the truth… It's rather perplexing, considering this is the first time I've heard of him being involved in any sort of trouble,"[/color] he added, his irritation evident in the final statement.

[color=ab274f]“As you say,”[/color] he finally spoke. First fear, now anger…So, either Edin had truly not noticed any issues, or he hadn’t minded them as they’d been kept ‘behind closed doors’, as he’d put it. Either way, even if his father hadn’t considered there to be any, that did not mean there hadn’t been problems. It’s only that now, it was something obvious, undeniable, and apparent to them all. [color=ab274f]“Has the man ever worked for you - directly, that is?”[/color] he queried.

King Edin stared at his son. The question was an interesting one; however, he technically was not lying as he replied, [color=DDB775]“No.”[/color] 

His son raised an eyebrow at the curt and swift answer. [color=ab274f]“Any dealings with him at all? You must have heard more about him than I have,”[/color] he asserted.

Edin looked like he wanted to sigh. Though he wanted him to be as prepared as possible, this was the heaviest burden of them all. [color=DDB775]“Wulfric. You won’t have to worry about him.”[/color] He rose up and told him with a rare display of some sympathy in his tone, [i][color=DDB775]“You’re not ready yet.”[/color][/i] 

Lines of frustration etched Wulfric’s expression. [color=ab274f]“Father, I can handle far more than you realize. I [i]am[/i] ready,”[/color] he countered. [color=ab274f]“I can [i]deal with it.[/i] Why won’t you trust me? Aren’t I your [i]heir[/i]?”[/color] He clenched his hands behind his back, a thread of agitation making his temples pulse. What was it with this play at protectiveness? Now, of all times? Just why?

After a pause, he spoke again, [color=DDB775]“Let go of this obsession. I am still King and you are still the prince. I will handle the situation-”[/color] A staff member suddenly ran in and began whispering in his ear. [color=DDB775]“Oh… [i]Oh[/i]... Gods.”[/color] King Edin commented in between whisperings. The man looked at Wulfric with a nervous expression and quickly ran back out.

The King looked at Prince Wulfric and told him, [color=DDB775]“Duke Vikena irritated one of the Sultan’s daughters enough to throw a knife at him…. Now the Sultan is leaving and bringing his daughter with him tomorrow.”[/color] 

Wulfric frowned at the sudden interruption. What inopportune timing…Even so, the information was concerning. [color=ab274f]“I see,”[/color] he said, despite not at all seeing how it could have come to something like this. He then sighed. [color=ab274f]“Well, I already intended to get the details of this dinner from Auguste,”[/color] he stated. 

[color=ab274f]“If I may?”[/color] he requested to take his leave. At the permission, he offered a curt bow. Just before departing, he had some final words for his father, however. [color=ab274f]“Please consider what I have said. I can handle whatever it is, but not without knowing.”[/color]

Edin gave his son a nod and averted his gaze as he considered his last statement, uncertain for once.[/color]