As John finished his tea and prepared to leave for the banquet with the High King, the latter broached a delicate topic.
"Say, John, have you given any thought to getting engaged?" the High King asked as they walked towards the banquet hall of the palace.
John was taken aback by the sudden question. "What?!," he exclaimed, halting in his tracks.
"No need to think too much about it," the High King said, glancing at his grandson. "I'm talking about a political engagement with a noble's daughter from a strong background. It would be very useful for you in forming connections within the academy."
John thought for a moment before responding. "I see what you mean, grandfather. But I have no thoughts on this right now. You can decide on my engagement by yourself. My opinion matters little in this regard. I don't have the luxury to care for my emotions in my situation," he said as he jogged to catch up with his grandfather, who had continued walking.
"Very well," the High King said with a slight nod. "I shall of my own volition look for an engagement partner for you."
As their conversation came to an end, they arrived before the gates of the banquet hall. The guards announced their arrival. "Attention everyone! His Majesty the High King, father of the emperor, has arrived, along with His Highness the Third Prince," one of the guards announced as he opened the gates and allowed them entry.
It was as if the bustling banquet hall had come to a standstill as all the nobles present turned their attention to the High King and his grandson, the Third Prince. To most, it may have appeared as a simple grandfather-grandson moment, but to those experienced in politics and familiar with the High King's past, it was a clear announcement of his support for the youngest prince.
This was not well-received by the nobles aligned with the other two princes, as sour expressions crossed their faces. They knew the weight of the High King's support all too well.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. I see you are doing well," said a noble dressed in a fancy velvet coat and toupee.
"Good evening, Count Cassius. I am doing fine. My days have been busier as of late, but for a man like myself, being busy only makes me feel more alive," the High King responded with a smile.
"Indeed, Your Majesty, you always seem to have your hands filled with the matters of the empire," Count Cassius replied.
The count let out a slight laugh that caused the High King's expression to turn slightly annoyed. "Haha, well, Your Highness, please enjoy the rest of the evening. Now, if you'll excuse me, I shall go visit some of my peers," he said, bowing slightly before turning his attention to the young prince beside the High King.
"Congratulations on your contract, Your Highness," the count said, smiling courteously.
"Thank you, Count Cassius," John responded, unaware of the noble's hidden intentions to belittle his authority.
"Well then, I hope to see you around, Your Highness," the count said before making his way to the group of nobles gathered around the Second Prince. And with that, the awkward conversation with the head of the Second Prince's faction came to an end.
"That sly young fox is still the same. You can't tell what's happening inside his brain," the High King said, his agitation palpable as he picked up a glass of wine from a tray held by a waiter.
"I really can't tell what he's thinking. To think such a man could be so cunning at such a young age," he said, trying to keep his agitation from showing on his face as he took a sip of his wine.
"What do you mean, grandfather?" John asked, oblivious to the nature of court politics.
The High King slowly turned towards his grandson and nodded slightly, understanding where his question came from. "Since you're young, you may not be aware of it yet, but that young noble, during our conversation, was disregarding your position as a prince. He decided to greet me and ignore you until the very end, showing that he did not accept you as a candidate for the throne," he explained.
"I see. It seems that court politics is far more convoluted than I believed it to be," John said in a confused tone, as he processed what the High King had just said.
The High King looked at John's concerned and serious expression and decided to calm him down before he started having unnecessary concerns. "Hahaha, no need to worry, son. In the five years, you work under me, you'll learn plenty about how to navigate the political scene of the empire. While it won't be easy, it will teach you enough to be able to handle yourself during your years in the academy," he said, with a reassuring smile.
Amidst the conversation between the young prince and the High King, a loud announcement once more echoed through the hall, this time announcing the arrival of the Emperor and the Empress.
"Attention all, His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, and Her Imperial Highness, the Empress, have graced us with their presence at the banquet hall."
The Emperor and Empress made their grand entrance, the Emperor in his regal, gold-embroidered robes and the Empress in her flowing, jewel-encrusted gown. They walked towards their seat, placed at the highest point in the hall, and took their place, the Emperor sitting upon his ornate throne and the Empress on her delicate, silk-cushioned chair. Soon after, the High King and the princes were called to take their seats next to the Emperor or the Empress. As such, by the Emperor's side sat the High King and the youngest prince, and by the Empress sat her two children.
As these seating arrangements were made, the Emperor was quietly informed of the arrival of the Elven delegation. In response, he decided to make an announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great honor to announce the start of the banquet. The esteemed Elven delegation, led by Her Royal Highness, Princess Eilinel, Sir Arandur, her guard, and Sir Tarenfal, a noble of the Elven kingdom, have graced us with their presence this evening.
The banquet is about to commence, and we are honored to have the Elven delegation join us for this grand occasion. Let us show them the warmest of welcomes and make their visit with us a memorable one."
As the Emperor spoke, two extremely handsome men, both dressed in intricate Elven attire, followed by a young girl who wore a veil that covered her face, entered through the grand gate and moved towards the Emperor and his family. The young girl, Princess Isadora, was adorned in elegant silk robes and her fair hair cascaded in loose waves over her shoulders, she was a vision of beauty. The two men that accompanied her, Sir Arandur and Sir Tarenfal, were equally striking in their appearances, tall and regal, with striking features and an air of authority about them.
"Greetings, Your Highness. I see that you are doing quite well," said the noble, Sir Tarenfal, as he stood beside the young Elven princess.
"Greetings, Sir Tarenfal. You too, I see, are faring quite well. And while we may not be fully aware of your customs, please make yourself comfortable. Today, for us, is a day of celebration," the Emperor said, his expression pleasant.
With a smile, the Elven noble began to speak, "Yes, Your Highness, I-" but before he could continue, a curious voice interrupted him.
"If I may interject, what is the reason for today's banquet? As far as I am aware, it was announced quite abruptly," the Elven princess said, leaning forward with curiosity evident in her voice. Her escorts turned to look at the Emperor in panic.
"Hahaha, of course, young princess. Today's celebration is to mark my youngest child's successful contract with a god. John, would you mind coming forward for a bit?" the Emperor said, nodding slightly and calling for his youngest.
"Yes, Father," John said, rising from his seat and walking towards the Emperor and the Elven delegates.
"John, would you mind showing the princess around the banquet hall? I believe she would find it more interesting than sitting through all the adult conversations," the Emperor suggested kindly.
"It would be my pleasure, Your Highness," John said, bowing slightly before offering his arm to the young princess.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for your consideration," the Elven noble, Sir Tarenfal, said gratefully.
"There is no need for that, now Sir Tarenfal, I believe you should take your seat as well. We can discuss matters of politics after the banquet," the Emperor said, gesturing for the Elven noble to take a seat.
"As you say, Your Highness. We shall talk more at a later date," Sir Tarenfal said with a courteous bow before taking his seat.
With that, the brief greetings between the two royalties came to an end, and John escorted the Elven princess around the banquet hall. As they walked, he gestured to various decorations and spoke of the significance of different dishes being served.
Meanwhile, the High King watched with a satisfied smile as the two young people walked around the hall. 'Hmmm, it seems I won't have to worry about finding a suitable engagement partner for the youngest, Eric seems to have everything well under control,' he thought to himself with a sense of relief. He took a sip of his wine, content in the knowledge that his grandson was making important connections, both politically and personally.