Royal Invitation

Last night Will attended Duke Wulfric von Mueller's Welcome Party. The lavish party was held at his home. The Duke had a large grand mansion, much larger than Duke vont Whitby or even his manor in Gadreel.

Unlike his houses in Yorkshire and Gadreel, in Annapolis, the nobility displayed their majestic mansion to the populace. The manors were larger and more ostentatious than in Tirana or Yorkshire.

And the largest mansion in Annapolis belonged to Duke von Mueller. The mansion was comparable to a small palace. If the Duke's mansion were a castle, it would have been larger than the castle in Yorkshire. The Mueller estate was twice as wide and half as tall.

When he entered, Will admired the lavish interior and sumptuous feast. Duke Wulfric greeted him affably. To Duke Wulfric, Will was his patron saint. The von Muller family owned the largest mercantile business in the empire.

As far as Duke Wulfric was concerned, it was by God's grace that his eldest son was sent to Fermion as an emissary.

The emissary position was an unwanted tradition for upcoming noble heirs. When Christopher von Mueller was chosen, he lamented his luck.

Looking back now, Duke Wulfric saw that as a momentous occasion. As Will patented his businesses in Fermion, Christoph von Mueller did the same in the Great Eastern Empire. Thanks, to Will, the von Mueller family had grown very wealthy.

At the party, Duke Wulfric gifted Will 15% A-Shares of his company, with the option to buy more. Fifteen percent was also the amount the von Mueller branch heads received. The significance was apparent to all, Will was considered pseudo-family.

Furthermore, those shares guaranteed Will a sizable dividend. The dividends made Will one of the wealthiest men in the empire.

At the party Duke von Mueller, his sons, and great-grandsons all treated Will as their messiah. For one of the five dukes to treat a foreign dignitary with so much respect, the imperial nobility treated Will with admiration.

One of the reasons why Will attended the dinner party was to learn more about imperial culture do's and don'ts. Will knew from his reading that imperial etiquette was formulaic and rigidly upheld.

And the first do Will learned was to smoke pipeweed. Will had always preferred cigars to pipes. But all the imperial men in attendance smoke a pipe. At the party, Will learned imperial tobacco was considered to be the best in the world.

There were three major strains of pipe tobacco: unflavored, vanilla, maple, and nutty. There also existed blends between the three major flavors.

After Will returned home from the party, he found Cherry's husband's pipe collection. The decreased man owned 10 different briar pipes and a new box pipeweed.

The pipeweed had a molasses flavor with hints of vanilla and a subtle nutty flavor. The pipeweed had an exceptionally pleasant note and burned cool under the medium body, mild strength profile. The mellow taste reminded him of his favorite cigars back in Gadreel.

In the morning, Will practiced Tai Chi and meditated with Kalista. Then he sat and watched her sparing session with Cherry providing helpful intermittent pointers.

At noon the imperial carriage came and whisked him, Nisha, and Samuel off to the palace. Will looked out the carriage admiring the large metropolis. Annapolis was larger than Tirana and Yorkshire combined.

Like Fermion, the architecture was a mix of cultures. Everything was bigger in Annapolis, the house, churches, and palace.

When Will caught sight of the palace he could tell why nobles openly flaunted their wealth and good fortune. The size of the palace was immense. Imagine the largest palace on earth inside the walled fortress as a starting point. The palace was larger than the Romanian Palace of Parliament and wider than the Forbidden City walls.

The palace dominated the city skyline. The dominant structure was there for all to see and belittle. However, Will knew the palace's main purpose, it was simply a power play. The emperor's family used the palace to emphasize their superiority over subjects.

Will was no stranger to power plays, CEOs used them all the time. Will used them himself. Once, he intentionally had his competitor's chair shortened so he could physically look down on him. On other occasions, he invite his guest to sit as he simultaneously stood over them.

All power plays shared one thing in common, intimidation. Keep your competitor off guard while you remain in control and control the conversation.

When Will walked into the castle he was astonished by the palace's grandeur. Every centimeter of the wall and ceiling was covered with paintings, frescos, murals, or tapestries. Ancient armor stood at the ready as Will was led down a corridor.

To walk the hallways of the palace was to travel back through time. Will could honestly swear he had never seen such a museum of art on Terra. The palace could easily rival the most famous art museums on Earth.

After being announced into the throne room, Will walked 12 steps before stopping a kneeling. Imperial etiquette dictated foreign dignitaries could only walk 12 steps and then had to kneel on both knees.

"I can see you know our culture. I shall allow you to walk 20 steps more and bring him a chair," the emperor said.

There were loud gasps from the court because only imperial Earls could approach within 22 steps of his Imperial Majesty Kaiser von Wilhelm II. Furthermore, it was customary that only dukes could sit in court.

To the nobles present, the emperor treated Will better than most imperial Earls. He was clearly trying to court Will to his fraction away from the Mueller family.

Now Will's social value had increased immensely. For a lesser foreign noble to be treated as a branch family member by a duke, and duke by a king was certainly newsworthy. Will was positive news about this had already traveled outside the palace.

From now on every imperial noble would do their best to rub shoulders with him. After all, Will had the two qualities every noble enjoyed: wealth and high social status.

At yesterday's party, several imperial women were already throwing themselves at him. A couple of women did catch his eye, but Will was not looking to add a wife yet.

"Welcome, Earl vont Ballard. I must say I have been looking forward to meeting you," the emperor said smiling.

"Your Imperial Majesty Kaiser von Wilhelm II the pleasure is all mine. To meet the emperor is the achievement of one's life," Will said spouting imperial rhetoric.

"I can see you've taken well to imperial culture. Your dress, accent, and mannerism are all impeccable. Are you considering moving here? I can tell you; that you would be most welcome. And I would pay for your moving expenses," the emperor advertised.

"Your imperial majesty, I have been fond of imperial culture for a while. I am sure you know my first stop in Annapolis was the tailor and bookstore. I have a sizable collection of books on imperial culture. I was excited to find new books to add to my collection," Will lied.

"Yes, imperial culture has a long-distinguished history. While some claim our culture is too formulaic and rigid, order demands structure. And structure must be upheld or what's the difference between us and animals? I'm glad you understand," Emperor Kaiser von Wilhelm II smiled.

"Thank you for the compliment your imperial majesty," Will said bowing over in his chair.

"Honestly, your answers surprise me. I would have thought you'd be less traditional. Based on your book, and the one written for your king, I thought you were a bit more of a reformer. Let me say I particularly enjoyed your book A Treatise on Classical Economics.

Your ideas on the division of labor, markets, and mercantilism align with the imperial goals of conquering and conquest.

But I see you more as a reformer than a traditionalist. I believe you're the next generation's version of traditionalism. To quote you, I believe you're a Bourgeois Traditionalist.

Oh, I quite like that term. Chamberlin, make sure you write that down, that Earl William vont Ballard is a Bourgeois Traditionalist. Also, let the Chancellor know, that I approve of the creation of a Bourgeois Traditionalist faction for young nobles. Now shall we dine," said Emperor Kaiser von Wilhelm II.

In the Great Easter Empire, banquets were a means of legitimating power. Like the rest of imperial culture, banquets had elaborate rituals. At first, it may seem odd to choose banquets as the starting point for a study of imperial legitimation. However, the banquet was the symbol of the good ruler, beloved by the gods and his own subjects.

The banquet was also an excellent way for the emperor to demonstrate hierarchy, his political might, and his geographical power. By summoning the most important regional power brokers the emperor could reinforce his generosity and affability, while simultaneously publicly shaming interlopers.

Rituals of this kind play many important social and political roles. Sumptuous feasts followed imperial peerage and were key to understanding social relations. Table manners, conversations, and the seating orders all followed highlighted one's standing in the peerage, and within a designated fraction.

Luxurious feasts were warzones littered with minefields. Only the most adept may come out socially alive others may leave being socially marooned.

Imperial culture in a nutshell was spartan. Only the worthy rose to the top regardless of their peerage. But power was also fleeting. This was why imperial banquets held a morbid fascination.

The palace had several banquet halls. Will was led into the banquet hall for emissaries. Ultimately signaling to the imperial nobles, that the emperor saw Will as a respected envoy of great stature. Once again sending Will's marriageability stock soaring.

Will sat between the king and Cardinal of the Church of Gaia. Throughout the feast, Will made strategic small talk with the king and other guests. Yet Will struggled to use the correct imperial formalities of his stature.

"I am impressed Earl, to know our culture so well. You must have diligently studied our culture for some time. I am quite pleased your manners and speech have been impeccable thus far. I believe some here may secretly believe you grew up in the empire," the Emperor Kaiser von Wilhelm II laughed.

"Thank you, your majesty, but if I may I'd like to get down to business. I was told you have a map to the secret Dragon Realm. Could you please tell me whether you have the map or if the Dragon Realm is a hoax?" Will asked.

"No, the Dragon Realm is real, and I do have the map. I've never been there, but I have met dragons before. Dragons have a shorter temper than I and they do not suffer fools, so be careful.

But before I give you the map I have a question for you. There is growing momentum among my nobles to pass the Great Charter that arose in your kingdom. My spies tell me you helped your king kill such a document. Advise me now on how I should proceed. Should I declare them heretics like you?" the emperor asked Will.

"Your imperial majesty, may I have permission to speak plainly?" Will asked.

"Permission granted," the emperor excused Will.

Now everyone at the banquet looked quizzically at Will. They were curious about what advice may give.

"Your majesty, I do not have enough information about imperial politics to advise you. I suggest you lean on your advisers and ministers. If I may get the map and I'll be on my way," Will explained.

"Unlike your king. My constant warring has taken a toll on our treasury. My troops are stretched thin and regional lords gaining power. Especially your new family member Duke Wulfric von Mueller. His finances are proving an inconvenience, as he continues to hire more soldiers and mercenaries to guard his port cities. He has even taken over other port cities.

Yet, he is not alone. Other lords are warring against each other. Normally, I don't mind, but I find myself temporarily in a position of political weakness. I need to do something to weaken these regional warlords and centralize my authority.

Some advisers suggest I pull my troops to reinforce the capital. Others suggest I send the few troops I have to attack these regional warlords to stop them from gaining more authority. However, if I leave our borders defenseless then Qhosnir Empire may attack.

Of course, I can also leave them to fight among each other in hopes they weaken each other, and then I can strike when each is at their lowest. Which of these do you recommend?" the Emperor Kaiser von Wilhelm II asked forcefully.

"Your majesty, I am not fit to decide. I just want the map. I am in a race against time," Will pleaded.

"Then I suggest you answer quickly," the emperor said frustratedly.

"If I answer then shall you give me the map?" Will asked hiding his own frustration at the king insisting on putting him in a corner.

"Of course, but I also want your train and airship blueprints?" the Emperor Kaiser von Wilhelm II said greedily.

"You may have the train blueprints today, only Rupert has the airship blueprints," Will informed the king.

"That's fine, I don't want to be... too greedy," he said facetiously.

"The answer to your question depends on your goal. If you want to retain your power in the short term, I suggest you accept the Great Charter. However, if you think you can hold on to power in the long term then I suggest you strike your enemies at their weakest.

But if the warlords ban together then it may be too late. Therefore, you should accept the Great Charter, which should buy you time," Will advised.

"I thank you for your advice, I shall consider it alongside my advisers Chamberlin, had Will the map. But do get the blueprints first," Emperor Kaiser von Wilhelm II laughed hauntedly.

In the Great Eastern Empire, it was customary to end a sumptuous feast with a present. Once the blueprint and map were exchanged, Will bade farewell to the emperor and hurried the carriage back to Cherry's estate.