Prince Edward's Visit

"What madness are those Ganti mages proposing?!" Dion asked, shaking his head and throwing his arms in the air, unable to fully process the proposal Nicholas had told him about.

"Well, it seems they stumbled upon an ancient book telling them about how mages don't reach their full magical potential and how we can transfer both mana and magic through methods." Nicholas shook his head as he heard how silly it sounded.

"It's crazy!" Dion said in disbelief. "Did you agree to it? Do they know that you can harness mana without having to have intercouse with someone?"

"I agreed to it, yes. I can take and transfer mana, but I can't take a person's magic." Nicholas tried his best to explain the situation to Dion. He could only hope his chief minister understood the difference between his way of harnessing versus the method Brie and Ryenne were suggesting.

"Right." Dion nodded as he understood the prince's point.

"I think if I could have some Vale magic I can trigger my memories." Nicholas calmly explained as he walked in search of a change of clothes.

For some reason he felt as if the death that hovered around the Ganti Wing of the palace had stuck to his clothes.

He wanted to change, he felt gloomy and miserable in what he was wearing.

"Jorin!" Nicholas shouted as he searched his room for something suitable to wear. Unfortunately he didn't know where Jorin had placed his clothing.

"What do you need your highness?" Jorin asked as he bowed at Nicholas, stealing a glance at the stunned Dion.

"You heard everything?" Dion asked Jorin, who was hesitant to respond.

"Get me a change of clothes first and a sack or something for the ones I am wearing." Nicholas ordered Jorin.

The servant jumped at his command and opened a closet, pulling out a complete set of court clothes for the prince.

"Answer my minister, truthfully." Nicholas ordered.

"Yes, Minister Dion, I heard everything." Jorin kept his eyes on the ground, ashamed to have eavesdropped on the prince and his minister.

"Agree with me! What the princess and her lady are suggesting is completely crazy!" Dion demanded making Nicholas laugh.

He hadn't expected his chief minister to act like a child and demand that Nicholas' servant agree with him on his opinion on the plan.

"I have to side with Minister Dion on this one, your highness. I think you just want to sleep with Lady Ryenne." Jorin blurted out, making Nicholas stare at him as it was now Dion's turn to laugh.

"Right! Right!" Dion chuckled as Nicholas rolled his eyes and picked up the clothes Jorin had prepared for him as well as the sack for the clothes he was wearing.

"I do not want to sleep with Ryenne." Nicholas grumbled as he stepped out of his clothing and changed into the fresh ones.

Instantly he felt a weight lifted from him, colors were more vivid and he could think clearly.

"So you do not find the Lady Ryenne attractive, your highness?" Jorin teased making Nicholas groan as he placed on the fresh clothes.

"I did not say that, Jorin!" Nicholas shouted from behind the screen.

"Well, a prince's standards must always be higher than ours, Jorin. Do not forget that." Dion teased, adding more fuel to the fire.

"I am glad that you are both getting along." Nicholas rolled his eyes despite the two men not being able to see him.

He knew from what memories he had that Dion and Jorin did not previously have a personal relationship. As a matter of fact, Dion distrusted Jorin since he was a magic-less servant.

"I see now why you insisted on keeping this one and this one alone. Most other princes have many servants, you've only always wanted one." Dion commented as Nicholas stepped out from behind the changing screen.

"I trust both you and Jorin." Nicholas simply said as a knock came from the door.

"That will be either Regan or Regina." Dion said as Jorin walked over to see who their guest was.

"Your highness!" Regan said, panting as if he had rushed to get to Nicholas' chambers.

"What is it Regan? You look like you ran across the hall." Nicholas pointed out as he gestured for his minister of arms to take a seat.

Regan politely refused as he caught his breath.

"Prince Nicholas, your older brother, Prince Edward is a very impatient man. He is on his way, he wants to speak to you." Regan said as he managed to pass the message that had him running across the palace.

"I'll receive him in my office." Nicholas calmly said as he nodded at Regan. "Jorin, prepare the room as well as some beverages. Dion, could you receive my brother and inform him I will be joining him soon."

Dion and Jorin both bowed towards Nicholas as they went on their way to prepare for Prince Edward's visit.

"Regan, I need you to deal with this." Nicholas passed the sack of his clothes to Regan. "Do not touch the contents, I believe that if someone other than I handles the contents it could kill."

Regan nodded as he picked the sack up and left Nicholas alone in his chambers.

Nicholas checked that he was still wearing all of his limiters and that he looked presentable, before finally walking out of his chambers and marching to meet his elder brother.

When he entered his office, he could already tell that the tension between Edward's ministers and his was already high.

He also wasn't surprised to find Edward sitting behind his desk, on his chair, reading the documents on the table.

It was a good thing that he had sent Jorin ahead to prepare the room, ensuring that any important documents were stored in a more secure location.

"I'm surprised you decided to come here, brother." Nicholas gave Edward a small bow, deferring to his older brother's higher status.

"Some matters are best discussed as soon as possible, what do you think of the idea of working with me for the throne?" Edward smiled at Nicholas who struggled to seem shocked by his brother's proposal.

"Ah, your mind is not capable of fully graping my proposal!" Edward exclaimed as soon as he realized that Nicholas was confused by what he had said. "Sit, let me tell you the details."