Chapter Text
Rouxls was sitting at his table, spending more than half an hour putting his hair in a braid with many thin, wispy strands sticking out. It looked far more luscious in his mind than it did in the mirror.
Under normal circumstances he would have no need to additionally style his hair, but today is the final day of rebuilding the old card castle, this time rebranded a kaard castle, with no one else but Rouxls himself at the head of the project. How could he finish establishing the main hall with his hair in the way? That is no way to work. And by all means, his work consists of sitting in a fancy chair and telling others what to do.
Suddenly, he heard someone politely knock on the huge double door of his room.
"Come inne!" He ordered with an arrogant voice.
"Oh helloeth Ralsei!" Rouxls looks at the fluffy goat boy with a warm look, proud to have finally learned his name.
"I amst glad to have thou here during the very soon reopeninge of the newe and more sophisticated kaard castle!" He gestured broadly, almost hitting a vase with his right hand.
"Oh- thank you, really, it's an honor to be here, hah. I- um ... Came here to talk to you for a bit if you don't mind...."
"No of courseth i donst minde. Followe."
Rouxls escorted the prince of darkness through the dining room, kitchen, halls with the guest rooms, a large, almost neverending stairway...
"Didn't we pass this statue two times already?" Ralsei muttered as they passed through one of the many living rooms.
The truth was, Rouxls hasn't even seen half of the castle and he had no idea where they were heading. He just shrugged with an ignorant face expression and continued at a fast pace.
After some time, they finally made it to the beautifully ornamented terrace with a tiny tea table and three chairs, just the ones they have in cafes in Italy or other Mediterranean countries, but there is no way for them to know that.
Ralsei felt as if he was walking for more than an hour, which was probably true considering the concerning size of the inside of the castle, which must be at least five times larger than the outside of it.
Only as he sat down, Ralsei noticed that Rouxls was holding a tray with a tea pot, two porcelain tea cups, all of them decorated in baby pink flowery motives and a sugar bowl. He poured the tea in both cups without a word and elegantly sat down.
"Nowe what did thou want to discuss, dear prince?"
"So... um-"
"Before thou start thine babbling i wouldst just wante to asketh some questions abouth mine little princ- kinge!"
"Well he's -"
"Ist he takinge his dayle vitamine supplementes?"
"I-i think so-"
"Does he liketh the synthesizere i boughte him?"
"He does very much! Kris is teaching him to play it-"
Rouxls let out a tiny excited gasp in the middle of Ralsei's explaining.
"How couldst i forgete! His newe room ist finished! Thou canst telle him to come backe home as soon as thou get backe to thine castle. I shalt even maketh a tinye celebration!"
"The thing is, Mr. Kaard, prince Lancer expressed a wish to stay at the castle with his friends."
"...Oh!..."
Rouxls' sorrowful look dropped down at those words. He started fidgeting with the fringes on the tablecloth. He could feel Ralsei observing him with pity.
"That'is... That'is perfectly fine!... I juste... miss him dearlye."
"I'm sure he misses you too! And don't worry, Susie, Kris and i are taking great care of him!"
Ralsei said with an sympathetic smile, trying to make him feel at least a bit better.
After a moment of silence with downcast howling through the air, Ralsei decided to utter a word.
"I wasted quite a lot of your time, haven't i? Let's just get to the thing. Ever since Lancer and his brave army overthrew King, he has been given the title of the ruler of Castle Town. Unfortunately... How do i put this into words... Even if Lancer has the title, he also is forbidden from conducting the kingdom, since he's too young. We need a replacement until he comes of age."
"Hmm... I donst think i knowe anywone worthy of that position. Well, may luck be with thou in finding one!"
Rouxls lifted up the cup with his pinky extended at a sharp angle, trying to be as "elegant" as he could, but it just made him look even gayer (if that's even possible). He took a slow sip, looking every bit like a lord of mannerism.
"The replacement must be you, Rouxls."
He spit out his tea in utter disbelief. This can't be happening, can it? He looked down to see both his suit and the tablecloth covered in liquid. He started coughing as if he swallowed a gemstone rather than some tea.
"THOU JESTETH" he wheezed with an ironic reaction. "Thou art a funnye little creature, prince of towneship, but that is a cruelte joke to play upon a man of mine status!"
This is not a joke," Ralsei said, without even flinching at the mess Rouxls made. "The people are restless, they don't want a king, but they do need a someone to keep everything under control. Someone who knows the laws..."
"Then uuuhhhh..... Forme a parlamente!" Rouxls was rocking on the chair, making earbleeding screeches. "Let the Addisons argue amongst themselves, make them battle for glorye!" His gaze wandered around the terrace. "Let the Maus decide! Give the Swatches a ballot box and let moi liveth in peace!"
"You know we can't do that, Mr. Kaard." Ralsei continued, standing up from his chair and stepping around the table. Even tho the Puzzlemaker kept acting like a child, Ralsei continued to explain respectfully. "You said it yourself, people in here cannot be trusted enough to be given the right to lead a whole kingdom. They need a face they're used to."
"What about Queen?" Rouxls gestured at the horizon, "She hath the charisma and the batteries!"
"She never got the title officiated. That's just a nickname. She is just a company shareholder. The one with narcissistic views of herself... Besides, you're a monarchist, aren't you?" Ralsei said with a vicious voice, piercing through Rouxls' silly excuses. "You're a Royalist, Rouxls. You've been serving the throne your whole life! Are you saying that you'll abandone Lancer's kingdom just because it's difficult?"
The mentioning of Lancer made the Duke freeze. It felt like adding physical weight to his shoulders, enough to make his stomach spin. Rouxls got up, pinning his shoulders on the terrace railing, looking like he needs some air even though they were already outside. His face was almost impossible to read, an unnatural expression rabbled with panic, terror, confusion, aggravation.
"I ... I amst... A puzzlemaker.", the arrogant voice is gone, now replaced with a shaky whisper. "I do not runne a race, prince... I amst not goinge to try to make it longer, i do not agree to this, i-....."
"You'll have to be more mature than that, Rouxls. Take responsibility." Ralsei started to raise his voice at him, implementing that he's lost his patience. He rarely gets frustrated like that. Ralsei snapped back, looking down at the soaked table. He softened his tone, but still kept the pressure firm. "For Lancer."
After a short pause, Ralsei broke the silence once again. This time the silence felt heavier. The prince noticed Rouxls holding his breath nervously, staring at the wide landscape of Castletown in uncertainty. "I uh.... Guess i should give you some information. The coronation will be soon. Now, of course you'll still need some preparation. I think there are some books in your library... Aisle 14 if I'm not mistaken?" Ralsei added, trying to be as encouraging as he could.
Maybe he is to hard on the novice puzzlemaker. It must be hard to deal with that after the imprisonment of his liege, his son becoming avoidant and a dirty breakup. He was just about to leave when he felt a cold, sweaty hand resting on his shoulder. Rouxls quickly pulled it away as the boy turned around.
"Can.... Can thou just tell the little prince to visit me.... when he'st not busye. None pressure, though."
"I sure will!"