Chapter 293 - 291:Good Servant.

Chapter 293: Chapter 291:Good Servant.

Most men would baulk at confessing their sins to their king.

​Most men wouldn’t even entertain the notion.

​Yet here Drogger is, unflinching.

​"There is...someone I wish to pursue."

​Even Gurdet, in his infinite wisdom and all seeing eyes has to take pause to process that.

​"...Romantically?" he clarifies, unable to keep his expression entirely neutral.

Drogger’s lips thin as he raises an eyebrow.

​"That was the implication."

​"You must be clearer regarding these matters," Gurdet tuts, shaking his head, "Context matters, Drogger."

​"Of course, Your Majesty."

​Always so formal, his Captains.

​Well, two of them.

​"So this request of yours..." he prompts, looking over his glasses at Drogger and eyeing the way his expression starts to pinch.

​"...Their father does not approve," he elaborates, tone dry.

​Ah.

Such a classic. No wonder Drogger looks so strained. He always was so strangely proper about these things.

It must be killing him that he can’t get the girl’s father’s approval. From a noble family, he suspects, although they must be particularly notorious for Drogger to be coming straight to him.

​No matter. Such things can be smoothed over. It’s one of the perks of being a king, after all.

​"And you would like me to endorse your pursuit despite their objections?" It’s a safe guess. It’s not the first time men have come to him with such requests, and Gurdet doubts it’ll be the last.

​"...Correct."

​"Well, I must say I’m surprised," Gurdet muses, already moving to start up a letter.

​I, Gurdet Hector, Crown and King of the Kingdom of Crade, lend my support of Second Captain Drogger Noog in the pursuit of marriage, blah blah blah.

Gods, it’s been a while since he’s had to write one of these. He always forgets how wordy they are.

​"It’s high time you found someone," he remarks offhandedly, cursing as he realises he’s left out about three of his formal titles.

And the girl’s father will definitely notice –nobles can be so particular about these sorts of things.

It’s why dealing with them can be such a chore.

​He scrunches the thing up and starts over.

​"...Although I can’t imagine why anyone would object to having a Captain as a potential son-in-law –" he continues casually. And a fine one, at that, " –What kind of father wouldn’t want their daughter to –"

​"Son."

​Drogger’s interjection makes Gurdet pause for a second time. And when he looks up, Drogger meets his gaze unflinchingly.

​"I am...pursuing his son."

​Gurdet puts his pen down. Then he closes his eyes and presses the wrinkles out of his brow and lets that information sink in.

Because while the person to whom he is referring could very well be anyone in this castle, there’s one lord in particular who disapproves of Drogger Noog and his station above all the rest.

One who would never give his son up to the likes of him in a thousand years.

​Surely not.

​"Drogger," he states airily, drumming a hand along his desk, "This son –"

​The fact that Drogger cuts him off is proof enough.

​"...Does it matter who he is?" he inquires flatly, and Gurdet gives him a dry look.

​"It does if it’s Rogard Spidra."

​It happens. Drogger’s expression finally wavers.

​"I’ll take that as a yes," Gurdet remarks offhandedly, wondering if he should be concerned that for something so terribly scandalous, this is the first he’s hearing of it.

​It doesn’t escape his notice that Drogger’s shoulders tighten at his words.

​"...Are you going to support me or not?" he inquires, tone flat.

​"Do you intend to pursue him regardless?" Gurdet shoots back. And the way Drogger meets his gaze head on is almost defiant, as he assures him,

​"Yes. I do."

​"...That’s what I thought," Gurdet sniffs, and signs the letter at the bottom. There’s not a chance that it sways Lord Rogard’s opinion of the man, not after all these years spent loathing him and what he represents, but this is the least he can do, for all the services Drogger has done for him and the innumerable times he has proven his worth.

​Rogard Spidra is quite the lucky man.

​Gurdet takes care to fold the letter neatly so he can seal it with wax, then gestures for Drogger to step forward to take it.

At the end of the day it’s just words, but nobles are funny in that regardless of their own feelings they are often quick to parrot back the sentiments of their king.

​For Drogger’s sake, he prays that the same holds true for this.

​"You must really be serious about the boy," he states, as Drogger dips into a stiff bow. And as the Captain draws back, the expression he’s wearing is both as resolute as ever, yet uncharacteristically soft.

​"I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t."

...

It’s getting dark again by the time Khobi leaves the mess hall, and he could honestly not be more relieved.

How is it possible that he’s slept all day, yet he still feels so goddamned exhausted?

​Apparently that’s just what hangovers do to you.

Khobi can’t say he likes it. But if pressed, he’d say it was worth it.

​He’d meant it when he’d said he had a good time. A great time, even.

​Does he want to do it again tonight? Fuck no.

​But would he do it again next week? Or the week after? Or maybe on an innocuous summer night with the sun still high and the wind warm, just because they want to and because they can?

​Yeah. Definitely.

​(That sounds really nice.)

​But right now, the thought of putting another drop of the stuff in his body makes him feel physically ill .

Montrel says the sweet stuff always hits harder the next day, and from how absolutely vile they all feel after having practically drank the tavern dry of the stuff, Khobi is inclined to believe him.

Gods, why did they drink so much of it?

​(Loac. Khobi’s inclined to blame Loac.)

​Still queasy, but feeling slightly less ill with something in his belly Khobi staggers back to his room after dinner to find the bed freshly made, a set of clean, warm clothes neatly laid out for him, and the bath already full and steaming.

​He could cry.

​That’s it, he’s actually going to ask Binny to marry him.

The others Khobi gets because they’re seriously hopeless, but how someone hasn’t locked Binny down yet is a real mystery.