“Your daughter is doing something ridiculous”
looks at the father doing the exact same thing
“Ah I see, it’s hereditary” -- Anon Guest
Duke Garibald Tansie would never admit out loud that he was slightly ashamed of his King. There were several good reasons, starting with the fact that Kormwind Arachis Felbourne Whitekeep, ninth of the name, was devilborn. A Hellkin.
There was also the matter of his upbringing. Sent to the other side of the world to learn martial arts and a minimalist way of living. And then, on his way home, taking up adventuring to earn his keep.
Disgraceful.
Worse and worse to the Nobility around him, the King of Conquest, Kormwind IX then refused to change anything simply because of his elevation. He considered himself a public servant who sorted out the bigger picture and saw to it that his subjects had a decent lifestyle.
He could have had much more ornate jewellery made for his horns, but instead maintained the "Devil's Diadem" he had worn when he was nothing more than an Earl.
Given how the King had made his father build his walls, Garibald dreaded this Duchal Meet. Another dreadful old tradition dating back to times before glory.
There was a little Hellkin girl clambering around the Grand Court. Using architectural features as handholds. She threw herself around with ease. Much to Garibald's horror.
This was a Princess! Heir to the crown, or at least a great asset to Whitekeep's alliances. How could her father possibly let her do these things?
The answer was on the chandalier above Garibald's head. Where the King himself was hanging by his knees. "That's it, liebchen. You're almost there. All you have to do is time the big jump just as I'm the furthest away."
Oh gods help them all. He was teaching his bad habits to all of his kids.
Garibald watched in horror as the King caught his daughter and then vaulted off his perch to land in front of him.
"What are you doing?" Garibald yawped. "This is unseemly behaviour!"
"If meine kinder cannot escape a castle under siege at least three different ways," announced King Kormwind, "then I have not taught them anything useful."
[Photo by Zakaria Zayane on Unsplash]
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