The World Dragon's Heir - Chapter 801: Friend Larry

Dominic wasn’t certain who was the most excited about the coronation by the morning that it was set to start.

According to those working in the Palace, it was a tight toss up between Katerina, who wanted to be able to claim that she had been tutored by a King, and the Second Prince, who just wanted all the political scheming to end, as he would no longer be next in line to the throne if something happened to Claudius.

The two of them had been working each other up as they studied rare magical tomes in the Royal Library the past two days.

The Prince had put it in her head that it was an incredible thing to be able to boast that you truly were personally tutored by a King. It was a mark of extreme favour within the Kingdom, and an indication to others that you had potential worth recognizing.

Not that Katerina needed that.

At five years old, both her innate magic and her recently acquired Mage Trade Skill Core were at level five.

She viewed that as being perfectly in balance, all the numbers the same.

It wasn’t going to last long, her trade skill core was about to level up again as she kept studying and practicing new spells. Her memory was exceptional enough that there were no months long processes to memorize and use new spells, she could gain one every day.

If she focused, it might be two per day.

That was how things were going here in the Palace.

She had been spending sixteen hours a day in the Library, hiding with the Second Prince.

It served both of their purposes, keeping them out from underfoot as the preparations for the coronation were completed, and away from the flood of political Nobles who were searching for both of them.

For the Second Prince, it was to see if he would raise an objection. For Katerina, it was to introduce her to their younger sons.

They were doomed on both accounts.

The Princess was far too mature for her age, and introducing her to a bunch of five-year-old boys would not impress her in the least. In fact, it might just lead to her having an even lower opinion of them, as many of those boys had not yet been taught to read beyond the basics.

And that was unacceptable to her.

There was no scenario where she could see herself getting along with someone dumb.

Dave might not be the brightest person in the world, but he wasn’t dumb, he was simple. When there were things that Dave needed to know, he knew them. All other things were simply deemed irrelevant to Dave and therefore not remembered.

She could see how that concerned some people, but Dave could read. Most of the time, even in multiple languages.

“Highness, one hour until the ceremony starts. Your presence is required in the throne room,” one of the servants whispered.

“Alright, I will be right there. I just need to escort Miss Katerina somewhere.”

“No need, Your Highness. We can bring her back to Princess Alexis.”

Prince Alex nodded and a pair of young men stepped forward to escort Katerina to her mother as Amie seemed to materialize from the bookshelves. The mage silently shadowed them, in case the staff here weren’t trustworthy.

There was no way for the Second Prince, who was often out of the Palace, to know everyone who might be sent.

As Alexis was now the Duchess of Wistover, and not considered directly in the line of succession anymore, she would be standing near the front of the crowd with the other High Nobles.

Alex would be up on stage with his father and brother, serving as honour guard for the ceremony.

Halfway down the hall, they were intercepted by a man in a dark green velvet coat, who had a very reluctant looking ten-year-old boy with him. The boy was wearing a mask that covered most of his face, and was shaped like the demon masks that the Royal Theatre’s latest play was using.

“Ah, young Miss Katerina, what a coincidence. I am Duke Bridmin of Bothersia. I believe that you’ve not had a chance to meet my youngest son yet.”

Katerina curtsied politely. “Your Grace, it’s always a pleasure to meet new people. Greetings to you and your son…”

She trailed off, as the boy hadn’t been introduced. But he only stammered for a moment and didn’t manage to get his name out.

“He’s a bit shy. Larry, say hello. And take that silly mask off.”

The boy took his mask off and Katerina smiled. “Oh, he’s a Larry. That makes sense now. No need to hide behind the mask with me, Larry and Dave have always been friends to the Wavemates.”

The Duke chuckled and shrugged. “I must say that I’m a bit surprised that you noticed. His mother is a quarter Trollish, but he’s self-conscious about his appearance because of the teeth.”

Larry nodded, and Katerina patted him on the shoulder.

“I wouldn’t worry about it. Your teeth only curl your lip into a bit of a smile. People will just think that you’re happy all the time. Hiding is overrated, just be you and people will naturally want to be friends.

Everyone knows that Larry is friendly, it’s a rule.”

Larry smiled, showing off clearly Trollish lower tusks in an otherwise cute and human face.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Katerina.”

Amie stepped up beside Katerina and curtsied to the Duke. “If you would like, I believe that Duke Wistover would not mind company for the event.”

“And you are?”

“Amie, daughter of the Baron of Skipton River. I live in Wistover Manor now, and accompany the Young Miss.”

So, a Lady in Waiting, the Duke realized.

It wasn’t common for the daughter of a Duke to have one at such a young age, but then the Duchy of Wistover was in a unique position, and there were rumours of vast wealth accumulated in the last few years after the city was settled.

Perhaps the Duke simply didn’t feel comfortable letting his daughter wander alone?