I Accidentally Became the Main Character of a Romance Novel but I Just Want to Kill People
The First Suitor: Frederick
It was custom to send advance notice when visiting the royal palace. But dear Lucifer had never been overtly strict about custom. In the past Frederick found his longtime friend’s little quirks quite endearing. Circumstances being what they were, however, he feared someone needed to put their foot down. And if that person wouldn’t be Lucifer, well, then the task fell upon Duke Frederick von Eldritch.
When Seviathan had come to him ranting and raving about Crown Princess Charlotte’s recent behavior, well, of course he felt a twinge of annoyance. But first and foremost, he was a father who would do anything for his child.
His poor, stupid, heartbroken child who couldn’t quite grasp that it was his latest fling with—who was it again? Glitz? Glam?—that girl that had driven dear Charlotte away. Away and into the arms of, apparently, a brute mercenary picked up from the gutter. Not something Frederick would have ever expected from that dear sweet girl.
In truth, Frederick’s own interest in the situation was piqued when Seviathan mentioned the sorts of lowlifes Charlotte was apparently surrounding herself with. The mercenary, for one, but more worryingly, some new servant who had the gall to mouth off to nobility. Who then faced no repercussions whatsoever! Well! Frederick would just have to instruct her on how to manage an uppity commoner, wouldn’t he? He’d see this servant cast out to the streets where he belonged, and this tiny dispute between his son and Lucifer’s daughter settled for good.
Perhaps he’d give Lucifer a scolding for good measure.
Freddy’s carriage approaches the royal palace, through an apple orchard
The butler (dunno which character yet) greets Fred at the door and says Lucifer isn’t available. Fred says, ‘That’s fine, I’m here for Princess Charlotte anyway.’
Servants begin panicking because Charlie’s missing. There’s a mad scramble to try to find her. Frederick eventually gets irritated waiting and goes to look for her himself
Frederick finds Charlie and Vaggie in the palace gardens testing a wooden box with a person’s voice coming out of it
Frederick and Charlie chat, but it’s mostly Frederick chastising Charlie for sneaking out into the city, hiring unvetted people onto the palace staff, and allowing those people to speak rudely to the aristocracy
Alastor makes his appearance now that the radio test is done
“Ah, so you’re the man who brought up that insufferable brat! The resemblance is uncanny.”
Frederick had expected impertinence.
In no way was he prepared for this level of sheer audacity!
“Alastor!” Charlotte cried. She waffled between Frederick and the commoner, hands fluttering around helplessly and eyes fraught with panic. “He didn’t mean that, Uncle Freddy-”
The man threw his hand up, as though exasperated with this whole conversation. He, the lowborn commoner, exasperated with the duke and the princess!
“You know…” Frederick leaned forward, bringing his face close to the young man’s. He had a good few inches on this servant and utilized the height difference, however slight, to his advantage. “Most servants know to hold their tongues in the presence of nobility.”
To his credit, the commoner did not so much as flinch. He held Frederick’s intense gaze, that enigmatic smile never wavering.
“Oh, my apologies,” the commoner drawled. “Your son’s manners were just so atrocious, I was under the impression his father had no concept of them either!”
And then the commoner stepped forward, those large, brown eyes appearing almost red under the twilight sky as the bored into Frederick’s own.
The silence stretched on between them. Frederick could feel the other man’s breaths, slow and even, tickling his face. He smelled like earth, like moss and rain and summer nights filled with fireflies and… something metallic?
Frederick breathed in deep… and released a soft, breathy laugh. He drew back, eyes roving up and down Alastor as he actually took account of Charlotte’s new servant for the first time. His poised, yet relaxed posture—almost more befitting a noble than a servant—the way he tilted his head back to look down the length of his nose at the duke.
“Well,” Frederick finally said, the corners of his lips curling upwards. “I suppose I only have myself to blame for the terrible impression my son has allowed you to have of me.”
At last, Alastor’s expression faltered. Just barely, nearly imperceptible if not for Frederick’s many years of experience in the ballrooms. An admission of guilt was the very last thing Alastor had been expecting. What then, Frederick wondered, would he have done if Frederick had reacted in anger? He pressed on.
“However, you might still learn to mind your tongue. Few nobles would stand for this level of disrespect from a commoner.”
Alastor tilted his head to the side. Brought a hand up to his mouth as though to stifle a laugh. The hairs on the back of Frederick’s neck rose as those eyes pierced straight through him.
“Well then, I suppose I’ll just have to thank my lucky stars you’re so very magnanimous, won’t I?”
Charlotte’s eyes flicked back and forth between both men, unsure of what to make of this strange new energy between them. She turned to her pet mercenary with a pleading look, only to be met with a bewildered stare to mirror her own. Then, with a nervous smile, she stepped forward, easing her way between them.
“So, uh, Uncle Freddy… Would you like to stay for dinner?”
