The Crown Prince In Hiding

Chapter 26

Bayern

Above the innovation-driven metropolis,

that night, Prince Fury and Princess Nora Ophilis continued their journey after dinner aboard the airship that had crossed from eastern to western Bayern.

They were now traveling by one of Mathema’s newer forms of public transport, developed seven years prior.

The tram.

From east to west on the airship, now the tram carried Fury and Nora back — from western Bayern toward its center.

Having seen the city from above in the evening, they now took in the view from below at night. People moving along the streets, vendors displaying their inventions at stalls, and police in tall hats like those of nineteenth-century Europe patrolling each block.

”This is impressive... they built a small train running through the city without needing enormous stations.”

”It’s called a tram.”

Nora said, resting her chin against the cushioned seat back as she turned to look at him.

”Snowhaven has already signed a contract with Mathema’s contractors to start a tram project.”

”How many years to finish?”

”About four or five, from what I heard. We’ll be laying lines throughout the capital.”

”That’s quite a large project.”

”The largest the company has ever taken on... if you don’t count the concession they gave Zentinel two years ago.”

”Everyone wants a tram, it seems.”

”A week in Mathema isn’t nearly enough for you, is it, Mr. Fury.”

”Look at that.”

Dan pointed at a promotional sign along the road and gestured for Nora to read it. The Princess looked —

Annual State Invention Exhibition — Bayern

Two stations ahead.

”You can head back if you’d like. Here, take my room key.”

But Nora raised a hand in refusal.

”It’s all right. Think of it as a walk to help with digestion.”

Nora understood this particular look well — her younger brother had the same fascination with inventions as Fury did.

”My brother starts at Artheris this term, Mr. Fury.”

”Only a year apart then.”

”What about you and Mr. Everton?”

”Five.”

”That must be a headache.”

”Don’t bring him up. I’d rather not run into him here.”

And indeed —

because Fury didn’t yet know that in roughly an hour from now, at the very invention exhibition he and Nora were about to drop in on —

”What the—?”

”Oh...?”

— he would find his brother, Everton, waiting right there.

Their eyes met across the exhibition floor, amid hundreds of invention booths and the bustle of investors and academics moving in every direction.

Dan and Nora locked eyes with a tall, handsome young man in a black suit, accompanied by a young woman in square-framed glasses.

Everton and Galatasaray.

”Well, if it isn’t my elder brother. What are you doing here?”

”I’m leaving.”

”Hey, wait — where do you think you’re going?”

Being a good deal taller than his older brother, the younger one caught him effortlessly, leaving no room for escape.

”I’m sorry, sir. I think you have the wrong person.”

”Oh, that’s rich.”

”So that’s how it is. That’s how it is.”

Everton nodded, one hand stroking his chin thoughtfully.

”A young dreamer with fire in his blood. I like it.”

Nora couldn’t tell whether he meant it. His expression gave nothing away.

”And how is your little project going, dear brother?”

”Busy. Not particularly in the mood to talk. There was someone who was supposed to handle something, and instead of doing it, they dumped the mess right in my lap.”

”Hey — I did not dump anything in your lap.”

Everton retorted,

”You have to understand, I have multiple projects to oversee. I have a great deal on my plate.”

”Then how do you explain the checks you threw at Thomasin?”

”The little mouse brought them back to you?”

”She did!”

Tongue click.

”If it were me I wouldn’t have touched them either!”

”Come now — at least you got to practice being an accountant. Running your project through me would only have slowed things down, and I don’t work at that pace. It’s like an army — just without the killing.”

The cunning young man’s blue eyes shifted from his brother to the Princess.

”Besides, you have Princess Nora right there with you. Have her teach you bookkeeping. You managed to take her on an airship — surely you can manage that too.”

Dan turned to look away and waved a dismissive hand in Everton’s direction. Nora composed herself and asked,

”What brings you here, Mr. Everton?”

”Came to look at the innovations. On the chance I spot something worth investing in before anyone else does.”

”Investing? Can foreigners invest in Mathema?”

Everton reached into his coat and produced a metal card, setting it down in front of the two of them.

”Turns out I’ve leveled up sufficiently.”

An investor status card. Credit rating: BBB.

Issued by Blackwood Bank.

Nora paused and picked up the metal card.

”...This is actually quite something, Mr. Everton.”

”I have no idea what’s special about that card.”

”Honestly, I’m embarrassed on behalf of my thick-headed brother. Your Highness, please accept my apologies on his behalf.”

”I’m asking perfectly reasonably here—!”

”We’ll have to start calling him Mr. Everton now, Mr. Fury.”

Nora turned the card and held it up for Fury to see.

”Mr. Everton is now a certified investor of Mathema.”

”What is this BBB business?”

”Blackwood grades investors according to the minimum assets they must hold. The more you have, the more you’re permitted to do.”

”Graded by letter, like exam scores?”

”You could put it that way, Mr. Fury...”

Dan took the metal card and turned it over in his hands. The name Mr. Randy Moss was printed on it, along with an identification number and the notation that Randy’s grade was BBB.

”Reminds me of those Hunter cards in Velmount.”

”Grades run from A down through B, C, D, E, F — and within each grade, the more letters stacked together, the better.”

The highest grade, reserved for government-level entities — low risk, substantial capital, high credit — was Triple A, or AAA. Below that it descended in order: AA, A, BBB, BB, B, and so on.

”So you’re not actually that impressive yet. Still only BBB.”

Dan flashed a grin.

”You can’t exactly get one of these in a single day, can you, brother.”

The younger brother pulled the card back and tapped it lightly on the table.

”The world of money doesn’t operate on easy terms.”

”A BBB credit rating requires a minimum of fifteen million credits in assets. The candy company must be doing quite well, Mr. Everton.”

”There are a few other small things here and there, but that summary is essentially accurate.”

Everton shrugged and spread his hands with cheerful self-satisfaction.

”My candy sells better than anticipated. The factory can barely keep up with the sugar refining.”

”And laundering money from Diablo, no doubt.”

”How dare you make such accusations—!”

Galatasaray: ”Her Highness is very perceptive.”

”Gala, shut up!”

”What is your actual purpose in coming here, Mr. Everton?”

Nora knew full well. Someone like Everton would never come all this way simply to be an ordinary investor.

He had an agenda. She was certain of it.

”Why should I have to tell you, Your Highness?”

”Answer Nora. Now.”

Dan’s voice rose.

”Or I’ll take your eyes out in a way that leaves Galatasaray standing there watching.”

”...Goodness... how terrifying...”

Randy clicked his tongue faintly, and at last, he gave in.

”I’m here to sign a contract with Blackwood Bank.”

”...What kind of contract?”

”Rather a long story... but let’s say I’ve spotted an opportunity to extract money from Blackwood in a way that is exceptionally sweet.”

What kind of opportunity?

Nora couldn’t usually read Everton’s expressions — but the tone of his voice told her clearly. This was Prince Everton thinking seriously, intending to act.

”It must be some kind of debt instrument or bond arrangement...”

”Oh—”

Galatasaray’s reaction was unmistakable — both hands flew to cover her mouth.

Nora had guessed right.

”Knowing it changes nothing. I’m not obligated to lay out my entire strategy before Your Highness.”

He was still speaking, but then something occurred to him.

”Unless...”

He laced his fingers together, and offered a particular proposition.

”Would Your Highness care to come along and find out?”

Nora paused.

”Come with you?”

”I won’t be here as long as you will. I simply thought you might be interested. Keeping company with your brother must be dreadful — spending your days staring at rocks. I genuinely feel for you, having to befriend an old man.”

Dan: ”...Does this one have a death wish?”

Nora thought for a moment.

Then she turned to Dan.

”What do you think... Mr. Fury?”

”Up to you.”

Dan said, leaning back in his chair.

”It would honestly be a valuable experience. It may have no bearing on your throne, but it’s something you need to understand. Just as a person must use money, a country must have banks.”

Dan turned and narrowed his eyes at his brother.

”Besides, this way you’ll get to learn how a wolf thinks when it’s mid-hunt.”

”My, what sweet words from my dear brother.”

Part of Nora genuinely wanted to go and learn what Everton was about to do — it might give her the kind of experience she once had at the UN.

But another part of her wanted to stay with Fury.

”Shall we go with them, Mr. Fury?”

”Do I have to come as well?”

”Have you forgotten about your debt, Mr. Fury?”

”Oh...”

”If you’re there, you might get some guidance on the investment market.”

”.....”

Dan went quiet for a moment.

Truthfully, he wanted to stay here and look at bones.

But when Nora mentioned his debt, it was clear enough — while he waited for Thomasin to finish the budget report, it would be far more productive to spend that time finding a way to make those ten million credits grow enough to repay what he owed.

”You know what — that’s not a bad idea.”

Sacrificing one day to settle his debt, then spending the remaining days buried in the specimen storage, was a perfectly reasonable allocation of time.

”Fine then. I’ll come.”

Nora: ”Yes.”

The train headed south from northern Bayern. This was the last train of the night.

Nora nudged Dan’s arm and rose from her seat.

”I’ll be right back.”

”Take your time.”

Dan shifted to let Princess Nora slip past toward the outside.

(Sliding doors close.)

”It’s truly rare for anyone to hold you in such regard.”

”True. Unlike you.”

”That was harsh...”

”Good.”

”Your Highness... if I may.”

Galatasaray spoke up, raising her hand slightly.

”The other young human you took in — the girl — she didn’t come along?”

”Let her recover after Tampa.”

”Why, brother? It was only Tampa.”

”For her, it was not ’only’ anything.”

”What do you mean by that?”

”I heard the other one is of Luminus blood.”

”Luminus nobility are genuinely so delicate. Really. Brother, why lower your standards? After going to the trouble of taking someone in — couldn’t it at least be someone like Princess Nora?”

”Saying that is an insult to my wife.”

”I’m insulting Luminus nobility. Of all the people to choose from, you chose someone from the kingdom that despises us most — really?”

”I didn’t intend to take her on at all. She simply became an obligation.”

”Is that so?”

”When she isn’t letting her ego get in the way, she’s capable enough.”

”With you alone, or in general?”

”Perhaps.”

”If it were me — would she listen?”

”Can you beat her?”

”I’ve been in decent shape these past ten years.”

”But her blade cut through my armor.”

Everton went still.

”...really?”

”It came close enough to reach my neck... Feeling more interested now?”