Chapter Three
Prince Roderick hated the dinners and balls and parties that were part of his role as third in line for the throne. The food was pleasant enough to eat. The dancing was usually fine with talented musicians and well-trained support dancers. The conversations at the parties were the worst. Nobles and merchants looking to curry favor or to angle a way where a suitable political and economic match could be made with his older brother, Prince Martin; that’s what he hated. Roderick had no influence over any of that. He didn’t trust any of them.
When enough time had passed and he had spoken to all the right people and danced with the correct amount of women, both young women looking to make a match or their mothers looking for the exact same thing, Prince Roderick said the correct
