Markus kneeled before the steps of the twin thrones to the current reigning queen Kremnos and her fiance, the future prince of the empire - in other words, Alexis and a bully. The newly-minted mage kept his dislike hidden, keeping a soft smile instead as he raised his face to look up. The queen spoke, "I, Octana Kremnos-Olympus, have heard much of your accomplishments, mage. Tell me, what is your name?"
"Certainly... but does even the queen not know my name?"
"That is a matter of the information the academy you attended atop those mountains is willing to share, in this case it's none. So I ask you, what is your name?"
Markus took a breath, he had not been made aware just how little communication occurred between the furthest territories and the capital. Or is this just a test? There's no way this can't be a test, such a dazzling woman couldn't really be that stupid... then again, she did let that idiot to remain as her fiance after losing to a 'commoner'... does he really not even recognise me? Markus glanced over again, he hesitated yet Octana was clearly patient with him, the same could not be said about the 'prince'.
"My name is... 'M'... the first."
"M the first? Is this a joke?"
"No, no... you're majesty, it is a precaution. If the academy did not see fit to inform you of my name, I must assume there's a greater reason for it. I would not put you and your fiance to danger..."
Octana smirked, fluttering Markus' heart ever so slightly. "I see, then I suppose I'll simply need to demand the answers from them..." With a wave of her hand, she ordered guards to gather. "... in the meantime, you shall be provided with accommodations. I hope your work is as great as the effort you demand of us."
"I shall not disappoint." Markus was then ushered and rather better-put as 'shoved' along the halls by the several guards around him.
When Markus was ordered to return to the capital, instead of some remote location, he had assumed the worst. Then his instructors reassured him that he would be allowed to take the... esteemed honor of working on the 'prince's' pet project of urban development and revitalization of the various sectors. Why would Alexis think he can just order someone to redevelop entire industries and sectors of production, not to mention the damn urban planning of the city? When Markus then arrived in 'his' room, he saw it had been in previous use with notes strung through the room and on the walls. The remaining notes, that seemed to have survived, were marked in partially inflammatory comments regarding the prince. Whether they were unthinkable expectations or last-minute compromises, it was clear no progress had been made beyond basic surveying.
...
"How can he be so hopeless...?" Markus looked over the papers again, if they were to be trusted, the 'prince' was a complete fool with no business being involved with anything to do with the economy, especially housing or general infrastructure. The mage could only take a deep sight before throwing on his coat, his work hours had managed to pass with nothing but frustration. "Tell her majesty that I shall be in the city if I am needed..." Though the message was sent forward, Markus was still accompanied by less armored guards.
One of the guards was called Lexios, a young man with some experience in guarding at the capital, enough to make sense why he was under the banner of the royal house. His features were sharp, almost enough to be enough to pull him along life's easiest routes. He was quite resolute and made sure to stay by Markus' side even when he was simply going to the bathroom, "following orders."
The other guard was Julius Keraunos, a much older man who had served for almost two decades by now. It left Markus wondering why such a man would still be a simple guard when he had enough experience to be promoted, until he saw just how little he had in the form of decorum. Every word out of his mouth was like something spoken in a countryside guard post recently being gifted with ale. The only time that was not case was when he had to actually work, like when Markus' curiosity dragged the three of them to the more 'common' areas of the capital with laborers walking around after being sent home early.
The two guards were not rookies or inexperienced in the slightest, though they clearly knew certain people in the districts with... less than well regard. "Why would two guards of the royal family be familiar enough with people here to have slights between you, Lexios?"
"I am sorry, but that would require us to expose our-"
"Because these cheap-skates don't know when to quit it... I already paid them for their damn bet, but their charging me 'noble tax', like I pay taxes anymore..."
"Julius..."
"What? The mage'll be in-charge of shit like that, no reason to not talk about it."
"We are on duty... with a new member of the court... act professional, please?"
Markus could not help himself, he let out a small chuckle at the exchange. "It's alright, I grew up around these kinds of places, I know how people can be... Let's keep going, I want to grab a drink."
...
"Is this honestly what you want to spend your free-time on?"
"Of course I do... I need to think without getting upset, so I drink", Markus took the cheap drink down his gullet, the smallest hint of alcohol stinging the back of his throat. The mage flinched, his first time tasting such bitter drinks since becoming an adult. "Uncle was a damn liar..." Julius, left awestruck for a short moment seeing the mage called in for service to the royal family casually drinking a cheap ale, sputtered out his own drink to the shagging of Lexios.
"Well at least you ain't a sissy, I'll drink to finally getting someone without a stick up their bum."
"Okay, now that is a bit vulgar, I'l admit..."
"... I suppose you'll get used to it", Lexios was already slumped over the counter in defeat, his sidearm clinking against the stool. It was a fine silver and had red highlights, made of ruby, a sign of fine craftsmanship. It was unlikely that someone would obtain one without either having noble connections or at least a last name.
"I suppose that sword of yours has a story to tell..."
"Not as much as a mage from that far-off observatory, whose name is forgotten and for some reason no-one can recognize."
"It is odd... I expected people to at least remember me... especially the prince, maybe I just have a forgettable face?"
"So even the prince should be able to recognize you?"
"... should be."
"Bah, you two talk too much, conspiracies are as common as air these days. And when there's magic involved it's even all more common than breathing!" Lexios covered his mouth, almost hurling his guts out from the stench of Julius as he walked over to grab the young guard by the shoulder.
"Please refrain from public indecency-" Lexios stared down at his own armor, hearing a small drip, before getting up to wipe the unspeakable gunk off. "We've gone too far off by now, let us return to the castle for now."
"Alright, alright." Markus left appropriate coin and regards to the owner of the ale house, taking the drinking pots with him that Lexios left behind. When he walked behind them, even when Lexios tried to pull Julius over to guard their mage, Markus had the space to start scanning everything, how things had changed over the years and how much things have grown - not much.
In Markus' room, the mage poured over the notes before beginning to formulate the next phases of the development for the city. First comes the resources... the mines and fields and forests. Second comes the infrastructure to support them and what can be made from the resources.... Then I'll have to focus on the issue of pay... damnit - there's nothing for me to give... I'll have to convince the prince then. Markus looked out his window, before drawing to a close the curtains, taking a few of the maids who came around to handle the preparations for the evening. "Oh, I'm sorry, I'll leave you to it..." Markus paused for a moment, "what are your names?"
The first maid bowed, "we are the general staff, though two of us" she gestured to herself and the accompanying maid, "... are in addition to another two. My name is Kassandra, my co-worker here is called Pisces. We shall be attending to your room, for the current state we must apologies, we were newly selected for the job."
"It's fine, you mentioned two others?" Markus looked over Kassandra and Pisces, one had longer and darker hair, though it had an ashen gradient like charcoal. Pisces in turn had shorter and browner hair, she was also shorter, quite a bit younger too. Neither of them could have been older than twenty.
"Yes, though I don't personally know either one's names, it's been a busy day with not a lot of chances for us to coordinate. They are currently drawing your bath, it has been arranged for an hour past sundown each day in the diplomatic quarter, for now."
"For now? This place really is in a mess... what about you two though, how long have you worked here?"
"For about six years now, we came around the same time, though I hear the other two are a tad older."
"Six years... you must have been quite young then."
"Quite", Kassandra looked over at Pisces with a sympathetic smile, before returning to her work while Markus watched them expertly folding away the unneeded bed-coverings. "... though I should really let you retire to the bath for now, it's almost your time there."
"Is it? Damn, the view from here is quite deceiving... Well then, I must get going, thank you for your work."
"Thank you, master 'M.'" Kassandra gave a small puff over to Piscus, who then followed along with her own goodbye to their assigned 'master.' Markus gave the two their space and moved towards the diplomatic wing.
...
While the diplomatic wing was certainly decorated, the same could not be said for the wash room - it was almost bizarrely tame, to the point it would be confused for a prison wash room if not for the privacy and quality of the furniture and bath. Soon, as Markus prepared to strip, a tall maid and who appeared to be of similar build entered the room. Though Markus initially tried to remain calm and collected, he found himself manhandled and stripped to nothing, before being thrown into the bath. "My, quite the welcome-"
"Please do try to enjoy the bath, but not too long. The day is busy for my companion and I", said the maid who entered first and was the one to show initiative. She was tall, her curvaceous body clear even through the layered maid uniform, her hair was almost otherworldly grey, though still had the texture of youth. Her 'companion' was a certainly less obviously impressive maid with a darker, shorter hair. Neither of them shied away from Markus' body, as if it was nothing to particularly odd to stare at - which by itself would not have been as odd if not for the way the two maids looked at each-other like a couple which was forced to inconvenience themselves. They moved in and out of the room while Markus cleaned himself, sometimes offering to wash him for him, which he declined out of pride for his own ability to keep himself hygienic.
...
"Are you done?"
"Yes... yes... I'm done now", Markus got out of the tub but-naked. The grey haired maid handed him a basket of his clothes with no remorse. "Have I offended you in any way?"
"No."
"I see... what are your names, I apologise for taking such a long time."
"Put on your clothes first... sir."
Markus put the plain clothes on, clearly standard issue clothes found anywhere, but the quality of their care was immaculate, he could barely tell where repairs had clearly been done. Then the first maid spoke, "I am Yelena, my friend here is Sonya."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, I apologize for Yelena's harsh words", Sonya had clearly just worked-up the courage to speak. "... we don't often need to work much and she very much enjoys doing little work."
"Understandable, I have already heard about the rush of today from Kassandra and Pisces." Markus made his way outside with the two maids, talking to them as they were all needing to pass along the same long hall, it seemed that the diplomatic wing was in an isolated section with none of the facilitates for the staff to use. Reasonable, it'd be... just a bit... of a security risk to have such places so easily giving a reason for unknowns to pass through there...
"Thank you for understanding..." Yelena gave a playful shove to Sonya. "... though it seems I now know who to blame for leaking information around here... those two brats have some nerve."
"Come on now, Yelena, it's perfectly fine to tell our 'master' about that stuff."
"Speaking of leaks, did someone tell you about how lax I am or is everyone just assuming I won't tattle on you to others."
"'Tattle', that is quite the juvenile way to say it." Yelena and Sonya moved away towards the service door to the laundry room. "And yes, someone did give the staff quite the 'scoop' pertaining to your manner of working with us staff."
Giving his goodbye to the pair of maids, Markus made his way back to his room where he saw a sneak of Piscus talking with... Julius. They were being quite close, their whispers requiring Markus to cast a small spell just to hear what they were talking about.
"... dear..." Hearing them beginning to talk intimately made Markus dismiss his spell quite suddenly, realising it was best to give them their space before walking over. While he could not tell which one had spoken earlier, he could tell Julius was the more shaken-up of the two at their 'master's' sudden return. "Good evening to you, sir. We were just discussing your security."
"Sure." Markus erupted a small bit of curiosity in Julius before the guard returned to his straight-laced face.
"Good night, good lady."
"To you as well, good sir."
Markus watched Julius leave, before giving a look to Piscus. "I see you two are close", before Piscus could even respond, Markus moved into his room and saw it empty of anyone else. "No need to explain, but do try to keep the two of your shared secrets a bit more under wraps?" With that, Markus closed the door, Piscus did not make a single sound or comment in the end. That left Markus with the creeping feeling of fatigue, forcing him to then retire to bed after looking over his notes one more time.
Why is there a budget for... exotic greens?