Sitting at a table with Joanna, eating lunch together while Johannes and Astrid were spending alone time together in a different room, I let out a deep sigh. A perturbed expression crossed her face.

  "Is something wrong, Gustav?" she asked.

  "I feel so useless," I answered. "I'm not doing anything. I'm just telling other people to do stuff for me."

  A sympathetic expression crossed my wet nurse's face.

  "Going from an adventurer's life, even if you didn't live it in full, to the court is a hard adjustment," Joanna said.

  "Why do you even make people do this? I mean, it's common for young nobles to take up adventuring for a time," I replied.

  My wet nurse gave me a nod.

  "It is for combat experience, and to give adventuring parties dedicated spellcasters," Joanna stated. "You are in the fortunate position of being valuable to His Majesty. That means that he'll try to keep you out of combat and danger. When you become the King of Vandalland, you might end up fighting more often."

  I sighed.

  "It's not that I want to go out and risk my life. But this doesn't feel like I'm doing anything," I explained.

  D?é??om groaned inside my head.

  "This is one of the many, many, many times that I can relate to a mortal," the deity said. "I feel the same way about my job."

  "You do?" I thought.

  "Yeah. Most of it is just talking to other gods or mortals. I haven't felt like I was really doing something since I talked to you after you died."

  A hint of depression passed through me. My next words were both spoken and thought. However, I made sure to keep my promise to King Eduard to only tell people on a need-to-know basis.

  "It's just...I don't think I'm doing enough for Astrid. Johannes too. They swore fealty to me, but I can't train them myself. His Majesty's knights are doing that."

  "Yes, but you are the one who gave them the opportunity to study under His Majesty's knights. Neither of them would have been able to without swearing fealty to you," Joanna pointed out. "Besides, you've been neglecting your own swordsmanship lessons. I wouldn't be surprised if Astrid and Johannes have both surpassed you."

  D?é??om's voice was full of sympathy.

  "If this is about the assassination attempt..." he started.

  "Yes, it's about that. I have to rely on King Eduard's assassins. I can't go to Motteburh myself, or I'll be in trouble. Is their goddess any help?" I thought before speaking. "It isn't my fault I neglected my training. I've been very busy for a while. In fact, I'm willing to bet that any moment now, someone will burst into this room or call me on my crystal ball and ask me to do something."

  D?é??om bashed his head against something, judging by the noise that went into my head.

  I shrugged and kept addressing Joanna.

  "Besides, I don't care if Astrid and Johannes surpass me. If anything, I'll be proud of them. Astrid especially. Her goal is to be the world's best swordfighter. And I fully support that."

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  D?é??om bashed his head against something, judging by the noise that went into my head.

  "Regarding the goddess, she is not. She's started drinking heavily. Her husband's bringing her to the god version of Alcoholics Anonymous. It looks like it's up to us," the god stated.

  Joanna nodded.

  "And I am certain she appreciates that, Gustav. Johannes too. But you should find time to train in the sword and magic. Falling behind too far could be dangerous," she advised.

  I nodded.

  "It looks like it is," I thought.

  "Thanks, Joanna. I'll make some time. In fact, why don't you give me some magic training right..." I started.

  My crystal ball started ringing. Looking at it, I saw that the call was from Hildoara.

  "...after I finish doing whatever this is," I said.

  Then, I answered the call.

  "Hello, Hildoara. Is there something you need?" I asked.

  There was a faint smile on her face on the crystal ball.

  "Gustav, we're getting married after this Motteburh disaster is resolved," she stated.

  "I know. I was there when that exposition was given," I nodded.

  "Expo...what?"

  Shaking my head, I responded.

  "Never mind," I said. "What do you need? I'm happy to help you with whatever it is."

  And I trusted Hildoara enough for it to not be something that went against Greenrivers' best interest.

  "Well, because you are a foreigner to Vandalland and this marriage will effectively create a long-term alliance with Greenrivers, I was wondering if it would be a good idea for the wedding to involve both Greenrivers and Vandalland customs," she stated.

  That...holy crap, that was a good idea!

  "I like it!" I gave her a thumbs up. "That would be perfect!"

  A smile crossed Hildoara's face.

  "That's great, Gustav! Now, do you know Greenrivers' wedding customs?" she asked.

  I...er...umm...had no idea what Greenrivers' wedding customs were.

  "No. I've never been to a wedding," I answered. "Joanna, do you know what Greenrivers' wedding customs are?"

  My wet nurse shook her head.

  "My mother never told me. She never cared about finding me a husband," Joanna said.

  That just left us with one option.

  "God of Exposition, what are Greenrivers' wedding customs?" I thought.

  "You know that you could just ask literally the majority of the people in the castle, right?" D?é??om asked.

  "I could, but I have a constant mental link to you. It'll be easier if you just tell us."

  "Good point. First, weddings in Greenrivers are traditionally planned by the mother of the bride."

  Aaaaand I was pretty sure that Hildoara's mother was dead. So, I really didn't want to bring that up.

  "Anything else? Preferably something that wouldn't bring up bad memories for my fiance?" I thought.

  D?é??om let out a deep sigh.

  "Please don't blame me for this. The problem with free will is that sometimes, people do weird things with it."

  That made me suspicious.

  "What do you mean?"

  "Well, the bride and groom get on a table in the center of the room. Then, they're undressed by the guests and walk naked to the bedroom. There, the guests watch them get in the bed before giving them their privacy."

  I instantly focused my attention on Hildoara.

  "On second thought, including Greenrivers wedding customs might not be a good idea. Let's have a traditional Vandalland wedding."

  She tilted her head.

  "Is something wrong?" Hildoara asked.

  Then, she snapped her fingers.

  "Oh! D?é??om told you something, didn't he?"

  "Yes, he did," I nodded. "And I think it would be best if we had a Vandalland wedding."

  Hildoara took a deep breath.

  "I will take that thought into account, Gustav. But is there at least one Greenrivers wedding custom that we could use?" she questioned.

  Turning inward, I thought.

  "Can you think of anything, D?é??om?"

  "Brides in Greenrivers wear green to their wedding."

  I relayed this information to Hildoara. She gave me a soft smile.

  "Then, I will wear green on our wedding day," my fiance stated. "I look forward to it, and to meeting your parents, Gustav."

  Wait, what?

  "Didn't you meet them before?" I asked.

  "At the oracle, yes. But that was years ago and only for a few moments, so it doesn't count. The crystal ball call I had with them doesn't count either," she answered.

  "I guess not," I shrugged.

  Then, an idea formed in my mind. It was a new plan, hopefully one that would strike at the heart of Motteburh and uncover the truth.