章 657: Courting...

It's been a couple weeks since Nerissa had been sent to boarding school, Reima feeling her absence more than he'd thought he would. Without her occasionally popping in to visit him his only social interactions were with Asgore when they were handing off paperwork, Kuretz, Solaire, Priscilla, or the Chaos sisters when they invited him to a coffee shop or a restaurant.

One thing he'd noted was Quelaag's attitude towards him, her seductive poses and longing looks sending chills up his spine... She'd never directly confronted him, knowing that he and Ciri were still together but he could tell she was testing the waters.

Another surprising thing was Solaire and Risryn, he'd occasionally seen the two sparring or eating at restaurants but when asked about it they'd always said they were just friends. Last time he'd went to Muffet's bakery with Solaire however Risryn had stopped by, and, Reima could swear there were literal sparks between the two... That and her playing footsy with Solaire under the table was very distracting, even if they didn't think he'd noticed.

As he was thinking about the recent happenings, the door opens after some appraising knocks, revealing Asgore who slowly walks to his desk.

Asgore "Are you ready?" He says, the Monsters eyes analysing the stacks of paper covering Reima's desk.

...

Reima "Er, ready for what?" he asks, confused.

Asgore sighs, "We spoke about it nary two days ago... With the Courthouse finally completed you were to preside over some cases, specifically the ones that were too important for myself to decide."

Reima "We have a Courthouse?" he wonder aloud, dumbfounded.

Asgore gives him a hard look, "Indeed, you signed for it to be built... Your obliviousness on the subject has me worried about what else you have signed."

Reima shakes his head "Whatever... Let's just go and get this over with..." he says, standing before following Asgore out of Kaer Morhen and towards the newly constructed Courthouse.

The building itself looks like a huge stone temple, stairs surrounded by pillars leading up to a single large entrance... Upon entering it Reima is presented with a long checkered Crimson, Black, and Gold carpet that led to what looked like a throne sitting prominently at the back of the single huge room. Behind the throne was a huge flag striped with the same colours as the carpet, the fierce silhouette of a dragon featured in the middle of it.

Reima "What's that?" he asks, pointing at it.

Asgore "Well, you'd ignored all designed and requests for a flag, so I just had your friend Solaire design it... You seemed so taken with the statue he'd had made, I thought you'd be happy with it.

Reima looks at the flag closely and frowns, "Isn't that just the flag of Belgium with a Dragon on it?"

Asgore gives him a glance, "I have never heard of this country called "Belgium", I'd researched all the flags before having this one created, and found that it is unique to us."

Reima sighs and slowly begins walking to the throne, the huge windows letting ungodly amounts of light into the room, were he not a Witcher he'd need sunglasses due to sun's positioning almost blinding him.

He sits down on it, the pure gold throne made comfortable by the Acromantula Silk cushions stuffed with the fur of many Unicorns.

Asgore "I wish you'd refrain from wearing such attire at a formal occasion such as this..." he complains, Reima's Witcher gear giving him the appearance of a warrior instead of a king.

Reima shrugs, "It's fine, no one living past today is gonna complain about it anyway."

Asgore huffs, "Very well... Let me tell the Prospects to bring in today's queries."

Reima leans back in the throne, materialising some rum and drinking straight from the bottle, he felt he'd need it to get through this, depending on how boring it was.

Asgore eventually makes his way back to Reima's side as various people begin walking into the room and gathering at the sides.

Reima "Who're they?" he asks, seeing a few familiar faces in the crowd.

Asgore "Just spectators wishing to see their King's first judgments." he quickly explains as the Prospects walk in two men glaring at one another.

The Prospects keep them both separated as they slowly become anxious while walking towards Reima, both kneeling down when the Prospects stop them.

Asgore pulls up a long parchment and glances at Reima, "We will begin with today's minor crimes and disputes before moving onto the more... Severe cases." he says and getting a nod from Reima. "State your names from my left to right." he asks down at the two men.

"Brin." the older-looking of the two says.

"Husi" the other says quietly.

Asgore nods, "Husi, you claim that Brin had stolen your wheelbarrow... Brin, you claim that Husi slept with your daughter..." he says, only now realising how annoying this case would be.

Husi "Wa! Is somethin' wrong with that!?"

Brin "YEAH THERE IS! And you know it ya' scoundrel!" he shouts, getting jabbed in the back by a Prospect for raising his voice.

...

Reima rests his elbow on the throne, "Depends how old you and the daughter is." he shrugs.

Brin pleads to Reima, "Sire! As a father yourself you must know how I feel having this scoundrel sneaking out of her window naked!"

Reima gives Asgore a look and the goat-man shrugs, clearly not aware of why this person thinks Reima is a father. "I'll ask again, how old is your daughter."

Brin scratches the back of his head, "Er, she's thirty-two now my lord!"

...

Reima face palms, shocked at the stupidity of this entire case... "Asgore, how old is Husi?"

Asgore looks down at the parchment, "Seventeen."

...

Reima points at Brin, "If anything your daughter is at fault for robbing the cradle you idiot! Don't bring stupid things like that shit in here!... Now, what's this about a wheel-barrow?"

Husi "He stole it after I ploughed Margereet!" he says pointing at Brin.

Brin "That's not true ye' bastard!"

Reima feels as if he's about to break both their necks in irritation, he materialises Veritaserum and floats it over to Brin. "Drink this now."