Rules of the street

Chapter 11 - There is always someone watching. Know who it is at all times.

Rule 15: There is always someone watching. Know who it is at all times. 

I was inside when the first carriage arrived, stringing up last minute flower garlands over the chandeliers. Momo skidded up to me, her red uniform heaving.

"The... Shinso... Duke... Here..." She panted, leaning against the wall.

Over the past week or so, Katsuki and Shoto had been briefing me on all the royals that would be attending, not including all their acquaintances and hand servants. Shinso was the Duke of another neighbouring kingdom, one nicknamed 'All Might' because of its historic successes in battles and legions of fierce warriors. If Shinso was here, it probably meant the others from over there weren't far behind.

"But... It's not until tomorrow. He's early." Waiting a moment for her to catch her breath, I filled the silence.

"I know, but... It's a long way, and they... they left early expecting delays..."

Nodding, I left the garlands to Mina, who was also helping out.

Momo lead me along the hallways, taking a left at the fifth master bedroom on the east wing. Fifth, east, fifth, east. It was harder to memorise this place than I had expected, which was saying something.

Shinso was... really handsome.

His dark fur-lined cloak brushed the carpet, a glint of metal visible at his neck and wrists. His tight deep purple vest left little for the imagination, his hard abs visible even through the thick fabric. I watched as he ran a hand through his long locks, a small smile splitting his face. Was it just me, or did the sun shine a little brighter?

Shoto snapped me out of my daze.

"Izuku, come and meet Duke Shinso." The newcomer waved a hand through the air, dismissing his compliment.

"Honestly, just call me Hitoshi." Walking up to Shoto's side, I got a better glimpse of his attire. The stitching and fabric were mostly in shades purple, which was a hard dye to find here. I wonder where he'd gotten it? Or was it more common over there?

"Well then, Hitoshi, welcome to our home!"

Hitoshi was soon followed by several other Dukes and Duchesses, the arrivals of the day finishing with the emperor Toshinori and the three heirs, Prince Mirio, Princess Nejire and Prince Tamaki. Rumour had it that Prince Mirio was going to be the successor of the crown, being the eldest of the three, and he would have been the ninth emperor.

Dinner was a casual and relaxed affair, their current company proving to be a nice change to the usual quite affairs that dinners were between the three of us. We all went to bed late, tipsy and still chuckling at the last of Prince Mirio's jokes. He had a lot of spirit.

The next day was filled with more arrivals, these expected and dealt with properly. I watched in awe as the noble nicknamed Hawks for his tendency to prefer the company of birds than humans (and also his feathery clothing choices that would have probably made Aoyama choke) swooped into the palace, all laid back smiles and easy jokes. Word going around was that he had recently gotten into Enji's good books very fast, making the entire royal court wonder what had happened for such a sudden change of heart from the notoriously reserved king.

Katsuki, Shoto and I all took turns greeting guests, being at the physical party, and leading nobles to where they needed to go. It was quite the operation, but with a few helping hands from the various servants, it was coming together seamlessly.