163 Banquet

I knew it would end this way, Ossolinski was a good diplomat, but he did not understand one thing... no one respects weakness, if in your first words you express fear of your opponent and want to treat your potential ally as a shield or a deterrent, you will never succeed... Although I didn't care about this alliance, I decided to save Ossolinski's ass.

"Thank God, I already thought that Your Majesty would take it seriously. I kept telling our King that an alliance between the Kingdom of England and Poland is not possible, too many things separate us and not enough unites us... Fortunately, there is also the Catholic League, Spain, Portugal, Austria... maybe it's time to join them. The Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and our vassals will surely make a difference." (MC)

"Prince, is this a threat?" (King Charles)

"No, it's an observation. Our King recently married the Emperor's daughter, being one family is something that brings people closer." (MC)

"Hahaha... we definitely need to talk in private, I haven't met someone as insolent as you yet. You must have a lot of enemies, how did you keep your head?" (King Charles)

"Perhaps your Highness has to leave the palace more often ... and why did I keep my head? It's quite easy, just kill the enemies before they kill you, I recommend it to Your Majesty." (MC)

At least the King was in a good mood, but I don't know why he wanted to talk to me privately... he even said it twice. After the official audience, there was a banquet, the English parties were more elegant and sophisticated than I was used to in the country... no one got drunk, no one fought with each other... boredom.

I tried to stay aloof and not draw attention to myself... which was not easy with my face. I listened to the music, watched the dishes that were prepared, to my surprise I saw bananas on the table, they were smaller and slightly different color than those that were popular in my previous life... but they were undoubtedly bananas... this fruit was problematic, as a man I could only eat it with a knife and fork... Unfortunately, there will always be someone to screw it all up and this time it wasn't me... when I was admiring bananas for the first time in over thirty years, a man came up to me, introducing himself as John Savage, 2nd Earl Rivers.

"Prince Jazłowiecki, I hope you have a nice time, banquets organized by His Majesty are always the best." (John Savage)

"I've been to funerals more fun than this banquet, but at least there's alcohol and a few pretty women... if I drink more, the number of pretty women will increase as well." (MC)

"Your sense of humor is amazing... and quite seriously, what do you think about the situation in Bohemia?" (John Savage)

"Nothing, Bohemia is under the Emperor's rule, the situation is rather stable and the Habsburgs are dealing with local problems. The rest does not concern me." (MC)

"Don't you think it would be better if Elizabeth Stuart or one of her sons regained the crown and throne that once belonged to their father?" (John Savage)

The longer we talked, the more alcohol was in my blood, Earl was irritating with his tone of voice, his fake smile.

"Maybe, maybe not, but I think the Winter Queen would have done better if she had stayed in the Netherlands m... I noticed that in this part of Europe the rulers often face bad luck." (MC)

"Does this mean that the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth will oppose us when we want to regain the throne?" (John Savage)

Perhaps this is what the king wanted to talk to me in private, and he sent this clown to investigate my opinion. It could also be that Earl was just an annoying idiot.

"Us? We? Does King Charles want to help his sister?" (MC)

"Maybe" (John Savage)

"I cannot speak for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, but I am the Prince of the Reich and it would be my duty to take the Emperor's side. I think the Kingdom of England has enough of its problems and should focus its attention on them instead of that part of Europe and our countries should live in friendship and harmony, but the further away from each other, the better for everyone." (MC)

Our discussion grew louder and stronger and stronger words were spoken... mainly from me. Even though I didn't want to draw attention to myself, everyone was looking at me... At one point we were approached by a woman I had met before, Lady Anne Clifford, wife of Philip Herbert, 4th Earl of Pembroke.

"Gentlemen, what are you discussing so vigorously, politics, art or literature?" (Anne Clifford)

I didn't know much about Lady Clifford, I knew from history that she had published a diary, but I never read it and that was where my knowledge ended.

"My Lady, neither about art, nor about politics, nor literature... Me and Earl pretend to be peacocks. Peacocks to attract the attention and favor of the female make loud noises... as you can see we managed to do it." (MC)

You could see on her face that my answer amused her... there was also something coquettish about her demeanor. Lady Clifford was attractive... and as it is in football rules, an away goal counts twice.

"Prince Jazłowiecki, maybe Earl Rivers is the object of my interest, not you?" (Anne Clifford)

"Lady, I've heard many stories where a princess kisses a frog and a toad turns into a prince, but never heard a story where a princess kisses a pig." (MC)

I said the words too loud, after a while, a few people laughed, but many more people tried to stop themselves from it, with difficulty... Earl Rivers saw it and heard it too... and I was challenged by him to a duel, I was already so drunk that I covered it, of course I agreed... but after Lady Clifford's persuasion the duel would be only to the first blood.