Chapter 58

After dodging several more attempts at seduction, most of which were easily dodged aside from, but one of which, Erica Cortez-Centrella, was persistent. A distant cousin of Magestrix Kyalla Centrella via descent from Kyalla's Great-Uncle Aron Centrella and Countess Elise Cortez of Addasar, Erica Cortez-Centrella was actually currently fifth-in-line for the title of Magestrix should Kyalla Centrella, the Current Magestrix, die, after Kyalla's Nineteen-Year-Old Daughter, Emma, and her two sisters, Amalia and Carla.

Honestly, it would be a good match, Erica was, smart, spoke several languages, and was quite pretty in a mousy sort of way. The way she'd spoken on the merits of different styles of Mech Production from an economy-of-scale standpoint was enough to let me know she had a brain on her. Plus she'd greeted me in Polish and switched to Swedish before going back to Star League Standard English. I was willing to bet she knew Spanish and maybe a fifth language too.

There were a few problems, mind you, with a match like that. The smaller ones were that she was coming off way too strong and that the Magistracy of Canopus had certain laws that were fairly misandrist. For example, no male in the Magistracy was allowed to turn down a marriage proposal from a noblewoman. That law meant that Erica had very little practice with actually trying to get someone into bed and it was causing her to come on way too strong.

Of course, the main issue was that I just had no desire to marry anyone not named Katrina Watson. Unfortunately, the more alcohol that Erica drank, the less my subtle hints and brush-offs were acknowledged. The drinking also made her try even harder to throw herself at me. Honestly, I would have rather had to deal with a seduction attempt by Romano Liao again. At least she knew how to be subtle with it, crazy as she was.

By the fourth time that Erica had cornered me, outside the main ballroom of the Palace in the Hallway, I had to finally drop all pretense of subtlety and just come out and say that I wasn't interested. That actually elicited a response that I hadn't expected.

"Do you not think I'm beautiful enough?" Questioned Erica.

"It's not that." I assured.

"You can tell me, you know. I'm aware of how my sisters get all the attention. Amalia's always so confident and good with people, while Carla doesn't have an ounce of fat on her from her Mechwarrior Training." Murmured Erica.

"Is that what this is about? One-upping your sisters?" I queried, suddenly shifting gears mentally from rejecting the potential political seduction tactic to now trying to console a Noblewoman who clearly had some kind of self-esteem issue.

"I just thought that maybe, if I could get a Husband like you, people would take notice of me for once." Admitted Erica.

"Well believe me when I say it's not that. To tell you the truth, my heart belongs to someone else already." I shrugged.

"So I never had a chance then?" Asked Erica.

"I'm afraid not. Look. . .you said you wanted something to prove that you're just as good as your sisters, yes?" I questioned.

"Amalia's acting as Cousin Kyalla's Chief Mercenary Liason Officer, while Carla's a Major with the Second Canopian Cuirassers. They're both the ones everyone looks to for anything and it doesn't help that they're so pretty." Nodded Erica.

"Brains count for a lot more than looks out here. You introduced yourself in Polish and Swedish, and clearly speak standard English as well. You were actually making good points in conversations when you weren't trying far too hard to throw yourself at me. I think you're smart enough to help you out, just go easy on the drinks, all right?" I sighed.

"What are you saying?" Queried Erica.

"I'm saying I need someone to act as a Corporate Administrator and Go-Between between Buccaneer Arms Corporate in New Ålborg and the teams assisting partner companies in the Principality. I think you're smart enough for the job, and I think it can help you deal with whatever issues you are having with your sisters. The job is yours if you want it." I offered.

"You're helping me after I made a complete ass out of myself tonight? Why?" Asked Erica.

"Because I think if you go home to the Magistracy, you'll always be in your sisters' shadows and that's a waste of your smarts. It may not be the betrothal you're after, but it's something I think you can do better with. I'm a pretty good judge of talent, after all." I shrugged.

At that, a pair of Palace Guards walked over and I nodded to them. They saluted as they approached, which I returned and then I told them to radio Agent Novak and have him grab one of our Buccaneer Arms Corporate Executive Contracts from my office safe. They understood what was going on immediately and radioed into the Security Office to speak with Agent Novak and get instructions. Meanwhile, I turned back to Erica.

"These two will take you to sign the standard contract. If you want the job, the contract's there for you. If not, all you have to do is tell the Guards you're not interested. So long as you stop trying to seduce me, you'll be allowed to enjoy the rest of the party either way. I think you should take it, though." I insisted.

"I think I will, thank you." Beamed Erica.

Then the two Guards took her to sign the contract and I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I wouldn't have to deal with more seduction attempts by someone trying way too hard tonight, and might even get a decent administrator for Buccaneer Arms out of the deal to boot. Both parties got something out of the interaction, which was rare when it came to the Sphere.

"That was a nice thing you did, you know. You're a good guy." Came Katrina's Voice from off to the side near the doors to the ballroom. I turned to see her grinning at me, holding a glass of champagne in one hand.

"Well, that's why you and are I an item, isn't it?" I grinned.

"I thought we were keeping that on the down low for now?" Questioned Katrina.

"After tonight? I'd rather just announce that we're seeing each other and make it official. The fewer attempts I have to suffer through to get into my pants from the likes of Romano Liao, the better." I chuckled.

"You turned down the Duchess of Liao for me?" Queried Katrina.

"It's Romano Liao. Nobody would have gotten anything out of that arrangement aside from Romano herself." I deadpanned.

"Still. I didn't realize you were such a romantic." Teased Katrina.

"Still, I do think we should go public. How do you feel about doing that?" I asked.

"I don't hate the idea. Of course, there's going to be an issue when it comes to the Succession of Apollo. I can't imagine the Archon agreeing to effectively cede nine whole worlds to a foreign power, even one that's as close an ally as New Ålborg." Pointed out Katrina.

"What if it was only temporary? We could float the idea that our secondborn would take over as Duke of Apollo to Archon Steiner?" I hedged.

"She might go for that. You did technically save her life with those medical scanners, after all. Still, multiple kids? How forward of you." Admitted Katrina before going back to teasing me.

"I mean, it's not like you aren't ready for it. How many dogs do you have, again? Three? Isn't that a bit much?" I shot back.

"Rufus, Brutus, and Titus are not on trial here." Insisted Katrina.

We both broke out into a little bout of laughter at that, but when the giggles faded, all that was left was the serious topic at hand. Would Katrina say yes to going public and making our relationship official? As she thought it over, I felt my heart pounding in my chest. I was seriously more nervous about this than I had been before any of the battles I'd fought so far. It was ridiculous that I should feel that way, but it was what it was. Honestly, if love made you irrational, then this was definitely that, or at least something close enough.

"All right. Let's do it." Agreed Katrina after a long pause. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding as a giant, dopey, smile crossed my face. Katrina took one look at that and let out a giggle.

"Stop it, you look like you just won a Jackpot at some Casino out in Kooken's Pleasure Pit." She demanded.

"Maybe I did." I retorted.

"Oh? So I'm a prize to be won, then?" Challenged Katrina.

"Not just a Prize, the Grand Prize." I nodded.

She let out a giggle at that, and I couldn't help but chuckle along. It was nervous energy, honestly. When we announced our relationship it was going to be big news. The entire sphere was going to know that Katrina and I were going out, though I'm pretty sure that at our level of society, it was going to be called courting or some other fancy nonsense. It still amounted to the same thing, that my enemies would know there was someone they could hurt me by hurting. Not that I doubted Katrina's abilities, but she didn't have my ability to kill two assassins with nothing but a pistol and boxer shorts. Then there were all the other dimensions to this, like PR Smear Campaigns against her, or attacking me through her by hurting the Duchy of Apollo, and so on.

"Hey. No, none of that." Cut in Katrina, bringing me back to reality.

"Sorry?" I frowned.

"I've known you long enough to know when you're thinking of all the ways something could go wrong. You get this look on your face like you're reading a report that no one else can see. We'll be fine, Jozef." Insisted Katrina.

"You're right. Not sure what I was worried about." I sighed.

"Damn straight we will. Now, when were you thinking of making the announcement?" Questioned Katrina.

"When works for you?" I queried.

"My schedule is mostly open, I'm not the ruler of two entire Star Nations." Reminded Katrina.

"Friday, then. It will give me time to put together a press statement. Is that enough time for you to arrange things with Apollo?" I asked.

"It should be. Both Rasalhague and Apollo have HPG Stations, after all." Answered Katrina.

"Good. Then that's what we'll do." I confirmed.

"Right now, though, there's a party that we should return to." Intoned Katrina.

"Of course. The Prince of Rasalhague can't be seen to be neglecting his guests. It wouldn't set the right precedent." I chuckled.

And with that, Katrina and I headed back into the Ballroom. The rest of the evening passed mostly free of more seduction attempts. There was one more half-hearted attempt by Romano Liao, but I think she could tell that her mission on that front was going to be a failure and she gave up part of the way through. There was an attempt by Isabelle Madeira to try and get a foot in my bedroom door, likely as a way to drum up support for the ongoing Arano Restoration which was still fighting a Civil War in the Aurigan Coalition, but I mostly ignored her. Even if I wanted to get involved in that debacle which had dragged on into its second year and was looking as if it would drag on into a third, the fact that my holdings were nowhere near the Aurigan Coalition would have prevented me from doing so.

Aside from those, the rest of the party was fairly productive, not to mention fun. I managed to get a preliminary agreement with Ambassador Grigori Riota of the Outworlds Alliance to sell Royal Stinger Conversion Kits to Alliance Defenders Limited. These Kits would, effectively, allow Alliance Defenders Limited to produce a slightly altered version of the SLDF's Royal Stinger Light Battlemech. There was also a clause put in the preliminary agreement that if the Outworlds Militia was pleased with the Upgraded Stingers, that a joint design could be produced for an as-yet-undesigned Wasp Model that would mount Pulse Lasers, Ferro-Fibrous Armor, Double Heat Sinks, an XL Engine, and other upgraded equipment for sale to the Outworlds Militia.

Of course, both of us would have to run things by various people before the contract was finalized, but I foresaw very few problems with getting contracts finalized and signed. After all, between this and the Contracts that Minister Huber was in negotiations with for Aerospace Fighters and Dropships, we stood to make billions of C-bills for years to come, not to mention it would make the Outworlds Alliance a harder target for the Clans if they had some decent equipment.

Aside from that, most of the rest of the night was spent drinking, chatting, and dancing. Of course, I only danced with Katrina, which was sure to fuel speculation, but the various notables and dignitaries wouldn't have long to speculate before we confirmed things. By the time the party ended, I was satisfied that things had gone very well tonight. I could call this a successful coronation.

Tomorrow, I would return my nose to the grindstone in my continuing efforts to unfuck the complete omnishambles that was the KungsArmé. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the rest of the Party. Jozef and Katrina will be going public with their relationship, while Jozef also manages to gain another intelligent minion albeit one who has a complex as regards her effectively being considered the 'Ugly Sister' while also taking a giant step toward fortifying more than just himself against the coming threat of the Clans.

I'll have a few images up before the next chapter, which will be a bit of a time-skippy chapter as we go over various things before the Invasion of Von Strang's World and Operation Gotterdamerung.

Stay tuned. . .