Chapter 294: How NOT to make a First Impression
There was a certain decorum that must be followed while standing within the court of royals. Something Alex was aware of, but did not know the exact specifics. Because of this, he exercised caution for the first time in his life. Something that would be deeply surprising to anyone who knew him, for he was.
Alex stood on the sidelines and watched the Saudi King announce himself to the many guests who had arrived for the yearly celebration, and in doing so, surprised Alex with why such an extravagant party was being held.
“I would like to thank you all for coming today to celebrate my beloved daughter Aisha’s 18th birthday. It means a lot to me to see so many diplomats from foreign nations stand here in my palace for such a minor issue, and your gifts are most welcome. Please enjoy the food and wine. There is plenty enough to go around…”
After saying this, the Saud King kissed his daughter on the cheek before walking off to attend to more important mattes. Important matters of the State that were well beyond the scope of a spoiled princess’s birthday.
Alex decided that he would wait for the pack of wolves who wished to curry favor with the Saudi Royal Family by approaching the young woman and presenting their gifts to her. He would wait until they had all exhausted themselves.
Instead, he sat by the table full of food, snacking freely on the many delicacies while forgetting that he was quite literally acting as a diplomat of the United States for this occasion. Luckily for him, he was not an ambassador, merely a diplomat attached to the ambassador’s party. And thus the actual American Ambassador eyed Alex with disdain before presenting the gift the United States had prepared for the princess with a charming smile on his face.
“Princess Aisha, it is my pleasure to gift you with this fine pendant. It was made by some of the United States’ most capable craftsman and out of some of the rarest materials on Earth.”
Aisha waved the gift a way, not willing to put it on at this exact moment. This may be considered a slight to the United States, but in reality, she didn’t realize what she was doing as her attention was focused on the one guy in the entire venue who refused to pay her any attention, and instead seemed more concerned with stuffing his face.
“Mr. Ambassador, who is that man over there by the tables? Do you know what delegation he is with?”
Naturally the American ambassador knew who Alex was, he had been informed by the state department that some gifted young businessman who had a penchant for getting himself in trouble was acquired by the Military Industrial Complex not only to help them sell their newest and most expensive equipment to the Saudi Armed Forces, but also to essentially earn a pardon for crimes he committed while south of the border.
The man, of course, did not know the specifics of what Alex had done, but he still held a particular sense of disdain for the young man. And it was hard to hide this feeling on his face when he spoke of Alex.
“That? I believe his name is Alex Smith. I must apologize on his behalf. He was sort of a last minute addition to our delegation. It is clear now that this was a mistake, but apparently he has ties to some powerful people back home, people who have an interest in speaking with your father about matters of business.”
It was clear to Aisha that Alex was definitely out of place. I mean, what kind of man would come into her home and not kiss her feet like the servants they all wished to be? It was simply outrageous when she thought of it, and she was quick to demand the American ambassador to bring Alex to her so that he could fawn over her like everyone else always did.
“Alex Smith, huh? Bring him to me!”
The Ambassador was surprised by the sudden interest of the Saudi Princess in a man who seemingly had no connection to her, but at the same time he would not dare disobey the Princesses’ orders unless it conflicted with the interest of the United States.
Thus, while despising the idea of introducing Alex to the Royal Family, as if Alex somehow outranked him, the Ambassador ultimately wagged his tail like a loyal dog and went to fetch Alex.
Alex was surprised when another American came up to him, the man introduced himself as Frank Rosenberg, the ambassador in this alternate world to the Saudi Royal Family, which of course was not related to the one who existed in the world that Alex had come from.
The history of this world was weird. How Saudi Arabia could exist without the literal house which the nation was named after, Alex did not know. But since he was technically living in a manga, it made some sense.
After all, fictional works tended to avoid using actual individuals from life had in order to avoid being sued for various reasons. And since this was technically a hentai manga, that made all the more sense to Alex.
In fact, Alex was more surprised by Frank’s insistence that he introduced himself to the Saudi Princess when he had not actually done anything remarkable yet. So much so that Alex outright refused to do so.
“She wants me to come introduce myself? Why did she send you to tell me this when she could have just walked over and done so herself? What is this, some kind of weird power move?”
Frank looked at Alex as if he were a genuine idiot before expressing the urgency of the Aisha’s request.
“I don’t think you understand how this works, Alex. We are in the kingdom that her father presides over as a literal king. If the princess wants you to get on one knee and introduce yourself to her, you will do so!”
Alex scoffed and rolled his eyes before making a remark about this proposed scenario.
“I wouldn’t even get on my knees if the King asked me to do so. I kneel for no man, so what makes you think I would do so to a woman? If the Princess wants to talk to me, she knows where to find me. If not, then she can fuck off with that shit…”
Words could not express the shocked expression on Frank’s face as he tried to understand if his ears were working right. Did Alex seriously just tell the Princess to “fuck off?” Just what kind of white trash motherfucker did the state department attach to his delegation?
This was absurd, and because of this, Frank made the biggest mistake of his life, where he grabbed hold of Alex’s wrist in an attempt to force the man to kneel before the Saudi Princess. Unfortunately for Frank, he did not remember anything after that, aside from a sudden feeling of pain followed by utter darkness.
Alex had responded on instinct when Frank forcefully grabbed his wrist and smacked the guy across the head with his free fist. Something that dropped the man to the ground, completely unconscious.
This, of course, attracted the attention of everyone in the room, especially the Princess, who was watching the argument between Alex and the American ambassador with great interest. But when Alex actually knocked out his delegation’s own ambassador, she could help but drop her fine jaw and hold a hand over her gaping mouth.
Never before in her life had Aisha seen such barbarism, and was even more surprised when Alex sighed heavily in a defeated gesture and expressed vulgarity aloud.
“Fuck….”
Needless to say, Aisha was not the only one who was roused by the sudden commotion, whispers were rapidly being spread while the staff of the Saudi Royal Family quickly checked on the American Ambassador, who awoke in a startle, wondering what had happened to him and where exactly he was.
“What? What happened? Where am I?”
The staff, who fetched for a doctor was quick to inform the man that he had been knocked out, as for Alex he did not even dignify the victim of his assault with a second glance, and instead walked towards the table and grabbed hold of a bottle of wine, where he quickly chugged its contents, knowing it would likely be the last bit of alcohol he tasted for a very long time.
After all, the Royal Family’s Body Guards were now investigating the situation, and it would only be a matter of time before Alex was in cuffs, being interrogated by the second middle eastern nation he stepped foot in. He really regretted his instincts as a fighter for the first time in his life as he waited for the bodyguards to arrest and detain him for questioning.
Unknowingly, Alex had left quite the first impression on his target. Who viewed him as an absolute brute, and barbarian? One who lacked any decorum, and resorted to violence over the slightest of disagreements. Something that she, in her incredibly sheltered life, had never seen before, and was thus immediately intrigued by.