...Bored. So very very bored. Crooked Bill kept on droning, sleazy words rolling off in waves, assaulting his ears. What a load of tripe. Normally, the likes of that seedy peddler would not be even allowed into the palace, much less granted an audience, but... His eyes shifted at the other pony present. Oak Staff, the count of Trottingham. Old buzzard kept silent, letting his protege fill the air with filthy sound. No doubt, he was well aware what Blueblood thought on the matter. If it were a private audience, Blueblood would`ve ordered Crooked Bill out a while ago. But this was public hearing.
"...And so, with regard to pricing and mining expense, I propose arenite as a..." - Blueblood yawned. To an unfamiliar observer, like Crooked Bill, it was just a sigh of polite boredom. No doubt that he expected a lukewarm "Yeah, yeah, wonderful presentation, send the papers to my secretary." kind of response. For those few ponies that knew him well, this yawn was an alert of highest urgency. He shuddered, curling tongue involuntarily as he let that humongous yawn out. Time to get nasty.
"...Are the state matters too boring for the honorable prince?" - inquired Oak Staff in that annoying squeaky voice of his. It`s been a long while since Blueblood heard that voice last. Old fool could not be bothered to visit Canterlot in dog`s age, since before prince`s cutie mark appeared. Blueblood`s jaw snapped shut. That... was a BIG mistake. No pony dared to snob the prince without repercussions.
"Frankly? I was thinking of something else." - prince replied offhoofedly, stretching out and sitting straighter, - "I was thinking about the mare that came to my chambers last week. Lascivious lass, if a bit uncouth." Judging by the scandalised face of count and filth-filled approving grin of Crooked Bill, he hit the spot just right. Time to rip the flesh off the old fool and the sleaze.
"Prince Blueblood, this is an outrage, I..." - Blueblood was waiting for those words, and he brought his hoof down on the table with a loud bang, silencing the count with unexpected clamor. "Outrage, my good sir, is that you dared to show up with this ludicrous proposition." - he offered, smiling thinly, - "The Long Road is the most used and lucrative landbound trading route in Equestria, and your proposition is to pave it with sandstone? And you expect the court to compensate you for this sabotage? Really, Oak Staff? Do you take me for a foal?"
If count`s face held scandalised expression before, right now his grimace was flat-out shocked, as he turned to face his compatriot. "...What is the meaning of this, Crooked Bill? You said your stone is..." - Blueblood stood up, pushing the chair back with a loud scraping sound. Everypony turned to face him again. "I`m done with this circus." - he announced tersely, - "Count, your proposition had been rejected. My suggestion is not to request our most enlightened council on the matters that could be resolved by a town librarian. As for you..." Blueblood paused, making it rather obvious he forgot the name of businesspony before him - "...don`t show your face here again."
With that, he turned around and walked out of the council hall, ignoring the buzz of erupting conversation behind his back. Oak Staff deserved the humiliation. Old nobles sometimes happened to forget that they were just as fallible as other ponies. Just as prone to be duped by con artists. Of course, he could show some respect to the old stallion, resolve the matter candidly... but buck that. Showing respect to those old farts just reinforced their belief that they could do no wrong. No, the cure was the humble pie. Large, crumbly slices of humble pie dripping with rancid thick humiliation. Now, Oak Staff would take his duties as a count literally for a couple years. Granted, the old timer would not forgive such a public slap, but that didn`t bother Blueblood. He long ago stopped being bothered by the fact ponies hated him.
He trotted down the corridor briskly, ripping his collar open with magic. The button popped off, zinging against the armor of some unlucky guard, who did his best to pretend nothing happened. Good. Blueblood walked into his chambers, tossing the ripped shirt on the futon. He needed a drink. All that nonsense left a bitter taste on his tongue. Grabbing a bottle of wine off the rack, he took a long sip right out of the bottle. "INPENEM! Idiotae et meretrices!" - he growled, corking the bottle and setting it down. No doubt, Crooked Bill will be around for round two now. Blueblood knew the sort.
He allowed himself a smug grin as he heard the knocking on his door. "Come in!" - he hollered, throwing his ripped shirt back on. Better be... "presentable". He knew what to expect. From the viewpoint of Crooked Bill, Blueblood was simply cutting out the middlepony. Prince had no doubt that sleazy businesspony interpreted the opening mare remark as "send me a whorse and then we`ll talk". Distasteful to the extreme, but those were the ways of nouveau rich.
...Oh yeah. A whorse, alright. A knockout pegasus, if Blueblood ever saw one. Obviously, quite aware of her own sex appeal and wielding it as a weapon. "What do you want, mare?" - he grumbled, snapping the door behind her shut. Judging by the little smirk the floozy allowed herself, she took it as a good sign. Think again, doxy.
...OOkay, professional whorse, even. He was slightly impressed how nonchalantly and casually she directed the initially awkward "what do you want" into an impending sex. He looked at the pony kneeling in front of him, ready to lean between his legs. "...You`re a good whorse. Now get the buck out." - he suggested flatly, giving her a light shove on the nose. Shock and surprise on her face pleased Blueblood more then orgasm would. "What, you seriously thought you had it bagged?" - he quipped mockingly - "Get the buck out and tell Crooked Bill I was not kidding. His business is not welcome in Canterlot. It may come as a shock to you, but I`m not interested in the bits he`s trying to bilk out of court via yours truly."
She recoiled, her lips pursed. "Really... Maybe I should go to newspapers instead. Tell them how our beloved prince bangs whorses." - she offered. No, really? Blackmail? Hah. Blueblood winced. "Seriously?" - he quipped, levitating the newspaper off the table and tossing it into her face. The photo on front page looked as if if was taken just five minutes ago - except the mare in picture was unicorn. "Last Tuesday issue. It`s old news, babycakes. I love to buck mares. That`s a fact. Yellow rags are running me and a fresh floozy article once a week. Hey, if you want your shot in the spotlight, come back on Friday. It`s been a while since I had a pegasus on the yellow rag. Wouldn`t want anypony think I`ve gone tribalist, you know?" - he sneered.
"And what if I scream rape right bucking now?" - she spat out, glaring at the prince with open hatred now. Blueblood grinned - "Go ahead, slut. Make my day." Slowly, and deliberately, he glanced to the corner. She traced his gaze and cringed. A camera, with rather obvious microphone. "Welcome to the palace. Where every second of your life is on the record." - he offered, his smile thin and tight - "But hey, maybe you like that too, who knows. I just might make a job of royal fluffer official again. Interested?" With a string of expletives that would make a sailor blush, mare run out of his chambers.
Blueblood sighed. He never changed the tape in the camera. Not that anypony knew that. Not that anypony cared to verify his claims, either. But hey, the rumors, the rumors. If Prince Blueblood himself would tell everypony he bangs a new mare every night, what other proof do we need? He pulled off the ripped shirt once again and tossed it in the trash bucket. A second later, deadbolt slid in, locking his door securely. With a weary sigh, Blueblood walked over to his table. An inconspicuous photo smiled at him from under the glass. A young unicorn mare with lavender coat and striped mane.
"I miss you, Twilight." - he whispered in the empty room. It`s been over two years since Celestia sent the only mare he could get along with out to Ponyville. He hoped she would come back, but.. she`d have to be insane to come back to this asp nest. He hoped he could leave. But not right now, his aunt said. Equestria needs you, Blueblood. Equestria needs somepony who can keep it on the right direction. What about his own directions, though? His aunt promised him to let him go soon enough. He hoped it was not merely a comforting lie.
One day.... One day, he would be granted the divine clemency to leave the palace behind him. One day.