1. As a holder of the title of Duke, he’s nobility, not royalty.
2. I’m pretty sure Presti’s status as part of the Princess’ protective staff, not to mention a cop, overrides any claim to immunity Mal could hope to make, especially in the Princess’ court.
In short, Presti has royal permission to kick Malevolus’ (ig)noble butt if necessary.
Though given that he’s “made some rather clumsy attempts at moving up the royal ladders” and has “left quite the trail” (to quote the Viscount), you’d think Princess would have had Malevolus’ royal status revoked to nip any further attempts at usurping the throne in the bud. But then, per the Viscount, she never believed him to be a real threat to begin with.
I wonder: what all transpired between then and now? Did he tell the Viscount that the Princess had been dealt with? Does the Viscount know that the Princess is still alive?
In England, at least. It’s not always so in other monarchies, and it wasn’t always so in england, but given the extensive power a duke weilds, it served the british royalty to keep all the big domains in their own family’s hands.
But to answer the others – there is no clean line between royalty and other nobility, really. And a duke can easily be a royal.
In the British monarchy, Prince William (now heir apparent to the throne) is also now Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge and the Prince of Wales – both titles previously held by his father, now King Charles III. Similarly, Queen Elizabeth II was the Duchess of Edinburgh before becoming queen.
But I completely agree that the Princess’ personal staff & protectors should override any “you can’t touch me” claims. Historically, royal families have been pretty good at doing each other in to grab the throne – so protection of the current monarch would surely have precedence!
Presti could always remind him that a Bigby’s Hand should be able to scoop out a pretty deep hole, but rock to mud then mud to rock makes it harder to dig someone out again 😉
Well, those circus folk sure know how to prepare a stage. Which makes me wonder whether they are the distraction or the main act pretending to be a distraction.
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I wonder if you could bluff-check this guy into thinking a Moonbeam spell is just a REALLY good spotlight?
Ah, yes. Any self-respecting prestidigitator (especially a villian one) shold have a marvelevolous arrival
Cue “Entry of the Gladiators.”
My guess: in the next picture the derro breaks out in song:
“Tonight the Super Trouper
Beams are gonna blind me
But I won’t feel blue…”
Ol’ Mally’s forgetting two crucial details:
1. As a holder of the title of Duke, he’s nobility, not royalty.
2. I’m pretty sure Presti’s status as part of the Princess’ protective staff, not to mention a cop, overrides any claim to immunity Mal could hope to make, especially in the Princess’ court.
In short, Presti has royal permission to kick Malevolus’ (ig)noble butt if necessary.
One can be pretty close to the throne and still have a title of Duke. Particularly if the family tree has few branches.
Malevolus presumably *is* in the royal family, seeing as he has a shot at the throne if the princess gets bumped off.
He’s the Princess’s cousin, IIRC.
Though given that he’s “made some rather clumsy attempts at moving up the royal ladders” and has “left quite the trail” (to quote the Viscount), you’d think Princess would have had Malevolus’ royal status revoked to nip any further attempts at usurping the throne in the bud. But then, per the Viscount, she never believed him to be a real threat to begin with.
https://rustyandco.com/comic/level-8-11/
And then there’s the fact the last we saw Malevolus, he was getting his chin kicked by the Princess following her expulsion from the Games.
https://rustyandco.com/comic/level-10-36/
I wonder: what all transpired between then and now? Did he tell the Viscount that the Princess had been dealt with? Does the Viscount know that the Princess is still alive?
‘Duke’ used to, and in this world may still be, reserved for members of the extended royal family.
In England, at least. It’s not always so in other monarchies, and it wasn’t always so in england, but given the extensive power a duke weilds, it served the british royalty to keep all the big domains in their own family’s hands.
But to answer the others – there is no clean line between royalty and other nobility, really. And a duke can easily be a royal.
In the British monarchy, Prince William (now heir apparent to the throne) is also now Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge and the Prince of Wales – both titles previously held by his father, now King Charles III. Similarly, Queen Elizabeth II was the Duchess of Edinburgh before becoming queen.
But I completely agree that the Princess’ personal staff & protectors should override any “you can’t touch me” claims. Historically, royal families have been pretty good at doing each other in to grab the throne – so protection of the current monarch would surely have precedence!
Let’s not forget that Mal’s been arrested by one of Presti’s colleagues before.
https://rustyandco.com/comic/level-8-74/
It should be noted that the way the encounter went she ended up not laying a finger on him until he surrendered.
Good thing a tower isn’t a finger.
Presti could always remind him that a Bigby’s Hand should be able to scoop out a pretty deep hole, but rock to mud then mud to rock makes it harder to dig someone out again 😉
Why am I imagining ‘Be Our Guest’ starting up?
I am so tempted to try writing up some kind of parody version.
One suspects that Dorilys will drop a tower on someone BEFORE Presti gets a chance to change out of her pyjamas
I’m betting she won’t have a chance to change until it’s time to go back to bed.
…assuming there’s still a bed to go back to, which all depends on how many towers get dropped!
“Presti”? Between that and the panicked look, Roxy is coming dangerously close to breaking character…
Liking that flicker of imminent magic in Presti’s eyes in panel 3.
But really, was that statement implying the use of magic, or just calling attention to the Cube looking over her shoulder?
Well, those circus folk sure know how to prepare a stage. Which makes me wonder whether they are the distraction or the main act pretending to be a distraction.
?They call me Cuban Pete!
I’m the King ot The Rumba beat!?