Vol.0 Ch.128 Party Preparations
<span ss="userText">The month passed without<span ss="aiText"> incident and it was finally time for the royal party to celebrate Prince Quinus''s first six months<span ss="editText">of life and to show him to the rest of the Fiafyrian Nobles<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">Queen Rianna was in her study with a few nobles and other guests as they were going overst-minute preparations for the party.
<span ss="userText">"I must say, Alexandria. You have quite the eye for<span ss="aiText"> floral disys," <span ss="editText">Queen Rianna<span ss="aiText"> said as she looked at the flowers that were starting to form into the shapes of dragons.
<span ss="editText">The Countess<span ss="aiText"> smiled, "Thank you, my Queen. <span ss="editText">It helps to know qualit<span ss="aiText">y maids <span ss="editText">f<span ss="aiText">or <span ss="editText">m<span ss="aiText">y assistants.<span ss="userText"> Sometimes an extra set of hands<span ss="aiText"> is needed to make things more special."
<span ss="aiText">The Queen nodded and looked <span ss="editText">over to Marchioness Isabe<span ss="aiText"> who was <span ss="userText">standing next to her<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Isabe, <span ss="editText">you said all 31 minor noble families will be attending?" The Queen asked as she looked over thest<span ss="aiText"> invitation list.
<span ss="aiText">"Yes, My Queen. And a<span ss="editText">lmost all of the major nobles should be attending with the exception of Baron Arathar Coldforge and his family<span ss="aiText">. He is currently out on a hunting expedition to kill a Manticore that has been spotted in the area. His son is currently the acting Baron and will be <span ss="editText">w<span ss="aiText">at<span ss="editText">ching over the western front," Isabe replied.
<span ss="editText">"That''s a shame... I''ve never met Dwarves before<span ss="aiText">. I wonder what they''re like," Countess Alexandria said as she stared off into the distance.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">They<span ss="aiText"> are <span ss="editText">what you might expect. Loud, stubborn, smelly, and drunk<span ss="aiText">ards. They make the best of metals and stone. As well as crafting great weapons and armor. But don''t let that fool you into thinking they''re easy to deal with. They have a strong sense of duty and honor and they can be quite prideful," <span ss="editText">Isabe said<span ss="aiText"> with a serious look on her face.
<span ss="aiText">The Queen just smiled, "You speak from experience. I''ve never dealt with Dwarves myself <span ss="editText">but I feel you''re oversimplifying them, Isabe<span ss="aiText">. Just like how the Elves are not just nature lovers and magical users but they can also be quite intelligent and prideful. There an interesting people if you get to know them."
<span ss="aiText">"I didn''t realize my Queen <span ss="editText">dealt with the elves?"<span ss="aiText"> Isabe said with a confused face.
<span ss="aiText">"I didn''t personally negotiate with the Elves. But, me and my mother did have to entertain some of the female elven guests. While <span ss="editText">my Father had to deal with the High Elves with some treaty that I''m not privy to, even to this day..<span ss="aiText">. My father only told me that they were a challenge to deal with as their demands were extreme... And they are a proud bunch indeed. Whatever it was, my father and his counsel had to refuse," Queen Rianna said with a sigh.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="userText">But <span ss="editText">what did <span ss="userText">the High Elves want out of the ind <span ss="editText">K<span ss="userText">ingdom of Corialis? Is it that close to the Lumen Fae Continent<span ss="aiText">?" Isabe asked.
<span ss="aiText">"No. <span ss="editText">But they met with my Father and his counsel for something. I was only 12 years old when they arrived. But my Fa<span ss="aiText">the<span ss="editText">r <span ss="editText">told me that I should only trust a noble High Elf<span ss="userText"> as<span ss="aiText"> far as you can throw them," Queen Rianna said as she finished signing the final invitations for the party.
<span ss="aiText">"My apologies if this question is rude. But are the rumors true about your Father''s demise? They say he was assassinated by the Holy Kingdom," Isabe asked with a sad look on her face.
<span ss="aiText">The Queen looked at the Marchioness and the Countess and saw the concern in their eyes.
<span ss="userText">"<span ss="editText">I don''t know what happened to my Father. I was married to Cyndre by the time he died. My brother hasn''t told me much of what happened<span ss="aiText"> and I''ve only heard rumors<span ss="editText">," Queen Rianna said with a sigh, "But enough of that. I need to get my son prepared for his big day<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">The Queen stood up from her desk and headed for the door while her servants followed after her.
<span ss="aiText">"I<span ss="editText">''ll see you <span ss="userText">in a few hours after the party starts<span ss="aiText">," The Queen said as she headed for Prince Quinus''s room to get him ready for his big debut.
<span ss="aiText">Isabe and Alexandria bowed to their Queen and they watched her leave as they started making preparations for the party.
<span ss="userText">***
<span ss="userText">Quinus was in his quarters paging through a book that the servants let him have fun with. Since he was a 6 month old they thought he would just rip up the parchment<span ss="aiText"> but to their surprise, he just looked at the <span ss="editText">writing.
<span ss="editText">''So this is an old history book on the Fiafyr Kingdom<span ss="aiText">,'' Quinus thought as he read the text in front of him.
<span ss="aiText">He looked back at the pages and noticed the different images of people and ces on them.
<span ss="aiText">He then saw an image of the capital city of Tairal and an image of the King''s pce.
<span ss="editText">''Damn? I am a Prince... And all this stuff about the fucking monsters and other creepy shit that''s on the looks like they could whip out humanity without breaking a sweat<span ss="editText">! I wonder why they haven''t done it. Do humans have something that''s holding back those forces,'' Quinus thought to himself as he continued reading.
<span ss="editText">He then came <span ss="userText">across the history of King Burell Meredydd and learned that a Dwarven City became a part of the Kingdom.
<span ss="userText">''Dwarves? There are Dwarves in this world? I wonder if there are elves too?... There has to be. I reincarnated in a world of magic<span ss="aiText">... That means there has to be Elves too,'' Quinus thought to himself as some of his questions were starting to get answered but new interesting questions started taking their ce.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus continued reading and <span ss="editText">learning about the surrounding kingdoms on the continent of Agon.
<span ss="editText">***
<span ss="editText">Wina was watching the prince reading the book with surprise<span ss="aiText">. She had been watching him for thest week and noticed that he seemed to be quite smart for a <span ss="editText">baby. She was starting to believe that this child was something special.
<span ss="editText">''Is the prince a genius?<span ss="aiText">... I thought <span ss="editText">most Royal families were overhyped<span ss="aiText"> by the court and the servants. I just don''t get it?'' Wina thought as she continued observing the prince.
<span ss="editText">In her time as an assassin, she had a few contracts that targeted nobles in other kingdoms and she found most of them to be slightly above average as maja warriors with a mana vein that was in the master level at best.
<span ss="editText">But having been with th<span ss="editText">is child <span ss="editText">for months now. She was starting to believe the rumors of the kid possibly being at the level of a Demi-god. And whatever scrap of will toplete the assassination contract was<span ss="aiText"> slowly leaving her being.
<span ss="editText">Wina needed to find a way out of this contract. She needed to<span ss="aiText"> find something... anything to get out of it... But, she had no one to help her. She was alone in this world with no one to turn to. Not even her new friends coulde to help her... She <span ss="editText">would have to kill the prince or be hunted by the Assassin''s Society if they find out she willingly turned on her client.
<span ss="editText">''An extra 15,000 gold to kill this child in the next month?... Go fuck yourself ric!''<span ss="aiText"> Wina thought as she sighed and turned around and started walking out the door.
<span ss="editText">Mathew and Ingrid noticed Wina''s sad<span ss="aiText"> expression as <span ss="editText">s<span ss="aiText">he <span ss="editText">was by the door.
<span ss="editText">"Are you alright, Miss Wina?<span ss="aiText"> You seem like you''re not yourself today?" Ingrid asked.
<span ss="aiText">Wina shook her head, "I''m fine... I''m just a little <span ss="editText">tired and I think I need some time to myself."
<span ss="editText">"Do you wish for someone to apany you<span ss="aiText">," Mathew <span ss="editText">aske<span ss="aiText">d as he stood up and walked <span ss="editText">towards her.
<span ss="userText">Wina felt a warmth in her core when<span ss="aiText"> he moved forward tofort her. But she shook her head and just looked at Mathew, "No, that''s alright... I''ll be fine."
<span ss="editText">"Sir Mathew, <span ss="userText">you stay here with Miss Ariana. I''ll guide Miss Wina to her room<span ss="aiText">," Ingrid said as she moved forward and picked up the bag that was <span ss="editText">full of dirty rags that were used to wipe down the furniture<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">"Thank you, Miss Ingrid," <span ss="editText">Sir Mathew<span ss="aiText"> said before turning around to look at Prince Quinus who was now <span ss="editText">crawling towards the bookshelf.
<span ss="editText">"Whoa there, your Highness. I can''t have you climbing up the bookshelf<span ss="aiText">," Sir Mathew said as he picked up the Prince and took him out of the room.
<span ss="aiText">Quinus just <span ss="editText">si<span ss="aiText">ghed a<span ss="editText">s he was stopped again<span ss="aiText"> from reading a <span ss="editText">different book that was on a higher shelf. Quinus thought it was a book on sorcery. And was so hoping that it was a book on magic<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">Ingrid smiled and bowed to Sir Mathew as she saw him walking away with the Prince.<span ss="editText"> And handed the child to Miss Ariana.
<span ss="aiText">She turned around and <span ss="editText">walked up to Wina.
<span ss="editText">"Come on. Let''s go Miss Wina<span ss="aiText">. I can see you need some time away from the <span ss="editText">P<span ss="aiText">rince," Ingrid said as she started leading the <span ss="editText">wet nurse<span ss="aiText"> back towards her room<span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">.
<span ss="aiText">"I<span ss="editText"> really don''t need your help, Miss Ingrid<span ss="aiText">. I just need some time alone is all," Wina said as she walked beside the maid.
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Wina? I know that look that was on your face<span ss="aiText">.<span ss="editText"> You feel alone, don''t you...<span ss="aiText"> Please, tell me what is wrong?" Ingrid said as she looked at the young woman.
<span ss="editText">''Ingrid noticed that? Why is she always trying to help me?''
<span ss="aiText">Wina sighed while turning her head and looked at the maid, "<span ss="editText">I just have a lot on my mind. Nothing more<span ss="aiText">. But thanks for your concern."
<span ss="aiText">"<span ss="editText">Wina... You are a good young woman who has her whole life ahead of her. <span ss="userText">And you just need to trust yourself<span ss="aiText">," Ingrid said with a sad smile.
<span ss="aiText">Wina wanted to argue back and tell Ingrid to fuck off. But she stopped <span ss="editText">when she saw the older woman''s warm eyes behind her sad smile<span ss="aiText">.
<span ss="aiText">And with that, she sighed while looking down before she looked into Ingrid''s eyes again, "<span ss="editText">For the first time in my life... <span ss="aiText">I''m just scared."
<span ss="aiText">Ingrid smiled and wrapped her arms around Wina, "Everyone is scared of something.<span ss="userText"> Just don''t let it stop your future<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">Wina''s eyes widen as she felt the warmthing from Ingrid''s hug.<span ss="editText"> It was like beingforted by a mother figure that she never had.<span ss="aiText"> And she let the woman hold her for a few seconds before she broke away from her arms and looked at her with conflicting feelings, "I-I...<span ss="userText"> Sigh... Thank you, Miss Ingrid<span ss="aiText">."
<span ss="aiText">"I know it''s a lot to ask Miss Wina but... Just think about your future and where you want to go and who you want to be... Okay?" Ingrid said with a smile.
<span ss="aiText">Wina''s eyes widened for a second and then she turned around and walked down the hallway with a smile on her face.
<span ss="aiText">"I''ll try my best, Miss Ingrid. And...<span ss="userText"> I appreciate your kind words,"<span ss="aiText"> Wina said as she continued walking.
<span ss="aiText">''I have to think about my future and get out of this contract... Th<span ss="editText">ere has to be a<span ss="aiText"> way <span ss="editText">b<span ss="aiText">ut<span ss="editText"> how is the question.<span ss="aiText">''
<span ss="editText">Before Wina was out of sight Ingrid had one more request for Wina.
<span ss="editText">"And please try to have a future with Mathew! He will be so pathetic without you<span ss="aiText"> in his life," Ingrid yelled out as Wina turned the corner and out of her sight.
<span ss="aiText">Wina stopped and looked back at the maid who was smiling at her.
<span ss="editText">"W-Why do you think I don''t want to be with<span ss="aiText"> Mathew<span ss="editText">?<span ss="aiText"> I never said that," Wina asked as she blushed and looked at Ingrid.
<span ss="aiText">Ingrid wa<span ss="editText">s surpri<span ss="aiText">se<span ss="editText">d<span ss="aiText">, <span ss="editText">"So, you do n on marrying Sir Mathew<span ss="aiText">? And here I thought you just wanted to be friends."
<span ss="aiText">Wina tried to ignore her and <span ss="editText">quickly <span ss="aiText"><span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">turned around in the direction of her room, "I did. I do. I mean... I''m not sure<span ss="editText">! Why does everyone like to tease me?<span ss="aiText"> I don''t need this!"
<span ss="aiText">Ingrid just smiled as she watched Wina turn the corner.
<span ss="aiText">''Oh, Miss Wina. Just how much do you hide behind that tough exterior? And to think she kept trying to push him away<span ss="retryDeletionText"><span ss="undoDeletionText">,'' Ingrid thought to herself before heading to theundry room.