Elinor frowned as they came to a stop at the front of the mansion, Nungal giving her a small, secretive smile that was begging for her to bite. Turning away from her lilac eyes to glance at the princesses, Julian, and her father, waiting for their next move since the lovebirds weren’t back yet.
“We’ve finished our tour, and it is an excellent dorm, if a bit tight for space, considering the students I expect us to have as the years progress, but I am sure Lilya can handle that. Hmm.” She felt her agitation rising with the teasing gleam in the goddess’ cosmic stare. “What were you congratulating Drake and Anala on?”
Nungal held her hands behind her back and shifted her hips to bring their attention to the second landing, maintaining her mystique. “I suspect our lady and lord will not be joining us. Princess Castria, could you return to your room and offer Anala your support? And Marquess Julian, might you fly off to the stadium arena to console Lord Drake?”
Heather’s hands knotted at her front. “I’m…going to be alone with Your Majesties?”
“Can she not join us?” Castria strained a smile, her focus swiftly darting to her for confirmation, causing Elinor to sigh. “Empress?”
“I’m sure things blew up in a bad way. I suppose forcing it could have been the wrong play,” she mumbled, finding it somewhat annoying she couldn’t decipher the goddess’ enigmatic expression. “Go on. It seems Anala and Drake will need some extra help.”
Castria shot Heather a sorry smile before backing toward the stairs to pass a few lingering students on the second landing. “We’ll catch up as fast as we can!”
Julian scratched his arm before waving at the stressed princess. “Try not to have too much fun.”
Heather tried not to fidget with her long red locks pulled around her front as she waved off her friends. “Yeah, how scary can a shopping trip with The Raven Empress and the mysterious goddess that can snap a kingdom away with the click of her heels be?”
A stunning smile brightened Nungal’s face as she took the princess by the arm and guided her outside, motioning to Elinor with anticipation. “C’mon, Elinor, your dutiful Alchemist should have the coins ready for us. By the way, I don’t think they’ll be catching up any time soon! I’m sure your network will inform you soon enough of the troubled waters our teens have entered.”
“What does that mean?” Heather choked. “Goddess, what does that mean?! I once fell off of a boat when I was little because of troubled waters.”
Elinor followed them, her father keeping a close watch on the violet-haired, heavenly woman who had wasted his entire night. “Not pertinent to the story. Can you take back your items with you to…heaven?”
“Irkalla,” Nungal absently corrected, moving a nervous Heather into the sunlight before hopping back and looking her up and down with a critical eye. “Hmm. Why don’t we make a few minor adjustments?”
Irkalla, she repeated in her mind, testing the name. It felt familiar, but nothing popped into her thoughts. Nungal’s home is Irkalla… That is such important information. I knew her in my previous life somehow.
A lump formed in her throat as she studied the woman’s careless enthusiasm while trying to put herself in Heather’s place to spot things none of them could see.
She knows Butter, but what is our connection?! Gah. I know you can read my mind, Nungal! This may be a fun game for you, and maybe it will be fun to look back on in the future, but right now, I am very frustrated.
“Oh, I am sure it will be,” the woman snickered, passing the message to her in the flash of a second. “Maybe you should focus on what is in front of you, though.”
Heather’s mouth slackened as the goddess snapped her fingers, dying the princess’ hair the same shade as her. “You! How did—my hair…is purple?! Empress!”
“Nungal,” Elinor sighed, rubbing between her eyes, “can we not change the appearance of others without their permission? Can’t you just make an illusion…or an actual body double that fits your proportions?”
“It’s not the same,” the woman happily complained, circling Heather to examine her from every angle. “I’ll change it back in a second. It’s hard to gauge how things will look in this dimension since it is so…unrefined. Still, it’s cute, like dressing up little dolls. Sometimes you just have to put it on someone native to the scene to see the proper results. Fashion is a universal harmony, after all! You were the one who taught me that.”
She came to a halt, fixating on the words and impish smirk the goddess sent her way, knowing she’d dislodged her thoughts. It also opened up an awkward moment between her and her father as his frosty blue eyes darted to her.
“How does she know you, Elinor? What did she mean by that?”
Dad… Elinor frowned as she saw Lilya sorting through a chest in front of her stagecoach. Short answer, you know how Butter and I knew each other in our previous life? Well, apparently, we also have something to do with this goddess before being born on Earth. She can obviously listen to our thoughts and conversations…and basically knows the future. All we can do is entertain her. Nungal will get what Nungal wants.
“Indeed, I shall!” the woman chimed. “I’m also in communication with Tiffany, looking over her shoulder, so you don’t need to worry about her silence. She is quite enthralled by my input. I can’t wait for the big reveal, Elinor!”
Don’t be impatient, Elinor whispered, releasing the stress building in her chest as she glanced at her father, ignorant to the hag and his wife’s possible revival. We will address everything at the end of the day, and you are satisfied.
Nungal’s cheer dampened slightly as she reversed all the changes she’d done on the spinning-eyed princess, overwhelmed by the alien enthusiasm and mannerisms of the goddess, who she now saw as above her own father in power.
“Until I’m satisfied? If only that were possible… Anyway, let’s get going before you hear the news from Castria.”
Elinor shook her head and walked to Lilya, waiting by the chest for her to approach, and all of their City Guard escorts stood ready to leave. “How does the treasury look?”
“Excellent, Empress,” the brown-haired woman chirped in a shockingly positive mood compared to her typical tempered self. “Everything related to the Great House of Tarnash has been logged. It wasn’t much beyond the coins, but there were several artifacts. I have two chests of ancient coins on the back, ready to be traded, and this one is of current currency. Trading the two chests will be more than enough for me to build up the House of Raven’s trade empire.”
“That is what I like to hear,” she whispered, pulling out one of the coin pouches that held a certain number of coins inside. “You’ve sorted them into individual bags… As efficient as ever, Grandmaster. I will leave you to return to your hectic schedule. Any meetings today?”
“Yes, in fact… Queen Alivau will be by to see her daughter’s accommodations before speaking to me privately this afternoon. It is sure to be a memorable one.”
“I’m sure it will,” Elinor said, eyes following Nungal as she ushered the 17-year-old teen into the stagecoach like she was an introverted little sister. “Have fun with that.”
Let’s go, Dad. The sooner we start, the more information I can start looking for. Nungal seems to have something to say since she went through all the trouble of coming here herself.
Her dad rubbed his left shoulder as he joined her inside the carriage, the guards strapping the 3rd chest onto the back of the vehicle. “If she can hear me, then I might as well ask. I’d like to know about your relationship with my daughter, Nungal. Is there baggage that we need to be aware of from her previous life?”
Sitting in her usual seat, Nungal settling in across from her, Elinor slid open the window to study the exterior. Dad, I don’t think she’s going to tell us that. At least, not until much later.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Nungal crossed her legs and folded her hands across her thighs, a mischievous gleam in her galaxy-like eyes. “Don’t be so sure. I can’t help myself since it has been such a long time since I’ve been able to discuss things with you in this manner. Before that…Castria might need some calming down.”
Her confusion turned into alarm as Castria’s emotional state spiked, yet it took a moment for the girl to respond. Her dad was the one to initiate contact.
“Castria, what is it?! Is there danger?”
“He kissed her! He kissed her! This is crazy! Anala is totally freaking out, and she—oh, no… No, no, no, no! It’s worse than that! Poor Anala! Oh, no! Tell Heather that I definitely need to support Anala because this is like… This is more insane than any of the adult novels my sister secretly read in Julian’s family library!”
Elinor took a second to realize this world had a totally different culture and understanding of deviant behavior than Earth. Shockingly, her dad seemed to be an expert on this stuff as he jumped into the conversation.
“He took her first kiss before she was married? Hmm. That is very concerning from a noble standpoint. It means…”
“Yeah!” Castria screamed, unsure if she should be happy or mad as she ran through the scenario. “He asked for her ring! Her ring! And she didn’t have it on her! Nooo! That’s sooo embarrassing for a noble girl, and that’s not even the worst part—it’s so much worse—I can’t even say! He also kissed her again! That’s twice!”
Starting to catch up to the cultural practices, Elinor saw a few more things that needed to be corrected this week before they left, such as getting Castria one of these rings. It would undoubtedly light a flame in the kingdom, knowing there was an available princess with her ring proudly shown off.
So…let me get this straight. He forced two kisses, which is something only done between betrothed or married couples, and then proposed to ‘make up for his mistake.’ Am I reading that correctly? she asked, suddenly realizing what the twinkling-eyed goddess meant by her ‘congratulations.’ Is she betrothed to anyone else?
“No, no! Empress, you’re not keeping up! King Edmon! Can you explain it to her? I’ve got to take care of Anala. She’s a hiccuping mess, curled up under her bed. She doesn’t know if she can go back and face him after…the embarrassment—let’s just say it was bad!”
Elinor’s fingers twitched against her dress as Castria’s frantic voice echoed through the Nexus, her thoughts drifting, unbidden about Julian and herself being in that situation. As serious as the topic was, to her, it couldn’t have been more cinema, hearing her princess’ mind spin with fantasies.
“What if it had been him? If he’d caught me off guard, taken my hand, and pressed his lips against mine with that same reckless confidence? A flicker of heat shot through her chest, the idea rattling her far more than she cared to admit. His mother, though… I wouldn’t handle it any better than Anala… Did I just project that aloud?!”
Hang in there.
“Just ignore that, please…”
Her father crossed his arms, looking slightly troubled as he studied Nungal, now making small talk with Heather so she wouldn’t feel like a 3rd wheel.
“Anala has a reputation amongst the younger nobility for being a…bit of a brat. Not that she actually is. She’s hyperactive, compulsive, and can act without thinking, as you noticed during her battle against you. That being said, I’ve heard rumors regarding a particular clique around Aura that has bullied her for over a decade… Typical mean-girl behavior while acting nice to her face.”
He gave a sigh that only a father could, taking Elinor’s mind back to the many times she’d seen him give her that same look but leave it to her mother to handle; her dad could get very protective over her—he did become undead without a second thought to be with her.
“Noble girls in this kingdom are of bride age at eight, but that marriage must be accepted by the girl and, in part, her family. Specifically, during the girl’s First Winter’s Dance of the Academy Waltz, they are officially recognized as husband and wife. The years before that come with many gifts and outings, but, at most, the pair hold hands. A kiss is something serious in this world.”
Well, I guess things did take a turn… Did she reject him?
Her father grimaced and shook his head, catching Heather’s nervous gaze, knowing they could communicate silently at this point. “I’m not sure. As far as Castria is willing to say, Anala did something so mortifying that she ran away, promising to be back…but now she can’t ever show her face to Drake again. It…is an area your mother would typically cover.”
It seems that way, Elinor whispered, a thought suddenly gripping her stomach and putting a smile on her lips as she saw the same look lift Nungal’s eyes. Wait… Nungal, you wouldn’t happen to know where High Lady Tarkov is? She might not want to talk about this with her big sister, but a mother would definitely be a welcome addition.
The goddess winked at Heather and put a finger to her lips before turning to speak to her aloud for the princess’ sake. “High Lady Karia is currently trying to look like she is shopping while hoping to run into you. She is quite interested in seeing what you think about her daughters and the gift she offered you. I would consider the record store—a noble hot spot.”
She looked at Heather, and the redhead swiftly nodded, using her elemental powers. “Umm. Oh, right! I’ll make a connection between you and the driver… Mmgm. My body is still feeling the pain after the arena match—there, it’s open.”
“Change of plans. We’re going to the record store to meet with High Lady Karia. A girl needs her mother…and I’m sure High Lord Yeven will be making a stop soon, in any case.”
Her father shifted uncomfortably. “Are you…sure that is a good idea, Elinor? It may seem a little extreme to us, but this world would see that kiss as something pretty damning, especially from a mother, who takes on the primary role of teacher and protector for their children in the social scene.”
Elinor’s smile grew. Dad, of this, I’m sure. If there were any girl Drake could have done that to, it would be a Tarkov girl, because they don’t conform to the typical social etiquette. Can you think how that will look from her mom’s point of view? I don’t think this is anything new to their parents; everyone saw how attentive Drake was to protect Anala against me.
She turned her gaze back to the street, looking up at the cloudless sky as birds flew between building tops. Anala may not feel like she has the power in this relationship right now, but she has Drake wrapped around her fingers. Someone’s made her feel beautiful for the first time, and after his performance, everyone can see that there is only one firecracker in his eye. Neither of them can escape each other.
Nungal giggled, nudging Heather and making her jump. “I feel bad that you’ve been left out. Drake kissed Anala!”
“What?!” the redhead shrieked, shooting up and smacking her head against the ceiling. “Ach! H-He kissed her?! Drake?! He’d never—wait, the battle, when Aura, Anala, and he…were tied up…practically naked,” she squeaked. “Mmmm!”
Her face turned bright pink, steam practically shooting out of her ears. “I’m not thinking about it! I just…oh, wow—what would that feel like?”
Nungal scratched her nose and leaned closer, whispering, “You know…I can put you in a little daydream with, ahem, a certain someone, but…would that make Castria jealous?”
Elinor felt like she’d been punched in the gut as Heather freaked out.
“No! No! No! I’m just fine imagining it—not that I am! I, umm, no-ho-ho!” she cried, hiding her burning face in her hands and making the goddess double over with laughter, clearly enjoying herself. “Please, stop teasing me, Goddess! Don’t tell Julian how I feel!”
Now, Elinor saw a future collision, with two princesses yanking the poor marquess on both sides, each attempting to win him over. She had another idea, though, and she sent a private communication to Lilya.
“Yes, Empress?”
Do everything you can to poach Prince Drew and put Castria in situations with the prince… I need to find an out for her since she already has so much guilt about killing Julian’s mother. Two armies are brewing. And, eventually, he’ll need to side between his mother’s ideals and where his childhood crush is.
“The Delva Empire and Kaspir Kingdom?” Lilya pondered with a sober tone. “You believe he will turn on us?”
Why wouldn’t he? Elinor whispered, looking back at what Roman had done. The question was, had he planned for this the whole time? The plots were blooming out of the darkness within her mind as she put herself in Julian’s shoes.
Their flags and weapons look the same when one’s parents are involved, and I don’t know what connection his mother had to the Delva Empire. One will likely tell the truth, the other lie. And they’ll both be calling his name to join their side. I can see a direct path to him finding out more about his mother that shatters his sanity… Then, he can’t trust what he sees right in front of him…or who he is really betraying.
She tilted her head to see Nungal’s devilish smirk, hidden from the others and no doubt reading her mind like a book. Oh, how easily we’re swayed to a darker path when the lines are blurred and faded… This is how villains are made.
“Hmm. That is a troubling concern.”
Get ahead of it if you can. We need to broaden her selection pool.
“I will get further details from the others in the Royal Court, but I will attempt to fulfill your order to the best of my ability.”
Only if it looks practical and natural… Her thoughts returned to her schooling days. I don’t want a divide to grow between Heather and Castria…and a boy can do that to girls. Best to nip this in the bud early… Get in front of any plot to recruit Julian. Now, I need to speak to a girl’s mother.
“Things are already heating up, I hear. You know, I’d kissed and done quite a few other things with forty-seven boys before the age of seventeen. I find the Kaspir Kingdom’s culture quite…conservative for their typical revealing apparel, but I try to respect other cultures. Have a lovely chat with the high lady, Empress.”
Forty-seven? I’ll save that conversation for another time.
A little impressed at how experienced her Alchemist was, considering she was in her very early twenties when she died, she cut the connection. Social connections were good to make in kingdom building, and this was an excellent way to bridge two powerful Houses.
Love finds a way.
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