The last day of our trip was spent in silence. Mirina was fidgety, avoiding as if I'd done sothing to aggravate her. Who could imagine a little peck on the lips would trigger her that much. I knew that if I apologized it would make things worse, so I left her alone. She was a grown woman, she could figure herself out.
Perenneth wasn't the city I rembered. Over the last half millennia, they moved the noble district closer to the lake, leaving the area around the Dungeon to beco slums and a trade district. The tall walls surrounding the Dungeon broke above the rooftops like so brutalist architectural installation. Definitely made to protect against steaming naked giants.
The townsfolk rushed in to see the [Princess]'s carriage pass through, shouting praise and the occasional plea for aid in the midst. Mirina kept sulking, absorbed into so kind of internal conflict. If she is so adamantly against marrying, I could make her fiancée break up with her easily without bloodshed. But I decided to wait for her to ask.
To kill ti, I took the Tabard out of storage and fed it my Energy and freshly-woven {Living Threads} so it would make more copies. That got Mirina's attention.
"Is that it?" She asked with both fear and reverence. "The legendary Tabard of Windere? From six hundred years ago?"
I felt the silk vestnt even as more silk magically poured from my fingertips, "Yes, the original one. I 'rescued' it from Torgo's goons and made them believe they'd destroyed it."
"Can… May I touch it?"
I giggled. She was shaken but her mind was still sharp. "Yes, you may touch it, but I recomnd not donning it. Here," I handed the main Tabard to her.
She clicked her tongue, "Yes, I know of its test of worth. How it killed a lot of people."
"That's not the problem. I do believe you'll pass the test. And even if you don't, all you have to do is pledge to return the Tabard to its rightful owner. ."
Indignation welled up her neck and settled in her fiery eyes. She examined the silk garnt in her hands, "Why is passing the test a problem?" She voiced as if sothing was wrong with her.
I smiled and clapped my hands, "Oh! Windere will find her new Queen today. Because you're royalty dummy! The Tabard will put you in the line of succession. It'll even ask if you want to claim it. Fancy that, you'll beco a [Queen]! All my problems will be solved by dumping them on you. Just like old tis."
She bit her lower lip and sucked in a deep breath. "It'll only worsen things. Lonid will use it as an excuse to annex Windere whole."
"More like the other way around. I can offer your family a very generous retirent package."
She exhaled. Resigned, she handed it back to . "I can't."
"Too bad. But when you want to be [Queen], just tell . I can carve you a new kingdom. I have a lot of experience making them."
Pouting, she returned to the window. "You're insufferable."
"Aww, c'mon. I'm not teasing you, Mirina! My offer is sincere."
Another sigh, "I know!" She added under her breath, "That's what makes it scary."
Nothing worth noting happened until we arrived at the lakeside palace. This new palace was much better than the last one. I almost wanted to steal it for myself. My tingling inner [Rogue]'s fingers twitched with greed.
The vehicle ca to a full stop and the footman cracked the door open. Taking a look inside, he exchanged a nod with Mirina. Since she wasn't attempting to stand up, I figured there was so protocol for her arrival.
"Her Highness the fourth [Princess] Mirina Luwens of Lonid and two guests from Windere!" The footman announced loudly with the aid of a few Traits.
The door opened in a full swing and the knight Captain stood with his gauntlet extended to help the Royal Lady out of the carriage. Mirina graciously took the hand and glided out of the carriage. The footman moved sideways to block the door with his back, indicating to Julia and that we should wait. Past the man, I could see a red carpet with two rows of servants lined up and bowing to the glowing [Princess].
Once Mirina vanished into the building, the footman moved and we got out. A human courtier wearing Lonid's livery approached from the other side.
"Guests of Her Highness, welco to Lonid. I hope you had safe travels," he informally greeted us with a weaselly smile. "May I have your nas?"
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Out of his sight, I touched Julia's arm to signal her to wait. "I'm Haru Stouthamr from the dwarven nation of Vugh Tarim, Mirina's classmate and confidant," I said, locking my gaze with him.
I committed a faux pas on purpose, by addressing the [Princess] without her honorific. Adding "confidant" at the end hinted to him that I had permission to do so. I also introduced myself as not from Windere on purpose. It would reduce the prejudice sent my way, although only by a bit. My two tails and orange ears poking almost a hand above my scalp guaranteed more than my fair share of shit.
"And this is Lady Julia Silkheart of Windere, Her Highness Mirina's sworn lady-in-waiting, and personal assistant."
The gorgeous silk-folk woman curtsied perfectly, although a scholar in manners could tell her posture was a thousand years outdated. There was none there. Introducing her as nobility was intentional too. Windere ever issued only a single standard title of nobility. The Lamia Duchess. We had five city lords, charged with the rule and administration of their cities and districts and they counted as nobility but they had no standard rank. When they negotiated with foreigners, these city lords were given the sa treatnt as Counts.
Eric II and III changed it a bit by granting a few people titles of Lord and Lady, Knight and Da. They didn't dare hand over other titles.
My introduction of Julia was carefully asured. Julia was "Sworn", to cast no doubts on her allegiances. Declaring her a "Lady-in-Waiting" would put all but the most insidious grubby hands away from her - literally - silken skin. Finally, "Personal Assistant" ant she knew a lot of Mirina's secrets. That improved her value and gave her an untouchable characteristic. They now knew they couldn't sway her away from Mirina without dire consequences.
But as everything around a Royal Court like this, we both were perfectly valid targets for [Assassination]. I let my Soul score be the lowest exactly for that. A ga of poisoned daggers could be played both ways.
Level 148 [1]
Strength: 65 23 (88) / 104 - Dexterity*: 69 31 (100) / 104 - Endurance*: 76 24 (100) / 104
Mind*: 77 34 (111) / 104 - Willpower*: 72 29 (101) / 104 - Charisma*: 90 12 (102) / 104
Magic*: 102 43 (145) / 104
Ego*: 81 32 (113) / 104 - Luck: 51 22 (73) / 104 - Soul: 39 22 (61) / 104
HP 86.022.059 (1.111.857 HP/s)
Energy 65.021.873 (116.689 E/min)
The courtier spent a few monts staring at us, probably reading {Appraise} information. Julia's Status was rock-bottom and anyone would think she was hiding it. I needed to level up the woman. Maybe go down the Dungeon and abduct so exp-fat monsters.
"Welco to Lonid, honorable guests of Her Highness," he finally acknowledged us by repeating the formal greeting and out loud. His wording bound our every act to Mirina's reputation but I wasn't worried about that. "Please follow ."
He took us into the palace but I could tell he was leading us to the lower guest rooms along with our luggage.
Those reserved for honored guests that weren't quite nobility or, when noble, being put there was a display of how the court felt about them. To , it was the right place to be, but for Julia, it was an insult. She was introduced as Mirina's Lady-in-waiting and must be placed in an apartnt attached to the [Princess]'s chambers.
I waited for a mont when we would be heard by other courtiers in the corridors to drop the bomb on the weaselly guy's lap. I sidestepped to put myself in front of the procession and halted, causing everyone behind to stumble. Before the courtier escorting us could complain, I spun on my heels and faced him, grinning.
"Milord, I think you mistook the way to Her Highness Mirina's chambers. She requested us to stay close to her."
The guy contemplated killing for a few seconds but the hubbub from the courtiers watching the scene unfold made him reconsider. His face softened.
"I heard no such request," he sniped and waved a hand to shoo away from his way.
"Sure, it'll be your head on a plate," I mumbled under my breath but used an Ability to make sure he could hear . Out loud, I added, "Wouldn't it be wiser to check with her before committing to either choice, Milord?"
So snickers from the noble Ladies watching the scene unfold. A lot of fans opened up to hide smirking lips.
"The Royal Family is in their private solar welcoming Her Highness back," he stated with finality. "We can't interrupt them."
"I am sure runners from the knights escorting us were sent here days ahead of our arrival," I raised a haughty argunt. "Do you an they didn't convey to you MIrina 's accommodations requirents?"
I again addressed the [Princess] by her given na. Our captive audience didn't miss this blatant detail. But what I hinted at really happened. Sowhere in the Royal Palace's gears, so taphorical wrench was clogging its smooth operation.
My tails wanted to flick with delight at the sight of the weasel squirming. Foxes were a weasel's natural predators, after all. He now had a hard choice to make. Either accept the bla himself or buy a fight with the knights. Even if he tried to pin the bla down on , my lack of a visible Status to {Appraise}, height, and outlook would tell everyone he was foolish enough to be tricked by a child. Soone that knew about kitsunes would know my two tails placed squarely in the first rank at least. But I didn't think I'd find many of them out here.
One of his helpers leaned forward and whispered, "Use , my Lord. Tell her I forgot to give you that information."
He would shoulder so bla because he had an incompetent servant but that would depend on the severity of the punishnt the servant received. The sacrificial scapegoat was soundly slapped on the face.
"You incompetent fool! Twenty leashes for you! How dare you forget to convey Her Highness's guests accommodation plans?" He shouted-spat at the poor loyal fellow. Here's hoping the human weasel of a courtier didn't have rabies. Doing a hundred-eighty, he smiled at Julia. "Milady Silkheart, forgive . I mistook our path. This way, please."
Under a shower of scornful giggles from the noble crowd our little show gathered, he led us away from the "punishnt" guest quarters and into the inner wing of the palace.
My adventure through the andering well-lit corridors and shadowy back alleys of Lonid's high society had just started.
[1] The spreadsheet is not up-to-date and I keep finding excuses not to. The values might be a bit wrong but that's a minor issue.
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