A whole week had passed by, and Aurianna found herself rising bright and early, still harboring a sense of unease about her impending encounter with Mavis. In a matter of minutes, a swarm of maids dashed in, and assisted her in preparing and dressing for the day. Aurianna was dressed into a delightful pink gown, boasting a charmingly oversized bow that adorned the back.
Just as Aurianna was nearing the end of her breakfast, a maid approached her and conveyed, "Princess, your mother is summoning you. We have already arranged a carriage." Aurianna glanced at the maid and nodded, her curiosity piqued. "I wonder why Mother is summoning at this hour," she pondered.
Accompanied by her butlers, Aurianna was escorted towards a luxurious carriage. The carriage traversed the sprawling palace grounds, transporting her from her mansion to a colossal mansion that five tis bigger than hers. Stepping out of the carriage, she was warmly greeted by a throng of maids, eagerly awaiting her arrival. They ushered her through a grand hall that made her have a cold smile.
Scanning the surroundings, she couldn’t help but spot a group of knights—both valiant gentlen and fierce ladies—lined up on either side of the towering walls. Shrouded in gleaming golden armor, their faces obscured, yet Aurianna paid no mind to their visages. Safely carried in the arms of a maid, she was gently carried forward until they finally arrived at a colossal black crystal door.
Standing guard before the imposing entrance were ten steadfast knights, their gaze fixed upon the approaching maid. "I have brought princess Aurianna to see her mother," the maid proclaid, prompting the knights to nod in acknowledgnt. With a single tap, one knight triggered the opening of the door, which gracefully swung wide automatically, granting the maid passage as she carried Aurianna inside.
As Aurianna entered into the room, a breathtaking sight unfolded before her eyes. The spacious living room boasted walls adorned in a harmonious blend of white and light purple, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and elegance. Luxurious white couches beckoned invitingly, their plush cushions enticing guests to sink into their comfort. To Aurianna’s surprise, a whimsical scene unfolded—a delightful array of desserts floated effortlessly around the couches, casting a sweet aroma in the air. Mischievous, small blue figures, seemingly crafted from water, giggled playfully as they floated around the room, adding a touch of enchantnt to the ambiance.
Although it was morning, the room emanated a soft radiance, courtesy of ten ethereal white chandeliers that gracefully hovered near the ceiling, casting a gentle glow upon the surroundings. Knights, stalwart and dignified, stood beside towering pillars, their composition a mystery.
At the heart of the room, Aurianna’s attention was drawn to Queen Amber, seated regally on a sumptuous white couch, engaged in jovial conversation with Mavis. Laughter filled the air as they shared a lighthearted mont. Queen Amber herself was adorned in a captivating green off-shoulder dress, teasingly revealing a glimpse of her chest and a hint of cleavage. A striking ruby necklace adorned her neck. The loose-fitting sleeves cascaded gently from top to bottom, lending the dress a subtly casual look. Its slim waist gently hugged her figure before flowing gracefully downward. Unadorned, the dress exuded simplicity and elegance in equal asure. Completing her ensemble, Queen Amber donned a pair of green high heels that perfectly complented her attire.
In contrast, Mavis opted for a more relaxed ensemble, donning a lovely blue dress that tastefully covered her chest. Delicate lace sleeves adorned her arms, extending only to her wrists. The dress accentuated her figure with a snug waist before gracefully flaring out towards the hem. The flared skirt elegantly reached above her thighs, offering glimpses of her legs, adorned in lace, along with the stylish black heels she wore.
A chill ran through Aurianna’s veins as her eyes t Mavis. Suppressing her displeasure, she clenched her teeth and quickly plastered a feigned smile on her face, allowing the maid to place her down and making her way towards Queen Amber.
"Good morning, Mummy," Aurianna greeted, hastening to sit beside Queen Amber.
"How is my sweet baby doing?" Queen Amber asked cheerfully, montarily disregarding the individual beneath her feet. Below Queen Amber’s feet lay a man with fish-like ears and webbed hands, his frail fra exuding weariness. Despite his silent presence, he never uttered a word or made eye contact, remaining motionless in his position.
"It’s delightful to see you, Princess," Mavis chid in, her gaze fixated on Aurianna.
Aurianna couldn’t contain her frustration any longer. "Don’t stare at with those eyes," she scolded Mavis.
"Aurianna, show so respect. Mavis is one of the finest educators in the entire Kingdom, and she will be your instructor from now on," Queen Amber reprimanded Aurianna, playfully pinching her cheeks to emphasize her point.
"Mavis has already proven herself by successfully teaching Husae and Ralph. Given your expressed interest in learning, she seems like the ideal choice," Queen Amber remarked proudly, oblivious to the peculiar undertones of Mavis’s gaze. Aurianna’s eye twitched upon hearing the queen’s words. ’Seems like Queen Amber is oblivious to Mavis’s peculiar behavior. I guess I’ll have to resort to Plan B or C,’ Aurianna thought to herself, contemplating her options.
"Amber, as I was saying earlier, I was wondering if Aurianna could join for etiquette classes specifically focused on tea party occasions at my humble abode. I have an impressive collection of over fifty unique and rare tea sets, a rarity within the palace," Mavis politely inquired.
"In your ho?" Aurianna questioned skeptically, casting a dubious glance in Mavis’s direction.
"Aurianna, please be nice," Queen Amber chided, playfully pinching her cheeks to emphasize the importance of being courteous.
Aurianna glanced at Queen Amber, hoping against hope that she would reject Mavis’s proposal and not take it seriously. She couldn’t bear the thought of stepping foot in Mavis’s repulsive and disturbing ho. However, a sudden realization dawned on Aurianna, and she plastered a smile on her face.
"Is your ho super nice?" Aurianna asked with an air of enthusiasm, catching Mavis off guard.
"Yes, indeed. It is one of the most breathtaking places in the entire kingdom. Furthermore, there is an orphanage located beside my residence, where I offer my assistance to children who have been abandoned or are without parents," Mavis declared with a sense of pride, unaware of Aurianna’s inner disgust threatening to overwhelm her.
"You’ll have the opportunity to engage with them and have a bit of fun," Mavis added, unaware of the disdain that now filled Aurianna’s heart.
"Yes, Aurianna, you have very few friends, and it seems you’ve distanced yourself from the common folk, unlike before. Not that I entirely approve of mingling with poor folks, but it’s important for you to broaden your social circle," Queen Amber remarked, giving Aurianna a playful wink.
Aurianna couldn’t help but speculate on her mother’s intentions. ’She’s probably suggesting that I establish more connections to enhance my reputation among the people,’ Aurianna thought to herself as she looked at Queen Amber and contemplated her options. ’In the past, I resisted, but now I shall agree. The sooner I can rid myself of Mavis, the better,’ Aurianna resolved silently.
"If you successfully demonstrate everything I teach you in the etiquette classes, I’ll reward you with so candy," Mavis exclaid cheerfully, producing a handful of candies from her pocket and offering them to Aurianna.
"What do you take for, a child?" Aurianna retorted, eyeing Mavis with a mix of disbelief and incredulity before swatting the candy away dismissively.
Mavis and Queen Amber shared a laugh, finding amusent in Aurianna’s childish reaction.
"Aurianna, technically speaking, you are still a child. But I suppose the young princess is eager to grow up faster," Mavis remarked, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye.
"Now, Aurianna, be a good girl and attend your other classes. You will have your session with Mavis in the afternoon," Queen Amber instructed, patting Aurianna affectionately on the head.
Aurianna rose from her seat and exited the room, only to be escorted back to her mansion by a maid who carried her along the way.
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In the midst of Aurianna’s expansive library, a burly fair man with a bald head and a bushy red beard stood before her, brandishing a map as he enthusiastically imparted knowledge about the continents. Aurianna, fully engrossed in the lesson, listened intently to her teacher’s words.
"So, Aurianna, here’s a visual representation of our continent’s map. We call it Graias, and it is located in the southern part of our world," the teacher explained, using his stick to point out various locations on the map.
Curiosity sparked within Aurianna, and she raised an inquisitive question, "Sir Red Beard, what do all these pink colors signify?"
As she fixed her gaze upon her teacher, awaiting his response, thoughts raced through her mind. ’Why does pink seem to dominate the map?’ she wondered, eager to uncover the truth.
"These pink shades represent the territories under the influence of our goddess, Paige. Her sphere of power extends significantly in the southern regions," Red Beard proclaid with evident pride, nodding in affirmation.
Aurianna’s eyes turned cold, and a glimr of skepticism entered her mind. ’I hadn’t realized Paige held such imnse influence,’ she silently contemplated, her thoughts tinged with doubt.
As Aurianna closely examined the map, sothing caught her attention, causing her to stare at it in disbelief. With a pointed finger, she directed her teacher’s attention to a particular dark peach-colored territory. "Sir, what does this territory signify?" she inquired, her voice tinged with curiosity.
Red Beard’s gaze fixated on the territory she indicated, and his expression contorted into a slight frown. "Ah, that’s a land controlled by a demon goddess, Azarath. She is known as the goddess of wisdom," he replied, his tone marked by a hint of disdain.
A surge of intrigue enveloped Aurianna’s thoughts. ’Could this be more than a re coincidence?’ she pondered, her eyes intently studying the map. ’It’s possible that it was soone else who had the sa na. After all, nas are always shared. Why would a goddess even help ? I’m just thinking too much.’
"Sir, what’s the significance of all these designations like High Land and such?" Aurianna gestured around the map, her finger tracing the various markings.
"Well, territories are categorized based on a hierarchical structure," Red Beard explained, adopting a serious tone. "It goes like this: starting from a humble village, progressing to a town, then a city, followed by a nation, which further expands into a Kingdom, and ultimately culminates in an Empire. But beyond an Empire, there are the High Lands, Holy Lands, and the coveted Promised Land," He used his finger to trace the progression of territories, from small to large.
"So, the Promised Land... Winki?" Aurianna’s curiosity piqued as she questioned.
"Oh, that’s where the main church of Paige is located," Red Beard responded, his face lighting up with joy.
"The main church?" Aurianna’s brow furrowed in confusion.
"Haha, well, you’re just a kid, so it’s understandable if you don’t know all the details. Let fill you in," Red Beard chuckled. "Paige’s church is spread across her different domains, and the main church serves as her central hub, the place where she issues all her important commands."
"In that case, what about the one in Sandeph?" Aurianna’s gaze narrowed.
"Oh, that one? It’s simply a sub-church, acting as a connection point between us and Paige," Red Beard explained.
"I see," Aurianna replied, her expression turning cold as her eyes fixated on the Winki Promised Land, a sight that sent a shiver down Red Beard’s spine.
As the clock struck mid-afternoon, Aurianna couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy, but her confidence surged as she focused on her plan. In her hand, she gripped a mysterious green cube before tucking it away safely in her inventory.
With determination in her eyes, she decided to change her outfit into a cozy, warm blue flair dress that reached her knees and had short sleeves, elegantly covering her chest. Stepping outside, she was greeted by a grand erald carriage, and four knights clad in gleaming golden armor accompanied her - two at her side and two leading the way.
"Let’s head to Mavis’ house," Aurianna instructed the carriage driver, and with that, they set off, pulled by two Droles that resembled giant lizards with six spider-like legs.
One of the golden knights, sitting right in front of her, couldn’t help but voice his concern, his voice tense with worry, "Princess Aurianna, are you absolutely sure about visiting Mavis?"
Aurianna replied with an innocent smile, trying to brush off any doubts, "Yeah, I’m sure. Is there a problem?"
The knight, his tone serious, warned, "Well, all I can say is that she isn’t a good person."
Her smile vanished for a mont, revealing a cold look in her eyes, but she quickly regained composure and replied, "Don’t worry, Mr. Knight. Your job is to stay outside her ho and ensure no one gets in."
The knights couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy at the chilling smile that accompanied her words. Yet, their loyalty to the princess remained steadfast, even if they couldn’t quite comprehend the full scope of her intentions.
Another knight, sitting beside Aurianna, spoke up sternly, "Princess, unfortunately, we can’t do that. Our duty is to stay by your side." He voice filled with a bit worry.
Aurianna waved off their concerns, "You needn’t worry about . Just stay vigilant outside and prevent anyone from entering Mavis’s ho, even if you have to use force. And kill them if they refuse to back down."
The knights exchanged hesitant glances, but eventually, they nodded in agreent. They didn’t question Aurianna’s unusual request; they simply knew their duty was to fulfill her wishes.
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