Chapter 472: Is Not Alone
With another group inside, the Ladies of the Arton Court, who were headed to bed, ca out to socialize, and Dominic gave up on any notions of sleeping at a decent hour.
Perhaps he could find Amie and go hide in the forge?
No, that would just draw them out into the yard, and who knew what would happen when the girls were left unattended with Dave and the Goats. The goats were sowhat territorial, and protective of random females who entered their fields.
But trying to explain to a bunch of Noble girls that they had been adopted and were no longer allowed to leave the goats’ sight could be problematic.
Jasmine was still struggling to accept it, and the farrier was pretty open-minded.
The sound of Dave clearing his throat from the door alerted Dominic that there were more issues to deal with, just in ti for a portal to open next to the gates, revealing an elderly mage, and even more debutantes.
"I swear, we’re going to end up with every eligible Noblewoman from here to West Keria by the ti that this is over," he muttered.
The mage on the other side of the portal laughed.
"You’re in luck then. These fine ladies are from Northinta Castle in West Keria, and your promise has co true."
"Please, co in. There is tea, or sothing stronger if you need it." Dominic agreed, with a welcoming gesture.
The mage was about to object, but Dave was already ushering him through with a massive hand on his back, and it was too late to politely decline.
Good, if Dominic had to suffer this chaos, so did everyone else.
"Do we even know who the grooms are going to be?" The mage whispered as the girls rushed through to et old friends from the other nations.
"Not yet. I suspect it will be the new Barons from Cygnia, and whatever other eligible bachelors the King sees fit to send after he gets word of what is going on here." Dominic whispered back.
"So, it’s just a bunch of debutantes descending on your house because there might be new Barons coming?"
Dominic shook his head. "No. Because other debutantes ca here expecting new Barons. The news spread, and one thing triggered the next, and now we’ve got won. All the won."
The mage sighed. "The communication net is abuzz with the news."
"There’s a network?"
The mage winked at him. "The Court Mages have a set of linked communication tablets to talk to each other, and we all know what is going on now, so I would expect that any of the Alliance nations who haven’t sent ladies will have them here soon."
"I think that it’s just us and Mitfield who are still to send ladies for the debutante event. Then we will be expecting the gentlen to arrive at so point afterward.
I know that the Envoys have been calling family mbers, but most of them won’t have access to a portal spell, so it will take them a week or more to make it here." Dominic explained.
"So, the wealthy get not only an advantage in status, but a head start. I tell you, it’s an unfair advantage to be born into a high Noble family."
"Tell
about it. Starting as an orphan is living life on hard mode."
The mage chuckled at the gallows humour, then looked out over the grounds of Wistover Manor.
"I suppose that it worked out alright for you in the end. Rags to riches, complete with a Princess."
Dominic sighed dramatically. "It’s a living dream, you know. Not just a Princess, but a Paladin. It’s like marrying your best buddy who likes to go kill monsters with you, only better looking."
"I don’t suppose that there is a better spot to rest here than inside the Manor, is there? I’m not assigned as a guardian of the ladies, so I don’t have to remain on the premises." The mage asked.
"If you want to run away, I don’t bla you. We have the Duskblade Sect here in town. If you want, I will call one of them to get you, and you can borrow a room in the Mage Tower, or at the Inn in town.
So far, all the visitors have been Nobles, so the Inn still has room. Or, if you’re a Guild mber, both the rchants and Adventurers have facilities in town for their people."
The mage shook his head. "The Mage Tower would be just fine. I don’t know the Duskblade Sect, but if they’re local to town, they shouldn’t be openly hostile."
Dominic whistled to get Dave’s attention. "Where is Amie?"
"Playing with the cat in the loft."
"Please have soone ask her to co here."
A few seconds later, the petite mage was jogging their way, waving happily.
"Are you having fun yet? There are won everywhere, a man’s dream, right?"
Dominic sighed dramatically and placed a hand over his chest in a wounded gesture.
"If only I were a younger man, still a bachelor."
Amie made a grand gesture to the mage. "Are you perhaps single, good Sir? I can arrange chaperoned etings if you are so inclined."
The old man roared with laughter, slapping his thigh and causing many of the nearby won to turn and see what had set him off.
"I had not expected such humour from the Duskblade Sect. No, Miss, I am not looking for a new wife young enough to be my Great Granddaughter."
"But what a way to go, right? I’m sure they wouldn’t mind the inheritance."
"You’re going to get
in trouble, little one. Let’s go see your Elders before soone gets the wrong idea about my presence here."
"Well, that’s not nearly as much fun. But I can take you there, no problem. It’s only a few minutes’ walk if you don’t want to use a portal, and the city has street lights."
The mage looked impressed. "Wistover has magitech lights through the whole city?"
"Not all of it, but most of it. Even most of the farm houses have magitech yard lights now. It’s been a great security feature. But you’ll enjoy your ti with the Sect, we’ve got soone for every niche."
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