No, they are not going night sailing while drunk. Are they crazy? Tori frowned as she sat at a table and looked up at one of the imperial knights. Its too dangerous! They could easily lose their balance, fall into the water, and drown.
Its fine, pupil! I can swim! a red-faced Master Ramos assured her as beside him, the Emperor Eritus nodded.
I, too, can swim! the old man slurred. The imperial knight on either side of them kept a straight face, but flushed with embarrassnt. Who knew the forr Emperor of Soleil could get drunk at his age and insist on sailing around the islands at night?
They couldnt really stop him or Master Ramos, so they went to the two hosts seated on the edge of the patio, discussing that days events: Tori and Piers.
Master, even if the water is calm, its dark. If you get dizzy and fall off the boat, it will be difficult to save you, Tori told him in a firm voice. Why dont you take His Majesty to Anahata Island tomorrow?
Tomorrow? Young lady, at our age, tomorrow is never guaranteed! the Emperor Eritus told them far too proudly.
Tori closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Children she could deal with. Teenagers screaming, she could deal with. But drunken old people? The gods were testing her.
Arguing with get her nowhere. Ti for the backup plan.
Thats too bad. I just had new hammock swings made and I was hoping you could evaluate them, Tori said, keeping her voice casual. While like a regular woven hammock, it cos with a shade over the top and crystals to circulate air around the hammock. The hammock itself naturally sways, and there is a cup holder for chilled fruit beverages.
We can use the hammocks so other ti-
Wait, wait, the Emperor Eritus squinted and stumbled forward a step. Lets hear her out, Ramos. Your pupil may be on to sothing. What are these chilled fruit beverages?
They have a bit of liquor in them-
Say no more!
Grandfather, Father says youve drunk enough-
Dont tell what to drink! Ive had more wine than youve drunk water! The Emperor Eritus cut off Piers, who tightened his lips into a line.
Tori hoped the Emperor would be able to manage his father and glanced out at the plaza. The Emperor and Empress were dancing in the plaza and had asked to be left alone when knights tried to approach them. The sa was with Prince Emil and Princess Vivian, who went on an evening walk.
Gideon was the youngest person in his family and couldnt do much. Even if he could, he and Fabian had returned to the tournant to see if there was a winner. Tori didnt expect them to return.
This ant dealing with the eldest imperial family mber went to Piers and, by association, her.
Tori sighed and stood up to make arrangents.
Make sure to keep them away from the water, Tori said in a firm voice. She lowered her voice to the two additional knights and two villagers she was speaking to. And if they try, offer them food instead. Potato goods and so at skewers. Just try to distract them. Theyre drunk and its not safe if theyre in the water.
Yes, my lady. The escorting knights bowed and led the others away.
I did not know my grandfather would get drunk, Piers said as she returned to her seat. Tori sighed and shook her head.
I didnt think theyd drink so much here. I wanted to talk to your grandfather more about that table.
You will have ti. He will likely stay for a while, Piers told her. He glanced around the restaurant. Most of his guests were dancing, taking after dinner walks, or just sitting around a few tables chatting. Several people were missing, and Tori was sure they were back at the beach with the other young people. Did Henrik go to the beach, too?
I think he went to have dinner with his parents, Tori said. Hes been very worried about his father.
Their daughter was tricked.
Yes, but she did make her own decisions in exposing contracts and selling property. She knew it was wrong to do so and even if she trusted that Cowbastard, she still acted voluntarily. Still, I feel sorry for her. Her relationship with her family may not recover. Henrik will never trust her again no matter what she does. Her parents wont trust her the sa way again, Tori replied as she reached forward, stirred her after dinner coffee, and took a sip.
Does Henrik want to turn in his sister for fraud?
Tori snorted. Yes, but his parents wont let him. His father said theyll figure sothing out. Even if there is a good chance of getting the property back by reporting Annika for fraud, it would destroy her reputation and no one in good standing would want to work with her in the future. People are more forgiving of an accident than planned harm.
Piers nodded. He looked at the table in silence. Adrien Rosiek was reported to have left the capital.
Tori snorted once more. Kasen already told her, but she liked hearing it. She narrowed her eyes and nodded, satisfied. Good. No one wants to work with him anyway. Several rchants, so of whom were guests at Annikas party, had requested inquiries on the Golden Cow. The formal complaints were still being drawn up, but eventually, the Cowbastards little empire would be under official review for any malpractice. Where did he go?
Piers was quiet for a mont. He was last seen going west, but it has not yet been reported on where his final whereabouts are.
Chetterswickshire is west.... Tori trailed off. She took another sip of her coffee. Hes probably going to go hide for a bit and wait for this debacle to calm down. Then hell return and slip back into his work, as if hed never left.
Piers eyes flickered up to look at her face before lowering when she looked towards him. It is possible he is relocating his business.
Tori wrinkled her nose. Relocate it where? The Golden Cow and its subsidiaries are all over the Fourth District with other places dotting the city. With that much property, it doesnt make sense for him to pick up everything and leave the capital. The resources and custor base here are too good.
I was told that he plans to sell the Golden Cow.
Tori lifted her head. What? How much? I an, no way.
Our people have found that hes sold off so property that had yet to be developed. It is said that he or his people are looking for buyers for small shops, Piers told her.
Tori pursed her lips. She was tempted to see what small shops were on sale and for how much, but knowing that the money would eventually go to Adrien, she rejected the idea.
What about the investigation on alleged corruption? Tori asked.
It will continue, but if they are shut down and sold as a building and land, without a business attached, there isnt much punishnt that can be done to the store.
What would the authorities shut down if there was nothing to shut down? Where are they going to waste resources possessing dirt and an empty building that no longer belonged to the suspect? Adrien was a lizard that willingly lost his tail to live again.
What are the chances of him selling to cronies to be recovered at a later ti?
I dont know. Rosiek is being monitored and a close eye is on any possible business dealings.
How soon can we find out if he did sothing illegal in order to expand his business? Tori asked. She was still sure that he mustve done sothing questionable.
A few months.
Ugh.... Tori slumped back against the chair and let her arms drop at her sides dramatically. Months?
There are other investigations happening and a thorough investigation is necessary, Piers told her. He glanced at her tired posture with so worry. I requested this be prioritized.
That bastard is wasting so much ti and resources, Tori grumbled as she sat back up and scowled. I shouldve kicked him when he was down. Broken a leg or sothing.... Kneeing him in the crotch was not enough to vent her anger.
Dont be mad. She felt a warm hand rest on top of her head and gently pat her three tis. Rosiek will suffer, Piers told her to soothe her.
I know hell suffer, but I want him to suffer a lot. And soon. Tori said as she wrinkled her nose.
I know.
Tori took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Im tried. Im going to bed.
I will escort you to your tent. Piers pushed his chair back and prepared to stand as soon as she did.
You still have guests, she said as she looked at him knowingly. Piers looked towards the plaza.
I will co back. I will escort you first.
Tori let out a tired breath and stood up, resigned. Several imperial knights followed them as they tried to leave the plaza without disturbing too many guests. Many of the people Piers had invited were young nobles and local politicians who had just been elected or were slowly taking over for their parents.
It was important for the next generation of leaders to learn to collaborate with each other and figure out where their priorities should be so they could plan things like united fronts on particular topics. Piers work on international trade, as well as a few dostic processes were well received by this group of people.
If she werent exhausted, shed chat with them as the Countess of Cosora on issues that would affect her county. At the mont, there were several experintal projects she had approved of, and other places were watching to see how they worked in Cosora before considering implenting them in their ho regions.
A few of the young ladies Piers was supposed to be introduced to were also there as guests. They brought topics such as the dical center uniformity project, transport hubs, arts, and agriculture to the event, drumming up interest in the projects that would be done at the delta.
A few village leaders were also in attendance, but more as personal guests of Piers, as they were familiar with him. Toris goddaughter couldnt make it, as she was still an infant and the party ran late.
As they reached the main walkway to the encampnt, which at this point was down to half capacity as various families had begun to settle around the area to farm and settle so industry, Tori could hear the faint yelling from the beach.
Its not over yet? Piers frowned.
The tournant is a tiered system, so I had told them that it would take so ti, Tori said as she walked ahead. Using their characters, they get to keep their current skills and stats in a one-on-one battle royale through a story where a deck of cards with different scenarios and obstacles is used to decide where the characters go. Whoever reaches the goal of each story wins and moves onto the next round. Its a lot of luck, but also requires skill to give your character an advantage.
My lady, will this tournant system be used again at Duel? Sir Wagner asked from two steps behind them.
It depends on how well this tournant goes. If everyone likes it, well probably use it for the Spring Festival event. Well only be open in the late afternoons and evenings during the Spring Festival so our employees can enjoy the festival during the day, Tori said. She looked over her shoulder. Are you interested in a tournant, Sir Wagner?
I am interested in challenging other teams and guilds, my lady, he told her.
Piers raised a brow and glanced back. What other teams would you challenge?
The current ranking of strength of mbers has Lyces club at the top, then La Garda. The imperial knights are ranked twelfth.
Piers sneered a bit. They are not in the top ten. There was so disgust in his voice and the knights behind him flushed.
Your Highness, there are different teams within the imperial knights. The one ranked twelfth is for lower ranked imperial knights. Ours is ranked seventh, Sir Dobchek said proudly.
Only seventh.
Piers. Tori gave him a stern look. She softened her voice a bit. Sir Dobchek is your team only composed of Piers personal knights?
Yes, my lady. We are proudly known as Knights of the First. Several of them looked proud of this.
Wait, then do the second princes knights have their own team?
She heard one of them snort before quickly collecting themselves. They call themselves the Moonlight Knights, one of the knights said with so distaste.
Tori crinkled her eyes as her thoughts drifted to Gideons knights and imagined them in all white and throwing white roses at enemies. She quietly shook her head. Thats an interesting na.
What is their rank? Piers asked as they reached the edge of the encampnt. There was so hesitation behind them, and Tori turned around and looked back. The knights escorting them wore stern looks on their faces. Dobchek.
Theyre ranked fourth, Your Highness.
Tori cringed and pretended she wasnt embarrassed for them. It didnt necessarily an that Gideons knights were better; it could also an that Gideons knights had more ga play experience. That in turn would help them play better. Gideon spent a lot of ti at Duel; it was his current favorite hobby outside of polo. As a result, his knights also spent a lot of ti at Duel.
Piers had far more responsibilities and only played solo gas. It didnt leave many chances for his knights to go to Duel.
However, having been on Piers' side since the beginning, if his knights lost to Gideons knights in a tournant, she would still be a little disappointed.
Are you serious about the Spring Festival Tournant? Tori asked as they neared her tent.
Yes, my lady. We will send our strongest to represent us, Sir Wagner assured her.
Tori sighed. Piers, Ill have a gaming table and so ga play books sent to your house, okay? Have it set up in the knights area.
Okay. Piers replied with a single nod.
She looked back at the knights, who smiled. Thank you, my lady!
My lady thinks of us even though she works closely with the second princes knights, Sir Atienza said proudly. I am honored to serve my lady.
You serve Piers, Tori said in a deadpan voice.
They serve who I tell them to serve, Piers said in an authoritative voice. The knights didnt correct him, and Tori sighed, tired. She didnt know why she bothered. Tori, get so rest.
I will. Dont forget to see your guests off properly. We practiced it a lot.
I know. I will give them the thank you for attending gifts when they leave tomorrow, Piers told her. Tori nodded, satisfied. Theyd walked through the entire process over and over, right down to the movents hed use to hand guests their gifts, which was just a basket of food for their return journey.
Tori had been careful to select things that would not seem as so sort of political bribe, but stay firmly in the realm of reception gift. Nothing ostentatious and no promises of favors. Of course, it was obvious that she herself and her county were aligned with Piers.
She lifted her tent flap and found that the light crystals were bright. Nanny Rey was knitting, and Fiona was seated at her desk, on so cushions, practicing writing her na. Her new plush chicken was on another seat in front of her with a paper in front of it and on the other chair, Alexander was in the loaf position.
Auntie! Welco back! Fiona said with a wide smile. Look, Im doing my howork!
Oh...let see...our Fifi is a hard worker, Tori replied with warm praise.
How do you spell Ewan? Fiona asked as she took the piece of paper away from her plush chicken. She had a habit of writing the nas of others. Shed already learned how to write Kasens na, de Guevera, Ilyana, Nanny, and Alexander.
Tori sat with her to write nas while asking what she ate for dinner and if Kasen called. He tried to call the children at least twice a week, or as his job allowed. Kasen had indeed called them; Robert had co when he called so they could talk to him.
Did you tell him about the chicken?
Uh-huh, and that we made nuggets. I said Id make him nuggets next ti, too.
Im sure hes counting down the days until you can make them. Tori stroked Fionas hair back. All right, its getting late. You need to sleep soon.
I slept so much already! Fiona gasped, shocked to learn she had to sleep.
Not enough, Tori said. Co on, Ill tell you about all the things were going to do at Uncle Sebby and Auntie Idunns wedding.
The curiosity was too much for her and Fiona reluctantly agreed. Is it going to be fun?
Very fun, Tori told her. Before the wedding, there will be war gas.
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