Back when I was a naive little girl, I too dreamed of marrying an Imperial Prince, or some future Duke. In those innocent fantasies, the nobleman of my dreams would be my ideal partner in life- kind, thoughtful, and bold. Those fantasies didn’t last past my first bleed. I must've met hundreds of noblemen since then, and I had been disappointed by every single one of them. Every single one of them was lacking in some way- arrogant, abusive, indolent, dim-witted, weak, or some dreadful combination of vices. Perhaps the princelings and the dukelings would prove to be less disappointing, but I doubt any of them would travel to the edge of civilization just for an upstart daughter of a Count.
When the topic of arranged marriage came up right around my 14th moon, I was naturally distraught. Given the odds, I would be matched with yet another disappointment. And Father’s lack of wisdom proved the odds to be right as he matched me with that arrogant toerag. Fortunately, my fate was overturned by the absurdity that is Rummy.
And after all those years of working with him, not to mention the incessant salesmanship by Emma, I find myself staring at him and only him. What other men of renown would accept me for who I am? Who else could stand behind me even against overwhelming odds? Perhaps it is my fate to-
“Tali? Did you hear my question?” Rummy waved his hand at my face, snapping me out of my reverie.
“Wha- oh of course. I was just pondering about some adjacent issues. Sapphy, why don’t you give your opinion first?” Hah! Awkwardness artfully dodged!
Sapphy stared at me blankly, clearly not amused. “I believe it is impossible to move up the schedule by a day, even if there are plenty of good reasons to do so. If we leave tomorrow, we have to leave most of them behind.” She grimly stated the dark reality.
Ah, they were discussing the feasibility of leaving the city earlier to avoid potential trouble brewing up. The problem was that we needed more time to get a gate permit- that was the only way we could leave the city peacefully with all those children and women. After all, negotiating a bribe was a slow dance between 2 distrustful partners. It was the type of activity that generates distrust when one rushes through it.
House Essex was just a minor Barony before the Turf War consumed the fools above them in stature. With some luck, they were able to push out the previous House that held the southern city gate. And thanks to the income generated, they were becoming one of leading factions vying for the control of the City. Unfortunately for me, I didn’t have a prior relationship with them since they replaced the previous management. So I had to negotiate a bribe to get the convoy through, again. Or I could just sneak as many kids as we could in 1 wagon and try to get past their lackadaisical gate guards.
The problem was- should I be morally obligated to do more? Could I live with myself only saving a few from all-but-certain death when I know I’d be leaving dozens more to their grim fates?
I sighed in agony and looked upon the dirty floor of the shelter. Good gods, these poor souls lived in squalor. And they were the fortunate ones. There were plenty more stuck out in the streets, starving and freezing as petty nobles devoted themselves to their petty ambitions. And it was quite unlikely that this pointless conflict would produce a “winner”, if one could call it that, anytime soon. So it was no exaggeration to say that anybody I leave here faces near certain doom this coming winter.
No. I would not be helpless bystander to this insanity. If I couldn’t save all of these wretched souls politely, then I should be rude.
“Sapphy is right, but I will not leave anybody behind. We give them one offer, and if they decline, we shall resort to force.” I resolutely said.
Rummy’s surprise only lasted a breath. “Tali, surely you understand the danger you’d put them in if you were to storm the gate? On top of the risk, Sapphy can’t suppress the guards all on her own. I’d have to shoot- in public.”
“Let’s hope it wouldn’t come to that.”
***
Perhaps it was naive of me to think that I could punch through the negotiations like a squadron of Knights through the enemy lines during a daring charge. Deep down, I knew discarding the careful and graceful mask and aggressively negotiating was unlikely to work. After all, using my feminine guiles and charms was how I was able to get good results in the past. But I didn’t regret it- the circumstances and the principles forced my hand.
Rummy was no fool- he must've realized that there were better tactics than storming the gate. Namely, if Sapphire and I ambushed them right here and right now. But I supposed he discarded that possibility out of consideration for me. No, I would not endanger the children just to keep my dainty hands clean of this.
I have the ideals, and thanks to Rummy, I have the power. The only thing that was missing was resolve. Did I have the resolve to break these people out of this wretched city? And thanks to the imbecile in front of me, that resolve rose with every word said.
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“Lady Natalia. This simply would not do. I have no further need of gold. What I need is your mage, and your name.” He held his hand toward me, with his fake smile barely concealing his lustful gaze. “Together, we can rule the city as husband and wife, putting an end to this senseless bloodshed. The masses would rejoice and prosperity would return to Carnwennan. I am quite certain of it.”
If only he was even half as smart as he was confident. Good gods, what a third-rate farce played by a shallow man who has a shallow understanding of the situation at hand. Normally, I would be coy and subtle with my rejection, perhaps dangling the prospect until I got what I wanted. But today was no normal day.
“Baron Essex, please allow me to be blunt. Carnwennan is finished. Thanks to incessant fighting these past few years, the city had been devastated. The people who were talented enough to flee this burning wreck had done so already, and those who were not struggled everyday to survive. I shall be honest with you. I have no interest in being your Queen of the Ashes. I just want to save as many people as I can by taking them out of the city. Please name your price in gold.” I said emotionlessly, looking right into his eyes with an antagonizing gaze.
A lesser man would’ve taken offense at my words and my attitude. Baron Essex was one such man. “Foolish girl!” He angrily yelled. “I will have you know that I am not like your pitiful brother who achieved so little despite given so much. I’ve built this faction from the ground up, and we will achieve more than your House ever did!” The Baron picked up a shield bearing the sigils of House Galahad, likely a trophy seized from somewhere, and threw it to the floor.
**CLANG!**
The loud crash prompted the guards and Sapphy to enter the room. Baron Essex promptly waved them away. Sapphy gave me a quick look of assurance before departing with them.
I was slightly surprised. No, not from the pitiful hissy fit from a pitiful man. That was almost a given. In the Empire, nothing screamed “manliness” more than a rage-fueled hissy fit in order to intimidate an upstart woman. No, I was surprised at how little emotion I felt about the fall of my House. The apathy wasn’t from hatred. The apathy was from the fact that I never belonged to House Galahad in the first place. I belonged to another family- Skera, Emma, Sapphy, and… Rummy.
With the warm memories of my true family in my mind, I pulled up my skirt. Baron Essex was flushed at the sight of my bare ankles. I then drew Cleopatra from a holster tied to my left leg. The imbecile actually thought I was impressed or intimidated by that pathetic display.
“I believe our negotiation has concluded, Baron Essex.” I fake-smiled. I gripped the pistol that Rummy worked tirelessly to craft for me as resolve filled my heart.
A lascivious expression erupted from the fool’s face. “Very well. I will forgive you for your transgression if you were to show me your-”
**Pop**
With a dull thud, he fell to the floor clutching his chest. Panic started to set in on his dumb little head as he realized what was actually happening. The imbecile tried to scream for help, but with a bloody hole in his lungs, no audible screams came out. I slowly walked toward him, placed my knee on his bleeding chest, and shoved Cleopatra all the way down his throat.
“Before you shove off to the afterlife, I need you to really understand something.” I looked deep into his eyes with unreserved disgust. “You never had a chance with me, or with the city. You’re just some rat who got lucky while scavenging the corpses from a Turf War you didn’t know was coming. You didn’t build anything, unlike the man I’ve fallen in love with.”
Despite his attempts to shove me off of him, it was clear that strength had left him. Some warriors could muster strengths of 10 men in dire situations. But this man was no warrior- just a fool masquerading as one. Fear crept into his face as he finally recognized his certain doom.
“The man who has captured my heart built a town of miracles in the Wilds with his own two hands. He is the man who started this Turf War you seemed so thankful for. Coincidentally, he is also the man responsible for building the weapon that kills you.”
**Pop**
Blood splattered all over my skirt and blouse. I admitted the truth to nobody in particular. “His name is Rummy of Pridwen. And I wish for him to be my husband.”
This was the first time I had killed another human being in cold blood. I thought I would be weeping uncontrollably, but all I felt was emptiness- casual, disinterested, emptiness. It was a similar feeling after killing my first mana-beast all those winters ago. Well, whatever I felt, it didn’t matter. Now that negotiation had broken down, I had to move aggressively.
I politely knocked on the double doors. One of the guards opened it and immediately noticed the blood all over my outfit.
“What… what have you done with my lord?!? Tell-”
**Pop!**
At the sight of his comrade falling to the floor. The second guard yelled. “Treachery! Trea-”
He was frozen solid in a matter of seconds, unable to do a thing. That’s an Archmage’s <
Two more guards, likely attracted by the noise, approached us from down the long hallway.
“Archmage Sapphire, exterminate every combatant in this House. Leave no man alive.” I stoically ordered.
Sapphy gave me a sad look before replying. “Yes, my Lady!”