Novels2Search

Installment One

He was shaken awake, by someone he didn't recognize. Nothing surprising under the circumstances. He was on a School trip, and staying at a Hotel, with multiple chaperones who's names, and faces he still didn't know. He groggily made his way to the bathroom, to wash his face, in order to wake up better. 'TOO EARLY!' he thought.

He raised his head, and caught sight of the Mirror, and his eyes grew wide, or rather HER eyes grew wide. Several minutes passed as the trope of verifying that indeed it was HIS reflection. Then a headache made him crumple to the floor as images of the last moments of his life passed in front of him. The Bus being side swiped, right where he was sitting, and a piece of window frame punching through his skull, then blackness. She screamed.

The Headache redoubled as memories of the past few years as Tina de Arlos merged with the Memories of Peter Jenkins. Fifteen years combined with the ten years. Why was this happening, emotions collided as two lives attempted to become one. "Milady, what's wrong?! Do you need a Healer?!" The Maid she now realized frantically asked her, but all she could do was groan, and whimper. A flurry of activity surrounded her as people attempted to solve the issue of a young Noble Lady in pain and uncommunicative.

A healer came, and a warm feeling infused her body, trying to mend what wasn't broken, though it did ease the pain slightly. "I can't find any problem, all I was able to do was ease her pain slightly, but nothing's physically wrong with her. Whatever is going on, we just have to wait it out I'm afraid."

A deep, angry voice spoke out. Her Father she recalled. "What good is a healer who can't heal?!" A woman attempted to calm him down. Mother, yes that was Mother. "Please Milord, no matter how good a Healer is, there are some things that can't be healed. Disease that can kill even the King, despite having the absolute best healers." Father roared in frustration, knowing Mother was right, but not liking it. Gradually the Headache subsided, and my whimpering stopped. "Sweet heart , what happened?"

I looked teary eyed at my second Mother. "I can't tell you with everyone here, but it came with a massive headache. I'm not sick, or hurt, it's something else. Only you and Father should know, and decide future actions from there." My words were far too adult for my ten year old self, and I knew it.

Their faces were stern as they pondered my words. "Healer, check to ensure nothing is wrong now, then everyone leave us." The Healer did as requested, and everyone but my new Parents left the room. "What's this about?"

I gulped audibly. "First I didn't DO this. I don't know why it happened. What I know for sure, is I'm a reincarnated soul." They both startled at this revelation. "It wouldn't surprise me if there are reincarnated souls everywhere, but for some reason, I,...I got my old memories back. So I now know who I used to be, and everything they knew when they died,...when I died. A piece of metal slamming into my skull during a traffic accident."

Shock at my description of my own death really evident on their faces. "The Pain I think, was because of my two lives merging into one, but that's just a guess. I didn't replace your daughter, I am your daughter, but I'm also more. I've read enough books about this sort of situation, fiction all of them, but they have a grain of truth to them, in that attempting to lie about, or ignore it would backfire, so I'm just dumping it out here."

Mother embraced me, tears in her eyes. Father looked oddly proud of me. "That takes some level of bravery, I also approve that you wanted to tell us in private. Can you tell us about your old life, details that would be difficult to imagine for your current self?" He was clearly trying to ensure I was genuine, and not insane, and I couldn't blame him in the slightest.

"Yes Father, I was Fifteen when I died, we were on a School Trip, staying at a Hotel with lots of Chaperones. When I first woke up today, I thought I was there, then I saw my face in the Mirror, and had a moment of disconnect before the pain hit. In that life, I was an Orphan, living in Foster Care, always carted around from one family to another. My Parents were dead, and my other relatives didn't step up to help. I wouldn't talk to them after that, why keep in contact with false family? The buildings were,..."

I spent hours describing my old world, cities, vehicles, powered flight, the possibility of traveling to the moon, providing you had the ability to carry your own air, water, and food. "Also, in that life, I was a Boy, named Peter Jenkins, and now I find myself terrified of my future."

They looked at me questioningly. "I know about Sex, I know about arranged marriages for Nobles, even if there weren't any in my old Life. Now I'm a girl, but on the inside I'm a Man. How can I not be terrified?" Horror crossed my Father's face.

“I see,…!” I looked at my Father in dawning horror, as he clearly struggled to say more. I was fairly certain I knew what was about to be said.

“Let me guess, either there’s already an arranged marriage, or else I’ve been invited as a candidate?” Father grimaced. I hit the nail right on the head. “How soon, and can it be called off?

Father shook his head. “It’s for the Prince, there’s no acceptable method of refusing. The Tea Party where all the candidates are meant to present themselves is tomorrow. We were going to surprise you, but now,…”

I panicked. No way was I ready to handle this. “Uh uh! Not happening! No way am I going to a damned Tea Party. Even if Marriage wasn’t an issue, Tea is revolting! I can NOT wear a Dress either!” My Mother came to embrace me again, utterly at a loss as to what to do.

“There’s no avoiding going. I can allow for you to dress as a boy though. Perhaps the oddity alone will suffice, but you mustn’t be outright rude.” Father’s compromise was apparently the best I was going to get.

“You better stick me in a Corner away from everyone then, so hopefully he won’t even see me. I tell you I can’t handle this. When do I become a Legal Adult here? It was Eighteen in my old life. I want to renounce all claim to the Nobility. Even if I have to fend for myself, I’ll manage.” My Parent’s shocked expressions said it all, that was never done. “Don’t tell me you can’t disown a child?!”

“We could, if you were a Boy, but as things are,…” Mother trailed off. This was NOT GOOD. “I Really don’t think there’s any avoiding this.” So, I was basically going to have to make him not want me.

“Can I get some special herbs?” My parents looked at me. I listed off several herbs, and roots. Asked for a Pestle and Mortar. “I can make myself permanently barren with that. Then the Prince can’t marry me. I think that will protect me from just about everyone.”

“That is a rather dire action. How can you be certain you’ll never want children?” My Father asked me.

Mother also seemed concerned. “I might someday want children, but I’ll never want to do the acts that lead to children. Adoption is a thing, and easy to do as long as I can support them.”

“But they wouldn’t be allowed to inherit from the estate, you need blood children for that.” Mother commented with continued concern.

I smiled at that. “Nothing stopping me from signing over property, and giving funds before I die. I can even pay taxes on that for them at the time.” They looked at each other rather surprised at the thought.

Father nodded. “I suppose that will work, but is it safe? Such a potion must be dangerous.” His concern was evident, despite his best attempts at remaining poised.

I shrugged noncommittally. “It’s not going to be fun, it’s going to hurt quite a lot in fact, but it’s better than the alternative. Seriously I do NOT want to marry any Man,…Like Ever!”

My Father then sent a runner for the supplies I needed, and got the equipment that was stored away from my great grandmother’s day. She had been an Alchemist herself, as a Hobby, and her equipment had just been stored away. Didn’t take much more than two hours to get everything, and make my potion.

I drank the Potion as soon as it was cool enough. Not wanting to wait any longer. The taste was putrid, the smell somehow not bad enough to warn me of the taste, though it was awful in its own right. Pain hit my abdomen almost immediately. I cringed as I crawled back to the room, and into the bed to wait out the process. Taking the Potion on an empty stomach I had assured my Parents was the best way, and most effective. By the time the sixth hour of my tossing and turning in bed had passed, my Parents called on the Healer again.

The Healer placed his hand on my Sweaty Back, and passed his Healing Aura through my body, instantly numbing the pain. “I don’t know what she drank, but aside from the intense pain,…Well I’m afraid she’s barren now. I’ve purged the poison from her body, but the damage is well and truly done. Nobody can cure her now. What’s curious, is that this must have taken some time to progress to this point. Had you called upon me earlier, I might have been able to stop the damage.”

The relief on my parents faces was all too evident, but the Healer assumed it was at my survival, and not the fact I was now barren. “My Thanks Healer, to call you twice in one day, you have the gratitude of my entire house. I Viscount Jermain de Arlos, owe you a debt of gratitude. Call on me if you have need, and if it is within my power, I shall give it.”

This reaction may have tipped off the Healer that something was amiss, but he dared not speak about it. His reply however seemed to me to indicate he smelled a Rat. “I Healer Carlson, do gratefully accept this debt, though I pray never to require to call upon it.”

Now that the horrible pain was gone, I was finally able to eat something. However I was far too tired from the ordeal to remain awake. In the Morning, it was a scramble to get fed, then ready to depart. The Staff looked in shock as I left my rooms wearing what were clearly Men’s Garb, even if sized roughly correct for me, and of fine quality.

We were guided from the Carriage to an outdoor garden area with several tables scattered about. I spotted one off in the corner, and bee lined for it. I didn’t interact with anyone, simply sat at my chosen table and tried to not be noticed. Eventually the Prince in question showed up. He wasn’t a bad looking guy, he didn’t have that arrogant look I had expected. Everyone aside from my Parents and I were milling about chatting, and this apparently wasn’t to the Prince’s liking, as he came directly to our hidden table.

“As you are the only ones seated, We thought it was best to start with you. It’s difficult for the guards to protect us in such a crowd after all. I am the Third Prince, Arnold de Castos, it’s a pleasure to meet you, may I have your name?” I stared daggers at him.

“I am Tina de Arlos, Daughter of Viscount Jermain del Arlos, and I must inform you, that due to a poison I ingested, I am now permanently barren. Thus spending any further time with me, is literally a waste. Further, I can not say honestly that it is a Pleasure to meet you, and even saying that I am Honored seems a bit forced. I was NOT invited, I was ORDERED to appear. Order has been followed, and I wish to depart as soon as possible. Still feeling a bit under the weather after the poison, though I have been assured that it is indeed gone from my system, the damage is done.” I noticed a Maid about to pour Tea into my cup, and quickly reached out to turn the cup over. She stopped stunned.

The Prince noticing my actions spoke up. “I can certainly forgive a little rudeness in light of your ordeal, and the loss of your fertility is most unfortunate. However refusing the Tea seems a bit much.

Looking at the Prince dead in the eye, with loathing, I responded. “Firstly, the poison I drank was a Tea, secondly I’ve always detested the taste of Tea, when you add the two together, it means no more Tea,…EVER!” One of the Guards had reached his limit of what he deemed disrespect of his charge.

“You Impudent little Slut!” Hearing his words, and knowing how stupid he must be to have spoken out loud such vile words, I reacted most viciously. I grabbed the hand that was drawing out his sword, and with a quick practiced twist from my old life, broke his wrist. My other hand caught the blade which had fallen from his now useless hand as he cried in agony. The sword tip was at his throat an instant later. .

“If you think a little Impudence is worth a Death Sentence, or justifies you to speak slander about me, then you’re clearly too much of a liability to be a Royal Guard. I expect a replacement for you, and your immediate discharge, WITHOUT healing your hand. Maybe you’ll learn a lesson if you have to get your wrist taken care of without magic.”

The Prince’s other guards immediately eased their tension, since I was only disciplining a FORMER Guard. My Mandate, though not officially within my power, was simply a pronouncement of what the Laws did in fact say. He lost his Temper, and insulted a Noble, as well as actively attempting to do them harm. “My most sincere apologies miss de Arlos, as you say, he shall be replaced, and permanently dismissed from all Guard work. How though does he heal without Magic if I may?” I looked at the Prince, huffed in annoyance, then quickly straightened the man’s wrist to another scream. I then took his belt knife, and wrapped it up with his hand.

“I’ve straightened the wrist, and wrapped it with a splint. In about two weeks or so, it should be ok to remove the wrapping. After that, light exercises only for another week to strengthen the muscles to their former ability. Then he should be right as rain.”

Everybody, my parents, the Prince, his Guards, and all the other candidates for the Prince’s Betrothed were stunned, not only at my brutal efficiency at disarming a Royal Guard, even an incompetent one, but that I was just as efficient at mending the damage, without the use of Magic.

“If I may be so bold as to ask, what are your plans for the Future, if not to Marry? I assume you won’t allow anyone else to Marry you for similar reasons of not being fertile anymore. Perhaps, considering your abilities as witnessed, you might consider becoming a Guard to my Sister?”

I looked at him, still disgusted at this whole situation. “No, I would not be interested in Guarding the Princess, nor anyone else’s Daughter for that Matter. I intend to stay as far away from the Capitol as I am able. Once I am a Legal Adult, I shall most likely leave the country all together. Were I allowed, I would renounce my claim to my Family Name into the Bargain, but disowning Daughters is apparently not allowed. Like Girls can’t possibly be more of a disappointment than just being Girls.”

With the exception of my Parents, the shock on everyone’s faces was palpable. “Surely you don’t mean that! Your Parents are fine people. The life you live is one of luxury. What possible reason do you have to renounce them?”

I sighed exasperatedly before responding. “Yes, my Parents are marvelous, I love them dearly, the life I have may be somewhat luxurious, but at what cost? I was SUMMONED here, for the expressed purpose of being added to a lineup of other women to let you choose who you’d RAPE. Yes I said Rape, and that’s exactly what I meant to say. There’s no decree, no paper, no seal that can change Rape into Marriage. If a Woman says no, and a Man does it anyway, he’s a Rapist, no matter the secular authorities opinion on the matter. The Man’s Soul is doomed for all eternity to burn in the pits of hellfire. God can’t be fooled by paperwork. It is not your right to choose who I sleep with, or don’t for that matter. So this whole gathering is a Farce, and any priest who claims otherwise, doesn’t care about God’s authority.”

The Prince was now thoroughly in shock. Fear for his immortal soul was genuine. He turned around to address the other attendees. “Please do not fear reprisals, do raise your hands, if you would rather be excluded from the selection.” I was a little surprised that he’d even make this offer, and even more surprised when all but three of the girls raised their hands, despite their mother’s frantic attempts to force them back down. “Those who raised their hands will be excluded at this instant. Please enjoy the gathering, while you three who have indicated that you genuinely wish to proceed, please sit near each other, so I may more easily converse with all of you.” The Prince then turned and bowed to me in respect. “You have my thanks, I hadn’t considered that not everyone wished to attend. This makes things much easier. To find common interest with three women, is profoundly easier than with twenty. You may depart at your leisure.”

I nodded, with a sliver of respect. Then just as I was about to leave, two of the girls ran up to me. “Please, don’t leave yet! How can we thank you for putting an end to this? It’s an honor to be selected sure, but we don’t want the Prince either.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Waving my hands, I tried to play it off. “I didn’t do anything really, I was only standing up for myself, I wasn’t trying to save anyone else. Besides, my goal wasn’t just getting away from the Prince, but from everyone else too. I don’t want anything to do with Social Events, no Dances, no Feasts, no Tea Parties, and definitely no Weddings. Especially ones where I am meant to be the Bride. I might be able to force myself to attend a friend’s wedding, but I’d hate every second of the event.”

“So then, does that mean there’s nobody you want? You never intend to Marry, not even some Stable Boy?!” I practically vomited.

“No Boy will ever have the right to approach me, let alone touch me. NO THANK YOU!”

Their expressions of shock grew even more. The thought of no Man ever, and no Socializing just didn’t make sense to them.

“Look, I’m just not like you girls, you do you, just leave me out of it! Go have fun, or leave, whatever you decide. I’m not sticking around a single second longer, I’ve been dismissed, I’m leaving. Have a nice life, if you can.”

Before we could fully escape though, we were stopped by the Queen herself, and the Princess that was mentioned. The Queen was not amused, but the Princess on the other hand, was beaming. “We are most displeased by this development. The Prince now only has three to choose from. Your attitude not withstanding, the actions you took against the Guard, though technically Legal, are most unladylike, and your attire.”.

“I will not apologize for being myself. The fact you don’t approve of who I am, is all to the better, as you will undoubtedly make that opinion well known, so nobody will likely bother me with undesired marriage offers in future, or the equally undesired so called invitations to social events.”

“But I want you to come! You’re the first person who refused to bow down, just because it’s expected, to agree with something they don’t want, just because it’s asked by the Royal Family. That’s Precious, I need that in my life!”

I looked at the Princess, and shook my head. “Perhaps if you weren’t the Princess, we might have been friends, but as things are, that isn’t possible. In addition to the fact your Mother the Queen doesn’t approve of my behavior, or attire, there’s the fact I don’t approve of Social Events. No Your Highness, I shall not willingly return to the Castle. If I may be excused!”

The Queen now looked torn, on the one hand, she wanted me gone, but on the other hand, her Daughter, the Princess had asked me to return, and I didn’t agree. The Princess just looked sad. “What about my Brother’s idea of you being a Guard for me? Why not?”

I shook my head again. “In order to Guard you, I’d have to be here, where I hate being, and attend Social Events, that I hate attending. People would think even more that Marrying me would be a good idea, despite my being barren.” At that the Queen snapped her Fingers, and a Healer, of higher rank than the one Father had called came, and placed his hand on my shoulder.

The pulse of his Healing Aura was indeed much stronger, but after a moment, he shook his head. “She speaks the truth, she is barren, and it can not be repaired. Clearly the poison used was very strong, and allowed too much time before treatment. I expect there was a very small window, perhaps a single hour before the effects were irreversible even for me. As you know, currently I am the single most powerful healer in the Nation, and so if I couldn’t heal her after an hour, nobody ever could have.”

The Queen’s expression softened to one of Sadness. “We thought you the best candidate, your children would have been exceptional. Indeed we had instructed him to pursue you most, if possible. Yet you are indeed correct a Prince must have an heir, and that you can’t provide. Still you could be a Concubine, stay by his side. That would please us.” I shuddered.

“That would defeat the purpose of having made, and drank that poison in the first place.” I shouldn’t have said that, but I couldn’t hold back even one second longer. “That stuff is Nasty, and the pain involved is intense, possibly worse than Child Birth, and I endured that for six hours to make damned sure I was barren before coming here today. Nobody said I was slipped poison, only that poison resulted in my being barren. No lie was told, only enough of the truth to save face for the Royal Family. That’s the most you’re getting from me. I refuse to let ANY man touch me, I would sooner kill myself, as I very nearly did. I suspect if my Parents hadn’t called the healer when they did, I might have truly died from overdosing myself on that poison.”

I pulled my Parents passed the thoroughly confused, and somewhat hurt pair of Royal Women. The Princess had been pretty cute though. Friendship would have been nice, but not at the expense of coming into the Castle, or staying in the Capitol. One of the girls who had excluded themselves had witnessed the scene, and was shocked, and excited to learn I had made the poison myself. She sneakily followed us, and before I could escape into the carriage to head back to the Manor house, she called out

“Please, Tina de Arlos, can I have a quick word? .I know you just want to leave, and I don’t blame you at all, it’s just, I overheard you telling the Queen that you made the poison yourself. If that’s indeed true, and I see no reason to doubt it, could,.. could you perhaps make a dose for me?!” The pleading in her eyes spoke volumes.

“Would your Parents agree, or perhaps allow you to be adopted by my Parents if you do this? I can’t make the Poison for you, if it will harm my Family, I’m not their only child, I have to protect my siblings. Talk to them, tell them that If they agree to adopt you out, we can protect you from a threat they can’t protect you from. I think I recognize you as being from a knighthood, so from their perspective, you’d be moving up into a higher house without getting married. Maybe they’ll go for it, but I doubt they’d let you make yourself barren.” She slowly nodded, as we finally got into the carriage.

“My Daughter speaks wisely. If your Parents allow you to be adopted by us, for your protection, then it’s my decision to allow you the poison, and having let Tina do so, and assuming you too do not wish a Man in your life, then I have no reason to object. A Woman should have the choice of who they marry, and who they lie with it seems.” So saying Father closed the carriage door, and we left the tearful, yet hopeful girl behind.

One crisis averted. My Parents agreed that my staying in the Capitol would be unwise. Thus we arranged for my transport to the actual estate which was several days ride away. Thank God for the Carriage, because I was not about to ride a Horse any time soon, let alone for such a long distance. We had only just prepared for my departure, when we received a visitor. Specifically the girl who called out to me, and her Parents along with her. Honestly I was surprised to see them after such a short time. I figured it would take much longer, to even begin to convince her Parents to even consider the notion.

“Greetings Viscount del Arlos, I am Sir Cantrel, a lesser Knight of the Realm. My Daughter Moreen has informed me of a harassment that I can not protect her from. She also says that she informed you about this, and that you agreed to adopt her in order to give her the protection of your family name, and thus stop the harassment. She refused to elaborate upon the situation, claiming that knowing will endanger our Family as a whole. Though it vexes me to no end, my Daughter’s safety, and happiness is paramount in this situation. My only concern is if you will allow us to visit.” Well that was rather straight forward.

My Father bowed in respect to the Knight. “Sir Cantrel, though I find the title of Lesser absurd, I recognize you as a Knight of this Nation, and Honor your duty. As to your Daughter Moreen, I did indeed offer her adoption to protect her. I would never sever ties with your house. So long as you continue to accept Moreen in your Hearts as your Daughter, you will always be welcome here. Though I suspect Moreen will wish to remain with Tina for the time being, and thus she would be leaving tomorrow to our estate. Tina has had some issues of her own, and it was at the Tea Party for the selection of the Third Prince’s betrothed that Tina and Moreen met. It was then that the threat was made known to me as well, and I offered adoption at that time. If you agree, then as of today, she will be Moreen de Arlos, and daughter of my Heart, if not by Blood.”

There was a somewhat tearful good bye, and Moreen’s luggage, which had already been gathered, apparently having decided that it was going to happen regardless, and brought everything along, was all added onto the Carriage. She and I shared a Bed that night, AFTER the poison draught had been drank, and a little over an hour of time passed before the Healer from before arrived to cleanse the poison, only to find exactly the same result. “This is twice such a tragedy has occurred. Hardly seems accidental, that this young lady too is barren.” Father just glared at him, and he got the message, yes it was deliberate, and you know nothing beyond the facts. He left disgruntled, but knowing better than to speak up.

The next day after Breakfast, we departed. It wasn’t the most comfortable ride on rough roads, but Moreen was thrilled to be out of the City, and free of any more Marriage proposals. At least for the time being. All the rattling made conversation impossible, and so we just kept our teeth from jostling around as best we could. Every now and then Moreen would look at me pleadingly, wanting me to ask for a break, and I shook my head. Just endure, and we’ll make better time.

Our Driver stopped us after four hours of bone numbing travel, and we both gratefully escaped the carriage, and stretched our weary legs. “I’m surprised, I expected you’d ask for a stop every hour, but we’re only stopping now for the Horses. They need water, feed, and a rest before we can continue.”

I smiled. “Oh believe me, we were tempted. I knew the horses couldn’t go on forever, and we were only uncomfortable. The longer the horses can travel in a single stretch, the more progress we can make, and the less total hours we’ll be in the death trap called a carriage. I want a Massage after this, or at least a very HOT BATH!”

Moreen was a little more enthusiastic about the subject. “Tempted nothing, I was begging every fifteen minutes after the first hour, and she kept shaking her head. I know she’s right, but I don’t have to like it.” The Driver laughed.

“Now that’s honesty, and still better than I expected. They say this trip takes days, when they tell Nobles anyway, but you lasses have cut that time down by a lot. The estate isn’t all that far off now. As Miss Tina said, the longer we can move in one go, the further we travel. If we can move in one more jump, we’ll be there in less than three more hours. Most Nobles demand a stop every quarter hour, then we’re stopped for half an hour, so it takes heaps of time, and we end up camping with less distance than we’ve already traveled. What say you, can you hold for another three hour stretch, if you don’t need to do it again tomorrow?”

Moreen positively beamed. “I will endure for the three hours. It’s horrible, but if it saves that much time, I’ll manage!” I spontaneously wrapped her up in a Hug.

The hug clearly did more to her than I expected. She was now flustered. I whispered into her ear. “What say we take that Bath together? So we both get all the Hot Water at once, instead of one of us waiting, and getting a cooler bath. I’ll rub your back,…Sis!” I had put a purr into my voice, letting her know that she didn’t have to treat me like a Sister if she didn’t want to.

Moreen whispered back. “Are you offering that as a reward for sticking it out? If so, then I’ll go four hours if I must!” I was amazed she could respond so forwardly, but I had made the first move. Smiling fit to burst, I followed her plump ass into the Carriage for the next stint.

To be clear, I had no intentions of anything BUT bathing, maybe a back rub, but nothing more. She was too young, even though she was older than I currently was, it was only by a year or two. I was only ten, so she was only twelve. NO WAY was I going to get physical with her, no matter what I got to see during a normal bath. I actually felt bad for even flirting with her there, it was just so instinctual at the time, and she clearly responded. I would talk with her, in private when we got to the estate. Had to keep things kosher.

As we neared the Estate, I got a whiff of moist rot. I looked out the window, and saw, a vast swamp. This is good, swamps had all sorts of good things, even if they did stink to high heaven. I started thinking of all the possibilities that lurk within swamps.

When we arrived at the estate, a finely dressed woman came out to meet us. Her dress was elegant, and didn’t fit the surroundings. She was my older brother’s wife. “It’s good to see you Sister Tina, and who might this be?” I smiled warmly at my Sister in law.

“Dearest Sister Elaine, this is our adoptive Sister Moreen. She and I shall be staying here for the foreseeable future. Things happened, and both Moreen and I are Barren due to Poison. There’s no reason for us to stay in the Capitol at the moment. Things will be less painful here.”

“Oh you poor dears! I assume there’s nothing that can be done, or else Father would spare no expense to fix this for you. Welcome home both of you! Do come in, I’ll have the staff fetch your Luggage for you.” Moreen and I rolled our eyes as Elaine turned around to lead us into the house.

“No Tea for me thanks all the same. Since the Poison was a Tea, it’s sort of a no go for me, Moreen is braver though.” Elaine was startled at that, but took it in stride.

“Certainly, I have some lovely fruit juice just now anyway. Better to drink that before it goes bad wouldn’t you agree?” I smiled in relief. We all had the fruit juice, and it was rather good. Too bad it wouldn’t last much longer, might get a week or so of good fruit juice before it wasn’t available anymore till the following year. Soon enough, my Brother came into the room as well. Having just returned from an inspection of the fields. Surprised at our arrival didn’t begin to cover it.

“Sister Tina, I wasn’t expecting you for three more days, did you leave earlier than intended?! I’m overjoyed you’re here, don’t mistake me, but the speed of your arrival makes no sense to me.” Moreen and I laughed at my Brother, bless his heart.

“It’s amazing how little time it takes if you can force yourself to go four hours in a stint in the carriage. Seven hours, and one stop. It wasn’t fun, but it was fast.” Both Elaine, and my Brother John’s faces lit up in surprise. “Speaking of, can you get me some things? I have a project to attempt. Assuming my idea is correct, I can make a pathway that will be smooth, and firm, yet still soft on a Horse’s hooves.”

Puzzled he asked what I would need. “I need a tool, a flat plate about this big square, with a handle attached to the center, so I can pound things while I’m standing, have it made for adults, I can manage using something oversized for the test, but making a second tool if you don’t have to, is a waste. Then I need a big cauldron that won’t be used for food ever again, and a barrel each of tar from the swamp, and rock chips, the kind that are almost flat.”

Thinking it was inexpensive enough, and having just the cauldron in mind, he agreed. Dinner was lovely, much better than anything in the Capitol. Simple, but flavorful. No idiots throwing out the veggie broth. Moreen and I shared the bath, and I brought up more adult matters. Explaining that although I was very interested, I felt we were too young to act on those desires just yet. She looked a little sad, but brightened up when I asked if she wanted that massage. Although there were several empty beds on the estate, with most of the family still in the Capitol, Moreen never the less decided that sharing a bed made sense. I suspected she was trying to tempt me into breaking the rules I had just laid down. She was welcome to try, I wasn’t going to complain about sharing a bed with her, not for a second. I was the older one though, so I would remain firm in my decision. Even if I did want to just go for it. I did try to kiss her cheek good night, but she spoiled my aim, stealing a kiss on the lips, with a huge grin on her face when she was done. I just smirked. “That’s not a real kiss, that’s no different than kissing a Cat or something. Nice and Tender, but not real. Just wait till we’re older, I’ll show you what I mean, assuming you’re still interested then.”

I had my supplies the very next morning. My brother works fast. Partly I think it was an attempt to keep my mind off being barren, since he couldn’t possibly believe that both of us did it deliberately. The other part though, was the thought of a pathway like I described. I had one of the staff men help me dump the Tar into the cauldron, and placed it over a small fire outside to melt. I prepared a section of the main road, just large enough for the supplies I had. The fire was setup right by it for convenience. I tamped down the soil where I intended to make my patch of road. Once the Tar was melted, and bubbling, I mixed in the rock chips with a stick, and then dumped the whole mess, with help, into my prepared section. I then spread the muck with my tool, and tamped it down. It only took three quarters of the rock I had, so it would be a little cheaper than I had imagined.

Once it cooled down to safe temperatures, and I had walked on it to test the feel, I called my Brother out. “John, dear Brother John, do you have a Moment to inspect my test project?” He was surprised that my test was completed already, but smiled as he put down his quill.

“Paperwork is truly the bane of my existence, so I’ll gladly take any excuse to put it down for a moment. Let us inspect this project of yours.” When he saw the black square of perfectly smooth tarmac, he was stunned. “Is this truly made with just tar and rock chips?!” I nodded my head, smiling fit to burst.

“It’s still a little warm, so it’s sticky, and might leave a few footprints if you walk on it for too long. Once it cools completely, it should last for about ten years or so, before it starts cracking. Then simply melting more tar into the cracks, when they’re dry, will stop them spreading. If water gets into the cracks, then freezes, you’ll get potholes as the frozen water expands, and breaks chunks out of the road. Simple sealing every now and then will prevent that.”

“This is brilliant dear sister. Mark, did you see how she made this?” Mark who had been helping me the whole time, and to whom I explained every step, figuring either he, or someone else would end up tasked with expanding my patch.

“Yes Lord, further, the young Mistress taught me the whole process as she went. She said if it worked, I’d end up roped into the project in some fashion, so I may as well know what I was about from the start. It’s a very simple process, if a little time consuming, what with needing to melt the Tar, it took less rock though. I take it you wish me to expand this Tarmac she called it.” With that, John gave instructions to order enough material to expand all the way to the Capitol.

“If we get this done all the way to the Capitol before Tax Season, we can offer the new Road as a Tax for the year. They’ll think it’s a steal, I’m sure of it. They’ll probably offer a Tax remuneration for any Lord who does this in their lands. This road will make travel much faster, and less bumpy. Your simple idea is beyond brilliant. How ever did you come up with this?!” I shifted uncomfortably.

“You’ll have to ask Father, he knows the story here, even if he knows nothing about these roads specifically, he can tell you exactly how I came up with it.” I thought for a Moment, and then decided to ask something. “Do you think you can buy this idea from me? I know you’d give me literally anything, but that’s Father’s Money, or Yours. I want Money I can invest, and not feel bad about losing. You provided the tools, and supplies. Only the Idea itself was mine. If you buy the rights for it, then that Money isn’t an allowance, but actually mine.”

John was reasonably skeptical about things now. First I tell him to ask Father about how I came up with something, and now I was asking for my own Money, and using the word Investment properly. “I’ll talk with Father, as you suggest, and if he agrees that the idea itself didn’t come from anyone else, then certainly I’ll buy it from you. Such an Idea is worth fifty Gold at least. So I won’t give you any less than that. You could probably sell it for more, with Father as a Broker, but if you’re wanting to sell it to us as your Family, then I feel that would be fair.” I smiled, and hugged him. This too surprised him, because his Sister had always been reserved.

“Father knows it all, so just ask him. I can see you’re confused, and concerned. Ask Father, he’ll explain, or he won’t as he chooses. Just know I love you as the best older Brother I could ask for. Nothing weird about it, just a change in my personality. This is who I am now, I hope you can accept me like this, because there’s no going back.” John was struck to the heart by this emotional blitz, and he smiled dopily as he hugged his youngest sister back for the first time.

“I think I can manage to accept a Sister who can be affectionate to me, on occasion. As long as it stays like this, and doesn’t get weird as you say.” I laughed, then pulled away.

“I’ll be blunt, because I refuse to hide this from Family. Your Wife has a bigger chance of having me act weird around her than you do. I’m not normal, I don’t like Men in that way, and I have no intention of ever Marrying. I like Women that way, but a Sister, is a Sister, so you’ve got nothing to worry about, even if she were interested, and I’m sure she’s not, even without asking.”

Elaine had chosen that exact moment to check on us. “Oh my goodness! Tina, you aren’t serious are you?!” I turned to Elaine, and nodded seriously.

“I most certainly am, Father, and Mother are aware, and understand why. There is a reason why, and it isn’t something that can be fixed, this is who I am. You need to accept me for myself, or pretend I don’t exist. There’s no other options.”

Realization crossed Elaine’s face. “The poison that made you barren, you and Moreen both drank it willingly, it wasn’t an attack! You did that to avoid getting Married, both of you!”

“That’s correct, I did it with Father’s Blessing, and nearly died to make it happen, if the Healer hadn’t been called after the sixth hour of suffering, I might not have made it. Still I’d do it again in a heartbeat to ensure I never Marry. Moreen asked for it immediately after the selection Tea Party for the Third Prince. That’s why Father adopted her, so it would be his decision, and she could take the Poison without risking execution by her Parents, for sabotaging her Marriage Prospects. Heck even the Queen knows I did it on purpose. I made the Poison myself. Nobody else is to blame but me. I don’t care if I get executed for this, as long as no Man touches me, I’m happy.”

They both stood there stunned at this revelation. Eventually John recovered. “No wonder you came out here, rather than risk any immediate fallout over your actions. You were selected to participate in the Tea Party, and acted rashly in defense against marrying the Prince. Yet you allowed the Royal Family to save face, so I imagine they’ll leave well enough alone, once they’ve calmed down. I can accept a Sister that refuses to lie down for something they do not want.”

Elaine hugged me tight in apology. “I can’t say I understand how you feel, not wanting any Man, but not wanting a Man you didn’t choose I do understand. I threatened to kill myself if I wasn’t allowed to Marry John, I too turned down a Prince, though I hadn’t been selected in such a way. My Father wanted me to apply myself to being selected for the First Prince, and I refused. I already loved your Brother, even if I hadn’t told anyone else yet.”

I hugged Elaine back, then pulled away. “For some reason, I find myself strangely emotional all of a sudden. Wonder why that could be? I think I’ll take a walk, to cool my thoughts a bit.” So saying, I went away into the wood. Nothing dangerous would be anywhere near the Estate. I did pick up an Ax on the way though. I could cut some fire wood, if needed, or in the unlikely event something dangerous did approach, I had the ax to use.

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