3rd September 2149
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The moment I wake up, I’m immediately up and about, beginning my morning routine.
I immediately begin with my stretching exercises and head downstairs prepare for the day.
The moment I step into the living room I immediately get ambushed by a group of furry little creatures.
A group of four kittens, to be exact.
They circle around me and start meowing demandingly.
“Alright, alright, I get it, you want to eat. I better shut you gluttons up before you wake her up. Not like this will, but still.” I sigh, as I grab a container from a drawer, and pour the insides into a big bowl. They sprint towards the food and immediately proceed to feast on the fish I prepared yesterday as a little treat.
“Pretty fortunate for you all, that you have someone who can catch you the fresh kind, don’t you think.” I flatter myself, the cats not paying any mind to it, as they greedily devour their meal.
Having taken care of that I put on my shoes for my morning run. I run around the manor first things first, to examine the entire perimeter, looking for anything suspicious. After doing my rounds, I take a moment to breath and relax, until I finally start running down the hill. The manor we live in is placed on the far edge of the island, in fact one side is directly facing a cliff, the wide ocean beneath. The hill is very high up, so I can easily see the entire village from far away. Dawn has barely started, so most of the houses are still dark beyond their windows. In fact, the only source of lights I can see are the dimly glowing Aery lanterns on the outer parts inside the walls. After running around in the expansive green landscape here, I head back home.
Entering the building I can see that the cats have finished their meal and run toward me to rub against my legs affectionately, purring loudly. They can be very sweet when they don’t annoy someone with their food demands.
I head upstairs, the cats following me, and arrive at a door. I knock on it and wait patiently. After not receiving a response, from the person behind it, I open the door and head towards figure laying in their bed, sleeping contently, and snoring loudly. Used to the routine I promptly flip the mattress upside down, the sleeping beauty falling with a thud.
“You know, you could just shake me awake.” The girl in front of me grumbles, as she raises her body and sleepily rubs her eyes.
Her long, flowy hair, the colour being a dark shade of brown, hangs messily over her face. Her green eyes stare at me tiredly, her face turning into a discontent scowl.
“We both know, that wouldn’t achieve anything, Your Highness.” I say respectfully, at which she grumbles in response, and yet she doesn’t refute it.
“The invincibility of your body is truly remarkable, after all. To the point that it also influences your capability of waking up early or being conscious enough to properly take care of yourself to an impressive degree.”
“Your tone is pretty contradictory, when you address me as “Your Highness” and complimenting me, while blatantly mocking me in the same breath.” She says in her usual tone, that suggests it was a mere observation, instead of an outright complaint.
“I apologize for coming across this way, your Highness. I would like to add, however, that I doubt those remarks will cease in the foreseeable future, if you continue to disregard my previous remarks.” I say bluntly, clearly doing it on purpose this time.
“I believe they will, but thank you for making that clear to me, at least.” She says promptly. Yawning in an extremely rude manner, as if to reiterate her point, she stands up and begins to dress herself, which I take as my cue to leave, not before I bow respectfully.
I sigh loudly and head downstairs to prepare for my trip today.
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“Alright, I’m done. What’s for breakfast?” The voice behind me rings out, while I’m busy stirring the pan. I look behind me to see. She wears a purple dress that reaches a bit past her knees and wears her signature hair ornament, a red cloth wrapped around the side of her head that gathers a fistful of hair in a bundle, a streak of hair peeking from beneath.
“I believe we already had a talk about being barefooted inside, haven’t we, Your Highness?” I speak with a forceful tone.
“It’s comfortable, it’s not cold right now and, no, I don’t mind, that it isn’t proper, don’t you worry.” She bluntly declares, to which I sigh.
“A regular breakfast, just like you always request, Your Highness.” I respond to her previous question. “Alright I will be on my way now, Your Highness. The pair will be here soon, so I will be going on my way now. Have a good meal and please prove to be an adequate host for them.”
“Noted. I’ll do my best.”
Translation: “Sure, in my own way, I will."
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As I ready the handcart for the trip, I can already spot a pair of people climbing up the hill, dragging their bicycles beside them. The brown-haired girl exhibits an aura of confidence and positivity, which is heavily contrasted by the calm and polite air around the white-haired boy beside her.
I step forward to greet them cordially.
“Lord Mael and Lady Zyana, good morning to you both.” I say, bowing respectfully.
“Good morning, to you, too, Louis. But can you please stop addressing us in such an overly formal way. At this point, we really shouldn’t greet each other so tensely.” The pair say.
“I assure you both, that I do not continue this manner of speak with the intention of making you feel tense or uncomfortable. I can proceed with calling you both by your first names. If you so desire, I could even refer to you both as “dudes” or something else in that manner. So long as you ask it, I will abide by any request, so long as it in the name of your authority.” I say, keeping the tone of my voice as neutrally polite as possible during the entire speech.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“Having fun, messing with us?” the honourable Mael of the Qinz family asks after a while.
“Very much, so.” I say simply, with a polite smile.
“You and Izel are truly made for each other.” Her excellence, Zyana Demir retorts.
“Anyways, are you already heading out?” Zyana, daughter to the chief of the Salviga institute, and possible candidate for the position of headmaster of the training halls, with her strength being as unparalleled, as her ambitions are grand, asks.
“Yes. In addition to the monthly supply retrieval, I also need to deliver the paperwork, so I will be gone for quite a bit longer. I should however likely return until the end of your class sessions.” I say concisely.
“Understood, don’t worry we will keep Izel company till then.” Mael, who will likely succeed the chief of the Salviga institute and work for the mysterious Phidelle Laserve, who’s reputation as witch within the confines of the clan is known by everyone, with his responsible and wise attributes befitting a future scholar, reassures.
“I sincerely thank you, both for everything you do for me and her Highness.” I bow, conveying my heartfelt gratitude. “Anyways, I apologize, but I will need to leave now. Time is of the essence.”
These two sacred beings, belonging to the highest ranking families, whose class a lowly peasant like me would never dare to try to approach, as they have the biggest influence not only within the borders of this island, but who’s reach is far beyond, touching every country of every corner of the world, now grace me with words that someone of my station would never deserve to hear.
“Of course, see you soon.”
As they wave me goodbye, I leave with the handcart in hand, as I chuckle to myself after I put some distance between us.
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As I arrive at the village I am halted by the guards at the gate.
“Alright, Paer.” The guard speaks in a disinterested tone. "Another trip down south, I suppose?”
“Yes, I need to retrieve our monthly supplies and- “I say, until he rudely cuts me off.
“Yeah, yeah, we know.” He says dismissively. “Well then, have a safe trip.”
“You don’t need to check me?” I say puzzled.
“We were already over that conversation many times, weren’t we? Let’s just save us both the time and energy, alright?” He inquires.
“Very well.” I say eventually. “Thank you for letting me pass.”
“Sure” He simply says as he proceeds to ignore me and relax.
I head inside and walk the streets, as I’m being regarded with cold stares by some onlookers. Lower class Salviga nobles, I assume.
I pay them no heed and continue along the path until I’m intercepted by someone with an extremely polite smile on their face.
“It is good to see you again, Louis.” The boy, presumably around my age greets me, calling me by my first name, as though we are close. I don’t bother to correct him.
“Listen, I recall passing my master’s request on to you, for Lady Izel. Were you able to.” He asks expectantly.
“I would like to ask the same question, too.” Says another person approaching us, a girl a little older than both of us.
Soon enough, some other people, all retainers and servants alike, come to approach me, their inquiry, all the same.
“I have passed your messages on; however, her Highness expressed her reluctance to answering them at the moment. The esteemed lords will have to wait for a proper answer.” I say concisely, staying as vague as possible.
“But her Highness, will be leaving island soon, following the ceremony next week. My master is growing inpatient.” A boy in the group remarks, his voice dripping with irritation.
“I’m afraid, that is not up to me nor your esteemed masters. I answer bluntly, shutting him down. “If you’ll excuse me.” I politely say, as I leave the angry mob behind.
“Great, now I have to go explain this to my milord, thanks to scum like this.” A boy complains, having lost all pretence for civility.
“Becoming a retainer to the main family, has really made that guy arrogant, I see.” Another voice says, as if I couldn’t hear.
“Him and that damn woman. Having that status went right through her head, if she thinks she can mock the nobles like that.” Another voice said with contempt.
“These two are outcast, anyways. Neither the main family nor the other nobles want anything to do with her. They should be happy, that we bother with them, at all. As if they amounted to anything in this clan.” Another voice rings out.
All manner of slander ring out, complaining about Izel’s status and supposed influence. Even debasing her, demeaning her standing in the clan, as they don’t even realize their own contradictions.
I heave out a deep sigh as I continue along the road ahead.
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“Welcome, esteemed guests, to our humble abode. We appreciate your presence and hope you have had a safe travel here. We will accommodate you to the best of our abilities and hope that you will have an enjoyable stay…” The girl in front of us says in the most monotone tone imaginable.
“Wow! If you raise your hands excitedly next time, I'm sure your performance will be even more believable, Izel.” Zyana claps beside me, genuinely amused.
“What she said.” I state simply.
“Thanks for the compliments. I do my best.” She says and I’m not sure, whether her tone was sincere or not. Probably not.
“But make yourselves at home, all the same. You haven’t had breakfast yet, right? Then let’s eat. Louis already prepared us some.”
“How considerate of him. He’s doing a better job of hosting, and he isn’t even here.” I say amusedly.
“Oh, but before this, I brought a new batch of books. I assume you’re finished with the previous ones?” I say, taking them out of my bag and handing them over.
“Oh thanks, yeah, I just ran out of them yesterday. Sorry for the trouble.” She says in a tone that suggests some sincerity. I think, at least.
“Don’t bother thanking me” I say, as I take back the previous batch to take back. “These aren’t even mine, to begin with, so it’s not me you should be thankful to but Mister Leith.
“They’re basically yours.” Zyana retorts beside me. “I’d say you practically live in the institute and that’s saying as someone who actually lives there.”
“Well, if you say it like that.” I say, bashfully scratching my face.
“Anyways how did you like them?” I continue, getting back to the topic at hand.
“They were pretty good. The fairytale collection wasn’t really my cup of tea. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the anthology about Cearnian mythology. The public libraries would never have something like that.”
“Yes, I’m grateful to have access to the institute’s library. They have books that are either banned or flat out censored. There’re practically no records kept, concerning Cearnian culture nor their history.” I ramble on.
“Makes sense, considering Cearn isn’t exactly buddies with most countries in the continent. From what I’ve heard, we currently have fewer and fewer officials stationed there. It also doesn’t help the Salvigas dismiss “irrelevant” information about most countries anyway, since they’re “beneath” us.” Izel says, looking at the book in question with a sigh.
“Anyways, let’s save the book talk for later.” Zyana says, feeling left out. “We’re leaving in a week. Are you prepared already?” She inquires, genuinely curious.
“Well, the paperwork is done. Rather, Louis made it get done, I should say. He’s currently delivering it, as he probably told you already. Other than that, I’m just waiting to get the ceremony done and leave. Right now, we just deal with all the nobles trying to approach me, but that’s about it.”
“These people should finally get the hint.” Zyana says genuinely furious. “I mean isn’t enough, that you lived in this manor away from anybody else?”
“I mean, it’s kind of entertaining to see them be so stubborn, but yeah, it gets old quickly. It is a bit annoying to be used as a symbol of their disputes. Pretty sure Kaim has to deal with that on his end, too. Probably even more so. Other than that, though, I just enjoy myself reading your books and creating some new clothing concepts. Mostly for Louis, though he’s very reluctant about trying them on for some reason.” She says, looking puzzled.
“Oh, I wonder.” I say sarcastically.
I can understand Louis’ feelings all too well. I too, have been used by her as a guinea pig for her, well, “unique” ideas. The last time, I had to put on something that I’m pretty sure was just a bikini. At least going by the pictures Phidelle showed him. Things like this were certainly things no Salviga would or should know about. Frankly, I’m a bit scarred.
While I was lost in thoughts reexperiencing some of the trauma the two have moved to the kitchen to eat breakfast.
I follow suit and drive the memories away.
After we were done with our meal, we spent the rest of the day talking. Whenever Izel and I started discussing books together, Zyana would zone out and play with the cats. Whenever they discussed fashion together, I would zone out. For some reason, Zyana actually likes Izel’s weird taste in that field so I would just let them be during those moments, terrified of becoming yet another subject today. Other than that, we just idled the day away like every visit staying overnight until we go to school together the next day and Louis eventually returns from his trip.