Chapter 13 — A Future Duchess and New Lunch Friends?
After her early morning elemental magic class, Ria chatted and walked with her new commoner friends, Neva, Ethelle, and Cerena, and introduced them to Zena.
Rather, she shouldn’t think of them as ‘commoners’, at least not in the sense of the people she knew from Shadewood or Vorshan’s Hills. There was little chance for anyone gifted enough to attend the Grand Academy to fail the mage certification, and with certification came the mage equivalent of knighthood.
Of course, that didn’t help the trio from being struck giggly by the hero’s daughter’s mere presence, never mind receiving Zena’s attention.
Ria couldn’t help cocking a brow in their direction. Who was an actual war hero here?
What was she? Boiled crayfish?
Well… she did have to admit Zena was cool. The raven-haired girl’s easy confidence and innate competence made even Ria want to swoon with admiration at times.
“Jealous?” Zena teased with a cocky smile once they were alone. Or as alone as a princess could be walking in public with an elite guard in tow.
Ria huffed and admitted, “Maybe.”
After a moment of silence, a smoldering arm pulled Ria into a side hug. “Aww. So cute!”
How anyone could call her cute with how evil she looked now… then again, her friend’s motifs were red and black. Maybe the problem was Zena’s preferences? Ria managed to not huff again at the continued teasing but did give a well-deserved and obligatory eye roll. “Fine, fine. I’ll let you win this round.”
Happy with the concession, Zena leaned in and whispered, “They seem like nice girls. I approve. A princess needs her ladies-in-waiting after all.”
It wasn’t as if the idea hadn’t been in the back of her mind already. “Keira’s been urging the same.”
“See, I can’t be wrong then… though, while those of lesser origins are fine and necessary at the start, I would have thought you might reach higher,” Zena said, raising her chin and turning her head at just the right angle to confidently show her best side. “Say… a certain first-year ember mage?”
Ria snorted.
Zena even made her ember arm stoke a bit brighter as if burnishing her credentials. “I just so happen to know a one-armed one whose marriage prospects have taken a sharp decline recently and whose service could be had for cheap.”
Though Ria was sure the offer was being made in jest, it was probably only half in jest.
Building a noble House, huh? Was it still necessary now that she was being recognized by Houses ad`Drelfgar and Astacio?
After what happened with House Novidus betraying her, maybe the recognition made it even more important for her to have strength of her own—strength that was more than her power alone.
“Sure.”
Zena's expression grew more serious and the girl watched Ria’s face as if trying to read any hidden meanings.
“Once I slaughter my family and claim the throne, a county should be easy enough to arrange as compensation for a hero’s daughter’s loyal service,” Ria added with a smirk.
“Hah! So, it’s that kind of princess story.” Zena chuckled and looked away into the distance. “Perhaps I might have some relatives that could do with a bit of slaughtering as well...”
Ria looked at her friend in surprise. “Aren’t you on good terms with your family?”
“Let’s just say that I take a dim view of the ease with which our Emberstill cousins contemplate killing or taking the arm of such a beautiful and talented relative such as myself.”
Emberstill!
Zena was related to the ducal family? If she could legitimately place someone loyal to her atop the southern duchy…
“So… Countess Zena, is it?” Zena mused as if tasting how the title sounded. “I could get used to that.”
Could she really trust Zena to that extent?
The girl tried to sound self-serving at times, but Ria felt maybe she could.
Of all her friends, Zena had been reliable without question, even taking action on Ria’s behalf out of her own initiative.
There was a worry that Zena was the one Iori’s diviner friend had sent to Ria in her time of need, but…
Ria shook her head. Whether Zena had willingly played a role in the Novidus plotting or not, the girl was still her own person, and she had yet to give Ria cause to doubt her.
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Walking into and through Seeker’s Hall with a Gryphon Knight escort for the first time caused more of a scene among the student adventurers than Ria was expecting.
(“A Gryphon Knight!”) (“Isn’t that Celestria ad`Drelfgar? The one from the rumor?”) (“Hidden House…”) (“...really is wearing a symbol of House Astacio…”)
The whispers teased out by her enhanced hearing made it clear the morning’s Daily Shadow article had already made the rounds enough to have become common knowledge.
Not wanting to encourage any trouble even with Ranger proudly at her side and Knight Rigonni following, Ria drew upon her training for the debut and Iori’s example, keeping her gaze from appearing to meet the eyes of any of her fellow students unless directly addressed in passing, returning slight nods of acknowledgement and polite words to those.
As a little girl, she imagined being a princess would be fun, but this… it was tiring and stressful, always requiring her to be mindful of her manner and everything going on around her. Thankfully, her ability to passively sense the flows of energy in her vicinity was improving to the extent that she soon might not need to rely on Sensing Sphere anymore. It really was something she should meditate upon—like she used to do when she first learned to sense energy with Luventi’s ‘outwardly focused meditation’ technique.
The memory of sitting on the rock on the hill and marveling at the energy flows brought a slight smile to her lips. It had been a stressful time for her, but the joys of exploring magic quickly became an exhilarating light pushing away the darkness that she tried so hard to ignore—a needed light.
She had learned enough now to know that gift of magic was thanks to the same bloodline and status that was bringing with it the tiresome and dangerous social responsibilities that she was now having to navigate and face. A gift that was fully a part of her existence now. A gift that she wouldn’t lightly give up even knowing the costs paid.
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That didn’t mean she was accepting of those costs—her parents, her best friend, and her home. The price incurred would still be repaid in full and then some. If anything, she intended to enjoy the violence and destruction, to relish the balancing of accounts, a redress made possible through the gift of her heritage. And if her ability ever reached to the heavens—which the oracle from Ellnys implied was a possibility should she choose ‘power’ over ‘trust’—she would bring that price to the gods as well.
Ria nodded her thanks to Rigonni as they parted at the doorway to the classroom.
At least for her anatomy class, she had her primary circle of friends to sit with and wouldn’t have to deal with the politically fraught maze of discourtesy that was her Abjuration class-
Ugh.
-a maze that reached her even here, she was promptly reminded, when a letter-delivery spell delivered a formal reply from Sophia just as she was taking her seat and greeting Keira and Iselyn, and Jax who had taken to sitting with them since joining their group for the practicums.
She couldn’t complain this time, as it was a trouble she had initiated herself. And with Keira leaning close with interest after having seen the letter arrive, not opening the letter would only serve to make the girl rightfully suspicious. Unlike Keira and Jax, Iselyn was busy taking notes on the previously assigned reading and didn’t appear to care in the slightest.
The matter wasn’t something she particularly needed to hide from her friends…
Trying her best not to cringe and show the trepidation she was feeling, Ria broke open the seal and scanned through the terse reply.
Celestria ad`Drelfgar,
Regarding your invitation to tea at Phantasia of the Divine Palate after classes today, I accept.
Sophia Ranaf Wardstone
“You’ve invited Sophia of all people to Master Chef Zortare’s Phantasia of the Divine Palate?” Keira blurted out in disbelief, having leaned close to read from over Ria’s shoulder. “I’m not sure how I should feel about this…”
Jax mouthed a ‘wow’ and shook his head.
Ria shared Keira’s distaste, but… “Unfortunately, I need advice concerning a social obligation, and she’s the one most likely to have the information I need.”
“That sounds… Are you in trouble again?” Keira accused, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
“No, it’s nothing like that.” Ria waved her hand in denial. “If anything, this could be a chance to improve my relationship with her and reduce the risk of future troubles—like what we were able to do with Leriah.”
Keira’s eyes-of-accusation relaxed some but her chubby blond-haired friend still looked worried. “Do you need Iselyn or me to come along?”
Iselyn’s quill froze for a moment but soon resumed as if it had never stopped.
Did Iselyn want to go?
“Sophia might feel threatened if I bring anyone else,” Ria carefully declined but something in Keira’s manner prompted Ria to offer a consolation, “Should we go as a group some time? You, me, and Iselyn?”
Iselyn’s quill froze again.
“…it’s terrible that you didn’t invite us first!” Keira huffed after a pause, as if failing at holding back a growing exasperation, and glanced Iselyn’s way before grumbling in a quiet voice, “But… if you’re paying, I think we can forgive you.”
Iselyn nodded. “If you are paying.”
Ria groaned and gave in to their demand, after which the two conspirators promptly shared grins.
One-eyed Jax wisely pretended to be looking elsewhere.
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By the time lunch had rolled around, Ria found herself perplexed as she flipped through the book on time magic that Aldri had recommended. Had she borrowed the right book?
Ria leaned the book half-closed and re-confirmed the title embossed into the leather, drawing amused glances from Iselyn and Zena.
“That’s a new expression you’ve got there,” Zena snickered. “Someone switch the cover?”
“I wonder…,” Ria admitted.
The book seemed more like her anatomy text than a book about time. A glance in Aldri’s direction was rewarded with a smirk and a gesture that she should get on with reading the book. “Researcher Erithon’s work is rather innovative in its discoveries and solutions.”
Innovative? Wasn’t he lecturing her about the dangers of time magic just yesterday?
“Are you helping Ria with her apology gifts?” Keira asked the older boy with interest only to receive a denial and vague explanation that it was preparation for the Grand Games.
Ria’s suspicious eyeing of the teen spatial mage was interrupted by an elfin voice sing-songing, “I come bearing prospective new members to join our lunchtime fun!” and Ria’s eyes widened in surprise at the grimacing faces following Orlisi.
“Nephielle and Hesiea!” Ria happily greeted. They were joining her lunch group?
“Celestria,” Aveneph returned with a nod.
“It’s good to meet again so soon,” Hesiea replied more formally, eyes drifting to the others at the table.
Faris asked, “New friends of yours, Ria?”
“Lady Nephielle and Lady Hesiea are from House Inava, a House closely connected to the Rafetiere royal family,” Ria explained.
“Oh? This wouldn’t have to do with the reason you borrowed Ria’s divination scroll, Orlisi, would it?” Zena astutely asked, and with realization of what Zena was implying, all eyes at their table except Iselyn’s and Arthur’s went to the newcomers with increased interest—and Iselyn was only pretending she wasn’t interested.
“It does, indeed,” Orlisi delightfully admitted, sliding out and offering the seats next to hers on Iselyn’s side of the table for Aveneph and her cousin before seating herself.
“Divination?” Aveneph unconsciously rubbed a jade ring she was wearing as she and Hesiea joined them at the long table and narrowed her eyes at a certain elf troublemaker. “Just how public was this divination?”
“Just us at this table,” Keira diplomatically offered when the others grimaced at the question, Ria included. “Though it was prompted by rumors of other divinations. It’s our pleasure to have you join us, Nephielle and Hesiea. I’m Keira Vorshan.”
Keira met Aldri’s questioning eyes and raised eyebrow with a gentle pat to his hand and a discreet, “I’ll tell you later.”
“Aldri Touften,” Aldri volunteered.
“Zena Emberflow.”
Faris and Iselyn likewise introduced themselves.
If Ria had to guess, Aveneph looked a little wary at Faris’ and Zena’s introductions—rather, perhaps it was a change in flow of the energy around the exiled princess that made Ria suspect so more than any facial or behavioral cues. Maybe the princess was worried about the risks of becoming involved with members of the Greater Houses?
Arthur was the last to introduce himself, having had his attention buried in his work as usual.
Before any further questions could be asked, the new Culinary Order boy handling lunches reached their table. “Would anyone at your table have a request for the days’ chefs? Savory Cuts and Bountiful Baskets are the establishments on rotation today.”
Princess Aveneph apparently wasn’t the only one nervous of Faris’ status, as the two menus were presented to the beautiful blond-haired boy first to look over and pass around, though it could’ve just been because he was closest.
Ria wouldn’t put it past the Culinary Order members to be that observant. From the menus to the establishment rotations to the spatial magic that brought the food, the lunch delivery really was surprisingly well-implemented.
Unlike her initial assumption of a centralized cooking location, Ria had learned from conversations with Ellen that the Culinary Order member working in the library would send the customer selections to other members stationed at the establishments selected for the daily rotation. How they kept all the requests straight and knew what to grab for whom was tied to the magical ‘request books’ that they noted the selections on with numbered slots on each page connecting storage spaces that functioned like the tower vaults.
Special orders from establishments and chefs not chosen for the day’s daily rotation could still be arranged for an extra fee with advance notice though—which was how Orlisi usually arranged their ridiculous celebratory lunches.
When her turn came, Ria chose a fire-aspected flank steak for Ranger and a seasonal ‘four-elements’ vegetable sampler for herself. She would normally leave the drinks to the chefs’ discretion but opted for something lightning themed to continue working on her air attunement.
“An interesting choice,” Aveneph commented, sounding curious. “I was expecting you to purchase something more like Magma-roasted Golden Direboar or sautéed Royal Plainstrider heart, Celestria.”
“Ria always chooses unusual meals and drinks,” Zena volunteered. “Purportedly for attunement improvement. Half the fun of joining her for lunch is watching the different faces she makes each time.”
“How amusing. Perhaps we should try something adventurous as well, Hesiea?”
Everything with lunch was going rather well until an off-hand comment by a certain elf-whose-name-should-be-erased-from-history revealed that Ria had treated Aveneph and her cousin to a third-floor dining experience at Phantasia of the Divine Palate.