“I’m Caroline.” The human woman said while she led us through the opulent castle. Mother introduced us in return. The annoyance in her words immediately killed the conversation.
We walked through the entranceway which had a massive elaborate chandelier and enough room to host a party. Two large staircases lead upwards with several doors leading out of the large room. Two larger open double doors lead into the courtyard opposite the main entrance between the staircases. I could just make out people training in the courtyard.
Expensive carpets and tapestries were everywhere. Suits of armor and displays of expensive looking pottery made it obvious the Halcroft family was not just wealthy but obscenely so. They were also, obviously, not above flaunting said wealth.
Up the stairs and to the right along a corridor and we stopped at a door. Caroline opened the door and bowed out of the way so we could enter. Mom stepped in with me still in her arms. We entered an entertaining room, there was a small dining table as well as two couches facing each other and a coffee table between them. Then two comfy looking chairs in front of a fireplace. Finally there were two book shelves rounding out the room.
Three other doors lead out of the room. Caroline entered after us. “This-” She pointed at one of the doors. “-is the main bedchamber, the next one is the guest room, and the final one is the bathroom. We have fully functional magical plumbing though I fear lady Alea’s animus may not be high enough to utilize the enchantments.”
“I believe we would like to rest for a time.” Mother said curtly.
Caroline bowed. “Of course, we will need to make you presentable for dinner, however we should be able to wait for an hour before that. Farva and Ashley should be getting Lady Penelope’s old crib out of storage.”
“No need, it is Ysarian tradition for parents and children to sleep in the same bed until children are old enough for their own.” Tears began to form at the edges of mom’s eyes before she turned away and breathed in and out deeply once. “Excuse me, we have had a long journey and a difficult month.”
Caroline bowed again before leaving the room, closing the door behind her. Just like that we were alone for the first time since dad was murdered. Nearly a month of having to endure the presence of his murderer and our captor had taken its toll. The tears began to stream down and I joined her.
She made her way to the bedchamber laying me down before collapsing next to me in a ball. There we cried together, finally allowed to break down in peace. To call it ugly crying would be an understatement. I finally began to mourn the only father I had ever had in two lives. Respen was a good man and did his best at being a father.
-----------------
An hour past us just laying together. Finally there was a knock at the door. “I fear we must begin preparations.” Said Caroline through the door.
“I love you my beautiful daughter, we must continue to be strong.” Mom said to me privately.
“Yes mama, love you.” I did my best to hug her, but that wasn’t much with my small arms.
With that mom’s mask came back on and the emotion drained from her. She got out of bed. “Enter.”
Caroline opened the door with Farva and Ashley in tow. Caroline was a matronly lady with brown hair and eyes otherwise rather unassuming. Ashley was a much younger woman, maybe her early twenties. She was rather petite with her blonde hair in braids. Finally there was Farva, an elf, she had cool gray blue hair and eyes.
I wondered if Farva was forced to be here like us or if she had betrayed her people to work for a murderous slaver. Either possibility was particularly unpleasant. However I would withhold my judgment until I heard her story.
“Lady Shalia your figure is fortunately similar to lady Taela and we were able to borrow one of her dresses. As for lady Alea, lady Penelope’s old clothes should work perfectly.” Caroline said casually, ignoring the obvious fact we both had been crying.
“We are n-” Mother began then ran her fingers along her forehead in a display of her annoyance. She stood. “I assume we will start with a bath.”
Caroline smiled. “Of course my lady. It is already prepared for you, Farva and Ashley will be attending you while I prepare the dresses.”
We made our way to the bathroom and yet again I was rather surprised. There was a toilet, not quite the design I was used to in my previous life, but its use was obvious from a glance. There was a full length mirror and what appeared to be a sink. Finally the majority of the bathroom was filled with a large steaming pool. Ashley and Farva had their sleeves rolled up and had several cleaning products prepared for us.
Mother let me down and I began to undress. I just had a long tunic on and a simple cloth diaper underneath. Thankfully I had already learned to control myself in that sense, but I had yet to stop bed wetting entirely. The next hour we got all the filth off that had accumulated over weeks on the road. Farva and Ashley attended to us helping us bathe even if we made it clear we didn’t want them to.
My hair had grown quite a bit down to just below my shoulders and it was soaking wet. Farva cast some type of magic and our hair dried instantly. She then began her work on styling, which to my utter shock was often assisted by magic. She must have skills specifically designed for hairdressing. That seemed like a rather odd thing to waste a skill slot on. I only had 4 skills but maybe once you were older you got more. I knew people got more classes eventually, but I didn’t understand the intricacies of the system yet.
Once that was done we stepped out of the bathroom to see rather elaborate dresses. I hadn’t expected so much frill and lace on mine, or really a dress at all. I was 2. Did I really need to dress up? I guess the answer was yes and I had little say in it.
Caroline and Ashley helped my mother get into her dress then immediately began to pull it in and fasten it with temporary pins to get the fit just right. Meanwhile Farva helped me into my much more simple dress, I just had a silky slip then the dress went on. My mother had it far worse, she had a corset, garters, the whole 9 yards.
Once I was ready Farva walked me over to the mirror in the bathroom. There I saw something entirely new. I was… cute. Adorable really. My red hair was wavy and cascaded over my shoulders. Was it suddenly longer? Did Farva make my hair longer? It did make my green eyes stand out sharply and my elven ears poked out to each side showing my heritage. The dress was a light blue, not pastel, but closer to sky blue. It had white frills coming out that gave the skirt some definition.
I considered my appearance. For the first time since that attack I felt myself smile. Did I like this? Well that bubbly feeling in my chest certainly indicates I do. I don’t think I’ve ever been happy about my appearance before. This was strange. I quickly shoved these feelings into a box, more future Alea problems.
I was ready, but they took mom back into our bedchamber probably to use the vanity in there. Farva sat me on the couch and then sat opposite me. She seemed to be avoiding my eyes trying to pay attention to anything else.
I ignored her discomfort and just waited patiently. Finally after half an hour they left the room. First came Caroline and Ashley. Then my mother stepped out elegantly as if she had been born a noble. I would definitely need to get my mom’s story at some point, it just seemed so odd that she has been so capable at dealing with Halcroft and acting like a noble.
Whereas I was adorable, mom was beautiful. Her blue hair also appeared to be longer as it came down to the small of her back in lovely waves. Her emerald eyes, the same shade as mine, shone in sync with the emerald earrings and the pendant that rested between her cleavage. The dress and corset accented her ample figure showcasing her beauty.
More than just looking amazing, mom carried herself as if she belonged in a dress like that. It was black with dark red trim contrasting from the blue and green of her hair and eyes. She also wore dark high heels that made her taller than most men.
I slipped off the couch then walked, still with a bit of a waddle, over to her. I was working on it, but walking was still hard. I reached up to her and she knelt down by bending her legs so she sat on the back of her heels. That was not something someone couldn’t do without a ton of practice. She smiled at me, but it did not reach her eyes. “Oh? Who is this pretty little girl and what has she done with my Alea?”
I stomped my foot. “I’m Alea!” I played along with her.
Now her smile became genuine and it was captivating. I hadn’t seen her smile carefree in that way before… before father. She scooped me up into her arms before looking at Caroline. “We are ready.”
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We left Farva and Ashley behind as Caroline escorted us to the dining room. We walked back downstairs and then Caroline stopped and opened a door for us with her head slightly bowed.
Mother walked with a regal air into the room. There at the head of the table was Halcroft, to his right was a middle aged man, and to his left was an elf. The elf was quite attractive and she did indeed have a similar body type to mother. If I hadn’t seen many petite elven women I would have expected them all to be voluptuous. She had green hair and eyes that went well with her red gown.
The man was clearly part elf based on his much smaller but still pointy ears. His face resembled Halcroft quite a bit except that his hair was black rather than salt and pepper like Halcroft. He was clearly strong but in more of a wiry way, like I used to be.
His body did not resemble Halcroft though, where the man was certainly strong, Halcroft was an absolute bear of a man. Halcroft was finally out of his armor for the first time and only now did I notice he too had small points to his ears. Was he also partially elven? Did the Halcrofts take elves into their family routinely? If the man was his son and the elf opposite was his wife then that would seem to be the case. If it was and the elf had any choice in the matter she was a traitor to her people.
Finally there was a little girl to the woman’s left. She was maybe 2 years older than I was. She too had the telltale point to her ears, and they seemed to have started to grow longer like mine were. Finally across the table was a boy of maybe 10 who looked at us with a sneer, he did not have the elongated ears of elves but still had a point to them. Was he a child from another woman perhaps?
“Ah Alea and Shalia, our guests of honor.” Halcroft motioned to the seat to the left of the little girl. “Please sit, I thought Alea would enjoy sitting next to Penelope since they are nearly the same age. I had them prepare a special chair for her.”
Mom swept into the room and placed me into the chair designated without so much as a word of greeting. Halcroft had been right, the chair acted as something of a highchair with lots of padding. Penelope was sitting on just a single extra pillow to give her a bit more height. I suspected this chair was probably hers before she grew out of it.
Mother sat elegantly next to me. I had never seen this side of her, we were so casual at our home, I was starting to become very interested in her story. I did take notice of how the man on Halcroft’s right leered at my mother as she sat, I could practically feel the creepiness exuding from the man.
Halcroft for his part just smiled at the obvious sleight of my mother not greeting him. “Well as I was saying before, Alea and Shalia will become a fixture of our house. Alea will be becoming our family’s healer and I do believe Shalia might have alchemy skills worthy of developing further.”
“Welcome to our home I realize these might not be the best circumstances but I hope we can become friends.” The elven woman said.
“Ah yes, that is a fantastic idea.” Then Halcroft paused for a moment. “Where are my manners? I should introduce the entire family to you.” He motioned to the elven woman. “This is Taela, she was once a Ysarian noble before she joined our family. She is married to my son-” He motioned to the man on his right. “-Isaac, and their two children, Dylan and Penelope.” He finished by motioning to the boy then the girl on my right.
The pleasantries were interrupted as maids and butlers entered the dining room with what looked like an appetizer. They began to fill glasses with wine for Halcroft, Isaac, and Taela, and water for Dylan, Penelope, and I. My mother turned the wine glass upside down and as if commanded, one of the butlers immediately left the room and returned with a glass of water for her.
Halcroft took keen notice of what my mother did and I saw an eyebrow rise slightly. Clearly my mother knew some kind of noble etiquette I was not privy to. For me there were some small pieces of apple already skinned. For everyone else they had salad.
The bustle of the serving staff entering and leaving died down. “I see you have been trained in noble etiquette, I would love to hear some of your story.” Halcroft said as the rest of his family began to eat. I was quite hungry myself so I popped a piece of apple into my mouth right away. My mother however did not begin eating.
“I would prefer my past stay in the past, but yes, I understand noble etiquette both in Ysara and Hakan.” Mother said before she gently brought a small bite to her mouth.
Halcroft considered her words for a moment. “This is an order, Shalia, you will tell me what type of noble you were.”
Mother placed the fork back down and with anger in her eyes she turned to face Halcroft. “I was the 4th in line to the Ysarian throne, Princess Shalia Ysara. When I declined an arranged marriage to be with my husband I also ceded my claim to the throne. Technically I am still a princess, but with no actual power behind the title.” The look on her face was fire and fury. “So much for being courteous I see your word is as meaningless as I feared.”
Holy fucking shit balls. My mom was a princess, did that make me a princess too? Was I royalty? What did this mean for relations between Hakan and Ysara? Did Hakan just directly attack a member of the royal family of Ysara?
“Oh I assure you my word is quite meaningful. Once I have the information I need you will be treated like the princesses you apparently are. What of Alea? I am not particularly schooled in the specifics of the Ysarian line of succession.”
Mother just glared at him. “I have not told my daughter exactly what this all means for her. I would prefer it if this discussion could wait for another day.”
Halcroft tilted his head slightly. “It cannot. This is an order, Shalia, tell me exactly what titles your daughter has and where she lies on the line of succession.”
For a moment my mother refused the order and I watched as pain wracked her body. Her body went rigid. “She is also a princess!” She shouted then gasped as the pain ebbed. “I believe she was also 4th in line for the throne. I was the youngest child of the Queen and she is her only grandchild currently.”
Halcroft's smile became predatory. “What do you mean by was?”
Now my mother smiled wickedly. “When you gave her that command crest she lost all claim to the throne, she is now a princess in name only exactly like me.”
Anger flared on Halcroft’s face, it seemed he quite wanted a princess of the Ysarian kingdom even more than his immortal healer. Mother had played everything perfectly, she ensured that neither of us could be used against Ysara all while saving thousands of lives. I had fallen for her obfuscation entirely as well. We were already dead and Halcroft only got a child with a slightly better start as a healer than another.
Halcroft glared for a moment, the entire room was charged with energy. “Well at least I’ll be able to take military secrets. This is an order, you will tell me everything about the defenses of Ysara that is not common knowledge.”
My mother’s grin went from wicked to absolutely terrifying. “That’s the best part lord Halcroft, when you applied the command crest to me it obliterated all military secrets. Did you think we did not create countermeasures for your monstrous ritual?” She took a triumphant bite of salad.
“Countermeasures? I suppose you wouldn’t know what those might be.” Halcroft considered.
Mom just gave him a winning smile. “A ritual of some kind I would assume since skills can’t affect memories. There is only a hole where that knowledge once was.”
Halcroft with his head in his hand tapped his temple considering the problem. “You can at least give me personal information on the royal family… it isn’t a total loss, but I am forced to admit when I am beaten. Well played princess.”
Isaac grinned. “It is not as if that is the only thing we can get, having a princess serve us hand and foot is quite the appetizing idea.” Oh god, was he implying what I thought he was. What a fucking creep doing that in front of his kids and wife.
Halcroft suddenly disappeared and reappeared behind his son. He already had Isaac’s arm bent back in an obviously painful hold. “We will take whatever leftover strategic information the princess has, then she and her daughter will be treated as royal guests. She may continue her pursuits in alchemy if she desires it, Alea will still have to become our healer, but will have tutoring appropriate to her station. You will not order either of them unless it is an emergency. Next time you so much as imply such disgusting behavior I will take the arm and it will not be healed until Alea learns how to regenerate limbs. Am I understood?” The anger on Halcroft’s face was deadly real. He was truly ready to rip his son’s arm out if he didn’t agree.
Isaac groaned in pain. “Yes father!” He yelled.
Halcroft looked at the rest of his family. “That applies to all of you equally. I wasn’t aware they were princesses or I would have keyed the crests to only myself, but what is done is done.” Only then did he release his son’s arm. He slowly with poised grace took his seat. “I believe we should move past this unpleasantness. Let us eat.” He said the last part more softly.
We all began to eat in awkward silence. Only after another rush of servant activity delivering the second course did conversation slowly resume. “I’ve never met a princess before.” Penelope said in broken Ysarese, clearly trying to break the ice. This was clearly her second language.
“I didn’t know…” I said.
Mother smiled at the girl. “Well now you have met two.” I was somewhat surprised she was so willing to talk with the granddaughter of our captor. Although I suppose just being a Halcroft is not exactly damning in and of itself.
Penelope fidgeted for a moment. “Would you… like to… be…” She trailed off.
Taela smiled at the girl’s awkwardness. “Penelope hasn’t had the chance to be friends with another child her age. Although that is no excuse to fidget.” She raised her brow at the girl.
Penelope immediately stopped fidgeting and began talking very quickly in the wrong language. Mother quickly translated for me. “She asked if you want to be friends.”
I considered the idea for a moment, did I want to be friends with a 4 year old? On the surface it seemed insane, but I also knew I had regressed in my mental age quite a bit. Plus I could be a positive influence on the girl, with her father she clearly needed one. Isaac seemed like a massive asshole from what little he has done thus far. Though I had to admit Taela wasn’t as bad as I had been expecting, maybe her situation is a lot like ours.
“Sure!” I said.
Penelope smiled warmly. “Wanna play tomorrow?”
Taela tsked her speech. “Would you like to play tomorrow.” She corrected.
“Would…you…like… to play tomorrow?” Penelope seemed to be struggling to get the words just right.
“Yeah!” I replied with a smile.