For a moment, she forgot to breathe. Tori’s mouth was agape as she stared at the Empress. She couldn’t help such a rude action, but her mind went blank. Fabian not taking the La Garda exam was not processed.
She had figured two routes for Fabian: one where he chose not to enter La Garda to stay with Alessa, and the other where Alessa failed to accumulate enough romance points and so Fabian continued his life path.
However, she was certain that Fabian would enter La Garda. It was to the point where Tori didn’t think romance points mattered. She knew how desperate he was to prove himself. Not to mention how much he goaded Ewan and was trying to challenge him. There was no way Fabian would give up without warning so close to the exams.
Fabian didn’t spend months under the brutal tutorage of that Duraga agent....
Oh. Tori's mind settled quickly. She blinked and turned her gaze back to her plate and put on an air of casual indifference. “No wonder Ewan didn’t see him. Did he go to Osten for summer training?”
“No, he went to Anlar,” the Empress said, smiling a bit. “He followed Gideon.”
Tori’s eyes flickered across the table. He caught her gaze for a moment before responding with a brief nod acknowledging her suspicion.
Fabian chose not to enter La Garda because he knew he was implicated by his master and if it was found out, the consequences were dire. If La Garda was not an option, he could wait to join the knight cadets after Lycée or find a different path through the military to give him an acceptable background as a personal knight and aide. Since Gideon decided to go to the Naval Academy, then it made sense for Fabian to go with him.
Not only would it still give him some prestige, but following Gideon to the Naval Academy was an action worthy of a personal knight.
Tori nodded to herself. She wasn’t sure if it was purely for professional reasons and pride, or if part of Fabian sincerely wanted to be at Gideon’s side, supporting him when he was far from home.
“That’s admirable,” Tori said. “Although, I hope they know they’re not in for an easy time. Everyone in Moss Hill told me the Naval Academy is so intense, new recruits often get sick after training the first few weeks.” That tidbit was proudly told to her by Ava. Tori didn’t know how her little cousin even knew that.
The Empress let out a little snort. “They will be fine. Fabian’s been practicing swordsmanship for years and Gideon has the blood of marquis in him! I would be embarrassed if he were sent home.”
“Mother, he also has Soleil blood,” Piers said with a blank expression.
The Emperor paused in the middle of a drink and cast some side-eye at his eldest son. “Oh, you’ve learned to have humor now.”
“I’ve always been funny.”
Tori lowered her head to hide her smile. “Is the second prince planning to transfer to the Naval Academy?” Please say yes. Please say yes. Sixteen was the age of majority; Gideon could transfer himself out if he wished.
“No.”
Dammit all.
“However, if this summer goes well, he will likely join again next summer,” the Emperor said. “He was very earnest about going. I rarely see Gideon like this unless it involves Piers.”
Several eyes moved over the first prince and Tori saw him stab at his food.
“He has not called home to complain once,” the Empress said, almost proud of this. Tori gave her a strained smile.
That’s a terrible measure of status. “Do you think he may want to join the navy when he graduates Lycée?”
The Empress let out a tired sigh. “We’ll see how this summer’s training tempers him.”
The corner of the Emperor’s mouth rose. “There have been sailors in the imperial family before. This is not unheard of.”
“My Aunt Celine transferred to the Naval Academy for her third and fourth year, then went on a tour,” Piers said before taking a bite of a vegetable.
The Emperor sneered. “Yes. One tour. Then she said she was tired and gallivanted around the empire with her lovers, abandoning all her imperial duties-”
“Darling, you know Celine has no affinity for political or economic work.” The Empress reached over and gently patted her husband’s arm. “She prefers to live free.”
“I don’t mind her living free, but she could at least live free with her own money.”
Tori held back a laugh. Now the conversation sounded more familiar.
“Speaking of Aunt Celine, I think we should invite her next Spring Festival to Viclya,” Piers said, looking towards Tori. “Aunt Celine is the most famous socialite in Soleil. If she likes Viclya, its popularity will spread.”
Tori had heard the woman’s name a few times, but didn’t know she was that famous. Then again, it wasn’t as if she really dabbled in elite circles outside of being a young merchant and her work in the delta. From what she knew of Piers’ aunt, the Emperor’s younger sister and only sibling, she stepped away from any work the imperial family could throw at her and preferred to live as a common, wealthy lady traveling Soleil and indulging herself with her two long-term lovers.
Soleil did not allow for multiple spouses at once; it could get ugly with inheritance and property amongst extended family, but there were poly-amorous people. It wasn’t common, but Princess Celine had been with her two lovers since Piers was a child. He referred to them as Auntie and Uncle, as well.
The portraits of Princess Celine and her family had them in bright, extravagant clothing and posing. Tori could respect the glamor, but it was a bit much for her personal taste.
“I think we should wait until Viclya’s infrastructure can accommodate more people. If Princess Celine does spread news of it, I don’t want to be overwhelmed at once,” Tori said. Piers gave her a small nod.
“Oh, Tori, Ilyana told me that you were establishing a recreational center for workers?” Albert asked, leaning forward with bright eyes. “Will there be anything like that open for guests?”
“The recreation center is for the workers to relax. It’s another benefit to keep them after their initial work contracts are up.”
“Is it necessary to lure them?” Albert raised a brow. “They get paid more than I do.”
“You're an intern, not a master craftsman,” Tori reminded him with a dull look. “And yes. Viclya is still building its foundation. We have a lot more to do and it’s going to take longer than my Lycée project. When I leave, I plan to hand things over to the village council we’ve been grooming to continue building it.”
“Lady Tori, why is it that only the workers get a recreational center?” Instructor Ignatius frowned. “Is that not unfair to the villagers?” Since he moved his residence registration, he was now officially a resident of Viclya and thus a villager.
“It is in phase three. Initially, we didn’t plan to build a recreation center for workers, and by extension, knights, but there isn’t much else for them to do at the delta, but work. Monotony and challenging work conditions can negatively affect people. Aside from stress, which can make them prone to sickness, it can be mentally taxing. People lose their patience and are easier to anger. They are more prone to depression, frustration, and anxiety. Sometimes even violence. The recreation center was added to give them an outlet; something to look forward to other than a meal and a few coins. They can socialize, have friendly competitions, and let out excess energy. It may not help everyone, but it is better than nothing.”
“That is very thoughtful of you, Lady Guevera,” the Emperor said. “I did not know there was a recreation center.”
“We were working on it after the last boat race, where the knights cheated us. They had been racing without telling us,” Tori said. The Empress let out a small snort of dissatisfaction as she remembered.
“They could’ve warned us first.”
“What does the recreation center have?” The Emperor asked. Tori opened her mouth to reply, but slowly closed it. If she told them, would they want to come again? It seemed the Emperor read her concerns and smirked. “I am curious. Perhaps we can have something built here. For the knights.”
Piers gave his father a glance and almost sneered, not believing his father’s words.
Tori had to answer. “We started off with the usual: chess, darts, billiards. Then we organized an outrigger racing association of sorts. We’re organizing fishing trips further out into the lagoon. I also told them to encourage spaces where workers who play instruments can get together and play.”
The Emperor and Empress gave her thoughtful nods. Those were indeed sensible activities.
“What about the ax throwing?” Albert beamed and Tori snapped her head towards him and gave him the same sharp, silencing look her mom gave her when she said something she wasn’t supposed to. Albert sucked in a sharp breath and lowered his head, pretending he didn’t say anything.
“Ax...throwing?” The sweet, and interested, voice of the Empress came from beside her and Tori silently cursed Albert.
“We...take scrap wood and compress them into thick, large squares to use as targets. The idea is similar to an archery range, except that the players hurl axes at the targets.” Tori had been to one for a work group outing in her original world and it was great. Very cathartic, but she was terrible at it. She turned back to the Empress and smiled. “Shall I send you a target and some axes?”
“Would you?” The Empress looked pleased and then looked at her husband with a satisfied expression.
“Is there anything else you can offer?” the Emperor asked carefully.
“I’m looking into a wrestling ring and perhaps one for boxing,” Tori replied at once. The Emperor frowned and Tori scrambled to think of something else. “Or bocce ball? Do you know bocce ball?”
It took some time, but Tori and the Emperor managed to divert the Empress’ attention. Instructor Ignatius was escorted to a room to rest, though he had tried to talk them into letting him return to the delta that afternoon. A look from the Empress killed that idea immediately. Piers sent Albert out to pull some reference logs from one of the imperial archives. He was to leave them on Piers’ desk and afterwards, he was done for the week, but was to return before dawn if he wanted a ride to Viclya.
Tori called her father to confirm that she had arrived safely at the imperial palace. She tried to call her mother, but no one was answering. Just as she was about to try to call again, Sebastian called her, and the two siblings talked about a travel schedule.
“Just leave without me. I’ll arrive tomorrow, after lunch.” Tori spoke into her comcry as Piers pushed her down a meandering brick path around the imperial gardens.
“We can leave with you tomorrow. What time are you leaving?” Sebastian asked without a hint of compromise.
“Before dawn. Are you sure you want to wait until then?”
“Yes, Idunn and I are already at Auntie’s. I had interviews yesterday and today for Ewan. I don’t want to set out for a several hour-long ride this afternoon,” Sebastian told her.
Tori’s eyes widened. “Do we know yet? Has he been accepted?”
“Official announcements will be posted tomorrow, but I had multiple interviews because he advanced. That was a good sign.”
Tori almost bounced excitedly in her seat. “Did you tell them we wanted him in Sur?”
Sebastian let out a small snort. “I slipped it into the conversation. Their eyes dilated and they asked how we’ve been training him. Navarro and the other sparring partners he made also submitted letters of recommendation on his behalf. Captain Gaumont of the imperial knights wrote him a recommendation. How does Captain Gaumont know about Ewan?”
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
“Captain Gaumont? You mean Sir Gaumont?” Tori furrowed her brows. An image of a tall, graying knight she’d often seen around the delta crossed her mind. She thought he was of a higher rank, as she’d seen him order other knights around, but she didn’t know he was a captain.
“Captain Gaumont is personally in charge of the rotation of knights at the delta and has come to the delta multiple times to assess the situation and arrange knights as needed. Sometimes, he works with Axton when Ewan is training,” Piers said behind her. “He is also a graduate of La Garda.”
“Tori, if Ewan isn’t accepted, then someone is targeting him out of jealousy,” Sebastian said, off-handedly. “Ewan will let us know tomorrow, once the official announcements are posted.”
Tori nodded. “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, then.”
“Master, we are leaving two hours before dawn. Please meet us at the southern side gates,” Piers said, leaning forward so his voice carried to the comcry.
Sebastian let out a small grumble and ended the call. Tori put the comcry on her lap and had a bright smile on her face.
“We’re going to have a great party next weekend. I’m excited! My little cousins will be arriving soon. My friends from the sword association are coming. Everyone will be there!”
“Except Axton.” She could almost hear Piers’ smug smirk as he spoke. “We should call him and let him listen in.”
“We’re not going to torture Axton,” Tori said with a roll of her eyes. “When he comes back, we’ll have another celebration anyway. Ilyana’s birthday is in the late summer, and we’re seeing off Constantine. That reminds me, I must finish preparing his gifts.”
“You’re giving him gifts?” Piers’ voice lowered.
“Yes, we all are. They’re mostly supplies to last him two years, since he’ll be cloistered,” Tori said. She let out a heavy sigh and leaned back against her chair. “I’m going to miss him. At least Ewan will be in the city, and we can see him often. We won’t see Constantine for two years.”
“Hmm....”
“Did I tell you I’ll be his witness if he decides to join the church? That’s a big honor, isn’t it?” Piers let out another hum, but was otherwise quiet.
Tori continued to chatter on about her plans for the next week: the game she planned to have for her friends, family, and guests before the big birthday and ‘Ewan-accepted-into-La-Garda’ dinner; what changes she’d ordered for the promenade; and how she planned to decorate the promenade plaza in front of the restaurant with lights.
Piers nodded and interjected with a soft acknowledging hum or an ‘I see’ every few sentences. They made it towards the small lake where the Empress’ outrigger canoe was docked on the shore, beneath a waxed canvas tent. Just as Piers was about to turn them around and go back, a voice called out to them.
“Your Highness.” A knight approached them in the garden and Piers stopped pushing Tori. He turned around and the knight knelt beside him.
“Did you find out?” His earlier distracted voice became stern.
“Yes, Your Highness. He is staying at the Francesca Inn in the seventh district. Further inquiry has shown that he occasionally works part-time at a stationery shop across from the Seventh Imperial Secondary School. It is expected that he will return to his part-time job next week.”
Tori furrowed her brows and looked towards Piers curiously, but didn’t speak out. Each district had two elementary schools and one secondary school that was publicly funded to ensure widespread literacy and general education. Most commoner children went to elementary schools from ages six to thirteen or fourteen. That was the end of their mandatory education.
Afterwards, they could start apprenticeships, work for their families, or continue to secondary schools. It wasn’t rare for students who went to empire-funded schools to go on to universities, either. There was a decent population of students from common backgrounds at Université.
“I understand. Keep an eye on him and let me know who has contact with him,” Piers said. The knight bowed his head before standing and turning around to leave.
“You’re watching someone?” Tori asked as Piers placed his hands back on the handles of her wheelchair. She wanted to ask if it had something to do with her brother’s mission, but didn’t want to ask out in the open.
Piers began to push her through the garden once more. “I am curious about Montan Alvere. I sent two knights to watch him, as I want to keep an eye on Duke Alvere while the reclamation of Sun Garden is in process.”
Tori nodded. Piers must’ve been worried about Axton’s property and any threats. “Are you waiting to see if Duke Alvere approaches Mr. Alvere?”
She tilted her head back and saw Piers nod. “I do not know if the Duke is aware that Mr. Alvere is working.”
“At a stationery shop....” Tori said, wrinkling her nose. It made sense that he would. Montan was a charms user; he’d need a large supply of parchment, brushes, and expensive soot ink for quality charms. If he planned to sell them, he’d need suitable supplies. A stationery shop would likely give him a discount. “Do you think there could be trouble?”
“Nothing that the lawyers can’t manage. I am more concerned with Mr. Alvere’s safety.”
Tori narrowed her eyes. “Safety?” She felt her stomach twist as she recalled her own suspicions.
“We had doctors come to check on Lady Hart, Mr. Guthry, and Mr. Alvere to ensure that they were not seriously injured when they were captured,” Piers told her. “Aside from the scrapes, bruises, and lack of food and water that was similar to what Lady Hart and Mr. Guthry had, there were some older scars and bruises on Mr. Alvere. When asked about them, Mr. Alvere said he fell.”
Tori lowered her eyes. “Piers, if I told you that I thought Mr. Alvere was being abused by his father, do you think Axton would care?”
Piers was quiet. “I don’t know.” Tori frowned. She didn’t know Axton as well as Piers knew him. If Piers wasn’t sure how Axton would feel, then the only thing they could do was bring it up with Axton. Tori wasn’t sure how to do so. “Do you believe that the Duke is abusing his son?”
“Yes. Call it a gut feeling,” Tori said as she looked out ahead of them.
“It would explain why he isn’t going to the Alvere Duchy and instead remaining in an inn within the city. It also explains why he went to Chetterswickshire this summer. He doesn’t want to go home.”
“I don’t like him, but this isn’t something I can condone. I’m also not in a place where I can really do anything about it.”
“You care a lot for people you don’t like.”
Tori snorted. “Just because I don’t like them doesn’t mean I can’t be a decent person in regard to other matters.”
“Then, shall I tell Axton?”
Tori pursed her lips. “I think you should mention it. We can’t force him to do anything. Even if we did, what can he do? He hates Mr. Alvere and hates his father even more.”
“I will bring it up when he comes home,” Piers said. “I will have my men continue to watch Mr. Alvere.”
[https://static.wixstatic.com/media/334114_6091e4325c304c4d9804d3c53f9887d3~mv2.png] After a month away, Tori couldn’t help but stick her face close to the carriage window to get a glimpse of the ocean as they approached the delta. The glistening water beyond was calling to her and Tori closed her eyes.
She couldn’t feel the energy from the vein like she usually could and frowned. She supposed she wouldn't be able to sense it until her legs had feeling again.
“You don’t feel anything?” Instructor Ignatius asked from his seat next to her. Tori looked down and shook her head.
“Nothing,” she said as the carriage bounced along. Across from them, Piers and Albert looked up from the papers they were looking through. “I should be able to feel the energy vein by now.”
Instructor Ignatius frowned, but nodded. “It will take another few days, Lady Tori. Don’t force yourself. Let your body adjust on its own. Forcing yourself will only strain you further.”
Tori nodded silently. She was impatient to get better. Having the wheelchair did allow her to move on her own, but Soleil wasn’t exactly wheelchair friendly. Getting around in the privacy of her bedchamber was freeing, but she still needed help getting on and off the wheelchair.
If there were steps, she needed to be carried down. Someone had to carry her on and off the carriage. The wheelchair wasn’t as smooth and easy to maneuver as the ones in her original world; she got tired after a while.
She also knew that she’d be limited in Viclya. She’d be able to get around her tent and on the wooden pathways around the encampment, as well as wander up and down the stone-lined promenade, but going down to the beach? Getting on and off a boat? The logistics were messy.
But there was nothing she could do.
The carriage approached the encampment. The main road went beside the portion of the encampment near her tent. A roundabout had been created to allow for traffic to continue forward while a carriage or two could stop next to the encampment.
Tori leaned out the window and could see a group of people gathered by the main walkway, waiting for her along with her Brother and Idunn who were handing their horses off to some grooms. For a moment, she shrank back in her seat, uncomfortable with the attention. All her friends, and all Viclya, knew that she temporarily couldn’t walk, but she was sure seeing her in person, on a wheelchair, would be a different matter.
The carriage came to a stop and the footman jumped off. The door opened and Instructor Ignatius and Albert came down first. Tori could see Ilyana craning her neck to look inside. Piers stuck his head out of the carriage.
“Bring down her chair,” he said. Her wheelchair was covered with a tarp and attached to the back of the carriage. Two knights dismounted and brought the wheelchair towards the door. As one held the wheelchair steady, the other walked to the door of the carriage. Piers turned towards her and bent down to pick her up.
Tori raised her arms and hooked them around his neck as one arm went beneath her knees and the other behind her shoulders. Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t drop me.” Just because she couldn’t feel the pain in her legs when he dropped her in the cabin didn’t mean that she forgot.
“I won’t.”
He only needed to carry her to the door, and then a knight reached up to take her. As Tori unhooked her arms from Piers’ neck and looked towards her friends, she put on a bright smile. “I’m back!”
She hoped that an energetic attitude would ease their discomfort, but instead, Ilyana let out a wail and rushed to hug her as soon as she was placed on the wheelchair. She threw her arms around Tori and pressed her head against her shoulder.
“Why did you push yourself? You know how dangerous crystal fatigue is!”
“This is worse than crystal fatigue.” Henrik sounded upset. “It’s crystal shock. Tori, what were you thinking? This isn’t like you.”
Tori tilted her head back and lifted an arm to stroke Ilyana’s back as she looked over her shoulder, towards the rest of her friends. “It was a dire situation. I already told you. If I didn’t act, we would’ve been slaughtered in our sleep.”
Sonia’s lips were in a tight line. “I still can’t believe this happened. Runaways, kidnapping, poachers, then a revenge plot.”
“There are plays that make more sense,” JP said, his arms crossed.
Tori chuckled and gently pried Ilyana off her. “Yes, well, I didn’t expect my summer to be so convoluted.”
“What’s important is that you’re back and safe,” Constantine told her with some worry across his brow. “We had changes made around the area to accommodate your wheelchair.”
“Tori, go and rest in your tent. You’ve had a long journey,” Sebastian said as he walked beside her. He looked over at Piers. “Have her things brought to her tent.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Don’t order around the prince,” Idunn chided lightly as she gave him a look. Sebastian looked away, as if he didn’t understand.
“He’s my pupil. I can order him around as much as I want.”
“Sebby, Idunn, please go ahead and settle in. Instructor Ignatius-”
“I’m going to Anahata Island!” She turned her head and saw her former instructor with his bag over his shoulder, already marching towards the docks. Sebastian let out a small ‘tch.’
“He acts as if he’d been away for a hundred years.”
“Crystal fanatics think differently,” Henrik said.
A knight pushed Tori towards her tent as the others surrounded and followed her. “Ilyana, where are your brother and mother?”
“Riri is at swim lessons and Mom is watching,” Ilyana said. “He’s improving. I’m glad you hired the swim instructors again this summer.”
“If you live by the water, it’s important to know how to swim,” Tori replied. When they reached Tori’s tent, two knights were posted by the door. A small ramp had been made to help her get over the small door frame and inside.
“We’ve installed wooden rails next to your bed to help you get up,” Constantine said. “As well as rails in your bathing chamber. We moved your desk out a bit and put your chair to the side to accommodate for your wheelchair. There are wooden ramps along curbs and steps along the usual pathways and the promenade.”
“The project leads, and the village leaders have been made aware of your situation. In order to reduce your burden, they will bring any reports directly to you,” Henrik told her.
Ilyana took hold of Tori’s wheelchair and pushed her around her tent to look around at the changes.
“By the way, your cat is with the Baroness,” Sonia said as she followed behind. “Riri has been watching Alexander for you.”
“Lady Guevera,” a man’s voice came from outside the tent. “We have received notification from the mouth of the lagoon. A barque The Siren’s Ax has entered the lagoon and will be arriving at sunset.”
“That’s Bridget’s ship,” Sebastian said from the front room of the tent. “They got here faster than I thought.”
“Your cousins are arriving?” JP asked. “I thought we had a few days.”
“They might not have stopped at ports,” Tori said. “I’ve given them instructions on where to dock. A smaller vessel will pick them up and bring them to the mainland. How are their tents?”
“They’re ready. We have a large family tent for them,” Henrik said. “Similar to what Auntie Lucia and her family use, only there is an extra bed. As per your instruction, we’ve added another row of tents on the beach to accommodate tourism.”
“Good. How have our guests taken to the resort tents?” Tori asked. She was rolled back out into the front room and Ilyana brought her to her desk.
“They’re popular, especially with families with young children,” Henrik said. “Guests have clamored for additional reservations at the end of the summer, around the Harvest Festival.”
“Staff has received many compliments, as well,” Ilyana said. “They are not overwhelmed and have said that they can manage more visitors.”
“Late spring to early autumn will likely be our busiest times, as that’s when most activities can be done by the water. I want to work on a winter tourism plan and do some tests this coming winter.” Tori wanted to get plans in place a few months in advance.
Sebastian chuckled and gave her a thoughtful smile. “I thought I told you to rest, but you’re doing work the moment you arrive.”
“Work has been waiting for me,” Tori said. “This is important.”
“I know,” her brother replied. “But you must remember to take care of yourself. Don’t overwork immediately.”
“Tori, we’re happy to help you if you need it,” Sonia said beside her. “JP and I can help.”
Tori gave them a big grin. “I do have some things for you to do, but I need to sort it out first. Most of it has to do with the party next week. I’ll need help with all the guests. Aside from my cousins and the rest of my family, there are a few people who have been supporting Lions Gate, some classmates from Lycée and the Sword Association, Ewan’s family, Albert’s family.”
“Everyone’s families,” JP said with a smirk. “I get it. Don’t worry. We’ll be your hands.”
“Thanks, everyone!”
“Tori, your pocket is glowing,” Ilyana said as she looked over Tori’s shoulder. Tori looked down at the pocket of her dress and reached down to take out her comcry.
Her eyes widened and she held her breath as she saw the name appear. She quickly slid her finger across. “How is it?” she asked. Part of her was confident, but there was always a chance she’d be wrong. She gripped the comcry in her hand as she, and the others around her stared at Ewan’s name. They all held their breaths, waiting.
“I’m accepted.” Ewan’s voice was uncharacteristically quiet, as if stunned. They heard him take a deep breath as his voice trembled. “Tori, I’m going to La Garda.”
While their screaming was contained inside her tent, their energetic voices spilled out into the walkway when Piers lifted the tent flap to enter. The two knights on either side of the entrance almost jumped at the yelling and rapid chatter coming from inside.
Everyone was crowding around Tori’s comcry, shouting congratulations and reassurances. Sebastian called out, asking why Tori was called before he was. He was Ewan’s master. Ewan was trying to answer everyone at once, but his voice was lost amongst the fervor of his friends.
Tori put her comcry on the desk and smiled. She let out a content sigh. “It’s good to be back.”