“We must take the one made of bison wool!”

“This one shall protect my Lady from the winds!”

“My Lady’s favorite jewelries, and of course, her shoes!”

Reina Aurwood watched the Castle bustle with life as the day arrived when she was finally going to the Spring Resort!

She could not quite conjure up the picture in her head, but apparently it was a trip she looked forward to making so much that she had bought tons of dresses and shoes and jewelries beforehand to prepare for it. She couldn’t make the trip before because she fell ill, but now she was finally going to leave ! Or so she would think if she was the person in her unconventional memories.

Where on earth were these people trying to take her in this horrid weather? She felt chills as she looked outside and inside her chamber. It had not stopped snowing ever since the day before, but somehow the Old Master of the Castle had confirmed that she was free of sickness and could leave the palace, and now everyone was very happy.

They wanted her to leave, she understood that.

Even the pretty boy who was her supposed brother seemed very delighted that she had finally gotten the chance to go.

“Master Reigner sends you this exquisite bracelet made of Roof stone. He found it while hunting under the Oath Mountains.,” a maid sent by him displayed it in front of Reina.

“He hopes..,” the maid paused, “that Her Ladyship will like it for it is supposed to protect her from harm...”

It was a bracelet made of a bright red stone whose light shone through its cuts beautifully. It was not red like blood or roses, just red enough and bright. The boy was so annoying, Reina thought. If it was her actual brother who found it, he would have kept bragging about it to everyone until people actually stopped believing him.

“Keep it there...”

She sighed, but the moment the maid left, her maids giggled.

“She said it was rare, but Our Lady’s got three of those !”

These were not the usual maids that served her. Apparently they were chosen just to get her spring wardrobe done. And they talked a lot, especially the one with the pink hair.

“I had heard that Master Reigner was a very skilled hunter, but a Roof stone was all he got.,” she said.

“Turns out he is not as skilled as they say, isn’t that right, My Lady?”

None of this was ending.

“Are we done yet?,” she asked them in return.

“Of course, My Lady! Do you want to see how well I prepared your closet-”

“No...I wish to be alone.”

“Oh…”

There was but one good thing that came out of her circumstances : everyone did as she said, at least on the surface.

Her head throbbed. She had not slept a wink last night after returning from the library, and the things around her did not change, only made her more anxious.

Reina Aurwood could no longer relax and take all these circumstances in.

She understood. She held a respectable position, as was evidenced by this council meeting Master Hem had informed her of. A large room intricately decorated at the center of which was a large circular table bearing the emblem of a fox on its surface – even her seat looked more important than the rest – carved with the image of a fox again – all these guards that bowed in their metal armor when she entered. But other than that, nothing was good, especially the way Sir Clement came in and got on his knees before she could even see the disdain on his face carefully.

“I heard that you are now well enough to go to the Spring Resort, My Lady…,” he said as he rose up proudly.

Reina squinted her eyes, and replied carefully, “Master Hem has confirmed so…”

But other than him and Master Hem, almost everyone she saw in that council was a new face. Still she knew this old man who looked like he would break if someone touched him – at least in her memories- Grand Master Senan from the Blue Waters, they called him, the advisor for Magical Formulation – God, that sounded nonsensical...

At least it made sense that this other person was a treasurer. He grinned from side to side the moment he entered the room and saw her, and this other man – she did not know him- not even in her unconventional memories.

Sir Clement glared at him the moment he entered the room.

“M-my Lady…,” he got onto his knees immediately after. His face betrayed a sense of surprise.

“What joyous occasion it is to see you in good health…,” he said. It was awkward.

“My presence may have surprised you, My Lady, but I recently joined this Council upon the word of Lord Darian in the Spring Valley. I, Edwin Lian, the commander of the fifth division of the Northern Forces, the son of Edward Lian from Heatsfort, am obviously very delighted to be in your presence...”

Someone knew how to climb the ladder, Reina thought. His demeanor was very different from Sir Clement, even though they both wore their same clanky armors and holstered swords at their hips. But what was going on? She had thought she was the one they all revolved around, but how come she, it seemed, was the only one who didn’t know about a new addition to the council? Her unconventional memories were very unreliable...

“Greetings to all honorable Council Members,” Master Hem soon took over, “I have you all on behalf of Her Ladyship to discuss some important matters regarding Her Ladyship’s trip to the Spring Valley...”

Sir Clement looked away, almost as if he was rolling his eyes. But Reina Aurwood had to ask.

“Pardon-”

Master Hem immediately stopped.

“My Lady…by any chance were you hoping to lead this meeting?”

“No…,” she replied – was she supposed to? - and started to choose her words, “I believe the Council is not complete...should we wait?”

Indeed there were three seats that were empty, and Reina Aurwood really wanted to know who these “Council members” were.

Simple words she thought she had chosen aptly. But everyone turned from their seats as soon as she asked. Sir Clement even chuckled. She thought he was trying to hide his disdain, but it was so obvious, her ears turned red from embarrassment.

“My Lady…,” Master Hem, however, handled the situation calmly, “Have any of the three hands written to you speaking of their arrival?”

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Reina Aurwood shrunk.

“No…”

It had slowly started to occur to her. Perhaps...they looked at her as a completely different person.

“Then I believe there is no reason for us to wait…,” he bowed, “With your permission, may I now continue with the Council?”

She nodded, but couldn’t help notice the glares of Sir Clement. What was it? Was it that bad of a question to ask? Her objective was to listen to the whole meeting to figure out what was happening, but now she couldn’t.

“Now that Her Ladyship’s health is fine,” Master Hem continued, “she may leave when the weather is optimal, which according to my predictions, should be the day after tomorrow. But if doesn’t, we shall have to give up on the trip this year…”

Then they all fell quiet. Turns out everyone was expecting her to respond, but Reina did not know what to say. They looked at her with such curiosity or maybe there was also a glimpse of fear...Her head throbbed again, and memories flowed like a river.

“I don’t care if the weather doesn’t favor us! Make it happen, Master Hem! Make it happen at all costs!,” she had said, banging the table with a fist during a meeting in this very room.

“If I cannot leave,” she had cried, “I swear to God I will walk all the way ! I will walk to see my Knight until I die inside a cold dark cave!”

The Council men looked horrified.

“My dear Knight! My dear Knight of the Grand Gorge! The Southern whores are going to steal him from me !!! Ugh!”

A tinge of red flushed from her one ear to the other. It was not even her, but…

“O-of course…we must absolutely avoid bad weather…,” she said in embarrassment, “ I don’t want to get sick again, after all...”

They were a bit taken aback, but Master Hem and the treasurer looked specially relieved.

“That is wonderful foresight, My Lady,” the treasurer even praised her, “Still there is a good chance the weather will clear the day after tomorrow. We must take care of the accounts beforehand…,” he rubbed his hands and grinned, after proceeding to show her his books.

“All we need is an approval here, and here…”

Now the underworld even had money books; Reina internally sighed. She hoped that all she had to do was write her name, but it was a daunting task.

“I-is anything wrong, My Lady?,” the old man asked, rather surprised by her stalling.

“Is there something you are not satisfied with?”

“No…”

Only...what sort of expenses were these? What was this Supernova S. that cost 10000 gold coins??? Yes, gold coins...She had truly appeared in some medieval world…

“ Master Caige... ,” she dared to ask, “ So 10000 gold coins for a Supernova...?”

She tried to bait for information. But there was just silence...Did she make a mistake again?

“My Lady, do you want a more expensive dress?,” the treasurer instead asked. Then he smiled from one side of his ear to another again, “Of course we can arrange for that…”

“I shall write to my servants at the resort immediately…”

“No, no, no…,” Reina Aurwood shook her head, embarrassed.

“I was just thinking that it’s very... impressive... ”

She then looked away...who would have thought it was a dress? Who spends that much gold on a dress???

“Indeed, My Lady...After all, this was the dress worn by the Princess at her coming of age ceremony...though a different color; it’s really popular among the Southern ladies…,” Master Caige blabbered, “When you first said you wanted to wear it, I thought it was a grand idea… I am sure you will look the prettiest at the ball! ”

And then proceeded to whisper, for he sat right by her.

“Not even Lady Veronica would be able to match your elegance…”

What a way to spoil someone’s already spoiling mood.

“Of course…,” she put on a big fat smile, but wait. Was Veronica going to be in that Spring Resort? Her head throbbed again. It must not be the Veronica she knew...like Reigner Aurwood was not her brother…

But still...now she really did not want to go...No one in their right mind would go to see someone so vile-

“Such a shame she outmatches you in every other aspect ...,” someone interrupted her thoughts. A huge nerve bulged on Reina’s forehead. The room suddenly turned awfully silent, and Sir Clement turned over to her.

“Lady Reina.”

...

“Sir Clement has a penchant for jokes...” Treasurer Caige tried to laugh, but Edwin Lian would not miss his chance to flatter the Interim Governess.

“Even if you are one of the hands of the North, you must not overstep your boundaries, Sir Clement.”

“Sir Vice Commander for you Sir Edwin; perhaps you should listen to your own words…”

Actually Sir Clement had a penchant for embarrassing people.

“Let us let these trivial matters slide, Honorable Council Members…,” Master Hem said in a hurry, but no.

“You seem to have quite a liking for Lady Veronica…,” Reina said.

“I have not biases, My Lady; I am only telling things as I see them.”“

“Not this again…,” Treasurer Caige murmured to himself and shook his head. Old Grandmaster Senan had fallen asleep by this point and that surprised no one, and Master Hem usually had very little to say.

“Is that so? Then you must tell me...how exactly is Lady Veronica better than me?”

Sir Clement looked at her face.

“For starters, she has command over magic…”

“Vice Commander...please do not take this too far…,” Treasurer Caige had to stand up and intervene. Good Lord, he always hit Lady Reina where it hurt. Everyone knew she was sensitive about it…but...

“So ?”

An unexpected reply came from Reina Aurwood.

“ So what if Veronica can make pigeons appear out of her handkerchief and coins from behind your ear?”

“ Such tricks even I could learn had I interest and a master. ,” she said, “You have poor taste, Sir Clement...”

Miracle! It was a miracle!

“E-exacty, My Lady,” the treasurer celebrated.

“Now the books...,” he gently pushed them towards her, “These are our first priority…”

But Sir Clement frowned, sighed and stood up.

“I did not think that your complacency had reached to the point of denial,” he said, making another nerve bulge on Reina’s forehead, “My duties call me towards the Northern Woods, My Lady; I hope you will excuse me…”

What? Was he just leaving in the middle of a Council meeting?

“Sir Vice Commander!” The treasurer called out to him, and then started to gently advise Aurwood, “My Lady...he is the only hand of the North present in this meeting...You may not get to go if he doesn’t accompany you--”

“I have no intentions of accompanying you in that extravagant trip even if I stay, Lady Reina…”

“Sir Vice Commander Clement…,” she stood up from her seat too, “ How exactly did I get on your bad side?”

Vice Commander, who was leaving towards the door, turned around, frowned.

“Wh-wh-what?,”Old Grandmaster Shenan ironically woke up in the lingering silence, drooling all over himself, while the rest worried.

“My Lady, do you realize the number of letters that have been piling in your office ever since you became ill-no, perhaps from even earlier; do you even know the state the North is in right now? Or perhaps you don’t have any intention to rule at all…”

Rule...he said.

“Sir Clement, your rudeness exceeds your benevolence, ” Master Hem bowed to him before he spoke, “ Lady Reina lacks in many ways, but I implore you to maintain your integrity in front of a Royal…”

“I did not rush to the castle in a raging snowstorm just so Her Ladyship could play house, Master Hem.,” he exclaimed while reaching the door, “Please do not summon me for such purposes…”

The room felt silent, and Sir Clement opened the door. Treasurer Caige looked at Reina Aurwood, and worried, “My Lord! She is going to throw a fit!”

There was no way this situation could get worse.

But no. Reina glared at him in the same way he glared at her, nerves popping all over her face

“Wait…,” she said, and Sir Clement turned around.

“I suppose you are implying I did not take my duties seriously,” she asserted, “Whatever those are.”

Sir Clement frowned.

“But with all due respect, I highly doubt I am obliged to carry out the duties that you think are meant for me.”

Reina Aurwood was dead. Dead men have no responsibilities, and she would not take any for whatever the possessing memories presented her as.

The treasurer and Master Hem, however, turned pale, while Sir Clement’s face darkened.

“Also…,” she added, looking at him straight in the eye, “You Sir who are obsessed with my duties, I must know what it is that YOU have been doing that gives you such a high ground over me!”

She spoke. She misspoke. It didn’t matter. He had been looking down on her from the first time she saw him, but rule a state he said, Veronica was better than her he said, and that she was complacent to the point of denial?! She heard herself pant in the silence of the room. The words had been unleashed, and the harm done. The room had never been quieter, and Sir Clement's face never so unreadable, until a cold smirk appeared on his face.

“Very well…,” he said.

"Her Ladyship wants to know, she has said."

“Master Hem," he commanded before he left the room," Make preparations. Her Ladyship’s going to the Northern Woods with me.”