Chapter 47 — An Afternoon With A Prince (Part I)

Ria reluctantly shut the journal she was writing in and returned her everflow quill to Jeni’s pouch. The events of the last few hours since the tournament’s final round had muddled into a blur of celebration and congratulations. And now she needed to prepare for the main event of the day.

What an odd thought after how much had already happened, after how hard she had fought and struggled amidst the cheers of so many people. She closed her eyes for a moment and leaned back in her chair, hoping the garden scents carried on the spring breeze would help ease the anticipatory nervousness she was feeling, but it wasn’t working.

At least her finances were no longer a pressing concern. From that perspective, the tournament had been a complete success, resulting in enough coin to cover her expenses for some time. The windfall was such that she could purchase Zebec any time now—once her soul could safely bear the additional bond.

In regard to her performance in the actual matches, the effort wasn’t without failings, and the outcome had been far more tenuous than desired. Hulle had expected her and Iselyn to win the newcomer tournament easily. After all, as Zena had argued, if they couldn’t stand against first and second-years, how could they be of use against teams with fourth and fifth-years?

Ria huffed and took in hand the large crystal figurine honoring her team’s victory, letting her eyes again trace over its artisan-shaped details and her name prominently inscribed on the plaque at the base. The battles against the arena Orders could have easily ended with different outcomes, and the team of second-year elves had outclassed them in every way! Her team had been pressed to the brink of complete defeat and was lucky to have won.

That lingering frustration had nagged at her to write down her impressions and analysis while the events were still fresh in her mind, and after a relaxing and refreshing bath, she had. Unfortunately, with her commitments for the day far from done, there was only enough time for writing the most critical insights. A more thorough review would have to wait until later.

Placing the hefty figurine back on her desk, her gaze drifted upward to the smiling faces of the family portrait newly hung on the wall above, and she smiled a bit. The painting still needed a frame, but that was a minor matter. Just being able to see her parents’ and her brothers’ faces again was a precious thing beyond value, even if making the painting had taken the place of an evening soul-strengthening session.

“Mom, dad. I’m going to a tea party with a prince today,” Ria told the portrait. “And this morning, together with friends, I won a tournament. Are you proud of me?”

A knock sounded at the door, and Ria barely had time to wipe away the wetness forming in the corner of her eyes before an excited Ana rushed in.

“Miss Ria! Miss Ria! An elf has come to see you!” Ana tried to keep her voice low even with her eagerness to deliver the announcement, resulting in something like a stage-whisper.

The corners of Ria’s mouth ticked upward at the wonder Orlisi’s arrival had brought to the young maid. “You can bring her up, Ana. She’s here to help me prepare for today’s tea with Lady Asara.”

At Ana’s suddenly complicated expression, Ria realized her mistake and added, “You did a great job helping me prepare for last week’s tea. Today, someone from the Vesali family will be arriving to go with me, so we’ll want something more like how my hair was prepared the day my eyes changed. Wouldn’t it be fun to learn how to arrange hair and flowers beautifully like that?”

Ana’s eyes grew wide, the childish eagerness returning, and the girl rushed back out of the room as quickly as she had rushed in.

This time Ria chuckled into her hand. Now that she had enough financial leeway, maybe she should try convincing Ana’s parents and Keira to let her hire the girl as her personal maid.

“Your family?” Orlisi asked motioning to the painting.

“They are.”

Her elf friend had taken an interest in the painting shortly upon entering the room and was studying it while Ana laid out Ria’s fanciest undergarments and her favorite plum dress that she always wore to formal events.

Ria wondered if she could attract Phaelys’ eyes with her low-cut plum dress like she was able to attract Leon’s. If the boy really was interested in her, surely it should be possible. Naturally, she would wear Grandma Fana’s knit shawl to tease and not be too obvious.

Orlisi hummed in thought. “Your mom was really pretty—as pretty as any noble.”

“Thanks! I thought so too,” Ria agreed with a smile. “I’m not as pretty as she was, but I don’t dislike the way I look.”

Making a painting of her family was a task that she shouldn’t have put off for so long. Though as guilty as that thought made her feel now, whether she would have been able to complete it directly after arriving in Vorshan’s Hills was by no means a sure thing.

What had finally given her the push she needed was the torture session at the hands of Zena’s friends from the Flaming Dragons. Even though she gave as good as she got, coming home from that, her will was worn down to the point that she needed… comforting? That word didn’t seem quite right, but it was close enough.

And again, Jarrel was neglecting his responsibility of being there for her—to provide surrogate parental support at a time she was overwhelmed and feeling not at all like a young adult ready to face the reality of her new life on her own. She still didn’t know what he was involved in that was wearing him out to such an extent, but she practiced her new stamina spell on him until she succeeded at waking him up.

Her expression must have been a bit desperate, because it earned her a concerned hug. After crying for a while, she worked up the courage to ask Jarrel for help drawing her family.

The effort was hit or miss at first, but through trial and error they worked out a process where she would draw a feature on her write-board and he would tell her what was wrong about it. By the time her usual bedtime arrived, they had not only produced good likenesses of her family, but she was even able to make a drawing of Rella and Danny for him. That drawing of Jarrel’s wife and son still needed to be made into a proper painting when she had time, and she still wanted to design a divination spell to make an even more detailed painting of her own family in which she could include Jeni as well, but those were tasks for another day.

When Ria returned her attention to Orlisi, the elf girl was at the low table between the couches, selecting flowers from a glyph-enchanted box. The scents of the flowers were already filling the room and tickling Ria’s sensitive nose—not overpowering or cloying, but each teasing with a delicate taste of their element and fragrance.

“Miss Ria?” Ana prompted, motioning from over by the decorative changing panels.

Ria placed a hand on her stomach to ease her nervousness. That Phaelys Vesali would be arriving soon to spend the afternoon with her was becoming more real by the moment.

And all too soon, the event arrived.

Ria placed a hand over her heart to still its audible beat as she slowly descended the estate’s stairs, her dress’ fabric rustling with each careful step. One look down at the statuesque purple-haired boy dressed in stylish finery and waiting below rendered her effort futile.

She probably would still be at the top of the stairs if it wasn’t for a certain elf insistently pushing her along whenever she hesitated.

“Young Lady Orlisi, Ria, good afternoon,” the Vesali heir greeted them with his usual placid demeanor.

“Good afternoon, Young Lord Phaelys. How wonderful to meet here,” Orlisi returned pleasantly.

“Good afternoon, Young Lord Phaelys,” Ria echoed and added, “Thank you for coming to escort me today.”

From her studies, Ria knew that in some cultures the noble youth would change from ‘Young Lord’ to ‘Lord’ after their social debut, but Crysellia was not one of those places. In Crysellia, the change tended to happen after marriage or when securing a position of importance. In the case of those graduating from the academy, most would be called ‘Sir Mage’ or ‘Master Mage’ instead, so the distinction was mostly a matter of how other nobles would address each other rather than how a commoner would address such a noble.

In Ria’s case, she could address Phaelys as ‘Sir Mage’ due to him having achieved two certifications, but it felt like ‘playing pretend’ to address a boy only a year her elder in such a fashion.

Phaelys dipped his head slightly. “As is my duty by honor and my pleasure. Will Young Lady Orlisi be joining us?”

Ria glanced over at Keira as more of the foyer came into view and was surprised to see Aldri and Iselyn standing there as well. Was Aldri…?

“Good afternoon, Ria,” Aldri greeted with a smirk. “Congratulations on yours and Young Lady Iselyn’s victory today. I’m sure our mutual glasses-wearing friend will have much to say later.”

“Thank you, Young Lord Aldri,” Ria returned, trying her best not to grimace.

Ugh. Was that a warning from Aldri about Hulle’s thoughts on the tournament? And Aldri not greeting Orlisi meant he had most likely arrived together with her. Could he be Orlisi’s escort and Keira was just being a good host? Was she overthinking things?

“If you’re worried whether my aunt will be offended…” Keira shrugged. “When escorted by a noble of Young Lord Phaelys’ importance, having an attendant or chaperone would be expected. It’s a bit soon for Ana to take such a role. I could lend you Miela, if you prefer, but my aunt likely won’t mind if you bring Young Lady Orlisi. And if she minds, I can take the blame.”

Ria had to consider if she really wanted Orlisi there, but now that Keira offered, not asking would be rude.

“I’d be delighted at the opportunity to attend one of Lady Asara’s prestigious afternoon teas, even as an attendee’s attendant,” Orlisi offered with a chipper voice before Ria could think about it too much.

Ria turned back to Phaelys who was patiently watching her. “If it wouldn’t be an inconvenience.”

“Certainly, Young Lady Orlisi’s presence is no inconvenience,” Phaelys readily agreed and motioned with a white gloved hand to a stern woman in formal attire sitting in a chair at one of the foyer’s waiting areas, a delicate flute of refreshment in her hand. “I, as well, have a chaperone in attendance, the Lady Janacythe Vesali, a Master Mage of some renown.”

The woman with hair a soft shade of milky green that reminded of jade bound up and adorned with a small but fancy hat placed the glass flute on a side table and gracefully rose to approach. While the lady was yet to show signs of age, her features and style of dress put her at an age where she likely found little amusement in watching over the pointless activities of teenaged youths.

Lady Janacythe’s eyes disdainfully went to Ria’s flower-laden hair and two small mounds pushed up by the dress and only partly hidden by the knit shawl. The woman’s expression conveyed that she hadn’t much hope to expect better from someone brazen enough to demand a Vesali heir to accompany her. “Greetings, Apprentice Mage Ria of Shadewood. You need not worry. I trust my presence here will prove unnecessary.”

Ria’s cheeks colored, and after mumbling a greeting in return, she lowered her gaze from the woman. She had never felt so judged before in her life!

“Thank you for your hospitality, Young Lady Keira. Now that Ria is ready, we’ll be going on ahead,” Phaelys said and held out his arm for Ria to take.

She rushed to the lifeline being offered, maybe with more alacrity than proper decorum would allow, but kept her head down so she wouldn’t see Lady Janacythe’s reaction.

“It was enjoyable having you visit, Young Lord Phaelys. Please feel free to come to our humble estate again in the future.” Keira’s voice was clear, but Ria could tell her friend was a little nervous about the encounter.

Ria hoped that causing Keira to briefly host two Vesali family members hadn’t resulted in embarrassment or future difficulties for House Vorshan. After all, only having an apprentice-aged granddaughter available to greet and host such important guests… was another social consideration Ria had failed to foresee when agreeing to have Phaelys meet her here rather than at Lady Asara’s estate.

Ana’s father and brother were already stationed to open the manor’s double doors as Phaelys smoothly escorted Ria outside.

The carriage awaiting them was similar to Hulle’s, but in this case, the Vesali crest was clearly present on the horses’ and driver’s tabards. Three guards in house colors sat ready on magnificent horses nearby. All of the horses were bright white with long manes. A young footman stood ready to assist them in boarding the carriage.

The differing treatment between an heir in good standing and a dishonored descendent was clear.

The way Phaelys’ family treated him wasn’t the only difference. The quality of the fabric that made up Phaelys’ coat sleeve was far nicer visually and to the touch than anything she had seen Hulle wear. And when she had to let go Phaelys’s arm to offer her hand to the footman while climbing the carriage’s lovely lacquered wood steps, she wondered if Hulle’s arm muscles were as sculpted and defined underneath his sleeve.

“I saw your matches this morning. Congratulations on your victory, Ria,” the Vesali heir opened with once they were settled and the carriage was moving. He seemed… eager?

He was there? In the cheering crowd? There was no way he attended the tournament because she was competing, was there? “Um, thanks. It was mostly because of Zena’s… er, Young Lady Zena’s efforts helping us prepare.”

Phaelys leaned forward, his amethyst irises catching the light with a refractive luster similar to his hair that sparkled like threads made of clear gemstones. “The way you set it up so you could fight Aelyri alone was inspired—all so you could test yourself by besting an elf with the elves’ own martial arts. I can’t even imagine where you would have learned it.”

To describe it that way… was he teasing her? “I trained under a B-ranked adventurer named Tina, um, while in Vorshan’s Hills before coming to the capital…”

“Crazy Tina,” Orlisi helpfully added with a laugh. “A blademaster walking the Path of Shadows. My grandfather taught her.”

“An experienced frontier adventurer trained by the patriarch of House Yurren.” Phaelys nodded as if that explained everything.

“I wouldn’t say I bested Aelyri’s martial arts…,” Ria hedged. “Rather, I was more determined than she was and more used to persisting against opponents stronger and more skilled than me.”

“Many of my tutors say experience obtained through real battle with one’s life on the line shouldn’t be underestimated,” the boy reassured her. “Having such a master to train under and experiencing adventures in the frontier, what was it like?”

If her admission lowered his opinion of her at all, he didn’t show it, and his interest seemed earnest enough. Deciding to take a risk, she started with how she met Tina and that first training session and continued on to talk about a few of her adventures with Keira and Leon where they investigated and culled monster threats around Vorshan’s Hills. He was a good listener, only interrupting occasionally to clarify a few mundane details. In fact, Orlisi interrupted more than he did. The conversation was going well until one question stopped her cold.

“Ria, you’re a wild talent, aren’t you?”

Ah! Crap... What if he now realizes that I threw-

“That’s why you lost the match with me, isn’t it?” Phaelys touched his chin in thought. “It would explain why you are slow at forming spells. You aren’t used to actually forming spell constructs.”

Ria slowly nodded, relieved that was the direction he went, but... “Can you keep it a secret? For now?”

He blinked and his head might have tilted a bit. “Isn’t having a bloodline that can innately create and control magic something to be proud of?”

“Please?” Ria tried again.

The carriage clattered along at a leisurely pace, and he stared at her long enough that she almost dropped her gaze from those mesmerizing and innocently curious eyes of his. At the last moment, he countered with, “If you’ll tell me about what it was like to fight in the Siege of Vorshan’s Hills.”

Ria glanced at Phaelys’ primly-dressed chaperone. The woman, Lady Janacythe, was carefully watching and judging their every action.

“Okay,” Ria reluctantly agreed. She would have to be careful to keep her emotions in check, but talking about the events of those days was becoming easier of late after Faris’ older sister, Iori, drew the story out of her, and after her conversations with Jax and Desi about it. “What do you want to know?”

A grin as if he had won an important victory spread on the boy’s face before he schooled it back. “The veteran soldiers who work at the old castle tell me that the waiting is the hardest part, is that really true?”

Ria mentally groaned. She should have realized from his questions about her adventuring, that he wouldn’t be satisfied with just a summary of the events.