“There is no nobler goal than for us to protect our people. That is why we must say ‘Saint damn the treaty of Nautica’ our people come first! For too long we have allowed the blasted Northerners to spirit our people for the under markets, too long have we sat idle while they violated the truce at every turn. Honorable Duke Platts might defend and follow the accords like a mewling churl, but I say now is the time for action! Now is the time for retribution!” - Statesmen Lord Joseph Gosliger addressing the Royal Assembly of Carrador on the Eve of the First Northern War

She didn’t have a crush on Prince Frederick, absolutely not. But she had to admit that he seemed more dashing than he usually does, his stupid grin, his jawline, his fancy styled hair, his posh but secretly wholesome personality, that's right his personality. Not only that but he elicited a small ‘oh’ from Sophie, much to Eva’s own chagrin. She didn't go 'oh' when I finished dressing up, she growled.

Mother and brother Mortiz of course, invited themselves to their parlor talk and whilst Frederick certainly expected it Eva could tell that he too was growing uncomfortable with their constant peppering of questions. Still, in true royal fashion he handled them, mostly fine. The sigh of relief when Eva dragged Frederick to the manor’s garden earned him a giggle.

When the two finally settled down in the garden pavilion, she was pleasantly surprised by the still warm tea placed there beforehand and silently sent Sophie her thanks.

“By the saints, I know we’re on the verge of war with Melton but does your mother really have to badger me about every possible detail about what father, sorry, the king is trying to do?” Frederick exclaimed with an exasperated groan. “And what the hells do I know about the knight trials? I mean I should but I…”

Eva flashed a supportive smile as she poured out some tea, double checking to make sure they were truly alone. Once certain she leaned back into her chair as rubbed her forehead in frustration. “You’re fine Frederick, they’re getting more unbearable lately. But I think they just worry about Theo too much, it’s been ‘oh if there’s a war will he be fine’ or ‘see Evaline your brother is doing so much, you should contribute too!’”

“And by contribute they mean getting married right?”

“Of course.” Eva blanched.

“Heh, I wouldn’t mind.” He joked.

“Freddie!”

“Kidding…kidding.”

“By the saints, if mother heard that she’d have a heart attack.”

“Hah! It’d bring the entirety of the Northern Provinces under royal control though, at least big sis…er Princess Alessia seems happy enough with Duke Lambert, though I never really warmed to him."

“Psh, you’re not the only one, father complains about him all the time.”

“Oh? And what does the illustrious Duke Rosengart say, pray tell.”

“That dang bastard is getting too damn close to the royal family, he’s an incompetent fool with too much power, no sense of nobility and not a lick of sense in his empty kobold head.”

“Oof, harsh.”

“And you Evaline, you’re close to Prince Frederick, you should be considering your marriage prospects soon and he’s a good man. A little limp in the popularity department but I remember your fascination with adventure stories, well there you go, a prince who can fill those shoes.” Eva feigned a gag as she wrapped up her nasally performance, the deep voice scratching her vocal chords.

“Never one to mince words was he?”

“Except when he talks to mother, then it’s just ‘yes dear’, ‘if you think so dear’, bleh.”

Prince Frederick chuckled as he took a sip of tea, before sinking into his chair with a satisfied sigh, a good cup of tea makes everything better, and Eva was glad to see him agree. Taking a sip of her own she savoured the flavour in her mouth, a sweet relaxing bitterness that lingered just long enough to provide a kick, a good drink for a long day of work. Gratian tea is delicious, worth the import costs.

The two shared a silent moment as they embraced the peace within the garden sanctum. A small corner of quiet compared to the usual boisterous courtly responsibilities that befell them. Wind danced gently across their skin as the soft rustling of flowers and grass provided a soothing melody. Eva yawned and closed her eyes taking in the sound of birdsong as the calming scent of Gratian tea tickled her nostrils.

“Eva…” Frederick whispered softly.

“Mmm?” Eva calmly replied, ohmygod, is he finally going to ask? What do I say? Do? Ahhhh.

“I’m being sent to Arteria.”

“Hmm? Wait what?” Eva replied, her eyes flickered open in surprise.

“I wanted to visit because my father wants me to study at Arteria.”

“Wait, when?”

“Next week.”

“Huh? Next week?! Why didn’t you say anything earlier?!” She yelled surprisingly loudly, making Frederick jump.

“I just…wanted to keep it on the down low you know?”

“What? Why?!”

“I didn’t want to worry anyone and…”

“And?”

“I think father doesn’t see me as worthy of my position and wants me to follow in my brother's footsteps.”

“What? Less worthy than Falko? But he’s a…”

“Damned mess, yes, he’s an alcoholic womanizer and an embarrassment to House Edelin but he’s a firm advocate for us to expand our northern holdings.”

“And that’s put him in a more favorable spot than you with the other nobles?”

“Yes. What was it, 'a unifier of the houses' is what I believe they called him.”

“Damn kobold asses.” Eva cursed out loud, “Don’t they understand that a war on two fronts is a bad idea?”

“I think they know, Eva. It’s just that they don’t see the Minoran elves as much of a problem given that the knife ears just got tangled up with the Traxians.”

“Knife ears?” Eva growled and Frederick immediately raised a hand in apology.

“Sorry, their words, not mine.”

Eva sighed deeply and looked back at the prince, his visage a slight bit more tired than what she imagined she looked like.

“And so they’re sending you to the academy, why exactly?”

“Father, I mean the King wants me to learn more about my roles and duties as a nobility as well as build more connections at the Academies. Privately, I think he just wants me out of his hair when they start the war, do you know Grand Duke Platts?”

“What about him?”

“He leads a minority faction asking for a ceasefire again and…”

“And a prince supporting them would give a lot more credibility.”

“Mmhmm”

“Politics.”

“Always is.”

“But you, I’m jealous.” Eva jabbed an accusatory finger at Frederick.

“Jealous?”

“Mortiz talks so much about the Arterian Academies, how they teach everything, all the trips across the land and…well I want to go but no, I’m supposed to find a spouse, pfft.”

“Oh?”

“I mean, it’s a center of learning right? And people from all over Cyndralia attend, hell I bet I could source some Gratian merchant a deal for their tea.” She chuckled joylessly, “And that they teach not just swordsmanship but also magic and even classes related to the guilds. By the saints it’s…” What I wanted to learn in this world.

Eva paused as she gathered her own thoughts, was this what she really wanted? But her pondering turned to a slight frown as she watched Frederick’s expression shift, uh oh it’s his I have an idea look.

“You know…” Frederick said.

Oh no.

“You could just ask if you could tag along with me. Don’t give me that look, I don’t mean like a fiance or wife but, couldn’t you tell the Duke and Duchess that you want to be more elegant blah blah.”

“I’ve tried that.”

“No no, I mean yes that, and then add ‘oh I heard Prince Frederick was going as well, can I also enroll to get training and spend time with him.’ It might just work, I’ll even vouch for you.” Frederick suggested and Eva winced slightly at the thought.

“C’mon Eva, don’t give me that look, you know we’re friends. And I mean it, no strings attached, would be nice to have someone I know around that isn’t...”

“Prissy? Obnoxious? An ass licker?”

“Not those precise terms, but close to the idea.” Frederick replied with a raise of his eyebrows.

Eva smothered her face with her palms and found herself clearing her head before flashing Frederick a nervous smile. “Heh, friends with a prince. You won’t believe how often Sophie teases me for that.”

“Sophie?”

“My maid?”

“Right! That’s right! The elf bookworm right? How is she?”

“That’s the one, she’s just usually shy but fine otherwise.”

“Seems friendly enough to you.”

“To me, yes, but…”

“Ahh right, the war and all.”

“Mmhmm.”

Frederick scratched his head for a moment, he understood the implications, leaving an elf alone in these times might not be the best decision. But would there be a way to get around that? Raising her to any rank hiring than menial labor would cause an uproar, but…”You could bring her along as your minder.” He suggested

“Minder?”

“You know, like a personal servant because you’re a noble? If I remember she’s practically attached to you by the hip. So if you told the headmaster you needed one, I mean the academies still take that into account.”

“Huh, huh!” Eva exclaimed as she gave Frederick a look that suggested the princeling might be a secret genius. “Huh! Come with me, quickly now! I need you with me when I ask mother.”

“Do I have to?”

“Yes! Now come on!”

“Now?”

“Now Freddie! It’s not like we have next week.” She scoffed at him.

“Before you order me around I’ll have you know, hey! I’m a prince in case you’ve forgotten!” Frederick protested as he was yanked out of his seat. Yet, despite his complaining, Eva was happy to see a smile on his face.

Sophie was, at the very least, taking her duties somewhat seriously. Knowing what head maid Hilda would say if they walked in on the abysmal state of Eva’s room, she had cleaned up most of the messiness, and just after teatime had begun at that. The soft red gold canopy bed has been tidied and straightened out, the smattering of clothes across the room returned to their rightful abode, the warm fuzzy carpets cleaned, and even the cosmetics to be tucked away carefully back in their respective oaken drawers. This then, means that she deserved a reward and she had just the thing in mind.

The Rise of the Ainrathi chronicled Gunmar and Aurelia’s latest trip throughout the ruins in the howling peninsula far in the east. In spite of constant raids by local tribals and ambitious treasure hunters, they eventually formed friendly relations with a local beastmen tribe after saving their chieftain's daughter from a cult. Due to this event, the chieftain’s daughter grew more smitten with Gunmar’s boisterous attitude, eventually leading the duo’s party to a secret cavern containing the ruins of ancient forgotten races.

Gunmar was a loud, brash, but ultimately kind and caring human warrior. Born in the slums of Traxia to a poor family fleeing the northern wars, he eventually met with and became friends with the mysterious rogue Aurelia. Unbeknownst to him, Aurelia was a princess on the run from a nation far beyond the western seas and sought refuge in the lands beyond. Together the two traveled the Cyndralian continent doing odd jobs and occasionally getting wrapped up in intrigue by some less than honest requesters and acquiring three more companions for their adventures. The dwarf shield bearer Barodin, Inquisitor Silvia, and the half elf archer Myron.

Sophie gazed out the window dreamily, the sun’s bright rays illuminating the world brilliantly as trees rustled gently in the wind. She imagined herself charging fourth valiantly on a noble steed, like when Aurelia routed an orcish invasion in the fields of Ingmar, a warrior princess rallying the disparate soldiers around her. It would be a liberating feeling, a sense of freedom that rallied against the heavy feeling that constantly shackled her mind.

She smiled at the distant thought and flopped onto Evaline’s bed, landing on the fluffy mattress with a satisfying pomf. She knew she had lucked out in some respects, Kaori or Evaline now was kind and caring; though most of humanity remained weary of elven kind Eva had persisted in taking care of Sophie. For that she was most grateful, but a part of her wondered what life outside the walls would be like, to roam the wilds and travel as an adventurer, how different it would be. Could also figure out where this came from, she ran her hands over her pendant.

Tap tap

A soft knocking at the door sent Sophie panicking as she hopped off of Eva’s bed and quickly slid the book underneath the sheets. She shuffled rapidly across the room and shoved the purse inelegantly behind the desk as she straightened out her uniform. There were only two possibilities here, ducal family or the head maid. If familial members spotted her in the room, she was dead, they would accuse her of stealing belongings, being a menace, and disturbing their sister, leading her to receive extra duties as a punishment. If the maids were the ones who found her, they’d critique every mistake and mock her for not properly tidying the room, leading her to receive extra duties to better herself, in other words a punishment.

Sophie wiped away her concern as she approached the door, forcing away the sense of dread burrowed around inside her stomach and opened the door with a silent bow. Keeping her eye trained to the floor she dared not move until a condescending ahem echoed above her.

She gingerly looked upwards only to flinch as she met the piercing stare of the head maid, Hilda. The older woman frowned as she met Sophie’s eyes, as if displeased from eating an overly bitter meal.

Slap

Sophie blanked out from the pain momentarily before she regained her footing, assuming her diminutive bow as she unsteadily trained her eyes back on the cold marble tiles. Her thoughts swimming faintly around in her head as she clenched her jaw shut and struggled to stifle a pained gasp.

“You are summoned to the Duchess’s study at once, do not waste her time.” The hag’s wretched voice ordered. What was that for?!

Sophie returned the order with a subtle nod only to feel a crack on her kneecaps, sending her tumbling to the floor as a searing pain wracked her leg.

“Do not sully the mistress’s name by doing as you please in her room. House Rosengart will not tolerate the likes of you misbehaving here.” The hag continued, her brutish cane tapping menacingly on the tiled floor.

Sophie remained silent, the whimper filling the back of her throat but instinct held it still. With another nod the head maid turned to leave and Sophie counted twenty odd paces before she pressed herself against the wall and released a tiny groan.

Ensuring that no one was nearby she allowed herself a small moment to breathe and recover before standing back upright, rule 9: household staff should always remain composed in public. It wasn’t that it would be taboo breaking the norms, plenty have done so over the years and many more will. But for them, death wasn’t usually a consequence that could arise from a stern reprimand.

She turned the corner and faced a set of double doors, exquisitely varnished and cold to the touch, the Duchess’s study was almost always occupied, and today was no different. Her heart thumped as she pushed open the doors, wary of whatever had led the Duchess to summon her. Lady Rosengart had never hid her disdain for demi humans though elvenkind in particular she viewed as irredeemable for their disruption of Carradorian activities.

“Took you long enough.” The Duchess stated, her voice devoid of emotion. “You look like a mess.”

“S-sorry, milady.” Sophie replied with a reverential bow, hiding her pain.

“Regardless, what do you think of Evaline?”

“Sorry…huh?”

“What are those ears even for, you heard me.”

“Umm?” She shakily replied. What does she want me to say? But Sophie dared not look up at the Duchess’s reaction. “She’s my friend.”

“Tsk.” The Duchess scoffed, seeming to taste the words around in her mouth. “And have you been trained in etiquette?”

“Y..yes?” Not a lie, but almost.

“Hmpf. While both the head maid and chamberlain have stated that your performance is…inadequate to our standards, my daughter was most insistent that you serve her well.”

“My apologies.” Sophie glued her eyes to the floor, still unsure of what the Duchess desired to hear.

“Is her rose tinted picture accurate?”

“I-I strive to serve Lady Evaline to the best of my ability.”

A moment of silence stretched on as the Duchess silently assessed her. Sophie could feel the sweat building on her brow and the pain in her leg threatened to topple her over. All the while the Duchess continued scrawling nondescript words on her papers before finally turning back towards her.

“I do not know what she sees in you but…if this is what she desires. Here, you can read right? ” The Duchess frowned as she handed a small envelope to Sophie, the disdain etched onto her face.

“Yes?”

“Evaline desires to follow Prince Frederick to the academies, and whilst I don’t see the need, I suppose they intend to maintain their…’friendship’. That aside, your instructions will be detailed below on your transfer.”

“Eh?”

“You shall accompany her on that journey to the academy once the application is processed.”

“Milady?”

“Understand that there is no real need for you here were it not for the fact you are friends with Evaline and her attendant. However, I will not allow you to disparage House Rosengart’s name and you shall travel with the senior maid and you will follow her every command.”

“Umm…”

“Good, see to it you prepare well, Evaline deserves the best and you must strive to meet those standards by the time you set off. Now if there wasn’t anything else away with you.”

Bewildered by everything that just occurred, Sophie stumbled out of the study without protest as she shut the door behind her. Just like that the Duchess had shooed her away almost as suddenly as she was summoned and as the stinging pain from her knees flared once again she was left with just one thought, what in the world is going on. But her thoughts evaporated soon enough as she came face to face with Hilda waiting in the hallway, and on the head maid's face burned a hatred that chilled Sophie to the core.