"Peep!"
You keep looking at it. Why don't you go after your friend if you're so worried?
Tch.
>
Apart from Grandov, I knew of two other people implicated with the Misfortune Sisters, and their futures had drastically shifted. One was Kaiden, who attempted to kill Micah after talking with them. And, had succeeded in previous rounds, but due to my meddling, my brother was alive and well now. Then there was Duncan, who was told to find me in Ascot as I would save his dukedom. However, his misfortune telling was also curious because I had never run into him until the previous round when I went to see my grandmother.
It wasn't so simple as the future changes. The Misfortune Sisters' telling to Duncan may have been different in my original life. Or was it the same, in which case, just what happened in my original life? Did Duncan wait for me forever in the Town of Ascot? Or did he try to find me in Genise and failed?
And I couldn't even ask my favorite information broker about them. Freida Stran had already made it abundantly clear that she didn't want to have anything to do with the Misfortune Sisters. That's what made them and their misfortune tellings even more concerning and why I couldn't help but worry about what might happen to Grandov.
"Ahoy to Luca. We've arrived." Jasper tapped my forehead with his index. "What's with that overly serious expression? It doesn't suit you."
I rubbed my forehead.
"I just got lost thinking about something," I said.
"Don't get so lost in your thoughts that you stop looking around and living in the present." Jasper jumped out of the carriage and held the door open for me. His demeanor immediately changed to one of the utmost respect.
"Young master Luca, I shall be nearby should you need me," Jasper spoke.
I shuddered at his change in tone.
"Thank you," I replied and looked about, noting the palace guards and attendants.
Jasper might have acted the fool in private, but when outsiders were about, he performed as an exceptional attendant. Perhaps he was even a tad over the top, which always embarrassed me.
"Luca Frey? Princess Evelyn was expecting you," Julius, the idiot mage, had come over to greet me. With his black wavy hair parted neatly down the middle and posture, he looked far more intellectual than reality would have it.
"She was?" I raised an eyebrow.
I hadn't even bothered sending a letter informing her ahead of time, which in hindsight, I probably ought to have. She was Adovoria's Crown Princess and thus likely had a slew of matters to attend to. I was lucky that she could meet on such short notice.
"Yes." Julius nodded his head. "Princess Evelyn had informed me that you could come by at any time and to be ready for your presence. You are her betrothed's brother, after all."
"Ah." I recalled that he had said something similar in the previous round.
"Peep!"
But didn't Princess Evelyn tell you in the previous round that she was interested in developing a friendship beyond that of you being Micah's brother, because of your phoenix eyes?
I nodded.
Princess Evelyn was the first non-Awakened individual to have brought up the topic of phoenix eyes with me. Chase Daylan had mentioned few knew about those who had Awakened, and I felt relieved to know that my brother's fiancée was one of them. Of course, her previous remarks hinted at a somewhat different interpretation of phoenix eyes. She seemed to be under the understanding that they meant I had some sort of talent when in reality, all that the golden eyes meant was an ability to die and come back to life with future knowledge still remembered.
But her misunderstanding hardly mattered. All that mattered was that her perspective rendered her a captive audience to my urgent requirement to fund The Order and our army's preparation, readying our defenses for the impending Kobar Empire invasion in a few years' time.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"It has been a pleasure getting to know you and how we can partner in the future," Harrison Bronson, a fat man with a pencil-thin beard, shook Micah's hand.
"The pleasure is all mine," Micah replied with a smile. "My family looks forward to supplying all your building needs."
"Of course, of course." Harrison nodded.
The man before Micah managed the roads across the Adovorian kingdom. Everything from construction and upkeep was within his domain. He did it well, but perhaps too well. His work went unnoticed and was simply accepted as a given. However, nothing was ever a given in life. A little elbow grease and an overlooked building requirement stipulation having just passed through The Noble Council meant that the Freys would essentially hold a monopoly on all future road construction.
And if I control the roads, I can control the flow of money and power.
Harrison walked away, and Louis rushed over to Micah's side.
"Young master Micah, a message has arrived for you."
Micah accepted a small scroll and undid the black seal, recognizing it to be from Seymour, his most trusted subordinate.
Micah's expression darkened, having read the message.
Tsk. That's certainly unfortunate.
He rubbed the black rune seal, making the parchment paper darken and fall apart as ash.
"Louis, get the carriage ready. I'm heading back to the capital," Micah ordered.
Micah had Seymour investigate the Frey Manor's matters and identify how Denise's betrayal went unnoticed and if there were any individuals that the Frey Manor's security had missed.
"But your next appointment—"
"Another rat has been caught," Micah said.
"Ah." Louis understood. "Very well, I'll have the carriage ready right away."
Micah watched Louis run off. He pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the black soot off his hands.
Just how will Luca react to this betrayal?
AlekAundra
I wonder who it could be. (◔_◔)
"Peep!"
You keep looking at it. Why don't you go after your friend if you're so worried?
Tch.
>
Apart from Grandov, I knew of two other people implicated with the Misfortune Sisters, and their futures had drastically shifted. One was Kaiden, who attempted to kill Micah after talking with them. And, had succeeded in previous rounds, but due to my meddling, my brother was alive and well now. Then there was Duncan, who was told to find me in Ascot as I would save his dukedom. However, his misfortune telling was also curious because I had never run into him until the previous round when I went to see my grandmother.
It wasn't so simple as the future changes. The Misfortune Sisters' telling to Duncan may have been different in my original life. Or was it the same, in which case, just what happened in my original life? Did Duncan wait for me forever in the Town of Ascot? Or did he try to find me in Genise and failed?
And I couldn't even ask my favorite information broker about them. Freida Stran had already made it abundantly clear that she didn't want to have anything to do with the Misfortune Sisters. That's what made them and their misfortune tellings even more concerning and why I couldn't help but worry about what might happen to Grandov.
"Ahoy to Luca. We've arrived." Jasper tapped my forehead with his index. "What's with that overly serious expression? It doesn't suit you."
I rubbed my forehead.
"I just got lost thinking about something," I said.
"Don't get so lost in your thoughts that you stop looking around and living in the present." Jasper jumped out of the carriage and held the door open for me. His demeanor immediately changed to one of the utmost respect.
"Young master Luca, I shall be nearby should you need me," Jasper spoke.
I shuddered at his change in tone.
"Thank you," I replied and looked about, noting the palace guards and attendants.
Jasper might have acted the fool in private, but when outsiders were about, he performed as an exceptional attendant. Perhaps he was even a tad over the top, which always embarrassed me.
"Luca Frey? Princess Evelyn was expecting you," Julius, the idiot mage, had come over to greet me. With his black wavy hair parted neatly down the middle and posture, he looked far more intellectual than reality would have it.
"She was?" I raised an eyebrow.
I hadn't even bothered sending a letter informing her ahead of time, which in hindsight, I probably ought to have. She was Adovoria's Crown Princess and thus likely had a slew of matters to attend to. I was lucky that she could meet on such short notice.
"Yes." Julius nodded his head. "Princess Evelyn had informed me that you could come by at any time and to be ready for your presence. You are her betrothed's brother, after all."
"Ah." I recalled that he had said something similar in the previous round.
"Peep!"
But didn't Princess Evelyn tell you in the previous round that she was interested in developing a friendship beyond that of you being Micah's brother, because of your phoenix eyes?
I nodded.
Princess Evelyn was the first non-Awakened individual to have brought up the topic of phoenix eyes with me. Chase Daylan had mentioned few knew about those who had Awakened, and I felt relieved to know that my brother's fiancée was one of them. Of course, her previous remarks hinted at a somewhat different interpretation of phoenix eyes. She seemed to be under the understanding that they meant I had some sort of talent when in reality, all that the golden eyes meant was an ability to die and come back to life with future knowledge still remembered.
But her misunderstanding hardly mattered. All that mattered was that her perspective rendered her a captive audience to my urgent requirement to fund The Order and our army's preparation, readying our defenses for the impending Kobar Empire invasion in a few years' time.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"It has been a pleasure getting to know you and how we can partner in the future," Harrison Bronson, a fat man with a pencil-thin beard, shook Micah's hand.
"The pleasure is all mine," Micah replied with a smile. "My family looks forward to supplying all your building needs."
"Of course, of course." Harrison nodded.
The man before Micah managed the roads across the Adovorian kingdom. Everything from construction and upkeep was within his domain. He did it well, but perhaps too well. His work went unnoticed and was simply accepted as a given. However, nothing was ever a given in life. A little elbow grease and an overlooked building requirement stipulation having just passed through The Noble Council meant that the Freys would essentially hold a monopoly on all future road construction.
And if I control the roads, I can control the flow of money and power.
Harrison walked away, and Louis rushed over to Micah's side.
"Young master Micah, a message has arrived for you."
Micah accepted a small scroll and undid the black seal, recognizing it to be from Seymour, his most trusted subordinate.
Micah's expression darkened, having read the message.
Tsk. That's certainly unfortunate.
He rubbed the black rune seal, making the parchment paper darken and fall apart as ash.
"Louis, get the carriage ready. I'm heading back to the capital," Micah ordered.
Micah had Seymour investigate the Frey Manor's matters and identify how Denise's betrayal went unnoticed and if there were any individuals that the Frey Manor's security had missed.
"But your next appointment—"
"Another rat has been caught," Micah said.
"Ah." Louis understood. "Very well, I'll have the carriage ready right away."
Micah watched Louis run off. He pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the black soot off his hands.
Just how will Luca react to this betrayal?
AlekAundra
I wonder who it could be. (◔_◔)
