Even though my small vacation was fun, I had to admit that waking up in my own bed felt great. I yawned loudly as the warm sun woke up my tired body. Yesterday had been exhausting and I was still feeling the effects of the mental and physical strain I had gone through. Honestly had complicated my life beyond belief.
I looked around the room expecting to see Agnes, Edna and Mellie but they were nowhere to be found. They probably let me sleep in because they had seen how tired I was. They were polite enough not to make me explain everything when I got home and I was grateful for that. We were all so close now that we were a family, and they seemed to be able to pick up on my ques.
After I helped them unpack everything back into its rightful place, and fetched Sedgwick from the Magical Creatures Division of the mage society, I had staggered back to my room and had promptly fallen asleep.
I turned to my bedside table to see a note in Agnes's handwriting. Her perfectly elegant writing that rivalled even a nobles calligraphy.
'Milady,
there will be a good hot breakfast waiting for you downstairs when you wake up. I've laid out an easy dress for the morning, so you can wear that to breakfast.
I'll help you change into something more fitting after Milady has eaten.
Agnes.'
With that, I turned to see one of my favourite casual dresses that Agnes was always insisting that I throw away. A simple wrap-around frock that I had bought from a small shop on the harbourside, simply perfect for lazing around my house.
I happily got out of bed and slipped into the pale pink dress she had carefully laid out on the sofa. I then slipped into some comfy slippers and waved Sedgwick and Sophie goodbye as they were curled up together, sunbathing on the window sill.
Now that I was looking at Sedgewick it seemed that he had gotten fatter, his tube-like body had definitely increased in width, probably due to the magical Creatures division overfeeding him. Nevertheless, he looked so content and healthy as his scales glittered in the sunlight.
I turned left when I exited my room and headed down the hallway and down the grand staircase to reach the breakfast room. As I walked down the hallways me eyes greeted the familiar ornaments I had used to decorate the halls. The paintings I had purchased the day my house got renovated, my certificate for receiving an S rank for my mage exam, some photos of my friends that I had magically printed out from my phone. So many great memories from my first year in Girannon.
I opened the doors of the breakfast room to a happy scene before me. Everyone was seated and gayly chatting. It seemed that Rudyard and Auberon were getting along fine as they were laughing and grinning at each other, mumbling something about which of them was better at sword fighting. I could only laugh at their antics as a very displeased Agnes smacked both of them on the backs of their heads, furious that they were being so unruly at the table.
As per usual Edna was perfectly composed, hers was the stone face of my mansion, sitting up straight in her chair, calmly sipping on tea. Mellie was beside her, trying to inform her of the latest gossip, something about a haughty 'Lady Cuthbert' who has her eyes set on things outside of her reach. Edna didn't seem like she was listening but was rather tracking the path of the tea leaf in her cup. At the far end of the table was dear sweet Mr Bard who was happily fixing his bowtie. Next to him were Ilsa and Augustus who were talking animatedly about something I couldn't hear.
"Good Morning Milady!" Agnes was the first to notice my entrance and immediately stood up. The other realised I was there and did the same.
"Good Morning Milady!" They smiled back at me and it made my heart warm up. Home, this place was my home, and these people were my family.
"Good morning everyone." I chimed, smiling ear to ear. "It's good to be back."
Soon I took my seat at the dinner table and was digging into a delicious variety of breakfast foods. I swear every meal at my house was like a gourmet buffet, not that I am complaining. I dished up a bit of everything and ate slowly savouring every bite of Augustus's cooking.
After I had finished eating and was going through my trimester with my food baby, Bard got up from his seat.
"Excuse me Milady, I shall fetch the letters that came for you, while you were asleep."
"Yes, thank you." I sighed feeling content.
After a little while, Bard returned with some letters for me, as well as the Gismeadian tucked beneath his arm. Bard bowed as he handed me the letters and then returned to his seat on the other side of the newspaper and began to chat with Agnes.
I decided to open the letter with the royal insignia on it first. Since the paper was different from the paper the royal family uses, I knew it was from someone working at the royal palace and not a member of the Royal family.
Pure delight filled me as I read the good news addressed to me from the Royal Minister of Public affairs.
'Dear Lady Delton,
I think you will be delighted to know that your idea for public transport was looked on favourably in parliament. The motion will soon pass and you will be able to set up the 'bus' system you proposed.
I shall keep in contact with you by letter and will inform you later of the specifics as the minor details of this case are still in discussion.
Humbly to serve the Royal family,
Lord Thorin Domnhall'
I couldn't help the toothy grin break out onto my face as well as a small fist pump into the air. It was great news as soon public transport would be available in Gismead and eventually the whole of Girannon, and if other kingdoms saw the system they might copy it and implement it in their kingdoms. Something simple like public transport could really uplift the lives of the middle class and lower-class people of the kingdom who couldn't afford to rent expensive carriages to travel in every day.
I placed the letter the bottom of the pile and the picked up a letter from Percival Peregrine, the man whose family was doing business with me and helping me build my Café and restaurant empire.
It seemed that there was only good news today because Percival wrote that the opening week of the cafés has been a smashing success and that the products had been sold out already. Percival told me that I could expect a large profit margin and that at least four trunks of gold would be arriving before tomorrow. Furthermore, due to the success of the café's and the restaurant, Percival's father was already making preparations to open my restaurants all across the Kingdom. He wrote that I should just pop in to see his father and him at any time, or they would come to see me, whichever was more convenient.
With that, I placed the letter down and returned it to the bottom of the pile.
All that was left before me was a pile of highly decorated notes, nothing that was considered appropriate for business transactions or anything serious. The notes were decorated with golden and silver outlines and floral patterns. after having a sniff it was obvious that the envelopes were scented. I eyed them curiously wondering who could have sent me such notes.
I tore open the first envelope to see a letter inside that had my name written in an elaborate cursive, with way more swirls than necessary. As I opened the letter, a strong rush of rose-scent attacked my airways and I had to cover my nose to keep from getting dizzy.
"My Dearest Lady Delton,
Our love had been but a distant one, for I have admired you from afar for so long. How my heart aches for you! How my heart breaks for you!
Yet I must stay clear of you and continue to love you from behind the curtains. My truest happiness can only be realised in a life spent growing old with you. I dream of the day that you will notice me and perhaps, I dare say, love me too.
Your ardent admirer,
Count Foster Armount Le Grancia."
I took me a moment to realise that I had received a love letter. A very cheesy corny love letter, soaked in perfume with the most spectacular cursive I had ever seen.
"How romantic!" Mellie squealed from behind me. I had not realised that she was standing there, so here loud high-pitched voice frightened me and caused me to jump in my chair.
"You have an admirer, Lady Riley! How lovely, and he's count." She giggled happily, busy daydreaming about our impending love story.
I remembered that Count was a unique title that existed outside the realm of nobles and commoners. 'Count' was a title given to a person or family who had significantly helped its kingdom. It was a way in which commoners could escape the branding of being a commoner and be instantly elevated to high society. A count was about equivalent to a fourth or thirds rank noble depending on what acts got the count his/her title.
"Lovely?" Agnes scoffed from behind me, which also made me jump because I hadn't seen her sneak up on me either. "Lovely she dare say! It is hardly appropriate. I mean the audacity to send such a revoltingly passionate letter is beyond thought. And then to be so arrogant as to put his name on it! Shameful!"
Agnes stuck up her nose looking very unimpressed as she returned to her seat. Mellie sighed unhappily because her daydreaming and fantasising had been so brutally squashed by Agnes.
I took hold of Mellie's hand and patted her affectionately on the head.
"It is a lovely letter, Mellie..." She suddenly got all excited, her want for romance starting to flare up again. "But I don't think I am quite ready for that level of passion."
"Oh." She looked downwards, the light completely gone from her eyes. I felt bad for her suddenly. It must be hard for her, a young excitable girl like Mellie to be stuck working as a maid during her youth. She had turned sixteen this year, and although that made her legally capable of marriage, I doubted that she was mature enough to settle down with someone. I would wait until her eighteenth birthday to find a suitable marriage for her if she didn't beat me to it.
I was jolted out of my thoughts by the painful sounding cough and wheeze that came out of Bard's mouth.
"Bard are you alright?" I gasped with concern at the sight of him wheezing and coughing. It seemed like he had swallowed his milk wrong and it had gone done the wrong tube.
Bard was still desperately clutching the Gismeadian newspaper in his hand, shaking and trying to mouth something to me behind his splurges and coughs. Auberon and Rudyard who were closest to him got up to help poor Bard recover from his coughing fit.
Auberon and Rudyard were patting his back when they suddenly stopped and were staring dead still at the newspaper Bard was still holding up.
"Rudyard, Auberon what's wrong?" I asked wearily from the other side of the table. Wondering why they had stopped helping Bard.
They didn't answer me and continued to stare at the newspaper, completely frozen in their places. Something shocking must have been on the front cover of the newspaper to completely incapacitate both of them.
Agnes quickly got frustrated by their unresponsiveness and scowled at them. "For goodness sake, Mr Bard get a hold of yourself! And you two, your lady has asked you a question, do you dare not answer it?!"
Auberon was the first to clear his voice while Rudyard remained stuck in the void of shock he had been thrown into by the newspaper.
"Y-You all better come see this..." Was all Auberon could manage to splutter out, even after Agnes had yelled at him.
Everyone including myself got up from their chairs and headed to Bard's side to get a look at the newspaper. Since I was sitting the furthest away, I got to see all their eyes go wide and their jaws hand open as they looked at the newspaper. The mystery was killing me, I was literally dying to see what was making them all so ashen faced. In a very unladylike manner I hurried over to get a look at the newspaper.
At first glance I didn't know what had them all so stricken, it was only when my eyes caught the thick black letters of the headline and the illustrated picture of Prince Alphonse and myself on the front cover did My heart stop beating for a moment.
The headline read:
'Second Rank Lady, Riley Delton, and the third Prince discovered to be chosen children'
My heart literally stopped beating for a few moments as I saw my secret plastered on the front cover of the Gismeadian. It was finally out! The royal family must have contacted the press to relay the information to the newspaper. Before the end of the day everybody would know my and Alphonse's status as a chosen children. That was simply that. Their was no use stressing over this since their was nothing I could do to control it, even though it did make me start to sweat a little bit. All I would have to worry about was how everyone would react, starting with all my house staff who were looking at me with dropped jaws and bulging eyes.
"Just wait a minute guys... I-I can explain..." I chuckled nervously while they all stared at me with aghast faces. And I did, I devoted the rest of that day to making them all completely comfortable with the notion of me being a chosen child. I'm not sure if I truly settled them or not but I hoped they would still be able to act they way they always had around me. I hoped that this revelation wouldn't change our relationship at all. That was my last hope before settling down to bed that night.
<--------------------------------<<<
Saint Silas Claudian - Twelth seat of the Church of Magic
St. Claudian couldn't stop shaking as he read over the article for the 28th time. A glee that radiated straight from his heart was sending violent shivers through his body.
The joy he was feeling was something inexplicable to him. His shortness of breath, the beating of his heart, the happiness that was swelling up in him and just waiting to burst out. Not only was Lady Delton the bravest and yet most gnetle woman he had ever met, not only was she the most learned and excellent in all things academic and econommic, not only did she exude an aura of sophistication and kindness, not only was she simply the most beautiful graceful woman to be born in this world, above all that, Lady Delton was literally blessed by the gods...
The holiness that flowed through the great gods that St. Claudian worshipeed also flowed through her. St. Claudian had no words to express his utter disbelief, all he knew was that he would have to cancel his plan of asking Lady Delton to marry him. Now that he knew she was a chosen child, he realised that she was too far above him, she was even blessed by the gods and was therefore too good for him. However, he would devote his life to her happiness and protection.
St. Claudian suddenly sat up as a grand idea struck him. His shivers were suddenly gone and he found he could walk well on his feet. He rushed to the other side of his personal quarters in his study at the Church's headquarters and grabbed a pile of precious design paper, the paper they used to design sculptures. He would design a grande sculpture in honour of Lady Delton and put it forth to the eleven other heads of the council as an opportunity to honor the newly discovered chosen children, and by doing so, pay homage to the gods of magic for bestowing them upon this world.
<------------<<<
Lady Lavinia Hestia
After reading the Gismeadian newspaper, Lavinia had been in an absolute state. Her maids had tried to no avail to clam her down, only to get themselves punched and scratched. She had gone absolutely hysterical, flailing about the house, tearing up her dress, smashing expensive vases and dishes. Every time we be of the maids got close to her she lunged after then with her long nails and attacked them viciously. Eventually Lavinia's father got fed up and ordered for the girl to be confined in her room until she calmed down.
As Lavinia was locked in her bedroom, she felt her world sink in on her. This crushing terrible feeling of defeat... the rage she felt from seeing yet another thing to Lady Delton's way. Lavinia had tried so hard to beat Lady Delton but it only ended up in her own disgrace. She had spent many sleepless nights wondering how this all had happened, struggling with idea that she had been taken down by someone so beneath her. Now she finally had the answer. The reason Lavinia could never beat Riley, the reason her life had taken such a terrible turn, it was because she had tried to go up against someone he who was literally blessed by the gods. After she had calmed down from her hysterics, she reasoned that of course Riley would win if she had a gods power backing her up. Of course some bad luck would fall on Lavinia for trying to go against Riley. Lavinia preferred to believe that she had been doomed from the start because Riley had the backing of the gods. Lavinia's pride stopped her from admitting that she had been in the wrong and had deserved her punishment.
Lavinia sucked in a long steady breath and then got up from the floor. She straightened out her dress and then a bit shakily walked over to her bedside table, as she must have bruised her ankle while fighting off the staff. She opened the draw and then took out a box of gourmet macaroons she had bought from Sophie's cafe.
She happily munched in them savoring the sweet crunchiness of the heavenly snack. In that moment she smiled as she thought that if she had one thing over Lady Delton it was that Lady Delton didn't n so the heavenly confections that were Macaroons.
<——————————-<<<<
That night the entire house lay awake in their beds thinking about the shocking turn events; their beloved lady Riley was a chosen child. A person given to this world by the gods. For Agnes, Bard, Auberon, Rudyard, Mellia, Edna, Ilsa and Augustus who had all grown up in Gismead and had been taught the rhetoric of the church of magic many times, the idea of a chosen child was something holy. Chosen children might as well be the literal children of gods. They were considered as sacred beings who were to be treated with the utmost respect and honor. Each time a holy child was bestowed a upon the world, the chosen children always brought peace and prosperity and helped the world overcome some kind of adversity.
As Bard lay awake in his bed he wanted to kick himself for being so blind. Now that he thought about it, it was so obvious that Lady Riley was a chosen child. She was so kind and generous and had helped the people of this kingdom so much already.
Such a perfect lady could onto be a gift bestowed by the gods... Bard thought.
Mellie was so excited that she couldn't manage to sleep a wink. The idea that she was serving a chosen child felt so wonderful and exciting. None of her friends who were maids at other noble house had ever such a person. She simply couldn't wait for her next day off when she would go and meet all her friends, she would boast to the thigh heaven about how she was serving a gift from god while they were all stuck serving grumpy old nobles. She smiled contently at her plan and closed her eyes happily while snuggling into her warm bed.
Agnes lay on her back facing the ceiling, biting her lip nervously. Earlier, when she had seen the title of the newspaper, she had been completely consumed by a swarm of shocked and confused questions and thoughts, but now only one thought kept circling her mind, a thought that was keeping her from falling asleep, a thought that was eating away at her, making her feel so tense and miserable.
Lady Riley has been a chosen child this whole time, and I Agnes Whitcombe have allowed her to wear such unsavory dresses...
Agnes shuddered as she realized that she had been allowing the lady to prance about the city with dresses without a corset and without stockings on. The shame Agnes felt shuddered from deep within her heart and she couldn't contain her stress. Like a mummy she rose from her bed and dashed over to her desk where she immediately wrote to the head fashion houses in Kreamore (Girannon's second largest city and the fashion and art capitol of the Kingdom). Now Agnes was determined, it didn't matter how much Lady Riley protested, she absolutely would wear the latest fashions and only be adorned in the most beautiful clothing, as it was Agnes' duty to make sure her lady, the chosen child, was always at her best.
That night Rudyard shuddered under his sheets. He prayed all night long that the gods wouldn't smight him for deceiving their chosen child. From the beginning he had been sent by the royal family to spy on Lady Riley and report back to them. He shuddered think about what would happen to him if he incurred the God's wrath for tricking their chosen child. He rocked himself back in bed, sending his apologies to the heavens hoping for their forgiveness while swearing to immediately stop working for the the royal family and simply be Lady Riley's trusted butler.
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Hey guys so at this point I'm just being a lazy author, so just keep posting messages on my board telling me to post another chapter. If you hound me I'll do it. I do love writing this story but for some reason I'm just really slow and indecisive so I end up deleting a lot :(( Sorry guys, I'll try be faster❤️❤️❤️❤️
Pls don't forget to like and comment!! And if you haven't liked my other chapter pls do that❤️❤️
And the title of this chapter is a pun for how she died if anybody didn't get that😘