One week and five days left before the annual hunt hosted by the royal family, and Drew already finished the scale model of the turbine and is now incased in a glass box for protection. I felt pity for him when he showed up at my office looking so ghastly and there are large bags under his eyes, he looked so tired but still prioritize the model. It took a while for me to convince him to go and rest as I take care of the turbine model until he gave up and slept at one of the guest rooms. As a token of appreciation— actually I already gave him a thank you gift: recipes of pastry from earth that doesn't exist here in Sagareste, but I thought it wasn't enough so— I made his favorite drink: cold brew coffee with chocolate cupcakes topped with strawberry cream.
After my preparations in the kitchen, I saw Nikos heading to my office carrying a tray with a couple of letters in it. He saw me too and bowed when I entered the room. When I sat down on one of the sofas, he handed me the tray of letters. He looked somewhat– pissed, and I think I know why. Seven or eleven letters on the tray were from noble ladies, probably inviting me to join their group at the hunt and one of the letters were from Lady Silvia Esteban— she's a special snowflake, a spoiled brat, and a very arrogant lady; we hate her a lot— and she has at least four letters from the pile. Lady Silvia is known for degrading those who are lower than her, and she undoubtedly invited me just to insult me in front of many people.
I just trashed her letters— no, I burned them with a satisfied smile. Nikos, at first, was terrified at my actions but seem to be delighted by it thereafter. The other letters were about the hunt, asking on who will participate from the family of Fortess; and one letter came from Haifa. 'Must be the report about the rebels.' The thought made me giggle and opened it with much excitement. It would be so much fun if my plan affected them in a hilarious way.
The orders I gave Haifa were pretty clear: spread a rumor that me, Duchess Fortess, will soon release my title as a duchess and give it to those who are more deserving of the title. Her letter said that the rumor spread like a wind, it was so fast that some details got changed and the rumor became exaggerated with every time until the one that the rebels heard were, "They say that the duchess will hold a contest and the prize will be her title." It was so ridiculous I can't help but laugh myself out.
She also said that the rebels are in chaos right now, they're divided by their opinions; some said that the rumor could be true, some says that it could be a trap set by me and some didn't care about it. The rumor must've reached the leaders since more rebels are roaming the duchy and she actually saw a leader up-close. She said that to determine if a rebel is of high position or a pawn: the pawns have a dog tag like necklace while the leaders have a ring with their necklaces. With her descriptions, I think I saw a necklace with a ring in it somewhere or on someone. Her letter ended at the rebels already forming factions according to their opinions and her wishing me good health.
Seconds after, Yuri came in with my lunch. Looks like I forgot the time and it passed by me and my stomach. The smell of my meal made my stomach grumble and I can't wait to just dig in: a wiener schnitzel with creamy mashed potatoes, splashed with lemon and partnered with Chai tea as the drink. I finished my letters first and gave it to Nikos who left with Yuri leaving me and my meal alone. I ate with much joy and content, making my plate clean and my stomach full. As I requested, Yuri came in with a dessert: a mini custard pudding with cherry tops. I was happily ravishing my dessert when Drew entered, now fresh, well rested and back to his joyful self.
He sat down opposite to me with a satisfied grin. He was staring at the scale model of the turbine behind me, incased in glass. He looked really proud of it, he's so focused on it that he wasn't listening to me. I snapped my fingers at him to pull him back to reality. "Drew, hey Drew. Come back to reality cuz, stop staring at your achievement. We still have to talk about something." He shake his head and looked at me with a sorry expression. He has this awkward smile and winced eyes. "Sorry, what were you saying?" he asked which made me roll my eyes.
'My saliva got wasted, goodness.'
I heaved a deep sigh and told him everything from the start. One of the letters given by Nikos a while ago was from the royal palace, it was rather an invitation and inquiry asking who will represent the House of Fortess in the upcoming hunting event. I told him that he doesn't have to represent for me since he already exhausted himself from creating the scale model and that the royal palace allows families to refuse participation as it is a volunteer kind of event. I was having difficulty about this matter since I'm inexperienced in this kind of thing; I know how to hunt and ride a horse but I don't like doing it for competition, rather, I only hunt for survival (I was stationed at an army camp during my journalist days and they thought me how to hunt when we're all out of food). And that Uriel had set a meeting for me and Marcus.
"Are you really sure you don't want me to participate at the event?" Drew asked, disappointment evident at his voice, his shoulders at a slouched position and gone his happy aura. "You don't have to worry about me Frielle. I have a fair share of experience in hunting and you know I always look out for this events." He tried his best to persuade me, saying that he likes hunting events given that he likes showing off his archery skills and that he always wins in every hunting events hosted by the royal family. "I don't want anyone to take my throne as the best hunter."
"I know, I know. You love showing off and very greedy when it comes to your "title" as the great hunter but, I'm worried about your safety too Drew." This time, I'm the one persuading him. I used my very concerned tone to further convince him. "Rebels are out there and more than ever. You know that they made the forest as their camp and territories. They can jump at you anytime, they know we're related and can use you to me. I don't want any of us to be in danger. And besides, you've done so much for me, you deserve some break." After that, I showed him my sweetest smile that made him sigh in defeat. "Okay fine, I won't participate. But I will still accompany you at the event okay?" Drew said, voice full of authority.
"Sure!" I said with relief, I convinced him to not go. I really would let him participate if not for Haifa's warnings in her letter: 'Please your grace, do not partake in the hunting event, rather, stay out of the forest and never be alone. I heard that the higher ups will deploy rebels to take territory of the forest and seize you if there's a chance. Please, heed my warning your grace, I don't want you any harm.'
Since Drew won't be practicing his archery skills, he decided to try my recipes for his pastry shop. He bid goodbye after some more talks and headed to his shop to start baking; I told him to give samples for the first batch so I could recommend some adjustments. By the time he left, it was already dark outside, the sun has set and lamps were lit by the maids. Yuri came in with a tray of my tea and a candle.
Come to think of it, how would I make Marcus interested in the first place? I've interviewed some businessmen back on Earth and they all said that they're always skeptical when investing or inventing something, to make sure of things, they'll ask for a sample or something that would make them interested. They would ask for something like that; so I had Drew make the scale model for that, but I don't think Marcus would be interested enough. He's a big business man and Uriel told me that he has some pretty high standards when it comes to investing on things, he also likes products that will return his investments and more in a short time.
Considering that the contraction of the turbine, also the making of the parts, the shipment and everything would take a lot of time, he might lose interest in this and I would lose him as a possible sponsor and investor. I have to think of something as an appetizer, something that would make him want more.
"Your highness, would you like another cup of tea?" Yuri asked, holding the tea kettle in her hands. I said yes, tea helps me relax my body and mind and I need to release some stress. That's when I noticed the candles. Surprisingly, the candles of the Sagareste Kingdom were considered a staple and very successful product of the kingdom. The candles were so durable it can last one month even if it's lighted; it melts so slowly and you only need four candles lo light a room as big as my office— even if it's just a candle, its light was equivalent to a torch.
A memory popped up in mind, in one of Marcus' product catalog, he sells candles too and he mostly monopolized the making and selling of it. He has candles in all sizes and design but not the one I have in mind. And to think that I also learned how to do it and it will be really easy since all I have to do is melt and mix and shape it.
"Yuri, we still have stocks of candles right?" I asked, now formulating the idea and the process I have to do. "Yes milady, why do you ask?"
"Get me four of the largest we have and bring it to the kitchen. Have most of the staffs out and have only two maids left to help me. Go ahead of me, I still have something to get." Yuri bowed and proceeded to do my orders while I headed to my room. Luckily, the perfumes in this world is like essential oils on Earth.
When I got to the kitchen, Yuri and two other maids are already there, the four largest candles in a table. I put down my perfume beside the candles and started to say instructions. I had the two maids get candle molds and candle wicks at the storage room (we had those since my parents would reuse the melted candles and make new candles out of It.) While I heated a pot and made a makeshift double boiler. After doing all those things, we set the products to cool down and left it there overnight. The next morning, I excitedly glided towards the kitchen to check on the products. I barely slept well last night, I was so eager to see them and try them. I was nearing the kitchen and I can hear the pots and utensils clattering, the voices of chefs yelling commands and the whispers and curious questions of the maids. When I entered the kitchen everyone stopped moving and the noises died down, they all looked at my direction and bowed down.
"Good morning, your grace." They all said in unison in which I returned with a smile and a little nod. I stride to where the products are laid out and out of their molders. All in different colors and you can smell a distinct scent in each color. Yuri and Nikos were sorting the products by color and the maids helped them tie ribbons in it. My smile grew wider from ear to ear as I grabbed a purple colored one, smelled its wick and by nose was washed with the scent of a calming lavender. My memories of me as a journalist came flooding back.
I always have this in my traveling bag or by one immediately; whenever I had time to relax, I would light one and inhale the calming scent, all light off and just the tiny glow of its light and the peaceful scent that can take all my stress away together with a cup of Chai tea with two extra spoons of cream or milk and honey as sweetener. I was taken out of my reminiscence when a maid drew my attention. "Your grace?"
"Yes?" I turned my head to a maid surely in her twenties. She was holding a gold ribbon and a scissor in hands. "Please humble my question your highness. What are this?" She looked at the candles now all sorted and tied with a ribbon. "Those are called scented candles." I replied and demonstrated to them why it is called like that. I grabbed a match to a nearby table and lighted the candle I was holding. As soon as it's lit, a scent of lavender traveled to the kitchen and everyone sniffed and gave a sigh of relief. Lavender really can calm everyone.
"What are you going to do with this milady?" Nikos asked, sniffing an orange colored candle that has orange scent in its wick. At first, when I was making these, my main goal was just to have my scented candle back so I have more ways to ease my nerves from the stress, but now, now that I'm looking at this many scented candles, I thought of something that will benefit me more. I turned to him and gave him a command, "Nikos, please place the purple ones in each room and also, place a match beside them." I then turned to the maids, "And all of you, I want you to spread this product of mine to the other maids of every house you know; I want them to reach their masters."
All of the maids nodded and began to put the other candles in boxes and started to put it on the storage room of the estate. That's when I heard my stomach grumble, with all of this problem solving, hunting event and finding ways to attract possible sponsor and thinking of something that will definitely get Marcus' attention at the hunting event. Good thing, Yuri already have my meal ready and I decided to just eat there at the kitchen; watching the kitchen staff move fast and cook foods for the other employees of the manor and also, give a coffee and chocolate treats for dessert.
Surprisingly, by the time I finished my meal and began to work at my office, someone knocked. I said 'come in' and Nikos came with a stack of letters in his tray. "Good morning milady, these letters just came in and I believe it's about your candles." Nikos put the letters at the side of my table and bowed to leave. True to his words, the letters were all talking about the scented candles I made— talks spread by the maids— and says that they would like to visit me for a cup of tea. Mostly high ranking nobles sent their letters and one of them is Lady Silvia Esteban. I chuckled at the thought; why would the very arrogant daughter of a duke want to visit me in my estate? Me who she looked down for a long time? Also, she isn't the type to be interested in some maid talks.
'Now this makes me wonder.' I dismissed her letter and read the others whom I would be much happy to entertain in my manor. I sent them all a reply that I would host a tea party two days after the hunting event.
I don't want to ignore the main purpose on why I made this scented candles. This would just be exclusive for Marcus Zoldago for the meantime. Right now, all I want is for the chats to circle around the duchy and the kingdom and hopefully, reach the ears of Marcus— for that would delight me very much. I called Nikos and have him deliver my replies to the ladies who sent me letters and I also burned Lady Silvia's letter.
Then, Yuri came in with my tea when I remembered Uriel and his connections with Marcus. As a token of appreciation, a thanks and a bribe, I sent him some scented candles— mint scented of course— wrapped in simple decorated boxes with a note. I hope this would make him happy and relaxed. Afterwards, I continued my paper works.
Today, it's one week and four days left before the hunting event, maybe it's time to get a new dress.