I awoke the next morning at the first bell of the day. Standing in my crib, I noticed Fazio also stirring. He was still young, but taller than me by a noticeable margin. Two seasons of training had reduced much of his childhood fat, revealing the lean build underneath. His tanned skin, dark hair, and brown eyes marked him as a native of the five duchies, and if you didn't know better, you might mistake him for a relative of the Duke.
As I stretched, I couldn't help but notice the way the early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. I remembered that today was a day of importance—Isfetday, the day of our court appointment.
Fazio looked over at me, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Morning. This is going to take some getting used to." I smiled, and he couldn't help but smile back. He continued, "I've seen Mona get you ready for the day enough times. Do you want me to do it?"
I nodded, saying, "Fasio!" (Fazio) The baby talk was tiresome, but I kept reminding myself it was only temporary. Since today was Isfetday, the day of our court appointment, Fazio selected a set of fine clothes in warm, summer colors.
As he helped me dress, I noticed the meticulous care he took, ensuring every button was fastened properly and every crease smoothed out. It was clear he was taking his new role seriously, and I felt a pang of gratitude toward him.
Before the time Mona came in, we were already dressed and sitting on the bed with nothing to do. I held an imaginary dagger in my hand, thrusting and parrying the air. The memory of the real dagger that had nearly ended my life flashed through my mind, but I pushed it aside. This body, though small and fragile, would one day be strong. For now, play was the only training I could afford.
Fazio chuckled, "Even though a dagger nearly ended your life, you're still pretending to be me. I wouldn't have chosen this life, but at least I'm serving someone fearless." Joining my play, Fazio pretended to hold a dagger as well, and we sparred with the air.
When Mona entered the room, she gasped. "Fazio! That's—" She trailed off, seemingly realizing we weren't doing anything truly wrong.
Fazio shrugged. "He wanted to. What's the big deal?"
Mona huffed and walked up to us. "I assume you got him ready?" Fazio nodded, and she began inspecting my clothes. "Well, you didn't do too bad, but there are some things you need to learn. When helping him dress, pay attention to this area. Unless it's pulled taut, it'll bunch up like this—" Mona continued her lesson, teaching her son the finer points of dressing a young noble.
I watched with mild amusement as she demonstrated, I had thought that Fazio had done a good job, but there's always something new to learn.
When she finally ran out of things to critique, she sighed, her voice suddenly soft. "Soon, you two won't even need me."
I couldn't help but try to cheer her up. "Mohma!" (Mona) She smiled, and I knew these two would be close to me for the rest of my life in this world.
We left early, well before the second bell, and were already climbing into the carriage. Daily audience slots were assigned, but arriving late or if other petitioners ran long could mean missing your slot. The Ducal couple, Anna, and I—carried by my father—rode in the carriage, while our retainers and a troupe of guards walked alongside. We were on high alert, though the assumption was that no one would strike immediately after a failed attempt.
As the carriage rolled through the city, I peeked through the small window, watching as the streets began to stir with life. Merchants were setting up their stalls, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling with the earthy smell of the cobblestones. Just the mere smell of freshly made food had made me hungry.
We passed other villas in this district before reaching the wall and the large gate. As we passed through, the city square with its grand fountain came into view—the same one we had arrived at almost a week ago. The surrounding buildings were opulent, their gentle curves of white stone dazzling in the morning light that peeked over the forest. At the center of the square stood a towering statue of a long-forgotten hero, his sword raised high, eternally poised in a victorious stance. This square was the heart of the city, where people gathered to share news, celebrate festivals, and witness the decrees of the King.
Yawning widely, Anna commented, "I understand the need to be on time, but must we arrive so early?"
Father nodded. "As Dukes, we're expected to be among the first petitioners. Any lateness would suggest we didn't value the appointment. Our status demands we be there, waiting, before the second bell." Anna nodded sleepily, yawning again.
I sympathized with Anna; waking up early was never fun. During my time in the space naval academy, I had dreaded rising before dawn for physical training. But through repetition, I developed the habit of waking early. Now, with the bell that rang before dawn, I couldn't help but wake up, despite the fact that nobles could usually sleep in until the second bell. Fazio and Mona woke at the first bell, so it made sense that I should too.
Discipline was a cornerstone of survival, both for commoners and nobles, something that had been drilled into me in my previous life. Here, it seemed no less necessary. The routine of the bell, the structured hours—it all reminded me of the regimented life I had left behind, yet it provided a strange sense of comfort.
The universe, or the gods, had placed me here, and I intended to make the most of it.
The carriage slowed and eventually came to a stop. We exited gracefully, leaving most of our guards to wait with the carriage. Per my father's explanation to Fazio, once inside the palace, we were guests of the King and couldn't be targeted. We walked through the palace gates, passing through a powerful protection barrier as we entered. I felt a slight tingle as we crossed the threshold, the barrier's magic brushing against my skin like a faint breeze.
The wealth and opulence of the foyer were almost overwhelming. It wasn't quite to the level of gaudy or tacky in its display. The palace entry foyer was almost one hundred meters long with tall, vaulted ceilings that were easily three stories away. There were paintings that were almost the size of houses I saw on my island retreat of Sampagnanoli. They depicted beautiful landscapes, famous battles, or famous people. Precious metals and gems were inlaid in the walls and glittered from the art pieces displayed on pedestals. There was source-less, likely magical, light emitting from seemingly everywhere. A faint fragrance of lavender permeated the perfectly climate-controlled air.
It was clear that Anna had never seen the inside of the palace before as her reaction was just as astonished as Mona and Fazio's. However, Selahe and the ducal couple looked like they were used to this scene. My father led us forward, providing some historical context behind the displayed artifacts for Anna and the rest of us.
Pointing at one of the paintings, he explained, "This depicts the battle of Accantararo. Once that city fell, Antano and Aleia fell soon after. Bringing what is now the five duchies into the fold." We passed a worn-out suit of armor and he continued, "This is the armor of Tecla Tasca. The late commoner hero that single handedly held off the monster invasion of Pase in the construction of the Great Tunnel."
His explanations were a bit different than in my previous life, and I wondered if he had a special interest in history or if nobles were expected to know the details of such things.