Altura

I sighed as I stepped around yet another box of fallen toys. I could complain that children really ought to know how to pick a single toy from a box without dropping them all, but I knew that it was a completely natural reaction for a child.

It had been a week since the children’s organization, now named the Ducal Organization for Mental and Physical health of Minors, had been formed. In a classical Alphabet fashion, I had named it DOMPOM. It had not gone over well. Apparently, people had a heavy preference for Department of Minors. And so it became.

The Education institution had been named the Ducal Education Council. It hadn’t even needed any debate, the members had just smiled and accepted it. Apparently it wasn’t important.

An association for construction had been made and named Ducal Construction Council. It had even less fanfare. The members of the guard responsible for making houses had requested that they have their own organization, and I had been happy to provide it to them. And that was all that happened.

But I could think over the organizations later, I had a purpose in coming here. Aswelth would be arriving in a few minutes, and I wanted to get the notifications out of the way by then. I had to admit, I had been delaying seeing them so that I got a level up this time around.

System, unarchive notifications.

Organization founded!

Ducal Organization for Mental and Physical health of Minors (Department of Minors)

Qi gained: 535 Qi

Ducal Construction Council

Qi gained: 330 Qi

The now named Ducal Education Council has begun operations.

Qi gained: 210 Qi

Total Qi gained 1075 Qi

Level up initiated!

Early-Plantling(8710/9600) → Mid-Plantling(9785/19200)

+6 to all stats

Yes! Level up! I felt Qi pour into my Plantling as it grew some more. This was the first level up in a while that did not happen, while I was eager to do something else. Had Aswelth even arrived yet? Oh yes, he had. There he was.Staring at me.

“Congratulations on reaching the Mid-Plantling realm, your grace.” Aswelth said.

“Thank you. It was a very enjoyable experience.” I replied.

“I would think so, it was the first realm crossing that took a while, yes?” Aswelth commented. I mean, all the others were due to exceptional circumstances. Even now, I was gaining far too much Qi due to making organizations.

“Yes, but it is to be expected. I suspect that even this level of Qi gain will drop off in time. I can’t continue making organizations like this for very long, after all.” I said as we walked towards the office.

“Perhaps. Have you asked your father about how Qi is gained from organizations, your grace?” Aswelth asked, “It might be vital to know while founding these organizations. While they are important in themselves, you reaching Tree level is also very important.”

Whoa. Hold on, why was me becoming a Tree so important? I mean, I was flattered that Aswelth thought I could do it, but I still couldn’t wrap my head around why. It wasn’t as if I was going to compete for the throne, the duchies were well and still quite powerful.

And the answer has appeared. The duchies’ relied on the fact that they had Treelings to extend their power. If the duchy had a Tree, then it would be immune to their reach. Which also made me becoming Queen a much more likely option.

I may have to change my plans. This hadn’t been a part of the plan. Ruling the duchy was one thing, but the Kingdom was a mess. There were too many forces running around in it, and there was significant external pressure and influence. It would be very hard to do anything in there without completely upsetting the society as a whole.

The reason the duchy was so malleable was because I had completely removed the previous leadership, a constant influx of money and people, and no one was invading while I set up the organizations. But that could all be thought of later when it was actually important.

“So, what was it that was so essential that you wanted to meet me at once? I must say that I was quite surprised when you said that it couldn’t even wait for me to get to the treehouse.” I asked Aswelth.

“There is the establishment of the Ducal Guard and the Guild, your grace. But there is also another thing, your grace, your birthday. It is a month from now.” Aswelth said, completely serious. Oh right. This body did turn eleven soon. Uh oh. I would have to deal with puberty again, wouldn’t I?

At least I wouldn’t be the stupid thirteen year old I had been back on Earth. I wonder what the duchy will look like in two years.

“Ah, I see. But why could it not wait?” I asked.

“Because we haven’t made preparations, your grace, the birthday of a noble is a very festive occasion. Usually, it is marked by visits from Noble vassals and neighboring peers arriving to congratulate you and higher ranked nobles sending representatives. As an Archduchess, your party is sure to receive envoys from across the Kingdom. The duchy needs to prepare for that, your grace.” Aswelth said.

Uh oh. That just triggered its very own memory. Apparently there are still a few things left in there. The original Altura had very much been planning to hold a grand ball to celebrate her birthdays when she was Queen. And my, oh my, these things were ridiculously grand.

From gold crockery to antique furniture, the balls were supposed to be a showcase of wealth, prestige and power. Except, all the duchy could give was some rickety furniture from the Roalt Mansion. It was antique, but I doubted if it would be to the posh nobles taste.

Gold crockery at least could be made. A goldsmith would be needed for that,, however. I suppose it was time for me to contact Duke Reinar again. I hadn’t talked to the man after our disagreement, but I suppose this was as good a time as any to reconnect. But I did have one idea up my sleeve.

“Aswelth, do you think that the Clans might have something that could be valuable? Did we recover anything from Clan Qunaris?” I asked.

“I do not remember any old chairs that would suffice, your grace, but I suppose it would not hurt to check. And I suppose it is time that the Clans are dealt with, once and for all.” Aswelth said.

“There will be no 'dealing with,' Aswelth. I would prefer to not look like a bully. Perhaps a few Clan members would like to become applicants to the Guild? It doesn’t come with a guarantee of joining, after all.” I said, grinning evilly. Poor Clans. But I suppose scamming them completely would be wrong. I could just pay in gold.

“But I suppose it would be wrong to scam them. Perhaps it would be best to just offer them gold?” I continued.

“Yes, gold shall do, your grace. Besides, don’t the Clan Members already have the right to apply?” Aswelth replied.

“Yes, but there is no guarantee their application will be accepted or even entertained. I suspect that the Clans would like a guarantee along those lines. But anyway, I think it is time I contacted Father again.” I said as I began running towards the Roalt Mansion.

Thanks to my recent level up, I was now even faster than before. Hooray for stats and cultivation. Reaching the treehouse, I fished out the old pebble and called Duke Reinar.

An image of him appeared before me, glum as always. That man never moved from his post, did he?

“Altura. I hear that congratulation are in order. Plantling level within a month is a splendid achievement.” Duke Reinar said.

“Yes Father, in fact I just crossed into the Mid-Plantling realm. “ I answered as Duke Reinar suddenly twitched, people got really hyper about me crossing realms. I suppose levelling up wasn’t so easy for most of them.

I was just copying organizations from Earth and fantasy, after all. It would be quite hard for locals to think of things like this.

“I see. Is there any specific reason why you called me? I fear that the volunteers will take a while to get there. The road to the valley is not very friendly in this weather.” Duke Reinar said.

“Ah, that is not a worry at the moment. It is merely that Aswelth mentioned that it would be my birthday in a month. The duchy is sadly quite under prepared to host any such event. I was wondering if there was any way for me to borrow a few chairs from Selrin? I can source the gold.” I asked.

Duke Selrin’s face turned very serious. “Altura, have you gotten a manager yet? Doing a birthday celebration has far more to it than just chairs and tables. It needs to look poised, have elegance, and showcase the history and glory of the duchy.”

“I presume that you have none of this. I shall send Lady Illiana to your duchy at once. While she isn’t a very powerful cultivator, she is an extremely able organizer. I hope she will be able to establish a decent celebration. The other duchies will assuredly be coming with the intention to deride your duchy. It is best if they do not get the chance.” Duke Selrin said.

“Lady Illiana should arrive in a few days. I shall see what I can do about the furniture.” Duke Selrin said as the image cut off. I suspected that he was still a little cross that I did not listen to him. But at the same time, he was far more supportive than I remembered him being from the original Altura’s memories. What exactly had caused this change of behavior?