On the third day of the week, instead of having Arvia knock on my door for my usual lessons, when I opened the door I found Denzel waiting for me. He had already told me about the match I was supposed to have on Sunday, and, now that I had Arvia helping me with the language he almost never visited, so it was quite the surprise.

I crossed my arms and asked him, "what is it?"

"Do you know who Duke Victor of Thraka is?"

"Not really, why?"

"Because he invited us at a luncheon. His messenger made it clear that I was to bring you too."

I took a step back. "Wait a second. What the hell does a duke what with me now?"

He threw his hands up. "Hell if I know. But he's the cousin of the king and arguably the third most powerful man in the kingdom. If he say-"

"Wait," I interrupted him as the hamster in my brain finally made its wheel turn, "I think I know why. I think I met his son at the market the other day with Arvia. He asked me some kind of memento and I gave him one."

He blinked a few times then burst out laughing. "Excellent! Excellent! You're truly a natural at this!"

"Thanks?" I said, unsure what he was referring to.

"Anyway, we have to get you dressed for the occasion," he said, before shouting something I didn't quite catch.

A timid Yvonne and another maid then appeared from another door in the building, carrying a wooden crate that they brought into my room. They then closed the door, leaving Denzel out and closed the blinders, leaving just a fissure to let some light in. When they opened the crate, I was immediately filled with dread. Inside it there were a red dress dress and various utensils to do my hair.

When I came out my room again, wearing the flowing gown and with my hair curled by an iron, Denzel looked at me for a moment, before laughing so hard he hand to hold his stomach. I just sighed and said, "can I take it off now?"

He nodded, waving me away, his laughter showing no signs to stop.

I quickly took the dress off, deciding to go with my sandy brown fur set instead. While I was at it, I took the opportunity to shave the side of my head again, and restyle my hair in the way of the tribe.

This time, when I came out, Denzel was already waiting next to a carriage ready to depart. He looked at me, and motioned me to get in, saying, "let's go."

The carriage was barely high enough for me to not hit the ceiling with my head while sitting, and it took quite some effort to get in. At least the padded seat was comfortable enough, and I had it all to myself while Denzel sat on the one opposite to me.

"I can't say it's the most elegant attire I've ever seen, but we can just say that it's a ceremonial dress of your people, if someone complains," he said as the carriage started moving.

"Well, we do dress like this during ceremonies too, if it helps."

He shrugged and said, "it doesn't really matter if it's true or not, few know your people down here," before turning to look out of the window.

The ride only lasted a few minutes, as the estate of the Duke was in the same part of the city, which made me think that the carriage was meant more for appearances than actual utility. We were met out of the carriage by a servant, who guided us through the yard up to the entrance of the mansion, which was somehow even larger than Denzel's.

Waiting for us there, there were a man in his late thirties with tanned skin and a clean-shaved chiseled jaw, a beautiful woman who had to be ten years younger than him with pale skin and hair tied in an updo held by a braid, who was wearing a yellow gown, and the kid I had met at the market. Denzel bowed to them, and, after taking notice of the custom, I followed soon after him.

The duke said something to Denzel, part of which I understood was the duke thanking him, after which he raised from his bow and replied with more thanking and a question. The duke said something in return, and Denzel then told me to rise from my bow and that we had been invited because the duke's soon was apparently a huge fan of me and was really grateful for the small piece of wood.

More pleasantries followed, then the duke guided us to a side of the mansion, where an archway led into an inner yard, in which a gazebo with a table ready for lunch had been prepared. He had us sit and soon a servant with a food cart came to the table to deliver a variety of dishes. I waited for the others to get served so that I wouldn't make any faux pas, then, seeing how anyone requested what they wanted off the cart, I too asked for what looked like it would fit my tastes the best.

With our food now in front of us, Denzel and the duke got into a lively conversation, which i could only understand snippets of, and it sounded like they were trying to organize some kind of event. It finally became clear what they were talking about when Denzel decided to sum up what they had been talking about and told me that there was going to be a large fair to celebrate the year's harvest and many nobles used to sponsor various events for this kind of fair, as well as individuals to take part in tournaments.

"So, he wants me to take part in a tournament?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "No, those tournaments are usually reserved to knights. We can't risk you squishing a noble's son like a ripe tomato. He still wants you to take part, since you're the attraction of the moment, but we're still thinking about what we could have you do."

I thought about it for a second then said, "I might have an idea or two, actually."

He raised an eyebrow. "Let's hear them."

"We could have people challenge me to an arm-wrestling match and offer a prize to those who win, everyone who wants to participate would have to pay a fee, and even if they lose, they get some memento from me as a participation prize, to make more people participate," I explained.

He nodded. "That's actually not bad. What else did you have in mind?"

"The city guard is starting to get pretty good. We could give a small demonstration. Or," I continued, "we could have an event for children during which I dress up as a frost giant and they would try to 'kill the monster'. Any kid likes to be the hero of a story, after all."

He blinked a few times, surprised. "You actually surprise me sometimes. Those are all pretty good suggestions."

I scoffed at him. "What, you thought we gorchevs were all brainless brutes?"

"Yes, actually," he admitted without showing a hint of remorse.

“Do you want to be punched again?" I said, giving him a smile.

"Ah, no, sorry," he said, obviously not sorry at all, before turning to tell the duke my various proposal.

He ended up liking all of them, and, since the fair would last three days, he asked me if I could do hold the arm-wrestling event every morning, while the children event would take place for a few hours on the first and last afternoon and the demonstration with the guards on the second one. He also told us not to worry about getting the city guard on board and that he would be the one to talk them into it.