《Help, It's Seven Wives For One Duchess, And That Duchess Is Me!!!》Council of War
Advertisement
"AAAAARRRRRGHHHH!!!" We all flinch as Karen screams at the top of her lungs. But, to be honest, none of us blame her, even as she reflexively reaches for some tableware, and Jennifer interposes herself expertly.
And the reason for her rage is lying right there, in the middle of the table between me, Lynn, Jennifer, and Liz.
A dress.
Oh, such a simple thing. Plain, even. And that's... Part of the problem. The other part being that it's a season out of fashion. Ugggghhh, having to dress chic... I hate it. We all quietly agree we hate it. But it's the third part that's making her rage.
It's a present. From Jane. And it has a note that's all sweetness and light.
"Dearest Karen,
Having seen your favourite dress stained by your hard work, I couldn't help but applaud your dedication, and have sent you an invitation to my birthday party next week, and a dress to go with it. I hope you're doing well, and I would be very happy if you wore it!"
"Of course she would. And she'd be very happy if we all accepted her invitation and just watched as Karen's humiliated." Liz clenches her fist. "I can already see that poisonous little smile, just a hint of smirk..."
You're one to talk about smirks, Liz. But I can't say you're wrong. It's precisely why we're gathered here. And it's also why Jennifer is holding Lynn's sword. A perfectly reasonable decision, considering her hand reaching for it when it's not there.
Essentially, this is as open a declaration of war you can get without actually declaring dire vengeance. If she goes in that dress, people will talk. And not even the fact it was a deliberately thoughtless gift will protect Karen from the malicious gossip.
Advertisement
"Letty, please, can I just... Slip at the party? I promise I'll make it look as accidental as possible!"
I smile ruefully. Lynn is speaking calmly, but when we got the letter from Karen asking us for help, the "slip" she's mentioning is a headbutt. Sorry, Lynn, it would be hard for a swordmistress to be to accidentally slip, or be tripped, much less in such a way as to give that vile child a Glasgow Kiss.
"I'm sorry, Lynn, but this is a different kind of battlefield than you're used to. We need to do this without any sort of violence, even as little as a spilled drink." Liz nods, and Karen, Lynn, and... Jennifer frown?
Wow, that's a side of Jennifer I didn't know existed. Well, table that for later. What's important is this dress.
"So we can't just turn this down?" Liz shakes her head.
"Sorry, Lynn, we can't. It's a gift from a higher ranked noble to a lower one, and an invitation of the same kind. I have to appreciate how bitchy this is."
"DON'T APPRECIATE IT, HELP ME GET RID OF IT!" Another move toward crockery, another interposition by Jennifer. Thumbs up, Jennifer!
Right... Thinking, thinking, thinking... Ah... HA!
"Jennifer? This dress is rather plain, but... It's a good base for a dress, wouldn't you agree?"
Jennifer starts a little, but I can see the wheels turning in her head... A little creakily, but... Thoughtful look... Thoughtful noises... She picks it up. Turns it around a few times... And smiles. It's a nasty smile, and I quietly resolve myself not to get on her bad side.
"Why yes, Miss Letty, I can see a lot of things we can do to make this dress shine!"
I grin, but Liz is frowning, and Karen and Lynn are confused. Meanwhile, I sip my tea for a moment before continuing.
Advertisement
"Liz... There's no actual rule in party etiquette that you can't improve a gift to flatter the gift giver, is there?"
Liz nods, cautiously, but she's still not convinced. Okay, let's work on that.
"After all, Karen was so inspired by the gift that she wanted to do the dress, and Jane justice, because she didn't want to make Jane look bad by coming to the party plainly despite the fact the dress was wonderful, wasn't she?"
"NO! I'M NOT SAYING THAT, I'M GOING TO KICK HER IN THE-"
"You will. Letty's got a point." Liz's voice is quiet, but it stops Karen in her tracks. For all that Karen and Liz have real trouble getting along, Karen's learned to listen to what Liz says.
"But..." Oh, Karen, don't give us those sad puppy eyes, we want to kick her in the- too. But we can't.
"It's okay, Karen. If it were sent to me, I'd murder her reputation in a heartbeat, because she's exactly the kind of girl I hate. I might even punch her. But if you were to try that, Jane would throw her weight around, and you'd suffer." Her face goes red, but she nods, fists clenched.
It's a hard pill to swallow, but Karen knows. She knows the power of rank as much as we do, and, sad to say, she's done that a few times in the past, mostly to brag. But I smile at her, and she loosens up a little.
"That doesn't mean, however, that we can't play her game better than she can." I laugh sinisterly, and everyone looks at me strangely.
Whaaaaat? I hate this kind of girl, and I'm enjoying rubbing her face in what's going to happen!
Is that so wrong?!?
Advertisement
Dungeon I/O (⚒ Crafting ⚒)
A young engineer with photographic memory dies after choking on a pretzel. He is reincarnated in a fantasy world as a dungeon core. Having near infinite knowledge from Earth, and infinitesimal common sense, he begins to shape his dungeon into the ultimate factory of resources. Collect all the things! Automate all the systems! Even adventurers can be farmed! And if a few world governments collapse in the process, well, it’s all for the sake of science! This story is like if Factorio was about dungeons, played by someone with ADHD. Warning, lots of numbers and spreadsheets. Arithmophobes beware!
8 143Whisper From a Dream
Whisper cannot recall who she is, or where she comes from. As she discovers more of her past, she learns the terrifying truth of her identity, and of the being that now threatens everything she treasures most. Aided by her partner, Raden, the two must defend each other, their friends, and the world. If they prevail, Whisper will have the one thing she most desires - the chance to go home.
8 164What the Green Bird Sees
On a lovely tree with vibrant leaves that welcome the dawning spring, sits a little green bird. Like all of the humans it watches, the small creature is just as ordinary yet just as unique. Some days, it spreads its viridescent wings to survey a rooftop. Other days, it puffs up its fluffy feathers and takes a nap. What lives has the little bird flown by? What stories has it witnessed? This is the tale of the little green bird's adventures, its journey through the skies. This fiction updates every day, with each new story involving a word with a beautiful meaning. Cover art credits to lx!
8 210Lost then found (eren x reader)
You and Eren have known each other forever. When shinganshina is breached you loose each other. You believe he's dead and him you. what will happen when you both join the cadets.( Disclaimer: I do not own attack on Titan or its characters)
8 120Azurlane: Future Prosperity
[This Story will not be Based on the Anime and Main Story of Azurlane. This Story is in my World View with Characters you love interacts all the same.]When the winds often representing change swepts through the world, everything follows. All futures are pre-determined be it someone's demise or ones rise. And yet someone stood still, not the winds nor the storms can move her. Dull eyes and a bland expression she is a woman covered in blood. With an envious gaze forward she is left behind, like petrified into stone she stood defiantly.A Being with no will and purpose but only the duty to fullfil as a Pawn. This Person's fate is independent, because she is merely a key to a greater outcome. Though, that is an uncertainty and unprobability.(I do not own the Photo's nor Azurlane and the Character's that will be mentioned in the Story they all belong to their Respective Companies. Except If I Claim them)
8 64Unfinished
TATTERED SHOEBOX was one of the first multi-chapter books I wrote.We revisit this tale and learn more about Kento and Leah and what they need to do to finish what was started.
8 165