[B2] Chapter 93 — Lead On, My Heroic Prince Of Light

“House Demerti,” Keira prompted, the History of Crysellian Houses open in her hands.

This was not how Ria had expected the rest of her afternoon and early evening to go after returning from Rente Ravelle’s estate. The trip back to the Vorshan Estate had gone without incident. But even to her eyes there did seem to be an increased presence of guards and mages in various House colors visible around the city—not just her own entourage of Ravelle, Novidus, and temple-contracted adventurers that had made itself welcome in and around the estate once they arrived.

“An air affinity minor noble house known for producing well-respected engineers and craftsmen. Vassals to House Ravelle. The current head is researching new airship designs together with Rioden Ravelle. The head’s middle daughter, Nescia, is formally engaged to Verdin Ravelle,” Ria summarized with confidence, enjoying the blank look that came over her friend’s face at her detailed knowledge—at least for this one house.

Keira blinked a few times before having a realization. “Ah, the lunch event with Administrator Rente’s daughter. I see you were able to put the event to good use. Surprising. This is a welcome change from your normal obliviousness to anything not about becoming stronger. Have you taken up a secret interest in airships?”

Ria started to huff at the reflexive needling and uncharitable assumptions, but… “Maybe I have,” she half-mumbled to herself and admitted, “I think I hadn’t given the subject proper enough consideration before.”

“Learning how the different Houses connect to subjects that interest you is a good way to facilitate remembering their important people and assets,” Keira noted with approval and continued the torture session, “House Denelli.”

“A fire affinity knight House based in the Fire Lakes region of Tellia province,” Ria recited and complained, “I thought, in the stories, noble girls just had to smile and look pretty and attend tea parties and dances.”

Keira made a scoffing sound. “That’s true enough if a girl has no ambitions other than producing the next generation. I’d rather be more than a pretty face and a bloodline, thank you very much. And don’t pretend you don’t feel the same.”

Ria sighed. Keira wasn’t wrong.

“House Denevi.”

Ugh. Why did some of them sound so much alike!

A knock at the conservatory door saved Ria from the blank she was drawing.

Ana poked her head in. “Um, Young Lady Orlisi is here to help with-”

“It’s fine, it’s fine,” the mentioned elf’s voice interrupted, and a squeak came from Ana as the door opening the rest of the way revealed the gorgeously-attired elf picking the maid girl up using her armpits and trading places with her before nonchalantly slipping into the room, gauzy fabric lightly fluttering from the outfit’s waist and partially detached sleeves. “Yo, Ria. I got your thank you ‘gift’ from Shadwich. Heh. Afternoon, Keira.”

“Afternoon-” Keira started to respond while giving a nod of greeting.

“Orlisi!” Ria called out in surprise at the elf’s sudden appearance. “Are you… okay now?”

Wait… she’s not mad about the ‘gift’, is she?

“Meh. Good enough to fake it. I got some nice insights from your Proving that I can’t wait to consolidate once I’m well enough. The dresses and such?” the elf girl prompted, looking around as if expecting to see their own fancy clothing already being worn or arranged for display and being prepared.

“Not here yet. But they should be arriving soon,” Keira reported.

“Young Lady Keira, if you’ll forgive the interruption,” Ana’s mother’s excited voice spoke up from the hallway leading to the main dining room and kitchen. “Your mother says Lady Vienne has arrived and asks that the young mistress, Young Lady Orlisi, and Miss Ria meet her in the great hall as soon as you can.”

Ria gave Keira a surprised look. “She came in person?”

“Her designs are being featured at a prominent event, so maybe it’s not so surprising,” Kiera suggested, but looked just as surprised. The girl returned her attention to the estate’s head maid and gave a nod. “Thank you, Cielle. Tell my mother we will come directly there.”

“Of course, mistress,” Cielle said then held a bowed curtsey. “The staff will be praying for a successful debut for the young mistress and all of you who’ve been in our care these few weeks. And of course, for everyone’s safety. Dreadful business, what happened this noon.”

“Your prayers are welcome, Ciella. We are grateful for your family’s loyal service to House Vorshan,” Keira acknowledged and added with a grin tugging the corner of her mouth, “I hear Ria’s been well pleased with Ana’s efforts.”

“Ah, thank you for saying that. I’ll be sure to give her more responsibility.” The way Ana’s mother blushed with pride as she excused herself and left with a bounce in her step was heartwarming.

“That was quick,” Orlisi said with a laugh. “The grooms probably hadn’t even finished sorting my carriage.”

“Indeed,” Keira agreed. “Shall we?”

Orlisi nodded and patted her vault key. “I have everything with me.”

“Our dresses await,” Ria concurred with a grin and motioned for Keira to lead on, prodding Ranger through their bond, so he’d know to come too.

She felt her excitement building again. Her big day was here—the day she officially became a member of high society. Technically, that had already happened when she accepted her honorary military rank and war hero title, and though not a knight or licensed mage yet, she probably could insist on being addressed as ‘Sir Ria’.

“How are you holding up?” Orlisi quietly asked as they walked.

Ria could tell from the tone Orlisi was referring to the attempt on her life. “Keira thinks I should hire a personal maid like Miela—for my protection. And to help with social awareness as well, I guess.”

“Hmm. It’s not a bad idea,” Orlisi agreed. “You will need to start putting together a household soon.”

“Didn’t I also say so?” Keira reinforced, glancing back at her. “And speaking of setting up a household, Ana adores you. I know with what happened you’re worried about the safety of anyone you hire, but loyalty is very valuable. She’s also the right age to begin protection training, and Ana’s younger sister is old enough to take over Ana’s current duties, so my father won’t mind if you hire her.”

“I’ll think about it,” Ria hedged. Before the attack, she had planned on bringing up hiring Ana herself, but now… if something happened, how could she face Ana’s mother and father? How could she even face herself?

When they arrived at the estate’s great hall, it was already a flurry of activity with Lady Vienne’s apprentices arranging the clothing and setting up several folding screens to divide the hall in half. Lady Etrina waved them over from where she was talking with Lady Vienne. Like Orlisi, Lady Etrina and Lady Vienne were already wearing their event attire.

“I see Young Lady Orlisi is already here,” Lady Vienne noted, giving Orlisi’s flowing attire an appraising eye.

“I am. Greetings, Lady Vienne. I expect it will be fascinating working together this evening,” Orlisi smoothly offered.

“Greetings. Indeed, it shall.” Lady Vienne turned her critical eye to Ria and Keira next. “You are ready for your dressing?”

“We are,” Keira vouched.

Ria was glad Ana had helped her bathe and wash her hair right away upon returning from her lunch with Leriah, otherwise she was sure the apprentices would be whisking her off for an embarrassing washing. Though being pampered by the skilled apprentices might be nice, embarrassing things were still embarrassing.

Aeri and Arthur arrived shortly after, and Arthur was promptly escorted to the ‘boys’ side of the privacy screens.

What followed was a disorienting rush of assistants stripping her even of her underthings, everything replaced by Lady Vienne’s expertly crafted work. Ria was quick to put her shadow aura in place when her medallion of faith was removed, which did cause some minor consternation, but to their credit, the apprentices courageously powered through and continued their work—if with a bit more deference than prior.

An enchanted lotion was worked into her skin, and a similar but lighter oil was worked into her hair. With her magesight and sensing-sphere, Ria could see tiny powdered crystals being distributed along her skin and hair by the liquids. Her curiosity about the treatment was further heightened upon overhearing Lady Vienne telling Lady Etrina that the lotions and hair oils were a fun surprise suggested by Lady Asara.

Aldri and Phaelys showed up sometime later, both joining Arthur on the ‘boys’ side. As far as she knew, Iselyn was meeting Faris directly and they would join up at Lord Jevaran’s estate for any last moment adjustments.

Ria giddily observed herself in the tall mirrors rolled into position for her, turning and twisting to see the regalia from different angles. She really did look like a storied priestess of darkness from a fantasy epic—it certainly helped that she was much less of a shortie with the extra height from her boots!

Ranger beside her was also adorably posing for the mirrors, quite the dashingly-dark side-kick in his new matching xernium and sapphire collar and pristine grooming. Ria had been surprised that Ranger also received the mystery hair oil treatment from the apprentices, but they seemed to know what they were doing.

She smiled again at her own reflection. Though admittedly only a petite terror due to her still girlish figure and stature, something about being clad in woven crystal and gemstones just felt right, and her pride agreed, further suffusing its regal sentiment into her aura magic and her poise. She was benevolent though. She would allow her lessers to raise their eyes and behold her grand presence. How could they appreciate her glorious self if they weren’t able to gaze upon her, after all? A giggle slipped out, and using the mirrors, she quickly adjusted her face to a more appropriate expression of mild amusement—just in time as Lady Vienne drew near to inspect the work done by her apprentices.

“How is it?” Lady Vienne asked even though the famous designer likely knew the answer from the fluctuations in her aura if the woman’s own proud expression was any indication.

Seeing the completed regalia after having Priest Renner address her as an actual saintess, Ria couldn’t help again wondering how much Lady Asara and Lady Vienne knew. Had Lady Asara’s guards or servants noticed Renner and his Temple-contracted adventurers following her around?

For how long had they been following her around?

“It’s exquisite. I can’t wait to see it beside Young Lord Phaelys’,” Ria readily praised. “Thank you, Lady Vienne.”

Lady Vienne gave an agreeable bob of her head. “It was my pleasure, young Ria. I’m looking forward to seeing it further improved by the young Yurren scion’s efforts.”

Ria nodded, also excited.

“What do you think of Young Lady Keira’s?”

A short distance away, Keira was still surrounded by apprentices as they assisted Orlisi with arranging Keira’s golden tresses into complicated flower-graced braidwork. The Lady Etrina hovered nearby giving her daughter proud encouragement.

Ria was jealous that Keira got her chub-, er, cherubic-enhanced assets prominently featured in a completely shoulderless design by the leaf-shaped fabric that made her friend seem to be a dryad blooming out of a flower bud, but she was mature enough not to let that color her opinion. Nope. Not-a-bit.

The choice of spring greenery for the color and theme of Keira’s dress was a complete surprise when considering eye and hair colors, but the dress’ leaves had smooth blue gems that matched Keira’s eyes placed like water-droplets caught from the rain and gold-spun detailing that made her hair look like the first rays of Anasari’s light upon the day. The layering and flare of the ‘leaves’ at the chest, back, and hips while staying tight against her waist also gave her slightly too-healthy friend a nice shapely figure without the need for an excessively tight corset.

Then again, the pale jade-like greens and delicate gold embroidery of Keira’s dress did match House Vorshan’s colors and heraldic theme of curved ears of golden wheat on a pale green background. So, maybe the choice of design shouldn’t have been too unexpected?

“I really like it,” Ria grudgingly admitted even though she was happy for her friend. “It’s not a theme I would have considered, but seeing it, imagining her in anything else seems less somehow.”

A light laugh slipped out from Lady Vienne, and Ria caught a mischievous creasing of the artisan’s eyes as the woman lightly revealed, “The young lady has a gentle charm about her, but she has yet to fully blossom into it. You could say this is a bit of nudging from a meddlesome woman.”

With the smile beaming on the-young-lady-in-question’s face as said young lady, together with her grandly-attired mother, leaned closer to a mirror to inspect Orlisi’s work, Ria could only agree, thankful that her best friend would surely be able to stand out as special even amid the refined nobles of the capital. “She loves it, Lady Vienne. You have my thanks for taking care of my friend.”

Lady Vienne graced Ria with a warm smile of her own. “Of course, dear.”

A smug Orlisi was soon headed Ria’s way with worktables, fancy boxes, and Lady Vienne’s apprentices in tow.

“Ready?” Orlisi challenged Ria as the apprentices set up the tables. “With how well Kiera’s turned out and the theme of your saintess regalia there. I’m going to have to up my game to the next level.”

Ria mentally cringed at the thought of the particular elf saying the disturbing things she was currently saying but nodded and agreed with a less than heartfelt, “I’m ready.”

The combing of her hair and the parting and braiding shown to the apprentices to complete didn’t validate Ria’s worries or test her resolve as much as the first plant Orlisi gathered from her boxes and held up: a sinister black vine.

“Nightdragon Snaps, definitely,” the elf girl decided with a worrisome degree of amusement.

Ria watched the mirror with bated breath as Orlisi used her magic to twine the vines into her hair, forming a diadem of sorts, and barely held back a gasp as the buds along the vines opened into small shadowy black blooms with lustrous golden veins and interiors shimmering with sunlit metallic glory when each caught the light just so.

“Moon lilies could work too…”

A large petalled flower with soft nacre petals and sapphire blue interior found its place behind an ear exposed by the asymmetric arrangement of her hair.

And so it went, until with the shadow pearl dangling from her left wrist and her medal of valor prominently pinned to her mantle, she was finally ready.

To the approving compliments of Lady Vienne and a curious Lady Etrina, who had approached with Keira while Orlisi toiled, Ria took one last look in the full-length mirrors, where the figure that stared back at her was no longer a dark priestess shortie but a future queen blessed by the god of shadows and the goddess of the moon.

She looked the part at least. A smile tugged at the corner of her lip, only for her silly teenage delusions to be tempered by the reality that becoming queen of Revant might not just be childish imaginings, depending on how her efforts at revenge played out.

“Shall we see how the boys are doing? While Young Lady Orlisi tends to Miss Aeri?” Lady Vienne prompted.

“Oh, yes! Lets!” Lady Etrina enthusiastically agreed. “This has been so much fun, Lady Vienne. I can only lament that I’ve already commissioned the girl’s dresses for the celebration of my lovely Keira’s upcoming birthday. Maybe we could retain your services again for the yearly celebration of Grand Games winners at Vesali Castle later in the year?”

“I don’t see why not,” Lady Vienne allowed as they walked the length of the privacy screens. “Is your daughter competing this year?”

“Oh, no, no. The Golden Dawn team doesn’t allow first-years to compete,” Lady Etrina demured. “Ria is competing for her Order’s team though.”

“My, how exciting. I’ll have to pay more attention to this year’s competition,” Lady Vienne enthused, and the pair of ladies continued to pleasantly chat about upcoming events.

Ria exchanged a glance with Keira. She had no idea that Keira’s mom had arranged for her dress—no doubt another beautiful work by Miss Danna—and from Keira’s raised eyebrows, it was news to her as well.

“You look like royalty, Ria,” Keira whispered.

Ria’s pride and giddiness swelled at hearing her friend say those words. Before, she had assumed she would seem out-of-place beside Phaelys, but if even Keira said so… She really was living her girlhood dream of attending a ball with a prince! Except, if the attack earlier was any indication, the realities of such social heights were becoming all-too-real as well.

Shaking off such thoughts, she chose to enjoy this moment, this evening, as much as she could and grinned back at her friend. “If we look like this, I can’t even imagine how Iselyn and Faris will look!”

“Like the king and queen of a fae court, no doubt!” Keira replied with a bubbly laugh.

No doubt, indeed!

“Oh, would you look at that! The boys look so debonair and gentlemanly! If only I could have one of them escort me,” Lady Etrina gushed, and Keira cringed.

Phaelys made a slight bow. “Lady Etrina, good evening, I offer thanks for your hospitality.”

“Lady Etrina,” the other two boys echoed, with Aldri not quite meeting Lady Etrina’s gaze and seeming a little nervous.

Lady Etrina waved away the formalities. “You are most certainly welcome here to call upon the girls or visit as you like Sir Mage Phaelis and Sir Mage Aldri. You honor our humble home with your presence.”

Ria stepped out from behind the older women to eagerly get a better look at her friends and Phaelys and caught Phaelys’ eyes widen as she and Ranger came more fully into his view. Ria couldn’t keep a thrilled smirk off her face that she had finally earned a reaction from the boy.

“Young Lord Phaelys, Young Lord Aldri,” Ria greeted pleasantly with a slight nod of her head—as a royal should, she chuckled to herself.

It was Aldri’s and Arthur’s first time feeling her shadow aura, and both rooted in place, seemingly shocked.

Keira followed and greeted the boys. Aldri’s reply greeting was a bit mumbled, but as Keira approached him, he managed a praiseworthy, “Keira, you look… more radiant than I could have imagined.”

A blush rose to Keira’s ears, the girl looked away embarrassed before rallying with a mumbled tease of, “You couldn’t even imagine it, huh?”

“What man could truly imagine the beauty of his love wrapped in Taniel’s blessing and graced by Anasari’s light?” Aldri verbally swaggered with a huge grin, having refound his confidence, and it would have been cringeworthy if not for the deific image he cast himself, attired in a theme of gilded flames to match his sprig-wreathed fiery red hair.

As it was, Keira blushed even more fiercely, and to Keira’s further embarrassment, Lady Etrina made a noise like her heart was melting or something while dramatically pressing a hand to her chest.

Ria agreed with Arthur’s eye roll, and chose to turn her attention back to Phaelys, who was looking more than resplendent himself in his own elven-styled formal attire—a faintly iridescent white long-vest with gold trim and gossamer tails over an amethyst flowing-sleeved formal shirt, embroidered white pants tucked into soft-shined white boots, and a cape that she noticed featured his House crest as she calmly circled around him to let her eyes greedily take in the view.

It was in the details that the interaction of similar and contrasting played out between their paired outfits. Both of their outfits shared the same geometric patterned embroidery and the cape wasn’t the only place that his house crest made an appearance. The emblem of a stylized waterfall and crystals was also present on the ends of his elven belt and cloak’s broach just like her own seal on hers—his cufflinks and gold jabot, too, but she didn’t have those. For contrast with the angular sapphire crystals and black xernium of her own outfit, Phaelys’ cape featured large white moonstones with a smooth cabochon finish on the shoulders set in gold and a simple high semi-circular collar. The soft white stone and the collar’s clean lines together with his boots gave a crisp military feel, both matching and contrasting with her own religious-inspired battle regalia. Even his ceremonially-styled amethyst hair and gem-like irises were both compliment and contrast to hers, and that was before Orlisi adding his crown woven of golden sprigs with their auspicious amber and multi-hued berries versus her crown of twisted black vines and darkly mysterious flowers.

Without a doubt, she was the menacing avatar of darkness to Phaelys’ heroic and princely light. Phaelys’ admirers and his House’s allies would surely approve of that symbolism, she thought with amusement.

“You seem particularly… pleased?” he commented with a raised eyebrow. “I’m glad you approve of Lady Vienne’s work. Many consider her talent one of House Vesali’s peerless treasures.”

“I am,” Ria admitted, giving him the greediest, most evil smile she could manage.

He laughed. “I am relieved. As expected, the unpleasantness of earlier in the day hasn’t dampened your spirit in the slightest, and at the risk of sounding like your excessively forward Ordermate, though I was confident in Lady Vienne’s talents, the results have greatly exceeded my expectations. You will certainly make a strong impression during your debut this evening.”

“I was lucky Young Lady Keira lent me her maid and to have received timely assistance, otherwise those against me might have succeeded,” Ria tempered, not wanting the boy to continue building unrealistic expectations of her.

Phaelys nodded agreeably. “Competent and reliable attendants are quite valuable. Xander rewards those that make their own luck, or so it is said. Ah, your friend from the Astacio’s governance academy and your chaperone are ready. If there’s nothing else required of us here, we should head to Lord Jevaran’s estate to meet up with Young Lady Iselyn and Young Lord Faris and observe the arrival of the guests.”

At Phaelys’ prompting, Ria turned to get a look at Aeri’s completed debut theme. Aeri’s hair wasn’t a flaming red like Aldri’s more of a cheery sun-kissed cinnamon, and her fluttery high-waisted dress’ played off that, layering sky-like blues, and blustery, billowy gauze. The almost floor length layers each featured a dusting of frost at the bottom, as if shaking off the ground’s morning frost. Orlisi had leaned into the theme and adorned Aeri’s hair with festive evergreen berries in colorful warm tones, yellow peonies in her long braid, and a single large star orchid of cheery yellow above her ear.

Aeri went right to Arthur so they could see each other’s debut wear. Lady Vienne had made good on her musings to make Arthur’s outfit bold. His long-vest was split into four large checkers alternating gold and wine amusingly like a heraldic shield. The pointy ends of the tails and the star-shaped collar swayed from the weight of round sleigh bells that made a light but festive musical jingling when he moved. His shirt and pants were more traditional done in a plum purple, with his elven-style belt done in a brighter gold that matched the bells, jabot, and jewelry.

She was pretty sure that Arthur’s theme was a troubadour or courtier, but even beside Aeri, she couldn’t help seeing the vest as anything other than a jester’s coat. Admittedly, the boy did look unreasonably stylish with Orlisi’s efforts in place of his usual mushroom-do. Aeri seemed to think so as well, if the eager way she took hold of his arm was an indication.

Ria smiled. Her friends’ dresses and dress outfits finally arrayed before her, they were all studies in dualities: her shadow theme opposite Phaelys’ light theme, each needing the other to show their best; Aldri’s fiery promise of spring warmth bringing Keira’s budding blossom and burning off the remaining chill of still clinging morning dew; and now Aeri’s princess dress to Arthur’s jester’s coat... er… Aeri’s yielding frost and sun-touched skies bringing the return of music and laughter. Each pairing was fun and whimsical in its own way, and she couldn’t wait to see Faris’ and Iselyn’s.

As Orlisi drew near and exchanged greetings with Phaelys, Ria looked around to make sure she wasn’t forgetting anything and noticed Lady Janacythe waiting for them by the entrance to the hall. Her other friends were riding in their own carriages, so as long as their knights and guards were ready, it was time.

“I can’t think of anything else we need to do,” Ria said, turning her attention back to her princely escort and giving him her best smile. “Lead on, my Heroic Prince of Light.”

Her storybook prince again laughed and offered his arm. He wasn’t the only one chuckling, but Ria decidedly ignored that certain elf’s amusement as, for at least one evening, she would see her dreams come true.