Agrona Colby scrutinized the brown-haired woman standing in her store, studying the girl’s expression closely.
She had a feeling that this one would prove to be an exasperating client to deal with. Her instincts had been honed in such matters over six decades, so she didn’t doubt that assessment. If only she’d had more gold saved up,...
2023-08-03 21:15:53 +0000 UTC View PostHowdy. Got some decently big (and hopefully exciting) news to share with all you wonderful folk who find my story entertaining enough to support it here on Patreon.
First things first, I am glad to announce that I'll be increasing the number of chapters available to you patrons from now on. I've wanted to give you more than what you curren...
2023-07-30 21:48:06 +0000 UTC View Post“So, how are we doing this?” Allyssa asked Rosa as the girl leaned closer to her, eyeing the list Scarlett had handed them. “I’ve never been here before, so I don’t know where you can get any of this stuff, but any apothecary or potion emporium should at least have most of the reagents we need.”
“Hmm~” Rosa observed Allyssa...
2023-07-30 21:44:31 +0000 UTC View PostAs their carriage set into motion, moving away from the Followers’ temple, Rosa slumped back into her seat next to Scarlett.
“You know,” the woman began, “with all this talk about ‘research’ and whatnot that I keep hearing from you during these serious talks, it really makes one wonder when exactly you’re doing all o...
2023-07-27 20:19:58 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett looked out of the carriage window at the stone buildings outside as they slowly traveled down Bridgespell’s cobbled streets, watching the colorful storefronts and inviting establishments they passed by. Although it was one of the empire’s larger cities, Bridgespell’s Kilnstone district was a winding labyrinth of narrow streets and...
2023-07-23 20:51:53 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett and Fynn were seated in their carriage as it traveled through Freybrook’s Northern District, heading towards the heart of the city. Scarlett had some business with a local artisan regarding the handling of some dragon materials, and she also planned to check the progress of the new carriages ordered by her and Evelyne from one of the ...
2023-07-20 20:52:40 +0000 UTC View Post“—my agents have increased their efforts concerning our operations in Ambercrest’s Silkspindle Ward,” Beldon’s voice resonated from the device on Scarlett’s desk. It was a small carving of a bluebird, standing on a circular base of pure marble that emitted a slight glow.
“That is all well and good, but I fail to see its relev...
2023-07-16 21:01:14 +0000 UTC View Post“So, what does a girl actually do for fun around here?” Rosa’s melodious voice rang out as Scarlett, Arlene, and the bard sat on the porch overlooking Freymeadow’s village square. Rosa was seated between Scarlett and Arlene, leaning back in her chair with both feet resting on the tree stump Scarlett had used during her practice sessions....
2023-07-13 19:36:40 +0000 UTC View Post“That’s better. You are starting to get the hang of this. Much better than yesterday,” Arlene said as the woman observed Scarlett conjuring water and fire into a variety of elemental shapes at the center of a forest clearing.
Each shape balanced an object on top, such as twigs, stones, and other small woodland items. Although ‘bala...
2023-07-09 21:00:55 +0000 UTC View PostThe sweltering evening sun bore down on Scarlett as she sat in the village square of Freymeadow, her focus fixed on the intricate workings of magic before her. A multitude of hazy, half-formed fire arrows hovered in the air, recently conjured and taking aim at a plump mass of vaguely human-shaped water nearby. She strained herself to maintain th...
2023-07-06 21:15:12 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett hurried to activate [Sidhe’s Flowing Garbs], narrowly doing so as the arrows of fire slammed into her. For a moment, she almost lost her balance.
Were those really made of just fire? [Sidhe’s Flowing Garbs] had mitigated most of the damage, but other than simple heat, she’d actually felt the force behind that blow.<...
2023-07-02 21:03:25 +0000 UTC View Post“You ever wonder who thought it was a good idea to build a village and hide it away out in the sticks like this?” Rosa asked, walking beside Scarlett as they trekked through the slightly overgrown forest path ahead.
“No, I do not,” Scarlett replied, reaching out to push away a branch blocking her way.
“Well, okay, silly que...
2023-06-29 21:13:36 +0000 UTC View PostThe continued discussions with Dean Godwin went relatively smoothly, all things considered. Scarlett and the man went over what to do with the deceased dragon lying in her courtyard and the remaining artifacts and items from Abelard’s mansion that hadn’t yet been sold off. The Dean agreed to have Elystead Tower acquire a significant portion ...
2023-06-25 20:32:19 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett eyed Godwin for a few seconds before speaking. “I hope you will excuse the sudden interruption. Mistress’ appearance was not within my expectations.”
The archwizard smirked subtly. “I could tell as much.” He glanced at Empress, who was still sitting on the table. The cat remained perched on the table, calmly observing th...
2023-06-22 21:10:18 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett scowled as she used the Loci’s senses to observe the woman who had teleported into her office.
What was Mistress doing here, now of all times?
The Loci was noticeably opposed to her presence, emanating antipathy and revulsion through their bond. Even if Scarlett had never felt anything resembling distinct thoughts from the...
2023-06-18 21:11:33 +0000 UTC View PostLater that afternoon, Scarlett sat in her office when her bond to the Loci suddenly alerted her to a new presence in front of the estate’s gates. One moment, there had been nothing there, and the next, an elderly gentleman had appeared.
Setting aside the morning’s documents she had been reading, she shifted her attention to the Loci’...
2023-06-15 22:13:26 +0000 UTC View Post“Can someone please tell me what I am looking at?” Evelyne’s resigned voice echoed across the mansion’s courtyard.
“A dragon,” Fynn answered in a casual tone.
“And why is that? No, how?” The woman turned to Scarlett with a helpless expression.
Scarlett stood before the monstrous dragon carcass,...
2023-06-11 21:06:01 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett sat in her office, hunched over her desk, engrossed in the mountain of documents sprawled before her. The morning had slipped away unnoticed, and her eyes were starting to feel strained from the excessive amount of numbers and figures she had been poring over.
The thick pile consisted mostly of reports concerning the barony and th...
2023-06-08 21:28:26 +0000 UTC View PostAt the center of a garden, nestled in the back of the Freybrook mansion, Scarlett sat beneath the lone garden alcove, her gaze fixed on the space before her. In the span of the few weeks since she had introduced the Loci to this place, it had undergone more changes than anticipated.
The hedges that formed a small maze around the garden had...
2023-06-04 21:23:42 +0000 UTC View PostCompared to the ball the night before, Scarlett felt that the noble gathering the morning after was almost underwhelmingly uneventful. She had half-expected another incident to occur, whether it was someone trying to publicly shame her again or another sudden party crasher. But instead, she found herself spending most of her time relatively peac...
2023-06-01 21:15:31 +0000 UTC View PostLivvi watched as Edita Delmon approached her and Scarlett. The older woman stopped in front of them, her eyes scrutinizing them both before fixating on Scarlett.
“Lady Hartford,” she said sharply. “A word.”
Scarlett merely appeared to study her for a moment. “A word, you say?”
“Lady Delmon—”
“Miss Knot...
2023-05-28 22:05:16 +0000 UTC View PostLivvi stood in front of the mirror in the washroom of the quarters provided for her, giving herself a final once-over. She had styled her light-brown hair in a bow hanging over her shoulder, like her mother often did, and wore a light white dress with blue patterns. For once, she chose to forgo her glasses. There was no need for them when she wa...
2023-05-25 21:42:40 +0000 UTC View PostEarly the next morning, Scarlett was led through a series of long corridors by a young woman dressed in plain attendant’s clothing. She felt like she recognized the servant, possibly from her previous visit to Beldon’s house in the capital a few months ago, although she couldn’t be entirely certain.
Following the chaos of the previou...
2023-05-21 21:54:17 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett and Evelyne were among the last to leave the ballroom once things had calmed down following the Tribe of Sin’s attack. Evelyne had insisted on helping the injured and restoring order, and only when a large group of guards and healers arrived did she feel comfortable leaving. Scarlett, on the other hand, didn’t particularly mind eith...
2023-05-18 21:17:00 +0000 UTC View PostBeldon Tyndall was a man who often found himself being right. Most of the time, that was something he took great pleasure in. But there were times when he would have preferred the alternative.
He surveyed the scene before him with a serious expression. The ballroom, which had been a hub of conversations and merrymaking just an hour ago, wa...
2023-05-14 21:07:13 +0000 UTC View Post“I presume you don’t know what that was?” Iyana asked, the two of them locking gazes.
Scarlett shook her head. “You presume right.”
As far as she was aware, there wasn’t supposed to be anything special happening inside right now.
Another muffled scream echoed, this one carrying a greater sense of panic than the prev...
2023-05-11 22:48:29 +0000 UTC View PostThere was such a thing as too much socializing in one night.
Whatever the original Scarlett’s feelings might have been on the matter, she currently felt that this statement couldn’t be more true. She had already been in a less-than-ideal mood when she first arrived, so the constant activities, conversations, and occasional odd looks te...
2023-05-07 21:22:55 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett stayed with Lord and Lady Withersworth for a while, participating in conversations with the group of gentlemen to the best of her abilities. Lady Withersworth wasn’t subtle about her intention to help Scarlett make connections during these talks, but none of the men seemed to mind. Surprisingly, they even appeared pleased with the opp...
2023-05-04 21:07:27 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett froze.
How did he know of her ties to the Cabal?
“…I am not certain what you mean by that,” she said.
Dean Godwin studied her closely, his gaze unswerving. From a side pocket in his jacket, he withdrew a silver ring and effortlessly slid it onto one of his gloved hands. “Pardon my rudeness, Baroness, but I beli...
2023-04-30 21:35:48 +0000 UTC View PostScarlett stared at Dean Godwin. She hadn’t quite been prepared to run into the man this suddenly.
Lord Withersworth cleared his throat. “Ahem. Dear, what brings you here?” he asked, glancing at his wife and son before shifting his gaze to Scarlett. “I see that you have replaced our daughter with Baroness Hartford. You certainly wor...
2023-04-27 22:28:50 +0000 UTC View Post