“What?” Tori narrowed her eyes. “We’ve been open for over a month. Why are we just being reported for this now?”
“I don’t know, however, this is an official letter from the Imperial Commerce Commission. They said that the business registration for Duel was never submitted and that we’re missing operating permits,” Mr. Som...
2022-09-01 05:01:03 +0000 UTC View PostSeveral eyes were fixed on JP with varying states of shock and confusion.
“He had a breakdown?” Henrik asked, his voice filled with disbelief. “Guthry?”
JP nodded. “I heard from Madam McIntyre’s daughter, the nurse. She was dispatched with her medical team from the Central Imperial Hospital to the Prime Minister...
2022-08-30 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostAccording to Piers' explanation, the energy from the crystal table must resonate with the user and actual ability wasn’t the main criteria. If they are compatible, the user can use the table. If not, at most they can sense its energy. In addition, the resonating energy shifts. At one point, Piers could resonate with the crystal. Then he couldn...
2022-08-27 05:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post“Go and bring Lady Ilyana at once.” A familiar voice spoke from the other side of her bed and Tori automatically turned her head. Her vision was still a bit blurry, but she could recognize her brother without a problem.
“Kasey?” Tori croaked once more, and someone brought a glass of water to her lips. Her brother leaned over the be...
2022-08-25 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“Guevera!” Gideon rushed forward and extended his arms, but he was too far away. Guevara seemed to crumple into herself, and her head hit the ground. Sir Atienza managed to grab her to soften the blow, but Gideon grimaced. Sir Atienza put his hand under her head and frowned.
The tall knight looked over his shoulder and shouted. “Brin...
2022-08-23 05:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostT/W - Mentions of assault/rape. Please proceed with caution.
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It was that dull, throbbing headache again. The low buzzing in her ears also seemed to surround her and she shut her eyes. She wouldn’t describe herself as dizzy, but certainly she felt a bit off. She reached out to try to steady herself, b...
That was not the answer Tori thought she’d get. “You’ll...you’ll call him in for an interview?”
“My lady, you have allowed us to start making reservations for rooms for the opening and each soft open will allow for another week of reservations,” Mr. Somerset told her before showing her an appointment book. Tori flipped throug...
2022-08-18 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“What is wrong with her?” Sonia’s hand squeezed the tall glass of iced coffee and Claire put her hand on her arm to try to calm her before she hurt herself. “She didn’t ask you. She just put your name on her stupid invitation.”
“If the Countess did not appear for the dance after it was announced that she would, it would refle...
2022-08-16 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“And then he cried.”
“He did not cry.” Tori threw Ilyana an exasperated look. She had told Gideon that she was not obligated to forgive him because he asked. He had purposely wished to cause her harm, whether through defamation or through her village, and she could not and would not forgive such offenses.
She would b...
2022-08-13 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post“Is she extorting me?” His father looked on the verge of throwing the papers at his brother. Piers didn’t seem at all perturbed as he stirred his post-dinner coffee. His nonchalance only irritated their father more so. “Piers! What does she mean by this?”
He slammed his hand and the papers that he held on top of the dining table ...
2022-08-11 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“I didn’t do anything!” Tori shot Piers a glare. She’d throw her arms in the air if Instructor Ignatius’ death grip didn’t keep them pinned at her sides. She looked at Axton and cocked her head. “A little help? He’s skinny, but strong.”
Axton seemed to shake himself out of his stupor. He moved forward. “What happened to...
2022-08-09 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostFor heavily soiled clothing, Tori kept a large, ceramic and metal bucket in her and Ilyana’s bathroom. Inside the bucket were several crystals used to stimulate a washing machine. She could either activate them or use the bucket to pre-soak her usually dirt splattered clothes from when she was at the delta.
Wandering around various const...
2022-08-06 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“Are you crazy?” Gideon put down the treacherous creampuff from the tower Tori had brought to the palace. Tori watched his face go through disbelief and betrayal at the realization that she didn’t come by just to drop off a dessert tower to his mother.
Tori stood by the open French doors of the casual dining room where she was usuall...
2022-08-04 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostPiers’ house across from Université was also close to Lycée. Henrik revealed that he had registered the comcry of the building’s caretaker, Mr. Aldir, who was one of Piers’ personal valets from the imperial palace. Mr. Aldir would give Henrik access to a ground floor room that could only be entered by entering the building itself.
...
2022-08-02 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostHer weekend went well. Too well.
Lions Gate’s autumn and winter release party went smoothly. The guests had been excited about the new products and designs. Tori had been able to share some more information on Viclya for the coming months, as many guests invited to the release party had also visited the delta at least one during the summ...
2022-07-30 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostAnother knight was guarding the door to the owner’s suite, where Axton was staying with the two princes. Sir Dobchek stopped at the door and knocked.
“Enter.” Piers called through the door and Sir Dobchek used a crystal key fob to unlock the door. He held it open for Tori.
“Your Highness, Countess Guevera has arrived.” He b...
2022-07-28 05:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostTori drew her head back. She felt a bit guilty for some reason. “You knew?”
Piers clenched his jaw and didn’t seem to want to speak. Tori dug around in her pocket for one of her spare silence charms and put it on the table. She gave him an encouraging look.
“Your name was on a prospective list of students to be secondary guar...
2022-07-26 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostTori resisted the urge to creep out of the classroom and call Piers to ask him what exactly he and Axton had told Gideon that caused the scene that morning. She was certain that where the conversation had ended when she left the night before wasn’t enough to cause such a change in Gideon.
“Guevera. Agafonova.” Gideon greeted them wit...
2022-07-23 05:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostTori gritted her teeth and let out a small hiss. She knew she had a part in this. She had prodded Fabian about choosing between Alessa and his duty, and then quietly criticized him the night she stopped Dimitri from punching Gideon. She had hoped it would force him to reassess what was important to him considering he had devoted his life thus fa...
2022-07-21 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostWhen she went to tournaments with her team for longsword in her original world, they would crowd around the side of the ring to cheer on the team member during their individual matches. Tori’s sword master would often sit with them and point out telling movements that would predict a competitor’s next step.
Aside from being taught to r...
2022-07-19 05:00:06 +0000 UTC View Post“A Count’s Manor?” Tori looked at Albert with both confusion and surprise. “Isn’t it a bit too soon?”
The carriage left Viclya after a long weekend focusing on land partitioned for farms to villagers who wanted to return to farming. Idunn and her future successor had worked with Université Professors, researchers, and villager...
2022-07-16 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostForeigners weren’t too rare in Soleil, especially in large cities and ports, where they were quite common. There were plenty who worked in Soleil, usually as merchants acting as middlemen between Soleil and their home country. They had temporary residencies as they tended to return home. If they married a Soleil citizen, then their residency w...
2022-07-14 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostThe closer land was to large cities, the more they were worth. The land of the villages surrounding Horizon were some of the most expensive farmlands in Soleil due to being both fertile and close to a thriving market that depended on them. Many of the landowners, including farming families, were doing very well.
Of course, every so often, ...
2022-07-12 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post“Welcome, Lycée du Soleil first year students, returning upperclassmen, faculty, and staff!” Instructor Lange, the rosy-cheeked, gray-haired advisor for the baking club, stood up on a small stage in front of the administration building, facing the central courtyard. “Thank you for joining us today for our first ever Orientation Bake-Off!...
2022-07-09 05:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post“Thank you for dinner!” The second years with them were smiling and laughing as the large group walked back towards campus.
“Thank you, Ilyana and Lady Tori!” The third and fourth years echoed their gratitude, though appeared a bit embarrassed that they hadn’t thanked the two soon enough.
“It’s our pleasure!” Ilyana s...
2022-07-07 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“This is unlike you.”
“I’ve been busy,” Tori replied from the inside of a fitting room at the boutique where she bought most of her uniform. She lifted her hands over the buttons of her shirt.
“You know you had to move into the dorms a week earlier to guide the first years, too.”
“I’m aware, Sonia.”
...
2022-07-05 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostFew people could tell the difference between religious orders through their clothing. Even those who were clergy couldn’t always identify the subtle differences in the clothing of various Belcoy orders, let alone laymen.
Yet the young woman had boldly spoke out and not only identified the head priest escorting him to Horizon, but repeate...
2022-07-02 05:01:00 +0000 UTC View Post“It’s more prevalent in your part of Sur, isn’t it?” Tori asked. “In Presidio, it’s usually done between close family and friends, but in the southeast, acquaintances kiss each other on the cheek for greetings and partings, don’t they? I appreciate you asking first.”
She remembered Marco and Mateo complaining that so many p...
2022-06-30 05:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostTori opened her mouth, but wasn’t sure what to say. The old man laughed once more and waved his hand dismissively. “It’s nothing terrible, I assure you. All good things.”
“Oh....” Tori lowered her eyes. She wanted to ask more about the grid, but the old man cocked his head to the side.
“Countess Guevera, I believe someo...
2022-06-28 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostShe was so confident in her belief that the Emperor made her Countess of Cosora to exploit her work abilities and resources. Tori never considered any other reason that didn’t involve keeping her there to develop the land. What did Piers’ grandfather mean about crystals?
Tori narrowed her eyes and wracked her brain. To her knowledge, n...
2022-06-25 05:01:00 +0000 UTC View Post