“No, I noticed it, too.” JP rubbed his chin as they stood in the corner of the great room after dinner. Their voices were low and easily lost in the rapid chatter and occasional yelling happening around them. “She does seem to be ignoring Prince Gideon.”
“I told you she was insane.” Sonia remained standing on Tori’s ...
2022-06-23 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostTori couldn’t help but tap her foot under the table. She was distracted as she oversaw the game where six matrons of some of the most influential families in the Central Corridor were clutching thick cardboard cards in their hands as if their lives depended on it.
“Lady Fargonod, please roll the dice.” The gray-haired old woman’s s...
2022-06-21 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“How much longer do you think it will be until the rest of the hunting parties enter the forest?” Sonia looked around the heavily wooded area. The dirt path they were on started wide, but after only ten or fifteen minutes of galloping into the forest, it had narrowed to be wide enough for a horse and a half. The dawn light barely breached th...
2022-06-18 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostTori heard a shocked gasp behind her and looked over her shoulder. Sonia’s mouth was parted, but there was undisguised delight in her eyes. JP’s brows had shot up, stunned, and Axton turned his head to the side to hide his muffled laugh.
Tori looked towards the man who’d spoken. Piers lifted the wine glass and took a sip, as if he di...
2022-06-16 05:01:00 +0000 UTC View Post“Sonofabitch, I cannot get a fucking break....” She muttered the words before she could stop herself. Her grip around Alexander tightened a bit before she heard his small meow. Tori took a deep breath and adjusted her cat in the crook of one arm before turning around.
“I thought you said she was under house arrest the rest of the sum...
2022-06-14 05:01:02 +0000 UTC View Post📣UPDATES: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday @ 10:00PM (22:00 hours) PDT!
Just a reminder that I did switch over to MWF updates, as I wanted to keep my weekends free due to lingering paranoia that the scheduled update will not go up at the right time. If I'm not at home, I can't do much about it. Every time I hav...
2022-06-14 03:01:00 +0000 UTC View PostOf the three of them, two had names referring t
2022-06-14 00:34:22 +0000 UTC View PostHis path to knighthood started unexpectedly.
2022-06-05 03:28:40 +0000 UTC View PostShe had thrown the proverbial gauntlet and a rush of excitement and anticipation filled her. The man from Golden Cow looked taken aback at first, but his expression was quickly replaced by contempt.
“We’ll see, young lady. We’ll see.” He turned around and marched back down the street, towards the mercantile in the plaza.
Tori...
2022-05-28 05:01:00 +0000 UTC View Post“It’s a slight fever. Dr. Cooper-Fontaine said that he shouldn’t have ridden for so long. He’s exhausted and had some shock. He reacted badly.” Tori sat on a stool beside Axton’s bed with the comcry on the bedside table. She wiped the sweat off of Axton’s face and neck as he laid there, his breathing uneven.
“I shouldn’t ...
2022-05-26 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostShe could almost hear the record scratch in her head as Axton’s handsome, smiling face looked at her and told her that she had gotten heavy. From his tone, he was sincere in the same way adults complimented small children on their healthy growth when they saw them once a year, during the holidays.
It wasn’t meant to be insulting.
“I think you should bring the walker, just in case,” Sonia said as she stood by the door of the carriage. They were parked in front of Duel. The wooden boards covering the windows were still in place, and workers were going in and out with tools and supplies. Two guards stood on either side of the door, keeping an eye on who entered.
...
2022-05-22 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostIlyana’s birthday was fast approaching and to ease Tori’s burden, she decided that she was going to plan the party herself. Or rather, take over what Tori had planned and confirm the final details. At first, Tori didn’t think it was fair, as she planned everyone else’s birthday party. Ewan and the others weren’t troubled with the detai...
2022-05-20 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostIf Tori could flip a table, she would’ve flipped a table.
The first thing she thought of was that Alessa’s succession had to do with Adrien going to Chetterswickshire. Kasen’s people did say that he was staying at the Hart Manor and now Tori knew why.
Her jaw clenched and a dark smile graced her lips. “That halo of h...
2022-05-18 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostInside Tori, there were two wolves. The first wolf said ‘be responsible; work on your project and the delta. Focus your energy there. Helping people makes you feel good.’ The second wolf said ‘fuck Adrien Rosiek and not in the sexual way. Destroy him to make yourself feel better.’
And as Tori poured over the report her brother gave...
2022-05-16 05:01:02 +0000 UTC View PostIn retrospect, she should’ve expected something to change when she turned sixteen. After all, Gideon started to be treated as, and given the responsibilities of, an adult member of the imperial family when he turned sixteen. It was expected that she, as the daughter of a march, would also start to take part in the responsibilities of her famil...
2022-05-14 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostThe day after her birthday, she began to feel her legs from her thighs to her toes. She could feel the thin blanket against her legs when she woke up. As the days passed, she not only regained feeling, but some movement.
It was as if life were trying to make up for giving her the life-long burden of governing a county.
Tori could als...
2022-05-12 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post“Put me on the bed.”
Kasen gently picked her up from her wheelchair and placed her on the side of her bed. Sebastian pulled the wheelchair away as their mother looked on with worry. Tori laid down, facing the ceiling.
“Roll me on my stomach.” Her voice was too calm. Kasen didn’t say a word as he carefully rolled her onto he...
2022-05-10 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post“Do you want to watch their progress?” Piers asked.
Tori finished her iced coffee and thought for a moment. She had some time before she had to return to the kitchen for a final check. She tugged off the scarf she was using to wrap her hair up to keep it from getting into any of the food. “Sure.”
He stood up and took the knig...
2022-05-08 05:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post“The tourist season can only last for so long here. Places like Tres Arcos and Karap are warmer, so the weather for the activities we offer here can continue for a longer period. I have the choice of either transitioning to more cold weather activities or shut down tourism for the winter,” Tori said as she sat on the wicker basket swing with...
2022-05-06 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe promenade was built above the water line, creating a sea wall, and extended across a wide stretch of waterfront, including the area where some of the docks were. They had since been moved to more discreet areas to allow for a better view of the water and islands from the promenade.
The fishing dock was closer to the mouth of the river ...
2022-05-04 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostFor a moment, she forgot to breathe. Tori’s mouth was agape as she stared at the Empress. She couldn’t help such a rude action, but her mind went blank. Fabian not taking the La Garda exam was not processed.
She had figured two routes for Fabian: one where he chose not to enter La Garda to stay with Alessa, and the other where Alessa f...
2022-05-02 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostIt's been a while! I've been holding off since I had Jury Duty and I wasn't sure if I would be selected or not. My schedule would've been completely changed with Jury Duty. While the judge did tell us that the trial would be end by the last weekend of May, we'd still be looking at a sizable amount of time lost as I sit...
2022-04-30 19:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostPerhaps it was because she had slept so much in the last few days that Tori was up early the morning they were to leave. She sat on a wooden bench beneath the porch, watching the knights carry out their things and pack them onto the awaiting carriages. She wore a dress she received from Duchess Tetri and her crystal carrying case was on her lap....
2022-04-30 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostTori’s smile slowly fell. “You broke off your engagement?” Her voice was soft and full of disbelief. Madam Voss worried so much for Alessa and sent her own sons to help find her. Did she break off the engagement because of Piers’ suggestion? If she couldn’t become a baroness, then she didn’t want to get married? Tori felt her stomach...
2022-04-28 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post“My father!” Alessa’s answer was clear and immediate. Tori didn’t expect anything less from the protagonist.
“If that is the case, then the Baron will relinquish his title upon marriage to Madam Voss,” Piers said, as if it were finalized.
Alessa’s face dropped, and she couldn’t contain the look of disbelief on her fac...
2022-04-26 05:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post“As long as you rest properly when you start to feel dizzy or lightheaded, and do not continue to push yourself to such a limit in a short period of time, crystal fatigue has no negative long-term effects. However, if it becomes a habit, then your ability to ground will become affected. Mostly, it starts to weaken.”
“Wha...
2022-04-24 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostAre you freaking kidding me?! I do not need this right now!
Tori nearly slammed her hand over mouth and nose. The sweet scent was faint, and she didn’t know how strong it had to be or how much she had to inhale for it to be dangerous, but she didn’t want to risk it. She grabbed one of the scarves she used to tie up he...
2022-04-22 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostTori never pushed herself further when she started to feel dizzy. The moment she started to feel the slightest disorientation while using crystals, she’d stop grounding and charging immediately to prevent the onset of crystal fatigue. Master Ramos told her that crystal fatigue started with a dizziness and, as it stressed the body, she’d also...
2022-04-20 05:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post“Follow? What does she mean?” Sebastian gripped the comcry in his hand so tight, his skin had turned white.
“Tori? Tori!?” He heard Piers’ voice begin to rise.
“Benedict, what’s going on?” Sebastian nearly barked into the comcry. His chest tightened when no one answered. “Is something wrong with Tori? Benedict! Is m...
2022-04-18 05:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post