đ˘ BREAK: October 4-14, 2023
I am out of the country on a covid-postponed trip to celebrate my mom being cancer free. :)
đ The Wicked House of Caroline đ
It will be posted to Royal Road when I get back on October 16th. As we're a good 20 chapters ahead, I will post one chapter every day for every business day to get everyone caught up 10 chapters. There are some parts that I'm cutting out in the slightly ...
As long as she could remember, water had been a part of her life. Her father was the magistrate of a seaside town on the capital island of the West Islands. Her mother was a sailor and they had brought her to be baptized in the sea before she could walk. She could swim at two and sail at six. Both sides of her family had water biha users.
When a hurricane took her parents from her when she was eight, Sybilâs life went from part time on the shore to full t...
2023-09-15 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostA sudden pain shot through her shoulder as her body bounced from one side of the carriage to the other. If it werenât for the cushion wrapped around her, she was afraid that there could be broken bones instead of just bruises. However, her future injuries if she survived this attempt on her life werenât what was going through her head as the carriage tumbled down the cliffside.
There were three things in Beksâ mind.
First, she did not know enough curse words to k...
2023-09-13 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostâYou exiled her to the Forbidden Valley?â The Third Consortâs eyes were large, and Iris also couldnât help but look at Luther with surprise as he took a seat on a large, plush chair in the parlor. His eyes were red and his lips pulled into a tight frown as his hands rested on the arms of the chair and clawed into them. âI thought she was exiled to the Southern Jungle.â
âThe Southern Jungle is too good for her!â Luther replied, appearing to grow more agi...
2023-09-08 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostFrom the wide-eyed, almost slack jawed fallen expression on Lutherâs pale face, it was obvious that he never expected her to respond. He stood in place, frozen for a moment as the Grand Hall went so quiet that Beks could hear Lutherâs sharp inhale.
His eyes crinkled up as his voice shook. âWhat...what did you say?â
Beks held open the royal order for the guests to see. âI, Rebecca Anastasia of Caroline, eldest daughter of the Duke of Caroline, formally b...
2023-09-06 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostâCollapsing was your only option? Was it too much trouble to fake another attack?â Deo held his sister across his arms and brought her into her room after returning from town to find her being carried out of the Gilded Palace by one of the royal guards.
He shoved the pastries heâd bought for her to a servant, and ran through a flower bed to snatch her from the guardâs arms as Prince Luther hovered around, rambling about trying to wake her up. Deo couldnât hel...
2023-09-01 05:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostRoyal guards were yelling all around her, and spread out along the perimeter of the Gilded Palace. Two doctors rushed in along with their attendants to get to Chamberlain Wilton, now laying on the floor, his face pale and glassy eyes looking up at the carved wooden beams.
Beks fell back against one of the walls a little too hard. She grimaced as her body bounced off the stone. Calm down, Beks. No need to actually put yourself in pain. This is all for sh...
2023-08-30 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostDespite her position, Beks didnât recall ever taking such a big risk in her life.
From the start, her life had been planned and controlled by others. Everything she did was prepared for her and in a controlled environment. And while she did so many things by herself, she had done so after extensive research and counsel.
To go from carefully crafted roadmaps and structure to such a plan with little experience and so many variables without much in between was insane, b...
2023-08-25 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostThe nobles were restless.
There was no way to hide the fact that Laurence had an accident and was in a coma, and Beks had a feeling it would get out even if they tried to hide it, so at the next court, she arrived with several doctors and Chamberlain Wilton to inform the court that the King was unable to rule.
She then produced the documents and cited the passage that would give High Counselors temporary Authority to Rule in absence of the king. It often took over a year for...
2023-08-23 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostAs per her admittedly slightly overbearing instructions, Laurence completed his duties without approaching the river. Beks was on guard the entire time, watching him as he and Lady Eleanor thanked the priest and then began a slow procession back to the carriage, stopping every step or two in order to greet those who had attended and listen to some of worries.
Royal guards flanked them and along with them, her parents followed behind. Once Laurence was in the carriage, she le...
2023-08-18 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostTwo major things consumed her time. The first being the Inundation Blessing. While sheâd assisted in planning behind the scenes in the past, it would be her first time attending. The half dayâs travel to the major river closest to Kadmium would require a significant entourage to escort the future king and other royal family members, offerings, and in general, show the pomp of the royal family for such an event.
This time, the new oracle was coming, as well, which m...
2023-08-16 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostâThere are some charities that help educate children with basic reading and counting that I took an interest to,â Beks had told Laurence in preparation for asking to leave the palace. It wasnât a lie and philanthropic project were common for nobles to take an interest in. Even Luther supported a local orphanage with clothes every year.
âIs that so?â Laurence had signed a document with flourish. âDo you plan to apply for money from the royal treasuryâs cha...
2023-08-11 05:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostâSheâs obviously insane.â
âBrother, you canât say that.â Beks sat back on the sofa in Laurenceâs office as he paced in front of his desk, scowling. Beside her, Lady Eleanor had a comforting arm around her and was gently stroking the side of her head, as if worried that the new oracleâs words had upset Beks.
âHow can she just point at you and contradict the prediction of her predecessor,â Laurence said with a scowl. âIâve never heard of any...
2023-08-09 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostâThereâs a what?â Her foster brotherâs voice was laced with disbelief and Beks slowed her movements placing some bread on to a napkin to bring back to feed the birds. She looked from Laurence at the head of the table to Luther across from her.
Luther nodded his head, excited. âA new oracle at the Great Temple! She has met the requirements to become an oracle by predicting ten events accurately.â
âThis is big news,â Laurence said as his shoulders r...
2023-08-04 05:00:06 +0000 UTC View PostShe opened the container of birdseed and sprinkled a bit on her windowsill, then tore apart a piece of bread she brought back from breakfast for the larger birds. Once there looked to be enough, Beks closed the window and put the container away. She waited for a moment, looking out the window for any sign of birds.
She heard a slight giggle behind her. âMy lady, if you watch for them, they wonât come.â
âIâve been feeding them for years, but they always ...
2023-08-02 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostIt was something they had been preparing for, as it was obvious a few weeks earlier that the Queen would not recover from her illness. Despite all her attempts to brainwash herself, and the Queen, into believing that she would indeed recover, Beks knew that foster mother would die.
Every day, the Queen wasted away little by little. First, she shortened her work hours. Then she moved her work to her bed chambers, working from her gilded writing desk for as long as she c...
2023-07-14 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostđŁ Main News: đŁ
BREAK: No update next two weeks; I am resting and I'm afraid (actual) work calls. T_T
Scheduled Future Break: First Two Weeks of OCTOBER (Trying to schedule breaks.)
⨠NEW STORY Alert! â¨
My next brain dribble has been released as 2 chapters on the ALL the Coins tier (as of 10PM PST as usual). I'm still working on the summary, but here's what we got so far:
âWhen was the territory now known as Sagittate of Kadmus put under the control of the Carolines?â The old womanâs voice sounded over the crackling of the fire meant to keep the study room warm. Thick stone walls didnât do much to keep out the cold, so thick rugs woven with the wool from long-haired tundra goats were layered on the walls of the round room.
The thin slits that were windows were blocked by animal skin stretched over to keep the frigid wind of the Sacred Valle...
2023-07-12 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostHe would be lying to himself if he werenât the least bit insulted by what the soldiers escorting the prisoner transport wagon were whispering amongst themselves. They thought he was crazy.
They just didnât understand. They didnât know what he did.
âMr. Fields, Hart, here is your dinner. Please use this clean water and soap to wash up.â Narrow bowls just wide enough to fit through the bars were slid through.
This was how they got their meals....
2023-07-07 05:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostâI am scheduled to speak to her doctor this afternoon, sir.â It was the same conversation that theyâd had for years.
âI hope the results continue to be positive. I just want her to get better.â
Except this time, they were waiting for actual progression on her diagnosis. âHer condition has been improving this last year and the last several months, she hasnât had any outbursts or showed signs of confusion.â As Thomas Fields spoke, his chest ti...
2023-07-05 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostIn the city, nothing was ever completely dark a
2023-06-30 05:01:14 +0000 UTC View PostEvery year, there were only a handful of knights who were able to complete the grueling four-year training regimen to become a first-tier imperial knight. If he had followed his original trajectory, he wouldâve been amongst that handful and take his place at the side of an imperial family member with vows to protect them with his life.
âHow did you get through your blue crescent when you get seasick!?â Gideon was trembling with rage as one of the new seamen aboard Tigers...
2023-06-28 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostâIâm afraid heâs been very busy lately. The Chamber has come to session and this is the time of the year when they get the most done,â Axton told him as he flipped over a thick notebook filled with notes. âTo try to get in as much as possible, Piersâ days have started earlier.â
Gideonâs heart fell, but he understood. No wonder Piers hadnât shown up for training; he was too busy. âI understand.â He really did. He knew that his fat...
2023-06-23 05:00:11 +0000 UTC View PostThe salty sea spray hit his face and he stood at the bow of the naval ship, looking at the horizon in the distance. He could see two watchtowers protruding up, signaling the mouth of the delta. He took a deep breath to quell his excitement. It had been so long since heâd been home.
Not that Viclya was his home, technically, but it was less than a dayâs travel from home, so he counted it. And âso longâ was not even a full year, but still. He finally ...
2023-06-21 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostâAncient artifacts and buildings always pose a challenge, even to the best of us,â Constantine said from the comcry as Montan carried a bucket and three water canisters towards the spring. There were two springs that provided water for site one, and both were across the site from the temple.
Professor Hailan was depressed after using up all the attempts to activate the crystals that afternoon. He had fallen asleep on his bedroll, exhausted. Genet was reviewing the ...
2023-06-16 05:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostIt was a sunny, but chilly day, and the breeze coming off the water didnât make it any better. On the private dock of his godsisterâs island, where a large manor was nearing completion, the âfastest ship in the empireâ was waiting to take them to where they'd be for the next few months.
For his godsister, the Hong Empire, and on the way, sheâd drop them off at a different location.
He and Constantine were going to Nazaria to study abroad at UniversitĂŠâs sister s...
2023-06-14 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostHe thought that no one noticed, as he lowered h
2023-06-09 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostHe stood in front of the mirror and took a deep breath as he studied the man looking back at him. His dark hair was neatly combed, his face was washed and bright, despite being so nervous the night before that he barely got any sleep. His clothes were clean and pressed.
It was the first time heâd attended a school without a uniform and part of him felt uncomfortable with that after four, no - five years of looking in the mirror and seeing LycĂŠe du Soleilâs hunter green ...
2023-06-07 05:00:04 +0000 UTC View PostâWhat are children doing here?â The thin man on the ground didnât hide his confusion. The other man looked just as confused and before they could ask any more questions, Maeve moved.
âLess talk! More stab!â Maeve jumped forward, almost over Ava and her cousins, in order to put herself between them. The two men on the floor saw her coming with a dagger and scrambled to get away.
âHold it, little girl! What are you doing?â one of the men g...
2023-06-02 05:00:05 +0000 UTC View PostâThere are so many things to do in Viclya and you all choose to lay there, like seals basking in the sun.â Tori reached the crescent shaped beach past the tents and saw her visiting cousin looming over the row of towels beneath sunshades. Andy had an unimpressed look on his face as he looked at the over half dozen children, and one cat, laying in a row, appearing listless and bored.
Maeve, Ava, Riri, Marco and Mateo, Fiona, and Robert were laying on their towels either o...
2023-05-31 05:00:02 +0000 UTC View Post