“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 other side.
Tori pursed her lips and looked at the parquet floor of the great hall. Normally, when dozens of people, especially dozens of wealth...
2022-06-23 05:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Tori 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 soft, but wrinkled hand shot down to the board and plucked up the dice. She rolled them in her hands before she released the dice into the center of th...
2022-06-21 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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“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 the thick canopy of overlapping oak branches.
Behind her, Sir Granger, a tall man with reddish-brown curly hair and green eyes, was scanning the t...
2022-06-18 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Tori 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 didn’t just tell Alessa she was an incompetent noble.
“Piers....” Gideon’s disappointed voice was quiet. He looked at his brother with cri...
2022-06-16 05:01:00 +0000 UTC
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“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 summer,” JP leaned towards her and whispered under his breath.
Tori clenched her jaw. “She was.”
Sonia’s eyes were narrowed,...
2022-06-14 05:01:02 +0000 UTC
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📣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 have any confidence, the time or date somehow get changed, and I don't find out for some time, and want to crawl into a hole.
Anyway, thank you al...
2022-06-14 03:01:00 +0000 UTC
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Of the three of them, two had names referring t
2022-06-14 00:34:22 +0000 UTC
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His path to knighthood started unexpectedly.
2022-06-05 03:28:40 +0000 UTC
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She 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 had no doubt that he’d contact the cow man to report her unruly behavior. She knew how arrogant she sounded, but she was confident. She may not hav...
2022-05-28 05:01:00 +0000 UTC
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“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 have let him go to Sun Garden alone,” Piers said, sounding disapproving. “I will be there soon.”
“All right,” Tori said. “We’ll wa...
2022-05-26 05:00:03 +0000 UTC
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She 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.
But it was.
Tori narrowed her eyes a bit and the smile on her face froze. You’ve gotten taller, Tori. I’m glad you’re healthy after t...
2022-05-24 05:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“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.
“I can use the cane now,” Tori insisted. A wooden railing that retracted against the side of the carriage had been installed to one of the imperial...
2022-05-22 05:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Ilyana’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 details. They just sat back and enjoyed themselves.
Ilyana was not only her first friend in Soleil, but also her best friend. She deserved a stress-f...
2022-05-20 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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If 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 hers is stronger than I thought....” She muttered in a trembling voice.
Tori was prepared for Alessa to inherit her father’s title one day, b...
2022-05-18 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Inside 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 her, the second wolf was winning. She had a sense of urgency, and it was likely due to Adrien going to Chetterswickshire. Her brother’s information...
2022-05-16 05:01:02 +0000 UTC
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In 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 family’s domain.
She didn’t know how much that would change now that she had her own county to deal with, but as the Empress still considered her...
2022-05-14 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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The 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 also feel the energy of the vein in her blood. The tingling sensation she usually ignored was back, and there was a feeling of energy around her legs.
2022-05-12 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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“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 her stomach and adjusted her unmoving legs. Tori buried her head in her pillow. “I’m tired of life.”
“Tori...” Sebastian frowned as he k...
2022-05-10 05:00:03 +0000 UTC
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“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 knight’s place behind her wheelchair to push her forward. As he rolled her through the plaza, Tori admired the decorations they put up. Ropes were stret...
2022-05-08 05:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“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 her mother and Alexander.
The craftsmen from Den set it up near the walkway close to her tent, but with a pleasant view of the shore and promen...
2022-05-06 05:00:04 +0000 UTC
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The 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 and a series of docks integrated along a pier. It was still being built in order to accommodate for fishermen to offload their hauls. The transport do...
2022-05-04 05:00:03 +0000 UTC
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For 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 failed to accumulate enough romance points and so Fabian continued his life path.
However, she was certain that Fabian would enter La Garda. It w...
2022-05-02 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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It'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 in on a criminal case.
Luckily, I was dismissed as a prospective juror by the attorneys.
The big news is that I will be taking t...
2022-04-30 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Perhaps 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.
Piers sat beside her, eating his half of her egg and bacon sandwich. The entire cabin was abuzz with activity as recovering knights walked out ...
2022-04-30 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Tori’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 twist at the thought. Having spoken to her so much during the search, such a thing didn’t seem possible.
“It is something I’ve been consi...
2022-04-28 05:00:03 +0000 UTC
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“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 face.
“Wait a moment.” Dimitri remained at Alessa’s side and frowned. “This isn’t fair to Alessa. If the Baron gives up his title, then A...
2022-04-26 05:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“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.”
“What about crystal shock?” Tori had asked Master Ramos the day after she managed to use aquamarine properly. Crystal shock was a boogieman of a te...
2022-04-24 05:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Are 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 her hair and snapped open her crystal carrying case.
The faint moonlight coming from the window was enough for her eyes to adjust and make out gen...
2022-04-22 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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Tori 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 become very tired and sleepy.
More serious cases could lead to a crystal user sleeping for longer than average periods of time immediately afte...
2022-04-20 05:00:02 +0000 UTC
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“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 my sister all right?”
“Senior, she passed out. Crystal fatigue,” Benedict said with barely contained worry. Sebastian let out a light swear...
2022-04-18 05:01:01 +0000 UTC
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