Chapter 88: I Am Not Disgusted By You

“So...this tent was empty last night,” Tori said as she, Piers, and Axton stood at the furnished, but unoccupied tent that was between Axton’s and Ewan’s. “This was supposed to be Axton's tent. Axton, your tent was supposed to go to Piers.”

“I thought they told me tent eight,” Axton said. “I counted eight down from the entrance."

Tori closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. “Axton, you had a map for the tent arrangements. All the ones on the west of the walkway are odd and all the ones on the east are even, with the Emperor and Empress’ tents being tent two.”

“Then...Gideon would’ve been in tent four, Piers in tent six, and I would’ve been here....” Axton crinkled his eyes. “Why didn’t anyone stop me?”

“You carried your bags in and didn’t come out,” Piers said, glaring at him.

Axton let out a heavy breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s my fault. I was so sleepy last night; I wasn’t paying attention. Sorry, Piers.”

Piers was still glaring at him. “I slept on a couch last night. I am too tall to fit.”

“It was only one night. We figured out what happened,” Tori said, tired. “If we do this again, I will make sure each tent is numbered properly, well lit, and visible.”

“I’ll move my things here,” Axton said, turning around.

“No, I’ll have the knights move my bag here,” Piers said.

“There are plenty of knights around, so the owner of the tent doesn’t matter, as long as each person gets their own.” Tori turned around and led them out. Piers looked towards the guard that was standing outside the entrance.

“Bring my baggage here.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Tori continued walking down the wooden walkway, back to the wooden deck at the shore. Light crystals illuminated the deck as several tables from breakfast were now filled with intense-looking guests hovering over printed cardstock with painted discs that they used to place on top of the called numbers.

The Empress in particular had one red disc gripped between two fingers and seemed ready to slam it down as soon as one of her numbers was called.

All the players' backs were to Tori, and no one seemed to notice her as they loomed over their cards.

At the edge of the deck, closest to the shore, Henrik reached into a glass fishbowl with wooden balls that had been carved with numbers 1-75. Beside him, Ilyana wrote down what was called and guarded several envelopes that had the vouchers for prizes.

Tori crossed her arms and watched as Henrik stuck his hand inside the fishbowl and moved the balls around before taking one and lifting it up. He looked down at the ball and then turned it around for everyone to see the number.

“36!”

A loud thud was heard, and someone slapped their table. “Bingo!”

Tori turned to the right and saw an elderly woman lifting her arm and laughing as the people on either side of her looked over.

“Grandma Connor, Ilyana will come to check your card,” Henrik said. Ilyana rounded the table with a notebook and bent down to validate Ewan’s grandma’s card.

“21...7...3...51...and 36! We have a winner!” Ilyana smiled and Henrik lifted up a bell to ring it as people clapped. Ilyana then escorted Ewan’s grandma to the front to pick her prize.

“Can I choose any one?” the old woman asked.

“Yes, Grandma, you can choose any one you want,” Henrik told her.

“I’d like that dinner at Sir Nassaun’s restaurant,” she said with a pleased smile.

“Grandma, pick another one,” Axton said from the back. He smiled as everyone turned to look at him. “I’ll take you to eat at the Three Queens anytime you want. Just tell Ewan.”

“What...?” Former Sword Association captain and Ewan’s brother, Patrick drooped his shoulders. “That’s not fair.”

“It’s his restaurant, Captain, he can do what he wants,” Captain Messer said from the table behind him.

“Oh...then in that case....” The old woman looked through the list. “I already have a nice coat from Lions Gate...what is this rocking lounge chair?”

“I’m glad you asked, Grandma,” Tori said as she stepped forward. She, Henrik, and Ilyana had thrown in a few items that would be on sale in the future for advertising purposes. She raised her arm and two villagers assisting them carried in a carefully crafted wooden lounge chair with woven fabric and pillows.

“What’s that? A rocking chair?” someone asked.

Tori stood beside the chair. “This wooden lounge chair is a recent design developed here in Viclya, by our local craftsmen, to be used on decks. The wooden frame is curved to allow one to rock slightly and there is a comfortable layer of durable canvas with cushions and an adjustable pillow. Let me help you lay down.”

She and Ilyana helped Ewan’s grandmother lay on the lounge and raise her legs and feet up. The old woman leaned back and smiled. “Oh...it’s very comfortable!”

“There’s more,” Tori said, sounding like a salesperson. “This crystal on your right arm rest can be moved along its groove to adjust the speed of the rocking or keep it still. On your left arm rest is a round niche to hold a beverage. This particular prize comes with an adjustable table for you to eat from or read on. The Viclyan Loungers, as we call them, also come with a little awning for shade that can be removed, as this chair is best used outside.”

“They don’t go on sale until after we have the Spring Festival event,” Henrik said. “So, if you choose this prize, you’d be the first person to have it.”

“Get the chair, Great-Grandma!” Ewan’s niece and nephew urged their grandmother earnestly.

The old woman laughed. “Do we bring it back?”

“Lions Gate will have it delivered this week.” Tori told her with a warm smile.

Ewan’s grandma raised her arms and Tori and Ilyana helped her up. “I will have my son clear a space in the yard for it.”

Tori nodded and had the chair moved to the side. As Henrik returned the balls to the fishbowl and stuck his arm to stir them, villagers who were hired to help came to exchange cards with those who wanted new ones. A few people went to check out the lounger and even sit on it.

“When did you start selling furniture?” Albert asked as Tori passed him.

“Lions Gate has a wide portfolio, Albert,” Tori answered, a bit proud. “Lions Gate’s Den is our furniture and housewares division.”

Albert narrowed his eyes. “Ilyana named it, didn’t she?”

“It was the best one out of her suggestions,” Tori sighed. She walked back to the walkway and Ewan walked over to her.

“Tori, my parents and everyone really like ‘bingo’,” he said. “I didn’t think they’d be so interested.” Tori nodded.

“Old people love bingo, Ewan,” she said as she lifted a hand and patted his shoulder. “If your friends and the Sword Association members get bored, don’t forget the other things we offer tonight. The extra games are with JP and Sonia. Albert has the dungeon crawl notebook.”

Ewan nodded and headed back to his seat.

Tori raised her arms and turned around, passing Axton and Piers. “I’m going to go for a walk and relax.”

Before anyone could stop her, she headed up the path and towards the supply yard to be alone on her ifana stone pile. She thought that she’d have to move to a different pile once her current one started to be sourced, but it seemed that the workers purposely left her particular pile alone.

Eventually, it would be used, but for the time being it was her little oasis. As she walked past the promenade, she saw her cousins arm in arm, walking along the completed portion. A few villagers also walked along the promenade, as it had become a popular place to take after dinner evening walks.

Its popularity in its unfinished state was promising. She’d had temporary streetlamps put up to keep the walkway illuminated and safe. Henrik’s restaurant was still ‘open’, as they were also using the knights and sailors as tests for running the restaurant.

Everyone was made aware, and it seemed to be going smoothly.

Once Tori got to the supply yard, she climbed her ifana stone pile and laid down. She let out a low breath and let her body relax. There were knights crawling all over the area and sailors patrolling the shores. It wasn’t a very private party, but at least she felt much more assured of the safety of the imperial couple and their two heirs.

She owed Auntie Lucia for all her help arranging the security.

As the cool night breeze swept over her, she heard a near-silent crunching below and frowned. Someone was coming, and there was only one person who would bother her there.

“What now, Axton?” she asked, already sounding annoyed.

“I’m not Axton.” A different male voice replied, and Tori narrowed her eyes.

“Did Axton send you?”

“No,” Piers said as he reached her. “I send Axton. Not the other way around.”

Tori raised her brows. “That’s true.” She turned towards him and looked up. “Is there a problem with bingo?”

“No, but it’s much more competitive than you said it would be.”

“It’s not much of a competition. It’s very much a game of luck,” Tori said. Piers remained standing a few paces from her.

“Everyone is very determined. Mother won the last round and chose a sword from Daybreak Garden.”

Tori smirked. “Marquis blood.”

“It disappointed the students from La Garda. Ewan suggested they try dungeon crawl, so Mr. Martin will lead them through a round in Ewan’s tent,” Piers said with a frown. “Why did Ewan also get his own tent last night?”

“It’s his birthday! I wasn’t going to make him share with his siblings. And you each had your own tent. Axton just made a mistake and caused some confusion.”

Piers frowned more so and narrowed his eyes. “Axton needs more training.”

Tori let out a little snort. “Sit down, it’s difficult to talk to you if you’re standing above me.” Piers carefully sat down a good arm’s length from her. He seemed hesitant to hang his legs over the edge, but eventually did. “Did you come here to complain about Axton?”

Piers shook his head. “I wanted to thank you.”

The corners of her lips curled into a smirk as she closed her eyes. “You already thanked me and promised me cake.”

“And I want to try to hug.”

Tori opened her eyes. She turned her head to look at him with some concern. “Are you sure? I know it’s difficult for you.”

Piers was looking down, over the edge, and nodded. “Did you see my Mother when I gave her cake? She was very happy.”

Tori nodded. “That she was.”

“Does she think I don’t care for her?” Piers looked confused. “Mother cried earlier when I gave her cake. I know it is difficult for me, but I want to get more comfortable with touch.” He crinkled his eyes and fidgeted. “I know she wants to embrace me, but cannot.”

Tori furrowed her brows and pushed herself back into a seated position. She swung her legs over the edge and looked at him. “Piers, when was the last time you hugged your mother?”

He took a deep breath and squinted into the darkness ahead of them. “I can’t remember,” he said. “When I was very young, I already disliked physical contact with others, especially when I am upset or uncomfortable.”

Tori let out a low hiss and looked down. She knew that Piers didn’t embrace his parents, especially now, as an adult, but it was different to be a small child and not be shown that sort of affection, at least to her. She’d always been a hugger and couldn’t imagine not being able to embrace her mother, in both lives.

Antonia would almost smother her when she had the chance and Tori always felt very comforted in her embrace. A part of her heart ached for the Empress. How difficult must it have been for her who couldn’t touch her son for fear of triggering an attack? How did it feel to be a young mother and not be able to hold your little boy?

“Did your mother ask if you wanted to be hugged?”

“I would push her away and I believe she began to fear it would upset me. She does not embrace me as she does my brother.”

Tori tilted her head to the side. Would that mean that perhaps the Empress and the rest of Piers’ family simply became conditioned not to touch him? Ever? Did no one ask Piers?

“Do you ever want to be hugged?”

She wasn’t sure if she was surprised or not that he nodded. “There are times. When you are saying good-bye or seeing your friends after a long absence. I also want to embrace you and Axton. When Axton’s mother died…I couldn’t comfort him like you did with Lady Agafonova. I also see my mother and uncle want to embrace me, but stop. It’s strange. I didn’t expect to want them to continue. It is...uncomfortable.”

“Then we’ll take it very slowly,” Tori said as she slid her legs up and turned to the other side. Piers must've been quite lonely. “If you feel at all uncomfortable, pull away.”

Piers nodded and Tori began to climb down. He knit his brows together. “Where are you going?”

“Ground,” Tori said. “What if you panic and fall off?” Piers looked displeased with the assumption, but followed her down anyway. Tori reached the ground and brushed off the dust from her pants. “All right, first, there are many different ways to hug. I tend to go with three: the one-armed hug, the full embrace, and the cuddle.”

Piers stood across from her and nodded. “What do you recommend?”

“The one-armed hug is the fastest with the least amount of body contact. You’ve seen me give it a lot with JP and Henrik,” Tori said. She held out left arm and took a step forward, putting her arm around an imaginary person’s shoulders. “Now, in this position, you can give them one firm squeeze or pat them on the back three times. I don’t know why, but we do it three times.”

Tori moved to stand beside him and adjusted his arms. “I would only be touching part of their body for the count of three?” Piers asked. Tori nodded.

“Yes, this is a good hug for quick greetings and good-byes, used in a casual setting, and mainly with friends you tend to see often,” Tori said. She moved to stand in front of him. “Okay, I will not react. Step forward and put your arm around my shoulder and give me one firm squeeze and then step back.”

Piers took a deep breath. He lifted his arm, as Tori had shown him, and stepped forward. He carefully put one arm around her shoulders and moved his body closer, so it just brushed against hers. Then gave her a squeeze before jumping back, as if burned.

Tori pursed her lips.

“How was that?”

“Don’t jump back immediately. It makes it look as if you are disgusted with the person you are hugging,” she said in a droll voice. “That’s not what hugs are supposed to convey. They are meant to show affection, longing, and comfort. Warm feelings. Not disgust.”

Piers furrowed his brows and frowned. “I’m not disgusted by you.”

Tori stared at him with her lips in a line and blinked. “Thank you.”

“Try again?” he asked, lifting his arm. Tori gave him a nod and, in the light of the light crystals that dotted the yard’s walkways, Piers stepped forward to give her a one-armed hug. She heard him counting to three under his breath and rolled her eyes as he released her as soon as he said ‘three’.

“A bit awkward, but better. Don’t count down to the end of the hug.”

Piers took a deep breath and nodded. “What about with my mother?”

“You may have to work with this, but I’d go with a full embrace. This has a lot of body contact. Typically, the entire front part of your bodies touch, and you wrap your arms around them.” Tori stepped back and held her arms out. “Depending on your relationship and height differences, your arms go either under their arms, to their waist; above their upper arms; or above their shoulders and around the neck.”

“How do you hug the Marquess?”

“My hugs with Mama are cuddles,” Tori said, unashamed. She loved her mother and enjoyed the hugs she was showered with. “Cuddle hugs are longer and there is nuzzling and squeezing tightly involved. It’s beyond your level right now.”

Piers frowned. “This is complicated.”

“Expressions of affection and intimacy are complicated, but it’s all right. You only need to learn how to hug your mother,” Tori said. “I’m sure she will be very happy.”

Piers nodded. He lifted his arms. “What do I do?”

“The Empress is shorter than you, but she is your mother, and she should feel as if she’s gathering you, her child, into her arms,” Tori said. “I recommend one arm lower than the other, so one arm under hers and the other over her shoulder to almost meet at her back for a long squeeze.”

Piers frowned. “How long?”

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“Three counts, maybe longer if you haven’t seen her for a while. And if you need to comfort her,” Tori said.

Piers nodded once more, as if silently memorizing what she was telling her. “I’ve seen you do that to comfort Lady Agafonova after her review session riot.”

“Yes. Ilyana is also a hugger,” Tori replied. She stood beside him again and held out her arms. “Follow my movements.”

Piers watched her carefully once and then began to mirror her, also as if hugging an imaginary person. “This isn’t too difficult.”

“You are hugging the air. It’s different when you try to hug a real person.”

“If you are comforting someone, how do you know when to release them?”

“I usually wait until they are either calm or they pull away,” Tori said. “Do you want to try a full embrace?”

She saw him tense. He looked down and seemed to think for a moment before he took a deep breath. “I want to try.”

“All right. I won’t move. Just touch as much as you feel comfortable and if it gets to be too much, move away.” She stood in front of him and let her arms relax at her sides, but left a small gap between her arms and her body.

Piers seemed to ready himself, and Tori wasn’t sure how to feel seeing someone having to mentally prepare themselves to hug her, as if it was some sort of challenge. Piers swallowed hard and stepped forward. He raised his arms carefully and slipped one arm under hers and the other was raised over her shoulder.

Then he stopped.

“Are you scared?” Tori asked softly.

“This is my first full hug,” he said. Tori chuckled. He closed his arms around her, and she could feel him trying to relax.

“How is it?”

“Am I doing it correctly?”

“It’s fine for a first time,” Tori said with a smile. “Do you want me to hug you back? Or is that too much? Tell me what your limit is.”

“Try.”

“All right. Here I go.” Tori lifted her arms and gently moved them around his back. She felt him tense at once, but as her arms rested against him, he seemed to relax. “How is it?”

“You have stroked my back and arm before. It’s similar,” he said. “I like it.”

Tori smiled. “Shall I squeeze you?” She felt him nod and she moved closer and gave him a gentle squeeze.

“Tori....”

“What?”

“Your hair smells like sweat.”

Tori took a deep breath. “Please don’t make strange comments like that when you are hugging your mother.” She stepped back and released him, prompting Piers to let her go, as well. She stepped back and looked at him. “How was it?”

“I liked it. As long as it is not long, I don’t mind.”

“Good! Your mother will be very happy.”

He looked down and nodded. “Is it strange to ask for this?”

“Kind of,” Tori said. “But you have to consider the circumstances and the people involved. There is also nothing wrong with wanting physical affection and reassurance on your own terms. I would be upset if someone forced themself on me against my will, too. Anyone would. Just take it slowly and as you feel comfortable. There is no reason to force yourself. Your mother will be overjoyed just knowing your intention.”

He seemed to purse his lips, as if thinking about how complicated this all was. “Then, I would like to practice some more.” Piers stepped to the side and lifted his arms to hug the air.

“What are you doing?” A confused voice spoke out and Piers, undeterred, continued practicing his embrace.

“Practicing hugging,” Tori said from behind him. Axton looked at them strangely.

“What do you want?” Piers asked.

Axton narrowed his eyes and shook his head. He muttered to himself as a look of exhaustion seemed to appear on his face. “You two are so strange...she’s right there and you’re hugging nothing and you...you just let him. I don’t know what to do with either of you....”

Tori shot him an annoyed look. “Why are you bothering me this time?”

“A few people asked about you as they’re interested in investing in Viclya.”

Tori perked up at once. “Investing in Viclya? Who?”

“Madam Martin, Prince Emil and Princess Vivian, and Miss Vissage.”

Tori looked surprised, but pleased. “Sonia?”

“She was telling Miss Agafonova that she has a bit of competition money saved up-” Tori was already walking past Axton, in the direction of their tents. Axton frowned. “Now where are you going?”

“To find Sonia!” Tori said, unable to contain the satisfaction in her voice. “You stay and help Piers.”

Axton held his arms to his sides. “Help him with what?”

“Axton,” Piers said behind him. He turned around and saw Piers’ determined face. “Hug me.”

She thought their discussion about possible businesses in Viclya, particularly the promenade area, was going very well. Tori made sure to have Ilyana, Henrik, and Axton with her as she tried to sell her vision of a hammam styled bath house on a resort island.

“With our current plumbing and crystal technology, I believe we can build this. However, this would be a phase three building project,” Tori said. “So, it will take some time.”

“I’d like to see some more drafts on this,” Madam Martin said. “But I am very interested.”

“Of course, of course,” Tori said, understandingly. “I understand that a proper proposal is needed, and we would have to secure the island.”

“In conjunction with the bathhouse, it will be connected to a luxury inn,” Axton said. “Once we have secured the island, we will prepare immediately.”

“Many of our craftsmen have expressed interest in continuing their contracts after the first and second phases, which are for buildings and islands deemed essential,” Tori said.

“Of course, before that, we will be building up the stores along the promenade and plaza,” Henrik said. “We do have prospective plot outlines to show investors.”

Tori nodded in agreement and a server rushed towards her. She craned her neck to the side as the server whispered in her ear. Her eyes widened and she nodded. She looked back at the round table where they were seated at Henrik’s restaurant for their final lunch before they left.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment, there is something with construction that I need to attend to,” Tori said. She stood up and gave them a small bow of her head before following the server outside.

“My lady!” One of the construction leads was waiting for her. “My apologies for disturbing you.”

Tori shook her head. “Not at all. Did it happen again?”

“I’m afraid so, my lady.”

“Is Professor Grey still here? I’d like his opinion on switching the pile drivers,” Tori said as they walked towards the far end of the promenade, where it was still under construction. As they walked, they passed the Empress and Emperor walking arm in arm and tailed by several knights.

“Lady Tori, where are you going?” the Empress asked as she saw her scurrying along. “Is it not time for lunch?”

“There is a slight issue with a pile driver I need to attend to. It won’t take long,” Tori said.

She thought that would excuse her, but as she got a few steps away, she noticed that the Empress had turned and followed her, dragging her husband and knights along. Tori took a deep breath.

“Auntie Nika-”

“Carry on; I am curious and will stay at a safe distance!”

The construction lead looked at her with uncertainty, as if wondering if he should send the two back. However, Tori shook her head.

“Then, please stay where I tell you when we are closer, as the construction site can be dangerous,” she said, as calmly as she could.

They continued walking, and when the completed portion of the promenade ended, Tori had the imperial couple, and their knights remain in place while she walked closer to where a pile driver had sunk into the soft marshy shoreline.

“We’re going to have to switch to the smaller pile driver, and it would be best to have one of the pile driver ships deal with the very edge of the shoreline,” Professor Grey said as soon as he saw her.

Tori nodded. “Then, I will leave that to you to arrange, Professor.”

“I apologize for this oversight. In the spring months, the soil here is wetter than normal.” Professor Grey sighed. “We should’ve switched to the smaller, lighter pile driver earlier.”

“This is something we have learned and will take note of in the future,” Tori said. She moved closer to the wooden structure of the pile driver, which had one of its corners sinking deep into the soil, so that the structure seemed to tilt ten degrees to the side. Tori looked at her booted feet. The soil did feel softer than usual and very heavy objects with no support would certainly sink in.

This happened at the other end, as well. Tori rolled up her sleeve and adjusted her bracelet. She picked the terracrystal and knelt down to put her hand and the crystal on the ground. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She visualized energy collecting beneath the soil and then pushing up, steady and evenly. She could hear the creaking of the pile driver above her as it was straightened out. She then condensed the soil and opened her eyes. The ground beneath the pile driver was much more solid and they could move it out of the way.

“Clear!” Tori shouted and the workers rushed forward to move the pile driver. Tori stepped back and someone handed her a towel and led her to a bucket of clean water to wash her hand.

“Thank you, my lady!” the construction lead told her, and she smiled and nodded. “We’re lucky to have caught you before you left."

The first time it happened, it was a long laborious process to get the pile driver unstuck. Tori tried to see if she could assist and after some discussion and testing with Master Ramos, the second time a pile driver got stuck, she was able to manipulate the ground to make it easier to remove.

After she cleaned her hands and dried them, she headed back to the promenade.

“You are able to use crystals to manipulate earth.” The Emperor stated it more than asked for confirmation.

Tori gave them a bow of her head and nodded. “I’m still a novice and learning, but I can do minor manipulations.”

“You straightened out a pile driver,” the Empress said in a solemn voice. “I hardly call that minor.”

Tori smiled a bit. “I consider it minor.”

“Then I’d like to see what you consider major,” the Emperor said with a raised brow.

Tori thought for a moment. “The Bishop of Karap once caused a landslide.” Although it was somewhat minor. Tori motioned towards the plaza. “Shall we continue to have lunch?”

The imperial couple followed her, and Tori tried not to walk strangely as she felt their gazes on her back.

She had shown off more than she intended to that weekend. She didn’t plan on Master Ramos revealing her as his pupil or for the imperial couple to watch her move a wooden structure and a massive granite block in a few seconds.

She turned around and gave them a slight bow once more. “I would very much appreciate it if what you saw me do does not leave the delta.”

“Of course!” the Empress said, almost immediately. The Emperor gave her a nod of agreement. “But I do have one request.”

Tori bit her cheek to keep from groaning out loud. “Yes?”

The Empress beamed. “Where did you get those ‘fireworks’?”

Tori almost let out a breath of relief. That wasn’t a secret. “I met a merchant in Anlar. Hoita, great person. His family runs a trade network through a trading village called Hoit, from the east, over the strait and to Nazria, and then to King’s Harbor. I put in an order over the summer for enough stock for everyone’s birthday celebrations and the Spring Festival event.”

The Empress furrowed her brows. “How long does an order take to make and arrive?”

“I can call him, but it depends how much stock is close to us,” Tori said. Hoita was on his trading vessel in the lagoon right now, having been invited and taught Instructor Ignatius how to use the fireworks. “It took a few months to arrive, but to be fair, it was winter and so there were some delays.”

“Is there a possibility of putting in an order in time for an event in two weeks?” the Empress asked.

Tori drew her lips in. She knew immediately that such a thing was almost impossible. Logistics of delivery alone would take a few weeks, as Hoita would need to go, pick up the items, and then bring them back. That’s why when she saw the bamboo tubes in Hoita’s trading vessel during one of her visits, she asked about them and put in an order immediately, as well as arranged for assistance.

The Empress’ shoulders dropped a bit and she frowned.

The Emperor squeezed her hand and looked towards Tori. “Lady Guevera, we will purchase the same number of fireworks used last night from you and are willing to pay double.”

Tori raised a brow. She quietly did the planning in her head. She didn’t mind selling them, but needed to make sure she’d have enough, as she planned to use them when Ewan got accepted at La Garda.

She believed she had enough and gave them a nod. “That is do-able. May I ask what the fireworks are for?”

The Empress looked surprised, and the Emperor raised a brow. “You do not know? You should’ve received an invitation!”

“Invitation?” Tori tilted her head to the side. She hadn’t received anything.

“Perhaps Gideon has not given it to her, yet,” the Emperor said, looking at his wife.

The Empress let out a tired sigh. “It’s for Gideon’s birthday in two weeks. He will be turning 16, so it is his coming-of-age celebration, as well.”

Tori didn’t keep track of love interests’ birthdays, and didn’t care, but now that the Empress mentioned it, something about Gideon’s birthday told her it was important. It had been almost two years since she woke up in Soleil; the smaller details of the game were hazy. After all, she never actually played it and only spent a little time skimming the main and character wiki-pages for the game.

She furrowed her brows and frowned. Did something important happen on Gideon's 16th birthday? Was it an important game event? It sounds like it would be.

“Do you agree to sell us the fireworks, Lady Guevera?” the Emperor asked.

Tori took a deep breath and shook the thought out of her head. Perhaps she’d remember later. She looked up and nodded. “Yes, I will arrange it. Hoita will leave later this week, but Instructor Ignatius has been trained. I will arrange for Hoita to come to Horizon before he leaves to do any preliminary setup.”

The Empress looked pleased and nodded. “We will pay for his troubles. Thank you, Lady Tori. Allow us to send a carriage to pick you up to get ready for the celebration.”

She forced a small smile and turned around, trying to hide her disappointed expression. There was likely no way she could avoid Gideon’s birthday now.

But she would still try.

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