Chapter 13: Chapter 12: A Conversation Unbeknownst

A sudden lapse of her memory, Lillian found herself forgetting what she had been doing. She remembered a scream; or was it a yell? A jolt of pain ran through her brain, and she fell out of her daze.

Once more, she was met with the sight of the boy opposite her. She recognised him. He wasn’t someone she knew personally, but knew as an NPC, a resident. Feyrith Aridelle, the magician. She hadn’t recognised him earlier, for whatever, but now memories came flooding through her mind.

She didn’t know what to say. Feyrith had an aloof expression on his face, not one showing much emotion, but inoffensive enough. She could empathise with that glare, oh how she wished she could act like him as well. A sense of comradery, formed from this short interaction.

What was I doing again? She recollected her memories and remembered her parents instructing her to talk with the boy.

Why not? She thought.

Although he was her enemy in-game, she had always enjoyed Feyrith’s storyline, and who knew? What if talking with him here would help her understand her current situation as well? Now… How should I start this conversation?

“Good evening.” She spoke. “My name is Lillian Silverveil. Pleased to meet you.”

Feyrith’s eyes blinked for a moment before his mouth opened.

“Greetings, your majesty.” He said, bowing his head down. “My name is Feyrith Aridelle. It is my honour to have met you.” His tone showed not a hint of sincerity, but not like Lillian minded anyway, it was much preferable to the feet licking she always encountered when dealing with nobles. Just thinking about it makes my head hurt.

She appreciated his honesty, but was also confused. This was not the Feyrith Aridelle she remembered encountering in-game. He was always so much more, lively. Full of energy and confidence. The boy in front of her was much calmer, calculated even, everything from his posture to tone screaming artificial.

“…” They sat in silence for a while, neither party having any idea what to say. So, I thought he was supposed to talk? What’s going on?!

Lillian’s mind screamed for assistance. She had assumed that Feyrith was here because he had some sort of business with her, that he would be the one to strike up a conversation.

“Ahem.” She coughed, drawing attention to herself. Feyrith’s gaze was trained on her, those golden eyes piercing into hers. There was something about the way he carried himself that reminded her of someone.

Odd to think about now, but this was most reminiscent of how Servant was when she first met him. Even in a chat log, she could recognise people’s intentions and emotion. It was skill, or rather a habit, she wished she didn’t have, a curse and a blessing all at once.

“So, what brings you here today?” Lillian asked, hoping to strike up some small talk to replace the silent room. Feyrith looked a bit puzzled by her question, his eyebrows raising just slightly.

“My parents, instructed me to come here.” He answered. “I wasn’t given much information aside from that.”

“Is that so…” Lillian replied with a slight curve of her lips. “The same goes with me.”

“What a coincidence.” Feyrith said, his hands placed on the table, tapping it just slightly.

“Other than this, what brings you to the palace?” Lillian asked, leaning her head back.

“The yearly celebration, of course.” He replied with a languid tone. “If it was up to me, I would much prefer to be at home. Being around nobles isn’t my favourite way to pass time.”

Lillian chuckled slightly; she couldn’t have agreed more. If it wasn’t for her duties as princess, she would have lived a life far away from other nobles. Their cruelty and two-faced nature were more than enough to drive her gut to its limits.

She felt sorry for her parents who had to manage those monsters every single waking hour of their lives. This two-faced floor she lived on. Made strong by the smart, but ruled by the stupid.

Those gardens toiled away inside every single day, from Bronzewall to Goldhoard, brought her and her people so much fortune. So why did the slums still exist?

“I’m betting my parents forced yours to participate.” Lillian said with a light laugh, a small grin on her face. “You’re an Aridelle right? I heard that our parents have always been close.”

“Really?” Feyrith asked with a smile. “I wouldn’t have thought that about them after seeing them in the main hall earlier.”

As rhetoric as that statement obviously was, she couldn’t help but agree on how different her parents presented themselves in public and in private. She looked up to see Feyrith looking at her with a wide smile.

“My mother is the same way, so I understand your plight.” He spoke.

Lillian couldn’t help but put on a smile as well. Coincidence after coincidence, how entertaining indeed. The conversation had turned out much more pleasant that she had first anticipated.

It was, oddly enough, fun. A nice break from talking with nobles. She was currently enjoying herself, something she would have never expected when this conversation began.

---

“Full of coincidences, are we?” Lillian’s voice echoed in a small, well-lit room.

Sat around a small table were 3 of the most powerful figures in all of Silverveil Kingdom. Sylvia Aridelle, along with Therian and Adelaide Silverveil.

They sat next to each other, their gazes focused on a small screen, on it an image of Lillian and Feyrith talking with one another. If Feyrith was there, he would have recognised the screen as the arcane implement Sylvia had been tinkering with that morning.

It was a spy cam, or a security camera, whatever you might want to call it, hooked up to another arcane implement placed inside of the royal chambers.

“I think we made a good decision Syl.” Therian spoke, smiling at Sylvia who was sat next to Adelaide. She gave him a grin in response to his statement.

The only person in that room that looked the slightest bit perturbed was Adelaide, her eyes sharp as she watched her daughter and Feyrith talk.

She felt unease at the idea her husband had suggested, having only given her approval for this meeting as a trial of sorts. Unlike Sylvia and Therian, she was worried about the two children. Not to sound overprotective, but having climbed the tower longer than the other two, she had a very different view on it.

It was a shame, but politics were politics, and they needed to keep sending their children to the Tower to compete with the residents from other floors. They needed players to look up to Silverveil, to ignore the filth inside of it, and to trust in the kingdom.

Just today they were having talks with Theodore of the Thundergod guild, the latter hoping to set up a guild base in their kingdom. This deal would skyrocket their reputation among the residents and players of the tower, so it was vital that it succeeded.

Besides that, she was also hoping to be able to train Lillian for a while longer. These past two months had only reminded her how much potential her daughter had for combat, even with her lacking mana capacity.

Just one more year of training and Lillian would have been at a level unseen at her age in the tower. Not only would it had allowed her to do better during the tutorial’s 2nd and 3rd rounds, but also make her a capable successor to her skill.

An engagement between Lillian and Feyrith. That was the idea Therian and Sylvia had first approached her about. Not to use them as political tools, but to build a bond that could be used inside of the tower. So that both children could have someone they could depend on to clear the tower’s many trials.

“Are you sure this is a good decision?” Adelaide asked the two, interrupting their jolly banter. Her eyes were squinted, slightly languid and tired.

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Sylvia simply smiled in response to her statement, standing up from her seat and wrapping her arms around Adelaide’s back. Her eyes screamed of mischief, her signature playful glint exuded from every movement she made.

“Between friends you’re still cold as ever huh Adelaide?” Sylvia spoke.

“I’m simply worried about the two.” Adelaide replied, her tone sharp. “Fine, they seem to like each other enough. Even I’ve never seen my own daughter show this kind of behaviour in front of me.”

“That’s not the point though.” She said, turning her head to stare Sylvia in the eyes. “They are unprepared.”

“Then we’ll make them prepared.” Sylvia replied with an impish smile.

“We only have 3 months, Sylvia.” Adelaide spoke, her fists clenched. “Sure, we can announce their engagement next month during the Feast of Realisation, but then what?”

“Even George had 2 years of training, and you’re giving the two of them not even an eighth of that.”

“That’s because it was him.” Sylvia replied. “These are Lillian and Feyrith we’re talking about, and we both know how talented our children are.”

“Plus.” She added. “We’ll personally train them.” Sylvia had a smug smile on her face, revealing the secret weapon she had hidden all this time.

Even Adelaide had to admit, personal training from the 3 of them toppled anything the two would get if they were trained by even the most powerful knights and mages in their kingdom.

Even so, she remained unconvinced, firm in her beliefs.

“I agree with Syl.” Therian joined in, no longer just watching the two speak.

“Why did Silverveil agree to make you, its king?” Adelaide asked sarcastically.

“That’s your fault, isn’t it dear?” Therian replied with a cherry voice.

Adelaide sighed, taking in a deep breath. Her two friends were as firm in their decision as she was with hers. In this situation, it was two against one, and she knew that in the end, she would have to compromise.

“Fine.” She spoke. “I’ll agree on one condition.”

“3 months of training. No less.” Adelaide spoke in a firm tone, “At the end of the 3 months, we’ll have someone test them to see if they’re ready.” Sylvia and Therian smiled at each other and nodded.

“Deal.” Sylvia said, letting go of Adelaide.

“So.” Therian spoke up. “Who’ll be testing them?”

Adelaide’s eyes turned sharp, a smile on her face. The two hadn’t bothered thinking about that part before they agreed, and that was exactly what she wanted.

“I will.” She spoke, emitting a large killing intent throughout the entire room. Therian and Sylvia’s eyes widened, but they soon began to laugh at Adelaide’s statement. The three had come to a decision. Now it was up to Lillian and Feyrith.

---

“I heard that today’s festival at Bronzewall square was your doing.” Feyrith said. Lillian’s eyes widened as she heard his statement. Not many nobles, other than the ones she explicitly negotiated with, knew about the festival she organised. It was more so her gift to the common folk than it was for nobles.

“You know of it?” She asked. Feyrith nodded his head, as he leaned back in his chair.

“My carriage passed by it when I was heading toward the palace.” He spoke. “You put on quite the spectacle.”

Lillian felt a dose of joy when she heard him say that. She did in fact, work hours upon hours on that festival, and to hear someone not involved in it compliment her on it, brought her a glimpse of happiness.

“Much appreciated.” She said in thanks.

Creak

The door to the chambers opened and from it emerged 3 figures. Her parents, and someone she never thought she would see again. Sylvia Aridelle.

“Greetings, his and her majesty.” As she turned behind her, she saw Feyrith knelt down, as he greeted her parents in a respectful manner. Realising that she was still sitting down, she came to her senses and followed his actions.

“Greetings, mother, father, marquis Aridelle.” She spoke.

“At ease, you two.” Therian spoke with a chuckle. Lillian stood back up and returned to her seat, Feyrith doing the same. Both their eyes were placed on the three, wondering why they suddenly entered the room.

“Mother.” Feyrith suddenly spoke up, his eyes on the odd object in Sylvia’s hand. “Why is that arcane implement in your hand?”

“Maybe we should just cut to the chase.” Therian said with a wry smile, looking at Sylvia with a displeased expression.

“I say Adelaide inform them.” Sylvia spoke with a pout going behind Adelaide and pushing her forward. Adelaide had a resigned expression on her face, and what felt like a migraine slowly developing in her mind.

Lillian had never seen her mother make this face before, so this was somewhat of an interesting experience.

“I believe Feyrith had already been informed, but we haven’t told Lillian anything.” Adelaide spoke, preparing herself for a large announcement.

What? Lillian couldn’t help but be confused. None of the dots connecting in her head. Something Feyrith knew, and she didn’t. Through their conversation, she had completely forgotten that Feyrith was meant to have some business with her, having not spoken a word of it to her.

When she looked at Feyrith behind her, she saw the pained expression on his face, what looked like someone going through the 6 stages of grief.

“The three of us have had some talks, and we decided something.” Adelaide said after a long pause. “We want to get the two of you, engaged.”

 

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