Tyrion’s birthday party

I arrived at the Marcellus Mansion with Edna and Mellie by my side, holding boxes of cake and tubs of ice cream. I was pleasantly surprised by Alissa, who I hadn't seen since I moved out of the Marcellus mansion, opening the door for me.

"Good morning your Ladyship!" She bubbled as she curtseyed to me. It was really good to see Allisa again, the last time I had even spoken to her was the day I had moved out of the Marcellus Mansion.

"Good morning Alissa! How have you been?" I cooed back happily.

"Very well Lady Riley!" She giggled happily. "Well, come this way Lady Riley, the party is being held in the garden today!" She said excitedly as she showed me, Edna and Mellie through to the beautiful garden at the back of the mansion.

The sun was shining brightly and the lush green grass and bushels of beautiful flowers were soaking up every last drop of light. This alcove of flowers and greenery seemed to attract lots of wildlife; I heard quite a few birds chirping in the trees and saw a few squirrels running and ducking behind bushes, and even a small deer, with awesome pastel pink fur, resting at the edge of the garden. With all the sunshine and greenery, it seemed the perfect party to wear white, which as per usual, I was wearing white.

"Riley!" I heard Alice's cheerful voice. "You've arrived!" I looked forward and saw that Alice was beautifully dressed in a coppery pink color, almost the exact same color as her hair. The dress had a very sinched waist, I internally worried about her organs, with a beautiful silk skirt and no sleeves. She also wore a large hat, probably to protect her from the sun.

"You look stunning Alice." I said as we hugged, and I meant it. Alice was exceptionally beautiful, evident by the string of suitors who religiously sent her love letters and flowers.

"You too Riley. I think white dresses are really your trademark." She said grinning at me. I was beginning to see that Alice was not your typical 'noble Lady'. She did not prescribe to the specific gentile mold of mild mannered, quiet young ladies, yet her sharp wit and cunning were what made her special.

"Thank you. Where can I put the cakes?" I asked, gesturing to Edna and Mellie behind me, seeing that their arms were getting tired.

"Oh we've made some space on the table." She gestured towards the large garden table. Edna and Mellie immediately began taking the cakes out of their boxes and placing them on the table. Once everything was set out, I realized that I had probably brought a bit too much...

"Wow Riley, you brought brought quite a lot..." Said Alice wide eyed as she looked at all the deserts.

"Is it too much?" I asked biting my nails, worried that I had over done it.

"No don't worry. There are quite a few young children coming as well as a few adults, so I'm sure the treats will be eaten up quickly." She said. "They look delicious by the way." She said eyeing them hungrily.

"Have a slice then." I encouraged her. She bit her lip and gave me a naughty look.

"Well, if you insist..." she cooed as she cut herself a rather large slice of the heart fruit cake. I watched excitedly as she took a spoonful of cake into her mouth.

"Uuuuuuuhh!" She grunted loudly, throwing her head back as her eyes rolled back in their sockets, while scrunching her face up in delight. "So. Good." She whispered softly. Which made me chuckle.

"My darling Riley!" I heard an excited screech from behind us. It was Lady Eleanor, who scuttled out of the house and through the garden to give me a hug. Today she was wearing a very large and frilly dress; the sleeves had layers of lace details, and her skirt was exceptionally large today, exactly like those dresses from The Rococo period.

"My darling Girl! How have you been? Have you fully recovered from your fainting spell? Truly my dear, you mustn't worry us like that... You frightened me half to death when you fainted like that! Then on the other hand I was already on the brink after witnesses Lavinia's conduct... Honestly!" She spoke so quickly and passionately that I couldn't get a word in. "Ooooh! I see you've brought these marvelous cakes that Alice has been telling me about." She sidetracked her speech when she saw all the treats set out on the table. "They look scrumptious, her eyes lit up excitedly.

"Mother if you start eating them, you won't stop." Said Alice with a mouth full of cake. I noticed that she was holding a new slice of cake in her hand, and I wondered when she had cut herself a second slice...

Soon Cornelius and Lord Umfrey came out to the garden and greeted me. Cornelius also asked after my health and scolded me for not looking after my health.

"Really Riley, you shouldn't over do it. You need to understand your limits before you go tiring yourself out!" He chided me.

"Alice told me that you used you Mapping and Appraisor skills simultaneously for two hours straight!" It really felt like I was being reprimanded by my teacher. He really was like my big brother figure, and of all the people in Arteria, he and Lord Umfrey knew my limits and abilities the best, so he was kind of like my mentor in away.

"I'm sorry..." I pouted. I didn't like being scolded. "But I was just a little fatigued, it's not a big deal..."

"Come now my son. She's learnt her lesson, there's no need to carry on lecturing her." Intejected Lord Umfrey with a mouthful of cake, the crumbs splattering across the table as he talked.

"Promise me that you'll be more careful." He said sternly.

"Promise." I smiled up at him, trying to break the tension. He ruffled the top of my head and then sat down next to me at the table.

Soon lots of the extended Marcellus family arrived. Most of whom came with children. Soon the garden was quite full of copper-headed people, and Alice was explaining about some gossip to do with her fifth cousin twice removed when a very proud and smug little Tyrion came prancing our into the garden, making sure to show off a small copper dagger the he had fastened to his belt.

"Oooh if it isn't the birthday boy!" Cooed Lady Eleanora as her son proudly modeled the copper dagger.

"Very Dashing my son!" Called out Lord Umfrey, the cake crumbs from his mouth splattered out onto the table again and Lady Eleanora nudged him looking annoyed.

"Why you handsome fellow!" Cornelius got up and tackled Tyrion, grabbing hold of his waist and hoisting him up into the air. Tyrion was delighted by this and squealed with pleasure at being thrown up and then caught.

"Come Milord, Lady Riley has bought you yummy cakes just as she promised!" Alissa Said, gesturing a large slice of heart fruit cake and a bowl of Gocan ice cream that was placed at the seat reserved for him.

"Yay! I want some of big sister's cake!" Said Tyrion as he fist pumped the sky and ran over to his seat.

He wasted no time in getting a forkful of cake into his mouth. Still chewing, is eyes lit up, cute dimples formed at the corners of his smile, and his nostrils flared enthusiastically.

"It's so yummy!" He Shouted, before quickly shoveling more spoonfuls of cake into his mouth. He ate it like a possessed man and before anybody could utter anything about his atrocious table manners, he had finished the cake and was spooning the ice cream into his mouth.

"Tyrion you might want to slow down otherwise you might get a tummy ache later..." I suggested. But my words fell on deaf ears, as I saw him pay no notice of me and slurp down the last of the iced cream.

"Sister Riley!" He moaned, "Why didn't you bring me iced cream earlier?" He glared at me accusatorially.

"Tyrion. You must say thank you to Lady Riley for bringing you ice cream in the first place." Scolded Lady Eleanora.

"I'm sorry Tyrion, I just wanted to make sure it was perfect before I gave it to you..." I said pouting. He seemed satisfied with my answer and smiled again.

"Ok, well then I forgive you." He said. I chuckled. He was such a cute little guy with his copper hair and adorable dimples. "Seconds please!" He pronounced as he hold out his plate. Alissa kindly gave him another slice of cake and another scoop of ice cream.

"Here you are Milord." She obliged him kindly.

"So Riley, are you ready for the Mage exam tomorrow?" Cornelius Asked as he sunk back into his chair, letting the sun shine on his neck.

"Yeah, I am." I replied, "I finished it earlier this morning actually." I smiled thinking about the beautiful Crystalline blade that was safely secured in my Safe room. "It's modeled after the scepter that Lord Gawain told me that you created last year."

"Lord Gawain Smithson?" Cornelius Asked.

"Yes, him."

"Lord Gawain did have a particular interest in the scepter I created. He gave me a very generous offer for it actually." Cornelius recalled as he looked up into the sky.

"And did you sell it to him?" I asked.

"No, definitely not." He responded quickly. "That scepter is far more valuable than money can buy... he was just trying his luck because he wanted it so

badly." I could hear slight irritation in His voice.

"It's just a testament to your skills that you had Lord Gawain trying to gain your scepter brother." Alice complimented him and dishes another slice of cake for herself.

"Why is it a compliment for him to want to buy your scepter? Weren't there numerous other who wanted to buy it?" I asked.

"The Smithson's are known for their military might and honor, But I'm addition to that they are also famous for being avid collectors of weaponry and artifacts. They only collect the rarest and most powerful artifacts. So in a way it was a compliment for Gawain to offer me money for it." Cornelius admitted. "But still, we are both first rank nobles and her he thought he could buy me off with money..." he clicked his tongue, seeming quite irritated as his hand brushed through orangey copper hair.

If Lord Gawain went after Cornelius scepter that magnified fire magic, I wondered how eager he would be to get his hands on my scepter that amplified all types of magic...

"I hear that Edgar will also be participating." Alice chimes in distracting me from my thoughts.

"Edgar! Oh I can't wait to see him, I haven't seen him since the Royal ball after the Mage tournament." I said thinking back to the kind and passionate Edgar. I wanted to slap myself for no getting into contact with him.

"Unfortunately..." Alice's grim voice tore my mind away from happy memories of Edgar. "Lady Lavinia will also be participating." Alice scowled.

"Are you being serious?" I couldn't believe it, I thought that I had already seen the last of her. "How can she participate? I thought that she was being punished for her conduct at the Von Esterheim party?"

"Well you see, the Royal family tries to pertain the image of nobility being perfect examples of society, especially for the commoners. So when a crack forms in that image, they are concerned about making it go away and sweeping it under the rug, rather than carrying out a public punishment." Alices words made me groan.

"So she she basically got away with what she did, without any consequences."

"Well not quite without any consequences, She was exposed and humiliated in front of all the first class and second class nobles, as well as some of the third class nobles."

Ugh Lavinia, I can't believe that I'll have to see her again tomorrow.

"Don't sulk Riley, you don't have to talk to her at all." Alice comforted me.

I could feel the cross frown on my forehead and I was determined that it would stay there for a while. The thought of seeing Lavinia again was like a sour-aftertaste in my mouth that wouldn't dissipate.

No. I won't let her ruin the exam for me.

I'm going to take the exam, present my artifact, and show Lavinia exactly who Lady Riley Delton is.

"Oh dear, I think we've inspired some competition into you Riley." Grinned Alice. Cornelius was also smirking at me.