Chapter 18

Kore looked at herself in the mirror, letting herself be vain once in a while. She had her hair straight but it started to curl and wave at the ends as that was what her hair naturally did.

In her nose sat a black septum ring, horseshoe in shape and small but perfectly sized for her nose. She hadn't the time to get the jewellery and now she did. She could flip it up if needed.

In the middle of her breasts, the tourmaline arrowhead crystal still sat on its long chain, tucking away into her shirt if she wore one that didn't go low. It was hidden by her tailcoat, now each sleeve held two bands of gold fabric near the hem.

She left her room with a fox and dog in tow, following her every step but remaining mostly unhindered as she performed tasks throughout the day. They would nap near her feet or on the sofas in her office but as soon as someone came into the room, they would be alert but never allowed the other people to realise.

As May finished and June began, Kore saw less and less of the Arcanes as the Crowns started the preparations for Minthe Vallie's trials. There was a lot to do because it would also be during the Summer Solstice. Even if there weren't trials to be had, there would be festivals on the day of because of the Magic properties of the day.

It was decided that the Trial would be done at the very beginning of the day, letting the truth be known before the festivals began for the whole day. As soon as the dawn came, they would know the answer to Minthe Vallie's true heritage.

She zipped her waterproof jacket, tucking her necklace in as she spelled her clothes to be warm as the rain pelted the ground. When she and her two following animals managed to get past the stairs and onto the grounds of rolling fields and small hills, she started her jog.

It was the only time she got peace from Minthe and the others who kept following her around. With the summoned rain, they didn't even think of asking to join her. Ruel stayed back to keep an eye on Minthe.

Duke and Tsar followed diligently behind her, keeping up easily.

There was a heavy set of rain as she ran, letting the newly found thunder bellow around her as she trekked up a slightly steep hill on the outskirts of the city. The air was cold but refreshing against her skin. She needed this, having spent the last couple of days being followed by Minthe and some of the Vallie elders as the preparations for Minthe's trials came.

Running had become her favourite exercise behind sparring. It gave her heart an excuse to work harder and eventually it became easier to wake up early and get out of the High Halls. She couldn't stand staying inside the Halls anymore, it was too crowded with so many clans milling around as they arrived in the last two weeks.

Her mind went into a slight daze as she ran up and down the rolling hills of the grounds. She was passing the edge of a lake, stopping as the rain continued to let Tsar and Duke have a quick drink there.

Instead of going back to the High Halls as she said she would have, she made her way to the Greylight manor. It was only a couple miles away from the High Halls, as were all the Ruling Clan manors. She had already gained a great distance from the Halls so she only had to continue to jog for another twenty minutes.

Having called in and said something came up, Kore didn't have to go back.

Markus smiled softly as she stopped in the hall when she saw him, a smile lining her own lips as she greeted him.

"I haven't seen you recently," he said.

"I've been busy," she shrugged, tucking her hands into her pockets. "Keeping Minthe and the others away from confidential knowledge is difficult since they're around most of the time."

"By the time you get back, you're exhausted and fall asleep within seconds of touching the pillows," he noted. "When was the last time you sat down and had a proper meal without having to do paperwork or a conversation about work?"

She huffed a laugh. "Feels like ages ago."

"Why don't we go have a meal then?" Markus said. "Unless you've already eaten something for dinner?"

"I barely had time for anything more than coffee today," she grinned cheekily. "Sure, I'll see if the chef is awake."

He stopped her by gently grabbing her wrist, keeping her from walking away. "No. It is late even by human standards. I'll cook. I haven't had the need to eat in a while but I have started to feel peckish tonight."

The kitchen was massive but perfectly sized for this house. Tiled walls and floors with pure white marble counters and state-of-the-art appliances. There was a large island in the middle, with stools to one side of it and a sink in the middle.

Markus instructed her to sit at the island, letting him look through each cupboard as he decided to make a dish.

He decided to make spicy, egg-fried rice. Rice would take the longest time so he prepared the rest of the things as it cooked. Peri peri powder went into a small wok with smoked paprika powder and all seasoning mix, he used a spatula to mix the spices into the tablespoon of olive oil.

Kore licked her lips as he cooked, smelling the spice in the air.

When the rice timer went off, he turned it off, drained the rice completely and dropped it gently into the wok. Markus had to carefully turn the rice into the spice oil, he didn't want to clean a big mess up before eating.

He cracked two eggs and placed them fully into the wok, letting them scramble on top before mixing them into the rice. It would make a gooey mess but, after mixing in the hot sauce, it would be absolutely gorgeous. It finished cooking and he carefully scrapped it into two low but wide bowls.

Placing one in front of himself and another in front of Kore, he sat. He waited until Kore took a bite before starting to eat himself.

It was silent as they ate.

It was a quiet silence that didn't need to be interpreted as they ate. Comfortable and reassuring, it laid on them as they realised they hadn't seen each other in a while. Very few times could they get to be alone, and it was only minutes after that when they were called away to do this or that.

It was nice to just sit without there being a need to talk about trivial stuff.

Quite quickly after that night, it became a sort of ritual to either sit in the kitchen and eat at an ungodly time of night or go to the abandoned drawing room to play a game of chess.

It was always white against black, king against queen, Markus against Kore. There were too many ties to count, one winning a game before the other did the same in the next.

It was always a tie, a matching case of wills and wits as they played.

)()()(

Minthe had been taken in by a family when she was a child, her true parents killed in a fire that covered their house in flames. The elders of the family sat in the main office with the Crowns and a few advisors and companions.

"What even is the reason for her to be acknowledged as a Redwater?" Brona asked the small group of Vallie members. "Besides that status increase she would get, there aren't a lot of other reasons or things she would get."

"She will be a noble," the main person said, an ageing woman with crow's feet and greying hair named Loren Vallie. "It will be prevalent for her to be a member of the Court due to her standing."

"A noble only in title, she wouldn't be allowed during the meetings," Ciel stated. "With no experience or expertise in any area that would benefit us, there wouldn't be a decent reason for her to attend when there are people who are a lot more qualified to advise us."

"Her standing as a Redwater won't be taken well by our people," Kore sighed. "My mother's death was only a couple of months ago. The death of a Crown is a major thing, even if it is done by the Flame. And my disappearance has been taken as a mourning period. Bringing in a new person into the Court will make it seem like we are replacing a member, and stating they are a long-lost Redwater will cause confusion. There is no criteria for Blood Magic and so we cannot say for certain that she has it."

"There was a rumour a couple of weeks ago that a Witch killed a Vampire," Loren Vallie said, a dark and calculating look in her eyes. "You were in Japan at the time, Crown Greylight. What do you know of it?"

"I know the rumour,"

"And?"

"And what? What do you want me to say?" Kore leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "It's been sorted."

"Well? Who was the Witch?"

"The case is closed. You don't need to know."

"I want to know if there is any chance of a war happening between the Arcanes and us."

Kore reframed from rolling her eyes. "There won't be a war. I've already taken care of it with the Chamber."

"Do you intend to return to Japan after this summer?" Loren said.

"We'll head back to Japan just before summer ends. Ruel and I will definitely finish the year but I don't know if my cousins will join me. It is their parents' choice."

Loren Vallie nodded along with her advisors as they muttered around her. They whispered for a second before telling Loren what they wanted to. She leaned back to listen.

"Okay," Loren nodded, turning back to Crowns. "What is happening with the Arcanes in your company? You have an outsider with you already, Princess Greylight."

"They're here as my guests," Kore said. "And one of them is courting my cousin. Ruel is my personal assistant, acting as an advisor. You have advisors with you, and I have mine."

Loren's eyes lit up. "Speaking of courtship, why is your cousin being allowed to court an Arcane? Are they simply getting married or do they plan to get Bonded?"

"Realistically, it is a discussion they will have between themselves and eventually tell me to get my approval,"

"So they already have your approval?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't they?"

Loren didn't answer that question, instead focusing on something else. "And Lord Alastair? Does he approve of the union?"

"Silas Torren spoke to his lord while ArchDuchess Sallow came to me before they officially started to court and date." She paused for a small inhale and to stop the glare from appearing on her face. "Lord Alastair had no quarries with the courtship so I did not either. I'm not a fan of arranged marriages for political gain so I allow marriages and Bondings of love."

"So you wouldn't be happy with Lord Alastair and our Minthe starting to court?" Loren smiled like she knew something, ageing skin stretching as she looked Kore in the eyes. "While we know it would not be a love match, I bet the Chamber would love to have a treaty with the Order."

"Has Lord Alastair or Miss Vallie shown any interest in each other?" Ciel asked.

"They haven't interacted much so we don't know," She said. "I only ever see him interacting with the Princess."

Kore wanted to smile but had to stop herself.

She already knew the answer.

)()()(

"I'M NOT MARRYING HIM!"

Kore sat in her office, Tsar and Duke on the sofas as Minthe paced in the room and flung her arms out in anger.

"How can they expect me to marry him?" Minthe complained. "I don't love him, for one. Two, he's a Vampire, and three, he's a man! I'm not into men and they know!"

Minthe grumbled in anger, swearing and complaining every so often. Kore just let her vent her anger out.

"Just say no,"

"I can't!" She said, "They took me in as a child and I owe them."

"You owe them shit," Kore snapped. "It is your life. None of the Crowns will permit the marriage if you do not want it. Lord Alastair has already rejected the proposal."

That was one of the things that made Kore just sigh inwardly with relief. She didn't want to give that up.

Minthe became quiet, sitting down on the chair in front of Kore's desk.

"You're anxious," Kore said, placing all the papers down and giving her all of the attention. "Why?"

Minthe fiddled with the hem of her sleeve, her eyes flickering to the door and back. Kore flicked her hand, locking the room down with a ward silencing the room.

"Tell me what's making you anxious."

"My clan has lied to you, Your Majesty," Minthe suddenly admitted, blurting it out like a weight was taken off of her shoulders. "I'm not a Blood Witch, I can hardly do Magic without tiring myself out!"

"Minthe, I know," Kore stated softly, her eyes a lot warmer than usual as she took in the wide and confused look Minthe gave her. "That ugly little necklace you and the other Vallie family members wear has stopped me from knowing that you all have been lying to us. You broke yours a couple of days ago, and the others have suddenly gone missing but they haven't noticed. While you are not a Blood Witch, you are a Redwater. Act like it."

"Act like what?" Minthe gasped out between shaking her head and pacing the length of the room. "I'm not supposed to be here. I'm not supposed to be this new ruler that my family wants. Fuck, my real family is dead. I wouldn't be surprised if the Vallies killed them to get to me easier. I'm not a Vallie, I'm a fucking Loset!"

Kore didn't let any emotions change her facial expression of calmness.

"And you don't believe me," Minthe rolled her eyes, rubbing the back of her neck. "Great."

Kore stood from her chair, tucking it in as she grabbed her coat. "Come on, I want to show you something at the Greylight manor."

)()()(

Kore introduced her to the Greylight Family Tree.

Every member of the direct line of Greylight was there, each Crown and their Heir along with siblings and cousins. Names and adult portraits were stained into the walls, and a large willow tree burned into the wood under two thousand years ago.

The Greylight Family Tree had wrapped its branches across all four walls, then split into the next room, thus creating the Old Generation, and New Generation Greylights. Where the generations split was where the Redwater daughter was born. She was the first to be in the New Generation, creating a lineage of even more powerful Witches as the Crown was passed down to her descendants.

"The firstborn of every Crown is the Heir," Kore said as she and Minthe stood in front of the last wall in the second room. "My mother was born before her brother and sister and thus she was Heir then Crown. Look at my name and follow it up the tree, watch as the Crown keeps the Greylight name even if the father is from another family. Go back eleven generations."

Minthe did as instructed, her eyes trailing upwards from Kore's name to catch sight of each and every Greylight last name. There was only one person with the Greylight name in each generation and that was only in the direct line. She trailed it further back, stopping as she found a male with the Loset last name.

"One of our great ancestors was a Loset, my ancestor was the First-born and Heir of the Loset's wife, who was Crown Greylight. They had two children, one taking her name and the other taking his. Go back another four generations and that is the hidden Greylight Redwater." Kore said. "You are thirteen generations away from her while I am eleven. We both are Redwaters by her relations, and thus we are very distant cousins."

"Is there even a word for it?"

Kore smiled. "I have no fucking clue. All I know is that the First-born of the hybrid daughter got her Blood Magic ability, passing it down to each new firstborn as the title was also passed down."

"And if there wasn't a First-born that had a kid?"

"Back a generation and to their niece or nephew it would go." Kore stated. "There has never been a second or third born with the gift, but their firstborn children have gotten it before."

"I could have had a childhood," Minthe sighed in disbelief as she looked at the family tree. "I could have been surrounded by family, been happy instead of being put into a home where I had to fight for the right to even speak."

"My mother is a traitor,"

"What?"

"Late January, my mum was Challenged and she died instead of allowing the Flame to take her Magic as it was its right. Instead, she gave me her Magic, thinking that her gift of Blood Magic would allow her to control my body as she had my Magic limited for several years." Kore looked at her hand where the ring used to sit, now empty. "Instead of giving her control, her death activated my gifts."

"You're a Blood Witch?"

"I had the potential but I never had access to my Magic properly."

"Did the ring keep you from your Magic or something?"

Kore licked her suddenly dry lips, taking a moment to centre herself. "I absorbed both of my sisters in the womb, making me a Chimera by Magical standards. My dad is a Chimera too. I showed an aptitude for Magic a lot later than normal, so until my mum knew I could do Magic, she sent me to live with my dad. She didn't want me unless I could be used as a pawn in her little schemes to take over the Order."

"Wow," Minthe said. "Your mum's evil and my parents are dead. Tragedy and trauma run in the family then."

"That's putting it lightly."

Minthe looked at her. "What are we supposed to do? The Vallies want me to be a ruler but a ruler of what? A Clan that doesn't exist anymore? They don't want me to rule, they want to rule through me."

"The other Crowns tried the same with me," Kore said. "They tried to pass a law preventing an underage Witch from taking the Crown title. They needed the three votes of the Order, and without the Greylight Crown or Heir there, they couldn't pass it. They tried to get me to go under my father's guardianship but my mum forced him to sign his rights away as soon as I showed Magic, Magic that was stronger than hers."

"Are you even sure what Crown Whitestone and Blackwood are saying is true?" Minthe asked. "The Vallies found a necklace that made them neutral in the aspect of Magic. Could the Crowns do the same?"

Kore had to think for a second. There wasn't a lot that they wore all the time, they changed clothes regularly and the tailcoats weren't always needed.

They always wore broaches.

"Princess?"

Kore snapped out of it, sighing with a huge exhale as her shoulders slumped downwards a little. "The broaches. The damn broaches that they always wear on their collars or shirts. They've worn them since the beginning and so I always believed them. Fuck..." She rubbed at her forehead, thinking before snapping her fingers as she got an idea.

"I'll find the goddamn truth if I have to force it out of them," Kore continued. "We both don't want to be controlled. You'll go through Trials and get through with your Magic intact."

"How? I'm not worthy of what I have."

"I'll make you fucking worthy of having the Redwater name! You have a hard couple of weeks ahead of you."

Minthe groaned. "You're gonna be schooling me, aren't you?"

Kore grinned. "I'll trim down ten years worth of being groomed to be a ruler into a couple of weeks."

"Fuckity fuck fuck shit..."