5
To say that Herada was surprised was an understatement. The woman was utterly flummoxed.
Herada blinked down at the letter in her hand, brows furrowed in confusion. She raised her head and gave the Royal Messenger a confused, narrowed eye stare; her head tilting to the left a little. She couldn’t help but wonder if all this was some mistake.
As usual, Herada got up at 5am dot. She said a prayer or two to Hades; meditated; stretched; did a little martial practice; took her bath; got dressed in a simple emerald dress; went downstairs and had breakfast with her family and proceeded in rejecting more courtship proposals.
After breakfast, the four went various directions. Rihardos and Rodion each went to their various study rooms; Valentina went out to do gods know what; while Herada went to the family library and stayed there to study. Around 11pm, three hours later, she’s heading downstairs, worn out. Not only has she been studying spells, she has been creating – and failing – new ones; ones suitable for her manna core.
She aimlessly walked around the house, and soon, she found herself heading to the front door. Said door suddenly opened with a loud bang, and in came a raging and furious looking Valentina. The young woman was spurring curses in her mother’s tongue, gesturing widely. When she asked her what’s wrong, Valentina told her a short story that has her entering her infamous killing mode.
Valentina got harassed by one of her suitors who couldn’t take no for an answer. John Woodluck was an annoying brat through and through. The twenty-six years old man couldn’t accept that Herada rejected him. Although his family are a wealthy merchant and farming family, they still had their eyes on big prizes.
Woodluck has this crazy idea that if he marries into the Armstrong House, it will bring in fame and fortune. Well, he was not wrong; but the only thing disrupting his plan is that neither she nor Valentina were interested in him. But that didn’t deter him. His messages to Herada got to the point of uncontrollable that both Rihardos and Rodion had to threaten him and his family. But that wasn’t enough.
The moron went ahead to threaten Herada in broad daylight, and that didn’t end well. Only a single punch, coated with manna from Herada, and the bastard was thrown into a wall, breaking few of his bones, as well as his face.
As addition, Hades’ Blessing on her saw that the family had a tough year. After three years of recovering from , the idiot still hasn’t learnt his lesson. But his desperation knows no bounds. Valentina, although not as strong in strength like the rest of her family, gave the bastard a punch of her own. Herada smiled with pride when Valentina informed her that she broke his nose, and maybe his jaw too.
To calm her cousin, and to make her forget the nonsense she was subjected to, Herada led her to the garden and had tea with her; which she rarely does. Valentina was so happy in the prospect of having tea – finally! – with her cousin after a year away from home, Valentina quickly pushed the irritating incidents behind her
They stayed in the garden till noon; Valentina chattering Herada’s ears off, with the woman replying with a monotone answer when her cousins asked her a question. Honestly, their leisure under the gazebo simply consisted of Valentina gossiping and gushing about the Prince. The twenty years old woman was sad that he left again, but Herada reminded her that the King and Prince simply went to a summit with the six world rulers. The grey-blue eyed woman gasped in fright, loudly wondering if Romania’s King will be there. When Herada replied with a confirmation, she became worried.
With a roll of her eyes, Herada informed her that none of them could do anything to each other while in Afrika; the King won’t allow for any misbehavior. It will lead to an all-out war. After that information, Valentina calmed down. Not a second later, she started gushing about how nice it will be to live in a palace.
With her stoic face taking a deadpanned expression, she said, “You already live in a mansion that’s as lavish as the palace, and we have bigger estates ten times bigger than said palace. Why so ambitious of going there?”
“But Hera~” Valentina whined, a playful pout on her lips. “There’s a difference.”
A light and playful battering started between the two. Although, it came to an end by the arrival of a maid, who announced that Herada was being called upon by her father in his study. Herada stood with a sigh and Valentina made move to follow her, but the maid added that Herada and Herada alone was meant to go to the study; seeing as it’s a private matter. Valentina nodded in understanding, a light frown on her face. She sat back down, ordering the maid to bring a book from the adventure section in the library. With a nod at her cousin, Herada headed over to her father’s study.
This all brought us to the present, with Herada looking at the Royal Messenger with a confused look, a letter with the Queen’s seal in her right hand.
“Apologizes, but are you sure this is meant for me, and not my cousin?” She raised the letter and asked, a questioning eyebrow arched.
“I’m very certain it’s for you, Heiress Herada.” The Royal Messenger said with a nod. “The Queen clearly instructed that I give you this letter while you’re in the room with either your father or uncle.” He glanced at the two sitting men. “I am to wait and observe that you read it, and also go back with a reply from your father.”
Father and daughter glanced at each other, eyes talking to each other. Rihardos then glanced at his brother, who glanced back at him. With a mutter, Herada casted a Protection Spell on both men and herself; unseen or felt by the Messenger. When they felt the spell settle on them, the two male Armstrongs gave a curt nod at Herada, who promptly broke the seal and began to red through the letter.
“Hmm.” Herada hummed, a brow going up in surprise; although her face was still blank and her eyes flat and cold.
“What does it say, daughter?” Rihardos asked.
Herada raised her head and focused her gaze on her father. “You and I have been invited to the palace for dinner by the Queen.” She replied in a monotone voice. “We are expected to be there by 7pm sharp.”
It honestly didn’t felt like a request. It was more of an order. The Messenger saying that he’s meant to go back with a reply is just an illusion that they even had a choice. Which meant that something is amiss.
“What have you done now, father?”
“What have you done, daughter?”
“What have you two done?”
Herada, Rihardos and Rodion – who sighed out his question – asked, respectively. The three began a three way stare, cocking and dropping their eyebrows, as well as grunting or humming.
The Messenger couldn’t help but sweat-drop at the scene before him. It’s like grunting and humming was the official language of the Armstrongs, seeing as the three before him could understand each other perfectly. Although, the prospect of understanding what someone is saying by their facial expression and grunts alone was impressive. They must have been doing so for years if they could do so this easily.
With a nod to one another, Rihardos took out a beautiful white, scented parchment designed with a faded emblem of the House of Armstrong from a drawer in his desk and began writing back a reply to the Queen. Although he looked gruff and carefree, Rihardos handwriting was simply beautiful and curvious. Once he was done, he dropped the pen and opened another drawer in the desk, this time bring out a fiery red orange candle – but without the rope in it. He held the candle sideways and placed his a finger besides it.
The Messenger’s eyes go wide when a little ball of fire appeared on the tip of Rihardos fingers, burning the candle and making wax to drop down on the letter. When it was enough, the man turned off his Elemental manna and blew on the not-candle once or twice to cool it off. Rihardos then took the family’s official seal and stump it on the wax, sealing the letter short. He then raised the letter at his daughter, who walked over to collect it before walking over to him and handing it over to him.
“I will see to it that this gets safely to Her Grace.” He gave a small bow to them before saying, “I will now see myself out. Good day.” The Armstrongs each gave him a nod before he left the room.
“Well… that was unexpected.” Rihardos said, getting a hum from his brother.
“I wonder what she wants.” Rodion added.
Herada made her way over to a window – her father’s study was facing the front side of the mansion – and watched with a blank look as the Messenger got unto his horse and left; her arms folded under her breasts.
“I wonder what you have done to draw the sights of the Queen, daughter.” Rihardos said.
Herada began to mentally run through the events of the past week. When it all can together, the black haired woman couldn’t help but heave a sigh.
“I take you have figured it out.” Rodion said with a quirk of his lips.
Due to their brute nature and history, the Armstrong family were mostly underestimated in terms of intelligence. Sure, they love war and relish in the blood of thousands, but to do so, one has to come up with a strategy. So, it’s shocking to some when they came up with a fool proof battle plan, and said plan succeed without a hitch.
Herada turned to face them, her arms still folded. “So… my anonymous admirer is the Prince.” Her father and uncle gave a grunt and hum of agreement, respectfully. Herada sighed again, pinching the bridge of her nose. “For the fucking love of Hades. Why me?”
Rihardos laughed loudly, his lips stretched in a wide, sharp toothy grin. “As expected, you continue to surprise and amuse me, daughter.”
Herada sighed again, dropping her hand from her face and folding it under her bosoms again. “I’m so fucking delighted that my plight with hard headed men, who can’t take no for a fucking answer, serves as a quality entertainment for you, oh dearest father of mine.” Herada said, her tone drier than the sands of Egypt.
Rihardos grin just widened; his eyes glowing – literally – with mirth.
Rodion just sighed at his brother’s antics. “Anyways.” He said, drawing their attention to him. “I take it that you want this hidden from Valentina.”
Herada nodded. “Currently, she’s in her usual obsessive mode when she meets a handsome man of great value. I do not know how she will react if she hears that I was invited to the palace and she was not.” She said, her eyes narrowed. “After my usual visitation to Hades’ Temple and making my weekly sacrifice, I’ll be heading to the palace.”
“6:45pm then?” Rihardos asked.
Herada nodded. “Let’s meet there at the palace. Bring the letter with you too.”
After few more word, Herada left the two of them to their devices. She went back to the garden and was met with Valentina reading a book; a plate of cookies on the table. The young woman was about to take a sip from her tea when she sighted Herada from the corner of her eye.
“You’re back.” She said with a smile, gently dropping her tea cup on its saucer. “What did uncle call you for?”
Herada took a seat, taking hold of a cookie. “It’s a private issue, Valentina. You know I can’t disclose private matters.” She stoically said while scanning the cookie and the others on the plate for any potions or poison. Once her search came back negative, she took a big bite of her cookie.
Herada became lost in her thoughts, failing to notice the narrowed eye glance her cousin sent her way.