Wicked Steps

The Blessing of the Beloved provided Emberlee with amazing benefits, and an unexpected one in the cost savings she enjoyed by not having to employ a dressmaker or tailor. And as she had utilized her embroidering skills prior to learning her Blessing's functions, Emberlee had garnered a reputation for designing and making her clothes; was an acceptable pass time for a Noble Lady in Xutia because it was simply an extension of embroidery and a rather clever way to show it off outside of gifts. The spiders that created her outfits now deserved all the credit, but that wasn't a fact Emberlee could openly share. As expected, Jimena and her daughters had a few things to say about that. As Emberlee had learned in her review of Stussican culture, to them a Noble doesn't MAKE things, they consume them. It was up to the serving class to create things to be used by the Nobles. Stussican Noble could have hobbies, but they were supposed to be restful such as watching an opera or viewing a gallery. Even their Noble born Generals were only expected to tactically lead, never actually engaging in battle themselves.

"My dear Child," Jimena presented, "you simply must learn the appropriate behaviours before your courtly debut. If you insist on doing the work your servants are supposed to accomplish, you've stripped them of their purpose. It's selfish to insist on doing it yourself."

As if there had been enough people left in the Manor during the pandemic to waste them on aesthetic adjustments to existing garments. Emberlee didn't defend her actions simply because she didn't care what Jimena thought of her efforts. So instead she simply reminded them that, "as Xutian Nobles you'll now have the opportunity to learn new skills for your improvement. We believe that time spent on things you enjoy is time well spent, and you are Xutians now."

"Are you suggesting I learn the work of servants?" Deirdre demanded, so much like her mother that Emberlee wondered if she were a lost cause.

"If that makes you happy, why not?" it wasn't a purely sarcastic question either, if the hobby caused no harm there was no reason to criticize it.

"Does that mean I could paint? "Ainsley demanded cautiously, immediately shut down by Jimena's dark look. It gave Emberlee the idea that maybe Ainsley wasn't as aligned with her mother's control as she was expected to be.

"If you are to play Host to a Banquet, we shall require appropriate attire," Jimena redirected the conversation "Summon a tailor, jeweller, and cosmetician," she gave Emberlee and her daughters thoroughly critical looks.

"I have already anticipated the need for a tailor, however in Xutia it is usually the handmaids that determine the cosmetology, as yours are not thusly educated I have instructed my maid to assist in their training," She didn't bother explaining that cosmetology was a subset of alchemy here, and the properly trained were as effective as a poisoner. "As for the jewel smith, the resident one was summoned by his Imperial Majesty to prepare for his recent wedding, and has not been released from that duty as of yet, to that end if any of your current accessories require adjustments please inform my Head of House Karl and he can have the metalsmith do the work." That suggestion was taken as well as any other Emberlee had made to her Stepfamily.

"No cosmetologist, no jeweller, it seems under your inexperienced guardianship this March has lost all the skilled trades," Deirdre criticized.

"If you want to live like you're in the Capital Deirdre, you can always move there; I won't stop you," Emberlee even managed to say with a polite smile.

Currently, Emberlee's servants were having an easy time luring the Stussican servants into their influence, all simply because one of the Ortega ancestors had long ago established winter lessons to help strive off the isolation of that season. Every town and city held reading, writing, maths, and sometimes Tradecrafts lessons on the fifth day of the week. This encouraged literacy in even the poor of Ortega, resulting in well-educated people that brought innovation and logic into the problems of the March. Many Ortega-born servants had travelled across Xutia to obtain well-esteemed positions, and other Families soon adopted similar practices. For the Stussican born servants, it was an unheard of luxury. They were actively kept illiterate and uneducated, as their only purpose was to provide service to Nobles. The highest-raked, most notably skilled Commoner Masters were all still considered second-class citizens compared to the Nobly born. Of course, only Nobles could become Physicians in Stussica, but like their Generals, they were expected to Know, not to Do. One consulted with a Noble-born Master, but bought the services of a non-Noble to have that consultation acted upon. Their culture of over-complication led to their rather peaceful hi온라인카지노게임, as until recently they couldn't expand their nation without a lot of effort, and it was far easier to simply follow in Xutia's wake of conquest for their claims on Guita. Emberlee's Father was still there providing experienced tactical support for their rather untested army. It was one thing to fend off the seasonal attacks from pirates, it was another to go into a foreign land and claim it.

The only reason Emberlee could determine that Stussica hadn't been invaded itself was due to the natural formations that'd set their original borders. Imaegon and Zacia were both too preoccupied with their mutual animosity, and the endless barrage of North Continent pirates that raided their shores to be bothered heading through the densely packed tropical swamps into Stussica. In fact, before now Emperor Andrion moved to claim drought-stricken Traimore, the borders of the continent had remained consistent since the Southern separate nations were founded. His move to expand Xutia had created obvious ripples given the lateral expansion of the Dudian Confederacy, and now the dual attack on Guita. And instead of a war of expansion, Adaba was looking at building friendly relations with Xutia via Fairy Godmother.

Emberlee couldn't help but feel that while Adaba was playing at slow seduction, Stussica was far more hostile in its attempts to lure Xutia into its influence. The Imperial Physician sent by the Empress to tend to Jimena was openly disdainful of Emberlee's youth, and before their first introduction, the man was already referring to Jimena as Madam Ortega. She couldn't toss the pompous idiot out as he'd come with the Empress' tasking, but Emberlee seriously considered testing how good of a patient the Physician was himself. He'd likely be able to cure or develop an antidote if it was something straightforward, but she had access to more things than anyone rightfully ought to. But Emberlee decided against a toxic approach, and instead thanked the Physician for tending to Lady Jimena Piiklani- Mihal, her smile the only emphasis given to Jimena's proper name. She called for the tailor and dressmaker, certain that the trio of Stussicans would not make their lives easier, and tried not to seriously contemplate asking her Fairy Godmother for advice. Emberlee already knew her Fairy Godmother preferred the simple solution of removing a problem entirely over Emberlee's decision to try and resolve this more amicably. They hadn't yet done anything deserving of removal, and if it truly come down to it Emberlee had lessons from her Mother to follow first. She'd only turn to her Fairy Godmother when truly necessary if her attempts to resolve the matter failed. And if her methods failed, her Stepfamily would have properly earned the just rewards, so she resolved to feel no guilt on the matter.

That determined, Emberlee once again reached out to her Uncle, this time requesting all information that could be collected on her resident Imperial Physician. Whomever he had been before the Imperial expansion, Healer Erich had been captured by Empress Clara and sent here to achieve a specific goal. She just needed to try and determine what that goal might be. She'd worked on her poison immunity under Mother's guidance so it wasn't like he was here to eliminate Emberlee, but that didn't narrow down the purpose of his presence. Maybe he would be reporting to the Empress all the going on in Ortega, like the most obvious type of spy. But even if that was the case, he'd been sat in the role of Physician so it was all too likely a medically based plot that they'd be involved in.

Until the steps of that particular song and dance started though, Emberlee could only focus on preparing for the celebration with all the Vassal Families intending to attend. The Viscounts and Barons that supported her family as Marquis would be arriving according to the responses from her invitations. She'd instructed them to bring along their eligible sons in a shockingly unsubtle prompt regarding her new Stepsisters, but by deliberately framing them as the expected focus, Emberlee was able to entice Ainsley into talking to her about the upcoming event. While the Tailor and dressmakers were occupied with Jimena and Deirdre, Emberlee listened to Ainsley's nervous anticipation about attending her first event as a Xutian citizen.

She was far simpler than the sharp-tongued Deidre, and although they were identical sisters they were not treated equally. Deidre received the attention, her personality all but a duplication of their mother's, and thus she seemed to be the center of Jimena's affections. Ainsley seemed to have a more amenable nature, she wanted to get along and do new things. While Jimena and Deidre were complaining and criticizing the Xutian fashion trends and styles, Ainsley seemed to enjoy the concept of adopting her new home's accoutrements. Jimena hadn't learned from their Winter festival experience, she wanted the tailor to alter her existing Stussican dresses and robes to create a new piece that suited her tastes. The light, diaphanous layers that were designed to allow even the slightest breeze to reach the body would stand out amongst the heavier, sturdier styles of southern Xutia. The Capital was far enough away, and technically a part of the Erding Archduchy, that the Nobles from the Martello Grand Duchy's territory were deliberately rejecting the fashion trends set by the Capital. These were the Families that had risen in support of Ortega after the founding of Xutia, and they were all proud of the hi온라인카지노게임 their families represented; a Stussican styled Jimena would not appeal to them, so Emberlee did nothing to dissuade her Stepmother from embracing her native heritage. Likewise, Deidre's unsubtle mimicry of her mother would fall flat, so their focus would drift to Ainsley; if Emberlee could guide her properly.

"Ainsley, would you be willing to try something I suggest?" Emberlee waited until Jimena and Deirdre were enthralled in their discussions, trying to turn the available wares into what they wanted.

"What would you be suggesting?" Ainsley didn't seem hostile, but she was cautious.

"There are going to be a fair amount of young Xutian Heirs and second sons attending the celebration along with their parents," subtle hint one, "as I invited them to celebrate and meet the new arrivals," subtle hint number two. "What better way to showcase your ability to embrace your new home than by incorporating Xutian styles with your Stussican accents?" Subtle hint number three. Sadly for Ainsley, her only path to freedom from Jimena's control was to marry and leave. She didn't have a natural inclination for being able to take care of herself.

"You want me to wear a Xutian-style dress?" Ainsley only picked up on that detail so Emberlee tempered her expectations of Ainsley and adjusted her approach accordingly.

"I believe the best way to find you a suitable partner is to showcase how ready you are to be a Xutian Bride," Ainsley flushed, a pleasing pink in her complexion. Despite being identical to Deirdre, Ainsley was easy to identify because she was just overall softer than Deidre was in expression and nature. Ainsley was a delicate orchid that required careful handling, but to protect the flower; Deidre required careful tending because she came with thorns. And Jimena was straight up a toxic blossom, the kind that required tearing up by the roots.

"Mother will want to find Deidre a worthy Husband before I can think of becoming a Bride," Ainsley weakly rejected. Emberlee knew better than to directly argue against Jimena in this case, the woman's brainwashing thorough and long established by this point, so instead she worked the argument to her advantage, "They don't have to be mutually exclusive Ainsley, as I said there will be several interested parties to choose from. If you don't feel comfortable in a Xutian dress, why not try some Xutian-style jewelry?"

Like the difference in pearls off their desperate coasts, Xutia and Stussica had different gemstones that they favoured. Stussica had more jades, topaz, emeralds, and tourmaline. Their jewelry leaned into heavy gold bangles and chains with the stones placed for emphasis. Xutia had sapphires in blues and pink, rubies, opals and a few lesser gemstones. Diamonds were exclusively produced in Adaba and hideously expensive; reserved almost exclusively for the Imperial families. But both Adaban and Xutian jewelry tended to feature gemstones instead of the gold it sat in. With Ainsley's golden hair and bright eyes, she'd be lovely decked out in rubies instead of layered in gold like Deidre was planning. Xutia didn't have a whole lot of blondes, especially that far South, so it'd be beneficial to highlight that exotic hue. If only taking in Ainsley's features, the best colours would be the icy pale pink of Shrieves and the bright blue of Domer, but since current trends called for one to wear their family colours, Ainsley would get to work with Mihal's pale gray and pink. If she dressed Stussican, Emberlee could try to incorporate pink sapphires into the jewelry, but she'd reserve the silver of her Ortegan colours. She didn't expect Ainsley to go full Xutian style, it would be too far of a departure from her comfort zone, but like luring the servants onto her side it was a matter of laying the groundwork. Ainsley liked pretty things, from art and painting to beautiful ribbons and sparkly jewels; she'd probably love to dress up in new and different styles if permitted. Emberlee was the one permitting, and Jimena was always the one restricting. It wasn't an overt push-pull scenario but worked in her favour. All Emberlee had to do was convince Ainsley that it was a better idea to take the risk to join her side than it was for Ainsley to stay subdued by her Mother; Jimena's unfair favouritism would do all the work required to push Ainsley away.

Emberlee ended up leaving that encounter unable to convince Ainsley to wear a Xutian dress, but the jewelry available for her did the job of convincing her to select a non-Stussican accessory. Jimena and her daughters had kept the tailor, dressmaker, and jeweller busy for the entirety of Ventus and right up to the night before the celebration. Emberlee saw no sign of Jimena in the last weeks of the year, a worrisome fact because Emberlee did not trust that woman at all. But even watching through the Mirrors didn't reveal any clues as Jimena was agonizingly terse on whatever plan she was hatching. And unfortunately, the marble-lined bathing suite was equipped with a masseuse table but no Mirrors, so when Jimena met with the Physician, it was in the one area Emberlee could not send her reflection to spy in.

The night of the Banquet arrived with no hint of Jimena's next move leaking free: But whatever it was Emberlee had her surprise to counter it. Oberon had agreed to attend officially and was arriving by Mirror shortly after Emberlee introduced Jimena and her daughters to the Vassals. Banquet etiquette called for the visiting Vassals to present themselves to Emberlee as Marchioness, and then she could introduce any unknown persons to the Vassals. By not disclosing who all the new arrivals had been in her invitation, Emberlee deliberately misguided everyone into believing it only referenced the Stussicans. Jimena would undoubtedly enact her plan when presented to all the Vassals, so then introducing Oberon as an official Envoy from Adaba would hopefully overshadow it completely.

Ortega Manor had been prepared to receive visitors as it hadn't done since Mother was still alive. Banquets had been a luxury Emberlee sacrificed to help spare the people of her March during the difficult times they'd all faced. But it was good to see the loyal families that greeted her warmly as Marchioness. Despite her age, which had been so negatively emphasized as of late, the Vassal families had no issue greeting her with respect and deference. The greetings were friendly and brief, the Vassals taking their seats in excitement to meet her guests.

"My Vassal Lords and Ladies, as your Marchioness it is the duty assigned by Emperor Andrion that I now introduce you to my Father, General Matthias Mihal's new wife Jimena Piiklani-Mihal and her twin daughters Deidre and Ainsley." Her carefully crafted introduction truly set the stage, all overtly welcoming but with the undertone of polite disconnect. She wasn't introducing Jimena as her new family at all, but instead fulfilling the duty entrusted to her to introduce the Countess to the Vassals of Ortega March. And it would have been entirely effective at helping the Vassals hold Jimena at a distance, except that when her Stepmother fully entered it became obvious why she'd been hiding all month.

Jimena entered with her pregnant belly displayed under Stussican silk painted with a garden still waiting to bloom, colourful bulbs so ready to display. So this was the plot, play at carrying her Father's Child and a potential half-sibling to assume authority. With a younger sibling posed to potentially inherit if needed, Emberlee could be married off in a political marriage if Andrion needed. Except the timing wouldn't line up, a fact Jimena would have to deal with later. She'd been married to Father for around three months, and they'd never actually met face-to-face, and that belly was looking more like the second trimester than the first. Emberlee knew this couldn't be her little sibling, and that Father would not allow himself to be cuckolded like that, so she didn't entirely understand Jimena's reasoning. The Vassal Lords were all visibly surprised by Jimena's gravid state, not at all paying attention to Deidre or Ainsley, and Emberlee was grateful when she felt Oberon Step through a Mirror to enter her territory. Like her Blessing and all the Fairy magic, it was almost her permission that allowed it.

"And I would also like to introduce a very special guest," Emberlee could see the dismay churn on Jimena's face at her utter lack of reaction and that she had a more important person to introduce. "Emperor Andrion has instructed me to bid a very warm welcome to Adaba's Imperial Envoy Oberon on the very first international visit between the Empires of Xutia and Adaba." Emberlee tried very hard not to feel smug as she saw the pure hatred flesh in Jimena's face while all the Vassal Lords now ignored her and her various offspring.

But any sense of accomplishment quickly faded in the flood of shock when Emberlee saw Oberon himself for the first time. He was almost inhumanely pretty, with features impossibly symmetrical and only her as 'Cinderella' knew it was Fairy Magic hiding any possible flaw. Oberon was as tall and slender as the willow tree, bending with the storm instead of breaking before it. He didn't look delicate for it though, instead, Oberon moved with a supple grace that promised he was an expert dancer, and his long teal-coloured hair was braided into multiple locks that sat regally on him, and as fantastical seeming as his aquamarine eyes. They were both in stark contrast to his deep brown skin tone, and for all her careful composure Emberlee found herself having to work at breathing naturally. It wasn't the aesthetic attraction that many of the Vassal Lords were feeling either; Emberlee could feel the Fairy Illusion all but drip off of him. She had no idea what Oberon truly looked like, but was at least flattered at his brief astonishment to see that she used no magic at all to enhance or disguise her appearance. Emberlee didn't even particularly like to use cosmetics if she didn't have to, the feel of it on her skin was almost suffocating. She'd worn another of her Mother's dresses modified by her darling spiders, layers of subtly different blues that faded into the silvers of her intricate neck and hair jewelry, both leaning into the Xutian style to defy the fashion trend of incorporating Stussican accents.

Her attire could have been skewed to seem insulting to Jimena and the daughters, except for Oberon's arrival. Of course, the Xutian Ambassador would dress in pure adherence to her Empire when meeting an Envoy from a foreign Empire such as Adaba. Likewise, Oberon's attire was pure Adaban. Stussicans liked see-through layers and painted scenes on silk, Xutians required heavier layers of patterns and contrasting fabrics, but it seemed Adaba liked heavily structured garments. His jacket was a well-cut, long-tailed black jacket, but the vest underneath was corseted in a velvety blue colour that almost matched Emberlee's dress. His carefully cinched and tailored clothes were customized to his figure, the black and velvety blue palette a lovely stage to contrast his exotic hair colour against. And while Emberlee's introduction of Oberon had interrupted Jimena's attempts to make a speech, no such conflict stood in Oberon's way.

"My Lords and Ladies of the Ortega March, I am quite pleased to have been invited here to celebrate tonight. In your Xutian culture, tonight is the last of the calendar year, when your winter gives way to spring and a new cycle begins," he knew Xutian culture well to be that familiar with their calendar. "In my homeland, tonight is merely a simple night to my people and so I am quite pleased to be here celebrating instead with our Cinderella, whom you designate as Marchioness Emberlee Ortega." He held what looked like a goblet of red wine aloft, quite the feat as he hadn't been served any yet, and saluted Emberlee with it, "We are all here at your generous allowance my Lady."

Emberlee had yet to have experienced a married man flirting with her before, and she was surprised Oberon would freely do so now, but she also leaned into it for her own needs, "Darling Oberon," she meant the original translation of favourite minion instead of the modern cherished pet name it'd become, "we have conversed for long enough that it is unjust to only have met in person now," she gestured to the seat on her left, reserved for guests of honour, and consequently shuffling Jimena further to the side and away from the Vassal Lords. This was where Emberlee used Jimena's Stussican etiquette against her, as the 'head' of her house Jimena sat on the outside edge of the table, the position one would naturally assume to be the first interacted with by the visiting guests. But with Emberlee sitting at the apex of the banquet table, that left Jimena and her daughters all but exiled unless they felt confident enough to talk across a foreign Imperial Envoy to get the Vassal Lords' attention.

Oberon came to be a spectacle, and with that deliberate attire, Emberlee could only anticipate what her Fairy Godmother might have told him to expect. He was charming, flirtatious, and yet also respectful. If his true appearance at all resembled the glamorie he was currently wearing Emberlee could understand why Méabh would have picked him as Oberon, regardless of whomever he may have been prior. Despite being a foreign bride and pregnant Jimena drew no attention over Oberon's sophisticated antics. The Vassal Lords were hanging on Oberon's every word, Adaba closer and far more fascinating than any Stussican could be, especially with Emberlee offering no reaction to Jimena's current state. Since their Marchioness didn't introduce a potential sibling they didn't just assume it was her Father's Child, so instead of the intended effect Jimena's surprise caused an all but visible space to form around her, like a social pariah. They had no problem with a foreign bride, even one who'd been widowed and had children, but the idea that the obligated new wife would try to pass off the babe in her as Father's did not sit well with any of them.

Emberlee hadn't anticipated a pregnancy scheme, and she was rather lucky Oberon had agreed to publically announce their alliance like this as it was a perfect distraction. But she also realized this plot of Jimena's had the Empress' participation, despite Clara's letter indicating otherwise. Clara sent an Imperial Physician to confirm and take care of the pregnancy, a silent prompt for Emberlee to be obedient and play along. As if Emberlee would willingly accept the unborn child as her half-sibling without a drop of shared blood between them. But if she directly defied the Empress over this that'd put a target on her March for retaliation, so instead Emberlee planned to use a different Marquis to object; her Grandfather.

Marquis Orville Mihal wanted to pass the title to his direct descendants, and Emberlee could confirm with him that Father had never met Jimena let alone impregnated her, so she was trying to corrupt the inheritance process and thus was violating the blood laws. Mihal March could contest the legitimacy of the Child and it wouldn't be detrimental to Emberlee at all.

But before she could send word to her Grandfather she had to survive the celebration with her Vassals, plotting Stepfamily, and all too charming Oberon. He'd done her the favour of being publicly present at this event, and Emberlee hated to be indebted to anyone, let alone someone who had an ulterior motive for speaking with her. That combined with his flirtatious nature promised a truly singular encounter once the Banquet ended and their private meeting began.

After all the toasts from her Vassal Lords, the rounds of congratulations towards her Father's victory, and the array of foods, Emberlee finally bade her Vassals a safe return to their homes. Each had been gifted a personalized set of cufflinks or earrings depending on personal taste, and Emberlee enjoyed Jimena's sullen silence as each Lord bade Marchioness Ortega farewell. If she'd wanted to ensure the exposure of her Stepsisters to the Vassal Lords and their sons she would have had Deidre and Ainsley hand deliver the gifts; that had been her original plan in fact but as the evening had unfolded as it had, Emberlee had adjusted her plans accordingly. She'd delivered the baubles while Oberon continued to be a graceful, charming distraction. Jimena had already stormed out of the banquet as the Lords left without acknowledging her or her daughters as anything other than strange guests, so for the first time Emberlee was alone with Oberon.

Or as alone as a Manor full of servants could be. "Envoy Oberon, please follow me to my office for that discussion you requested," to her surprise, Oberon escorted her like a proper Xutian gentleman would, something she'd grown unaccustomed to in her solitary life.

With her arm tucked into his elbow, Emberlee could almost feel the illusion sitting on his skin; a nearly tangible texture hiding the truth away. It was such an obvious sensation that Emberlee had to wonder if this too was some kind of test. He'd come at her behest but with magic disguising him from proper recognition, could she identify that he was glamorized? And if she could, what would Emberlee...no, what would Cinderella do about it? Asking Oberon to drop the illusion felt almost too passive, she knew instinctively that it was about taking action. So as they entered her office, she moved her arm from his but pinched at that almost tangible layer, pulling as if it were a sheet she could remove in a gesture. And she felt the tug of energy as her willpower found the edge of his illusion, revealing what had been hidden. The grin on Oberon's face promised that it only seemed that easy because he allowed it and Emberlee tried to disguise her astonishment that the illusion hadn't been a lie at all.

Oberon was still devastatingly beautiful without a drop of magic to achieve it. "It has been quite some time since I'd met a Fairy's Child as unique as you are, Cinderella," he complimented with ease. "I requested a meeting and you invite me to a power play at a party."

"One must always be prepared for plans to go awry, and although I did not know what disruption to anticipate from others, I knew what one I had to provide myself." And while he watched in silent curiosity, Emberlee poured out glasses of wine for both guest and his Mirrored reflection. She couldn't tell with any certainty when her own Fairy Godmother was present in her reflation, but in this instance, Emberlee knew the gossipy Fairy wouldn't be able to resist. It was easy to assume the same for Oberon and his Fairy reflection.

"I do make quite the effective distraction," Oberon agreed, saluting his glass to her even as his reflection picked up its glass. She'd guessed right. "Though I must say, you are quite the delight to the eye as well, black hair like yours is rare and cherished in Adaba, whereas you can see we tend towards more flamboyant variations," he lifted a lock of her hair reverently.

"Is it the Ababa way to flirt so obviously despite being Méabh's Oberon?" she took her wine glass with her to sit on her office couches.

Oberon shrugged as if her chastisement held no slight to him, "You are the first Cinderella; the first Child to be chosen by a Fairy outside of Adaba, of course I'm delighted to meet you." As if his charm were simply fascinated curiosity.

"I am delighted to meet you as well Oberon, and your Fairy," now Emberlee directly saluted the reflections in the Mirror. "Now please, do share why you requested this meeting in the first place before you so effectively performed as a distraction?"

"I'd requested that a meeting be arranged between us after you successfully Bonded to your Fairy. As the first, and so far only Child to achieve this outside of Adaba it was integral that your achievement was welcomed as the accomplishment it was." There were two couches and a chair he could have sat in, and instead, Oberon chose to sit next to Emberlee.

"So summoning a Fairy is a different process than Bonding to one?" She was always curious to know more, especially as her own Fairy still guarded those Adaban secrets.

"Let me just say that in Adaba, when one is chosen the process is expedited by various systems we have

established so Bonding occurs without the struggles and frustrations you experienced. Though, by that very process of naturally Bonding you have accomplished the feat as it had originally occurred in Adaba." He too kept any explanation vague.

"Are there so very many Fairies that your culture has accommodations ready to create Bonds?" How could an Empire gifted with such Magics hide the reality of it for so long?

"True Bonds are rare, forged Bonds are the norm but that does not mean they are plentiful," he didn't indicate which type his Bond was, and Emberlee wondered if there was a reason they chose to interfere with the process.

"When did Méabh want me to come to your Capital?" she altered their conversation.

"I would take you now Cinderella, except I suspect that you cannot so easily leave your March behind," Emberlee ignored the innuendo and focused instead on the fact the Adaba Empire waited on her convenience. It made her suspicious about what they wanted from her; they were being too courteous and obliging. But she didn't know enough to plan anything, so Emberlee could only lay what contingency plans she devised. Oberon as a distraction had worked remarkably against Jimena's unexpected pregnancy, but depending on the kindness of Adaba felt like holding onto a double-edged blade. A gentle grip left no harm but squeeze too tightly and she'd only damage herself.

"As you cannot take me now," she used his phrasing against him, "without upsetting both myself and Méabh, we'll have to plan for something magnificent." Oberon laughed, an amused bellow that flashed the white of his teeth against the rich brown of his skin.

"You're neither right nor wrong about that my dear Cinderella, in ways you'll only come to understand after meeting Méabh yourself," despite all his flirting earlier, how his voice while talking about his Empress spouse was nothing less than utterly devoted.

Father had sounded like that wherever he discussed Mother before her death. Now that love was replaced by an equally deep sorrow. Of course, Oberon flirted more like her Uncle did, so regardless Emberlee should have felt more like she could handle his antics. And yet for all it seemed like it'd all worked in her favour, Emberlee couldn't help but feel like a trap was yet to be sprung. "Is your Méabh so eager to meet me then?" she couldn't resist asking, curious as to whether their regard was for her alone, or if it included the Xutian Empire.

"After hearing my recounting of tonight's events I believe she will be," he confirmed easily. "After all, Méabh so does love to collect experiences and the peoples who bring them to her." He promised while once again lifting a lock of Emberlee's hair to kiss it like some sordid 온라인카지노게임, and in the Mirror his reflection moved to embrace hers.

"That's quite enough of that, I am young but I am not that easily flustered," Emberlee sternly rejected his implications. "As you have witnessed tonight I am not a Child to be controlled, nor a woman who tolerates manipulations."

"No, you are Cinderella; unique and boundless, and I for one cannot wait to see who you'll become," Oberon's compliment made no sense but at least it wasn't implicative.

"You joined me at my home for the end of the Xutian calendar year, what special dates does your culture hold?" she could plan an official visit if it worked within her schedule. She'd fit it somewhere between thwarting her power-hungry Stepmother, proving the illegitimacy of the child Jimena bore, and avoiding the Empress' wrath for foiling their efforts. It was mentally added to her endless need-to-do list.

"On the Southern edge of the continent, our days are less determined by the changes in weather to mark time passed, and more focused on what we as a people do in that time frame. In that instance, the best major event you could attend is the celebration of Méabh's coronation, a three-day festivity at the heart of our Mid Year, which is the end of your Stormcrest and start of Aurelius."

Almost half a year away, certainly, there were smaller event dates she could attend, but Emberlee understood why that celebration would be deemed the best for her Adaban debut. And it would follow closely behind her social debut in Xutia as an adult. Her birthday was in Firemarch and this alignment of events would work very well for all parties involved. "If I am to attend your Méabh, my Emperor will expect a comparative visit," she warned, knowing that he'd have to travel the long way instead of by Mirror.

"Would you be taking me then," he winked at her this time.

"I would be recommending that you attend the Xutian Capital for our Bloomingtide, as that will be the social debut of the Imperial Princess, Vivian. It will take some time to travel from the Ortega March to the Capital by carriage, so were I to accompany you it will have to be a carefully scheduled went," it was within her authority as Ambassador to try and arrange these things on her Emperor's behalf.

"Spend a fair length of time alone with you in a carriage, I quite like that idea," he was utterly incorrigible, but Emberlee recognized it as the same ploy her Uncle used to make people underestimate his intelligence.

"As I am still considered a Child in Xutia, you and I will most certainly not be alone," and she didn't have to point out that her Stepfamily would be travelling with her for the same event. Especially with Jimena trying to pass her pregnancy off as Father's Child. Emberlee found herself suddenly feeling rather exhausted by the entire ordeal of her day. Jimena's machinations, the political interference from Stussica, and then all of Oberon. But there would be no real rest for her until after all those matters were resolved, so she pushed that fatigue aside.

"I shall confirm with Méabh, a mere formality as cooperation is what she has been wanting," again there was that besotted tone as he discussed his lover as if everything he did was all for Méabh.

"Will you be gifting more Mirrors, they require quite the caretaking," and were a veritable logistics nightmare if they were to travel to the Capital.

That brilliant smile fleshed at her as his Fairy reflection vanished, likely imparting the news of the day to Méabh. If only Emberlee could so efficiently communicate with her necessary persons. "An appropriate gift will be selected for the Imperial Princess, but outside of your March Xutia remains impassable so the Mirrors are merely beautiful decorations."

"For now," she couldn't help saying, keenly aware that every Adaban 'gift' was likely a trap waiting to catch unwary prey.

"Midnight approaches, I shall see myself off Cinderella," he formally bowed to her as if she had the higher rank, kissed the back of her hand like the rogue he played at being, and stepped back to suddenly be his reflection that walked out her door.

Emberlee looked at her surprised reflection, finally alone to try and process what had happened in a single night. She had several letters to write. One to Father urgently sent off so he could denounce Jimena's pregnancy, one to the Emperor to summarize Oberon's visit and impending return, one to Grandfather so he could formally protest Jimena's attempt to interfere with inheritance and blood laws, and a last letter intended for Imperial Princess Vivian. Technically she had been socially introduced to the Imperial Princess at the 'salon party', so she wrote to the slightly older girl as if they should be corresponding, intending to use whatever she could to her advantage.

She had chosen to extend kindness to the Stussicans and they had abused that hospitality. Now Emberlee intended to show them all that kindness isn't always gentle.