(Warning: This chapter might have some unsettling and violent content. Viewer discretion advised.)
Gideon: There! Look!
Wulfa: Wow, it's huge!
I point to the Trebuchet in the distance. After the long march to the bloodsuckers’ nation, we are finally near the frontlines. Our camps kept on growing rger and rger as we converged towards the “Cowper” County. There were now thousands– No, tens of thousands of makeshift tents! I have never seen so many spearmen or horsemen before, I didn’t even know there were this many horses in all of Luxaria. It would be a pleasure and honour to take part in the fall of the bloodsuckers’ nation.
Wulfa: This seems much bigger than the one I was trained on
I smirk and answer him, all the lessons I took when I was promoted to lead the town guard will finally come in handy
Gideon: Maybe you were trained on something known as ‘catapult’, it's a smaller–
Wulfa: I know what a catapult is, sir. What we trained on was definitely a smaller trebuchet
AH! Now I feel like an arrogant know-it-all, no, he probably doesn’t think that
Gideon: I see…
I had been trained on a full sized trebuchet, so I can’t even imagine how a smaller trebuchet would function, would it have less range and power? Or will there be some other unaccounted effects too?
Gideon: What about all of you? Were you people trained on a small trebuchet as well?
My unit all nod and hums in agreement, it seems like I am the only one here who has experience with a full sized trebuchet
We marched for some more time before actually arriving at the line of trebuchets. They are situated on a small elevation with a clear view of the ft grassnd in the front. Every unit assigned to the Trebuchet Division stops around the first one in the line. Some units start mingling while others start surveying the terrain.
I see a group of handful of people approaching us, the foremost one seems a bit… short. No way they hired a dwarf for this right?
When they come closer, I could finally take a good look at them, all of them were humans except the dwarf in the front
Dwarf: You all must be the folk who will use these beauties.
Gideon: I assume you are the craftsmen who built these. What is your name?
Dwarf: I prefer to use the term “engineer”
He huffed in arrogance. This is my first time meeting a dwarf, and they seem to be as arrogant as people describe them to be
Dwarf: And my name doesn’t matter since we will be leaving now. All of you take good care of my beauties.
With that, he and his fellow craftsmen leave, going in the direction opposite to the marching soldiers. I sigh and shake my head when he leaves.
Trebuchet unit: I will take the first one, then
Other Trebuchet Captain: I will take the second trebuchet
Gideon: Third!
I shout so that every unit can hear me
Other Captain: Fourth for me!
-----------
The trebuchets were evenly spaced out with ample room for the units to maneuver around them. That dwarf certainly had the skills to back up his arrogance. Each trebuchet is very well made with no defects that could be spotted by any unit, this was certainly not the case with the one I trained with. Using that trebuchet was as much of a risk to its crew as it was to the enemy, so we never released it with a full load that it was made for
We spent half a day surveying the nd and rexing, everyone was very tired from the long march. I doubt anyone in my unit was used to it. We sat around the campfire telling each other stories from our hometown and our lives. It is very important for a unit to bond, or else they won’t be able to work well together. This is something I learned during my time as the captain of the town guard
Just as the sun was about to set
???: Gather to the front, the Division Commander Lord Pholes has arrived
A man on horseback told us and proceeded to go to the next trebuchet. We get up and start walking to the front of the line, where the road is. An extremely fat and well-dressed noble was sitting atop a horse that looked like it was about to fall from exhaustion. His eyes move around, taking in each person with a look of superiority.
Being a noble myself (well barely a noble) I have had the displeasure of experiencing gaze like that more than once from richer and more powerful nobles. They seem to think of themselves above most common folk, they think their wealth is a ‘gift’ from the Light and proof that the eternal Light favours them. What’s worse is even most peasants think that nobles are superior and treat them as such.
Lord Pholes: *Hmpf* Are these to be the people who will operate our glorious Trebuchet?
What I assume to be his aide on his side spoke up
Pholes’ aide: Yes, my lord
Lord Pholes: Luxaria truly is in a dire state if we have to rely on these muck dwellers
This man is seriously testing my patience! How does he not know not everyone can afford a horse and avoid the mud. Wait, in the first pce, I have never heard that Pholes was a fat, patronizing noble… Is this really the Pholes whose trebuchet unit turned the tide of battle with their speed and accuracy? The man in front of me looks like he hasn’t ever released one stone from a trebuchet.
He proceeds to give us a lecture about cleanliness of all things and ends it by telling us to unload the crates of silver-tipped spikes and firepots behind him.
Lord Pholes: Oh and I also brought some corpses of the blood suckers that were captured during our campaign. Launch them as well
Everyone’s ears suddenly perked up when he said that. That is…
A donkey-pulled cart filled with rotting corpses stops a few steps away, just as he was about to leave. Nobody knows what to say. All of us stand there in shock. Something like this seems… It… I have no words to describe it other than–
Lord Pholes: Are you people just going to stare at it all day long? The sun is going to set soon! Get to work!
He says that, but nobody approaches the cart full of vampire corpses. I even saw some corpses of dead vampire children in there! This is just… DISGUSTING!
Lord Pholes: Get to work NOW! Or else you won’t get any food
Everyone starts moving reluctantly when he says that and starts picking up corpses from the cart. Nobody seems to want to go hungry before a possible battle, including my unit. They pick up and haul the bodies near our trebuchet until the only bodies that remain in the cart are those of vampire children…
Lord Pholes: Well? Why have you stopped
Gideon: Those are children–
Lord Pholes: –Of bloodsuckers! Now get to work, or your unit won’t get dinner AND breakfast tomorrow
Even though he said that nobody moves a muscle
Lord Pholes: I will count till ten if the cart isn’t empty
Lord Pholes: One…
I clenched my fists and looked away
Lord Pholes: Two…
But my unit needs a meal before a possible battle tomorrow
Lord Pholes: Three…
I take a deep breath and approach the cart and pick a decomposing body of small boy who looked not a day older than 6 and take him near the pile of bodies near our trebuchet, I keep it separate from the other bodies as if to give the dead child some comfort, Wulfa brings in another child, a girl, maybe 11 or 12 years of age
Wulfa: This is too brutal.
He whispered in my ear
Wulfa: I never joined the army for this
Gideon: Me too
I say in a small voice. My appetite for the night was thoroughly destroyed, but at least my unit ate a full meal
*Next morning*
*murmur*
Gideon: The sun has barely risen, and you lot are already plotting something? *yawn*
I say, looking towards my unit, who are chatting in hushed voices so early in the morning. All of them stop when they hear my voice, and a silence sets in. Their extended silence instantly worries me
Gideon: Have the bloodsuckers attacked? Grab the–
Wulfa: No, captain, it's–
He stands up and walks to me. He leans close and, in a hushed whisper, asks
Wulfa: Did you hear what happened to Lord Pholes yesterday?
Did that fat man get assassinated? Are there traitors in our camp that we should be wary of? ARGH, why am I specuting? I should just ask Wulfa
Gideon: No, what happened?
A smile forms on his face and he tries to hide his ughter with one hand
Wulfa: Apparently, he got very drunk st night while with the other commanders, and started eating raw meat
I give him a surprised look. Raw meat? Really? That's dangerous, not to mention I’ve heard raw meat doesn’t even taste good
Wulfa: Not just that, he started dancing completely overtaken by the ale and fell face first into horse shit
He lets out a chuckle and but covers his mouth immediately
Gideon: What an idiot!
I say in frustration
Gideon: That drunkard is a blight on the glory of the trebuchet division and Luxaria
Gideon: *sigh* Well, where is he now?
Wulfa: He got sick before the sun even rose, so he will be resting in his tent
Gideon: What!? He is the commander! Who will lead us now?
Wulfa: He handed the reins of the Trebuchet division to his aide while he recovers
I put my fingers on my temples and massage them. Even after he got sick, he just had to hand the reins to a likely even more inexperienced servant. Our situation just keeps worsening
I join the rest of my unit around the campfire, and we discuss some strategy for the rest of the day without any interruptions. To be completely honest, there is very little strategy we need to make, most of the strategizing work falls on the Commander of the Trebuchet Division, who is stupid enough to eat raw meat and get drunk when the battle draws near
*ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding ding*
The arm sounded a few minutes after sunset, when the st light of the sun had disappeared
Man running: Vampires! Ready the trebuchet!
He was running around, lighting up the torches around us. My unit immediately got into action and started loading the first load, which are silver spikes and firepots filled with some silver powder. I picked up the looking gss and tried to determine the position of the vampire force
The vampires were some distance away from our cavalry, but didn't seem to be charging or retreating for some reason, they stood their ground, not moving an inch. What are they pnning exactly? It is fairly dark, so I can’t quite see what the vampires are doing
I turn my looking gss towards our forces, a column of spearmen in the middle with two truly huge cavalry fnking them. The strength of our forces gives me confidence to fight. I suddenly spot Gareth Brightmoor at the helm of one of the cavalry, he seems to be giving a speech to boost the morale of his cavalrymen
Wulfa: READY!
Pholes’ aide: Release them
I look back at the voice, it was Pholes’ aide giving us orders while sitting atop his horse. Wulfa looks towards me, and I nod
He releases the trebuchet, and I follow the arc of the load with my looking gss. The vampires use their worn wooden shields to block the spikes, but they can’t block the firepot. The firepot nds on the first line of vampires and destroys any bloodsucker near it when it spreads the fire and silver powder upon impact
Gideon: Add a few more stones to the counter weight, we need a bit more range
Subordinate: Yes, Captain Gideon
Pholes’ aide: The next load will be the corpses of those bloodsuckers
He ordered us, and everyone looked at him with disgust. Nobody was willing to touch those dead bodies.
Wulfa: Don’t worry, I will do it
Nearly everyone breathed a sigh of relief when Wulfa took the responsibility. He dragged a young-looking vampire and id him down in the basket
Pholes’ aide: Release
Ours and every other Trebuchet in our line released simultaneously, I followed the trajectory of the… loads through my looking gss, and they nded right in the center of the vampire formation. The corpses spooked them, and some started talking to each other, getting distracted from battle
Pholes’ aide: More!
One by one, we unched all the corpses at the vampire. The corpses of the children had clearly demoralized them as they started bickering among themselves
Pholes’ aide: That will teach them
Pholes’ aide put his looking gss away and ughed. He was so focused on the vampires that he did not realize that this act had also demoralized us
Pholes’ aide: Continue unching the firepots
He commanded and my team started hauling the firepots to the sling basket
I looked towards our forces and noticed that they seem to have finally started advancing. Gareth was still in the front, charging towards the vampires along with battle priests. For sure the bloodsuckers will make their move now…
I continued to observe the movements of the bloodsuckers but they seem wholly sworn to not leave their positions. Are they protecting something there? They must be! Why else would they not advance or retreat!?
*tak-tak-tak-tak-tak-tak-tak-tak-tak-tak*
What was that? My eyes went to our forces, lines of spearmen and the cavalry seem to be falling each second, many battle priests were among the first to be killed, horses were spooked and started galloping away in every direction. Bodies of Luxarians kept piling up, forming a barrier around the bloodsuckers’ forces, hindering ours from advancing
Gideon: What–
Pholes’ aide: Quick release the firepots!
Pholes’ aide again shouted and every trebuchet released their firepots. There were fshes of light and sound of 1000s of hammers coming from within the ranks of vampires… just what are they…
“Word is, one County called ‘Cow-per’ County is putting up a good resistance. Some say they have started using dark magic and metal beasts” I suddenly remembered what the boy had said, is this… are they really using some kind of dark magic? The scene in front of me definitely seems like dark magic. Even soldiers with metal shields and full pte armour were falling… just what kind of dark sorcery are these bloodsuckers using?
When the firepots nd on their position, it causes some of the strange loud noise and the fshes to slow down
*tap tap tap*
A horse comes running towards Pholes’ aide and the messenger decres loudly
???: We need more support! Overwhelm them with more firepots quickly!
Pholes’ adie nods
Pholes’ aide: You heard him, now quicken your pace or I will be unching you next!
*THUD-THUD*
Pholes’ aide: What was that!?
He asks me worried, I look through my looking gss and see the vampire’s position. There, I see small explosions in their formations that don’t look like firepots exploding. Firepots never make such a loud sound when they break
Pholes’ aide: Answer me!
Gideon: There are explosions within their encampment
Pholes’ aide: Their own munitions must have caught fire from our firepots.
He smirks, then barks out another order
Pholes’ aide: Come on quick! Release the firepots, our forces—
*BOOM*
There is a very rge explosion behind Pholes’ aide, the explosion is so powerful that it causes me to fall to the ground, my ears… I couldn’t hear anything, my vision was blurry as well. As I slowly got my bearings, I stood up and looked at my unit, they were all either lying on the ground or trying to stand up. By the Light’s grace, none of them seem to be mortally wounded.
My eyes went to Wulfa, who was propping himself with his hand and trying to clear his eyes with the other
Gideon: Are you ok?
I screamed out to him, but as soon as I did that, I realized that I couldn’t hear the sound of my own voice. Have I gone deaf? When Wulfa saw me, he crawled towards me saying something, but I couldn’t hear him. He was probably screaming to get my attention, but all I could hear was this loud whine
A minute ter, my hearing started to thankfully recover a bit. There was screaming everywhere. Crews from other units were missing limbs. The messenger’s horse and the horse of Pholes’ aide were lying dead near our trebuchet, while they themselves were nowhere to be seen
Gideon: So this is the bloodsuckers’ dark magic
I murmur to myself
*BOOM*
I flinched from the loud explosion that shook the ground. The trebuchet at the end of the line was completely wiped out. How can this be?..... They must have a powerful magician within their ranks. That's why they didn’t retreat… they… This was all a trap!!!
*BOOM BOOM*
Two more explosions annihite the next two trebuchets and the area surrounding it, the ground shook with every explosion as if a giant was stomping in anger. I am sure there is no way any of the crew survived that. The realization then hit me. Our trebuchets is still intact! They will attack us again! We need to run, Afni and my kids are still waiting for me!
Gideon: Wulfa, we need to run!
I look at him and see him coughing up blood
Gideon: Come with me
I put an arm around him and help him up. I carry him away from the trebuchet as quickly as I could
*BOOM BOOM BOOM*
Gideon: Shit!
I say when all three trebuchet next to us were destroyed, it seems like they are going in a sequence, which means the next one is ours. I look back and see that half of my unit is still around the trebuchet
Gideon: GET OUT OF THERE! IT WILL—
*BOOM*
That whine again… I can’t… hear… anything
I turn my head to look at Wulfa. There is so much blood coming from his mouth
Gideon: Wulfa…
I raise my arm to shake him but only then do I realize that my hand is gone, blood continuously gushes out of the open wound.
Gideon: I…
I should have listened to my Afni… Maybe if I…
*BOOM BOOM BOOM*
-----------
*Few hours before the battle*
???: He is dead
A man in attire very different from a warrior spoke up
???: What? But he was just fine yesterday
???: Well that was before he ate raw meat and horse shit
???: Y-you! It is a crime to insult a noble, you know that, right!?
???: I only spoke the truth
???: I will have you arrested if you don’t apologise right now
The servant demanded
???: Arrest a healer in the middle of a war?
Servant: I…
Healer: A hundred soldiers will come to kill you if you do that…
The healer left Lord Pholes’ tent while Lord Pholes’ favourite servant mourned the death of her master and her steady income.
---------
The sound of hooves clopping against the stone path of the manor had now become a rexing melody for my ears. My dy rides her own horse beside me, keeping a close eye on us and making sure an incident like with Gulliver does not repeat itself
Cressida: You’ve made fair progress. A touch more practice, and I might even trust you with a gallop.
I instantly shake my head
Julia: I don’t think I will ever want to do that. Galloping looks wayyy too scary!
I am not exaggerating when I emphasize just how scary it is for me
Cressida: May the stars forbid such a day, but should you find yourself in an… extreme circumstance, you may have little choice in the matter.
Definitely not scary at all! Not wanting to talk about the possibilities of assassination or kidnapping on my (rare) time off with my bonded, I try and change the topic to a lighter one
Julia: I love how quiet the manor is, it's all so peaceful
Cressida: It is…
We ride for a few more minutes in silence. I never realized that I needed such peaceful silence in my life before I experienced it here. I could hear the birds singing in the trees that surrounded the manor, it's such a small minor detail, a background noise that my dy probably tunes out without even thinking about it yet she doesn’t know how much I missed it.
Cressida: I trust you’ve not forgotten. We are to sit for our portrait come tomorrow.
My ears perk up when she mentions that, I had, in fact, completely forgotten about that!
Cressida: You’ve forgotten, haven’t you?
Julia: I forgot about it. My apologies!
Cressida: *sigh* Be sure to choose a suitable dress for tomorrow. I’ll want to see it first.
Julia: Will I be seeing yours as well?
She furrows her brow and slows down
Cressida: What?
Julia: Your outfit
She gives me a teasing smirk
Cressida: Patience, dear. All shall be revealed tomorrow
She says that so casually yet my heart skips a beat
Cressida: Might you be inclined to venture past our estate’s limits today?
Julia: Huh? Sure…
She gestures to a guard who comes running towards us with her inhumane super speed. My dy tells the guard to prepare an escort for our ride outside. The guard nods and is gone within a second
A few minutes ter, we were all out riding on the dirt roads in the forest. Aurel had joined us as well, she said she had some major updates on the war with Luxaria. Aurel and I barely had time to interact these days, so it's nice for all of us to be out here together again
I breathe in the fresh forest air when we step out of the bounds of the estate
Julia: The air here is so fresh
They both look at me a bit confused
Julia: Uh, the air is pretty polluted where I am from…
We ride for a few more seconds in silence until a question pops up into my head
Julia: I was–
Aurel: There was–
Aurel and I both speak at the same time
Julia: Ah, sorry, please go ahead, Aurel
Aurel: No, my apologies, Julia, please, you go ahead
Julia: O-Ok!
Julia: I was just wondering since now I too am a ‘Countess’ does that mean I hold as much power as you my dy?
Cressida: That depends on what you mean by power. Must others show you the same respect they afford me? Yes. But the authority to govern Cowper County while I still live and rule? That is granted only under certain circumstances and only with my explicit consent.
Julia: I will take it as a ‘No’ I guess
Cressida: There's no need to feel disheartened. I value your thoughts greatly, and I’ll always value your counsel in matters of governance.
I turn away, blushing due to her sweet words, and murmur to myself
Julia: I wasn’t disheartened though…
Cressida: Well, Aurel? What is it you wish to report?
My bonded turns towards Aurel, who had brought out her own horse.
Aurel: I’ve received word my dy, the rge Luxarian force I mentioned earlier engaged with our troops yesterday after sunset. We managed to wipe them out entirely, including their siege engines, thanks to the weapons Julia summoned.
A small smile forms on my dy’s face
Cressida: Who could have imagined such a turn of events before Julia came to us?
She fshes me a smile and turns back to Aurel. Her expression going back to neutral like usual
Aurel: There is more. We have managed to capture Gareth Brightmoor
She raises her brow in surprise at the news, there is a long silence that follows. Is the Gareth guy someone important? I have never seen my bonded be so surprised, except when I summon technology from my world of course
Julia: Um, is this guy someone important?
Cressida: He may be the most significant prisoner we've taken thus far. Gareth Brightmoor commands considerable respect in both military and political circles within Luxaria. His brother, Solmund, is the head of a prosperous trade empire and one of the richest men in the theocracy.
Ah, so the whole family is rich and powerful.
Cressida: Has he provided any information of value?
Aurel: None so far, my dy. His wounds have left him in a fragile state.
Cressida: And how many enemy soldiers have we taken alive?
Aurel: Around 3000 were captured after the battle. I expect more than half of them to die from their injuries, in the end, we would have around 1000-1400 prisoners
Cressida: We’re running out of room in the dungeons. It may be time to consider building more.
Aurel: Shall I give the order?
My dy nods
Julia: I-if I may…
Cressida: Of course, Julia. Do you wish to contribute something?
Julia: I just wanted to ask, why does Aurel think more than half of the prisoners would die?
Aurel answers the question
Aurel: We don’t have resources or healers to care for so many injured, especially when our own soldiers take priority
Ah right. How can I forget, the enhanced healing abilities of vampires are severely damaged if they are hit by silver. Most healers are probably busy helping such vampires, not to mention that humans in Aqualuna have these enhanced healing abilities as well because of their bondeds, so healers are rarely ever required
Julia: Hm…
I think for a few seconds, what if…
Cressida: I know that look. What stirs in that mind of yours?
Julia: What if I summon some medicines from my world for the prisoners? It might increase the number of survivors
My bonded raises her brows in curiosity
Cressida: Interesting. Your compassion extends even to our foes?
Julia: Oh no, not at all
I say, furiously shaking my head
Julia: Every prisoner that we keep alive can be used as a bargaining chip for reparation when the war ends. Not to mention freeing any of our people they have held captive
Yeah, I never thought I would say something like this, but I only see those prisoners as bargaining chips, my priorities would always be my bonded and this county. I know what the Luxarian prisoners’ fate would be if the negotiations fail in the future, and I wouldn’t lift a finger to change that
Aurel: You’re dreaming if you think those zealots keep their prisoners alive for long.
Cressida: Although the first part makes sense. Still, retaking our territory should come before we start demanding reparations.
Aurel: If things continue as they are, that day may come sooner than expected, my dy.
Cressida: Hm…
We ride for a few seconds in silence before my bonded again turns to me with a curious glint in her eye
Cressida: I am curious, what are these medicines you will be summoning?
Julia: Oh, just some antibiotics and disinfectants for the wounds
They look at me like I have just said something in a foreign nguage
Julia: I am sure the magic of the healers here is much faster and better
Aurel looks at me with even more confusion
Aurel: Our healers rely on herbs, not magic. I remember reading about a healer who could use recovery magic during the Great War… but that kind of talent hasn’t been seen in centuries.
There I go making idiotic assumptions again! I should just take a whole week off to learn about this world… But I would probably like to go on a honeymoon with my gorgeous wife before spending my week off reading
Julia: Oh…
Cressida: These medicines intrigue me. Could you summon a few for me to see?
Julia: Of Course my dy
I summon a strip of paracetamol and hand it to her
Cressida: Interesting…
She says while examining the strip of medicine
Julia: We swallow this medicine with water. This particur one is used for pain and to treat fevers
Cressida: It looks very… difficult to swallow
Julia: Some people do find it hard to swallow pills, but it's always been easy for me… Wait, I think there might be a misunderstanding. We don’t swallow that whole thing, that is just the packaging. We swallow one of the round pills inside it
Cressida: That does seem far more practical.
She frowns for a moment and hands me the strip of pills back
Cressida: Do not waste pain medicine on the prisoners. After what they’ve done to our people, it’s a mercy they don’t deserve.
She says in a voice filled with coldness and a hint of anger
Julia: As you wish, my dy
I completely understand her rage; after reading reports of vilges burnt to the ground and vampires burned alive, even I want the Luxarian soldiers to suffer
I will need to start reading some medical books to know about which medicines to summon and what dosage to administer. Probably some kind of antibiotics
Aurel: Must we continue taking more prisoners after this?
Aurel asks while looking at me
Julia: We should, if the enemy soldiers know we will capture them instead of killing them, they won’t fight as hard
Aurel: They’re zealots through and through. Dying for their war is not a deterrent, it’s an honor.
Julia: I wouldn’t be so sure. Even zealots have survival instincts
Aurel: It’s not just that…
She pauses and thinks for a few moments before continuing
Aurel: Our soldiers grow restless. They question why we show mercy to such ruthless zealots, especially after the horrors of the st battle.
I raise my brow
Julia: What happened in the st battle?
Aurel lowers her voice
Aurel: There were reports that the Luxarians used their siege machines to hurl the bodies of sin vilgers during the battle. One was the daughter of one of our soldiers. The sight has crushed morale and has stoked hunger for vengeance among our troops.
Holy shit! That's barbaric, I can’t even imagine what that soldier might be going through
Cressida: Hm. Give them a few of the insignificant prisoners to take out their anger upon. Some measure of vengeance might uplift their spirits.
I won’t comment on that, it's definitely not my pce to comment on that, if they think it's necessary, then it’s better to not oppose them even if I think it's a bit… barbaric.
--------------
Julia: How do I look?
I twirl around for my bonded, showing off one of my cutest dresses. I could feel her intense gaze moving from my head to toe, taking in every little detail. After a long, tense moment I finally got a nod from her
Cressida: It will do
I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. I was hoping for a compliment though not… not just a “it will do”! I spent hours getting ready and I don’t even get a small compliment? A frown forms on my face as I turn around and stomp out of our room. I don’t know if my bonded noticed my anger… Hell I don’t know even if she cares!
I walk around the hallway like a ghost haunting the manor until Helen sees me.
Helen: What has gotten you frowning so early in the morning?
Helen: Oh, that rhymes. *giggle*
She gives me a toothy grin
Julia: *sigh* Don’t ask
Helen: Let me guess, you quarreled with Lady Cressida?
Julia: Um No. Not really
How can you even fight with a person you barely know
Julia: It's… more like…
Ugh fuck it, I should just tell her instead of trying to mince words
Julia: I am angry at her…
Helen: Why?
Julia: S-she… It may sound childish, but she didn’t compliment me after I spent hours getting ready for her
I gesture to my outfit
Helen: It’s not childish. We women deserve a little praise from our partners! We deserve their admiration, their attention, even for the little things!
Julia: Right? I–
Cressida: What is happening here?
My wife– errr bonded suddenly decides to spook us from behind. I put a hand on my scared heart to calm it down. She seriously needs to approach people at normal– I mean human speeds! Otherwise, I might get a heart attack one day
Helen: N-nothing, my dy… I was just leaving
Helen abandons me as quickly as she came. Some friend she is! I feel a light tap on my shoulder and turn to face my dy with a nervous smile. I hope she didn’t eavesdrop on us…
She checks me out again… or more accurately checks out my outfit again. It's a off-white dress adorned with red embroidered flowers, the sleeves were were puffy and sheer. The hem of its skirt was a deep crimson colour, almost like its was dipped in blood. Overall the dress looked very elegant and a bit carefree, fitting for a vampire countess’ wife I’d say.
(Author’s note: Here is the dress for reference if you need help with visualization, ignore the character model)
After she is done, her eyes move up to meet mine again. My breath hitches in my throat. Is she gonna find some fw with my outfit suddenly?
Cressida: You look…
Her beautiful green eyes are locked with mine as she continues
Cressida: …quite lovely
I could feel my face getting red at the unexpected compliment, flustered by a simple compliment I don’t know how to respond. Maybe a ‘thanks’ or should I compliment her back? Ughh just say something quick!
Julia: Um- thank y-you and you as well m-my dy
My eyes move to her dress, it's so freaking elegant! If I were meeting her for the first time, I would easily think she was a queen. Her off the shoulder dress is a shade of royal blue with white ce around her chest. Her dress just about covers her chest and cleavage, making my mind wander about things… very bad things that I definitely don’t want her to know! There are many gold details around her dress, like a pair of gold appliqués that connect to an intricate pattern of golden leaves around her waist. It wasn’t tacky but was a subtle show of wealth. I wouldn’t be surprised if she told me that it was made of real gold. What I know was made of real gold though, was the neckce she was wearing, it featured a rge ruby in the center with 2 smaller rubies on the sides. That thing wasn’t subtle at all, it all but screamed old money
(Author’s note: Here’s a reference image for Cressida’s outfit)
Cressida: Well, shall we?
She held out her arm, gesturing for me to take
Julia: Y-yes
I loop my arm through hers and follow her lead as she takes me down to a room on the ground floor, which has been specially prepared for today. As soon as I step into the room, my mind goes back to the first time I went exploring in this manor. I remember Helen telling me something about this being the tea room however, it was never used for that purpose ever since my bonded became the Countess. She likes to have her “tea” (blood) either on the dining table or the sunroom, or as of tely, the bedroom… I smile internally, remembering how painfully sweet her bite felt just this morning
The tea room was shining, without a speck of dust in sight. Sunlight coming from the wall of windows on the side lit the whole room while a man with a French painter's cap was mixing colors in front of a rge canvas
Painter with French cap: Oh, hello! I am almost… And there! Done!
I just stared at the very, very rge canvas in awe and a bit of disappointment
Julia: This will probably take the whole day…
I said in a defeated voice to no one in particur. I wanted to have some time alone with my bonded
Painter with French cap: Ah, if only it were so simple. Ars longa, vita brevis. True art takes time. This will take many days, I’m afraid.
Wait a minute! What? Is that French? It doesn’t sound like French…
Cressida: Julia, may I present Anselm, the artist I have retained for our portrait. His skill is well known, and he has served many noble houses.
Anselm bows deeply as my dy introduces him
Cressida: Anselm, this is Lady Julia, my bonded.
Anselm: Gratum est te convenire, domina.
Ok, definitely not French, and I know it's not Spanish since I studied it in school… Hm, maybe one of the local nguages of this world
Anselm: We can start whenever you are ready
My dy sits on the sofa while I give a confused look to Anselm
Julia: Um, should I sit or stand? I don’t want the portrait to look too… formal…
Anselm: *Chuckles* Of course, Lady Julia. In that case, you should sit beside Lady Cressida
Julia: Um… Also, I want it to look more… romantic
Anselm’s expression turns into a surprised one then he lets out a hearty chuckle while stroking his well maintained beard
Anslem: Bene, nunc, that’s a rare request... For a noble to show affection so openly, let alone have it immortalized like this. Quite a bold choice, my dy. One I’d be honored to help bring to life
Anselm: Now then, I’ve envisioned a pose that will capture the very spirit of your love in the portrait.
I could feel a bright smile form on my face when he says that, it's obvious by the tone of his voice that he is as excited for this as I am. He holds my hand and guides me to where my bonded was sitting.
Cressida: I don’t think—
My dy tries to interrupt Anselm but is way too excited to listen to anybody
Anselm: Now sit on Lady Cressida’s p just like this–
He pushes me down, forcing me to sit on my dy’s p. AH! So close!
Anselm: And Lady Cressida, put your arm around your bonded like this!
He grabs her hand suddenly and puts it on my waist.
Julia: Oh!
Cressida: …
My dy doesn’t say anything, her eyes just stare into mine. I was so sure she would kick the painter out or get angry, but that never happened
Anselm: Formosum! Pce your hand there on Lady Cressida’s shoulder, now move closer… closer! Look at her, truly look at her. That’s the soul of the portrait!
He says in an excited voice. I follow his command and put my hand on Lady Cressida’s bare shoulder, which sends a tingle up my spine. Why am I getting butterflies by touching her shoulder of all pces!?
Her face slowly comes closer and closer and closer, as her eyes remain locked with mine. I move closer as well, my heart starts to beat faster and faster as we are only inches apart. What happens if we don’t stop? If our lips touch? Just as my lips were only an inch away from hers–
Anselm: Perfectum!
GOD DAMMIT ANSELM! Why did he have to ruin such a– ok, let’s calm down…
I take a deep breath and calm my raging emotions down. Ahhhh! Was she about to?– WERE WE ABOUT TO KISS!!?
Anselm: Now don’t move until I say so
Julia: Ok…
Anselm gets to work with his paintbrush and canvas while my dy and I just gaze into each other’s eyes. I could feel her cool breath hitting my hot skin… why is it so hot in here?
I have never looked at her so up close… Those eyes… They remind me of the lush green grass on the banks of a river…
Being so close to her, feeling her breath tickle me… I just can’t help but grin
Cressida: What? Is there something on my face?
When I feel her remove her hand from my waist probably to wipe her face, I immediately stop her, putting her hand back to where it was
Julia: No, no. It’s just… I…
I lower my voice to a whisper
Julia: I haven’t–
Wait, what am I saying!? I can’t just tell her that we haven’t been so close, while smiling. That's basically… It comes off too strong!
Julia: Nothing, your breath was just tickling me, my dy
Cressida: Oh? Then I suppose I’ll just have to breathe very slowly… unless you prefer being tickled.
Julia: *Chuckle* I do not–
Julia: –but please don’t be uncomfortable for my sake, breathe how you want
Cressida: Oh, don’t worry, I was only teasing. Besides, who would dare tell me how to breathe?
Julia: I would never *giggles*
Anselm: Perfectum est! Vere romanticum! Hold that pose, just like that.
*few hours ter*
Julia: Ok, how much longer? My joints feel like they are they are hardening, I am thirsty, and I have to use the washroom
Anselm: We're only halfway through the day, Lady Julia
Anselm continues the painting with passion, his brush gliding across the canvas with practiced strokes
Julia: UGHHHH!
I only grunt in response. I have to pee and drink some water. Suddenly, my dy announces loudly with a commanding tone
Cressida: Finish up whatever you want in 10 minutes, Anselm, then we will take a short break
Anselm: Err– Can—
My dy shoots him a firm gre, stopping him from saying whatever was on his mind
Anselm: Yes, Lady Cowper!
It's so… that commanding British tone of hers will be the death of me! I want to kiss her right this moment!
------Author's note: Another month, another chapter. This took a long time to write so please do comment and tell me how you are liking the story so far, and where do you think Julia's journey is leading up to
