Chapter Eight: Sabotage

Previously: Sword and Shield

 

Ravensbridge stood on both banks of the River Raven, joined by the old stone bridge from which the town took its name. Mireille du Maurier almost regretted not having explored the town earlier, but then remembered that up until now, she had no guards.

 

Not that the town was unsafe; it was clearly designed to be a sanctuary where the player could rest and resupply. Among the numerous shops, there was an armory, an apothec
ary, and a large inn called the Raven's Crossing.

 

The theme of sanitized rusticity continued throughout the town. Mireille had never seen such perfectly cobbled roads or clean shops in a medieval RPG. The air was filled with the smell of ale, savory pies, and roasted meat. And in the distance, she could see the rolling green hills bathed in the summer sun.

 

"What a charming town," she gasped without thinking. Next to her, Sir Adrian smiled.

 

"Ravensbridge is the pride of Westervale," he told her in that deep voice of his. They had ridden together in her carriage. He'd sat opposite her, and when they stopped, he exited first so he could help her out of the carriage.

 

"And you've lived here your whole life?" she asked, even though she already knew.

 

He nodded. "My father met my mother while accompanying Lord Stoneleigh on his travels. They married in Calderra, but I was born here, as was my sister."

 

"Edith often speaks of the tailor," Mireille murmured, looking about herself at the too-clean residents in their brightly colored clothing. "What do you recommend?"

 

"The ale at the Crossing is crisp and cold," he said, with a slight smile teasing the corner of his mouth. "But for a fine lady with a taste for Calderran wine, I can think of no establishment here that is up to your standards."

 

She smiled at him as her heart fluttered. He was always doing that, calling her a "fine lady" and complimenting her beauty. She knew he was a hologram programmed to be courteous, but she didn't care. At the Academy, the boys were more than happy to shove everyone else out of the way to get off shuttlecrafts. They didn't pull out chairs or hold open doors (though, to be fair, the doors were automatic).

 

It was refreshing to be around a young man with such a calm, dignified presence. He actually made her feel safe.

 

Unlike Godwin, Adrian was very patient with her. He didn't criticize or discourage her numerous dinner parties. If anything, he was a gracious co-host of sorts, introducing her to people and dutifully remaining by her side when her seneschal could not. Mireille quickly noticed that even though he was an untitled knight, in some ways, his presence further elevated hers.

 

Nobles from all over Westervale were flocking to her parties now. Because Godwin had purchased parcels of their spare farmland, many of them now had the coin to travel to Ravensbridge. They bought new clothes just to attend her feasts, where every single one of them ate and drank with great appetite.

 

It wasn't long before word of Mireille's lavish hospitality spread well beyond Ravensbridge.

 

*** 

After several gaming sessions in which she spent most of her time with Sir Adrian, the gamer began sharing her experiences in forums. The responses were...unexpected.

 

Ewww, one player wrote. Who goes to Westervale to play the fucking Vicomtesse?

 

Another asked, Who goes into a simulation chamber just to throw a bunch of dinner parties? It's not like you can enjoy the food.

 

Why not just play Adela Stoneleigh? another asked. She's the one Adrian actually loves.

 

That last one stung. She had considered resetting the game and using a mod to play as Adela. But the computer had reminded her that the Stoneleighs were specifically written to be in debt. Attempting to endow them with significant wealth often triggered the game to simply create new obstacles, like losing money to greedy creditors, losing money in the war, or even the Baron demanding Adela's hand in marriage. That last one was enough to give the gamer pause.

 

Even worse, she'd often read that when players assumed the role of Sir Adrian so they could romance Adela, the ending was never truly happy. To be with Adrian, Adela would have to give up her family, as her father would inevitably disown her. Even if the player amassed great wealth and became the Duke of Wintervale, earning Lord Stoneleigh's forgiveness, Adela would still be unhappy. Wintervale was said to be ridiculously cold, even for a simulation (the fan theory was that it was the King's way of punishing commoners for rising above their station).

 

On the one hand, Mireille felt somewhat vindicated to know their love was doomed. On the other hand, she was also annoyed that the programmers hadn't bothered to give Adela a happy ending with Adrian.

 

But then she remembered the computer's words: Players do not concern themselves with the fate of Adela Stoneleigh.

 

She was designed to be the quintessential non-playable character, with a limited backstory and even more limited ending. In short, she was intended to be window dressing...much like the Viscountess.

 

These programmers need to be slapped, she often grumbled to herself. They clearly had their favorites, and the ladies of Ravensbridge weren't among them.

 

***

 

"What do you mean you said no?" Alys Hawkridge asked. Mireille and her ladies were gathered at Roseward Manor for their weekly embroidery lesson. As usual, she and Rowena were failing miserably.

 

"Yes," Mireille asked Rowena pointedly, "what do you mean you won't marry Lord Whitecroft? Godwin went to great lengths to find him."

 

"Lord Whitecroft is ten years my senior and he lives all the way in Whitebrook," Rowena complained.

 

By God, Mireille closed her eyes. I'm never going to get this girl married and out of my house. 

 

"He still has his hair," Matilda pointed out. "Unlike my intended."

 

"Are you reconsidering your marriage to the Baron?" Adela asked. She didn't even have to look at her fingers. They deftly manipulated needle and thread with a mind of their own.

 

"Are you mad?" Matilda laughed. "By this time next week, I will be Lady Matilda Ravenshaw, Baroness of Westervale."

 

"Where is your honeymoon?" Alys asked her.

 

"The Baron is renovating his estate in the capital," Matilda giggled.

 

Adela lowered her eyes. "I can't remember when I was last in the capital," she muttered softly.

 

Alys sighed. "Yes, Adela...we all know how you long to wed a prince. But if the King hasn't offered you one of his sons by now—"

 

"That's just it." Adela's hands stilled. "The King has offered someone else's."

 

Everyone immediately stopped their sewing and turned toward her. Mireille felt her heart stop.

 

It's finally happening, she thought, eyes widening slightly.

 

"The King has finally found you a prince?" Alys demanded strictly, and Mireille could practically hear her heart thudding in her chest.

 

Adela nodded miserably. "The King needs coin to fight the Duke of Orvienne. So he treated with the Grand Prince of Orsyna."

 

Matilda was visibly shocked. "Grand Prince Aleksandr is already married!"

 

Adela's mouth twisted slightly, like she'd eaten something sour. "His younger brother is not."

 

Matilda and Alys exchanged a look. They did that often, and it made Mireille feel uncomfortable, for it reminded her that they had a history while she was ever the outsider.

 

"So this is happening?" Matilda asked breathlessly. "This is really happening? Y
ou're actually going to marry a prince?"

 

Adela looked disgusted. "Of Orsyna! They say it snows up there for over half the year!"

 

"They also say Prince Vladimir is a very rich and handsome young man," Alys countered. 

 

"Will you have a new title in your own right?" Rowena asked. "Separate from Princess?"

 

Adela's eyes fell again. "My father says I'm to be made Duchess of Wintervale."

Mireille reached for her goblet, as though suddenly needing something to hide behind, no matter how small.

Matilda clutched her chest. "A Duchess!"

 

"Why are you not ecstatic?" Alys exclaimed.

 

Yeah, Adela, Mireille resisted snorting. Why aren't you?

 

"Because Wintervale is a frozen fucking shithole, home to a smattering of towns and frozen rivers," Adela finally snapped. Everyone immediately looked stunned, even Mireille. They'd never heard her speak like this before.

 

"But Orsyna has endless mines of silver and gems," Matilda insisted. "When you are Princess Adela, you can go anywhere, buy anything."

 

"I will be alone," Adela told them. "My family won't be coming with me. Oh, they'll want my money, of course, but none of them are willing to brave the cold."

 

"I will come with you," Alys offered. "I've always wanted to hunt in the northern wilds."

 

"And I!" Rowena suddenly declared. "If you'll have me," she added shyly, when everyone looked at her.

 

Mireille stared at her. "But your brother," she flatly reminded Rowena. "Your mother. I promised—"

"I think my mother and even my brother will understand my desire to serve a Princess," Rowena cut her off, which she'd never dared to do before. "And think, my lady...you'll no longer have to pay my dowry."

 

Well...that'll make Godwin happy.

 

"I'd accompany you if I could," Matilda admitted. "I've always wanted to visit the capital of Orsyna."

 

"I can't accompany you either," Mireille hurriedly added. "But I will gladly visit."

 

"I'm not going to live in Orsyna," Adela sighed, eyes closed. "I'm going to be stuck managing fucking Wintervale. My whole life I've never managed a household, much less an entire duchy."

 

"You will have a royal steward," Alys assured her. "The King and your father will want this arrangement to work. They will not sabotage you."

 

Adela scowled at her. "They already have."