#saffiro

[ultravioletqueen]

The character:

Her (fuckass) polycule:

☝️this one(the white haired dude)belongs to saffiro in YouTube/instagram/Twitter

FUCKASS POLYCULE THINGIE

Multishippers! Choose a character, then put them in a polycule with ALL of your ships for them. That means popular ships, rarepairs, DUMBASS SHITPOST CRACK SHIPS (emphasis on this one), and also throw in the canon pairing(s) as well.

Bonus points if you draw them all together as a polycule! (I didn't because I'm lazy and have other priorities;;)

Here's one of mine!

Character:

Her (fuckass) polycule:

[pussinbootsandbountyhunter]

From @princess-ibri post about Asha x Star’s At All Costs Animatic by Krimanga on YouTube, here’s something that I’ve found which made all of you cry!

A beautiful Human!Star x Princess Asha’s At All Costs

Animated by Saffiro on YouTube which they called it Disney’s Wish Reimagined

[thecandywrites]

The Switch Chapter 15

Second to the last chapter. I will miss this story, but at the same time, I need to hurry up and get it off my plate (along with a few others) so I can focus on other stories.

The Switch 

Chapter 15

Three Months Later…

Millie sat at the vanity getting her wedding makeup applied as she was both excited to finally get married, but also, to finally be reunited with you. But most of all, to see her wedding present- her skyship. Named The Radiant Contessina Especial. “The Special Radiant Contessina”. Which was supposed to be bigger and grander than the Contessina Originale that Kragan had drawn up on your wedding day at the start of the season. And with her wedding date being put back to right before the highest of the high holidays. She didn’t care if there was snow on the ground and she’d be have to cover her dress in a fur to finally see it. She would be using it to sail to Wakanear to have the honeymoon to end all honeymoons in a tropical paradise. It was literally a fairytale come true and then after that, she would get to travel the world, and while some Radiance Skyports were still being finished, over a dozen had been finished and were ready for her to come and enjoy them when she would be done with her honeymoon. 

It had been an agonizing wait for this moment, for the last few weeks, royals had come from all over the world to stay at the grand houses of Nobility and even others staying at the skyport itself. The greatest ones staying with the King and Queen and then herself and with the Lavines and the wedding gifts had already begun to start pouring in. 

And she was ever so grateful for the expansion of the skyport because otherwise there was no way everyone could be accommodated. 

 And while you had showed her via messengerari- certain rooms and more details to make sure it was built to suit her tastes as well as Ron’s, she wanted to see her ship in all of it’s glory. And for what Ron and his family had already sunk into it, even with the discount, she had very high expectations of it. And only hoped it would be as perfect as everything else. The same way she did of herself on this day. Everything was going perfect so far and she had planned every tiny detail so it would be the perfect day to start off the perfect new year. 

The skyports, both for Salgria Shipping and The Order of Radiance Skyports- known simply as The Radiance Skyports- had already been built and the Salgria Shipping port and skyport were in a constant state of movement from ships coming and going to both ever since they were erected. But The Radiance Skyport had even been decorated in the same manner that Millie’s wedding had been for after the wedding and reception, the party could move to the skyport so all of her guests could view her ship and hopefully all fawn and awe at the perfect gift for the perfect bride. And then get to see all the others that would be unveiled soon after. And there were massive clouds in the skies that the mouras themselves had made to hide the fleet of ships until the right moment. But the way the sun would shine through the clouds, one could still make out beautiful details as the whole country had their eyes skywards, both towards the skyport and the ships in the skies, hidden by clouds. You and Kragan were actually taking up a suite on the Skyport as you had helped make the top “flower” perfect for her reception. And because of the advancements, a feast to end all feasts would be fed to the many royal guests. 

You had been in contact with her all week, finalizing the very moment she wanted you to come, even as large as you had become in your pregnancy. Which thankfully had- since it’s discovery- gone very well, thanks to Agnes’ intervention and the further healing you had received at the hands of the healers at Audrey, Sarah and Benyana, since that fateful day five months prior. And when Saffiro had come home, he had done so with none other than Samantha as his bride.  Who you had personally appointed as your Radiance De Major of The Order of Radiance Skyport. Which made her acceptance into the family easy and warmly welcomed. 

And while Millie had felt a little irritated that Samantha was instantly loved by her parents as much as they still loved and favored you. She had to remind herself that to her own inlaws, she was treated and viewed the same. Because to Millie, Samantha had no breeding or impressive lineage. She was a Souja, from Fitsdale and supposedly an heiress from there. So Millie felt superior to her, but was displeased when that view wasn’t mirrored by Samantha. And while Samantha was polite, Samantha also would not be fawning over Millie the way everyone else was. But thankfully you had reminded her that after today, Samantha would be sister to her in name only. And that after today, Millie would be far too busy all around the world to be bothered to have any dealings with Samantha. Which had been enough for Millie to leave the matter alone. 

Because Samantha was very no nonsense, all business kind of person. She spoke plainly, to the point and directly and did not mince or beautify her words, which your parents adored, especially your father. Especially when she had been so similar to you- in that she was extremely intelligent and very practical, kind and discrete but didn’t put up with any bullshit either. Plus, Saffiro and her genuinely loved each other, and were the perfect team and helped each other and communicated very well. And were very much like your own parents in that respect, which Millie found herself agreeing that for that- she could admire the match. And she could agree that Samantha would see to it that Saffiro would be the heir he was always meant to be. And for that, Millie was grateful. According to Saffiro- he and Samantha had rather spontaneously fallen in love at first sight, which Millie couldn’t speak for- only because that’s the way it had been for her and Ron. 

But now, after so many months of hard work and negotiations, it was Millie’s day and Millie was relishing it. It was her time to shine and she would be damned if she didn’t sparkle like the diamond she knew herself to be. Now all it needed was her ship. 

But that wasn’t her only cause for excitement. No. The famed King and Queen of Yekmeni were supposed to come along with Prince and Princess of Wakanear as your personal guests to her wedding and she couldn’t be happier about it and would be having them sit at the same high table she had set up for the King and Queen of Solowards along with the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, who were themselves, eager to see them. Especially the Crown Princess  especially to see what gifts they might bestow upon her on such an important day. 

And the “additions” to the skyport also got to go into production because you were sure this was going to be a thing from now on at every skyport all around the world. To have The Radiance Skyports be the preferred dining halls for all major weddings in all the countries. And the spaces could be “docked” on the lower decks to simply make the skyport seem larger, but when the additions would be flown to dock into place, it would make it almost look like a daisy blooming, setting it’s petals out wide like a table. Although, you were sure that from now on, you could change them to suit just about any other flower most popular in each country. And the fees you could charge for such a thing, could be anything you wanted them to be and also help the skyports- earn quite the income from hosting future events. 

“You ok?” She heard Kragan’s voice out in the hall as Millie’s ears perked up to hear his deeper voice below all the other girl’s soft but high voices. 

“Yeah, just…I have to go to the bathroom again.” Millie heard you answer back. 

And thankfully you could slip from the hall to her bathroom and as much as she wanted to get up and come to you, you needed privacy before you entered her room with Mildred as Millie’s bridal party, the younger sisters of your friends were all excited and eager to see you and especially see your large belly bump. 

“Tessa!” Everyone cheered as they came into the room from the bathroom as they all came around to hug you and kiss your cheeks as you kissed theirs in turn.

“Oh my goodness, are you sure you should be out? Aren’t you afraid you’ll go into labor at any moment?” They asked. 

“No, I still have at least a week, if not two. I’ll be ok.” You reassured them before you finally got to hug and hold Millie as tight as you dared. 

“I’m so happy you could make it.” Millie began to tear up as she hugged you as tight as she could. 

“Me too. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.” You answered her before Serena seemed to kick at Millie before you both started erupted into laughter. 

“She likes me!” Millie said as she pulled back to press her hands to your belly to feel your daughter’s kicks. 

“Oh yes. He’s ecstatic. He’s seen to it that every place we would ever think of laying our heads has the perfect nurseries for her. He’s even built a small little bassinet, that floats like the ships do because he got tiny little anti-gravity discs that will keep the bassinet like it’s a buggy, but without wheels. And it looks like a tiny little rowboat, it’ll even rock and swing if you press different buttons on it. That way, even if she’s sleeping, she’ll always be within reach. He’s practically been over the moon since we found out. And once we settled on the name, he’s been buying nappies and clothes for her. She’ll surely grow out of things before she’ll ever get a chance to wear it all.” You revealed happily. 

“She sure does.” You laughed as all the others came around to do the same.

“So Kragan really is happy and elated to have  a daughter?” Millie questioned as she was still wrapping her head around the notion. 

“Well you look truly radiant, I see you’re well and pregnancy suits you beautifully.” Cassandra offered sweetly. 

“Thank you.” You thanked her happily. 

“So is my crown ready?” Millie asked giddily. 

“Crown? What crown?” You teased with a giggle as all the other ladies started giggling with you as Millie rolled her pretty blue eyes but couldn’t stop from smiling while crinkling her nose at you as you mirrored her. 

“Yes. It’s ready. As is everything else, including your glorious ship. It’s still being kept hidden for now. But you should love it. It shines white and gold like pearls from heaven.” You hinted with a wink. Because you had actually put a fine veneer on all of the white surfaces of powdered pearls. It had been an extra expense, but it had come out so beautifully and you could only hope Millie would approve. 

“Yes!” Millie cheered happily and bounced on her toes as she clapped her hands happily. 

“Everything is all set and ready. We just need to wait for the perfectly auspicious appointed time. Ladies, don’t forget to eat a few bracing bites between now and then, can’t have any of you precious jewels fainting can we?” You urged them once a new snack tray was delivered before you went over and grabbed a quick plate full while the others did too before you left the room to make your way over your old room, where Gwen was hiding out and practicing her music piece she had composed for the event as you noticed all of her jewelry was still in it’s case on her vanity, as were other bottles of perfume. But they were practically ignored from her place on the piano forte as she was still changing a few notes to suit her highly trained ear before you sat with her and added the notes she seemed to be searching for. 

“Thank you!” She exclaimed as she wrote those notes into the new music sheets. 

“You’re welcome. It was getting too high and sweet, it needed balance.” You noted. 

“Well Millie didn’t want it to be too dark, and hint at doom or gloom.” Gwen griped. 

“Millie will be too distracted by her ship by this point. She won’t even notice or care about anyone or anything else.” You tried to reassure her before you reached into your pocket and slid her a special coin across the piano’s board which helped pull Gwen’s focus to it. 

“What is this?” She asked as she picked it up. 

“It’s your badge. You’re going to be sailing around the world and find members of your artisan guild, who will receive these. And this will be the way you will recognize each other.” You explained before you gave her the other artisan guild. Whether they have a craft of knowledge, or skill to create art of all kinds from all kinds of mediums.” You explained as she gasped softly to take them and noticed each coin like badge was it’s own work of art as she noticed that you had a few of each kind of medium of art on them. 

“Do you like them?” You asked. 

“I love them.” She smiled happily and hugged you the best she could. 

“Oh my goodness, Serena! You’re blowing my sister up like a balloon!” She teased your unborn daughter as she reached over and held your belly in her hands as Serena kicked at her hands which got you both to giggle. 

“Nah, she’s fine. I just don’t want her getting too big in there. Cause I still have to push her out.” You grimaced slightly at the thought. 

“Well, you’ll have your moura friends, won’t they help with the pain part?” She asked. 

“They will, but still, a big baby is still a big baby and it’s hard not to fall over, because between her, and these, I feel like my breasts and belly enter a room a good five minutes before the rest of me does.” You joked. 

“Well, I’m sure Kragan doesn’t mind that though.” Gwen candidly remarked. 

“No he does not.” You snickered a laugh as you both giggled. 

“Have you seen what Millie’s medicine has done to her breasts? She looks like a stick with two cantalopes stuffed into her corset.” Gwen asked. 

“I did. They felt unusually hard and stiff. Very unnatural.” You frowned and shook your head. 

“She insists that they’re just firm. But they practically have a rind at this point.” Gwen muttered under her breath which made you laugh even harder with her. 

“They do!” You cackled. 

“So, I wanted to ask you something.” You prodded when you seemed to calm down a bit from your laughing fit. 

“What?” Gwen asked. 

“How would you like to spend tonight on my ship with me? I have some friends I really want you to meet.” You invited. 

“I would love that!” She beamed happily. 

“Good, Mamah and Papah will be too busy showing off, as will Millie and everyone else. I don’t think anyone in the family will notice your absence.” You grinned. 

“Why do you have that mischievous twinkle in your eye?” Gwen asked. 

“Because I have your first group of artisans for you to see them and their works of art and sculpture and to hear their music. Several composers and musicians to talk about music with. Just…like minded people to be around. Who like their privacy just as much as you do and who don’t like the huge masses of crowds.” You hinted. 

“I would love that.” She smiled gratefully. 

“Plus, tomorrow is the bidding war, which thankfully Samantha is handling. I no longer have the patience and my politic tongue is practically worn out. It will be nice to finally get a reprieve before Serena comes.” You admitted. 

“Can I stay with you for your confinement too?” She asked hopefully. 

“Do you really want to?” You asked her. 

“If it’s on your ship, yes. I can’t even leave my rooms without feeling like I step into the halls of court in this house. I…I just want to be close to you and away from everyone else, Papah has already gotten so many proposals for my hand and I already know I’m going to be paraded around even at Millie’s wedding. And…I thought I had more time to prepare myself and I’m terrified of doing such a thing.” She confessed. 

“Then of course you can Gwen. Besides, all you have to do is smile and wave and not commit to anything ok? All you have to say to invitations to go anywhere, is ‘I will have to check my schedule and get back to you, what’s your messengerari number?’ And write that number down. And then say that I got you a new messengerari that you haven’t gotten the new number memorized yet. That’s it. That’s all you have to say and give ok? Get numbers, don’t give any.” You coached her. 

“Thank you.” She thanked you before she practiced that line with you until she was more comfortable with it. 

“Perfect, you’ll be ok. It’s only a day, it doesn’t have more hours in it than any other. It will pass soon enough. I know my wedding day did.” You smiled. 

“But yours was so different. Yours was romantic and so private it bordered on intimate and one that I wish I could have and that I wish could have lasted forever. I feel like everyone is looking to me to somehow top both your financial success and Milie’s production. And I can’t do either.” Gwen admitted in a small voice as her eyes looked so sorrowfully at her piano. 

“Quite the opposite, Dearest. I’m looking to you, to find the private places of rest. Which is something I know you have a natural inclination for. And the more private and the more secluded, the better. Where you can be left alone to the quietness and simply be in awe of the creation around you, to enjoy it in serenity. Something I know you can do and will give you excuse enough to avoid any and all stages at all costs.” You encouraged her as you wrapped your arm around her shoulders. 

“Thank you.” She thanked you. 

“Now, that jewelry looks a bit much. Even for you. Would you like me to try to find something smaller? Or does Millie demand you be as gaudy as her?” You asked as you nodded over to where the jewelry is. 

“It was a gift by our guests. Mamah and Papah insist I wear it to show my own gratitude in it’s acceptance. But it pinches me and I do not like it.” She frowned. 

“Oh, well it’s a shame I love it so much that you were inclined to give it to me as a way to help boost the guests' relationship with me then huh?” You offered. 

“Really? You would do that?” Gwen asked with sweet, relieved eyes. 

“Yes, don’t worry. I got this.” You encouraged her as she helped you get to your feet again as you walked over to it and inspected it and frowned at it’s flashy nature but seeing why and how it would pinch the wearer.

“Well this certainly won’t do.” You shook your head and poked your head out into the hall and whistled lowly to get Kragan’s attention as he was sitting in a nearby chair and writing something down in his notebook while he patiently waited for you to have a few moments of privacy with your other siblings.

“Yes My Love?” He asked as he practically jumped to his feet to get to the door. 

“Hey, I need you to get me something real quick. You know in my jewelry room on the ship?” You whispered as you went through your keys on your keychain to get the right one. 

“Yeah?” He asked with a quizzical brow. 

“You know how I have it color coordinated? I need you to get to the yellow section. And third drawer up from the bottom. I need you to bring me the jewelry set that’s second set from the left in that drawer, oh and use the staff staircase, it’s just through there, it’ll be quickest to the ship on the roof.” You specified as you handed him the keys he would need to get into it. 

“Yup, you got it.” He nodded and got the keys and practically disappeared down the hall after he found the door to the back staircase. 

“I love it that he just…does whatever you ask of him.” Gwen sighed dreamily. 

“Well that’s only because I would do anything I could for him too.” You smiled. 

“Ok, I need another potty break.” You admitted before she helped you to the bathroom and helped you get on the toilet without messing up your gown. 

“Serena practically uses my bladder like it’s a pegasus springboard.” You admitted as you sat there, annoyed when it was barely a spoonful of pee.

But the remark made Gwen snicker a laugh. 

“It could be worse.” Gwen tried to offer. 

“Oh? How?” You asked. 

“She could decide to break the water…” Gwen began to tease before you put your hand over her mouth to keep her from finishing that sentance. 

“Don’t even say such things out loud! I do not want to tempt fate more than I already have. Don’t you dare. I would never live it down if Serena tried to come right now and take any spotlight away from Millie.” You practically hissed as you fixed her with a sharp look. 

“It’s bad enough that my back is killing me and my feet are so swollen I can barely fit my feet into any shoes.” You admitted. 

“Here, then wear this. It’s underwear with sponges, just in case.” Gwen encouraged you. 

“Where did you get such a thing?” You asked as you looked it over. 

“I made it. Because I was worried.” She admitted. 

“Oh, you sweet thing, Yes, I love it. And yes I will wear it, just in case.” You readily agreed as you changed from the underwear you were wearing to this.

“Granted it feels like I’m wearing something of a nappy. But I do feel a bit better about this.” You admitted once you had her help you up and pull it up under you voluminous skirt, which she teased was like a proper circus tent which got you to bop her head under your skirt which only caused her to snicker a laugh even harder before there was a knock on the door as you both nearly tripped on each other to try to answer it which got you both to laugh even harder as you were grateful you were wearing it to catch the few drops of pee that escaped from the laughter as Kragan came in to see you leaning against the sink and laughing so hard, your chest was heaving and shaking while crying, while Gwen battled your layers of skirts to escape. 

“Worst circus in the world in there.” Gwen laughed once she was able to crawl out on her hands and knees before she laid on her back on the floor and hugged her middle as she laughed in delight. 

“I got so lost, I had to stop and ask your legs for directions, got turned around several times.” Gwen laughed so hard, she began to cry and streak her mascara as Kragan helped her to her feet as you helped her with her makeup. 

“Are you two ok?” He asked the two of you. 

“Yeah, we’re ok. Just…just needed a good laugh.” You waived off. 

“Ok, well I couldn’t remember which one you needed from which side so I just brought…all of them from the drawer.” Kragan admitted as he gestured to his bag. 

“Oh, sorry, I should have written it down so you didn’t have to carry all that.” You apologized. 

“No, it’s fine. Better to be safe than sorry.” He waived off before he put them down on the counter and opened them as you went and got the other one. 

“Which one do you want to trade this with?” You asked her. 

“This one?” Gwen said as she pointed to one in particular. 

“Oh, see then it’s a good thing Kragan brought the whole drawer, cause this was not the one that first came to mind.” You smiled before you helped her put it on. 

“Much better.” You cooed once you put it on her and smiled when she seemed much more comfortable. 

“Could you put these back please Dearest?” You requested of Kragan. 

“Of course.” He smiled and took the others and left you with Gwen as you were happy to sit in your old sofa, your body secretly longing for the piece of furniture. 

“I’m so happy you’re happy. This was not how I imagined you coming back home would ever look or be like.” Gwen admitted as she sat into the sofa with you and was happy to simply keep her hands on your belly to feel for kicks. 

“Me either. But I prefer it this way. Millie will finally be the star of the show, you and I will happily slink back to the shadows to keep her in the spotlight for as long as possible.” You admitted before there was a knock at the door. 

“Yes?” You and Gwen both answered at the same time. 

“It’s just me.” Samantha admitted as she slipped into the room. 

“Hey stranger. How are you?” You asked. 

“Pregnant.” Samantha blurted a bit anxiously which caused you and Gwen to snap open your eyes open and look over towards her in surprise.

“Congratulations?” You and Gwen both offered to see Samantha there looking, conflicted and  anxious but palming her belly nonetheless. 

“Yeah, um, I’m apparently 5 months along.” She admitted. 

“Ah, and you’ve only been married to Saff for three.” You realized. 

“Yeah,” she nodded with a huff. 

“Do you need to talk about it?” You asked her. 

“Well no, well, yeah, well, I don’t know. I just hugged Audrey and she congratulated me. And I didn’t know I was to be congratulated and it was just…odd and awkward and Saff wasn’t with me, he was talking to your dad on the other side of the room and I really, just…don’t want your parents to find out.” Samantha admitted. 

“I think they already knew.” Gwen offered. 

“They did?” You and Samantha both repeated. 

“Well, yeah, I think that’s how Saff got you to be his Lady without my parents putting up any kind of a fight about it. I think probably the morning after you slept together, Saffiro was already in love with you and was bound and determined to love you any way you’d let him.” Gwen ventured. 

“Oh, oh.” Samantha realized. 

“Were you really so busy that you didn’t notice you didn’t have your cycle for almost 6 months?” Gwen asked. 

“Well I mean look at me! How do I look pregnant?” Samantha asked asked as she turned to profile herself and flattened her dress over her belly which was remarkably still trim. 

“It’s possible that you’re in such good shape that the baby has just moved upward rather than outward.” You offered. 

“Well, yeah, I guess.” Samantha had to nod in agreement. 

“I just…I just don’t want this to take away from that.” Samantha said as she gestured to herself then gestured to the door. 

“I don’t either. I don’t think it will. If you’ve kept mum about it until now, another week or two won’t kill you or hurt anything.” You offered. 

“And if you’re really worried about the timing, you could always go back to Fitsdale, and no one will pay any mind if you come back in several months with a baby. And no one will remember to compare the dates or anything.” You added. 

“Yes, that would solve the dilemma quite well, plus you’ve been quite homesick for Fitsdale anyway.” Gwen added. 

“But what about you?” Samantha asked Gwen. 

“Oh I’ll be just fine. I’m staying with Tessa for the next few months anyway to help with Serena.” Gwen smiled happily. 

“Do you really need the help?” Samantha asked you. 

“No, but Gwen needs the escape after today.” You shrugged. 

“Well, when you’re done, then you can come and stay with me if you need to.” Samantha offered. 

“Thanks.” Gwen smiled happily. 

“Oh speaking of today, did you need help with Mrs. DeWinters and Mrs Danvers?” You asked. 

“Yes.” Gwen all but whimpered. 

“Girl, I got you.” Samantha offered before she turned on her heel and left, and passed your Mamah as she did so. 

“Oh there you are my Darlings.” Your Mamah cooed as she came in. 

“Your dance cards for the evening.” She offered to Gwen as she handed Gwen her already filled out dance cards for the reception. 

“Mamah…” Gwen whined when she saw that the first two pages were just prince after prince.

“Oh hush. Besides Millie, you’re Belle of the ball tonight, you’ve only been promised to dance. You haven’t been betrothed yet.” Your mother rebuffed her before you took it and looked it over and just shook your head. 

“I hate to remind you of this Dearest, but it is only for tonight. This is your last act as filial loyalty of your last night here at home. I promise it’ll be over before you know it. And besides, Prince…” You began as you told her about the princes you’d already met and knew of. 

“See? Even Tessa approves, so you must follow through. You’ve been well prepared. After Millie says her vows, it will be your time to shine.” She admonished Gwen. 

“She’ll be ready Mamah.” You reassured her. 

“Good, listen to your sister in this regard.” Your mother urged Gwen before she left. 

“You’ll shine like a firefly in a field. Only a glimmer before you disappear into the darkness.” You murmured to her once your mother left. 

“Promise?” She pleaded. 

“Promise.” You reassured her before Samantha came back with “reinforcements”. 

“I have someone I want you to meet. This is Lieutenant Lucas Hampton. He will be your forest through the trees. He has two more sentinels that are out in the hallway. And this is Ashurah’s sister Ashanti. She knows, literally every language everyone else will be speaking tonight and she will also probably know everyone else there tonight as well.” Samantha proudly proclaimed. 

“And the sentinels will give Mrs. Danvers and Mrs. DeWinters a run for their money.” Samantha added. 

“Hi, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Gwen offered to Ashanti first. 

“A pleasure to meet you too.” Ashanti smiled as they shook hands. 

“At your service your Ladyship.” Lucas offered as he bowed and kissed her hand as Gwen grew bashful but allowed it. 

“Thank you for coming Lucas.” She smiled happily. 

“Do you two know each other?” Samantha asked. 

“Yeah, Lucas answered the messengerari when I called Tessa the other day when she was busy with her other call and kept me company while I waited for Tess to finish with the other person. That’s all.” Gwen immediately offered. 

“Thanks for doing this Lucas.” You smiled at him. 

“I’m happy to be of service.” Lucas smiled happily. 

“Would you know who these people are?” Gwen asked Ashanti as she handed her dance book over to Ashanti once she got her hand back from Lucas and tried to focus on Ashanti rather than Lucas’ rugged good looks and charm. 

“Oh yes,” Ashanti nodded before she began to go though them all, one by one, giving Gwen a small rundown of them all. 

“Oh thank all the gods you know who they are.” Gwen blew out a breath of relief. 

“They are princes who court Dorierran brides, of course I know them.” Ashanti chuckled. 

“Oh really?” Gwen blinked in surprise. 

“Oh yes.” Ashanti nodded. 

“My parents are expecting her to shine like a jewel in a crown. If you could help her glow more like a firefly in a field, only to appear for a moment and then disappear again until she needs to glow again, that would be most appreciated.” You offered from the couch. 

“Yes please.” Gwen nodded in agreement. 

“Understood.” Lucas nodded in agreement as you couldn’t help but grin a little to see Gwen looked relieved that they understood before Kragan came back. 

“Hey, so this is where you pulled him to.” Kragan noted to Samantha as he nodded over to Lucas. 

“Yup.” Samantha beamed proudly before Kragan came over to you. 

“No, I’m one with this couch.” You mock complained before you dissolved into giggles as you hid your hands under your arms to keep him from pulling you to your feet.

“Do I need to have this couch moved with you on it?” Kragan asked as he laughed with you and gestured to you. 

“Yes. I forgot how much I missed this couch.” You admitted. 

“I can have it moved to your ship.” Gwen offered. 

“No, it’s your couch, I have others. I just…have a lot of sentimental attachments to it, that’s all.” 

“Like your desk, yeah I get it.” Kragan nodded. 

“Come on, up, it’s about time to start making our way down there. With as slow as you’ve been moving we have to go now to get there in time. Plus there’s like five bathrooms between here and there that I’m sure you’ll want to hit.” Kragan urged you.

“Including this one.” You agreed as you let him pull you to your feet again and help you back to the bathroom. 

“Plus I got you this. From Grandma Agnes.” He whispered as he handed you a flask. 

“What is it?” You asked. 

“She said it was a fortifying bone broth, to help you through today and keep Serena from coming today.” He offered. 

“Oh thank the heavens.” You breathed as you took it and chugged it. 

“Oh it’s really good too.” You admitted between long pulls before you practically had to pee all over again once you finished drinking it. 

“Can you get more of that?” You asked him. 

“Oh you mean like this?” He said as he traded flasks with you. 

“Yes please.” You readily traded the empty one for the full one and drank that one down too. 

“Refill those and come back to me ok? I think I have to poop now.” You admitted. 

“Ok.” Kragan chuckled and kissed you sweetly before he did just that. 

“Are you ok?” Gwen asked as she slipped into the bathroom once Kragan left. 

“Yeah, just Serena doesn’t like my bladder to have more than a thimble of pee in it, or else it encroaches on her space.” You chuckled as you cleaned and wiped yourself up before she helped you back to your feet and helped you wash your hands. 

“Is Lucas going to be ok? Or do I need to change him out?” You whispered. 

“No. He’ll be fine. It’s just..why does Kragan always have the most handsome guys as his friends? How am I supposed to dance with princes when I have Mr. Dashing nearby?” Gwen breathed in a whisper. 

“I don’t know. Is it too much of a temptation?” You asked. 

“No. No, please don’t take him from me. It’s so wonderful to have someone I already have a rapport with rather than a stranger.” She readily offered. 

“Ok. I’ll keep Mamah and Papah preoccupied so that, should any of those people not show up to dance with you, you might have Lucas stand in instead. And I could always dump whatever drink I’m drinking on it too.” You offered. 

“Now that’s too tempting.” Gwen giggled softly. 

“Ok.” You smiled before you got out of the bathroom and into her rooms to see your couch missing. 

“Where did it go?” You asked. 

“I had Lucas and Kragan take it your ship. You need your couch.” Gwen smiled victoriously. 

“Oh my goodness, that’s ridiculous.” You laughed before they were back momentarily and Kragan took you while Lucas escorted Gwen to the site of the ceremony where your parents were already there at the front and receiving the guests who were streaming in as you were grateful to get to sit down in the cushioned seat and sit beside Gwen while Kragan and Lucas stood off to the side to talk while others seemed to come to you and come around you and chat before others came and soon the church was stuffed to the brim. 

“Hello again Father Edward.” You cooed to the priest who had only, not that long ago, performed the wedding ceremony for you. 

“Hello, it’s always a pleasure to see you again my Daughter. I see the gods have been very good to you and answered many prayers.” He happily said as he leaned over to kiss your forehead after taking your hand and squeezing it. 

“Yes they have, they’ve been extraordinary in their answers.” Kragan offered as he reappeared beside you to see Father Edward again.

“Oh, look at the pair of you, so happy and healthy and expecting a girl I understand?” He asked. 

“Yes, can we still count on you for the baptism?” Kragan asked. 

“Of course, of course. Are you still settled on the name?” Father Edward asked. 

“Yes, Adorabella Seraphina Magdelainluna.” Kragan repeated, his daughter’s name rolling off his tongue with all the love and pride that yours usually did. 

“Oh, such a beautiful name, surely she will be just as beautiful as her mother.” Father Edward praised. 

“Both inside and out.” Kragan smiled with a nod as you reached up over your shoulder to squeeze his hand that had settled on your shoulder as you looked up at him proudly. 

“Of course.” Father Edward agreed before Serena kicked to hear Kragan’s voice again before you broke out into a laugh before Father Edward leaned and touched your belly. 

“She is most fond of her father’s voice.” You explained. 

“Of course, children usually are, both in the flesh, and in the heavens.” Father Edward cooed as he happily felt Serena’s kicks and squirms. 

“I pray she does not come today of all days though.” Father Edward quietly whispered. 

“Us too.” You whispered back as you smiled and crinkled your nose. 

“Well, I must excuse myself, it seems the Holy Pontifix needs reminding of who he is marrying today.” Father Edward murmured to see the Holy Pontefix already out and almost staggering as he shuffled his feet in his holy robes as you and Kragan both gave each other a meaningful look before he came around and sat beside you. 

“In case anyone wonders that such an office should come with an age limit.” Kragan breathed in your ear as you did your best to stifle a snickering laugh, lest you practically be smited in this temple. 

“Stop, you’ll get us smited.” You urged him before the Holy Pontefix came over and you had Kragan help you to your feet o receive him as respectfully as you could. 

“Oh, the holy Serephina, the angels themselves guard her, the lovely Serephina, she comes.” He praised as he came over and gestured to your belly. 

“Thank you, Your Holiness.” You thanked him as your cheeks flushed. 

“Yes, yes, she comes soon. Make ready for her.” He urged you. 

“Of course, we stay at the ready.” Kragan tried to offer. 

“Yes, yes, she comes to you with blessings and good tidings. And she does not come alone.” He said. 

“Excuse me?” You asked, the smallest bit of worry coming from your tone. 

“She does not come alone. Many others there are here.” He said as he gestured to the other ladies who were pregnant as you smiled in understanding. 

“Yes, it is the season for new life to bloom in the cold of winter.” You offered. 

“To hurry spring.” He nodded in agreement before he turned and wandered back to the front before you and Kragan looked at each other curiously before you sat down again. 

“There should only be one of you in there.” You murmured to your belly. 

“If there was two, Audrey and Sarah and Agnes would have seen them.” Kragan reminded you. 

“I know, it’s just…why would he say that?” You asked. 

“He’s old and senile.” Kragan excused. 

“It feels like it’s more than that.” You shook your head as you went to push in on Serena to make sure she was head down and in position. 

“My Love, please don’t get yourself worked up over this. It’s just Serena in there, don’t let his comment get to you. He just noticed you were pregnant as is just about every other woman in here today.” Kragan murmured. 

“Including Samantha.” You murmured under your breath back at him. 

“She’s what?” Kragan blinked. 

“Don’t say anything, she just found out herself today and doesn’t want anyone else to know or detract from Millie’s attention today.” You whispered to him. 

“Well, I mean, it’s not a surprise, they’ve been married for a few months now.” Kragan breathed as he turned towards you and wrapped his arm around your shoulders and held your hand and squeezed it reassuringly. 

“The pregnancy is older than the marriage.” You breathed as you looked around you to make sure no one else overheard you. 

“Well, that doesn’t surprise me either.” He admitted. 

“No, me either, just…the poor thing is worried sick about my parent’s reaction and wants to go back to Fitsdale.” You revealed. 

“Nah, I think she’ll be fine. I don’t think anyone will notice or care.” Kragan shrugged off. 

“Except for the people who matter the most to her.” You gently argued. 

“I’m sure it’ll be fine. Again, you have Serena to worry about it. And she’s more than enough as she is.” Kragan gently contested. 

“True.” You had to admit. 

“It’ll be ok. Everything will work out. You just have to trust that it will. Serena will come when she’s ready and if she’s anything like you, she’ll be well worth the wait. And she’ll be perfect, just the way she is and just like you are.” Kragan reassured you. 

“Please don’t let the Fates be listening to you and think that you’re challenging them.” You offered in a teasing soft laugh as you looked up towards the ceiling and took a cleansing breath as you tried not to let Kragan’s sweet words render you to sweet tears that he clearly loved you and loved Serena so completely. 

“No, of course not.” Kragan murmured with a soft smile before more and more people came into the temple and you got a new flood of visitors at your seat before the wedding was announced to begin to commence so that others could get their seats while you were happy to have Gwen on one side of you and Kragan on the other as Ron took his stand up at the front with His Holiness and the other priests, cardinals and bishops as you had never been so happy that he was not your groom as you locked eyes with him for a small eternity. 

‘Thank you.’ He mouthed to you gratefully from his spot. 

‘Thank you.’ You mouthed back to him as the two of you smiled fondly at each other before the wedding procession came down the aisle and your attention, as well as everyone else’s went to the gaggle of flower girls, practically looking like little angels as they practically floated down the aisle and tossed flower petals all around. 

Then all of Millie’s 30- bridesmaids and her three maids of honor as you fought not to roll your eyes. 

And then when it was Millie’s turn, you and the others stood and in that moment you could only smile pleasantly as Millie walked at a glacial pace, soaking up every single second of this. 

And Millie did look like- the picture perfect bride. The perfect tiara, the perfect hair, the perfect face and cosmetics, the perfect skin, the perfect jewelry, the perfect dress, the perfect gloves and slippers and just..everything was almost uncannily perfect and you wondered if the more magic heavy guests were perhaps adding glamors and magic charm to her and her appearance. Her train followed for good twenty paces behind her, heavy with embroidery, fur and jewels. 

But for you, to look over and see Ron crying a few glistening tears as you had never seen him smile so brightly and happily before. 

You were sure he had never been as happy at the birth of his own bastards and you could only shake your head and look at the ceiling to keep your own tears from flooding your vision at the thought of how they must have been locked up for such an event as this, surly to be kept from making a scene to detract from the occasion. 

You all sat down as Millie then knelt in front of His Holiness with Ron at the altar. 

“I thought Serena was going to be born and baptized before Millie made it down that aisle.” Kragan muttered to you as you elbowed his side as Gwen and Lucas snickered a laugh. 

“Me too!” Gwen whispered. 

“Both of you hush.” You shushed them with warning looks, but not missing how Lucas slipped his fingers in with Gwen’s, as Gwen’s cheeks flushed prettily as you began to wonder just how…friendly those two had gotten since they first “accidentally” made each other’s aquaintances only a few months prior. 

But you let it go and put a serene smile on your schooled features. 

You could have sworn your parents paid the Temple ten years worth of tribute for this service to end all services that rivaled every high holiday all rolled into one. You looked over to see many start to lose interest and grow bored as even a few grew tired as the sun set in the windows, coloring the temple in color from the stained glass windows as His Holiness used the best versions of the holy texts for this service as the choirs had to be changed out five times to keep the poor children who were singing various hymns during the service from losing their voices all together. And you were ever so grateful for that broth because you could hear more than a hundred stomachs begin to growl all around you. 

It wasn’t until the first one fell asleep and began to snore that the entire congregation looked over and all but snickered at the poor soul that got jolted awake that they finally got a move on for the service itself and when the children’s choir got the addition of the adults that you had any hope that this was going to end at a merciful hour before they finally got to the vows and finally got to kiss and be proclaimed man and wife and you had never been so happy to stand and clap as the certificate was signed and sealed as it seemed the entire temple breathed a sigh of relief that it was finally over. 

You went with Kragan to the skyport and were ever relieved when everything was right on time and perfectly timed so that the moment the guests flooded in, they were greeted by an army of servers with all kinds of trays of little bites to eat while “grazing” tables were featured throughout from foods from all over the world that many of the guests appreciated to get a bite of familiar food and get a chance to converse with others. 

You could see Samantha was still working, closing as many deals as she could, while she could. You were sure she had a messengerari in her holy book to keep doing business while she was in the temple itself, as were most of the royals in attendance as you were relieved to simply, once again, sit at the table and have just about every single waiter or waitress offer you what they had while Kragan was happy to finally get something to eat himself, because you had heard his stomach growl the most and the loudest through the whole service. 

“I seriously thought Serena was going to be born and baptized, maybe learn to walk and talk by the time Millie made it down that damn aisle.” Kragan muttered as you snorted a laugh. 

“Me too. But I dare not say such things and tempt Fate any more than I already have.” You admitted as you were happy to practically gorge yourself on the offerings. 

“Ooh, grab a few more of these for me.” You urged him. 

“Yeah, on it.” He nodded and made a whistle call and every single server within earshot flocked back to you as you blushed but gratefully took it as you apologized for the loud call, but they were all happy to oblige and soon your own plate was piled high with a bit of everything before Lucas brought Gwen back to the table, with a heaping plate himself before he slipped half the food from his plate, to hers, since it was clear she was trying to only get “appropriate” amounts. 

“Ooh, that looks good. Where’d you get that?” Kragan asked. 

“Oh, that one.” Lucas answered. 

“Here, come with me.” Kragan nodded over to it. 

“So how long have you and Lucas been talking?” You asked Gwen before she looked at her plate guiltily. 

“Not long.” She shook her head no. 

“Yes, I promise.” You reassured her. 

“Dearest. I’m not trying to pry or probe, and I’m not judging you on the matter. It’s just that I’ve noticed there is a familiarity between you, is all. However, if you wish to claim that I proposed Lucas be your companion for the evening and that Lucas was someone I trusted in that respect, I can. I just need to know what and how to answer our parents- when they ask. And they will ask. I just need to know the answer so that our answers match and you do not get any grief over it.” You murmured to her.

“Promise you won’t get upset?” She asked. 

“He picked up the call and talked to me a few months ago when I called you about my job. And from there we’ve just…talked.” Gwen admitted. 

“How often?” You asked carefully. 

“As often as I can get away with.” Gwen confessed. 

“Which is why you’ve called the messengerari in that lounge instead of my usual one in my room.” You realized. 

“Yeah. But we haven’t talked about anything inappropriate or anything untoward.” She insisted. 

“And I would have thought being with him in person would have been odd or uncomfortable, but quite the opposite, it’s been, like I can face every prince in here down and play this stupid part Millie and our parents have demanded of me, but only as long as he’s with me. And Samantha, of course, has been covering for me and letting me steal every moment I can away until today and I was dreading even leaving my room, until he came in.” Gwen confessed. 

“Oh dear, Mamah is coming, please, please don’t say anything.” Gwen begged. 

“Of course not. Don’t worry about it. You just need to play your part tonight ok? Focus on Mamah’s list, remember, they all have to share you tonight. But for every day after today, it’s you and Lucas with me and Kragan on a ship around the world.” You reminded her. 

“I know, I can’t wait.” Gwen smiled. 

“My Darlings.” Your Mamah smiled pleasantly. 

“Gwendowlyn, I need you to go and speak to the Prime Minister and his wife, and in particular their son who is by the fruit table.” She urged as she gestured over to them. 

“Yes Mamah.” Gwen sighed in defeat and got up and obediently walked over as you slid Gwen’s plate next to yours.

“Oh, I see, using Gwen’s plate to satisfy your own hunger?” Your mother noted with a look of relief. 

“Yes, Serena’s hunger grows just as much as she does. I bid her to lave my womb to satisfy it -herself, on every day but today.” You maintained. 

“Oh good, so who is this young man you have with Gwendolyn?” She asked. 

“Won’t you have a seat Mamah?” You invited. 

“I believe I will.” She said before she sat down in the seat Gwendolyn just vacated. 

“He is a member of my security team. The necklace she is wearing, is one of mine, it was given to me by the Raj Mahal of Shrivanka. Because the necklace given to her for today had shoddy workmanship and was pinching her skin and was very uncomfortable, so I am letting her borrow mine, with the understanding that she is to be guarded and keep the jewels safe. Because the Raj is very generous but does wish for the jewels he gives to others the same care they would receive should they stay in his royal treasury. So I asked my most trusted body guard to guard her, because she is one, the second most precious woman here tonight, besides Millie herself. But also, because she just happens to be wearing the largest yellow diamond in the world that is currently known.” You explained nonchalantly.

“Oh! So who is he beyond that?” She asked. 

“His name is Lucas Hampton, he is a Lieutenant Commander of my guard on my ship. Today is the first day they’ve ever been in each other’s company. But the only reason why she knows him at all is because of how close I keep him with me usually. And I do not take Gwendolyn’s safety lightly. Since, not only will she be the belle of the ball besides Millie tonight, but I need to make sure that all of those princes you’ve lined up, get the best Gwen for the few moments they do get to have her. I would not put anyone who I did not implicitly trust with my own life, with her. I know how precious and important she is, especially today of all days. She needs to feel calm and she needs to feel safe. She can not feel like a lamb in a den of wolves, which this assembly very much can turn into at a moment’s notice.” You reassured your Mamah. 

“I do not leave anything to chance any more Mamah.” You added as the two of you watched as Lucas seemed to find Gwendolyn again and simply escort her around the room as she simply double checked her dance cards for the evening. 

“And those two?” She asked as she noticed the sentinels that seemed to shadow Gwen and Lucas. 

“That is Brick and Mortar. The two most terrifyingly impressive body guards I have. But if you look closely, there are six more, not too far away. Meant to blend in and meant to be the forest through the trees. And then of course, there is the mouse.” You hinted. 

“Mouse? What mouse?” Your mother asked as she leaned over towards you as you leaned towards her in turn. 

“Duchess Ashanti. She is the younger sister to Grand Duchess Ashurah. She is there to serve as Gwen’s translator. And because she is Dorierran, she knows each and every single person you put on Gwen’s dance card tonight and will help Gwen transition from prince to prince with ease. And she will remember anything and everything that is said both to and around Gwendolyn.” You reassured her. 

“I see, a mouse, meant to listen in and not really be seen until it squeaks.” Your mother grinned proudly. 

“Exactly. So you see mother, everything is taken care of and you have already gotten Millie and myself to the altar in a single season. I dare say, Gwen may well be meeting her future husband tonight. And what a pool she has to pull from. But don’t put all your eggs in Gwen’s basket, You still have two more sons too now.” You recalled. 

“Well if Gwen is practically all of taken care of, then I believe you are right, I believe I should be focusing on your other brothers, for they have the same magnificent pool too.” Your mother nodded her agreement. 

“Happy to see that Serena did not see that she needed to crash the party either.” She cooed with a pat to your belly before she got up and walked back to your father to give him the answer she just got from you. 

“You shouldn’t have stuck your neck out like that for Lucas.” Kragan remarked as he came up and sat down in his seat next to you. 

“I didn’t do it for him. I did it for Gwen. I can only hope he will not betray such a confidence.” You offered somberly. 

“He won’t, I made sure to explain things to him as I walked with him around the various food tables.” Kragan offered. 

“Thank you.” You thanked him. 

“Don’t thank me yet. We still have the rest of the evening to get through.” He admitted. 

“True.” You nodded. 

“My Lord and Lady, the bride and groom have arrived.” A servant informed you as you had Kragan help you to your feet once again as you stood and made ready to applaud their entrance. 

Ron and Millie looked like a crown prince and princess becoming king and queen the way they entered the large banquet hall and took their seats at the head table at the banquet and you had never seen them so happy to sit so high above everyone else as everyone else got their seats as the banquet was then immediately served. 

“So what did you tell Mamah?” Gwen whispered to you as she took her seat beside you once again. 

“That the necklace you’re wearing is very valuable, and that it needed its own security guard and I put one my most trusted with it and you.” You explained as you ate the first course. 

“Is it really?” She asked. 

“Eh,” you shrugged nonchalantly. 

“Well, I shall act accordingly.” Gwen assured you. 

“You already do. It’s fine.” You reassured her in turn. 

You got through the dinner and it was time for toasts. And to see and hear Millie’s friends basically kiss her ass and Ron’s ass and go on and on about the ‘star crossed soul mates’ and even read “poetry” which was a very loose term to apply to such prose. 

“Thank you.” Kragan began to say to you. 

“For what?” You whispered back to him. 

“For not wanting our wedding to be anything like this. They are gilding the lily and the baby’s breath with all of this. This is practically torture for it’s overly sweet syrupy sappyness that will rot every tooth I have out of my head, and practically rot my brain out.” He complained. 

“Well, in that case, thank you My Love for giving me a perfect wedding. I thought ours was perfectly dignified, still sweet and happy but there was a somber seriousness that suited the occasion. And it really only had the people we cared the most about in attendance. This is just pandering for the sake of pandering.” You replied. 

“Exactly. It’s all theatrics, it’s incredibly insincere. Ours was at least sincere and heartfelt and genuine.” Kragan appraised. 

“And intimate.” You waggled your eyebrows with a grin at him. 

“Oh, don’t start that now, or I’ll just go fully feral and throw you over my shoulder and haul you off if you start talking much more like that.” Kragan warned you. 

“Mmm. Good to know.” You cooed licentiously until you heard your name and snapped your attention to Ron who had stood to give a toast…to you. 

“I won’t make you stand, for you are quite heavy with child, and you’ve been made to get up and down quite enough today.” Ron said as he gestured to you as you flushed when it seemed everyone turned their attention to you as you grabbed Kragan’s hand under the table. 

“As I’m sure all those in Solowardian society know, but for those who do not. I had actually been betrothed since birth to Her Radiance Contessina Salgria since infancy, something I fought most viciously against, because, I knew in my bones that it was not the right match for me. And one that Contessina also knew was not right for her. For we were much more suited to be siblings than fiances. And then His Radiance Kragan Salgria came calling on my beloved and Contessina, being the practically all wise and all knowing genius she is, instantly knew that she and My Beloved had been mismatched, and proposed to switch. I know the gods themselves blessed her and her intuition in this regard. And from there, everything fell perfectly into place. For the gods themselves knew she was capable of so much more than I could ever fathom. Just look around us tonight. Only a genius is capable of envisioning such splendor. And only Kragan could have recognized such brilliance and given her the entire supersphere as her oyster to create such a wonder. But none of this would have been possible, if Contessina had not insisted that she switch. And it was that one, pivotal, yet perfect change that brought all of this about. I couldn’t be happier with her foresight, her forethought and her courage to change something she knew was set wrong at first glance. So I urge you all, to consider this- women are rational and wise, beautiful and intelligent, and that if only they are given the chance to choose for themselves what is best for them, that the world will be better for it. Which is why, from this moment on, The Order of Radiance, will be the only thing that brings law and order to myself and my family.” Ron announced before everyone erupted into thunderous applause as you looked over at Ron to see him giving you a standing ovation before you stood and simply curtsied and sat down to bring an end to this before it was Millie’s turn to give a toast as Kragan immediately reached for his other flask that had a very good brandy in it and spiked his wine cup with it. 

“I too would like to thank my sister for the switch she made at the beginning of the year. For such a switch has brought us all entire lifetimes of happiness. And I would also like to thank…” She began as she brought her ‘list’ for those who gifted her various things just to get an invitation as she made sure to practically spell out who gave what as she publicly thanked them for their generosity which appeased everyone else. While also bringing looks of approval and small sets of applause to all the other royals in attendance. 

Then it was Kragan’s turn to give his “toast” and most importantly, his “gift” to the couple, being his skyships. 

“I would also like to start this with a toast to my wife, who was the inspiration for the greatest ships I have ever had the honor and privilege of designing. On our wedding day I awoke early to a vision of a skyship that had no equal in beauty, sophistication and supreme sailing ability. And would take to the twelve winds as easily as any bird takes to soaring in the skies. The first ship I designed was the Contessina Originalle. From there, over two dozen designs ranging in size from a lightning rider, to the largest airship to ever take to the skies to date- came to be. And it is my privilege to unveil the entire line up. Starting first with Contessina De Minor.” He said as he made a gesture and the first ship sailed around the skyport as applause broke out among the guests to see them. 

“Then the Contessina Honorable`.” Kragan announced as the next flew around. 

“The Contessina Exuberance`.” Kragan continued. 

“The Contessina Champione`." 

“The Contessina Emaculente’.” 

“The Contessina Brilliance`.” 

“The Contessina Originalle`, which is the original design.” He specified. 

“The Contessina Especial.” 

“The Contessina Valiance`.” 

“The Contessina Celebrante`." 

“The Contessina Courageousa`.” 

“The Contessina De Faithful.”  

“The Contessina De Truth.” 

“The Contessina Illumina.” 

“The Contessina Jubilea`.” 

“The Contessina Excellence`.” 

“The Contessina Superiore`.” 

“The Contessina Extraordinaire`.” 

“The Contessina De Jewel.” 

“The Contessina Opulence`.” 

“The Contessina Adorabella.” 

“The Contessina Magdalena Luna.” 

“The Contessina Serephina.” 

“The Contessina De. Crowne De Jewele`.” 

“The Conessina Ethereal.” 

“And last, but certainly not least. The Contessina De Magnifica!” Kragan beamed as the largest and grandest ship of all flew around as everyone else got to their feet to give a standing applause before Kragan walked over and presented the key to Millie and Ron’s ship to them before he presented the key to the Magifica to their Majesties. Knowing that they had already had to make good on their “downpayment” for their ship. And knowing that he all be owned the very National Bank that was financing such an expenditure. 

“Enjoy.” Kragan smiled like ‘fuck you’ was written on his teeth as he was sure this was the hopefully the last time he would ever have to see them face to face before he strutted back to his spot just as the ships docked with the very large platform, it being just big enough that a ship could dock with each part of the platform. 

Millie and Ron quickly cut their cake and did one dance before they opened the doors to the ships so that they and their guests could get a first hand experience with their ships as you were happy to simply sit in their ship’s main salon after using the bathroom so that they could get the grand tour from the butler they had stationed on the ship. 

“Are you happy with it?” You asked once they reappeared and came back to you. 

“Yes!” Millie giddily squealed as she hugged you tightly. 

“I’m so happy you’re happy. Enjoy.” You bid them before they went back to their wedding and you and Kragan slipped away to your own vessel that flew by just long enough for you to get on board and then float away, sailing just above it all as you and Kragan just looked down at it all before a familiar song began to play. 

“Oh, remember? This was the first dance we ever danced with each other at my parent’s ball.” You recalled. 

“I do. Can I have this dance?” He asked before you giggled but took his hand and danced the same dance again, granted, a bit differently because you were now pregnant and couldn’t quite hop and your steps didn’t have the same spring in them. 

“What?” You asked him as he danced with you on the deck of your ship. 

“I’m just realizing how everything is the same yet everything is different. I still felt out of place and awkward, the same way I always felt on Solowardian soil., but a lot less intensely this time. But because I had you with me. It was like, nothing else mattered and that it didn’t matter if I was in crowd that felt innumerable, all that mattered was you and me. And that you are dancing with me, and how after I met you, I knew I didn’t want to dance, or even get to know or be intimate with anyone else other than you. And that has never changed and probably will never change.” Kragan explained. 

“Aww, I feel the same way. I don’t care what anyone else thinks or feels about me or you or us. The only good opinion I need is yours. And as long as you love me and our daughter, and care for me and her too, nothing else matters. Just us and her.” You fawned as you slowed your steps to simply walk in circles, shoulder to shoulder with him before he moved and just began to dance how the music was moving him to, which felt much more natural and happier, having you practically chest to chest and belly to belly but moving gracefully across the boards of the deck, as if they were any other ballroom floor. 

“Always and forever.” Kragan readily reassured you before the song ended and you paused to simply hug each other as the stars were coming out to glitter in the sky the way diamonds did when cast over a sheet of inky blue velvet. You kissed him sweetly but soundly all the same. Before that kiss quickly morphed from sweet, to sensual to needy as Kragan was happy and eager to get you inside and away from any prying eyes to disrobe you and make love to you on the very same couch from your old room. 

“Finally, the sex I always wanted to have on this couch with the one person I was always meant to have it with.” You cooed as you laid back into your favorite spot as Kragan carefully laid over you to kiss you before he leaned back up to pillow your bottom up so that his pelvis met yours just right as you breathed in relief to finally be rejoined with him. To be free of all constraints of jewel and gown and undergarment. Where it was just his body and yours, coming together as one flesh, where if it had not been for the contrast of skin color, it would otherwise be quite hard to tell where he started and you ended. Your pleasured cry of bliss was the most beautiful music to Kragan’s ears as his own grunt and small roar of your name from his lips was your favorite sound in the world.

[drakor127]

Oblivio the Fright Knight

Design is Abel's Hazbin Hotel design by saffiro on YouTube.

Facts (Headcanons):

Models his armor after Abel's warrior suit, only without the golden wings and more of a silverish color and without the halo.

Seeks to spread what he calls joy through the omniverse and have everyone worship him as their god.

Treats his minions as his flock, doting on them.

He huffs Red Smoke to keep himself sane (to some standard).

He gets dragged to his wits end by some of the antics his loyal servants get up to, but admits that they're.........an odd case of endearing (read: he'd fight and personally shank anyone who makes his servants scared.)

He.....SOMEHOW...... became the patron saint of malice, destruction, and heavy metal among the fanatics who worship A.T.L.A.N.T.I.S, and the top god.

His cultists see him and his minions as angels of freedom and the day they pass by a universe is openly celebrated. None of this is kept a secret, after all, the prevailing view among A.T.L.A.T.I.S. fanatics is that they're bad, sure, but they're having fun. And if you are having fun, then you have nothing to hide, so why feel guilty?

He loves cotton candy, not for any particular reason, just the fact that it tastes good and is like a fluffy cloud.

His greatest devotees are the Seraphim, based off @onyxonline's designs of the Space Riders AU Nightmare Critters, who he treats as his feral children.

Similar to IMP, many crooks (through the proper underground channels) can request A.T.L.A.N.T.I.S to target the people who ruined their career (like police, judges, witnesses, even the corrupt ones and children aren't safe). And like CHERUB, A.T.L.A.N.T.I.S doesn't charge a fee for this (although donations are nice!). They'll do their best to land a fatality on the crook's behalf and if they are unable to, well, there is always next try. They've got a backlog to go through. Thankfully, Babalon (the one looking like Baba Chops) handles all of that bureaucratic stuff and really help keep the team together. But you can't underestimate her, she is the 2nd in command for a reason.

[miragexc]

@buttercup1993 eraa chica del corazón Saffiro? 🙈

AJAJAJAJA NI YO ME ACORDABA DE ESOBXD AJAJAJ SI ELLA

[mammoth34]

🚘#toyota #30アルファード ❂#レオニスグレイラ 20×8.5J+35 114.3-5H #saffiro #sf5000 245/40R20 #マンモス #パーツショップマンモス #タイヤホイール #名古屋タイヤホイール #名古屋中古タイヤ #名古屋タイヤ交換 #インチアップ #20インチ #アルファード #ヴェルファイア #ウェッズ #weds #レオニス #レオニスグレイラβ #アルファード好きと繋がりたい #ヴェルファイア好きと繋がりたい (パーツショップマンモス) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_9SJYQDWS_/?igshid=33wikfik7nnt

[ochoislas]

LAS GARROFAS

Septiembre, maduraron las garrofas. Ya por el mar caliente de Cilicia gobiernas desde la ribera cipria panzuda jábega de velas cuadras. Bonanza y ni una nube en el zafiro.

De cuatro paños mayores la zambra, falucho o caique, leños levantinos colmos de vainas dulces y encobradas, gobiernas hacia la isla de los sardos. Y olor traes contigo de miel fosca.

La silicua —que engorda la muleta de fino amblar o en carestía sacia villanaje de blanca dentadura— reluce como tus cabellos zainos cuando en la cofa vas encaramado.

De cierto están con óleo de sésamo ungidos tus mechones pampanosos. De cierto en ti despierta la lisura del mar cilicio el cántico olvidado que Cíprida gozaba en Amatonte.

¡Septiembre, donde sea, estar contigo!

*

LE CARRUBE

Settembre, son mature le carrube. Or tu pel caldo mare di Cilicia conduci dalla riva cipriota la sàica a scafo tondo e a vele quadre. Bonaccia, e nel saffiro non è nube.

Germa con sue maggiori quattro vele, garbo o schirazzo, legni levantini carichi di baccelli dolci e bruni conduci verso l’isola dei Sardi. E vien teco un odor di tetro miele.

La siliqua, che ingrassa la muletta dall’ambio lene e in carestìa disfama la plebe dalla bianca dentatura, lustra come i capelli tuoi castagni mentre stai su la coffa alla vedetta.

Certo, d’olio di sèsamo son unte quelle tue ciocche in forma di corimbi. Certo, ritrovi or tu nel gran dolciore del Mar Cilicio l’obliato carme che alla Cipride piacque in Amatunte.

Settembre, teco esser vorremmo ovunque!

Gabriele d’Annunzio

di-versión©ochoislas

[korkep-blog]

"Készüljenek a legrosszabbra" - figyelmeztették a hatóságok Florida és Észak-Karolina államok lakosait

Két hurrikán is célba vette az USA keleti partvidékét

Az Egyesült Államok keleti partvidéke felé közeleg a Florence hurrikán, amely ma négyesről ötös fokozatúra erősödött a Saffiro-Simpson skálán. A veszélyeztetett térségből már elkezdődtek az első kitelepítések. És ha ez nem lenne elég, egy másik hurrikán is közeleg az amerikai partokhoz, az Isaac.

  A Florence várhatóan 195 kilométer/órás széllel csap majd le az észak-amerikai kontinensre napokon belül.

  A hatóságok Florida és Észak-Karolina államokban figyelmeztették a lakosokat, hogy „számítsanak a legrosszabbra”. Hatalmas károkra számítanak a termésben é az infrastruktúrában.

  Az Isaac ehhez képest némileg mérsékeltebbnek tűnik egyelőre. Jelenleg 120 km/órás széllökéseket produkál, ám a kontinenshez érve valószínűleg fokozódni fog ereje.

  HNonline.sk

Nyitókép: HNonline.sk

[itallija7212-blog]

Итальянские имена "S"

https://italyproject.ru/vitaitaliana_nomiitaliani_s/ Итальянские имена "S"

Мужские итальянские имена Женские итальянские имена Sabato Sabazio Sabele Sabino Saffiro Saffo Saladino Salomè Salomone Salustio Salvatore Salvo Samuele Sandro Sansone Sante Santo Sapiente Sarbello Saturniano Saturnino Saul Saverio Savino Sebastiano Secondiano Secondo Semiramide Semplicio Sempronio Senesio Senofonte Serafino Serapione Sergio Servidio Serviliano Sesto Settimio Settimo Severiano Severino Severo Sico Sicuro Sidonio Sigfrido Sigismondo Silvano Silverio Silvestro Silvio Simeone Simone Sinesio Sinfronio Sireno Siriano Siricio Siro Sisto Soccorso Socrate Solocone Sostene Sosteneo Sostrato Spano Spartaco Speranzio Stanislao Stefano Stiliano Stiriaco Surano Sviturno Saba Sabina Sabrina Samanta Samona Sandra Santina Sara Savina Scolastica Sebastiana Seconda Secondina Sefora Selene Selvaggia Serafina Serena Severa Sibilla Sidonia Silvana Silvia Simona Simonetta Soave Sofia Sofronia Solange Sonia Stefania Stella Susanna Sveva

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[itsworn]

Assembled Piece by Piece, This 8-Year Build is Finally Complete

Ron Porter from Hudson, Florida, is a retired Marine contractor who specialized in building boat docks and boat lifts. When he was not modernizing elements in the maritime industry, he was enjoying his hobby of building cool custom classic trucks, an ongoing fascination that began when he was 14 years old with a $5 1947 Plymouth. In the last several decades, the trend continued with lots of fun vehicles residing in the garage. With a previous feature truck article already under his belt, this 1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup is his latest and now that it’s complete he’s already working on a third that’s coming along nicely. Builds always become easier the more often you do them, thanks to the combination of experience and the unending source of parts available from the aftermarket and the Internet. Here’s an example: Ron was able to find the cab for this truck in Crystal River, Florida; the chassis and suspension, designed specifically to fit a 1950 Chevrolet pickup came from TCI Engineering in California; Smoothie Fab running boards came from North Carolina; the bed came from Mar-K in Oklahoma; and dozens of other critical parts arrived at his door, thanks to the mailman.

From the outset, the collection of components was designed around a potent powerplant, one that Ron had stored in the corner of his garage long before he started on this truck. Built by his good friend Charlie Ratliff in Port Richey, Florida, the motor began as a balanced Chevy 454, stroked to 466 ci and capable of moving any vintage pickup with authority. “I wanted a good, noisy one,” he told us as he opened the hood during the photo shoot. Once again, aftermarket parts were the answer, beginning with a Thunder Series Edelbrock Endurashine 600-cfm carb and Air Gap intake, Lunati cam, Mallory electronic ignition, and Sanderson-coated headers that feed a stainless steel exhaust system with MagnaFlow mufflers. A two-speed Rainbow Products fan and four-core aluminum radiator keep temps in the green while the March Front Runner pulley system drives all the accessories. Using a custom aluminum driveshaft, the big V-8 sends an estimated 575 hp to the Turbo 400 trans, upgraded with a B&M shift kit.

With the big-inch motor sitting quietly in the corner patiently waiting for a home, Ron got the ball rolling by ordering a complete TCI Engineering chassis package, carefully painting every inch when it arrived. Assembly began with their independent coilover frontend with 2-inch drop spindles followed by the Currie 9-inch Posi rear with 3.25 gears, held in place by TCI Engineering’s four-link. Alden coilovers keep everything stable. Eliminating the gas tank from the cab, Ron relocated the new 17-gallon aluminum fuel cell to the rear of the chassis, installing a billet filler cap in the bed. The Flaming River rack-and-pinion power steering connects to a Flaming River chrome column inside and is topped off with a steering wheel that Ron won at a car show. TCI four-wheel disc brakes ensure modern stopping power. The chassis became a roller, thanks to the 20-inch Coys wheels, 8 inches wide up front and 10-inch versions in the rear, wrapped in Saffiro rubber.

The cab was next and although it was in fair shape, lots of time was spent removing the dents and dings acquired over the years. The firewall was recessed 4 inches to accommodate the big-inch motor. Working smart rather than hard, Ron bought replacement parts rather than trying to salvage badly damaged originals. The hood and the passenger side front fender are original, the driver side front fender was found on the Internet, and the 2.5-inch wider fiberglass rear fenders came from Superior Glassworks. Smoothie Fab 16-gauge cold rolled steel running boards widen to match the extended rear fenders. Body mods include door handles and emblems shaved, the air vent in the cowl was welded shut, and a new chrome grille and stainless steel bumper added to dress up the front end. Lots of time was devoted to the engine room, hiding hoses and wiring to create a sanitary look. The Mar-K bed is outfitted with traditional Oak planks with a blonde stain and there’s a subtle antenna located between the cab and the bed. The rear was fitted with a custom pan and Chevrolet woodgrain logo was added to the tailgate. Lokar LED oval taillights and license plate light illuminate the rear. The ominous twin pipes tell you this ain’t yer daddy’s old Bowtie.

Moving inside, the distinctive leather-lined interior begins with distressed leather buckets sporting embroidered Chevrolet logos separated by a custom center console with cup holders. Leather door panels, floor mats that display the Chevy logo, and the matching brown tweed headliner and carpet all blend together beautifully. The truck entertains with a Kenwood stereo head unit powered by a five-channel Kenwood amp under the seat that energizes 6.5-inch Kenwood component sets in the kick panels along with a second pair of 6.5s and twin 10-inch subs on the rear cab wall. Controls for the single pane Nu-Relics power windows are on the dash, the Nostalgia Air A/C uses an additional panel under the dash for the vents, and the dash itself has all the unnecessary holes filled to highlight the modern Haneline gauge package. Brian Bojinoff at Master Crafted Custom Interiors in Hudson, Florida, worked with Ron’s wife, Diane, to come up with the fabrics, colors, and arrangement.

The final step in the process was bodywork and the beautiful Matrix root beer metallic paintjob, done by his friend Whitey Molnar. Although it doesn’t look it, the sophisticated paintjob was done in a makeshift paint booth at home and became the perfect complement to the rustic brown leather interior. Molnar sprayed the truck in separate pieces, ensuring that the bottom was just as detailed as the top. The truck was an eight-year build finished last year. Smiling, Ron says, “It would have been completed a lot quicker if everything fit but then I would have missed out on all that aggravation! In the end, I am really happy about the way it turned out.” Now that he has about 700 miles on the truck, Ron has already turned his attention to working on the third Porter custom, a 1947 five-window that will probably find its way to these pages soon (depending on how things fit, of course!). Special thanks to Charlie Ratliff, Brian Bojinoff, Whitey Molnar, and, of course, Diane.

Facts & Figures

Ron Porter 1950 Chevy CHASSIS Frame: TCI Engineering, 116-inch wheelbase Rearend / Ratio: Curry 9-inch with 3.25 gears and 31-spline axles Rear Suspension: TCI four-link and coilovers Rear Brakes: TCI Engineering 12-inch disc brakes Front Suspension: TCI Engineering independent front suspension and coilovers Front Brakes: TCI Engineering 11-inch disc brakes Steering Box: Flaming River rack-and-pinion with chrome column Front Wheels: Coys C5 Chrome 20×8 Rear Wheels: Coys C5 Chrome 20×10 Front Tires: Saffiro SF500 245/40ZR20 Rear Tires: Saffiro SF500 315/35ZR20 Gas Tank: Aluminum 17-gallon relocated under the bed

DRIVETRAIN Engine: 1986 Chevrolet 454 V-8 Heads: Stock steel, ported, and polished Valve Covers: Chrome Chevrolet Bowtie Manifold / Induction: 600-cfm Edelbrock Thunder Series AVS carb, Air Gap intake manifold, Endurashine finish Ignition: Mallory electronic Headers: Sanderson ceramic coated Exhaust / Mufflers: Ceramic-coated 2.5-inch system, MagnaFlow stainless mufflers Transmission: 1986 Chevrolet Turbo 400 with B&M shift kit, 2,400-rpm stall speed Shifter: Flaming River

BODY Style: 1950 Chevrolet 3100 pickup Modifications: Shaved door handles, two-piece windshield, one piece tinted side glass, air vent in cowl welded shut, sanitary engine compartment with hoses and wiring hidden Fenders front / rear: Stock steel front, 2.5-inch wider fiberglass fenders in the rear, custom-tapered running boards. Hood: Steel, smoothed Grille: Stock, chrome Bed: Mar-K bed, Oak planks with a blonde stain, Chevy logo on the tailgate, custom rear pan Bodywork and Paint by: Whitey Molnar, C&W Enterprises Hudson, FL Paint Type / Color: Matrix Root Beer Metallic basecoat with Diamond clearcoat Headlights / Taillights: Halogen headlights and oval Lokar LED taillights Outside Mirrors: Hagan Bumpers: Stock rechromed

INTERIOR Dashboard: Filled with auxiliary panel for A/C vents Gauges: Haneline and Omega Air Conditioning: Nostalgia Air Stereo: Kenwood eXecelon KDC-X599 CD receiver with built-in Bluetooth, Kenwood five-channel amplifier, four Kenwood 6-inch component sets and two Kenwood 10-inch subs Steering Wheel: Aftermarket, distressed leather wrapped Steering Column: Flaming River chrome and tilt Seats: Chevrolet van seats, with deleted headrests, distressed leather, and embroidered Chevrolet logos Upholstery by: Brian Bojinoff, Master Crafted Custom Interiors Hudson, FL, and Diane Porter Material / Color: Distressed Brown leather on seats, center console, and door panels Carpet and Headliner: Brown tweed

The post Assembled Piece by Piece, This 8-Year Build is Finally Complete appeared first on Hot Rod Network.

from Hot Rod Network http://www.hotrod.com/articles/assembled-piece-piece-8-year-build-finally-complete/ via IFTTT

[betok1ng]

OG of the streets lol #CatLife #Saffiro

[onlinewheelsdirect-blog]

How’s this Saffiro + Concept One combination for your ride? Fierce, we say. 

[thecandywrites]

The Switch Chapter 14

The Order of Radiance

Woo, it's been a hot minute since my last update, took me 6 months to do Monster March. But I got through it and now it's back to my regularly scheduled stuff. Enjoy.

The Switch 

Chapter 14

The next morning, you awoke with a start, right at dawn and immediately reached for your pen and latest journal to write as fast your hand could move across the page as your new pen barely kept the ink flowing freely enough to keep up with you. 

Because while you had tried to shrug off the “altercation” with your former King and Queen. It had still bugged you and you felt like you were missing an obvious solution to the problem and after sleeping on it and even dreaming about it, you awoke with a solution. 

You barely had it written down before you got out of bed to quickly relieve yourself and keep writing as you did so and barely had the lights dimly lit so you could go to your desk and keep expounding on the idea and before you knew it, you were using up all the ink in this pen. You tried to use your second and spare pen to trade out while the other hand refilled the ink reservoir as the other hand just kept writing- like a woman possessed, trying to get it all out and all down as it was like the most beautiful flower blooming in your mind as suddenly everything came together and with just a quick look at the bank note from Solowards- and the sale of the land that Saffiro had left behind, you beamed when you did some quick math and calculations right there in your notebook and then- like finally placing the last pieces of a puzzle together. Suddenly with only a new page, using your now- refilled pen, you drafted the first The Order of Radiance Lease Agreement and when you had finished the contract you took a few shaky breaths but stared at it and your face suddenly bloomed in a smile of relieved victory. 

This was it. 

This was how you were going to deal with them, this was the perfect solution. And how you were going to practically own them and every other unsavory royal you had ever encountered and ever would encounter. And this was how you were going to protect yourself, the Contessina Order, which from now on would be known as The Order of Radiance- using your official Dorierran given honorific title, so that future generations wouldn’t have to worry about distinguishing themselves from you on an individual level. And this would protect Salgria Shipping and every other person in the D.A. who would ever even think of landing on Solowardian Soil or even airspace for that matter. 

And then like magic, once the flower seemed to fully bloom in your mind, another seemed to come into view and suddenly you were reaching for a stack of papers and suddenly you were writing as fast as you could, trying to get it all down and write with one hand and draft with the other, without really looking at what the other hand was drawing as you kept closing your eyes and seeing it in your mind and trying to write it all down. You were going to make each skyport a flower. A perfect- daisy like flower. A single, beautiful divinely simple, stately stem, but with a disk like face with each petal making up the face when it would need to bloom and show off it’s pretty petals. 

And no sooner had you done that before suddenly you were using up every flower you knew of to create more versions of what you could clearly now see in your mind as your imagination created it as fast as you could write it down as you were creating stacks and stacks of papers from both hands as you were so infinitely grateful you were ambidextrous to allow this feat as you were putting each stack of notes with each drawing into one big, rather messy pile in front of you, trying to criss cross them so that you could keep them all separate. 

You had drained two whole bottles of ink and were on your third just as Kragan woke up a couple of hours later as you were so far down the rabbit hole, your eyes were traveling back and forth between the two stacks of paper to make sure that each thing you were working on with two separate hands doing two separate things were- somehow perfectly in sync.  You didn’t care if your fingers were going to permanently turn midnight blue from the ever precious indigo ink. This was pure genius. And it was like you were on some kind of super drug where time was no longer a concept your brain was accustomed to. You barely registered the sun rising, only that the room was getting lighter from the greater increase of light coming into the room through the windows helped you work. 

“Tess?” Kragan murmured once he woke up and reached for you, only to find the blankets pulled back and you were no longer beside him. And even the bed itself was now cold from your absence as his eyes soon snapped open to see you no longer in the bed and he felt panicked to no longer see or even hear you. 

“Tess?!” Kragan called out a little louder and it caused you to finally pull you out of your hyperfocus and jumped in your skin and caused both hands to jerk the ink on the pages. 

“I’m here. I’m here. I…I am having the best and most genius idea ever and I’m writing it down.” You answered as you finally seemed to come up for air for the first time you woke up before you seemed to take a nose dive right back into it. 

“Ok… wanna tell me or if you do, you’ll lose momentum?” Kragan asked as his body relaxed as he looked from the bed, to where you now resided in the middle of the room where your desk was- to feel like a fool for not realizing that if you were not in bed- of course you would be at your desk. 

“I’ll lose momentum. I can’t stop. I’m not done yet. I mean, I’m almost done but I can’t stop now. If I stop now, it’ll stop blooming and I can’t cut the flowers off before they bloom.” You cryptically answered him back. 

“Flowers?” He repeated in confusion. 

“Yeah, flowers. So many flowers, all blooming, all at the same time. Like late spring, when the whole garden starts to bud and then bloom all at the same time. But I have to get to all the blooms. I can’t miss any of them or else they’ll wilt before I get them all. I can’t miss them.” You implored desperately. 

“Did you get any sleep last night?” Kragan asked. 

“Yes! I got the best sleep of my life! It’s where the first buds of the first buds of blooms started to appear and when I woke up the buds bloomed.” You answered manically as you continued to go at a hectic pace. 

“Are you…are you on drugs? You’re…you’re manic. Why are you manic?” Kragan asked worriedly when he recognized your tone and got up and came over to the desk to see you working like some kind of supercharged machine. 

“No! I’m not on drugs. Well, not any of the ones that any mortal can make. My brain is giving me my own drugs. My own fireworks of flowers. It’s like divine inspiration, when the gods inspired the holy books to be written by the prophets. Same thing but just..less holy but if this is what divine inspiration feels like- I get it. I’m almost done, I’m almost done, I only have a few more flowers to get to.” You repeated as you wrote so fast, the writing was near illegible and you were writing in shorthand too! And your hand and wrist and forearm from the other hand were already stained and you didn’t care if you were smudging your own drawings, they were still there enough for Kragan to look at and redraft officially if he needed to. 

“If you must look, start with the bottom section of the stack in front of me, but, very, very carefully, don’t disturb the rest of the stack.” You urged him as you kept moving your head and your eyes back and forth as you drew and wrote as fast as your fingers would let you. 

“...okay…” Kragan frowned but did as you asked and oh so carefully pulled the section at the bottom of the stack out and left the rest as undisturbed as possible before he looked at the drawing and then to the pages as you had put the lease agreement first and then the first flower, the daisy plans with that. 

“Oh-ho-ho-ho! Yes! Oh Babe, this is genius!” Kragan cheered when he read it. 

“Thank you, Now look at the flower! Look at the flower!” You urged him as you continued at your near frantic pace. 

“What the…oh, wait, wait, what? What did you…Did you seriously design a ship with no sails but…but that could move in the twelve winds because you…you redesigned the propulsion engine motor?!” Kragan gasped when he saw the “flower” and all of it’s beautiful, glorious petals. 

“Oh, oh this is giving me an idea. Have you tackled the sunflower yet?” He asked. 

“That’s the third one.” You answered as he then took the next two out from under the stack, and got the “sunflower” one out and laughed in delight. 

“Oh! This changes everything! This changes everything! Oh my gods, this, this completely changes everything! This is perfect! I love you so much! You’re the smartest being in the universe! You’re divine!” He announced as he kissed your cheek emphatically before he took it and went to his desk that was on the other side of you and did a freehand drawing first, using your sketch and your writing as a guide and just as you were finished with the current flower and changing putting it all together and simply made a second stack, he was just diving into these first ones. 

Kragan practically giggled as he drew out the basic design and then gave it bones and flesh and then skin, like creating a new life from scratch. And because he knew the real world applications and know-how and even used your inspiration to spark his own imagination and his own spark of creativity as he then redesigned how it would all work and how it would all be built and what the dimensions needed to be. What everything needed to be- in order to work. And work like the dream came to life that it was. 

“So it’s possible?” You asked as you took a moment after finishing your last set to look over at him and watched fondly as he worked. 

“Yes. Very much so. I never would have thought to do anything like this without your divine inspiration.” He beamed happily back at you as he looked at you with absolute delight and giddy excitement.

“I don’t know if it’s divine…” You allowed. 

“Oh, it is, trust me. This is how you’re going to catapult us into the future. And if you’re doing these based on flowers, each country and each place has it’s favorite flowers, you could totally tailor these to more suit the aesthetics of each place. And they will be perfect works of art and wonders of the world and will be its own destination. Plus I love the change to the Order. It’ll make the privilege of knowing you personally that much more precious and intimate in a way.” He began. 

“That and it’ll be easier for the future generations to not constantly feel like they’re in my shadow and have to constantly differentiate them from me.” You explained. 

“Yes, I agree. It would be confusing in a lot of ways, like it has with the ships themselves.” He agreed with a nod. 

“I’m happy you agree, I have another idea but I wanted to run it by you.” You began. 

“I’m all ears Dearest.” He invited. 

“I want to give Millie a job.” You began and it caused him to frown slightly in confusion for a moment.  

“Doing what?” He asked, trying to keep his tone light and not betray how much he was against Millie ever tearing down anything you had built up. 

“My mother has always insisted that Millie was always a princess and future queen in the making. And with this wedding, she is loving all of the attention and the favors and the royal treatment and everyone kissing her ass so to speak. And she couldn’t be happier with that. And it’s a spectacle where she’s the star of the show.” You began as you saved your best “flower” for last as you slowed down and really took your time with it. 

“Ok…” Kragan slowly nodded in agreement as his frown deepened. 

“But Millie is dreading her life as Countess Lavine in Solowards. Because here I am, practically empress of my own empire and she’s being looked at and expected to repeat what I’ve done and she…she has no idea how to do that and wouldn’t even know where to start. Because all she knows is the performance. She doesn’t know anything else. And that’s only because she’s had it practically beat into her since she was a child to be nothing like me, to be the exact opposite of me, all flash but nothing of real substance. Because if anything of real weight is a burden and no one wants to be a burden. To not be too educated, to not be too intelligent, to not be anything other than a little doll to be dressed up. Or a jewel in a jewelry case, to be worn and to be an accessory to Ron but not be her own person. And now that others are expecting her to be her own person, she’s having a hard time figuring who and what that person is without being told by someone else. And even now, Gwendolyn is terrified to even leave the house. She hates all the pressure that I’ve unknowingly and unintentionally put on her and Millie. And she’s incredibly introverted and very shy and she hates the spotlight of any kind. And she is dreading the thought of even following in either my or Millie’s footsteps. But I have an idea for her, but I want to go over it with my parents. But before I do that, I want Millie to have a chance to stay in the spotlight so that Gwendolyn never has to even get on the stage, not until she really wants to.” You explained. 

“So..this is more, how to save your sister Gwendolyn from being a spectacle, while making it so that Millie stays the spectacle?” Kragan concluded. 

“Yes.” You confirmed. 

“Ok. What did you have in mind?” He asked curiously as his knitted brow relaxed.  

“When people will no doubt get their ships and are eager to set sail on the twelve winds and see the world, the rich and powerful and most likely royal ones- will need something of a guide. I want to promote Millie to be a Radiant Diamond. Which is really, only a fancy title that will make her feel important. But it’ll be so that she can go around to all of these capitals first, go to all the opulent opera houses and go to all the courts and palaces that- for those who want to pay the price of staying a night in a castle and live like a royal guest for a day, she could create a guide and her own diamond system. I’m thinking of giving her- her own rating system of diamonds. Specifically five. So if she will go to these eating establishments or will go to these other palaces to stay and live like the princess she’s always wanted to be and has been trained, since birth to have the super fine, opulent and super luxurious tastes. And she can rank and rate everything the world over, starting with Wakanear first since she will be there on her honeymoon. And after the honeymoon, simply either transition or keep it going and sail around and the moment a skyport is opened up, she will be there, trying out everything first to see which places are worth the time to get to. And the fuss that everyone will have when they see her ship, followed by it’s fleet of huge cargo ships behind her and surrounded by other guard ships, as if she is the most precious new bride in the world, more precious than even the Dorrierran ones. Not only would and could she do such a thing, gleefully and joyfully, it would be something she could and would take very seriously. Because it puts her as the seat of judging everyone else and everything else instead of herself being judged and she would have her chance to have her nearly impossibly high standards to be met. And she wouldn’t have to worry about the Solowardian court or really trimming down from Princess to Countess, if anything she can keep herself as she is if she wants to be. She would amass her own empire of all things luxurious and refined sophistication. Since, one, she has the training, two she has the desire and the patience and the skill for that arena that I simply don’t want to have. Hell I was going to go and ask High Councilor Langashi for that biggest and most grandiose crown and present it to her as a wedding present and “anoint” her as such after the wedding. Because then it would be seen as I would only ever trust her super refined luxurious tastes to suit The Order of Radiance Luxury Guide Book.” You relayed. 

“That..that would be perfect for her.” Kragan blinked in surprise as his eyebrows lifted for a moment but a smile soon bloomed on his features. 

“So what about Gwen?” He asked. 

“Well, she’s always been more intellectual like me. But because she is so private and likes the comfort of home but doesn’t want to be a home body all the time and is only currently that because she has a fear of being judged and picked apart if she were to leave the house. She even moved into my old suite of rooms at home, eager to have a private space of solitude, but at the same time, confinement is better than being thrust into the spectacle with Millie. But at the same time, I think she will do better at finding the super secret gems. Like the opposite of Millie, where Millie will be quick to be drawn like a magnet to the really popular and pave the way to the best time of your life at any point in your travels around the world. Gwendolyn will be anti-popular, but for those who want the real, authentic experience, she’ll be the super secret guide. The places where you can’t make reservations. The places that don’t cater to tourists but where you can find the real truth and real soul and real authentic experiences at various places instead of falling for the tourist traps. I want her to find the opposite of that and her guide will be for the precious few intellectuals, artists, those who are more genuinely interested in not going along with Millie’s extravagant luxury guide, but are happy and content to be much more discrete and where no one gives a shit about who you are and what you do and how much money you make or that you’re wearing the latest and greatest. If anything, it will be the opposite, where you can just be and be comfortable. Like when you were just a sailor on your ships before you met me. All of those places that you knew you could and would be accepted just the way you were. But places that might not break out in brawls because these will still need to be safe for others to travel to without getting into trouble or come to any kind of harm. But that you’re not just a tourist, that you’re taken as you are without any kind of pretense, you’re just passing through like any other person. I want her to find the kind of places that will be happy to welcome you in, you can clap along to the music, drink the beer and enjoy really good music and your evenings after doing art or music or reading or appreciating architecture or meet authors and artists and musicians and enjoy their company and either join in or appreciate them as they are. Places like Souja Tavern. The places that make you feel like you’re a local. That you’re no better or no worse than anyone else and where everyone is equal and as long as you have some coin, and good manners, you can still have a good time. The artist circles, cafes, the little eateries, places like that. For the people who march to the beat of their own drum, but can do so safely.” You expounded. 

“And then I want you and your brothers and even your dad- to make your own list of places that- if you want rowdy, if you want rough and tumble and dangerous and thrilling, these are the places for you. You either can or can not use your own name of course. But it would be a very much- travelers beware- danger can lurk here- kind of thing.” You carefully expounded.  

“Yes, I believe I can do that.” Kragan laughed with a nod. 

“Thank you.” You thanked him. 

“But otherwise? That five diamond thing? I think Millie would take to that job like a fish to water. And I think your parents would love that for Gwendolyn to feel involved and feel included but not have to be part of the production like Millie is. I think that’s brilliant. And it’s your empire, you do with it what you want and of course I would be happy to help you and support however I can. But yes, I think those are excellent ideas and I think Millie especially will be ecstatic.” 

“Also I want to give Millie- plaques that her super famous, super luxurious places she will undoubtedly find- can proudly display. But I want Gwendolyn to have her own marker. But I want it gold with black laquer. Like a super secret code. Or like a password to get into the secret but exclusive places that only those in the know and those in the intellectual, musical and theological, and artisanal spaces would be happy to have those like minded and be beacons where those of likemindedness can come and be themselves without judgment or without too much dangerous exposure, does that make sense?” You asked. 

“Yes, perfect sense.” Kragan nodded with a proud smile. 

“Thank you.” You smiled. 

“Also, I want to hire a police and security force and especially a lawyer team and an investigative branch as well. Like I want The Order of Radiance to be taken seriously and have it’s presence felt and understood with crystal clear clarity.” You added. 

“Oh yeah, of course.” Kragan nodded in agreement before Mildred knocked on the door. 

“Yes?” You and Kragan answered before Mildred came in with a small tray of tea. 

“Oh my goodness, up and doing business already and not even dressed?” She teased. 

“Tessa woke up quite inspired, it couldn’t wait.” Kragan readily excused with a proud smile. 

“Oh?” Mildred asked as she set the teapot down and poured a cup of tea for each of you before she got you a little plate and passed it to you. 

“Oh my goodness, Lady Tessa! Your hands! And your arms?! Are you tattooing yourself in your ink again? You and your ambidextrousness, both hands are like this.” Mildress teased before she tried to grab a rag to try to clean it up. 

“But look at what she was making.” Kragan said as he handed her the finished sketch he just then finished up. 

“It’s beautiful. I have no idea what it is. But whatever it is, looks beautiful.” Mildred praised. 

“Mildred, when you watch a daisy bloom and atop a stately stem, suddenly a table like bloom rests serenely atop it’s stem?” You asked. 

“Yes.” Mildred nodded. 

“Now you know how a leaved table, with a simple pull on the outer fram and a few adjustments, suddenly a table that once only could seat four, could now seat six or even eight, depending on how many leaves you put into it?’ You continued. 

“Yes…” Mildred slowly nodded as she still tried to see how the two things would be related. 

“Now, imagine, instead of pulling the frame apart with the table to set the leaves inside. Imagine adding the leaves to the table on the outside. And you can add as many leaves or in this case- petals, as you want. And you can interlock them to the center stem. And, if the petals are supported, not all the stress of bearing the weight is on the stem, suddenly, you can make that flower as large as you want.” You explained as you showed her your original sketch before Kragan showed her his and how it would work and how you could make a “flower” out of the skyport. And potentially make it to be as big as the city itself if you needed it to. 

“But what about those under it? Wouldn’t that block out the sun from them?” Mildred asked. 

“It would only be up for a few days for special occasions. Otherwise the petals can be like little additional meeting rooms on the skyport. But with each having it’s own engine, they can be flown and arranged anywhere on the skyport that they’re needed and with retractable walls. They can either make a larger enclosed space or even be open to allow a good breeze to come through.” You expounded. 

“Oh, well that would be lovely. Like little additions to any of the skyports or even the ships themselves.” Mildred noted before you and Kragan and yourself immediately seemed to light up excitedly. 

“Oh Dear. I’ve done it again. Ok, let me get you both your breakfast and most likely lunch and dinner delivered to your rooms. And I’ll send for more paper. Large drafting paper especially. And I’ll even get more inks if I have to.” Mildred sighed in defeat before she saw herself out and had another cart brought in, covered in various dishes from the kitchens before she went ahead and got at least a dressing robe on you both, should anyone actually call you on the messengerari and not still see Kragan shirtless and you in nothing more than a nightgown and opened the windows to let the fair breeze into the rooms. 

“Happy Anniversary by the way My Lord and Lady.” Mildred said as she brought in fresh floral arrangements into the room and set it by the window so that the breezes would waft the scents into the room. . 

“Anniversary?” You questioned as you looked up at her and looked at the date. 

“Yes, it’s been a whole six months already. And you’re still halfway through your pregnancy. But with your sister’s wedding still a good three months off. It will be a wonder what will happen first, your sister becoming Countess Lavine or you becoming a mother because they should be happening at about the same time. But my midwifing instincts say they won’t. Your sister should walk down that aisle before you walk into motherhood with his Lordship walking beside you in fatherhood.” Mildred cooed happily as she replaced the floral arrangement on the table you were eating from too, making sure the fragrance of the blooms would be appreciated as much as it’s beauty without getting in the line of sight between yourself and Kragan since the small table was really only big for two people and their dishes for breakfast. 

“Oh gods, please don’t come before the wedding or even the day of. The day after? Go for it my Darling.” You worriedly told your belly as you rubbed at the babe inside as they seemed to still be sleeping. 

“Oh don’t even speak such things My Lady. Don’t be tempting Fate like that, lest they make it somehow ten times worse.” Mildred urged you. 

“Seriously, don’t.” Kragan shook his head no. 

“But yes, happy 6 month anniversary My Love.” He added when he kissed you sweetly.

“Happy Anniversary Beloved.” You mirrored happily. 

“And if my midwifin instincts are still as sharp as they ever were, I would actually wager your sister being done with her honeymoon by the time the babe comes.” Mildred wagered. 

“Then I trust your word for it.” You offered before a thought came to your mind once you took a bite of breakfast and chewed it thoughtfully. 

“Mmm! We should call the notaries, the bankers and others to come to the house for the lease agreement as well as make the changes to The Order.” You reminded both Kragan and yourself. 

“Perhaps you should get dressed in something other than a nightgown and a robe if you are to entertain guests of any kind, My Lady.” Mildred urged. 

“Yes, after breakfast though.” You nodded before you quickly jotted down a list and handed it to Mildred. 

“While I finish up eating breakfast, could you please call those people and tell them that I will need to speak with them at their earliest convenience?” You asked Mildred sweetly. 

“Of course My Lady.” She smiled as she took the list before she put it into her portable “phonebook” she kept in a notebook of her own that had all the messenerari numbers on it of all the people you liked to keep in contact with. 

Once you had eaten your fill, then you let the other servants come in and help you dress in your new dresses that had been delivered the day before to suit your growing belly and bosom and support you while still keeping you in surprising stylish comfort. You chose something much more discreet and much more demure for today- than what you had gotten yesterday. 

And once you were dressed, then you called your parents, who thankfully informed you that the King and Queen both refused court today because they were still reeling from the call yesterday. As you told them about the plan you had hatched that morning and showed them the lease agreement and the countermeasures you had already drawn up. They were ecstatic for it and thought the plan was ingenious.

And when Langashi called you, at Mildred’s request, you showed it to her and even she thought it was ingenious and was quite impressed and agreed that this was the best honey trap imaginable and that if they did not go into the honey trap, she would the iron fist to back you and The Order up. Which you were eternally grateful for. 

Within the hour, you had teams of notaries, bankers, and even Langashi came with Dorierran Judiciaries to your palace, and in particular to your “official reception room” where you were content to put on a simple diadem instead of a full crown in your head as you sat at the head of the long business table with Langashi at your right as others took seats along the table as they drafted up official paperwork to do as you wanted and needed them to. 

You had the Masters use their special paper, their special inks, and their special magic tools to make the lease agreement or the purchase agreement, whichever their Majesties would prefer as you wrote out your official offer to them, making it the best sales pitch you could, full of ass kissing flattery and strokes to their egos and instead of giving them a choice where they felt they were within a rock and a hard place and instead of challenging the norm. Offer them the option to keep it a cost they would happily pay, while also releasing others from it if they wished to leave it. 

And it seemed it all came to be done all at the same time because the ink had no sooner dried on the official document and the seal already stamped in place before your messengerari had rung from your parents and the Lavines. 

“Well, it is all done. All that needs to happen is for the exchange of money and land holdings to go into your name.” Your father proudly informed you. 

“Perfect. Then let’s get our business done first, and then from there, we can negotiate with their Majesties.” You nodded before you took the special messengerari pen and signed the documents your father had prepared as well as Count Lavine before a Banker processed the large transfers of wealth to their D.A. accounts and made ready for the influx of wealth to the King and Queen of Solowards. 

“Pahpah, I now grant you the office of my Official Ambassador of the former Contessina Order, which has just been changed to The Order of Radiance- simply for my own simplicity sake- as well as the title of Supreme Chancellor of Commerce for The Order of Radiance as well. And as Ambassador, your estate, land holdings are now property of The Order and I am granting it to your ownership and stewardship. And those in your household and tenants are now all officially citizens of The Order of Radiance. Please note that The Order holds every man, woman and child as individual citizens. Every man, woman and child of the commonwealth will now receive a yearly stipend which is to be used as a base income in The Order of Radiance within the Dorierran Alliance of a thousand gold denari and 500 silver denari in addition to any good or service they may provide to supplement such an income in union with their support of The Order. They shall receive this as a living starting at the age of 1 and shall go into immediate effect. They are all protected under The Order of Radiance Charter. As well as enjoy the rights and freedoms as stated within The Order’s Bill of Rights. Do you, as landholder and renter to The Order of Radiance tenants- agree to these terms on their behalf and under penalty of The Order of Radiance Law- swear to uphold the Law of the Order as it coincides with the Dorierran Alliance Law and Order?” You offered. 

“It is my pleasure to uphold such an honor.” Your father agreed before he signed the papers of Nobility under the Order as well as relinquished his former title as Duke for the King and Queen of Solowards, with one stroke of the pen- freeing himself, his family and those he cared for as landowner- of Solowardian Law and fully into the D.A. and The Order of Radiance. 

“Excellent. Congratulations Ambassador.” You smiled. 

“Now, for the details. It is decreed under The Order of Radiance that, as Ambassador to The Order- you will only ever owe the nominal fee to the D.A. as a citizen of the D.A. As well as to The Order of a thousand gold Dorierran danari a year. Otherwise there will be no other taxes collected by The Order. Only those by the D.A. which we are all international citizens of. But otherwise, you will now have an income from The Order- and that salary is this amount. Is this agreeable?” You officially informed him once you wrote that number down for him to quickly see. 

“I do.” He smiled as you could tell he was already thinking of ways to turn that sum of a hundred thousand gold denari into millions. 

“And my beautiful Mamah. You are my Prime Radiance of The Order of Radiance Official Court. Where you can choose any court site of your liking to hold your court. You may hold your court in conjunction with The Order’s Court of Commerce. Or, if you wish to keep your court separate and have it be any other kind of court you see fit- you are empowered to make this court how you see fit and I now empower you to accept or decline anyone whom you deem worthy into your court, if I or any other Lady of the Order do not accept them into the court previously. And that, as also my Ambassador to any and all other courts within the Dorierran Alliance, that you will be the Order’s eyes, ears and mouthpiece should you see fit.” You informed your mother proudly. 

“It is my pleasure to hold this honor.” She gleefully agreed. 

“Excellent. Also your income for this office, both as Ambassador and as Prime Radiance- to be used how you see fit and engage in any business you so desire both in and out of The Order’s Court of Commerce.” You grinned before your mother gasped when she saw the same number for her. 

“Are…are you sure?” She couldn’t help but blurt out. 

“Yes. Both of you are heads of your courts. I couldn’t have one- make more than the other. I need to empower and fully realize both courts.” You nodded. 

“I’m…humbled by your generosity.” Your mother offered as her lips wavered while her eyes grew glassy with tears but she signed it before you pulled the papers back. 

“Excellent. Now I will need all of my siblings to please enter the room, if they are not already present.” You offered. 

“We’re here!” Your other sisters and brothers giddily announced as they came around to be with your parents on the Messengerari. 

“Now, Toulouse, I know you want to be a lawyer, I’m going to count on you to help me with The Order’s interests in navigating Solowardian Law, I’ll be sending you law books and a team from Dorierra to bring you up to speed on the D.A. side of things, and I’ll need your help drafting more than just the Bill of Rights ok?” You requested. 

“Yes, on it.” He readily reassured you. 

“Saffiro, you’re already my Chief Financial Officer for The Order. So that’s already taken care of. Bellamy, I know you’re really good at sneaking. I’m sending you a team of investigators. I’m gonna need you as my Chief Investigator for The Order, you think you might be up to learning to be that? I know you’re only 15 but you’re pretty good at it as it is.” You urged him. 

“Yes!” He beamed. 

“Gwendolyn, I need you to help me find the best musicians to provide music for various functions The Order will no doubt have. Because you’re a natural talent for it. I’m counting on you helping me find the best talent- even if it’s in unexpected places and I’ll send you the finer details later, but for now I need you to sign here.” You worded with a meaningful look as Gwen blinked in surprise to hear that but did as you asked and signed it before a packet came to her own private messengerari in her room. 

“So what do I get to do?” Millie asked expectantly. 

“I have saved the best for last, my Dear Millicent.” You grinned. 

“Yes!” She cheered. 

“Since you will be getting your ship first and you will be the first to use it to sail around the world with Ron and his family. I’m making you Premiere Diamond DeCuisine- which I want you to take the special plaques that- are still being finished as we speak, because this was going to be a wedding present, but there’s no time like the present- but I want you and Ron to go around the world and make a Premiere Diamond DeCuisine Guide Book for The Order of Radiance. Every royal and every noble with the pocketbooks of a royal will need to know where they can go in any given location at any given time of year and receive the best banquet their money can buy. You will give a rating system of five diamonds. If you find a place that has the food, service and atmosphere worthy of those five, perfect, flawless diamonds in the rating, then all those who have a Radiance Ship, will happily follow where you will lead them in the culinary arts and your word, your nod will be as good as gold and diamonds. But, you can’t let anyone try to beguile you or find a way to bribe you into giving them that five diamond rating if they are not worthy and are not capable of giving everyone who would follow you there- the same five diamond experience. Because others will trust your word in that guide as if it’s the gospel truth. Do you think you and Ron could do that?” You urged her. 

“Yes!” Ron immediately agreed. 

“Yes! Wait, won’t I get fat?” Millie asked as an afterthought. 

“Not if you judge them based on a single bite.” You answered. 

“Then yes! I would happily and proudly do such a thing. Do I get my own crown?” She asked. 

“Yes. You will get your own crown. I will crown you as your wedding present. How’s that?” You proposed. 

“As long as it’s that really big one you had the option of getting.” She answered. 

“You mean this one?” Langashi asked as she seemed to have brought that with her and practically pulled it out from a bag she had brought with her. 

“Yes! That one!” Millie squealed in delight. 

“I won’t have to wear a crown will I?” Gwen asked fearfully. 

“Nope, not at all. I know how much you don’t like them and how discrete you like to keep yourself, I’m hoping you will conduct yourself and your task with as much anonymity as you wish to keep.” You reassured her as she blew out a breath of relief. 

“So how much will the income be?” Millie asked you. 

“This much.” You offered as you wrote down 25,000 a year. Which you were sure her food as going to be comped anyway. 

“Yes! Can’t wait!” She beamed. 

“Awesome, now Count Lavine, I’m hereby anointing you as my Prime Vizier of Commerce to assist the Chancellor in the Court of Commerce for The Order of Radiance. And if you will sell The Order of Radiance- all the lands to which you own within the Kingdom of Solowards, so that The Order will pay the one time sales tax to the King of Solowards- so that such properties will be under the same embassy protections of The Order. And I will in turn- grant you said lands and estates as Prime Vizier of Commerce your estate, land holdings are now property of The Order. And those in your household and tenants are now all officially citizens of The Order of Radiance. Please note that The Order holds every man, woman and child as individual citizens. Every man, woman and child of the commonwealth will now receive a yearly stipend which is to be used as a base income in The Order of Radiance within the Dorierran Alliance of a thousand gold denari and 500 silver denari in addition to any good or service they may provide to supplement such an income in union with their support of The Order. They shall receive this as a living starting at the age of 1 and shall go into immediate effect. They are all protected under The Order of Radiance Charter. As well as enjoy the rights and freedoms as stated within The Order’s Bill of Rights. Do you, as landholder and renter to The Order of Radiance tenants- agree to these terms on their behalf and under penalty of The Order of Radiance Law- swear to uphold the Law of the Order as it coincides with the Dorierran Alliance Law and Order?” You questioned. 

“It is my pleasure to hold such an honor.” Count Lavine smiled happily. 

“And is this income sufficient for such an office?” You asked as you showed him an offer of 50,000 gold denari a year. 

“Yes, more than generous.” He smiled. 

“And Countess Lavine, I would like to anoint you as Premiere Vogue. You will assist Her Prime Radiance with The Order of Radiance Official Court.” 

“It would be my pleasure to accept such an honor.” Kathryn happily squealed in delight and readily signed as you had to quickly write down her income, also 50,000 denari a year to which she practically had diamonds floating in her eyes to see. 

“However, I urge you to help Her Prime Radiance to keep the styling and fashion of the court of The Order, comfortable for all and simple, timeless elegance so that none of us have to worry about investing in huge wardrobes that will be in fashion one year and out the next, or colors that will be in fashion one day and out the next. I wish for every woman to embrace the stylings she is most comfortable in. And simply have something simple- like a sash, to be worn over her desired clothes to signify that she too is a Lady of The Order of Radiance Court and is an a court of equals and I wish for the matters of the day to take precedence over what anyone else just happen to choose to wear that day to court. And gentlemen, I urge you to do the same. Find a style that is timelessly elegant, but perhaps a bit more discrete in it’s lavishness, because I wish for the Court of Commerce to care more about the business of the day rather than what everyone else is choosing to comfortably wear. Please take His Royal Radiance Supreme as a great example of what fashions should be. The Order has the whole of the Supersphere within it. And being a part of the Dorierran Alliance, we should be embracing other people from other countries and other locations. We should be welcoming towards all, not excluding anyone else- also welcomed into the Order. No matter their country of origin, race, ethnicity, creed, tribe, kind or tongue of language. We are a worldwide organization. We should embody that and keep that in mind always. For we are always stronger together than apart. Agreed?” You urged them all. 

“Agreed.” Everyone echoed. 

“Excellent, now Young Count Lavine, I would like to anoint you as Golden Radiance. Because as we are all aware, that no jewel is safe unless it is in a setting most befitting the jewel. So your job is to secure Her Diamond Radiance so that together, you may find the best places to see and be seen in. Opera houses, theaters, restaurants, casinos, and any other venue of entertainment. And that the masses that will soon follow and join you on your flights around the world may enjoy such diversions with you- in safety, style and comfort. Do you accept this anointing?” You asked him. 

“I do. I never thought in a million years I would ever say ‘I do’ to you for any reason, but I’m happy to be wrong and I wholeheartedly do pledge ‘I do’ to that anointing.” Ron couldn’t help but laugh at the irony of his choice of words. 

“Then please sign and agree to the income.” You urged him as you wrote down an income of 25,000 gold denari a year. Knowing he would most likely get everything he would ever want to spend on food and entertainment comped anyway. But it would protect them from Solowards, just in case the King decided to strip away anything else that wasn’t listed in these documents. 

“So that should be everything? If I missed anything, we can work it out later, because I feel it’s time we face the King and Queen of Solowards, don’t you think?” You asked. 

“Yes.” Everyone grinned before you punched in the code to call them. 

“Your Radiance. We were not expecting to hear from you so soon.” Queen Phelicity offered a bit nervously. 

“I came to offer an apology.” You offered as you kept your family and the Lavines on a separate screen so that it looked like it was a private call between just you and her.  

“Oh.” She blinked in surprise. 

“Please call for the King.” Queen Phelicity urged her attendants. 

“Thank you so much Your Radiance, really, we meant no disrespect yesterday.” She tried to soothe over as you simply gave her a polite but serene smile. 

“I know you didn’t. Which is why I’m calling.” You answered as she looked so incredibly relieved. 

“My King, Her Radiance has called to apologize.” She informed her husband when he came into the room. 

“Oh, good.” He seemed to breathe in relief as he came and looked at you expectantly and you could thankfully had Kragan just out of sight as you squeezed his hand when you heard him huff. But hopefully Kragan wouldn’t make any other noise or really be seen either. 

“King Grenevere and Queen Phelicity. I called to apologize for being rude to you yesterday. I have been incredibly busy with my business as of late and I fear that has not been good for me, it’s been exhausting in all honesty. And that exhaustion has made me incredibly irritable. And I unfortunately let that irritation to vent on you yesterday. And I called to offer my apologies for not receiving you with the respect and graciousness that your Majesties deserve.” You began as you could see them both relax and actually smile and even preen to hear the words. But for this to work, you needed to make a show of being humble to their faces and give them the lip service they felt they were entitled to, whether they deserved it or not. 

“I was appointed the owner of a business. And while that business has been promoted to the station of it’s own kingdom, I must keep in mind that you both were anointed and enthroned into your thrones by the priests from the very gods we both worship. And have been appointed by the gods we both believe in to rule over your kingdom. And I need to first- show respect and reverence for that. For- to do otherwise is to laugh in the god’s faces and court disaster, which I do not wish upon anyone, lest myself.” You continued. 

“Yes, thank you so much for recognizing that.” King Grenevere offered as you could see that such a thing had not even occurred to him. But the fact that you brought it up you could see that he was delighted to realize that he had that angle to work from.

“Our interaction yesterday did not sit well with me and I didn’t sleep as well as I wished I could have. But when I awoke early this morning. I think divine inspiration has moved me to try to make things right and amend this breach so that we may both come to an understanding and a solution that we both will be happy with. So, as it stands. I have bought some lands for future development in Solowards and I wish to send you the correct tax on those sales. This is the receipt of the sales so that you may see and make sure that the calculations were done correctly.” You began as the bankers sent the documents through, as a simple total was the title page. 

“Oh my goodness. Yes. That is more than acceptable. I do happily accept such a sum as sales tax from your Order for property bought.” King Grenevere smiled happily as he was happy and content with the total page and didn’t even bother looking at what you had actually bought. Which you were hoping for anyway. 

“Good. Because I do realize that taxes are how the Crown sustains itself and I must respect that first and foremost.” You placated. 

“Of course.” They both readily agreed. 

“Next, I would also like to offer your Majesties the dignity of a good choice. I do realize that it would be in bad taste to unveil the Radiance Ships at my sister’s wedding and it would be the right thing to it that a ship to your Majesties was also given. However, there was a promise made that the highest bid would win the ship. And I myself can not go back on my word, neither I, nor The Order as a whole. And unfortunately, the Radiant Contessina Magnifica- the bid is currently at 499.9 million gold denari, which- each gold bouillon is equal to the gold denari. And The Order must be an organization and business of it’s word. And there is nothing I can do to stop the bidding from continuing. However, all I can do is either accept new bids and then stop the bidding once it’s done. But I do not wish to bankrupt the Solowardian Crown either. So, if you want to enter into the bidding of The Magnifica, only a bid of 500 million gold denari or higher will be accepted. But the entire amount would not be demanded all up front and not all at once. If needed, I could break that down into much smaller and much easier to manage payments if you wanted to buy it outright. And as it stands, with taxes and fees demanded for such a purchase, if I spread out the sum over say a 20 year period and do monthly payments, is still a payment of 2.6 million gold denari a month. Is this what you want? Or I have other options if your Majesties would permit me to explain them.” You offered as they seemed to sharply inhale from “price shock” you were sure. 

“What are our other options?” King Grenevere. 

“What you could do- is simply lease the Radiance Contessina Magnifica while your own custom one is being built. You have to remember, that if you choose to do this, not only will you get sailing rights on the largest, grandest skyship to ever sail the twelve winds. You’d be the first royals to set sail on the skies. I’m commissioning a master cuisine magnifique to go to every single Radiance Skyport’s location and find the best restaurants and other amusements. And you’d be the first royal tourists. You’d have the first of the greatest experiences the supersphere can offer. You can even sail this ship past the outer layer to the middle world and get to see everything within that since the Order is building skyports even there. And even sail to the core if you so desired.” You tempted. 

“You’d be in the skies to see events, such as the great moura migrations that happen only twice a year. Where they fly through the entirety of the supersphere in one single flight. You could sail with them in the skies as they fly in the northern and southern lights in the winter, following the moon and lighting up like diamonds scattered across the velvety sky. Or follow the golden sun around the equator in the summer. You would be the first in the world to do so. And every single king and queen, czar and czarina, cesar and cesaress, emperor and empress and every other kind of ruler you can think of, will all be coming to you- to learn where to go when to get the best experience. You’d be the greatest royal travelers in the superspheres and you’d do so from the greatest ship in the fleet. Protected by the best Dorierran and The Order’s security detail. So that not a single thing goes missing and that not once, are either of you, nor any member of your family and household would ever be in any kind of danger. You would have the best staff if you didn’t want to bring the staff from your own castle. I would personally see to it that the best staff in Dorierra would be staffing your ship for the duration of the lease. And when your ship is done. You simply get to move from- what will by then- be a five year old ship- into a brand new one. And one that will have five years worth of enhancements, upgrades and the very best of the best materials and components will be there, waiting for you to continue the journey if you so desire.” You detailed, going down a quick list you had made up that morning to really “sell” them on such an idea. 

“How much would leasing the ship be?” King Grenevere asked. 

“Well, unfortunately, this too has been up for bidding. Currently, a bid of 50 million denari a year is the lowest bid I can take to close out the bid. But again, this would only be for a few years. At the very longest- five years. And in that five years, again you’d only be paying a fraction of what you would be- should you buy it outright. And what you’re getting is the experience of getting the best- first. And have bragging rights for life for having the opportunity to do what no one else in the world can and could do. And while I can only pay purchase taxes from my business, because I never was a full Solowardian citizen. Because if women were given full citizenship rights, then they could be taxed as such as well. But Solowards and it’s laws and societies have been its way for generations and for such a strong tradition to change only for you to collect more taxes, I do not know or think would honor the Solowardian Tradition- do you?” You offered. 

“Well, that is a good point.” King Grenevere had to nod in agreement. 

“And Solowards wouldn't be Solowards if you changed too much too quickly. All I wish to do is to bring Solowards into the Dorierran Alliance and bring it into the world stage- in style.” You professed with a nod as you noticed, they were nodding with you, which was exactly what you wanted. 

“Now, if you choose to lease the Magnifica for that 50 million denari a year, for anywhere from one to five years, depending on how long it would take to build your Royal Solowardian Magnifica Radiance Ship, which you can name any name you wish. You can have it simply be the Royal Radiant Magnifica if you wanted, and keep my name off of it completely if you so desired. Because your custom ship, which I will see to it’s building personally to make sure it is the best of the best for you- and that while we will do our best to keep the wait as short as possible, we would not do so at the cost of the quality of the workmanship being anything less than perfect. And we would never cut corners or take cheap shortcuts, which so far- only seems to make ten more new problems when you try to take them, but that has only led to ingenious solutions to such problems being discovered that don’t create any additional problems whatsoever. So if it only ends up taking two years to build your perfect ship. Then that means, you will have gotten an 80% discount on the best ship of the supersphere and at end of that time, get the best ship in the world- yet again!” You implored. 

“And by then, the first Magnifica will still be the first Magnifica but by then, that’s when the new ships will take to the skies and by then there would be so many more royals to sail with from all over the world and in the D.A. And that’s where you can boast that I, the namesake of The Contessina Magnifica was born on Solowardian soil. That my ancestors lived and served yours for the last fifteen generations and that I was the highest station outside of royalty when I was there. That once upon, not such a long time ago- I was your Duchess Contessina DeBaringer before I ever became Her Radiance, Contessina Salgria. We could even commission paintings of when I was presented to Your Majesties in your court at the height of fashion. And your ship will always be the gold standard, to which all others are measured, right from the start.” You flourished, appealing to their vanity and ego and you could see it was working perfectly. 

“The only thing is, is that with such a sum, on a yearly basis, means that your monthly payment will be a bit higher than if you paid for ten times the price but over twenty times the length. A monthly payment of 5.2 million denari a month would need to be paid for all taxes and fees from the Dorierran Alliance. But there is no additional tax from The Order of Radiance. For you are King and Queen of my homeland, I would never dream of charging you of all people a tax. But there is, unfortunately, nothing I can do to negate the Dorrierran tax, which we all must partake in. I myself the most of all, because they charge a flat rate. So it doesn’t matter what I buy or spend, they get theirs one way or another, I assure you. But that also helps the realm, which, Solowards is also a part of. And it would trickle down to you one way or another.” You reassured them. 

“And, because you would be getting your own custom ship in the end, its price tag would still never be as high as the first Magnifica ship would be. And instead of paying 50 million denari for a ship a year, your ship could end up only costing you 50 million total. And that broken down into monthly payments for a twenty year loan would only end up being- a measly 434,000 deneri a month. And with all the income Solowards would receive from other royal tourists, such a sum would be a piece of cake to make and be one that you would never have to raise taxes on the people to make. That you would make it off of the other tourists instead. But keep your true Solowardian Soul and Spirit unchanged and keep it as grand in it’s traditions as it is.” You added. 

“Surely our treasury could afford such a thing. The pride of Solowards is resting on this.” Queen Phelicity urged her husband. 

“Yes, absolutely.” He agreed as you smiled happily while Kragan couldn’t help but grin victoriously and give your hand a reassuring squeeze. 

“I’m so happy we could come to such a beautiful and mutually beneficial understanding and arrangement. Now, I have three contracts for you to sign. The first- is that all those who come to tour Solowards can expect to pay fair market value on resupplying supplies, such as food and water, the necessities of life. However, on more luxury goods, that are not necessities. Like high Solowardian Society garments. Or jewelry, or wine or other spirits. You can always charge a luxury tax on such goods when being sold to other royalty and nobility who would come to tour Solowards. All of whom would be coming with their heavy pocketbooks-, eager to fill any other pocket for any memento of their wonderful travels to our magnificent homeland. You could even commission special gift shops making things in Solowards with even the Solowardian royal seal and coat of arms on them to sell as souvenirs. And you would not have to charge such a tax on your own native Solowardian citizens either.” You began as you put that one down first before you got their signatures on that first. And in the fine print of course, was the rights and freedoms of The Order’s citizens too. 

“Next is the lease agreement for the very first Radiant Contessina Magnifica and that you will have that model of ship exclusively for the first year. So that whenever anyone will see it, they will know that it has to be no other than the Magnificent King Grenevere and his beautiful Queen Phelicity and any and all other members of your royal family- there sailing in their skies and gracing them with your magnificent presence.” You flattered as you put the lease agreement down and they both eagerly signed it and were more than happy to put their royal seals into it and have that notarized as well. 

“And the moment the ship is unveiled at my sister Millicent’s wedding, you and any other you wish to invite on board are more than welcome to tour the greatest ship in the supersphere. You could even charge a small fee to offer personal tours so that all those in attendants will practically turn green with envy if they are not already naturally green.” You giggled with a wave of your hand which got them to chuckle laughter with you. 

“And lastly, is the building agreement for your own future Magnifica Ship. And here are the plans I’ve drawn up and we can always make changes to the little details as the building progresses and as new improvements come to light over the next two to five years. And should there be a difference in price between now and then, we can always work that out at another suitable time.” You offered as they were practically drooling to sign that as well. 

“And these plans are yours to keep and pour over- for as long as you want to and physical copies will also be presented at my sister’s Wedding in just a few short months. And that way you can compare your plans to the first Magnifica and if you find anything about the first Magnifica that you wish was different or that you wish you could change for your own future ship, by all means, do so in the plans- so that when you do get your dream ship in a few years time- it will be perfect for you and only you.” You encouraged them. 

“Oh, such a thing sounds absolutely divine.” Phelicity sighed dreamily.

“Well, like I said, I woke up early because this is what struck me. And if you feel it is divine, then I can not help but to agree. And this way, no other damage was done than a simple misunderstanding. But if anything, our bond and relationship can only improve and grow even more fruitful than it already has been.” You flattered. 

“Yes of course, it is as it always should be.” King Grenevere happily praised. 

“Well then, thank you so much for your time and should you have any other lands or properties for sale to The Order become available- so that more amusements and attractions might be built and made so that for years and decades and even generations to come, Solowards will be the first port of call on anyone’s itinerary, you have my number. And even if I should pay the luxury tax on such things, I will be happy to. For even the Solowardian Crown was put into place by the gods.” You reminded them. 

“Oh no, you are a daughter of Solowards. And I hereby decree that you always were a full citizen under the Solowardian Crown. You have every right that any other citizen under the crown has. And I shall put such things into writing today, both you and the family you were born from and the one you married into. I shall promote you all to the nobility of Grand Dukes and Duchesses in our court. And the native nobility will always be saved from paying the luxury tax, because we need to keep the nobility class noble don’t we?” King Grenevere offered. 

“Many countless thanks King Grenevere, you are ever wise and gracious.” You offered sweetly. 

“Now if Your Majesties will please excuse me, I have much work to get started on.” You offered sweetly. 

“Yes, until we meet again Your Radiance.” They offered. 

“Your Majesties.” You smiled sweetly and shut off the call to their Majesties as everyone else in your family and the Lavines and even those in the room with you all began to cheer and applaud you before Kragan leaned over and wrapped his arms around you to hug you from the large double seat the two of you liked to sit in and kissed your cheek sweetly before you kissed him back happily. 

“You played them like fiddle.” He praised. 

“Did I come off as too sweet that it could be seen as insincere?” You asked him.

“Nope, from where I sat, you made it sound like the gospel truth. Hell you had me going for a second.” Kragan teased as he kept his arm wrapped around your shoulders and nuzzled his face with yours before he used his other hand to pick up a pen and make notes to start looking and training guards for The Order’s guardian ships. Which would honestly just be Salgria Shipping ships armored and armed to the teeth with an even darker shade of gray in the uniforms. 

“I tried.” You offered as you relaxed into his side while making more notes with your hand as well. 

“You succeeded.” He cooed. 

“Very well done Dearest. You should win an award for that. Now Ladies? That’s how it’s done. That’s how you kiss someone’s ass without getting your nose brown.” Your mother gestured to you with each of your sister’s under her arms and squeezing them both as they both couldn’t help but roll their eyes slightly. 

“Seriously, I am over here taking notes!” Samantha even chimed in proudly as she literally was taking notes about this interaction. 

“If I had a hundred more of you in the bride system, ugh, there would never be another war, ever.” Langashi appraised. 

“Please have this crown, with it’s suite of jewels prepared as gifts for her Diamond Radiance and a masculine set to suit his Golden Radiance.” She offered to one of her servants who came and took the crown, it’s case from her and left to do just that. 

“And you did it so beautifully, and while you had to put on a little show of humility, the line of reasoning you used was flawless. And perfectly executed. You really are a wonder. Kragan, do well to cherish such a treasure. For there will be nothing that the two of you together can not do.” Langashi praised you and him. 

“Also, I hope you will forgive me, but I did have some laws drawn up for your approval for The Order of Radiance.” She offered before she made a gesture and showed you a set of manuscripts as you sat there and felt like you grinned like an idiot for every page you turned over and read as your eyes got almost impossibly wide but your smile got to be so bright and in awed wonder while your eyes glazed with tears as Kragan wasn’t able to keep up with you and simply rubbed circles into your back and let you speed read your way through them as you also took your pen and were marking which laws you didn’t care for as you went. 

“It’s like she’s a machine.” Langashi murmured in a gentle teasing tone. 

“She’s brilliant.” Kragan praised. 

“She’s a wonder.” Langashi praised. 

“Well this should do it for now. Should you ever need an iron fist wielding an iron hammer, you know where and how to reach me.” Langashi offered. 

“Thank you, for everything.” You paused and looked up at her as she began to stand up as you stood up with her to offer a more intimate goodbye with your newest best mother figure. 

“You’re welcome. It’s young ladies like yourself that are the reason I have become what I am today. And if by smashing the patriarchy, one kingdom and crown at a time is what I have to do it- to give young ladies like yourself every opportunity to make the world a better place, then so be it.” She smiled as she came over and kissed the crown of your head and hugged you as you got up to hug her back, like she was another mother or perhaps even a young grandmother to you.  

“Oh, this little one, she’s going to be trailblazer, just like her mother.” She said as she palmed your belly as she withdrew from the hug. 

“She?!” You and Kragan both excitedly gasped, as did everyone else present.  

“Yes. She. Mouras, can tell with their lira light touch- at conception, what their little ones will be. Other kinds, we have to wait until midpoint in the pregnancy to be able to tell if the little one will be a girl or a boy when the sex develops in the developing fetus. And in feeling her now, she is a girl. A lovely, strong and very intelligent girl, just like her mother. Although, she does turn slightly whenever her father talks.” She noted. 

“We’re having a girl! Oh my goodness it’s a girl! I get to have an Empress and a Princess!” Kragan cheered happily and practically bounced out of the chair to pull you into another tight hug. 

“Now that reaction right there, what I would give for every father to have that reaction when they are finding that their wives are pregnant with daughters, oh the world would be such a better place.” Langashi laughed as you immediately flung yourself into Kragan’s arms before your parents and the lavines all cheered their congratulations and immediately of course, started to throw out baby names. 

“Enough, enough, Kragan and I will decide for ourselves what to name our daughter, we will let you know when we have a name picked out. I’ll see you all again soon.” You urged before you said your goodbyes and asked for copies of baby name books be brought your personal, private quarters along with these volumes of manuscripts. 

“Of course.” Langashi readily agreed. 

“It’s a girl! It’s a girl! It’s a girl! Yes! That’s what I’ve been hoping for!” Kragan cheered as he literally jumped up and down in the room once you retreated back to your own private rooms as you laughed and hugged your belly happily as you laughed at his antics. 

“What are we going to name her? Victoria? Like Victory? Or Celestra? Because she’s the star of our life. Ooh! Or Lunesta? Or Lunabella? Because she’ll be the beautiful moon and stars in our lives?” Kragan asked. 

“Those…those are very Solowardian names Kragan. Are you sure you want to name her a Solowardian name? I thought you’d want to name her something from your culture because she’s just as much from you and yours as she is from me and mine, she’s ours. We can name her whatever we want or we can wait until she’s born to see what she will be when we see her?” You offered. 

“Yeah but, as much as Solowards is stupid, it kind of went off with the names. Solowards does have some really pretty names.” He excused.

“Doesn’t mean that Forestrong names are any less beautiful.” You tried to gently argue. 

“Darling, I love you, you’re brilliant and beautiful, but come on, she should have an amazing name that means something amazing.” He urged you. 

“But what if she’s like Gwen and hates having super auspicious name and that pressure for her to be equally impressive and remarkable has her running for the hills?” You tried to reason. 

“I mean my name means royalty. Because before Ron was born, my dad was trying to marry me off into the royal family. And that would have been as equally devastating as marrying Ron would have been. Do I want her to have a pretty name? Yes. But I also don’t want her to have such as extravagant name that she feels like she has to use two pages of paper to write it all out. I want to give her the choice and the chance to either taken the stage or shy away from it if she so desires. I mean, I’m happy to work at my desk, sitting in that double chair with you all the days of my life. She may want something similar or she may hate paperwork all together and never be stuck behind the back of a desk and sail the twelve winds just like you- with the sun and wind in her face and hair and a belt on her trousers and a ropes in her hands instead of a pen or gold for that matter. She may be our little adventurer where the only paper she wants to touch is the parchment of maps.” You tried to contend. 

“...true.” He had to admit. 

“...but that being said, I do like the name Glorianna and or Victoria or even Fortunata- for a middle name perhaps. Or even Adorabella, or Serephena or even simplified into Serena, or even Madelluna, or Magdellaina or whatever.” You clarified. 

“Adorabella Seraphina Magdelainluna. We can call her Adora or Bella or Serena or Maggie or Maddie or Del, or Luna for short.” Kragan offered as he listed off the several nicknames to be had from just those names.

“OK, that does sound quite beautiful and with enough variability she could do any number of things with her own name. That’s perfectly beautiful Kragan- Adorabella Seraphina Magdelainluna Salgria, there, a proper - but probably over complicated name for her Little Radiance.” You offered just as the baby name books got delivered which got you both to chuckle. 

“Do you want to see if we can find a prettier name or find other names for future children?” You suggested.  

“Ooh, the latter. I think we have Little Serena’s name pretty well settled.” He offered as he giddily palmed your belly. 

“Yes, Serena, I like it. Simple and if anything, she has filled me with a sense of serenity.” You offered. 

“Me too.” Kragan smiled before he kissed you and thankfully, lunch was delivered before you could eat again before you filled your hunger from each other again before you sat down to a wonderful lunch and baby name books.

[xyndavino]

"Best In Bodykits" -- Congratulations @atoycustoms @atoyllave @carkreativetechnik @conceptsam #conceptone #saffiro #PIAA #Sonax #Blaupunkt (at World Trade Center)

[thecandywrites]

The Switch Chapter 12

Oh My God. Well, in classic ADHD fashion. I had this. And then I got distracted, with, like 2 rewrites, an update on a story I had before I ever wrote this one and like I have like 7852709 other WIPs and story ideas and story lines that I would LOVE to move onto too. But none of it can go until I just FINISH THIS FIRST. Because I HAVE PLANS and plot twists and there's still more to this rollercoaster of a ride of story, I just have to get through the technical difficulties which are WRITERS BLOCK of how I'm going to get from here at point A to point B. But once I get to point B, it'll take off again.

So, after...way too long, here is chapter 12

The Switch 

Chapter 12

Once everyone came to drop off their housewarming gifts, they soon left again to give you privacy to continue with the cleanse. Then Mildred came back with potpourri and several more things in large sacks on special carts with wheels she used the rather crude but efficient elevators to get up to the floor and take to your room before she started to move things into the room, with Kragan’s, Saffiro’s and Samantha’s help. But then not long after, that’s when the deliveries started to come pouring in- furniture, silk screens on special dividers to section off sections of the apartment and you had to take refuge in the toilet in the hallway to not disturb the movers trying to move things into the rooms while also not interrupting the cleanse. Which you were sure you were passing things you had eaten as a child since this cleanse was so thorough.

All manner of things were delivered. A new mattress, down pillows, sets of sheets and bedding, furniture and loads of other household supplies. And of course foods to start to make the broths for the soups that you’d be eating for the foreseeable future that Mildred and Samantha went ahead and started to prepare while Kragan and Saffiro and the others moved things around in the rooms which Mildred really appreciated. 

All while Samantha and Saffiro never seemed to be more than an arm’s length away from each other which Mildred found amusing. And once you had finished with the first wave of the cleanse and came back to the room, you quickly noticed and found it amusing too. Now that you weren’t jealous that Samantha would be moving onto Kragan after your eventual death. But as a prospect for Saffiro? She seemed much more agreeable. But you also knew her well enough that she wouldn’t be putting up with Solowardian high society well, not without turning it up on its head or keeping out of it all together. But you also knew Saffiro well enough that you could see his instantaneous smitten state with her. 

Mildred, even though she had noticed, was much more concerned about you and making sure you would be “set up proper” in the room. And after the initial bowel movement, you were simply very thirsty and wanted chilled water with slices of citrus and mint as even more special food preparation items and ingredients and utensils started to be delivered. 

“What is this? This isn’t wheat flour.” You noted when the huge sacks of special flour were delivered to the room with oriental writing on them.  

“It’s rice and rice flour. Because you should stay away from too much wheat because while you should still have bread, it needs to be refined white flour- not wheat for the first two to three weeks and then it can be slowly reintroduced and even then- in things like pasta, or small buns, preferably stuffed with meats and things. Having wheat when it’s fried in oil isn’t good for you. But in the market, Miss Sammy showed us a group of people who settled there from the Orient. They make steamed rice bread buns that are just like soft bread, but will be much nicer on your gut. And it shouldn’t taste too different to you. Or if it does, not too much to be off putting because you’ve been gaining a more world traveled palette like Sir Kragan has. And while we were in the market, we got to try quite a bit of it and it’s quite good. When you are up to it, we can go and you can try it and I’ll try to learn the recipes to make them for you. But that being said, we did get you some varieties of the different steamed buns and filled dumplings.” Mildred explained as she handed you a special steel container that had special layers in it, each with its own steamed buns and dumplings, all made from rice and rice flour before you sat down at the table with Kragan and openned it up and were delighted to see so many layers of dumplings and buns all contained within the thing before Kragan walked you through how to use chopsticks to pick them all up to help you eat them. 

“Oh. Well Yekmeni had a lot of rice dishes. I like rice. Especially the Byrianni style.” You noted as you looked at the metal thing and appreciated its design as the scents were surprisingly appetizing. 

“And they can make noodles and pasta out of rice flour too, because you can still have the pasta you are used to, we just have to be careful about creamy sauces and cheese. But apparently most of the Orientals rarely have cheese and that much dairy in their diet, which is part of the low residue part. We just have to be careful of the vegetables because you can’t have too much roughage in your diet. No seeds, no nuts, nothing too fibrous, like beans, lentils, potatoes, that kind of thing. Lots of super refined flour breads, meats, some oils and fats now that your gallbladder can take them. But that also means you have to be careful of fruits. Like berries and watermelon, but the other melons like cantaloupes, muskmelon and honeydew melon should be ok in small portions. But figs, dates, prunes, dried apricots and other dried fruits should be avoided for the next month, and fresh fruits and cooked fruits should be ok, so surprisingly, pies like apple pie or peach pie or pear tartes should be ok, as should citrus.” Mildred said as she looked over her copied lists of foods you could have and foods to avoid while giving you the originals. 

“But the great thing about the western Europa pasta is that instead of adding cream, you can add bread crumbs, that will give creaminess without cream and if you use that huge arborio rice, granted risotto is a labor intensive dish, but again, if you stir it vigorously, it’ll give the taste of cream without having any cream at all, it’s just broth and rice. Simple and easier to digest. And once you can have wheat pasta or oats or barely and things like that, the soups should be awesome instead of just having meat and broth.” Sammy volunteered cheerfully. 

“You are literally in the one city in the world where we have cooks from all over the world, the whole of the supersphere- all under one roof. And I know this diet looks like you’re giving up everything you love, but I promise you, we will find work arounds and this just means you can find new favorite foods.” Sammy added as she had put down several other tins of the same things for the five of you to sit down and eat since Saffiro and Kragan had insisted she stay to do so. 

You looked at the list and sighed when you saw all your favorite foods on the list that were foods to avoid. You loved all things dairy. You loved berries, you loved berried fry pies the most. You loved cheesecake as your favorite dessert. You loved ice cream, and frozen custard the most. You loved fried cheese around meats too. You loved fried just about everything. And you loved melons of all kinds. Especially a really good sweet watermelon. 

“Hey Samantha, Kragan said you’re really good with books.” You began as you all dug into the food. 

“Nothing compared to what I’ve heard Kragan and Saffiro praise of you.” Samantha returned. 

“They’re biased.” You smiled with a dissmissive waive. 

“But Kragan and I are starting a luxury skyship cruise line in The Contessina Project. And because you have experience with hosting nobility here at Souja Inn along with merchants of all kinds and because you help run the Inn side of the tavern, that gives you quite a bit of experience and a skill set and I’d love to have at the very least your invaluable input on the project. And if you’d oblige me to help me find the right staff for it because in Fitsdale, I’d want to partner with Souja Tavern so that tourists can stay here while their ships get resupplied. And once I can recover, if I could talk to the owners, I’d like to talk about having a wing of suites for potential guests for the line to stay here and have the same wonderful experience here that others have.” You proposed to her as she lit up excitedly. 

“I would love to help you with that. I think that’s awesome. We are actually going to be rebuilding a wing here in just a couple of months during our off-season. If you wanted to- you could invest in the rebuild and you could have a say so in how they’re built and laid out and what materials you want and we can even get the glass makers to put your Contessina Ship logos in the stained glass of the windows.” Samantha suggested. 

“I love that idea!” You beamed happily before Samantha and yourself began to bounce ideas off of each other as Kragan simply grinned and got your journal out along with his own while Saffiro offered a new one of his own to Samantha to use to write down the ideas down as they were being discussed as Saffiro was exceedingly happy that Sammy was not only a sweetheart but just as bright, intelligent and practical as you were but was also exceptionally pretty herself. 

Then Ainsley arrived with her family in tow.  

“Hey, oh wow! You guys got moved in huh?” Ainsley asked as she and her children and her husband came into the room to see everything already moved in and situated. 

“Well I came to offer this.” She held out a box that had a bunch of scented candles in it along with a jar of special lotion and a case of the softest toilet paper you had ever touched in your life. 

“I know you’re going to feel like you’re crapping your guts out for the next day or two and it’ll smell awful, so that’s what the candles are for. The lotion is to keep you from getting any hemorrhoids while you do so. So you just get a smear of the lotion on the toilet paper and then wipe it again to get clean and you should be fine.” Ainsley admitted as she knelt on the other side of you and murmured that to you quietly. 

“Where did you get this toilet paper?” You asked her as you held up the roll, cut in such a way that the edges were clean but the layers of the multiple plied super soft tissue paper could be seen. 

“Souja Papier. Which makes all manner of paper. It’s the top of the line ultra soft kind- second only to the toilet paper in Dorierra, or so we’ve been told. Every merchant that comes through gets it by the case to take home. But it is also should be only a quarter of the price of the toilet paper that comes out of Dorierra, or so we’ve heard from suitors that have traveled to and from there to get a bride. But compared to the other toilet papers it is still pretty expensive but that’s only because you’re investing in very good quality.” Ainsley answered. 

“Dearest…” You began as you turned your head over to Kragan who was about to eat a dumpling and paused to answer you before you could finish your sentence. 

“Yup, Souja Papier ultra soft toilet paper for the Contessina Ships, got it.” Kragan guessed as you beamed happily because he knew you well enough he could already tell where your train of thought had led to which brought an adoring smile to Saffiro's Mildred's and Samantha’s faces to see it before Saffiro reached over and felt it too. 

“Ooh, I’m going to have to get a case of it for home and my room.” Saffiro appreciated it. 

“I could have used this a few hours ago.” You admitted since you had to use the bathroom in the hall while the movers were in your room, Mildred’s room and Saffiro’s room. 

“Well, sorry, I meant to come earlier but I just got off work myself because I ran late with my other appointments today. But these should help.” She offered. 

“Thank you.” You thanked them as you hugged them tight. 

“So this is my husband Annick, who goes by Nick and this is our daughter Nadia and this is….” Ainsely introduced her other children.

“How have you been?  Your mouth getting you into any more trouble lately?” Kragan teased as he had gotten up and hugged Nick when he and his family came in and knew all thier kids by name as they did the same to him calling him "uncle Captain Kragan" which you thought was utterly adorable. 

“No, he’s been good.” Ainsley answered for him as you looked questioningly to Kragan when Kragan had said that to Nick.

“When we sailed on the Cromwell together, his mouth got us into more trouble than we could get ourselves out of, on several occasions.” Kragan insisted. 

“Well we learned valuable lessons, don’t bet against the greenhorns to get out of scrubbing the deck after being in port for three weeks and the ship was covered in seagull shit.” Nick answered. 

“Or the barnacles.” Kragan recalled. 

“And the barnacles, those damned things.” Nick shuddered at the memory. 

“Well actually we learned in Wakanear that the mermaid population there love barnacles the way we love other seafood too and usually remove them from their whale friends which was why the pirate ships never had any barnacles and could sail faster than other ships in the past. And now that Wakanear is a Yekmenian province, we’re gonna be running all the Salgria ships through there from now on. Even if it’s just a two to four times a year visit. Especially the northern vessels that get them the most just to get the cleaning service the merfolk provide in removing them so we don't have to dry dock them.” Kragan volunteered. 

“Really? The merfolk communicate with dry landers there? And not in the whole- "siren song to your death" kind of way?” Nick asked. 

“Yeah, Princess Maisarra of Wakanear has a special relationship with them and she swims with them regularly and they talk quite a bit. Even Yekmeni has a special relationship with their merfolk population. And of course all mouras do since mouras and merfolk came from the same home world and share a root language since the species evolved side by side.” You added. 

“Oh, speaking of which, I should probably call Sarah and Audrey and Yana….” You remembered. 

“Nope, I already did that, they’re packing up and should be here tomorrow. Yana is bringing Zirvush fruit, which is like a cherry, and Agnes said it should be really good for your diet. And Yana swears that it’s both delicious and nutritious yet gentle on an upset stomach. Audrey is of course bringing adani fruits and seasonings and spices and another Messengerari for us to use here so we can keep in touch and not have to continually use the common ones in the squares. And Sarah is bringing Wakanear coconuts by the case because if you’re pregnant, and already nauseated and dealing with morning sickness, coconut water will be really helpful. And she’s bringing acai and avocados and the other tropical fruits that shouldn’t have too many seeds or too much fiber for your diet and of course they are also bringing a moura healer to heal everything else.” Kragan supplied. 

“Aw, they don’t have to trouble themselves just for me.” You sighed. 

“You’re their friend. They wanted to come and help. Audrey is especially sorry she didn’t fly you to a colony and to a healer herself while you were in Yekmeni last. So now, she’s bringing one to you. That, and she’s having a hard time getting Millie to decide on finishes for her ship because her tastes change with the tastes of the Solowardian court almost daily.” Kragan insisted. 

“Oh gosh, what color are they on now?” You asked. 

“Purple.” Saffiro supplied in a deadpan tone and a tired sigh as you rolled your eyes and bit into your soup dumpling and then took a tentative sip before an explosion of flavors seemed to bloom on your tongue. 

“And it’ll change a dozen more times between now and when that ship should be done.” You muttered between careful bites of the surprisingly hot soup dumpling. 

“Well we’ll get out of your hair so you can eat dinner. Don’t worry about anything Tessa, we got you. You’re part of the Souja family now. And we take care of our own.” Ainsely insisted which was exactly what Nora and everyone else had insisted earlier. 

“Thank you for welcoming me into it.” You thanked them before they saw themselves out as you were happy to simply sit down at the table with Kragan on one side of you with Mildred sitting at the head of the table with Saffiro and Samantha sitting across from you as you appreciated how well they looked together and their so not subtle looks to each other as you gave Kragan’s knee an appreciative squeeze under the table and a meaningful look. 

“This is really good.” You appreciated about the food. 

“It is, I thought it smelled odd at first but the more you eat it, the more you like it.” Saffiro appreciated as Samantha also helped him learn how to eat with chopsticks as she had already done with Mildred. 

After you had eaten your fill, it was time for another round on the toilet as Mildred, Saffiro and Samantha quickly took their leave to give you some more privacy as Kragan was already lighting up every candle that was in that box for the inevitable smell that was sure to follow. 

“They make a cute couple.” You noted as you sat down and felt like you pissed your body weight as it had never smelled so horrible before. But your kidneys were releasing every toxin that had been built up previously. So of course it would smell like liquid death. 

“Yeah they do. But I know Sammy, she would hate Solowards. She’s a Souja, Souja’s rarely leave Fitsdale.” Kragan appraised. 

“Maybe she’d take the place by storm and turn it on its head.” You shrugged. 

“Nah, the only way she would ever come, is if she could keep her independence which Solowards doesn’t give to it’s women with primogeniture and all that. And you said that women can’t own property. Which Sammy has in her own right. She’d never give it up.” Kragan predicted. 

“How good is she with accounting books?” You asked him. 

“She’s pretty good, granted not as good as you, but she’s pretty good. She does a lot for the Inn side of Souja Tavern.” Kragan answered before you grinned mischievously. 

“Oh no, I know that grin, what you got cooking up?” Kragan asked as he braved the stench and knelt between your feet in front of you as you were still sitting on the toilet.  

“Well I’m thinking- that if a relationship were to bloom and blossom between them, I think I know a way to even the odds in her favor.” You prompted. 

“I know Saffiro. He doesn’t like girls easily. His bar is already almost impossibly high. But Samantha is everything he’s never realized he needs. He needs a strong woman to support him and his heavy burdens. Samantha is strong. And Solowards needs to change. I think if the relationship blossoms and blooms, and her and I can see eye to eye on The Contessina Project. And we can agree on what needs to happen and how it needs to work. And I can trust her with it. I could always hire her to run the Contessina Skyport. But only if she can keep that job and keep all her income from it as her own and authority and control. And therefore it wouldn’t matter if Saffiro could make her a Duchess, she’d be independent yet they could help each other and she’d be strong enough to slap my father’s greedy hands off of it. But yet, still keep it in the family in a way. Do you think she’d go for that? As far as I’m concerned, she’s an heiress to the Souja Dynasty of the great and awesome Fitsdale. Which is more impressive than the capital of Solowards which is Varidhe. And if I can explain that I hired her because of her intellect and her work ethic and qualifications and aptitude but that I only trust her and her alone to run things for me in Solowards, much less Fitsdale. And that Solowards can’t have her or our business with its current unfair laws because I don’t trust them to not screw her or us over.” You proposed. 

“Well then lets see where that relationship goes. But that’s a big vote of confidence in Sammy and your opinion in her.” Kragan praised as you finally finished and wiped and quickly washed your hands before you got ready to go to bed early because it had been a very big day and all you wanted was rest. 

 “Hey can I ask you something?” Kragan asked once you both settled into the bed. 

“Please tell me it has nothing to do with the stench in the room?” You pleaded as you felt the stench of what you passed was horrific, no matter how many scented candles you had burned and what incense you had burning too. All you could smell was a rotting corpse from the pure evil that had left your bowels and bladder had flushed from your kidneys and liver. 

“No.” Kragan reassured you.

“Sure, shoot.” You answered as you laid in bed in the fetal position with Kragan spooning you before you felt Kragan take a deep breath and then hesitate to ask what he wanted to ask which made you frown before you rolled over in his embrace. 

“What is it?” You asked him as you looked up at him in the darkness of the room, only lit up with small flickers from the candles and the incense censors and the low glow of flames and embers in the fireplace from the small fire burning in there. 

“Maybe it’s not the best time to talk about this, you’ve had a really hard day, we should probably talk about it when you’re recovered.” Kragan noted. 

“Not if it will keep you from resting tonight. No more secrets, remember? What’s troubling you?” You asked as you looked into those gorgeous golden yellow eyes that still seemed to almost glow in the low light. 

“I know you love me now, but at what point did it turn from manipulating me into loving you and you manipulating yourself into loving me and you actually loving me?” Kragan asked. 

“Ah, I see why you would want me to rest and recover before you would ask me this and yeah, I can see why that would keep you awake.” You noted with a small but accepting grin before you rolled over and got the stack of letters you had written to your loved ones that Mildred had slipped into the bedside drawer to do with as you pleased, although the one you wrote to her, would be something she would cherish for the rest of her life. You used the low light from the fireplace to flip through them to find the letter addressed to him. 

“Here, read this. It’ll answer that and many other questions you could have.” You offered as you handed him the letter before you put the others back and rolled back into his chest and used his arm as your pillow to get comfortable. He used his enhanced vision even in this lower light to open it up and read its many pages, every once in a while then almost constantly the more into it he read- he petted down your head and back and pressing kisses into the crown of your head as you could hear and feel him start to get choked up as he read it. 

"My Dearest, Most Beloved Husband, Kragan. 

I hope that this letter finds you in good health and I wish you nothing but the best, and I hope Salgria Shipping can take the world by storm and that The Contessina Ships are also a great success. But most of all, I hope you can forgive me and especially Mildred and the rest of my family for what we have done to you. 

You see, only a couple of days before your offer of marriage came to my father, I had been diagnosed with very advanced side sickness and cancer that was terminal and inoperable and was given only weeks, to maybe a few months, but no more than a year left to live. That my belly would swell as if I was with child, but it would not be with a child, but rather, the tumor growing in size and from there, I would be mere days or hours from death. My entire family took the news very hard but kept such a diagnosis secret to save themselves from the runiation- since such news could cause. Especially since it would be seen as a family genetic defect, rather than a single member’s unfortunate ailment that had no cause and no cure. It was also kept secret so that the rumor mills and harmful gossip because such news threatened to destroy the family’s reputation and standing in society and business. The healers in Dorierra offered to try to cure me but for a sum of a million gold bullion. A sum that even if my father and every member of my family sold everything we had, could never hope to come up with even a small fraction of such a sum. Without my knowledge, my father agreed to your proposal simply to acquire as much funds as possible to pit them in the investments market, hoping by a miracle to even get up to a quarter or up to half such a sum. 

However, when Millie was informed of the betrothal, she threw a fit. And threatened to throw herself from the roof rather than marry you. She was the season’s Diamond of the First Water- meaning, aside from Solowardian Royalty, she was High Society’s most coveted bride and had already gotten dozens of betrothals in from every other gentleman in high society but none of them had the handsome offer you did. When Millie was informed of her betrothal to you, she came bursting into my rooms as I was already into my final confinement, preparing myself for my inevitable demise and my strength was growing less and less from one moment to the next. To the point I could not be out of bed for more than an hour without fatigue setting in and the pain from this side-sickness and cancer was excruciating if anything more than a shift were to touch my skin. 

But upon hearing Millie’s recounting of the events, I asked for her help to bring me to my father’s study since my father had refused to come into my rooms after my initial diagnosis. Especially since he had already thrown himself into making as much money as he could for a cure because he refused to accept that I would die before he could finance a cure. But I simply took his absence and withdrawal as his refusal to accept my perceived defeat and failure to be his first and greatest pawn in his well orchestrated play for fame, fortune and power. 

Once I had my father read your proposal, I must admit, I too was shocked. But with my terminal diagnosis, Ron’s bitter resentment and extreme prejudice against me and yet his already high and lofty standards that he would demand of me once I would marry him, the answer seemed obvious. So I suggested to my father to switch Millie and I in our betrothals. Ron had never met Millie before in his life and had not seen or gotten a chance to know her or possibly reject her yet. And if Millie had already decided against you based on nothing more than your kind and occupation. Then we both stood a better chance and meeting and making a good first impression with each other's betrothed instead since there was nothing in either one other than a business formality that our fathers had already agreed on without our input or consent. Millie of course was happy to get the second greatest groom in society besides our own brother Saffiro. And I was relieved to finally get a chance at a fresh new start, even if it was only for a short time. I instructed my father to tell the doctors to make up a believable lie about a horse accident that the Count and Countess Lavine would accept and most importantly Ron would accept and that would readily excuse my need for “medicine”to you. Which really was a concoction of poison meant to keep me energized, appearing healthy and strong but mask my true state of health and my other symptons of my terminal illnesses along with warding off pregnancy so that when the illness would finally run it’s course, my life and my life alone would be claimed, and no other, for even that was a burden too heavy for me to carry. 

My betrothal to Roncharles always hinged on me producing two male heirs within the first two years of marriage. And your betrothal never mentioned hiers or a time table at all. So behind Ron’s back, my father added 5,000 gold bouillon to Millie’s dowry and Senior Count Lavine accepted it. However, to induce Roncharles to accept Millie, everything was done to make Millie the most exquisite beauty possible and hopefully so great a beauty that Ron could never hope to resist. Mostly because Ron and Millie had never met before that night at the ball. Because every time I took Millie with me to visit the Lavines, Ron “conveniently” suddenly went on a hunt and refused to enter the house until I had left it first, much to his parent’s embarrassment and chagrin. 

However, in preparing myself for that ball, I had been informed by my brothers and father of your nature and personality and what approaches would work best. And when I wrote to you and you stonewalled me, I knew I was already fighting one losing battle and I did not wish to enter into another, especially at the same time. So that balcony was set up specifically by myself and my mother to make our first encounter as unintimidating, nonthreatening, and comfortable as possible. It was all done with calculated precision before you ever took your first step off that carriage at the ball. But while Roncharles was given the illusion of free choice. I knew you were too intelligent to fall for such a ploy and would readily see through the ruse. So I was determined to simply present as much of myself as you would let me reveal and let you make up your own mind about me one way or another. If you decided against me, I insisted to my father that I had already spent the last 18 years of my life being betrothed to a man who hated me. And if I was going to die in less than a few months, I refused to spend another moment in those circumstances again by forcing a betrothal onto yet another unwilling groom. And that if you refused me, you could claim any reason you wanted to refuse me, and that reason would be accepted and your dowry for your hand in marriage would be returned to you, no further questions asked. But even if all I could ever hope to be was your friend, then that was what I was going to be content with. 

Ron came into that ball and took one look at Millie, dressed up in the highest quality and most ludicrously lavish gown and accessories and decked out in more jewels than all of my jewelry in my jewelry box combined. None of it paste, all of it real. All glitter and glow. Even makeup made of crushed pearls and gold and silver dust and even diamond dust was applied to crushed flower petals and butters and balms to her skin to make her look utterly ethereal. She was made up to look like a Crown Princess and he bought into her illusion- in entirety- “lock, stock and barrel,” as you might say. He was immediately smitten and enraptured with her and she with him. And it happened only moments before you came into that ball. I was terrified he would take one look at her and dismiss her as quickly as he had me, or, heaven forbid, take one look at me all grown up and want to switch back. But instead, the moment it was evident that he was taken with her, the rest of his family and mine all breathed a collective sigh of relief, myself doing so the most. His father and mine both gave each other the nod of approval and agreement that the illusion of Ron choosing Millie of his own free will was a success. And I was told at the end of the night that once he saw her for the first time, he had no eyes for any other. Which was again, a great relief. And for him to propose the very next morning was the greatest relief of all. Because I knew that at least for the present, that she would do everything my father had always hoped I would do. And she would be happy and content and at the very least, taken care of while not exhausting my parent’s finances even more than she already had in setting up her own illusion of the perfect bride that even the brides of Dorierra would be hard pressed to compete with. Which is, sadly, all that Millie has ever wanted for herself. 

But then it was time for me to do the same with you but taking the absolute opposite approach. Instead of dazzling, I had to be more "drab" so as not to intimidate you and reinforce the inferred chasim of our social standings by Solowardian standards which was honestly a relief since I am, by nature much more reserved and discrete. Instead of perfect poise, perfect manners and layers of pleasantries and formalities, I needed to be at ease to put you at ease and embrace informality and be honest and frank without being blunt and offending so that you could be relaxed and wouldn't feel pressured or persuaded or forced into this becuase I had already heard that your parents were practically dragging you into this kicking and screaming the way Roncharles had been all his life. But instead of rebelling against it because I was not his ideal. You were rebelling because I was a stranger and thought I felt the way Millie did, without actually giving me the chance to tell you myself how I felt about it. But all of that changed the moment you came into that ball looking like a masculine version of a damsel in distress and a mighty eagle in the silken binds of peacock feathers. I wanted nothing more than to save you from your discomfort and set you free from such constraints. 

The reason I felt that way was because I very vividly remembered when I was presented at the Queen’s court at 18 and I felt the exact same way you did. Every set of eyes of everyone in Soloward’s high society were on me. Looking me up and down and weighing and measuring me with just a glance. And while my mother is a Duchess and one of the leaders of Solowardian high society, even she could not save me from the Queen’s scrutiny or the scrutiny of her daughters, the Princesses. Princess Frangellica, upon watching me being presented- said that ‘it was a good thing I was already betrothed because had I not been, I surely would have died an old maid with only my fat belly to keep me company’ and the snickers among the Queen and the other Princesses soon infected the entire courtroom. And from then on, I was on a very strict diet and shoved into the tightest of corsets at social events, but even then, that first impression was impossible for me to shake or improve from.

But even with that history, I was terrified that you would take one look at me and judge me the same way they and Roncharles had done in the past. But I could not show my feelings or fears on my face or in my words, least offending you and fucking up all the hard work I and my family had already done and was already in the middle of doing. 

Because at that point, my family already had plans for your family so that you and I could make “our escape”. Gwendolyn was tasked with taking care of your sisters, Saffiro was tasked with taking care of your other brothers and my little siblings were urged to take your youngest siblings up to the nursery to play during the ball, which Mildred herself oversaw. 

That balcony’s table was filled with your favorite foods, which your mother had already provided myself and my mother the lists and recipes and the seating arrangement was set in such a way so that when and if you sat down, depending on where you sat, would tell me exactly how much work I had to do to prove the benefits of the match. But when you sat at the chair closest to the couch, it gave me hope that perhaps I had a fighting chance of at least becoming your friend. 

But that was the last of the manipulations. 

Because the moment you opened your mouth and blurted out ‘aren’t you angry about all of this?’. It was you who won me over. But I must admit, I did answer with a lie. I was angry. I was angry that I got cheated out of a life I had prepared for my entire life up to that point. I was angry that I had lived my life in so much fear of making the smallest of missteps, that I would be sure to fall. I was angry that I had spent my life being betrothed to a man who hated me to the core and would have to live in a society that only tolerated my person only because of my family and connections. I was angry that I lived in a society that did such injustice to every woman within its society. I was angry that I had never once been able to enjoy a day of my life or a meal in full and that it took a terminal illness to release me from the biggest moron on the supersphere. I was angry that everything I had ever done up to that point was for naught. 

But most of all, I was angry at Fate itself for demanding my life so soon, that only in its last moments, would it give me the love of my life to enjoy the precious but few moments I had left- with you. And from there, I was furious that I could never live the life with you that I wanted to. Because in my heart of hearts I have loved you. In my wildest of fantasies- I have grown old with you, wiser with you, more in love with you every moment after than any moment before. I would have had as large of a family as my body would have otherwise been able to bear. I wouldn’t have cared if we only had a penny and a single row boat to our names and only the clothes on our backs. But just for the chance to be together, I would have given anything. And have given everything. Even if I have to give the last of my life, just so that the latest and greatest idea you’ve ever had is to take flight. I would have loved to do nothing more than to soar in the clouds with you. To feel the crisp air in my lungs, a cloud’s gentle caress on one cheek and your hand on the other. I have loved you, heart, mind and soul. And I’m so sorry that our time together must be cut short just as we were gaining speed and height and momentum. 

But if you ever wonder if any or all of it was real, or imagined, or manipulated, please, believe me, our love was real, and genuine. And that other than the circumstances of our first meeting being manipulated to put you at ease, I never had to manipulate you personally any further. All I did was present myself to you and give you the chance to either accept me or deny me as I was. No other pretense or any other stupid bullshit. I was never a charlatan. 

Other than keeping my true diagnosis from you for fear you would retaliate against my family, I have otherwise done my best to be honest and transparent with you. Because you were never a fool, not even for love, even when I was. 

And while I will always feel guilty that you may look at this situation and feel you were taken for a fool. Hopefully, your latest dream inspired by your own true love for me, will make it back to you at least a hundred fold. And watching you soar cloud high in spirit has only lifted mine for the last time from even the depths of the grave. And I can only hope that if there is an afterlife, or a chance to be reincarnated- that we find each other again. But that we get to enjoy a full life together then, for twice as long as what has been denied to us this time around. 

My greatest regret in life, has not been feeling like I’ve been cheated out of a fairytale romance with my soul mate, for which- such a wound is beyond words. But it is otherwise- not being brave enough to tell you the truth with my own lips and face to face. You have given me chance after chance and opportunity after opportunity to tell you, and like a famous writer once said- “I was in the middle before I realized I had begun.” 

I should have told you that first night on that balcony. I should have told you that night as we were sitting under the stars hand in hand. I should have told you before you ever proposed. I should have told you before we said our wedding vows. And at the very least on our wedding night. But while my guilt has been eating away at me all along, I have been otherwise blissfully happy thanks to you. At least, I can say, with confidence, that I have lived up to my marriage vows to you. I have loved you, truly- with my whole heart and soul and mind. I have been wholly and completely devoted to you. I have never once been unfaithful or disloyal to you. I have never looked at any other with want or lust in my eyes after my eyes got the privilege to behold you. For it was for you and you alone that my heart beat for - after our engagement. And while I'm sorry our courtship was rushed, for not having much time left to live, it had to be so that I could enjoy what few precious moments I could with you. And after you unveiled the greatest wedding present in history in the form of a ship in my own name. Of which is an honor I never could have prepared myself to receive. I only wished to help it and you and every other amazing and incredible idea you have- or that we have had- become a reality. And I only hope that for such a great gift and service you have bestowed upon me, I have returned others to you in kind. And with such a diagnosis, knowing that death is coming for me, I could never in good conscience take any other's life to the grave but my own. Which is why I have done my best to ward off pregnancy. For the cost of my life is already too high a price for you to pay, I would never ask for the precious life of an unborn child to be paid with it. 

I didn’t want my diagnosis and my true health condition to kill those precious gifts before they could ever be realized or come to fruition. I didn’t want you to bankrupt yourself or your family trying to save a lost cause. Or pay any more on my behalf than you already had. Because while you feel you simply paid for the privledge to court me, I feel you paid a ransom for death’s prisoner, but for a time much shorter than what you were owed. 

You have been cheated my love. You have been cheated out of decades of time. You have been cheated out of money that was hard earned. You have been cheated out of happiness. You have been cheated out of so many great and wonderful things. And I would have loved nothing more than to offer up the world on a platter for your pleasure and taking. I would have been so happy to live my life beside you. I would have been so happy getting you the justice you deserve. I would have been happy to smear our happiness and success into Solowardian’s High Society’s faces. And I would have cheered as you continue to show the world just what you’re capable of and just how high you can soar. So far above the fray, that entire nations are mere specks on the vast surface of the supersphere. And I would have loved for you to show me a world where the sun never sets and the days are as beautiful as they were showed in the great works of art. And in theory- could never end if you don’t want them to. 

I would have loved to see how Salgria Shipping became an even bigger empire than even Dorierra. I would have loved to see The Contessina Ships bring you just as much joy and pride as I have, and as much pride and joy as you have brought me for the simple but divine right and privilege I’ve had to be your wife. Because you have clothed me in love, respect and dignity just as much as any other ever could have regal splendor, glittering jewels and gold. For what are such worthless things compared to the priceless? Especially when such physical endowments pale in comparison to the intangible, but perfect benfaction you have given me. You have loved me to the point of invention. A point I never knew possible before I met you. You have given a sick and dying girl, the chance to go on one last adventure before the grave could claim her so that such things were not just stories in books, but experiences and cherished memories, fully realized. 

It was the most painful thing I’ve ever gone through watching you sail away from your childhood home, you, and the ship you were on- shrinking down until my eyes could not distinguish it in the sky, knowing that it was the last time I would see you face to face. I sat the grass, it’s blades clutched between my weakening fingers wishing I had the wings of a bird to fly away with you, but feeling so tired and weak, I could barely stand. Wishing I had the courage to tell you the truth, and selfishly ask for you to stay so that the last things my eyes would ever see while on this side of the grave- would be your perfectly handsome face, the face of the one person I have loved more than all others. And a sight I never would have gotten bored or tired of. A face I have been waiting my whole life to finally see and know that your heart and soul were the perfect match and counterpart to my own, no matter the body such things possessed. I would  have loved nothing more than to see all the little bits of yourself mix with all the little bits of myself in any and every child we possibly could have ever had. I would have even adopted any child you would have ever had with any other. Because they were all part of you and I have loved you wholly and completely. And if those children were made in love, they would be kept in love and comfort all the same. It is a right every child should have- to be loved by the parents who made them. 

Now My Love, I am sadly running out of paper. Because I could go on for hundreds of thousands of pages of all the ways I have loved you and the life I wish I could have led with you. But I must be mindful of how much time and energy I have left. And I must, unfortunately use it wisely. So if I may leave some last advice for you. Please, head what you can.

First I ask is that you give yourself time to fully grieve me. And while in the beginning of our courtship, I mistakenly thought that while you fell in lust with me in such a short amount of time, it was easy to call lust 'love' when it would only be fated to last for a blink of time. And I thought that you would be quick to recover from me and do so pretty easily. And that in only weeks or months, you would weather the storm of grief in only weeks or months. Oh how wrong I was. I now know that that is not the case. We fell so hard in love with each other and so fast and so soundly, only Fate could be attributed to the almost instantaneous state of our relationship. And while there has been a healthy amount of lust, it didn’t hold a candle to love that blossomed and bloomed between us- right before our eyes. And for such a glorious and beautiful flower, it’s a shame it will only bloom for such a short time. Fate, for dealing me such a heavy, fatal blow, it at least had the decency to bring us together and not getting in the way of us uniting faster than we naturally could. I’m so happy that at least we got to be together, even for as short of a time that did. 

Please, do not let regret eat away at you the way it has me. And do not look back and mentally kick yourself for not seeing the signs that I was much more gravely ill than I let on that I intentionally buried and covered over and hid from you. The regret has been a burden that I only hope I have been able to bear it for both of our sakes. Also, please, do not give up on The Contessina Project. Rename if you must. But it is the future of the Supersphere and it will be your greatest triumph yet. Do not cut it off at the knees just because it’s namesake is no longer with you. Trust Audrey with it. She will see to it, that it is done correctly and I trust her to do right by you with it. And while she was aghast at the price Dorierra asked to cure me. She too sensed the severity of my sickness, and could not risk her own life or kingdom or the lives of her friends to try to cure me. Even she and Dr. Hayati sensed the severity and the terminal nature of my illness. And even they knew it was a lost cause. And I hold no ill will against them for sensing the truth. And while the healing stones bought us only a month or two more of time. Even they had limits. And Audrey wanted to respect my wishes to not kill and gut the Contessina Project just because it’s namesake was terminally ill. 

Also, hold true to the course we’ve agreed upon for Salgria Shipping. I hope that there will come a time, that the sun will never set on the Salgria Shipping Empire. And I hope you finally get the recognition for it’s success you’ve been owed all along. You’ve poured your heart and soul into it all your life. It’s only right and fair that it pays back in kind and takes care of you better than I ever could. And while I know having Salgria Shipping in one hand and The Contessina Shipping Enterprise in the other. You are strong enough to handle both. You are smart enough to chart the courses for them both. There is no one in the Supersphere who is more capable than you to do so. Never doubt yourself My Love. Trust your gut. It’s gotten you this far in life. It will take you farther still. 

Second, when you are grieving me, do not give into the way of the bottle, or any other substance or drug. Do not lose yourself to grief just to join me in the grave sooner than you naturally should. I will wait however long I have to be reunited with you, even if it’s in the afterlife. And please, for the love of all that is holy, don’t lose yourself into prostitutes either. For they will be like parasites. And they will surely keep any hiers you would give them only to continually be a drain on you financially. But when you’ve recovered and the thought of me no longer brings tears to your eyes and overwhelming grief to your heart. And that every time you close your eyes, you stop seeing my face, and your dreams of me lesson in frequency. And you are mentally, emotionally and psychologically ready to unite your heart with another. Don’t go looking for a pretty face with a pleasant voice who will agree with you on everything. But get a woman, no matter her nobility, no matter her breeding, no matter her background- who isn’t afraid to call you out, and stand toe to toe with you and stand her ground. Who is passionate about what she believes in and for what is right and just. She doesn’t need to be a genius, just smart enough to keep her wits and her head. Who is a hard worker and puts forth effort. Who will be a reasonable creature as much as she is an emotional one. Who will have a good balance and reasonableness. Someone who tempers justice with mercy. Someone with a good heart. And I want her to be able to look at you and not see someone to dupe out of a fortune, or her ticket to a luxurious life of ease. But I want her to look at you as her equal in all things. And to see your work load and only wish to put herself beside you under it’s yoke and pull with you if only to share the burden with you so that your own shoulders don’t give out. 

And I want you to see the same thing in her. I want you to find a partner in life. Who is your equal in all things. Who will bravely and resolutely walk hand in hand, step by step in life with you. Who will, and can- give you a wonderful, loving and supportive family. You have always been an adventurer and a traveler. Your mate should be wanting and willing to be the same. Ideally, she would rather have the small and simple over the large, gaudy and grandiose in all things. But who is not intimidated by any high society, nobility or royalty. Where she comes from, doesn’t matter, only that she will feel that she belongs to you. And that you belong to her. The way you have belonged to me and that I have belonged to you when we have been together. 

I’m so sorry My Love. But at last, I must say goodbye. I have enclosed some music I’ve composed for my family. If you can bear to hear it, I want you to listen to whoever can perform it and envision me singing it to you. Please, take comfort in knowing that while our love was short, it was true. And that for as strong and wonderful it was, it must be cut short. I’m not afraid to suffer and die, I have done my best to prepare myself for this, but I’m heartbroken that I must do so without you. Please understand that I only wished to spare you any suffering in watching me go through such an ordeal, especially when your presence was needed elsewhere. I can only hope that your scent in the pillow beside me will last until the end. So that even if my eyes can not behold you, to my sense of smell and my other senses, you never left my side. I’m only sorry that I didn’t have more time with you. 

P.S. Please do not retaliate against my family, for they were only moved to try to survive and make the most of an impossible situation. Please stay friends with Saffiro. For he is still young and needs guidance. Especially when it will come for him to find his own mate in life. He has had myself as his golden standard of a friend and companion. Which is not fair to any other. Especially him. He needs a strong woman. A woman who can go toe to toe with him and anyone and everyone else. A woman who is not only intelligent but wise to walk side by side and hand in hand in life the way you and I have done. This will be especially hard for him and I fear the only women up to the task are in Dorierra. And while I have asked for your own dowry for my hand in marriage to be saved for such a purpose by my father. Who knows what will happen between now and then. He may take at least a few years to recover from my loss at least. And perhaps, even if I must go, he can stay your friend. And perhaps you’ll both be recovered at about the same time and can help each other navigate unfamiliar waters and both of you can be brave enough to enter the future, better for what you have endured so far. And wiser for it too. I love you, I have loved you. And I will love you and I will be patient until we can see each other again, if not in the afterlife, than in the next life after this one.

 Your Loving Wife- Tessa"

Kragan couldn’t stop crying. He couldn’t stop holding you and kissing you all over your face as his tears wetted your face as your own tired eyes teared up in response as he put the letter down only to hold your face in both of his hands and kissed you all over your face as more and more tears came to his eyes before he moved his arm to wrap around and hold you as close as physically possible. 

“Don’t you ever think that you’re being selfish about anything ever again. I am never leaving your side again. I never should have left you and I feel like an asshole who abandoned you when you needed me the most and I will be damned if anything separates me from you from this moment on. If you can’t fly, I don’t fly. If you can’t soar, I won’t soar. Hell, clip my wings right now. I don’t need to fly or soar or any of that if you can’t do it with me. Nothing else matters to me than you. To hell with everything and everyone else. You are the only one in the Supersphere I love and need in my life. I can’t lose you. You have been and are and always will be my one true love and my soul mate. I don’t care if I have to go to Heaven and demand your soul back from the gods themselves. I will pay whatever I have to keep you with me. You are never a lost cause. You are never a burden and you will never pay for anything ever again. Not even my own stupidity. Yes Fate did us a great service in bringing us together but Fate can fuck right off if it thinks it will ever take you from me. I have worked my whole life to become as strong as I need to be to bear whatever I have to for your sake. If you didn’t have surgery just this morning, I would be fucking you so hard this bed would break into pieces, but I also want to make damn certain you are never hurt by anything. Even a paper cut, the offending piece of paper needs to be burned to have the audacity to cut you in the first place.” Kragan insisted inbetween desperate kisses and sobs as he held you so hard it was almost hard to breathe, but you were clinging to him just as hard as your tears and his seemed to intermingle before you let out a laugh about him setting paper on fire for giving you a paper cut which finally got him to crack a smile through his own tears. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. I will tattoo those words onto every inch of my skin if I have to because they are already practically ingrained into my heart as it is. Nothing about you was ever a waste. It was only to prepare you for a life no one in that stupid fucking place that you called Solowards could ever dream of. You are not going to die. Not from anything and never any time soon. Other than this special diet from recovering from the surgery, you are never going to go on any other diet, ever. And I will love you and respect you and dignify you and worship you every chance I get to for the rest of our lives. Please, never, ever hold anything back from me. I want to know everything. Even the small, inconsequential and mundane. Because you and everything about you is precious to me. Everything. I can’t do without you. I refuse. And anything and everything else can just fuck off until you heal from this.” Kragan insisted. 

“Ok.” You readily agreed, so happy and relieved he wasn’t angry or upset or resentful- at least towards you as you did the same and reciprocated in kind and simply clung to him with the same desperation he was clinging to you.

You were going to live. And you were going to be spending every moment after this with him, your husband, your one true love and soul mate and you were going to bear this precious babe, come hell or high water. 

[thecandywrites]

The Switch- Chapter 6

*crosses fingers* don’t get flagged and get removed, don’t get flagged and get removed. Ok, I’m just gonna put it all under the cut to be safe. Warnings- it’s their wedding night where they consumate their marraige. So yeah, heads up. Graphic depictions will ensue.

The Switch 

Chapter 6

You got to dance a few dances with Kragan as Saffiro taught Kragan and his brothers a few that were popular in Solowards as you taught Kragan’s sisters the same dances, dancing with Saffiro to illustrate them as your parents did the same with Thaddius and Astrin. And once there was a couple of rounds of dancing and you grew weary and tired. 

“Kragan, My Love, I must make ready and prepare for the night, join me in the Royal Suite in about half an hour or so. That should be enough time for me to be ready for you.” You suggested in a soft, quiet murmur into his ear as the song you were waltzing with him to began to slow and wane to a close because your dose of medicine was starting to wear off and you needed to take either your nightly medicine or another dose soon as you left him and started to go back to the feasting table to gather your journal and all of Kragan’s papers that he wrote on to put them away in a safe place. 

But Kragan simply thought you were eager to consummate the marriage. 

“Oh, no need for that, if you’re ready to go, then I am too. I’ll come with you. Come, we should gather our future and carry it with us.” Kragan insisted as he went with you to the table and picked up the stack of papers to carry himself since you had left Mildred to watch over them protectively. 

“Uh, ok.” You couldn’t argue with him as you blushed, wondering how in the world you were going to take your medicine and hide it’s true nature from right under his nose. Quite literally. 

So both of you gathered up your notes and plans as both of you had your arms full of papers and your hands were holding the inkwells and your pens. The other “gifts” were already in the honeymoon suite for you to open later since they were gathered before the wedding and put in there before the wedding. You didn’t want anyone else other than Kragan and yourself to have access to such precious papers. Because you knew your father would try to at least have a servant sneak a few of the papers into his office for copying.

“My Lady, please, I insist on helping you carry those, I do not wish for ink to get on your dress!” Mildred insisted for a third time as she walked beside you and feared that somehow your journal and the inkwell would dirty your mother’s wedding dress as she tried to reach out to at least grab the inkwell, lest the ink stain your hands at the very least. 

“Mildred, can you see to it that my old desk is brought into the Royal Suite before it’s packed away? I need to use it while I’m in this suite, there are still things in it I wish to show my husband.” You urged her instead as you kept your journal and the inkwell and pen away from her grasping hands. 

“Yes, My Lady.” Mildred begrudgingly obeyed as she got two other servants to go and fetch your desk from your room before it could be packed up. 

“Thank you for listening to my ideas. I was going to try to wait until we left this place before I shared them with you. But I just couldn’t help myself.” You thanked Kragan in a low murmur as you made your way to the suite in question with Kragan by your side. 

“They’re excellent ideas, I’m grateful you trusted me enough to share them with me at all. I’m going to use every one.” Kragan assured you before you were shown into the Royal Suite of your family’s estate. Kragan whistled lowly at the sheer opulence that surrounded him as he got more ideas about his own estate and The Contessina ships because he wanted even those to have an opulence that at least matched this and exceed it if at all possible. 

“So why are we using your desk and not this one?” Kragan asked as he saw the desk in the room and temporarily put his stack of papers down on it along with the inkwell and the pen. 

“Because my father has the key to this desk and I don’t. And only I have the key to my desk for my privacy. And I wanted to put all of this into it and lock it up so no one but you and I can access such precious papers. Because if you had written these down on my father’s own stationary- he would have demanded that you share the credit and royalties for providing you the paper to write them down on in the first place.” You explained in a low whisper so that only Kragan could hear you. 

“What?” Kragan frowned in disgust. 

“But they’re your’re ideas, not his. If anyone is going to get credit and royalties, it’s you, not him.” Kragan explained. 

“Well technically since I came up with them while engaged to you and presented them as your wife- by Solowardian Law- you own them because you own me, technically speaking at least. Which is why I’m happy that Saffiro offered you his paper instead before I could offer mine. Because Saffiro wouldn’t do such a thing as try to steal my ideas and profit from them. Even though my father I’m sure is urging him to do just that. But Saffiro will resist and most likely say ‘it’s his wedding gift to us, the free paper to write down our ideas on’. And that ‘it’s only paper but the ideas on them are strictly ours’. Those are most likely the lines he will use against my father’s insistence. So, just as a safety precaution- to keep my father and his many, many servants from taking anything more from you than that fifty thousand gold bouillon from you for me, I’m protecting our future. From even him, just in case there was something he could copy himself. Because no doubt Millie will tell the Lavines all about it when she gets to Crimore. But hopefully their own prejudice will keep them from actually stealing and using any of the ideas. Because Ron especially would not do such a thing. He has always resented me, and his resentment for me has always been stronger than his own greed.” You explained in a low whisper and murmur as you did the same and waited patiently for your desk to be brought in.

“I’m sorry you have to be so guarded against even your own father. And frankly, Ron will suffer for feeling that way. Between Millie spending all his money, and demanding to be dripping in jewels and draped in gowns that are in fashion today and out of fashion the next. Serves him right for being an absolute prick.” Kragan apologized. 

“Well, thankfully Ron won’t get full control of his family’s wealth until his father dies and his father is in good enough health that he should last a couple more decades. And Count and Countess Lavine can of course always find a way to tell Millie “no” and give even her some boundaries. But it wouldn’t be the first or the last time my father has heard a good idea, taken it, made his own and put it into practice and profited from it. How do you think he’s gotten to acquire so many businesses and branched out into so many avenues of business?” You posed rhetorically. 

“Yeah, but you’re his favorite daughter, surely he wouldn’t…”

“Yes he would, and has. Which is why we are taking this precaution.” You cut Kragan off with a firm look that conveyed the seriousness of the potential threat that got him to frown but not argue further with you. 

“Thank you, you can all leave us now. We will call if we need you but I sincerely doubt we will. Good night.” You kindly but firmly told the servants after they set the desk down next to the other desk in the suite. Before Mildred and the others bid you goodnight and saw themselves out. And once the door was shut, then you used your key from the key ring you kept in your pocket. And used it to open your desk all the way, sliding open the rolltop to reveal all it’s compartments and things before you handed Kragan your own sketches for the uniforms you had drawn up. 

“I was inspired by what you’ve been wearing all week and obviously Solowardian military uniforms, I tried to blend them. Granted I’m not quite the artist you are.” You offered. 

“Tess, don’t be modest or downplay your intelligence, intellect or any of your skills. These are quite good, you even have colors already picked out, that’s awesome.” Kragan praised happily as he looked it over carefully, noticing your rather remarkable skills in drawing and you actually used watercolors to bring a sketch to life. 

“Well, that’s just the first one, I also have these.” You suggested as you handed the others from your sketchpad. 

“Ooh, I like this for The Contessina ships.” Kragan immediately urged you. 

“Well, actually those were the captain’s uniforms but yeah, that would work. You’d just have to make sure that the black cuffs and collars are protected when washing them so that if you need to use bleach, you won’t bleach out the black of the cuffs and collars, but the blues or even the purples would be a very clear distinction from the grays of the uniforms. Because gray is a neutral color, any orc from any clan of any color could wear it and look just fine. Gray in all it’s shades, black and white have always been neutral colors. But white is very difficult to keep unstained, black is difficult to keep from bleaching out and fading or even browning. But the grays, whether they be a lighter gray, like the underside of clouds or a darker gray like dark storm clouds, those were my inspirations, the clouds themselves.” You explained as you showed him pictures you had drawn earlier in your life of the different cloud formations over the estate’s gardens that were always quite picturesque. 

“I love all of these.” Kragan praised.

“Well I tried to incorporate other colors like tan or browns, like the wood you use on the ship or even blue, like a good navy blue, obviously- or even a medium or light blue, all the hues of the sky throughout the day. Blues and greens tend to not fade in sunlight. But I would just fear that depending on how dark brown the uniforms would go, would imply dirtiness to others. Because it would make them think of mud. So that’s why I tried to draw more from the sea and the sky itself. So where the lighter colors would reflect more light and keep that heat away which would be great for the tropical climates would appreciate the lighter colors since they’re already working in the hotter climates whereas the crews that work in the colder climates would appreciate all the heat they can get from the sun so darker colors would suit them.” You explained as you moved all of the contents to two of the three drawers, so that freed up the third to hold your journal and everything else before you began to put all the papers that Kragan wrote and drew on along with your notebook before Kragan handed back  all but one of your sketches back so you could put those in there as well before you locked it back up as he looked at his favorite one more closely, appreciating the little details. 

“Or we can mix gray and tan together to make a taupe.” Kragan suggested. 

“Oooh, or even just a twinge of purple to make a purple tinted taupe, that would look exceptional too. That would be a good balance between natural and even slightly ethereal and again, that color would compliment just about any skin color.” You suggested. 

“Love it.” Kragan immediately agreed as he wrote that down on his favorite sketch of the uniform before he handed it to you for you to put away and locked up. 

“There, now we can sleep and rest easy tonight, knowing our future at least is safely locked away so that only those who came up with it, get to have access to it.” You insisted before you handed Kragan the key. 

“No, you keep it, I trust you and only you with such a thing.” Kragan insisted. 

“Thank you, I shall guard it with my life.” You reassured and smiled happily as you put the key back on your keyring. 

“Is every family in nobility…” Kragan began to ask. 

“Like this? No, some are much worse.” You guessed. 

“That just doesn’t make any sense, you’d think family bonds and ties would keep people…” Kragan began to argue. 

“You would, but it’s just the way this country’s high society is. Remember in three days- we are going to leave it and never return except to build two skyports here. One for Salgria Shipping, and one for the Contessina Class ships. Otherwise, we personally shouldn’t have anything more to do with this place and its two timing, backstabbing, sexist, rude and degrading “high society”. But we will squeeze every penny from Solowardian commerce that we can, not the other way around.” You insisted. 

“Gods I love it when you talk like that.” Kragan praised as he gathered you into his embrace and kissed you soundly and passionately because he had never been so happy or more in love with a single being in his life. 

“I love you, I love you, I love you.” Kragan insisted in between kisses which made you giggle. 

“I love you too.” You returned happily as you freely let go of every reign of propriety because you were now fully free to really enjoy each other in every sense, especially carnally as you both eagerly undressed the other as you walked each other to the bed. 

“God I want to burn every corset you have so you never have to wear such horrible things ever again.” Kragan admitted once he stripped you down to just your chemise and your corset over it appreciating the fact that under that wonderfully silky soft and beautifully sheer chemise, your body was almost revealed to him. 

“Ooh, well I still need them while we are on Solowardian soil and at least one if we are to go citizen shopping in other countries where corsets are still required for their fashions. But once we get the hell out of here, by all means, I’ll light the match myself.” You agreed as you turned around so he could untie the knots that held the half corset to you as he struggled with the damn strings and the infuriating knot that they were tied into. 

“Oh for fuck’s sakes. Ok, hold still, don’t move.” Kragan complained as he struggled with the knots on the itsy bitsy but surprisingly robust cord that the corsets were tied with and their little tiny knots that were too small for his bigger, slightly awkward hands that were shaking slightly because of his excitement because he had a hard time focusing on the damn knots and not your glorious ass that was practically begging to be lavished attention on. 

His outburst got you to laugh before he went back to his boots and took the blade he kept in the leg of them and cut the dam strings by running the blade down the length of the crisscrossed strings. The corset practically flew off of you as you gasped when you held it in your hands and laughed hysterically when the bits of string were dangling from the eye holes. 

“Well that’s one way to get a corset off.” You appraised- as you turned around and let the corset fall to the ground but when you turned around your jaw was on the floor to see your groom completely bared to you and his body was built like a god worthy for you to get down on your knees and worship at his alter daily.  

“Oh lucky me.” You giggled salaciously as you reached for him to kiss him again as he gently pulled up your chemise before he sat you down on the bed. But instead of moving to covering you with his body. He instead- refused to mount you. And kneeled on the floor and stayed kneeling in front of you as his hands stroked up and down your legs and thighs as your chemise was pooled around your waist. Before he gentley parted your legs and smiled when you complied and spread them as wide as they would go as the scent of your womanhood filled his nose and made his head almost dizzy and love drunk and his senses seemed to go haywire for a moment. 

“Are you going to go down on me?” You blurted out rather excitedly as he resisted coming up onto the bed with you before you could stop yourself.

 The moment the utterance left your mouth, you wanted to pull it back in and eat the words back up. You slapped your hand over your mouth as your eyes betrayed your instant mortification. You were an unmarried “chaste” highborne lady, you were supposed to be completely innocent not know anything about sex. But sadly, you were not.  

“Shit.” You cursed as you instantly covered your face with your hands. 

“Hey, hey, hey, Tess, it’s ok, it’s ok, but answer your question, yes I am.” Kragan quickly reassured you as he gently pulled hands from your face. 

“I’m…I’m not supposed to know anything about this, and I do, and I’m sorry, I’m supposed to…” You began to apologize. 

“Hey, it’s ok, I promise it’s ok. I’m actually happy and relieved you know a thing or two about receiving pleasure.” Kragan readily and eagerly assured you as he pulled you into his arms and hugged you tight. 

“But I’m not supposed to.” You whimpered. 

“Hey, do I sound upset?” Kragan asked, his tone of voice gentle, reassuring and surprisingly soft. 

“No, but you should be, you should be offended that I…” You began. 

“Tess, look at me.” Kragan insisted as he pulled away just enough to look at you as his hands reverently held your face. 

“Tess, it is ok. I promise and swear to you I’m not upset or offended, if anything I’m relieved!” Kragan insisted emphatically. 

“But, how…?” You asked as your eyes welled with tears. 

“Ok, we need to talk just a little bit. I just want to have full disclosure between us and no secrets between us. And I want you to know everything about me ok? I’m an open book for you and only you. And yeah, some of the chapters aren’t that great. Hell look at me, I’m covered with scars and my body has seen more than its fair share of violence. I’ve fought off pirates and fought in bars and taverns and even on my own ships and I have gotten my ass kicked on several occasions. I’ve already lived a full life and had many, many experiences that I’m pretty sure as a Baron- I was never supposed to have. But I can’t change my past, any more than I can change my heritage. So, as I’m sure you’ve gathered, I’m not a virgin. I’ve spent my fair share of time in a whorehouse. Because- again, living my whole life as a sailor, I’ve been around, both literally and figuratively. But I’ve already been checked over and I’m not carrying any venereal diseases and so I won’t get you sick. So I’m clean for being, well, as dirty as sullied as my history is. And you’re the one who’s supposed to be offended and upset by that ok?” Kragan assured you. 

“No, I’m not upset by that. You’re so much more than just your experiences. Just as each of us is more than the sum of our parts. As long as you know how to give me my pleasure too, that’s all I wanted, but…” You reassured him. 

“Tess. You’ve spent your whole life betrothed to a jackass. Who probably has no clue how to please a woman. And you told me that most men in the gentry have mistresses and I’m guessing all your friends- whose husband’s have mistresses, probably have lovers themselves to balance out infidelity right?” Kragan assumed. 

“Some do and some don’t, most just have drug addictions, or gambling addictions, or are alcoholics.” You admitted. 

“Ok, so, don’t get mad, but Saffiro already told me that he’s tried to help you elope with others because he was against your betrothal to that bastard just as much as you were. And I was actually relieved to hear it. Because it shows how much he loves you. And it shows that you still have self preservation instincts. Which is good, everyone should have those. I’m proud of the fact that you have fought Ron off until I could come and save you from him. And if others helped prolong that and keep my place warm before I could come, that’s fine with me. I’m perfectly alright with that. I just want you, as perfectly imperfect as you are, flaws and all.” Kragan insisted. 

“Likewise.” You returned, feeling more relieved that he felt that way. 

“You offered me the chance to bare my soul without judgment. The least I can do is offer you the same. I don’t hold it against you at all. And earlier in the week,  when you said you’d be loyal to me, I believed you. I still do and I will never doubt you. Even if you had a lover in your bed only hours before, as long as they haven’t been there since you offered that to me, we’re good. So if you’ve been jonesing for a week for a release, I’ll happily give you as many as you want. It’s ok. I don’t see you as sullied or dirty or damaged or anything like that, I promise. Besides, I got to read a few of those books that you like so much. And there were some pretty awesome graphic depictions of sex in those, which was really hot and so sexy. And all I want is to give you the pleasure you deserve. And especially if you have already gotten a taste of it, then you have that much more instruction to give me on how to give it to you the way you want it.” Kragan earnestly professed as he held your hands in his own and kissed the knuckles affectionately. 

“Ok, it’s not quite like that.” You began with a wince. 

“Then how is it? Please tell me, I want to know, and I swear I won’t judge you for whatever it is.” Kragan insisted as he just held your hands and patiently waited for you to talk and gave you his full attention. 

“Ok, so I’ve never had “traditional” intercorse, I’m still “technically” a virgin. But Saffiro wasn’t the only one who tried to get me to elope. Ron did too.” You admitted. 

“Wait, what?” Kragan frowned, shocked by that revelation.  

“For the last three years, Saffiro and Ron actually worked together to try to find me someone, anyone- to take Ron’s place as my groom. Because not only did Saffiro think Ron wasn’t good enough for me. But Ron has always been very intimidated by me because I’m two years older than him and therefore “had a two year head start on everything”. And every time Saffiro has tried to “help me” he’s unintentionally hurt me too.” You confessed as your shoulders sagged. 

“Ok, I thought Ron thought he was the god’s gift to women? And an egocentric spoiled, selfish prick? How could someone with that big of an ego be intimidated by you?” Kragan asked. 

“Because I’m better educated than he is and he knows it. Everyone in the gentry knows it. Sadly, thanks to Saffiro. The fact that I was more clever than he was. He felt emasculated by it and it only soured him towards me that much more and sent all the other men in the gentry running from me when they found out too.” You admitted.

“Like Saffiro just blabbed to them that you’re a brilliant genius and they got scared off or…?” Kragan guessed. 

“Yeah, that. And Ron sent his own tutors to test my intellect, based on Saffiro’s praise. And when they did test it, they threw problems at me that most men who pay thousands at the top colleges in the country to be taught by professors of language and mathematics and history and philosophy- even they would have a hard time answering them. And when I answered them without hesitation and answered them correctly because they did so in front of my father and Saffiro, they had no choice but admit I was correct in my answers.” You revealed. 

“That’s awesome.” Kragan grinned happily. 

“No it wasnt. It was awful because then they grew desperate to try to find a way to prove that I wasn’t as intelligent as they had previously proved. So, they reached out to every Solowardian university and college and got copies of all of thier entrance exams, exit exams and certificate exams and even graduate and degree exams. And they tested Ron, Saffiro, and myself all side by side but they only had us put our initials on our exams. But Saffiro insisted that a third- neutral and objective committee be the ones who would grade them because he didn’t want any favoritism for his own tests or any bad marks based on the fact that I was a woman go on mine either. Becauase he could see that Ron’s tutors were looking for any little thing to discredit me and to find fault in anything and everything. So that’s why he suggested a grading committee who was neutral and who was objective and who would only see the initials to differentiate the test subjects. The tutors simply signed off that we didn’t cheat or use any other materials than the tests and our pens and pencils for calculations. But were not allowed to grade them themselves. Only hand them over to the grading committee.” You explained with a heavy sigh. 

“Saffiro made my father and the tutors swear on the holy book to not to tell which test was whose to the third party grading committee and my father was with them to make sure that the tutors did nothing to the tests themselves to sabatoge the tests or the results and would not say anything at all to the grading committee other than solumnly swear that all three test subjects did indeed take the tests in full, did not use any books or other sources but only our own brains, pens and pencils. And that was all that they were allowed to say. And the grading committee- just so happened to be the very professors at these colleges and universities that these tests came from. And of course my father was curious as well- so he simply said to the third committee that he had three children that he was testing how well his own tutors had taught them. Saffiro did as about as I expected him to do- which was fair. Not great but still better than Ron who did dismally. The surprise for everyone was my results. That all the information the grading committee had was a set of initials- that I did not cheat- and that I was the child of a Duke. That’s all that the third party had to go on to grade them.” You began to explain. 

“And let me guess you did better than Saffiro did?” Kragan guessed. 

“Much better. When they got the tests back, and found out that I passed and not only passed but aced all of them. I didn’t make a single mistake on any question on any of the tests. The grading committee proclaimed that only a true genius would be able to pass all of the tests. And from the tests and the results, they calculated my intelligence. And it was the highest score ever achieved before. Everyone who saw the tests and my answers proclaimed I was a genius. But only because they saw the tests with only my initials, and the results, not knowing that it was me that had been tested. Every college and university offered the test subject with my initials- free scholarships to not only attend thier very expensive, predigious schools, but even teach- if it all possible.” You explained with a bittersweet expression. 

“That’s great though! I mean I always knew you were smart but the fact that you’re a literal genius. That makes so much sense and I’m so happy and thrilled to have such a brilliant wife.” Kragan insisted happily, not understanding at all how you wouldn’t be beaming with pride about this. 

“And that’s why I’m happy to be your wife. Because you are the only man on Solowardian soil who feels that way.” You answered as you squeezed his hands with your own, marveling at the contrast of his rich green skin to your troublingly sickly fair skin. 

“So did you go to all those colleges and universities?” Kragan asked. 

“No. Because once the tutors and all the professors and teachers from all the universities came to our house because they all insisted on meeting such a brilliant genius in the flesh. And to see Ron, Saffiro and myself come down the stairs. They automatically assumed Ron’s tests results were mine and that the genius was obviously Saffiro. But when Saffiro told them what his name and intials were, then they looked at Ron and thought he was the genius until he told them his name and his intials and that only I was left out of the three tests subjects. They demanded to know who else was tested. And none of them wanted to believe that the test subject with the initials of C.V.D. was me. And they refused to believe it. Until my father made all of the tutors confirm that I was C.V.D. and had all three of us announce our names and write down our initials on the chalkboard that had been brought down and they used our writing on the chalkboard to test our handwriting to that on the tests. And that was the proof that they needed to prove I was in fact C.V.D.” You recounted.  

“And once they all had no choice but to accept the fact that the test subject with the highest scores- was me and that it was my initials that I had written on them. And that I rewrote my own initials to prove that the handwriting matched. The look of mortification and outrage on their faces is an image I will never forget. Because for them to grasp that such a brilliant mind was the head of a woman was preposterous to them and abhorrent. And they claimed I had somehow cheated even though all the tutors and those that administered the tests all signed that they had watched me take the tests and that I, as a test subject, had not cheated in any way shape or form.  Immediately all the offers were withdrawn and the very same professors who proclaimed I was a genius that needed to be the next shining pupil or even a professor at their colleges and universities- suddenly proclaimed that no woman, with her feeble brain, could be that intelligent and not be a raving lunatic as well.” You revealed as tears came to your eyes as Kragan gasped in outrage himself. 

“NO!” Kragan balked in horrified shock. 

“Oh I assure you. They did. And they demanded that my father admit me to a madhouse and have me chained to walls because I could be a danger to anyone around me. And they claimed they could see the insanity in my eyes. So at the very least they demanded to test my senility. And when they did test that I was in fact perfectly sane. And that they could not find a way to invalidate me, and discredit me in any way. But the fact that it was Saffiro who did fair but it was Roncharles who did the poorest, it was a great embarrassment for Ron. Because they claimed he was an idiot who was on the verge of retardation and had thought that I was the one with his initials.” You explained. 

“That’s horrible.” Kragan heaved as he fought to keep a firm grip on his temper because he wanted to burn those horrible professors in their homes and bomb the very universities and colleges they taught at. 

“So my father got some really nasty letters from all of these colleges and universities and all their teachers and professors. All of them berated him for educating me so highly. And that I was never going to marry well because no man in his right mind would want a wife with an intelligence that dwarfed his own. That’s why Millie and Gwendolyn’s educations are so limited. And why Ron adores Millie because she has the “appropriate” amount of education. But she is otherwise, intentionally kept naive and less educated than he is. And Millie is happy and content with the education she has and has no wish to improve it. And that was done so that Millie and Gwen won’t have that problem that I’ve had.” You explained. 

“That’s not fair.” Kragan complained. 

“Life rarely is.” You shrugged. 

“So how did Ron’s parents take the news?” Kragan asked. 

“When Ron’s tutors gave him and his family the results of his tests and mine, they were supremely disappointed in Ron’s performance. But were elated at my results because that meant that Crimore would be looked after exceedingly well. And that just infuriated Ron more and really pushed him to try to get me to elope with someone else, anyone else. Ron hated it because suddenly his parents preferred to talk their business with me over him because I could easily grasp and understand things and offer solutions better than he ever could and he grew very jealous and even more resentful and just downright hateful.” You confessed. 

“I see.” Kragan nodded in understanding. 

“I mean Ron’s an idiot in every sense. But obviously his parents and yours understood why you had to have the education you did, for Saffiro’s benefit. So at least they didn’t punish you for it, did they?” Kragan asked worriedly. 

“No.” You reassured him. 

“And what’s rather ironic is- all of the men who Ron and Saff have tried to get me to elope with have been just like you. At least in the sense that they’ve all been wealthy merchants who were ecstatic that I had such an exquisite education and that education could be shared with them and help their businesses. And all they saw of me was that I was like a living calculator that somehow held all the answers and secrets to success and income they could only ever imagine but didn’t know how to achieve because their own educations were limited. And instead of Ron or anyone else in Solowardian high society, using me for my dowry and my nobility and my connections. All the others wanted all of that and were especially keen on my intellect and were keen on my help with their businesses. And their version of courting me was showing me their business models and business records and having me audit them and see where they could improve and where they could gain more income.” You revealed with a derisive snort through your nose and a shake of your head. 

“And you have never once asked for any of that. Which was why I was- for once, keen on giving it to you.” You added with a fond smile despite all the heartache you were feeling druding up all of this past history. 

“And a few of them thought that if they could talk their sons into “sullying me” by going down on me and giving me pleasure orally. That- that, would be enough for them to use against my father and I so that I would be their wife but not damage “my honor” enough that it would ruin me completely. And with Saffiro introducing me to all of these people and interfering. It put a wedge between Saffiro and I. Because while he was only trying to help, I ended up paying most dearly for it. And the first time it happened, it betrayed all trust I had built up with my father. Because in the first instance- he felt he couldn’t leave me alone for a moment without me trying to find a way out of my responsibilities or trying to seduce any young man who came to the house.” You admitted. 

“But they were the ones who tried to seduce you and manipulate you and jeopardize and compromise you! If anyone was not to be trusted it was them, not you!” Kragan insisted. 

“Thank you. I agree and it took for my father to see it with his own eyes before he believed me. And when he did and caught them red handed so to speak- he instantly came to my rescue- before they could get too far and got me away from them. And once he learned that what he had stopped was how the previous involvement happened. He was furious with Saffiro and he was furious with himself and he apologized profusely to me- for coming down so hard on me the first time it happened.” You revealed. 

“Oh gods, what happened the first time?” Kragan asked as worry and anxiety formed a pit in his stomach and made it sour and grip his chest so that it felt hard to breathe at the very thought of you coming under any kind of punishment was abhorrent to his very soul.

“The first time it happened- he basically put me under house arrest. And I was not allowed out of my own room whenever any business associate came to the house to do business with my father, nor any other social gathering for a month. And he restricted what I could read, who I could write to, what I could write about. Because he read all my letters and intercepted all of my mail to make sure I wasn’t secretly trying to go behind his back and elope anyway. He changed out my maids. He changed the locks on my doors. He took away the lock to my desk. He inspected my rooms the way a wife would inspect her husband’s mistress’ rooms. He took away my allowance. He forbade me from socializing with anyone. It was awful. I felt like a collar around my neck and it was set to strangle me and a leash that was so short it kept me to my room and only my room.” You revealed as Kragan’s frown got deeper and deeper into his face as his breathing got more and more labored through his nose as it flared in rightous indignation and outrage as he wanted to do those same things and a hundred times worse to your own father and a thousand times worse to the first bastard who had tried to “sully” you. He wanted to destroy them himself. 

“Even my meals were taken to my rooms and I was not allowed to eat with the rest of the family for fear I would be a bad, horrible and corrupting influence on my siblings. Even all the male servants on this side of the house were changed to be older, more “trusted” men. It was horrible. And just as I regained my freedom, Ron and Saff tried again. Only that time- and every time after, I made sure that my father never left my side and that not a single word could be said that he didn’t hear himself. And when he saw with his own eyes and heard it with his own ears- did he let up and apologize for punishing me so harshly the first time. And after the second instance, instead of punishing me, because he could see that I was the innocent party here but it was Saffiro and Ron scheming to break the betrothal by involving all these other merchants and their single, marriagable aged sons- then it was I who got special protections by my father and it was Saffiro who got punished severely for interfering.” You revealed. 

“Please tell me his punishments at least equalled your own.” Kragan pleaded. 

“No, of course not, because Saffiro was his first born son and heir and business still needed to go on as usual.” You answered with a spiteful bite to your own tone. 

“I am so sorry, that is unthinkable. If any man dared to touch any daughter of ours, I would be tempted to shoot his head off his shoulders or hang him from the mast of my ship.” Kragan apologized as he looked a mix of outraged and gutted. 

“So in retaliation of the first incident. My father actually billed the offending party a “business consultation fee” that I had serviced for them by going over their books and business model. But he made the fee outrageous because of how much it could have costed me socially and damaged my reputation. And the fact that the paper I used to write down the ideas for their business ideas on, were his papers, his stationary- therefore, he could demand royalties for the “business consultant fees” he demanded of them. And if they did not pay it, and if they ever breathed a word of the matter to anyone, he would not hesitate to destroy them to avenge my honor that they dared to try to compromise.” You revealed. 

“Ooh, I see, his paper- his royalties.” Kragan realized. 

“Exactly. And he had not been bluffing. He used his own businesses and his own contacts and turned Solowards on them overnight. He destroyed their company by building a competitor business and drove them out of business completely because they wouldn’t pay the otherwise exorbitant “fees” he leveled against them. And he completely discredited them because even if they had tried to say anything about any of it. He would sue them for slander against himself. Because I was his daughter, his property. And so any slander against me was slander against him. And he turned what was once a wealthy merchant family- penniless and homeless in a month. And they had to flee Solowards because no one would have anything to do with them. Which is why we will have to be careful here in the future and not do anything to make my father an enemy, but keep him as an ally. Even as vicious and vindictive as he can be.” You murmured to Kragan so softly he had to strain to hear you because you were afraid if you said it too loudly, he was somehow going to come out of the wallpaper. 

“I never want our children to be as afraid of me as you are of your father.” Kragan insisted. 

“I’m sure they never will be.” You reassured him. 

“However, once he did that. The other merchants got wise- that while I was a Duchess and a genius and could be potentially very useful and helpful.  And while my ideas were very good and profitable. They were also potentially costly and they had to tread very carefully. Because if they didn’t pay the fees, they were destroyed. And if they tried to compromise me or jeopardize me or my honor, the fees doubled or tripled. If they paid up- they got to give my father royalties and a percentage of their profits since I was his daughter and his property and still C. V. D. Or simply C.V. DeBaringer.  Who still had all those tests as proof of my intellect and he claimed intellectual properties for me since as a woman, I could not do so myself. And he’s been generous and giving me my rightful royalties into an account under C.V. DeBaringer. So that even if Ron were to divorce me, I wouldn’t only have just my jewels to protect me but the royalties from all the businesses I’ve already helped rejuvinate.” You confessed. 

“Well for helping me with everything tonight. I want to give you 100% control of The Contessina branch of Salgria Shipping at least fifty percent ownership of Salgria Shipping in general.” Kragan insisted. 

“No, I want Salgria Shipping to be split up evenly between you and all of your siblings. You said yourself that Forestrong doesn’t have primogeniture. So I want all of your sisters especially to have their fair share of it.” You insisted. 

“Then you too will get an equal share with them of Salgria Shipping, but I will only be satisfied if you have all of the Contessina line.” Kragan compromised. 

“Ok, fine. For now.” You playfully narrowed your eyes at him and scruched up your nose at him which got him to laugh and lean forward to kiss your nose and then your lips. 

“So, is that how every time Saffiro tried to help you, he hurt you, unintentionally at least?” Kragan asked when he pulled away to catch his breath. 

“Yes. Which is why he hasn’t had anything to do with you in court or much of anything else- before this past week. Because he had sworn an oath to my father to stay out of my romantic life since the last time they tried. And Ron had to swear the same oath. Although Ron has not held up his oath because even as of a few weeks ago. He had tried to send me more suitors.” You revealed. 

“Because he’s a coward with no honor.” Kragan insisted. 

“He is.” You nodded in agreement. 

“But it’s also why I’ve helped all of my brothers with their educations and help my other brothers find good and productive careers. And build things and businesses for themselves that my father can not give them because of primogeniture. And while Saffiro will get the title of Duke, my brothers are still Lords in their own rights and will hopefully build something for themselves and give them a sense of purpose and independence.” You explained. 

“Tess, while I want to know who those merchants who tried to tarnish your reputation are - for the sole purpose of destroying them for having that audacity. I will never think any less of you for any of this. If anything it just makes me want to protect you that much more and care for you that much more. And really unleash your genius onto the world and show every college and every university who felt that you never should have been given an equal education as your brothers to be exposed for being so awful on a global scale. To the point that they have no choice but to bow to your genius and admit that you are the greatest mind in the supersphere, let alone Solowards. And that they purposefully cheat every woman from receiving the education she deserves by purposefully keeping her less educated than a man. That may be “proper” here but it sure as hell ain’t right. I want all of them to eat their words and take back every bit of criticism about you and give you apologies and beg for your forgiveness. I’m so sorry you can’t fully trust every member of your family the way you should. And if I ever give you any reason to doubt me or even a moment of hesitation, or concern, or start to lose any bit of sense, please, do not hesitate to bring me back in line. I trust you implicitly. I love you without measure and I will be loyal to you to a fault.” Kragan insisted earnestly. 

“Likewise.” You returned, feeling so much better that most of the weight of all of that was now off your chest and your shoulders, only the weight of your illness remained.  

“But otherwise, I haven’t had any oral pleasure from anyone in three years. So there is no lover for you to contend with and there’s no one else in my affections that you have to share them with. But that didn’t stop Ron from continuing to send suitor after suitor my way for the last three years. He even tried to bribe them to entangle me emotionally so that I would want to run away and elope and marry them instead of him. Because his father forbade him from pursuing any other lady but me, but turned a blind eye to his mistresses, because he felt that was “only natural” because he himself has a mistress too. But I’ve just been really guarded for the last few years. And looking back I’m happy I was, because it afforded me to wait until you could come into my life. And it’s been well worth the wait.” You tried to assure him. 

“Then you are well overdue for all the pleasure I can give you.” Kragan offered. 

“Likewise, and I’m sorry if I overstepped my bounds with your shipping company. I could see your father wasn’t exactly thrilled about my meddling.” You apologized as you thought over the events of the night. 

“Tess, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry about. You need to stop apologizing for things that are in no way your fault. You were not meddling, at all, you were just gracing us with your brilliance, which I am honored and flattered and humbled that you thought me and my family worthy of such a thing. If you recall, I invited you to share your ideas with me. I think your ideas are brilliant. And I can’t wait to put them into practice and I can’t wait for you to reap all the benefits from them. They are your ideas and you alone will get said royalties from the ideas. I will not steal them from you. And if my father thinks you’re meddling then I can force him to retire and I will take it all over myself. Just so that you and I can do as we damn well please without any interference from anyone.” Kragan insisted as you smiled appreciatively at his gesture even though you knew it would take at least a year or two before those ideas would be implimented and would be a while before they would be profitable and you would most likely be long dead by then. But it would still benefit Kragan and his family for generations to come and if you could put such things into motion and if Kragan could manage to keep his momentum after your death. He’d be an assured success. 

“I am so sorry that you’ve been punished for such an innocent thing as being a natural genius! That’s the most insane and asinine thing I’ve ever heard of. And while I love and adore your intellect, I love and adore you as a person more. The intellect is a bonus. I don’t care about your nobility or your connections or whatever. All I care about is you. All of you. And it makes me sick that you’ve been punished for being smart and punished for not wanting to be married to the biggest moron in the world. And while I understand Saffiro’s point of view. I want to understand yours more. I need to understand yours more than anyone else’s because I love you more than I love anyone else. It breaks my heart that you’ve never gotten a chance to enjoy any pleasure, without pain and horrible consequences immediately following it. And starting right now, that will never happen again. I will protect you from any and all who would ever try to harm in you in any way, shape or form.” Kragan insisted, heartbroken at this and kicking himself that he didn’t see that or put that together before now. 

“Even if you’re the one who is the victim?” You asked. 

“How am I the victim here?” Kragan asked as you started to cry and you wanted to tell him everything. 

“Fifty thousand gold bouillon for a Duchess that is too educated for her station and has been…” You tried to state before he silenced you with a kiss. 

“You are not too educated. There is no such thing. And you are not a commodity or a business venture that needs investments into and needs to prove their worth and prove that they’re worth the investment and try to make that money back with interest. And I’m so sorry you’ve felt that way. If I had put that together before now, I would have said something sooner and set the record straight. You are a person. A beautiful, wonderful, brilliant person, with qualities so numerous I would spend our entire honeymoon if I had to name them all. You deserve the utmost respect not because you are a Duchess or a Baroness or anything. But because you are a person who is more than worthy of all respect and honor, reverence and dignity. You do not owe me anything. You do not owe anyone anything. You do not have to try to “make it up to me” for any of the money I have very happily spent just to have the chance to be your friend. Your friendship and your affection and your soul do not have a price - because they are priceless treasures that I will cherish forever that the gods themselves are not worthy of, let alone me. Even if you didn’t just hand me my future tonight wrapped up with a pretty bow. Even if you had no clue how to do simple math. Even if you weren’t a virgin and knew more about sex than I do. None of that has any bearing on your priceless worth to me and none of that will ever negatively impact how I see you and how I feel about you. You are wonderful on the inside out and from now on all I want you to know is pleasure without pain, without bad or negative consequences. And happiness and success and love beyond measure. Please, just let me give you that much and show you how much I love you, please, that’s all I want.” Kragan insisted. 

“You say such things as if they don’t also apply to you. I don’t care that you’ve visited whorehouses. Hell, you could have visited every single one and that wouldn’t make you any less worthy of love and care and dignity and respect too. I love and adore the fact that you’ve worked so hard. And I love the fact that you’re not intimidated by me, you’re not emasculated by me. That you’re confident enough to not let others trample over you, but humble enough to seek counsel when you feel you need it or want it. I love it that your love and affection for me has pushed you to the point of invention. And The Contessina will be the greatest ship to fly the skies only because you will build her with as much love and care as you have for me. I love it that you’re not just book smart but worldly too. I love it that you’re well traveled and not naive at all. If anything it only pushes me to have more respect for you and faith and confidence in you and your abilities. Because you’ve been in the real world, all of it. All I know of the world is just what I’ve been able to glean from books and my brother’s tutors. But otherwise, I know my own view, while informed, is still so limited and so narrow. My own horizons have always been so purposefully narrow and I can’t wait for you to help me broaden them. And you have no idea how badly I’ve needed this. Just a chance to tell you things without you judging me harshly for it.” You admitted. 

“And I never will.” Kragan insisted. 

“Promise?” You requested. 

“Promise. I want you to feel free to tell me anything and everything on your mind and heart. And I want to earn your trust and good opinion as much as you have earned mine. Don’t feel like you have to tell me everything all at once. Intimacy and knowledge will come with time. But I want you to know as sure as the day, that I will never abandon you, or punish you or hurt you or harm you or be unfaithful or disloyal to you in any way, shape or form. I will always protect you, even from your family if I have to. Even from mine. Especially from Solowards and their horrible high society.” Kragan insisted as you snorted a laugh. 

“You’re right, it is so horrible, this high society bullshit isn’t it?” You posed rather rhetorically. As you were tempted to just tell him anything but you feared of overwhelming him and ruining your wedding night any more than you had feared you already had. 

“The worst. And I am so happy I get to save you from it for as long as I draw breath and far beyond if you happen to outlive me.” Kragan insisted. 

“But what if you outlive me?” You asked as your secret felt like fire in your chest, waiting to burn it’s way out of you. 

“Then I will never be the same and I will mourn you forever, but I will stay true to the course you’ve set me on and I will always be faithful and true to your memory.” Kragan insisted. 

“Kragan, can you promise me something?” You asked. 

“Anything.” Kragan immediately answered. 

“If, for some reason, or any circumstances were to arise, since we know from the scriptures that ‘time and unforeseen events befall everyone’. If anything were to happen to me. Especially while we’re both young, don’t mourn me for the rest of your life. If, heaven forbid, I leave this world before you do. I want you to promise me to move on once you’ve recovered. And marry another who is worthy of your love and devotion. Even as unworthy of it as I feel right now.” You insisted. 

“The only thing you have ever been unworthy of is all those punishments and those greedy bastards trying to use you and take advantage of you. Which, after the honeymoon, if you’re comfortable ever telling me who they are, we will deal with them how you see fit. I never want to ever take advantage of you. I will never touch you without your consent, I will never raise my hand or my voice to you in anger. I never want you to fear me for any reason.” Kragan professed. 

“But I already have a fear of you.” You admitted as Kragan’s head dropped and his own shoulders sagged, missing your scheming grin that threatened to split your face in half. 

“Please tell me what it is so I can fix it. I never want you to…” Kragan urged you before you reached out to hold his face and bring his face up to kiss him soundly. 

“The only fear I have is ever displeasing you. Because I want to make you happy. And I want you to be proud of me and be proud to be my husband. That’s all, otherwise, there is nothing about you that I fear.” You revealed which got him to smile in relief and blow out a breath of relief. 

“Well then good, that is the one and only fear I have about you as well. I also have a great fear of ever displeasing you or disappointing you in any way. I want you to be proud to be my wife too. And I will do anything and everything in my power to assure that. If there is anything you want from me or of me. Just say the word. Even if it’s just to listen to you gripe and complain about anyone or anything. Even if it’s about problems I can’t necessarily fix. If anything is ever troubling you or weighing on you or vexing you or irritating you. I want to know as soon as you’re comfortable enough to tell me about it -ok?” Kragan requested. 

“Ok.” You agreed before you kissed more to the point that both of you had relaxed and restarted the burning flame of desire in each other because you didn’t want to ruin the perfect romantic moment with the mortifying truth of your health. 

“Now, my lovely Tess, lay back, relax, and just enjoy yourself ok? And if you need to give me any direction or pointers about how to love you right, don’t hesitate to tell me ok? Every woman is different and you’re the only woman I need to know how to satisfy and pleasure ok? I will do my best.” Kragan insisted as he had you lay back onto the bed after you took the many hair pins out of your hair so that it hung down in soft and luscious curls. And after you grabbed a pillow to lay back on- so you’d be comfortable after you gave him a pillow of his own for his knees to kneel on so he didn’t have to kneel on the rug on the hard floors and be uncomfortable doing so, because you feared he’d be there a while.  

He kissed up your legs and pushed your chemise up to your waist to reveal your womanhood that was making his mouth water and his cock weep with precum because his body was begging to bury itself into you and once spread your womanly lips, crowned in blonde curls and revealed your petal pink folds, he nearly lost his load. 

If any pussy was a work of art- yours was the greatest. Because it was yours. And also very visually appealing and smelled heavenly and tasted even more divine than it smelled as he let your thick and powerful thighs rest on his broad shoulders, your lower legs dangling down his back and wrapped his arms around your thighs to stroke up your thighs to get heaping handfuls of that glorious ass that was so round and plump and perfect and your soft wonderful belly with it’s perfect healthy rolls of divine fat. And he canted your pelvis towards him and get you into the perfect position for his first feast on you. That he was not going to stop until you came. However long that was going to take. He would spend all night just to make love to you as slowly and gently as you needed him to be. 

Your first gasp as his tongue pushed past your folds to your clit and even to spear your canal was wonderful and as his tongue began to lap and lick at your overly sensitive flesh. Pure pleasure seemed to jolt then flow and wash over you so that your gasp turned into a moan and then a keen. And the way his hands were touching you- conveyed just how reverently he cared for you. But also conveyed how much he desired you. You also expected his mustache to at least tickle or even irritate the delicate and sensitive flesh there but his facial hair was so fine and so soft and at the perfect length that it didn’t as his facial hair seemed to perfectly settle against the hair surrounding your sex as his smaller tusks seemed to plant themselves at the crux of your thighs and the floor of your pelvis. It was like his face was custom built to be right there, giving you the greatest pleasure you had ever received. 

Because the elf that had done this three years ago had no clue, and frankly, neither had you and it was just an awkward experience all around. And while you had used your hand to pleasure yourself since, this transcended all of that. 

But when he inserted a single finger, your body jerked and your legs and belly fluttered started to tremble. And when he curled his finger inside of you, as if beckoning you closer. But somehow it was as if he was beckoning your soul as much as he was your pleasure. And between his mouth and his finger touching that spot. You felt like your soul partially left you when Kragan had summoned the single greatest orgasm you had ever had in your life. Your thighs tried to snap shut around his head as your pelvis ground against his mouth and his touch as your back arched off the bed and your fists were full of his hair and your voice reached a loud pleasured cry that echoed off the walls. 

“Wha…how?” You asked him as your brain was flooded with bliss and any coherent thought was beyond gone from your head. 

“Was that how you wanted it?” Kragan asked as he proudly licked his chops clean of your essences. 

“Better than I’ve ever had in my life. Like, I didn’t know there was a spot in me that could make me feel that way.” You admitted, which got Kragan to smile brightly before he tried to climb up you and you stopped him. 

“Wait, before you mount me, I have to take some medicine.” You stopped as your head was still swimming in pleasure, but the thought of his body’s weight on you made your body preemptively hurt. 

“I thought you took it once a day?” Kragan asked. 

“That’s my day- medicine, I take another at night. It's more for pain relief so I can fall asleep easier and the pain doesn’t keep me up. Because if you were to lay on me, your weight on me, as much as I want it very badly right now. It would be so painful I would throw up on you and I don’t want to do that. You don’t deserve to have your bride throw up on you just trying to lay with her.” You explained. 

“Are you ok? A horse kick shouldn’t still be hurting you like that.” Kragan frowned as worry gripped his chest. 

“I know it shouldn’t, but all my life I’ve been a case of Murphy’s Law- of everything that can go wrong will go wrong. But I’ve had five doctors, very highly recommended specialists poke and prod me and test every bodily fluid I have. They bled me till I passed out. Because they all needed to run seperate blood tests just to be sure. I felt like they took half of my blood from my body to test it against everything they knew of- they were extremely thorough and all five of them came to the same conclusion and diagnosis and I trust them. And frankly, I just don’t want to go through the very invasive, and frankly quite painful process of having another doctor look me over and poke and prod me and drain my blood to the point I want to faint again. So let me just take my medicine, and I’ll be ok, it doesn’t even take that long to take effect.” You urged him. 

“Well what if I don’t mount you at all? What if you mount me instead? So I don’t put pressure on you at all?” Kragan asked. 

“I would love to have sex with you in any and every position imaginable. But please understand that I just don’t want to take the chance, I’m one of those ‘it’s better to be safe than sorry’ kind of people. Please, it won’t take that long, I promise.” You assured him before you took the vial that was on the bedside table and uncorked it and closed your eyes tightly as you downed it like a shot of liquor and grimaced at the taste before you took the cup of tea beside table and swished it around your mouth to try to get the taste out of your mouth before you took a piece of chocolate that was in it’s box by the table to try to really get the taste out of your mouth. 

“Are you really in that much pain?” Kragan asked worriedly as he came and sat beside you on the bed, watching you worriedly. Especially to see your face scrunch up in disgust at the taste of the medicine.  

“Yeah, all the doctors keep telling me I’ll be fine eventually and with five of them all saying the same thing and all of them staking their careers on my diagnosis, it’s hard to argue with them. And will just have to take their word for it.” You tried to waive off as your eyes still watered as you fought to keep the medicine down and not throw that up instead and tried to wait for the few long moments before it would take effect. 

“Maybe we should get different doctors and different medicines then. There’s Grandma Agnes in Fitsdale, her and her daughter Astrin have stitched me up and healed me on several occasions and I tust them with my life, I should have them look you over.” Kragan suggested. 

“Tell you what, when we eventually get to your family’s home in Forestrong, I’ll go to any doctor you want me to see there or anywhere else but I’m sure I’ll be fine by then. But until then, I’ll just finish this medicine’s course because I’m supposed to take this for a while and take it as it’s been prescribed to me. But the fact that it’s so bitter and foul is probably a good thing. Because what’s that saying? The sweet poison goes down better than the bitter medicine or something like that? Or a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down? That’s why I keep some chocolates with me at my bedside, just to help this go down. Actually would you like one? They’re very good, they are from the chocolatier in town.” You asked as you still tried to get the taste out of your mouth so that when Kragan would kiss you again, he wouldn’t have to taste it, or worse, realize what it really was because orcs were supposed to have very heightened, perceptive and sensitive senses. You grabbed the box and offered it to him before you told him all the different kinds there were in it before Kragan took one that appealed to him and ate it and made a pleasured hum when it was quite delicious. 

“Ok, well let me know when you’re ready, My Love.” Kragan cooed as he wrapped his arm around your shoulders that were still wearing that soft silky, and quite sheer chemise as you reached up and squeezed the arm that was on your shoulder, letting him and his touch ground you as the two of you continued to eat from the box of chocolates. 

“Thank you for being so patient.” You thanked him. 

“If I’ve waited 23 years to finally meet you, I can wait at least a few more hours for when you’re ready. Even if you didn’t want to consummate our marriage tonight and you just want to go to bed, that’s fine with me. We have a few days to get around to it.” Kragan reassured you just as your medicine started to take effect. 

And when you turned to look at him- your pupils dilated and the green in your glasz eyes, the color of the blue green sea, that was somehow that perfect blend of greenish blue, with a stormy gray to join the mix- grew much more vivid and bright. So that they practically glowed like emeralds, whereas when you were in pain, the green in your eyes seemed to fade and the soft warm, lovely gray took over and your own hungry desire for him burned like a fire as your smile grew almost wolfish. 

“I don’t think you’ll be needing to wait a few hours, but I do think I’ll take up the next few hours of your time regardless.” You tried to gently warn him as you were ready and willing to practically devour him as you put the chocolates back onto the table. 

“Yeah, my heart, mind, body and soul are for you to use and do with as you want.” Kragan realized as the look in your eyes and that grin, had a delightfully, almost dangerous curve to it and it absolutely thrilled him as he realized he was in for a treat.  

“Likewise.” You smiled before you practically shed that chemise like it was an old snake skin. You practically pounced on him as he laid back into the bed and just watched you with eager yet pleasantly surprised eyes and a smile to match. You rolled yourself over him and kissed him as his cock throbbed and pulsed at your entrance before your mouth kissed a trail down his neck and his chest as his hands were eager to finally get to touch those heavenly soft, full and plump breasts as his calloused thumbs stroked over your nipples until they became pebbled and erect as you made sure to give each and every scar you found extra love and attention and affection. 

“So the scars don’t bother you?” Kragan asked as he watched you lavish such attention to them and was almost moved to tears watching you do so. 

“Nope. it shows what you’ve had to survive to get to me. Hopefully they were worth the trouble.” You reassured him as you had sat up and braced your hands on his wide and very full pecks as his thick chest hair was like soft fur against your palms that made up the vast expanse of his broad chest. All while you ran your slit over the length of his cock, pinning it down and seeing how the tip of the very impressive length and girth that was his manhood was reaching the bottom of his belly. 

“You will always be worth any trouble or expense I have to incur to take care of you and safeguard you.” Kragan cooed as his eyes tried to stay locked with yours instead of threatening to roll completely backwards into his eye sockets. Because this felt heavenly. He loved the fact that you were teasing him in a way to increase and spurn your own arousal as your essence coated him and he could feel it’s wetness drip down the sides of his cock until the underside and sides were soaked and the smell was driving him crazy just as much as the sensation was threatening every shred of self control that he had to keep him from flipping you over and burying himself to the hilt in you. But you were still a virgin in his mind and eyes and he wanted you to move at your pace and your comfort. 

“Is it ok if I touch you here?” Kragan asked as his hands settled onto your hips as he gently guided your own over him. 

“Of course, remember, this is the tender area, everywhere else is fine.” You outlined the area on the right side of your belly as Kragan traced the line with you. His finger’s touch almost making your squirm and giggle cause you were ticklish. 

“Sorry, when it’s not painful, it’s very ticklish.” You explained before you took his hands and guided them all around your soft but powerful body as you moved his hands to show him where else he could touch you. And in all honestly his frankly hot and delightfully calloused hands were igniting a fire everywhere they touched. Before you brought his hands to your ass. He very happily squeezed and kneaded that as he looked at you in both awed wonder and burning desire that made you feel almost feverish and sent a delightful shiver down your spine because you wanted him in every way he would let you have him. 

When you moved your pelvis down below his manhood, it seemed to spring and spear the air upwards before you moved up to hover over him. His hands moving from your ass and hips to your breasts to gently grasp and knead them but not pull you down. But instead, their hold offered your upper body a wonderful support. You took advantage of the change and leaned forward into his hold as you aligned him with your entrance and gently eased down until the soft, and squishy head of his cock could be stuffed inside. And with you lowering your body, the weight of your body was enough to overcome the threshold your maidenhood could withstand- as it tore to accommodate his frankly quite large and thick cock. You paused and hissed in pain as your face scrunched in pain again as you had to brace yourself fully into Kragan’s hold on you before he immediately sat up to hold you in his embrace, mindful of your bad side. 

“Is it too much? Is it too painful?” Kragan asked worriedly. 

“It’s not too painful, and you are blessed in many ways, one of which is to be very well endowed. I just need a moment to adjust to receive such a large blessing.” You tried to laugh rather breathlessly as you gave your body a chance to adjust. Which got Kragan to smile despite his anxiety that this was too much to hope for. Because you would not be the first or the last human woman to try and fail to take an orc cock and worried that despite your rather otherwise perfect body, that you would be one of them. Granted he wasn’t that well endowed. He wasn’t even that big of an orc but he liked to think of himself as proportional at least. But he was hopeful and if anything, patient.   

You then lifted your pelvis back up. And once his manhood slipped out of you- while you were relieved from not being so full, your heart, body and soul ached to be rejoined and filled again. Before you grabbed a vial of intimate oil and applied it generously to him and to you and tried again. Each time, easing down, you were able to get more and more of him inside you. And each time, both of you feeling more and more relief. Kragan could feel how hard your body was trying to stretch to accomodate him as he just kept expecting to feel the top of your cervix with every little milimeter you were able to take more of him. 

“Take all the time you need. I’m not in any kind of rush. We need to go at a pace that is best for you. I’ll adapt.” Kragan softly and very lovingly reassured you. Before he took advantage of the fact that his face was currently at the same level with your breasts that were practically wordlessly begging to be loved on.

So with Kragan kissing and suckling at your breasts and raking his hands down your back before sinking his fingers into the softness of your hips and ass. But he never pulled you down onto his manhood. He simply kept squeezing and groping in place which helped relax you and keep you in the mood and keep you motivated to keep going.  

And when his mouth wasn’t on your breasts, it was kissing a blazing trail of desire all over your chest and neck and jaw before kissing you deeply and before you knew it, you had, by a miracle, you had seated yourself onto him, your butt finally sitting into his lap as the head of his cock was pushing against the head of your cervix and threatening to push past it. And while it was slightly uncomfortable to have it do that. It wasn’t necessarily painful- or even that odd- just- new. 

“I can’t believe you fit in me! I honestly thought that I would only be able to take, like a third or at the most, half of you into me. But you fit. By a miracle. We did it!” You breathed in delighted astonishment as you looked down happily to see his cock finally disappear from sight as his pubic hair was a dark onyx contrast to your dark blonde/light brown hair. But you had done it. And only needed a little bit of that intimate oil to do so. 

“Well, ‘where there is a will, there’s a way’ right?” Kragan breathed in equal astonishment before you both seemed to slip into a natural rhythm. Kragan made sure that when he wrapped his arms around your chest, he did so around your ribcage and not your waist. Which was very thoughtful. And when you would grind your pelvis into his- your clit ached for more touch and more friction as you tried to change the angle to accommodate that need. But that was all the hint that Kragan needed as he licked his fingers and reached down between you and started to stroke your clit to change to the angle again so that his cock still slid against that spot inside you instead of pointed towards the back. 

You pushed yourself into his touch as you clung to him as your own fingertips grew almost clawed. Your fingertips dug into the meat of his back and shoulders. Your rested your head against the crux of his neck and shoulder as your instincts took over and you picked up the pace and rode him harder and faster. And somehow, deeper as your canal seemed to stretch to accommodate even his magnificent girth with relative ease. Especially with the more aroused you were. So that he slipped in and out easier. 

Your essences mixed with his and the combined scent of your essence mixing with his turned both of you on so much. Because sex not only felt amazing, it smelled magnificent. It was primal and instinctual. And overwhelmed all of your senses- yet left you craving more. The taste of his flesh and his mouth on your tongue. The surprisingly softness of his skin where there weren’t scars was comforting. And the warmth radiating from him was wonderful and helped bring your body up to an optimal temperature. 

And with one last thrust down and into his fingers, you came. And it felt like the head of his cock seemed to just barely breach the top of your cervix and almost into your womb. Kragan did reach up to wrap his arm around your back and hook his fingers behind your shoulder and help pull you down as he grunted, growled and snarled in your ear as you cried out in bliss. You felt like he was pumping your womb itself full of his seed. You could feel his cock throb and pulse in you. You were sure you could practically feel his thundering heartbeat through it too. He held you fast to himself as the action didn’t hurt your side at all as you clung to him just as tightly. 

You were sure your entire uterus was being filled up the way your lower belly seemed to distend as his cock just ejected more and more ropes of seed into you. Your orgasm seemed to last even longer than the last. It’s intensity eclipsed the first as well as his own orgasm seemed to do the same. Once your orgasm seemed to peak and your body tensed- then once the pinnacle was reached- your whole body relaxed to enjoy the surprisingly slow slope of ecstasy on the backside of it. And only when he seemed to finish pumping the last of it into you did his whole body finally relax too as he finally seemed to start breathing again. Since he seemed to hold his breath as he ejaculated his extra large load into you as he breathed heavily to try to catch his breath again. 

“You still with me?” Kragan asked as he felt how you were practically limp in his arms. 

“Yeah, you took me to the moon, I’m just trying to come back down from the clouds.” You appraised with a happy smile against the skin of his chest as you could practically hear his smile in his rather breathless chuckle. 

“Yeah, I uh, know what you mean. I’m pretty sure I feel you sent me to heaven. Like I can die happy now.” Kragan appraised rather shakily. Because he was sure he just emptied his balls completely from this one load. He usually didn’t cum this much. Even when he was at sea for months at a time and only came into port for a week and even that first rut with a whore was big but never this big. Never this much. But it was like his body was bound and determined to overplant and overwater your fields- in a sense. And it was like his body was giving yours more than ample supply of seed to let it take root wherever it could. 

“Don’t you dare die on me now.” You practically growled playfully. 

“Oh I wouldn’t dream of it.” He reassured you as he removed his hand from your clit and licked his fingers clean. Still enjoying that wonderful and frankly divine taste. You even tasted expensive and amazing. Hell that fifty thousand gold boullion was worth just this. Granted he wouldn’t cheapen you like that. But he couldn’t help it. You- his Duchess, his wife- was priceless and well worth the wait and expense. You were without compare. Worth more than every bit of treasure on the supersphere and you were all his. And he would be damned if any other would ever touch you. He was ready and willing to fight to the death if he needed to as his sense of possessiveness was overwhelming him. 

Then he used both of his hands to stroke down your back and smiled when you moaned in delight before he gave it a good scratching as you continued to moan and groan in pleasure. Now it was your eyes were threatening to roll back into your head. This felt heavenly. Just your wonderful, amazing, sophisticated, wordly and wise husband loving you right and caring for you so well. You felt like you melted further into him as you reached around and did the same to him, scratching his back in turn. He rumbled a very pleased moan that you found so sexy. 

You could feel him soften and shrink slightly inside of you. It was enough that the majority of that seed- seeped out around him since he was no longer large and hard enough to keep it all in. It was like a cascade of cum came dripping down all around his cock to the top of the bed between his legs -into a pretty good sized pool. Coating even his large, heavy ball sack in the process. His black hair now coated in white cum. 

Kragan felt like a year’s worth of cum just erupted and emptied into you. And while he had held back from spilling it into anyone else since his father betrothed him. He had still masterbated plenty between now and then. Because at first, before he met you and got to know you- he was sure it was going to take an hour just to get the tip of his cock into “his Duchess”. And that would be all that she could be able to handle or would tolerate. 

And then when he got to meet you in person. He no longer feared such a thing. And then once he really mentally made you his Duchess. In every sense. He couldn’t stop himself from masterbating even more! He felt so horrible and pitied your house’s poor laundresses for cleaning up the many cloths that he had filled with pools of his cum. All week he had masterbated to his mental images and memories and most potent- his fantasies of you. He would not deny that he was attracted to you. Nor would he ever deny that he didn’t desire you or want to please you any way he could. Because he absolutely did.

And he was grateful for Saffiro being your chaperone all week to keep himself in line because after those kisses in the library- it was a battle to not steal more and more of them ever since. Because your kisses were his new addiction. Your touches and smiles and the sound of your voice in his ears. And the feel of your soft hands on any part of him, especially framing his face. The only calluses your hands had were over the inside of your middle finger knuckle right at the fingertip and the middle segment of the finger- from writing so much. But he was bound and determined to never let your hands get calloused from hard work. You had done more than your fair share of the mental work. It was up to him to put in the physical work now. Put your mental work to good use. 

Because there was so many moments that just talking with you, or seeing you, or smelling you or especially those little secret or not so secret little looks and smiles and innocent and maybe not so innocent touches that threatened to shred his sense of decency and decorum. And that if Saffiro had not been there, both of you had clearly given each other indications that you were open to each other’s advances. And he was happy to recieve every one and absolutely tickled and delighted that his Duchess liked him! Had affection for him and loved him! Just as much he did her. And while it had been both the longest yet shortest week of his life because every moment spent with you- the hours seemed to fly by and then the long waits at night until he could see you in the morning. It felt so long. All week- he felt like he was counting down the hours and minutes to this. If you had made him wait to court you properly for months, he was sure his balls would have exploded and he would have gone mad with desire and his business would have suffered because he wouldn’t have been able to focus on it at all. Because once he met you- you were all that mattered to him and all that needed his attention. 

But he had been so happy and relieved that you chose to have a quick courtship and quick engagement. And most of all, he was so happy you could physically be this intimate with him and take him, take all of him and actually genuinly desired him. And you were obviously so aroused that your body accommodated your desires for him and to take him to the hilt was a dream come true. Because he just planted his seed as deep as possible and hoped it would take root immediately. And yet he wanted to wash it out just to refill you over and over again, all night long if you could stand it. 

“Here, lace your fingers behind my lower back.” You urged him. 

“Like this?” Kragan did as you asked before you grinned wickedly at him. 

“Exactly like that.” You said as you used his hold to keep you securely in his lap as you leaned so far back you could reach behind you to grab your chemise as you prayed to all the gods that your tumor wasn’t sticking out as you were doing this as Kragan made the most delightfully whimpering whine to see you be so flexible. 

“That has got to be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.” Kragan praised as he watched your body in mesmerization as you did that and came back up and was too focused on your breasts moving with you and how distended your lower belly was- to pay any attention to your middle or your side. You came back up with your chemise in hand before you put your hands to his arms to get him to let you go so you could move out of the way and clean up the mess you made. 

“Been saving this for me have you?” You teased as you used your own chemise to clean up his seed from yourself before you both used it to clean up the pool of his seed both on the bed between his legs and that had coated his cock and balls in the process as you were kneeling between his legs to help in the cleaning up process. 

“Always for you and only you.” Kragan answered as the motions of you wrapping that heavenly silken, yet sheer chemise around his cock to clean it off only seemed to help it re-harden again. 

An act that only had you grinning more wolfishly again. 

“Here, move over.” You urged him as you nodded further up the bed to a clean spot as he silently obeyed and you immediately took his length into your mouth and began to suck and lick him clean as his whole body flexed and shuddered in delight. 

“Oh gods, oh gods,” Kragan panted as he watched you with hungry, eager eyes. He didn’t trust his hands not to grab your head and shove his cock down your throat. So he grabbed onto the bedding instead with both hands as hard as he could manage. All the while- fearing he was about to rip the very fabric of space and reality to shreds, let alone the bedding. 

“Tess…Tess…please, please.” Kragan whimpered as he begged desperately. 

“Do you want me to stop?” You asked as you paused sucking and licking him clean but that didn’t stop you from using your own saliva as a lubricant to stroke his large cock. 

“No, I mean, yes, I mean, I don’t know. It feels too good.” Kragan stuttered and tripped over himself as his chest was heaving with his heavy breaths. 

He was not a stranger to either giving or recieving oral sex and while he was adamant that he was going to give you oral pleasure, he hadn’t exactly been prepared or ready to wrap his head around the idea of you wanting to do it and be ready and willing and knowledgable and frankly- quite skilled. He would not judge you for it. If anything this was a very delightful, wonderful suprise but just one he had not prepared himself for as he was already so close to cumming again. Because it was you who was giving him such immense pleasure. 

“Mmm, if I suck you off, will you be done for the night? Or will you have one more round in you after that?” You asked thoughtfully.

“I can go as many rounds as you want me to.” Kragan reassured you. 

“Then it’s time for you to lay back and relax. Besides, I made quite the mess down here, I should clean it up don’t you think?” You purred and Kragan was ready to cum all over that gorgeous face of yours just with that cooing, silky purr as his ears needed to hear more of it to engrave it into his memory. 

“Fuck- you’re too perfect.” Kragan growled as he took all the pillows he could reach and made sure you had at least two to kneel on and propped himself up to lay back but still watch on in delight as you laughed at the praise. 

“Can you hold my hair?” You asked as you gathered it up and Kragan gladly grasped it and marvelled at it’s softness and it’s color. It was right between being a dark ashy blonde and a light ashy brown. Right in the middle. And it was like grasping strands of soft silk. It was amazing. And a fantasy brought to life. 

And especially to watch your delicate little pink tongue lick him clean. The tip of it ever so delightfully prodding and stroking his testicles, trying to get his seed out of the thick forrest of hair that covered them. Which felt astounding. And when his sack was clean, you replaced your tongue with your fingers as you used your little bit of experience from three years ago. And the vast majority of your knowledge being what you had read in all of those romance novels to educate you in such matters. 

You stroked and deliciously scratched both the sack and the creases where his legs met his hips. which earned you the most amazing moans and praise as it looked like Kragan practically melted into a puddle on the bed. The only hard part about him was his cock. It had completely rehardened and was weeping again as you used your hand to wrap around it as much as your little hand could before you used both hands to finally encircle it. You used his own precum to lubricate your hands to stroke it easier as you kissed up his belly before you withdrew your hands and pressed your breasts up and around his cock. 

Now granted having large breasts did come in handy. Because you could completely make the shaft disappear between them. Only leaving the head to poke out as the underside of his cock rubbed against your sternum. Kragan fought to keep his eyes open. Because the sight of his Duchess, no, his Tessa doing this to him was downright heavenly. And when you dipped your head down to take the head of his cock into your mouth to suck him off, he was officially fighting a losing battle.  

That elven cock you had done this with before had been thinner and shorter and had disappeared into your bosom and you had no sooner squeezed your still budding and growing breasts around it and he had shot his load into your upper chest and lower neck only after two strokes. 

But Kragan? Oh even with your bosom now being twice as big as it had been before. And it still couldn’t cover all of him. But you were grateful for it. Because what couldn’t be covered by your breasts- could be covered by your mouth. And just the tip and the first quarter of his cock was all that your mouth could take without gagging. Your cheeks bulged as your tongue tried to cover your lower teeth so that they wouldn’t scrape against the underside of his cock and tried to angle your head so that your upper teeth didn’t do the same to the top of it. And all you could do is suck on the head and the first quarter of his cock that you can fit in your mouth. 

Kragan was helpless to keep his voice in check as he praised you and told you how magnificent, how amazing and how wonderful you were- the whole time. Between his moans, keens and grunts as his body grew from a puddle of flesh on the bed- to a tightly coiled spring, ready to bounce. Or a rubber band pulled so tight it’s ready to snap. His cock grew almost impossibly hard and it was like sucking on a rock with a soft head that threatened to reach the back of your throat. 

You had to fight back your gag reflex. Because you desperately wanted to take more of him into your mouth. And only when he grabbed your head and stilled you when you had taken him as far into your mouth as you could- did his body completely tense. And his cock practically erupted more cum down your throat. You had to swallow and swallow to drink it all down. Your cheeks grew as bulged as they could be. Some seed of his broke the seal your lips made around his girth. 

Your eyes watered slightly as you did your best to try not to choke on him. And took the gift that Kragan gave you with all the grace you could. Your little pleasured whimpers and gasping breaths through your nose between swallows only seemed to spurn him on more. His cock just throbbed with every jet of cum it erputed from the head and down your throat. You wondered if this is just the norm for him. 

Because this load of cum felt just as big and massive as the last one was. And if you were full from dinner and desert, now your stomach was practically stuffed. Just as much- if not more than your womb had been. And while his seed was a bit salty and perhaps a little bitter. The pheromones in it and in the precum had turned you on. And if you were really in the mood before, now you were dead set on having as much of Kragan as he was willing to give. And once he was done and had relaxed and released his hold on you- did you suck him clean. And clean up the little bit that had tried to escape as he twitched and shuddered at being overstimulated as he fought to catch his breath. 

“Before you even try to apologize for ‘not being as good as you think I’ve had before’. Stop. Before you even start- stop. I want you to throw that thought out of your head. Because first of all, you’re amazing. Second of all, that’s the best suck I’ve ever had. Third, that was the greatest, sexiest things I’ve ever experienced. And if I had loved your tits before, now I love them even more. Because holy shit was that so hot and so sexy that you did that. And fourth- don’t you dare apologize for anything anymore. Because you are blameless and practically perfect in every way, every single, conceivable way. And I am the luckiest man in the world right now. And I will do everything in my power to be worthy of the wonder that you are and treat you as such for as long as we both draw breath. And anything that you could ever ask for- should never be denied to you- ever. Your comfort and happiness are the only reasons I need to live- from now on.” Kragan raised a tired and almost shaky hand in the air as his body was a puddle on the bed again. His cock had finally fallen between his legs under its own weight. His soul had tried to leave his body and he had fought to keep a firm grip on it. 

“I wasn’t going to, I was going to ask you if you enjoyed it though.” You grinned happily. 

“Of course. How could I not? You just gave me the greatest pleasures of my life. Just give me- just a few moments to recover and I’ll be ready to go again.” Kragan said as he let his hand fall back down and practically bounce off the bed as his eyes had finally closed in serinity from nearly rolling all the way out of his skull in bliss before. 

You smiled and kissed your way up him and simply laid down on him and let him recover. He happily wrapped his arms around you and held you to him. And then he kissed the top of your head and was grateful and happy to feel your warm and frankly divinely plump body over his. And help keep each other warm over the chill of the air for a few long blissful moments. 

Then once the chill got to have more of a bite to it. You sat back up and pulled the covers down and got both he and you under them. Then you climbed over him and laid back down on him. The silky soft blankets were now covering you both to ward off the slight chill in the air. You both basked in the happiness and satisfaction that still radiated between both of you. 

Especially if he could give you oral pleasure, you could return it just as good as he gave it. You were happy to soak up his warmth and happy to rest over him. Enjoying his comforting scent the feel of his soft chest hair against your own chest. Your head rested on his upper chest, your face in the crux of his neck and shoulder where there wasn’t any hair to tickle your face as he held you reverently and with a gentle firmness. As if afraid that if he let go, you’d float away from him or something.  

Every sexual encounter in Kragan’s life before this- had always been just that. He had just wanted sex, a quick release, no emotional attachment. Just an itch to be scratched. A very fleeting moment of a sense of satisfaction but always being a far cry from and but nothing more. 

But this? Oh no, this was altogether different. This transcended everything he had ever experienced before.This was so much better than anything and everything else. Because it was with you. Because you loved him and he loved you and he loved the emotional attachment. And how the emotional attachment and investment- made him realize- that making love to you and with you meant so much to him. This wasn’t an itch to be scratched, this was a need that needed to be filled and fulfilled. And was for once, completely satisfying yet a hunger that he knew he would happily feed from you and only you for the rest of his life. 

And for being as insatiable as he had felt about you all this past week. Now that he was finally getting a chance to fill his hungry desire for you. It was somehow completely overwhelming yet perfectly satisfying but yet his soul was hungry for more. His body tried to recover quickly. Because after that mind blowing pleasure your breasts and mouth hand just provided. He needed to return it ten or even a hundred fold. This was a pleasure and an honor. 

This was heavenly and far from sinful. This was in no way a guilty pleasure. It was just pure and surprisingly wholesome blissful pleasure. No guilt, no embarrassment, no shame, no feelings of filth and a judgment against his honor or integrity or his character. This had no negative feelings whatsoever. This was like a cleansing purification in every sense. It was like he had redeemed himself if you had graced him with your presence and your love and affection. He didn’t feel worthy right now but he would prove to himself and you and everyone else that he was. 

You were so much more than just a Duchess. You were a genius. You were humble and a sweetheart. You were kind and wonderful and romantic and had a nobility of character that far exceeded your noble title. You were so much more than he could fathom before. You were so much better than he could have hoped for. 

And universes away from what he had feared. You were nothing like what he had feared and had let his imagination run wild with fears and anxieties about you. And he was still kicking himself for not seeing your genuine interest as it was before. He was just…so happy. He was so happy to have you as his wife, his companion, his friend, his confidant, his better half, his everything. You had him- mind, heart, body and soul. Completely devoted and all others who had tried to enter his affections before- could very easily be brushed off and forgotten. 

Because who were they when compared to you? You were second to none. A wonder and a marvel- that had no compare in the whole of the universe. You were practically a goddess. And one that he would be bowing and rendering sacred service in any form you wanted to be worshiped in. And he was going to do so with pleasure, fidelity, dignity, respect, comfort, safety, devotion, loyalty, loving care, tenderness, kindness, compassion, sympathy, empathy and support. And was how he was going to do it- was by giving you all of that and showing you all of that and providing you all of that from himself. 

“You still with me?” You asked in a light teasing tone, choosing to repeat his previous sentiments back to him- after a few long moments as his breathing returned to normal and he seemed to recover. 

“Yeah, just, realizing I practically have a goddess laying on my chest that I need to worship daily and carnally as much she’ll let me.” Kragan sighed rather dreamily. 

“I am not a goddess, I’m just a human Ray, I’m not…” You began before he silenced you by putting his forefinger over your lips. 

“Yes you are. You are something special and precious and amazing and wonderful and if I want to treat you like a goddess and worship you the way you deserve, then all you need to do is tell me how.” Kragan countered. Trying to be gentle but he was quite firm in his belief. 

“Well you can try fucking me until I can’t walk straight.” You suggested after you kissed the pad of his fingertip before you lifted your head and crossed your arms over his chest with a mischievious smile to look into his wonderful and practically glowing golden yellow eyes. 

“On it.” Kragan readily agreed as he, with surprising speed and ease flipped you over and pinned you down to the bed before he seemed to remember himself. 

“Oh shit, sorry, did I hurt you?” He asked as he immediately lifted himself up onto his elbows and knees to keep himself from pressing too much of his weight into you to make you any less comfortable. However- the medicine turned any pain you normally would have felt down to a small, dull ache that didn’t inhibit you any further as you happily wrapped your legs around his waist and crossed your ankles behind the small of his back and used your leg’s strength to pull him closer and tried to get all of him to touch all of you. 

“No, come back, you’re good, that medicine is working very well, I can barely feel any pain at all, it’s like a tiny, little, minor twinge of an ache, not even a real pain at all. I want all of you on me.” You encouraged as you pulled him to lay fully on you again because his weight on you was wonderful and to feel his cock starting to press at your entrance. 

“Mount me like the stallion you are and fuck me until the only things I know is the pleasure your giving me- and your name that I will happily cry out for the whole world to hear as you give me every pleasure under the sun, moon and stars.” You insisted as you scratched particularly hard from his glorious ass up his back to encourage him to bury his manhood to the hilt in you which he did with the most amazing, delicious and wonderfully dark, gravelly growling moan and every little bit of inhibition he had been holding onto- vanished as he really gave into his most basic of instincts. 

And when he started up an earnest rhythm, you genuinely gasped and keened and moaned in bliss. It was like the world shrunk down to inhabit only the bed and the two of you in it and it didn’t feel contrictive, but instead it felt protective, cozy and warm and wonderful and practically bursting with love and desire and devotion. 

Almost three hours later, after having sex in almost every position you had read about and knew of. And both of you had lost count the number of times both of you had given each other your long overdue releases, did you finally collapse in the bed. You could feel the day medicine wear off completely as the night medicine’s sleeping medicine began to fully take effect. And you were grateful that Kragan had left the bed to extinguish all the remaining candles in the room as you applied your thick jelly like facemask to your face to conceal your true complexion from him as you had no sooner applied it before Kragan blew out the last of the candles and came back to the bed and you both found each other in the dark, and cuddled with each other and finally succumbed to sleep.