Mountain Resort

When Elizabeth saw Kukes, she was blown away by how upscale the city looked. She recognized familiar boutique clothing stores, she saw Carlsburg and Sextons Department Store, an alchemy store, a casino, an auction house, a theatre, and cafes, the entire town had electricity, and several people were riding bicycles, and playing reversi or checkers.

"Will, did you do all this?" Elizabeth asked amazed, admiring the newly build shops and upbeat Main Street.

"Yes, I had Gideon and Vincent oversee the construction. Everything in this city is the best Gadreel has to offer on a more intimate level," Will said enjoying how Elizabeth marveled at the small mountain valley city.

When Will said it was the best, he meant by Earth standards. The resort could legitimately be considered the only Five-Star, Five-Diamond. The ski-in/ski-out resort featured luxurious amenities, personalized service, breathtaking mountain views, renowned dining, and spacious accommodations.

The guest suites were spacious and luxurious. Will knew his guests were men and women of great power and wealth. His guests were used to a certain standard of luxury, fine wine, and dining.

Luxurious services and amenities include ski concierge services, complimentary snacks & alcoholic beverages, there were also special amenities for children and pets, and heated outdoor hot springs.

Will spared no expense fill the wine cellar was expensive aged wines. The lodge had two restaurants and three bars, perfect for clandestine late-night meetings.

For the inaugural World Economic Forum, Will invited world-renowned chefs, bartenders, and sommeliers ready to make the lodge's dining experience one to remember. All the restaurants and bars had stunning picturesque views of the Theta Mountains.

The resort and city could be summed up as rustic meets cosmopolitan.

"I've never seen that chic boutique before, what does it sell?" Elizabeth asked.

"Women's cosmetics. It's a small shop that sells our lotion and rose soap, but other types of boutique lotions and soap as well.

It also sells lipsticks, shampoo, conditioner, and powders. Nothing in the store is harmful to the skin, so it doesn't dry out or damage the skin. Several of the products are Elven-made, so the products all come from nature," Will said.

"Oh really? Then I should check it out," Elizabeth said.

Will followed Elizabeth into the store and watched her eyes widen at all the products, and attractive glass bottle packaging. She even appreciated the nice pink bag all her items went into.

"Did you like the shop?" Will asked.

"Yes, was it hard to get the elves to agree?" Elizabeth wondered.

"No, the queen and king are attending the Economic Forum and they asked me for advice on how best to show off their culture. I recommend a women's cosmetic boutique, and here we are today," Will informed her.

"Greetings Lord and Lady vont Ballard," Gideon bowed.

"Is everything prepared for tomorrow?" Will asked.

"Yes, we finished the last construction yesterday. We hope to finish the furnishing today. I must say, this city looks completely different.

Since we started construction, immigration went up 200%. The southwest has never had this many paid jobs available," Gideon said.

"How's Vincent working out?" Will asked curiously.

"Baronet vont Wright is a wonderful lord. He's rolled up his sleeves and helped us with construction. He's a fair judiciary and a benevolent lord. I must say it's nice to have a lord again!" Gideon said.

"Can you give us a tour of the lodge, and where is Bubba?" Will asked.

"Bubba and Baronet vont Wright are at the lodge," Gideon said.

"How about we take a rickshaw. They're a huge hit among us locals. The Baronet said you invent this too!" Gideon said.

"It's been so long ago, that I forgot I did," Will chuckled.

Gideon drove them to the massive 5 stories, U-shaped lodge. The opening of the lodge faces a giant ski lift that went up onto a snowy mountainside.

Will looked as if locals were already skiing downhill and enjoying themselves. Even young children had grasped the sport and were having fun.

When they got to the lodge, Will and Elizabeth checked in. Elizabeth went to the room, while Will went to locate Bubba and Vincent. Micheal and Samuel closely followed Will.

When Elizabeth opened the door, she was astonished once again. The rustic-looking lodge was the absolute epitome of luxury.

She curled up on a bear-skinned fur rug in front of a roaring fireplace while sipping champagne and surveying the twinkling lights of the city.

Originally, she thought Kukes would be like Lezhe underdeveloped.

Interrupting her rest was a chorus of deep bellows and grunts. When she looked out her window, she saw a herd of elk walking over a ridge.

***

Anne sat in the carriage, as the horses climb the mountains.

The trip to Kukes was a long and bumpy ride. For the life of her, she couldn't understand why Will had chosen such a remote location to house an international meeting.

Surely Gadreel had more space, better amenities, and most importantly better protection.

But Will never did what was expected. That's why she liked him. Unlike most men, who were predictable, she could never guess what Will's plans were. She liked that Will kept her on her toes.

Thinking about Will, she patted her 18-month toddler's head. Mercenary and motherhood were two jobs that rarely went together.

But after having a child, Anne realized only mothers truly understood the desire to protect someone and kill anything that gets in their child's way.

"Are you sure your fit for the job?" asked her client across from her looking unamused at her daughter.

'What an annoying twat. He's lucky I haven't gutted him like a fish. Should I break his jaw?' Anne thought sitting across from her client.

"Unless you want a line separating your head from your neck, don't ask me such stupid questions," Anne said resting her knife against her client's throat before blinking.

"Y-yes, I understand," he stuttered.

Anne went back to her seat and rested her toddler in her lap. The only thing that made her happy was her daughter Willow.

It wasn't long before the carriage arrived in Kukes and her eyes grew wide in amazement.

The backward mountain town looked like an upscale neighborhood of Gadreel.

"At least it's not a hovel," said the disappointed imperial noble.

'Hmph. Not a hovel? This looks nicer than the noble districts in Annapolis!' Anne said to herself.

"Come on let's see where you'll be staying," Anne said excitedly to drop off her client so she could explore the town.

It didn't take long for her client to get to the lodge and check into his room. Only the World Economic Forum participants could stay at the lodge.

Guards and servants had to stay offsite at different hotels. Expect Samuel, Micheal, and Sasha who slept in the lodge's servant quarters.

After dropping off her client Anne was ecstatic to finally have some time to herself.

***

"Sasha I'm ready to explore," Elizabeth felt she had rested enough.

Sasha, who had been sitting outside the bedroom gently laid her needlework on the table and went into the bedroom to help Elizabeth get dressed.

Outside the lodge, Elizabeth enjoyed watching people in this snowy mountain town.

Elizabeth enjoyed people-watching. There were thousands of unrecognizable faces, accents, and language.

According to Will, these people could be political, industry, faith leaders, academics, or finance leaders from hundreds of countries.

And, to a lesser extent, servants and locals.

It was funny to her, that this sleepy alpine town was to be the hub of influence, power, and prestige, addressing pressing global concerns.

As she explored the city on her own, she heard a strange voice call out her name.

"Elizabeth?" Anne said in surprise.

Anne wondered why Elizabeth was walking towards her.

Had Elizabeth heard that she was in town, and came to confront her?

Why else would Elizabeth be walking toward the same inn as her?

Had Elizabeth checked all the inns' registry for her name and how she came to confront her so openly?

All these thoughts race through Anne's mind.

Elizabeth on the hand was thinking different thoughts of her own.

Wasn't this the woman who confessed to Will on the day of their engagement? Elizabeth was unsure.

Then she spotted the toddler by Anne's side.

"Anne?" Elizabeth asked uncertain.

"Fine, if you came to confront me, let's do this. I shall never apologize for loving Will. Listen well, Will shall always be my first love. And I know he cared for me too. If our backgrounds were similar, I'm sure he would have chosen me.

But you won. Or at least your family did. How could a commoner compete against the niece of the king?

There's no need to gloat about it or confront me to tell me if not worthy of him. That's why I can't stand you stuck-up nobles.

I'm sure Will told you about Kukes. When Will and I fought together, I drugged and slept with him. This is his daughter, Willow! It's short for Wilhelmina. Will doesn't know it, and I ask you not to tell him," said Anne confrontationally.

Elizabeth stood there dumbfounded. She didn't even know Anne fought beside Will in Kukes, and now they had a child together.

Although it was common for noblemen to have illegitimate children, she was not prepared to hear this information today. She felt like a train had just collided with her.

Elizabeth turned around to leave, still trying to wrap her head around everything she just heard. She came out for a stroll, only to be surprised with this much-unsolicited information.

Elizabeth was feelings were hurt. And she was mad, at herself. She had prepared herself for this, several times. She thought she had guarded her heart. But her heart was broken.

"Sasha, have Vincent arrest her and give the child to a local wet nurse!" said Elizabeth in disgust.

Elizabeth hid her tears until she got back to her room.

Every wife knew men were prone to wondering. She waited for the day, Will brought home another woman or let her know of his concubines were pregnant, but the more Will remained faithful the harder it would be to receive the news.

Elizabeth had Anne incarcerated until she could decide what to do. She knew it was wrong, especially to separate a mother and child.

But she had committed a crime. That woman had robbed William of his seed, and Elizabeth of happiness. She had to be sentenced for her crimes.