| arcel likes history

Food was a bliss descending from heaven and enlightening Aurora's soul with its flavour. For the first time in ages, she was not worried about expenses or calories. Food was just food and Aurora could die in peace after having tasted its magical essence. The mermaid egg and garlic soup literally added new years to her life.

"Mermaid eggs are an important import product for Narkissa. Grandmum tells me that my mum really liked them! She was from Narkissa, you know?" Arcel states, quite pleasantly lounging over the grass with his back against a buttress.

Aurora had heard this word twice now. Bringing her thoughts to words, she questions, "What is Narkissa?" as she piles up the empty elegant plates on top of each other.

Arcel turns to face her as if she just committed blasphemy. "How do you— nevermind, you wouldn't know, obviously. Narkissa is a land far into the orient. It is one of the continents formed after the Festival of Priscilla. You won't know what the Festival of Priscilla is, would you now? So, Goddess Priscilla was the wife of Virae, you see, and after she died, Wreath fell apart, quite literally, into seven continents they say. Due to which Seven Empires came into being! I really like History!" Arcel explains calmly.

Aurora nods with her mouth open, soaking in the information like a sponge. That did not seem any different from back on Earth. Wasn't there an Ice Age movie about it? Continental Drift, isn't that what it was called? "Did it happen only once? What are the Seven Empires?" Aurora curiously questions. Finally Arcel was coming of some use and she did not even have to manipulate him with bets!

"I don't know, we are still on the year FF117— or was it 8, in our class? I cannot remember dates well. We only have weekly lessons. But I do know the name of the continents! We live in the biggest one! It's called Willow! And Narkissa is the smallest one, I'm sure. There's also Kalmia. It's smack in the middle and brimming with beastmen! I'd love to go there one day!" He counts the number on his fingers before looking back up, "Okay, there's four more! That would be Lunaria and Matthiola in the Occido and Nerine somewhere up and down. I have read about Nerine! It is said that it is a ghostly continent! Rumor has it that Priscilla is still there, in spirit form. Yes, that's it!"

Aurora's brain feels frazzled with information. Beastman and ghosts, yes, she wasn't even surprised now. But the geography felt awfully akin to Earth. Not that she would know much, she never paid attention. But Aurora did know how to count up to seven and Arcel was one continent short.

"There's one more," Aurora points out, holding up a finger.

Arcel frowns, counts on his small fingers and gasps with realisation. "There's Zinnia! How did I forget it? It is very very famous! Funny part, their Empire called Iris! Just like your name! Oh and it is right beside Willow! What a co-incidence!" Arcel casually explains as if talking of the colour of summer leaves and not some potentially life changing information.

There was an Empire called Iris right beside the one they lived in?!

Was she some stolen princess? Will she get to live a life of royalty around?! Iris did not have a last name, yes, that might be why! IRIS WAS A PRINCESS OF AN EMPIRE FOR SURE!

Aurora jumps to a standing, face a-gleam when the realisation hit. "Arcel- I- uh, I need to go. Like, right now!" She hurriedly babbles, abandoning the cutlery with the Prince as she strides toward the Keep. She needs to meet a maid and check Iris' old room. There's got to be some clues. She needs to go to Zinnia!

With her mind fixated on a new ambition, Aurora runs away, leaving a very confused Arcel behind. He frowns, lips pushing out in a pout. "I thought we were talking about History and having fun!" He whines to no one in particular. "Iris knows nothing and keeps running around. She'll end up getting in some trouble one day..." And suddenly, a quick realisation dawns over the young Prince. "What if I get Iris to be my study partner?! That way she can learn stuff while I get to have fun seeing her!!" Arcel claps upon realising his own spectacular genius. He'd back pat himself, but he did not have time for it. So he runs to make his way to Duchess Arabella and get permission. The sooner the better.

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"I'll take you to your room after you work your shift for the day. Change, now, and get cleaning. Be in the main hall as soon as possible!"

The maid's words washed disappointment over Aurora's newfound ambition. It's fine. She'd come to regret it when Aurora claims the throne of Zinia or whatever. She'll let people walk over her till then. Yes. The more people to get revenge on, the better her drive would get.

Aurora changes into an oversized rose gold tunic with a lime shirt underneath and gags at the vision in a mirror. She was well acquainted with hand-me-down robes but this uniform had easily seen two generations pass. The tunic was threading out over its hem and had mini holes at odd places.

No can do with this.

Aurora swiftly discards the lime shirt which would probably leave no decency to Iris' scars with its half sleeves and keeps wearing Arcel's shirt instead.

Much better.

Then, she tears up the lime shirt (someone should have done that twelve decades ago) which was already in a tattered state and deserved to have a makeover. She pulls out a strip and folds it around her waist in a bow. Now the baggy tunic was cinched cozily to her waist and the pretty bow added a fashion statement. Good enough!

Look at the remaining tatters of lime, Aurora picks up one to fold around her neck as a chocker and uses another odd strap to tie around her hair like a cute headband. She squeals with accomplishment. "Fashion had never been tough for me," Aurora flips Iris' short black hair proudly.

There was still much left of the lime shirt and Aurora decided to store it for some other time. She was still to get proper shoes. They had given her wooden sandals to wear along with the uniform. But Aurora could risk her life and embrace death than wear that ridiculously uncomfortable article.

The ravenette rudely discards the sandals and all but saunters her way to the main hall, cat walking. She poses an 'I-am-fashionably-late-but-ridiculously-gorgeous' pose against the door frame.

Only to get thrown a rag in her face.

"Clean, now."

The maid demands to Aurora's sour face. She couldn't blame her. It takes taste to recognise good fashion. Aurora hadn't expected her to have it. It was comfort enough for Aurora to know that she was the best dressed in the maid in the entire Duchy.

Honest.

Dragging her feet, she gets to rubbing rags against wall embroideries and cursing magic for not being efficient enough to do so by itself.

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Lady Crimson suspends the gold threaded black button in between her fingers and zones in on it. "Why are you showing this to me?" She questions placidly, turning to face Duchess Arabella. The pink haired woman lay on her bed with magic circles surrounding her entire frame. Gone was the youthful glow of her face and instead, her cheek bones had started sinking in. Eye bags graced her face and rested like home. Nevertheless, the Duchess still puts on a smile.

"Do you feel threatened, Clarisse?" The Duchess questions calmly, yet coldly.

Lady Crimson bends herself in submission. Her tall form and strong jaw looking unnatural in the submissive form. "No, Your Grace. I am merely conflicted." Lady Crimson clarifies. Her heart is heavy as she sighs.

"You know what this means, don't you? Erase the announcement for the bounty papers and inform the church that it has begun." Arabella orders stoically.

"Your Grace! You mustn't lose all hope! I shall do away with the bounty over the necklace— but, I will refrain from informing the church," Lady Crimson retaliates, clutching the button in her fist. Her firey eyes look up at the Duchess with concern.

Arabella sighs, "There is no use now, Clarisse. There is no—"

A knock on the door catches them off guard. With a flick of Lady Crimson's hand, the button disappears into oblivion.

"Grandmum! I'm coming in!" Arcel suqeaks beyond it, twisting the knob and barging in without waiting for permission.

Lady Crimson hastily snaps her fingers and the magic circles surrounding Arabella disappear. A faux glow graces the Duchess' face as she sits up straight and waits expectantly to see her grandson skip in.

"Young Master," Lady Crimson curtsies. "I hope you had a pleasant breakfast."

Arcel waves her off and skips to his grandmother's bed instead. "Grandmum! Grandmum! Do you know that Iris is dumb?!" He greets, crawling over the bed and settling beside his grandmother. The Duchess envelopes the little brunette in her arms and laughs out loud.

"Is she now?" The question is rhetoric but Arcel nods anyways.

All the while Lady Crimson bites the inside of her cheeks for the young Prince has jumped over the Grand Duchess' bed with his shoes on! How shameful! Lady Crimson realises that she was still so lacking with her teaching abilities!

And whilst she proceeded to die internally, Arcel continues, "Iris cannot read! Iris doesn't knows her directions! Iris doesn't knows about the Festival of Priscilla! And she doesn't even knows about the continents!" Arcel complains, hugging his grandmother. "I am so disappointed, grandmum." He whines, snuggling his face in her stomach.

Grand Duchess Arabella laughs and ruffles the young Prince's hair. His exasperation was hilarious. "Why now that is a real let down! We must educate her, now that you had vouched your name and title for her. We must make her the best of the best!" Arabella exclaims.

"Yes! I know, right? Iris must be educated! But how—?" Arcel raises his head to agree then slouches again.

"Hmm, maybe she can be your study partner?" Arabella suggests with a drag.

Arcel's eyes widen in surprise as he jumps into a celebration. "Oh yes, grandmum! How are you so wise?! I did not even think of it!" He gasps, jumping over Arabella's bed with his shoes still on. Every step he took was stomp on Lady Crimson's heart.

"Sure you did not," Arabella muses, "I'll talk to your teachers and get her in schedule. But, did you ask her about it? Does she wants to be educated?" Arabella asks, reaching out for Arcel's hands to sit him down.

The brunette shakes his head. "No, I did not. But I'm sure she wouldn't mind!" He chirps nonchalantly.

Arabella frowns. "Now, Arcel, what did I teach you about consent? It is important, isn't it? You must never take actions behind people's back, especially if it affects them directly. Talk to her about it and if she agrees, wouldn't that be more wholesome for both of you?" Arabella explains to a serious looking Arcel.

He nods in understanding with his mouth open. Lady Crimson decides to increase his etiquette training hours.

"I'm sorry, grandmum. I promise to ask from now," Arcel speaks in a small voice. Arabella ruffles his hair again, a bright smile gracing her face.

"Yes, that is my boy!"

"Have you been okay, grandmum? You don't play with me now," Arcel suddenly questions, catching Arabella off guard. "You're always in the bed. I miss you," he pouts noisily.

Arabella gasps, "Oh, have I been neglecting you my love? You know I did not mean to. Let's get out right this instant! We'll play anything you want!" The Duchess shifts around, bringing her feet off the edge of the bed as Lady Crimson runs to place her slippers to her feet.

"Yay! You're sick no more! We'll play the Legends game! I'll be the dragon and you can be Priscilla!" Arcel claps, crawling to jump off the bed as Arabella and Lady Crimson go stiff in a moment. The Duchess coughs, a magic circle appearing on her handkerchief that kept blood at bay.

"Why do you like Dragons, my love? Is it because of that painting?" Arabella asks, getting up. Her knees urge her to sit back down but she forces them straight, maintaining a dignified posture even though all of her limbs ached.

"Well yes, but no. I read a lot about them. They seemed really cool and fun! But I don't like them because of mum," Arcel waves off his grandmother's suggestion with his hand.

"They're not good, Arcel," Arabella berate again as Arcel nods. "Yes, yes, yes," he chants, having heard it for the nth time. "Let's play catch instead. Lady Crimson, will you enchant a ball for us?" Arcel asks, leaning over one leg to catch a glimpse of Arabella's lady-in-waiting standing behind the Duchess.

No, you have horrible manners— is what Clarisse Crimson wished to say. But, who can be so vocal at their workplace? Instead, she pulls up a painful smile and nods, "I would love it, Young Master!"

And the party moves back into the Lower Bailey gardens that Arabella had nurtured for the past six years. They were called the Ercel Gardens for the Duke had gifted them to Arcel when he was one and Arabella would always play with him in there. The Ercel Gardens had witnessed Arcel's first crawl, first word, first walk and first injury. They held cherished memories for the two as Arabella held her grandson's small held with her bejeweled one.

It made her detest the world just a little more when Arcel smiled so innocently at her. And they spread out over the grass and played catch as Lady Crimson and the guards watched and shared laughs.

And from a distance, Vasil stared with a blank face.