CHAPTER XIII.
Jenna didn't want to go outside of her room, outside there was nothing but contempt and people ready to put her down if she looked in the wrong direction., even the walls of her room had graffiti with insults directed at her.
She has been avoiding her former friends.
The people Zola told her to reach out to had all turned on her after the break, when her stepmother was house arrested by her father, they didnt do anything though.
That was until she had found out about Leon's victory over some pirates, she told everyone hoping she would be accepted again now that her House had an achievement to presume.
She has seen something similar happen a couple of times before, a small victory was supposed to be boasted so everyone knows how great your House is!
But bragging about it had the opposite effect and everyone had told her it was nothing but a victory over some mutts and it was like a trigger was pulled.
The contempt turned to harassment and the last friends she had left had turned on her and even joined the others.
She was becoming one of those strange girls that spent all their time in their rooms, but she didn't even have a hobby to pass the time.
A few letters were passed through the door and she didn't want to see if they were really the monthly mail from her family or if they were a new method to harass her.
She eyed the letters as if expecting them to burst on fire or start screaming at her, for some reason someone created a spell that did just that, it was utterly humiliating for the addressee!
They called them Scolders.
She finally decided to open them, even if it was one, it wouldn't be so bad if it was in the solitude of her room.
The first one was from Angelica of all people, it had the expected niceties but then she had to re-read a portion of the letter.
She was basically being ordered to accept a tea party invitation from someone called Daniel Fou Durlan! The Heir of a Barony close to her brother's territory, she stopped reading her letter right there.
She would do it, not only was she desperate but she has come to accept that even if they are officially separated the two House Bartfort were still one and the same and Angelica was the matriarch. Jenna wouldn't dare to defy her after what happened to Zola and Merce.
At least she was matching her up with the Heir of a barony unlike Merce… she shuddered thinking of her older sister's life in Leon's territory.
The next one was from Cordelia, Nick's intended letter was advice to do as Angelica says and a reminder that House Bartfort was the most important thing in her life! At least she put some gossip in there too!
Leon's sex life was positive, absolutely… tame! She giggled, her idiot of a brother practically slept with both of his women everyday nowadays if what Big Sis says it's true, however he never tried to bed both of them at the same time. How dull.
She couldn't help but imagine what she would do if she had two men at her beck and call… for real, not like those clowns who used to court her… Oh the things she would have them do to each other for her amusement!
However, Angelica is the daughter of the Duke, it was probably better that her idiot brother doesn't have her own imagination!
Things are bad enough as they are.
There was nothing about Cordelia and Nicks relationship and she wanted some details… not many, just enough to live vicariously through her, this last months were hell for her.
There was another letter… from Marce!
Tearing the envelope she read it as fast as she could. No way big sis Merce is pregnant?
Poor Merce, she must be devastated.
Leon put her in charge of some fancy outdoors baths he wants everyone to call Hotsprings… the name isn't sticking, the most popular option is…Thermals, that pissed Leon off for some reason.
Everyone is doting on her…
She gets to eat sweets and pastries?
The women of the settlement all ask advice from her?
Some bitch wanted to get on with James?
,,,
Yeah, she also wanted to have an affair with him when he was available, but if her father would have found out… she would be in Merce's shoes right now…
It didn't sound so bad right now, you know, better to be left alone in some barony in the boonies than being harassed in the capital.
Sex is good?
Well, probably, James looked like he could… no he is her sister's husband now, better not to…
"Wait a second! She is bragging!" and she was worried for her!
That bitch!
Even Merce who was married to a knight is enjoying her life more than her!
Looking at herself in the mirror she found herself to be a mess, her hair was tangled, she had puffy red eyes but her family's letters had managed to make her smile, the only thing in her life to make her smile lately is her family…
With renewed energy she picked up Angelica's letter again and kept reading.
The Durland Baron is smart enough to not fall for some obvious traps, not smart enough to avoid the more subtle ones… like the one about lending a hand with unwelcome visitors…
The Durland are good trading partners.
They just got a new powerful airship that Angelica still wants to control.
Their territory is two days away.
Her little girl could use a lil cousin to play with… that was cute but also very, very creepy.
Besides, Angelica's baby could be a little boy… Leon was dad's son and dad had four boys and three girls… with the same amount of women too…
Perhaps Leon and dad were more alike than she realized. Perhaps her reply letter should include some advice mom gave her about shaking her booty?
Balcus Fou Bartfort is quite passionate about his tastes and has no qualms when talking about booties, it never mattered who could be listening!
Cordelia and Nicks kissing in the pantry…
Leon is planning an expedition to the elfs village historical dungeon, Livia is excited about getting to see how the ancient people used to live, Angelica is angry because she wants to go too.
But Leon wants her to stay behind because it might be dangerous in her condition, Angelica has assured her that if she will have another thing … wait what was right above?
Ha! She knew big sis Cordelia had it in her because there was no way Nicks took the initiative!
She is invited to pass the next holiday at Leon's territory.
Jenna looked at her reflection again, she was still smiling.
Big sis Cordelia's words made so much more sense now.
Why is our House so important all of a sudden?"
"It was always the most important thing, but that woman never let it show, if I had to guess her priorities were her own comfort first, his children second, whatever was left for your sister and you while your younger brothers were just something to be sold off to the highest bidder"
Her family kept in touch with her, looked out for her, worried for her, cared for her…
This world was an Us vs Them place.
She knows this now.
Us is House Bartfort, and everyone else is Them, the enemy.
She took her pen and started a letter of her own to her matriarch, she wanted to know…
Angelica was supposedly doing a great job administrating her brother's territory.
Was that her way to help her father's House by making sure House Bartfort was strong and reliable?
Was she supposed to be Leon's leash? She knows how absurdly strong her little brother became in the months he lost contact with them.
From what big sis Cordelia told her, she could assume that the Duke wanted to control Leon's military power.
Would she be expected to help House Durland in a similar way to help House Bartfort?
0x0x0
Soon enough she got a letter answering her questions.
After the niceties were ignored she noticed that Angelica could be… Very blunt.
Yes. She is, the Duke's power is also linked to the power of his vassals.
No, she isn't, she is her brother's sheath, the place where… Gah the pervert!
Yes, ideally she would help Durland House grow and make sure they keep in good terms with Bartfort, ideally they would end in a mutual defense contract.
Cordelia and Nicks moved their kissing to the back of the house after being discovered by Livia, it has become a game between her brother's women to find out where exactly the two of them were conducting their more… daring bonding.
TOC TOC!
A letter is sliced under her door.
It's from Daniel Fou Durland, it is a tea party invitation.
Jenna smiled, she had a job to do and she would capture Daniel Fou Durland, help him make something of himself and make him protect House Bartfort at all cost!
0x0x0
Daniel felt a chill down his spine.
He spent all his free time in the dungeon with his friends of the poor barons group raiding the dungeon for every Dia they could get.
His father ordered to buy a present for Lord Leon's sister but didn't give him a dia to spend!
But somehow, after hunting a ton of monsters he felt like the prey!
CHAPTER XIV.
Olivia was sitting outside of the Estate master bedroom with her Lord and lover Leon, they were awaiting news.
The time for Lady Angelica to give birth to the firstborn of theirLord has come and she is in there with their tutor who was also acting as midwife.
A little less than a year ago she could not have imagined herself anxiously waiting for good news when she was terribly scared of nobles back then, thinking her life was over once she was… kind of forced to become Lord Leon concubine because of her Holy Magic.
But both, her Lord and his wife were truly kind to her from the beginning, they liberated her from hell and took her in their home, they even helped her parents to thrive in this new land.
Here she was safe and growing stronger by the day.
Miss Joan even believed she could be the Saintess of this era… she never took her seriously of course. No matter how much she wanted to take her to the temple to be tested she always refused.
And her new family always backed her up, in the beginning to not give up her talent, she knows, but lately she feels it is because they were all fond of her.
She could remember vividly the first time lord Leon had invited her to a tea party, only her.
With Lady Angelica's blessing, it was awkward, she was a bit afraid that he would try to take her there in the room they had built to accommodate his hobby.
It was the perfect time to do it, with them alone in a room, the thick walls of the estate would have muffled any sound the act would produce.
But to her relief and slight disappointment he had been so focused on entertaining her that he seemed to forget that she was a woman.
His woman, and that he was a man, her man?
Instead he was so enthusiastic in his efforts to entertain her she could only smile at his efforts.
She had a genuine good time once she noticed that she was not going to be forced to do anything there.
The second time was somehow even better with a sweet tea and delicious desserts and a tale of his adventures as he showed her some very detailed drawings of the ancient artifacts found in the ruins all across the world.
She had theorized the functions of the artifacts.
They probably were used in grandiose things like creating mana crystals, spawning the monsters that populated the dungeons, creating gold…
But her Lord thought they were drink and food dispensers…
She didn't know what to tell him about his lack of imagination.
Then he pointed to a particular one and said they were probably things to scam people out of their money and she just couldn't accept the jaded view her Lord had of the ancient humans.
In the end she all but told him to let her come with theories about how the ancient machines worked if he wasn't going to take her seriously.
Little by little she felt more comfortable with her Lord Leon.
Lady Angelica openly approved it.
She was a little disappointed that Lord Leon never tried to make any advances on her, of course she forgot what he said when they first met, he said that He would never touch her without her consent.
That made her feel inadequate.
Then the time had come for a tea party when she had to share her time with her Lord with Lady Angelica, it was awkward again.
But soon the married couple managed to break the ice, they succeeded when Lord Leon started attacking the academy verbally.
Lady Angelica threw her own insults to the noble students that attended the prestigious institution and she had to help attack the staff too.
The teachers were supposed to instill discipline but whenever she was involved they just turned away or pretended not to notice!
She had to live in a room filled with demeaning graffiti.
Thanks to Lord Nicks, Lord Leon had a very good idea how the academy worked, and was ever so happy to have succeeded in avoiding attendance thanks to Duke Redgrave.
After that tea party she felt they were closer to becoming a real family.
With a few more sessions she had become Lady Angelica's close friend and she was given the privilege to call her Angie, like her father and brother and husband, in return, she asked to be called Livia.
It was hard not to become close to Angie during these times since Lord Leon would act more like a barista than their Husband.
When the hot springs were built in the estate she was ecstatic with such a marvelous idea, they were comfy and relaxing after a full day of studying.
She had become proficient enough in her Holy Magic that she could cure all but the most severe injuries and when she was free during the day she walked around the new village just outside the estate.
In the beginning the people that came from Lord Balcus' territory didn't know how to react to her: Was she just the concubine in turn? Or was she there to stay?
The people liked to gossip, the farmers in their fields and their women in the plaza but she was most likely the target most of the time and that was proved right every time she passed by with Cornelia or Angie and they quieted when they got too close.
Olivia herself wasn't sure which one is the case, but she was hoping for the best.
When they walked through the fields and squatted to see how their crop was growing she always had a good time.
Watching the fields grow was always comforting, she especially enjoyed when Angie spotted some insect or another she would always ask questions a five year old would ask and she tried her best to explain that an earthworm was no plague and smile when Angie grabbed one to observe it closely.
Then someone hurt himself with a shovel and she had healed the worker much to the amazement of the rest of the farmers.
A wound that would have taken a month to heal was gone in an instant.
Then it happened!
She was dismissed early because Miss Joan was feeling unwell and she decided to take an extra long bath at the hot springs. She enjoyed soaking in a corner of the room.
After a while both Lord Leon and Lady Angelica had entered the room kissing passionately, she was in a corner but they didn't seem to notice her amidst the water vapor the room generated but perhaps they were too lost in their lust for each other to even notice her.
Kisses soon turned to groping and then to sex… and she found she had lost her opportunity to leave the room, she closed her eyes and covered them with her hands.
But soon their happy, lusty noises were too much to resist and there she could see as Angie lost herself to the pleasure of their Lord's body with every practiced trust she would moan quietly.
Angie finally managed to control her lusty moans.
Somehow Olivia managed to slip out unnoticed when they finished their sex session… or was it love making at this point?
They were so lost in their own little world that they could have been attacked by pirates… again and they wouldn't have noticed.
But something had awakened in her as she found herself unable to sleep, everytime she closed her eyes she could see the married couple moving rhythmically, pleasuring each other.
Lord Leon's strong body and Angie's curvy body, both wet and sweaty.
She had to touch herself to release twice before she could fall asleep that night.
The next couple tea parties were a bit awkward for her, and both of them had noticed that something had changed.
After telling them she was ok, all of them tried to go on with the tea party as always, which means they gossiped about Nicks and Cornelia and where they were conducting their less than morally correct activities.
They tried to not talk about barony matters when they are supposed to be having fun.
However she couldn't forget what she saw, she felt awful for intruding back then, she should have said something, alert them that she was there with them.
In the nights she would go out of her room and stand in their door trying to catch those moans again, but the estate was built with thick walls and now that Angie could control her voice she could barely hear anything, much less the sound of their love making.
Soon the situation became unbearable and she seeked the wisest being in existence, her mom for advice… she regretted it when all she had to say was: you are curious. And then her mom laughed at her for five minutes until she had enough and decided to leave.
After that her mom looked for her and gave some serious advice that she would prefer not to remember ever again.
The next tea party the three of them had she could no longer stand it and she asked if she could have a kiss…
Angie said there was no problem, her Lord though was a bit more difficult to convince, it was awful for her but surprisingly it was Angie who insisted.
This was something she desired.
And it was worth the embarrassment.
Later Angie announced her pregnancy shortly after that and she felt it was time to ask for more.
A week Later she lost her virginity.
They took measures to avoid pregnancy at Angie's request.
She knew that her having a child at roughly the same time as the legal wife would create unnecessary complications.
Her Life became a bliss.
Until the academy somehow catched up to them even with them not being students there anymore.
One of the prince's cronies tried to kidnap Angie on a trip they made to an island celebrating a holiday so Lord Leon could buy amulets…
She was mad no one told her about it until they were back to the safety of their territory, she was mad but also glad nothing bad had really happened.
The Green Clown as Lord Leon called the noble had been sent to follow after a decoy and they even enjoyed the rest of the festival normally.
But troubles kept coming from the Lordling's House, one after another the pirates kept attacking, they were greater in quantity and the quality of their armors were above the ones Lord Leon fought on their way here.
It got to the point that the attacks couldn't have been sent by only one House, Angie suspected the involvement of her dad's rival faction.
Cordelia also pointed out that it was possible that Lord Leon had a bounty on his head in the underworld of the Holfort kingdom.
Her love was victorious every time, but the situation wasn't good at all.
Luxy dismantled two ships to build single better ship and sent it to Lord Leon's papa.
Just in time to reinforce him.
It was inevitable someone confused one Barony for the other.
Both branches of the family were in danger and even if they were sure who the culprits were they could do nothing because they were smart enough not to be linked with the attacks…
The cry of a new born baby was heard and after a couple of minutes Miss Joan opened the door for them and let them in.
Angie was sitting on the bed looking thoroughly exhausted but still managed to smile tenderly at the baby she was breastfeeding.
"It's a boy!" Angie said as they walked to her and looked Lord Leon in the eyes and jokingly told him "Are you happy now?"
Lord Leon got down to look at his son and smiled tenderly "He is perfect, of course I'm happy! Thank you"
Her Love was happy with his firstborn, so was Angie.
She was moved by the sight of her friend feeding a baby and she wondered what it was like to bring life into this world.
Only Lord Leon and Jenna guessed the gender, it was fine because no one ever took anyone's guesses about the gender of the baby seriously anyway.
Maybe in a few weeks she will manage to get pregnant.
Angie got the son she longed for.
That baby was Lord Leon's Heir and Livia couldn't help but feel relieved as well, the status quo she has come to enjoy can keep going for a little longer, maybe forever if when she gets pregnant she gives birth to a baby girl.
Wouldn't that be lovely?
"Have you decided on a name for your son, my love?" Angie asked, she would name the baby if it was a girl, and Lord Leon would do it if it was a boy.
"Gilbert, in honor of his uncle"
0x0x0
Marquiss Malcolm Fou Framptom looked at the newspaper as if it had personally insulted him.
Bernard Fia Atlee was less than subtle when he pointed out the increased activities of some very notorious pirates.
Of course that petulant child, Gilbert gladly pointed out that those pirates would never be a problem for anyone anymore.
And this article in the newspaper was like an extension of that brat's mockery.
BARTFORT: THE PIRATE'S BANE
BY ALAN FIA SPENCER.
As the readers of Holfort's Gazette know, this correspondent has been closely following the events surrounding the kingdom's newest noble.
Lord Leon Fou Bartfort, the Baron, who had a chance encounter with some notorious pirates when he was on his way to his newly discovered floating island.
Said encounter marked the annihilation of the SkySharks pirates and the beginning of what appears to be a not so one sided grudge between the outlaws and the new Branch of House Bartfort.
This journalist will not lie to you, our esteemed readers. I thought that the defeat of the SkySharks was nothing but a fluke.
However various other notorious crews have been targeting the good Baron, such as the SkyWolfs, the Sky Salamanders and the SkyTigers to name a few, indicating not only the lack of naming creativity in certain groups of the kingdom but also the very real grudge some people hold for Lord Leon.
However none of the scum mentioned above has managed yet to land a single shot onto the Bartfort's Barony as of yet.
There have been rumors about a pirate targeting Lord Leon's wife not long ago, supposed witnesses say the scoundrel dared to steal the name of a well respected House to try to kidnap Lady Angelica, who is also the Daughter of Duke Vince Rapha Redgrave.
Once might be a fluke, but after the sixth report of successful defense no one would be fool enough to believe Bartforts victories are anything but skill.
Even the pirates recognize his talent in the most underhanded way possible, for this scum to target the pregnant wife of a noble is nothing but a death warrant.
Don't worry though, I can assure you none of the pirate crews mentioned above were spared.
Ladies and gentlemen, we should feel relieved to have such a skilled man guarding the southern border.
Why not make the man a public announcement that he belongs to the Redgraves now too?
Spencer was always for sale, he should have been faster and bought him himself.
It doesn't matter how many subtle messages the Redgraves try to send to their enemies, he has enough contacts with pirates to ensure that sooner or later the Barfots will fall.
And the best part was that if anyone managed to discover the conspiracy against Vince's daughter they would blame that stupid Marmoria kid.