TW: r*pe
Ivan felt excitement course through his veins, a familiar high he hadn’t been able to feel since coming home from the battlefield. This feeling- the feeling you get when you take a life. The banquet was the perfect place to thoroughly humiliate and ruin the witch that had hurt his wife too many times.
What better way than to out her for her crimes against the Crown? But why did it seem his entire plan was derailed by that one maid? How could one of the palace maids be so foolish as to spill crap all over the Poplov witch?
But then Ursa called over one of her handmaidens, the shorter one and ordered, “Go bring Lady Tatya a new dress.” Then the shorter handmaiden, Emery, Ivan thought, nodded enthusiastically and went to go perform her duty. The taller one, Cecily, leaned over as
TW: r*pe“It’s been quite some time. Why has Lady Tatya not returned?” asked Orlov. Although it sounded like the question was up in the air, it was truly directed at Ursa.“Perhaps something is wrong. I’ll go check on her,” offered Ivan. If Lady Tatya didn’t return to everyone, his plan could not continue.“No need. As a lady, I should go,” said Ursa.Her quick interjection was not missed by the suspicious Orlov. “Why don’t we all go?”Ursa liked Lord Orlov quite a bit. He was a good man with a good head on his shoulders. But at that moment, she wanted to chop off that good head.
“Kassio, can we talk?” whispered Ivan.“What is it?”“You’re not seriously thinking of brokering a deal with them, are you?” Ivan had pulled Orlov to the side, leaving the two Poplovs in his study alone.“I think you should be open to it,” replied Orlov. “Lord Poplov still wields significant influence in court. There will definitely be some backlash if we harm his family status now, especially with his claims. This may go to trial, or we’ll have to back down.”“That witch tried to kill me and my wife! How can we back down?” Ivan argued.“And you’re not exactly very popular, Ivan.”
The office was dead silent, save for the sound of rustling papers as Ursa cleared them out of her way to make room for a new stack. The work was tedious; all she did was write a few amendments and stamp things. Ursa was glad she was able to make progress with her Five Year plan considering the hard time the court had given her in the past, but now it was smooth sailing. Hopefully she could begin to implement some of these policies by the beginning of the New Year.Ursa looked out the window, suddenly reminded of the time of year. The Vasil country tended to have a warmer climate compared to her own country, but it was getting noticeably chiller.‘It’s almost that time of year…’ she thought as she put her stamp in the drawer. That was enough work for today, especially since dinner would be ready soon. It seemed as though the
In the front of the palace was a tall tower with a beautiful stained glass window that oversaw the city of Ichares. Even if Ursa could not leave the palace premises, she could always look over at the bustling markets, the children playing, and the hardworking people come and go. Ursa visited the tower to look down to the people to think, and remind her of all the people she can help. This particular day she wished to observe some changes in the usual happy nonchalance in the people’s manners. Perhaps… preparation for a certain Feast?Ursa sighed, climbing down from the edge of the window. She had escaped from her handmaidens one too many times, they would surely find out about the tower sooner or later. She began to descend the stairs, the sound of her steps ricocheting against the walls. She quickly exited and pretended as if she was walking down the hall. Cecily and Emery were walking
Orlov had looked all over the palace for Ivan, yet he never expected to find him in the library. Ivan was never one for books, one would always find him in the training area for knights, or in his study lounging about. Orlov certainly didn’t expect to open the door and have a book thrown at his face.“It’s not here!” yelled Ivan. “There’s nothing here!” Orlov bent down and picked up the object that assaulted him. The title read ‘Holidays of the Continent’ by some author he didn’t recognize.“And what is it that you’re looking for?” Ivan’s head popped up from behind a bookshelf, surprised to see his friend.“Kassio! Maybe you can help me. You’ve travelled quite a bit, what do you know of the Feast of Ephr
The day of the Feast was very boring. Cecily and Emery came to wake Ursa up, showering her with paperwork that needed to be done and reminding her of the points Ursa wanted to bring up in court that day. Ursa would have given anything to hug her soft, warm pillow and sleep for the rest of the day.“My Lady, please!”“This should be a day off! I shouldn’t have to work on Feast day!” Ursa complained.“My Lady, you’re acting like a child. Have some respect!” Cecily admonished. All Emery did was giggle and hop into the sheets with her mistress.“Ursa’s right! It’s Feast day! And it’s not as if we’re not-”“You shut up! By t
The Day of Magia arrived soon after, and so the palace prepared for the departure of the top three people in the empire: The Emperor, the Empress, and the Prime Minister. The small number of magic practitioners in the capital congregated in the palace to join the Emperor’s procession to the Temple of Hypnotite. Ursa decided to pack light, seeing as the trip would be short, and the temple practiced simplicity in life to feel closer to the manna.“I don’t feel manna,” she had rebutted when Orlov informed her, noticing the papers of dress ideas her handmaidens had left on her desk. “Why would I need to underdress?”“You have a point… though you will feel a bit out of place with all that lace on.” Ursa quietly stuck the papers in her drawer, clearing her throat out of embarrassment.
An elderly man dressed in all white waited for them at the entrance of the temple, flanked by men in similar dress, however much simpler.“Is that the Oracle?” whispered Ursa. Ivan nodded, his knuckles tightening around the reins of his horse. The rest of the journey there, which wasn’t too long, Ursa remained at Ivan’s side, tightly hugging his waist in case she slipped off. The group dismounted from their horses, and some young boys and girls ran out and took the reins from the magic users.“Your Majesty,” the Oracle greeted with a smile, but he did not bow. Ivan stood tall, not wavering either.“Your Holiness. It’s been awhile.”“Yes it has. Please, come in! Tell me, how was the forest?&rdqu