CHAPTER 101 Wait! I Haven’t Been Tortured!

Henrietta

I'd met Duke Wyldon a few times in the Servalt Court. Once when I was visiting as a delegate for the queen's birthday luncheon, and a second time when he'd been accompanying his king to sign a trade tax revision on the treaty between Drendil and Servalt.

Both times he'd been firm and professional and distant, so I was surprised when he stepped forward to be my partner for the luncheon. I allowed it, given our previous relationship, and the fact that I didn't want to be the only young lady unescorted; all around us, young men and women were pairing off.

"It is a lovely day, Duke Wyldon." I smiled, falling into the habitual etiquette ingrained into me at my mother's knee. Namely, a bland face with a fake smile.

"It's not raining, which I admit is a nice change." The young man, perhaps twenty-one, glanced at the sky warily.

"Is there a lot of rain in Servalt these days?"

The gardens we walked out into with the rest of the group were beautiful. There were a variety of spring flowers I couldn't name, their multicolored hues a clear sign of careful magical crossbreeding. White fluffy clouds moved over the sky, but there was ample sunshine. I inhaled deeply through my nose; the air was warm and smelled like spring.

The duke nodded. "It's been windy and wet and miserable for weeks back home … Princess, I actually had a question for you—"

"Welcome to my afternoon tea, everyone! Please take your seats."

Before he could say more, our hostess greeted us and waved us to take our seats at a long table set for ten on each side and Grand Duchess Calisto at the head. If this were more official, each spot would have nameplates with the seats laid out by rank. Instead, we all just sat with our partners in order of arrival.

I was sitting in the fourth seat from Duchess Calisto on her right. Duke Wyldon sat one closer. I'd never met the two girls between myself and the head table, but I would guess they were from North Sumbria, as they had beautiful hazelnut black skin. They also wore the straight soft fabric fashion of the duchy and had escorted each other.

Bastian sat further down and across from me, escorting a Sumbrian girl. She had a white fichu tied in a bow at her breast and her long pink hair in a half ponytail. She was a timid thing, tiny, with big eyes and a delicate nature.

"Thank you all for joining us today," the Grand Duchess announced. "We will have refreshments shortly. I encourage you to use this time to get to know your peers."

At that, the duchess excused herself and walked over to what looked like her head butler. He was dressed in similar attire to the rest of the castle staff, except he had four bands sewn to his arm and a tie.

"Are you Duke Wyldon of Servalt?" one of the girls asked my escort. They must have been all of sixteen at my guess.

He sat straight and nodded. "I am, and this is Princess Henrietta Doryn of Drendil."

"Nilheim."

Everyone table turned to stare at me.

"What?" Duke Wyldon also stared at me.

It wasn't polite to correct my date or to introduce myself … but neither was not answering while everyone just stared at me. "It's Princess Henrietta Doryn of Nilheim."

The pair immediately across from me, a dwarfess and a human, exchanged worried looks. The duke frowned. "Is that why the Dark Lord let you come here? You've been tortured into immigrating—"

"Wait, I haven't been tortured!" I protested. "And I was allowed to come because I received an invite." She paused. "Alright, I also got the Dark Lord's permission to attend, but that was back when I was his prisoner and … I'm not telling this right."

I couldn't help it; I face-palmed. When I looked up from my hands, everyone was still staring.

"You're not in Nilheim anymore, Princess," the duke declared. "And you shall never have to step foot in that terrible place again. Even if I have to marry you myself! We will find a way."

He was very noble, but also very mistaken.

"No, no, I'm very happy in the Dark Enchanted Forest. I promise!" No one seemed to believe me, so I tried to explain. "I love baking in the kitchen, and going to the dungeon with Rufus, and having tea in the man-eating flower garden."

The human across from me, a young man dressed in clothing from the empire further north, fainted. His dwarfess partner caught his head and leaned him gently on the table. Her fake smile never faltered.

She was an excellent table partner.

The two girls from North Sumbria were giggling, and the other nobles whispered among themselves.

"They have you working as a servant and keep you in the dungeon?" Duke Wyldon was aghast; he slammed the table and stood, drawing even more attention as grand duchess looked our way. "It's worse than the rumors. I will lodge a formal complaint with Nilheim. Do not worry, Princess, I will—"

I panicked. Duke Wyldon was still speaking when I grabbed his shirt and pulled. It wasn't enough to tear the piece of clothing from his body—I had training in restraint—but I pulled hard enough that he hit the chair with a whomp.

I could feel Jacqueline's gentle response to my panic and I tried to calm my nerves as best I could. She shifted and then went back to sleep.

"Listen to me," I yelled. "I'm happy in Nilheim. I signed the paperwork myself. And I'm already seeing someone!"

One North Sumbrian girl asked, "Is it General Rufus? What I wouldn't give to get invited to his dungeon."

"Tabitha Hughs!" the other North Sumbrian gasped. "I'll tell your mother you said that!"

"Cousin Julia married into Nilheim, or will shortly," Tabitha countered. "I can too."

"My daughter is marrying Necromancer Chloe from the Dark Enchanted Forest." Duchess Calisto rejoined us, smiling down on her nieces. Presumably her nieces, as they called Julia cousin. I would go with that. "You should have all received her invitation this morning."

"Grand Duchess," Duke Wyldon of Servalt turned to our hostess, and in front of everyone declared, "Princess Henrietta is in grave danger, and I fear she's under a mind spell as well. Can you help us?"

I couldn't help it; I face-palmed a second time.