NOVEL NEXT Book 3 Ch 7: Gerda - Awkwardly Staring
I shouldn’t have done that.
Everything had been going so well tonight. Henrietta enjoyed trying all of the street food - don’t ask me how she ate so much for someone so tiny - and Minstrel Brownie had taken to breaking out into song every time there was a pause in scheduled performance.
The original band hired for the town square, The Hart and Hare, took a thirty minute break every two hours. Now was one of those breaks, and Brownie was having a blast entertaining the crowd.
I’ll admit, she was amazing. Her music was upbeat, and catchy, and she had a beautiful singing voice.
Yes, everything was going well… until I spotted the one person I wasn’t expecting to see at a festival.
Duke Julian of North Sumbria. The half-elf took after his human mother a lot, dark-skinned and sharp-featured. His purple hair was from his elven father's side, and he wore it long and bound in locks tied at the back of his head.
He was leaning against a magical lantern post, listening to the music.
I couldn’t help staring at him. He was just that strikingly attractive. Something about the way he always looked stern. It'd got my attention when I was playing through his route, and he still had the look now. It was fun to finally see him smile.
Making him smile was worth all of the effort I’d put in.
Without Henrietta going down the hidden route, there'd been no reason for Julian to leave his fortress. I’d seen him for a moment at the Spring Ball, but I'd been busy trying to save everyone.
Tonight was fan service. He was wearing black leather traveling attire, knee-high boots and a belt without a pouch or dagger. He had a warrior’s build, though I had to admit I was a little more muscular than he was. The half-elf blood in him kept him on the leaner side.
His eyes suddenly met mine from across the square.
I froze.
I maybe even panicked. But only for a second, then I needed to find a way to get out of being caught awkwardly staring.
Julian’s eyes followed mine, and I used the opportunity to step out of sight behind a passerby. I ducked behind the nearest stall and when I had the courage to look back, the duke was gone.
If he was at the market… the premonition from earlier flashed through my mind. He must have dropped his locket on his way out of the palace.
I hesitated for only a second. Brownie was still very much distracted with her performance, and Henrietta was nearby arm wrestling someone for a free floofpoof roast skewer. I’d had my own taste of the lightly salted roast bird earlier. It tasted a lot like chicken… then again, a lot of the monsters tasted like chicken.
“Henrietta?” I waited until the queen slammed her challenger's arm down and claimed her floofpoof prize before calling out.
“Gerda!” She smiled at me and then pointed at the line up of five burly individual’s all ready for a turn. “Would you like me to win you a snack?”
I shook my head even as the next contestant, an ogre twice the size of Henrietta, took the seat and offered his hand. “Not if I don’t crush you first, girlie!”
“Bring it!” Henrietta laughed and then slammed the ogre’s hand into the table so hard the table creaked.
“I am going to turn in for the evening.” I let her know. “But I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Have a good night.” Henrietta said, before turning back to the ogre who was shaking out his sore hand. She patted her opponent on the arm reassuringly, “that was great! I’ll have the soy-glaze flying pork skewer, please.”
The vendor rushed to fill the order even as the ogre accepted defeat and paid for the food.
I left the busy town square and headed up the main road to the palace… there was no need to backtrack and follow the duke from where he’d come - [Sense Fate] had already located where the locket had fallen.
This would have been an ideal game scenario for the Heroine and Duke Julian to meet and fall in love… Instead, I was going to pick up the locket and turn it over to the palace staff.
Her Royal Viciousness, Queen Henrietta had already found her Happily Ever After. There was no heroine left to go and solve all of the quests that continued to pop up. That’s where my inspiration for Madame Potts’ came in.
If Henrietta was too busy to complete all of the important scenarios, and I was tied down to my bridges, then I could just let everyone know what was going to happen and they could solve the problems on their own.
The other nations had their own high level warriors to throw at trouble.
I arrived at the palace outer gate and flashed my invitation. It was something I’d won from Julia months back. The woman had been on a warpath to make it to the Black Fortress so I’d traded passage - and even offered her a short cut with my bridge teleport skills - for special guest invitations to each of the major events in North Sumbria this year.
Julia was a good sort, and she’d sent me passes for the Spring Ball, the Summer Masquerade, the Fall Ball, and the Winter Feast within the week.
Once through the gates, carriages could travel up the wide road to the palace, or there was a nice cobblestone walkway that led up to the stables on the left side or through the garden on the right.
I took the left. I was heading to a courtyard on the western side. I’d asked for guest rooms in the West Wing just for this scenario.
[Passive Perk: Sense Fate has activated. [Duke Julian von Slyke] will lose his locket at the Coral Palace West Fountain tonight.
You have crossed paths with a Fate that can be changed. Area of effect radius Perception 42 x [Foretelling] Skill Level 4 = 172 sq/ft. Fate herself will guide you.
"There falls a sacred treasure, a clue towards the crowned. Give back the lost before the mask, and see the sceptre found."]
As far as Fate's riddles went, this one was easy because I already had a quest to find specific game treasures for each season.
I'd found all of the treasures from Season One because I already knew where they were hidden… that wasn’t the case with Season Two. I had to find them the old fashioned way.
So far, I’d managed to do quite well for myself, all told.
[Quest: Season One Treasures Found 10/10 Complete
Ancient Gamblers Amulet - A magic item that allows you to convert xp costs to gold.
Master Cast Crystal - A crystal that connects to all cast crystals.
ColdIron Skillet - perfectly cooks everything and adds a +3 bonus to any culinary skill.
Badgerclaw Best Blade - A blade with a 30% bonus critical damage to dragons and a 10% chance of activating the unique poison attack Dragonsbane.
St Veralyn’s Enchanted Manacles - A pair of restraint manacles that inhibit the use of abilities.
Arcane Catpaw Gloves - A pair of cat gloves that show you a target's highest value item.
Hero Spatial Ring - A 1000 item storage ring that keeps items frozen in time. Current Capacity 899/1000.
Legendary Sunlight Mallet - A mallet with a 75% chance to repair any item up to Legendary grade. 3 uses per day.
Arcane Magesplitter Axe - 30% bonus critical damage against mages and a 10% chance of activating the unique skill Counterspell.
Trickster’s Scarf - A scarf that lets the wearer change appearance to foxfolk, lizardkin, human, elf, dwarf, troll, ogre, selkie, or preela]
[Quest: Season Two Treasures Found 7/10
Nova’s Celestial Pendant - An opal pendant that glows near celestials. +20 Charisma with Divine.
King Kraken’s Heart - A ruby ring that allows you to breathe underwater. +20 Charisma with sea creatures.
Valarian Royal Mantle +3 to Charisma when equipped. 5/6 set pieces found.
Valarian Royal Sword +3 to Strength when equipped. 5/6 set pieces found.
Valarian Royal Shield +3 to Constitution when equipped. 5/6 set pieces found.
Valarian Royal Crown +3 to Perception when equipped. 5/6 set pieces found.
Valarian Royal Boots +3 to Dexterity when equipped. 5/6 set pieces found.]
I was one piece from completing a set, and a Valarian Royal Sceptre would fit nicely with the theme.
It wasn’t hard to find the Coral Palace West Fountain even without my [Map] Perk. I’d visited almost every room in this place while playing the otome game… still, my mini map perk helped.
I couldn't always rely on memory; It had been five years since I’d arrived in this world after all.
There was a sparkle of moonlight on something fallen beside the fountain. I picked up a locket and noted the tiny broken loop of gold that had previously kept it secure on its chain. Pulling out my Legendary Sunlight Mallet, I lightly tapped it against the locket.
[You have attempted to use the Legendary Sunlight Mallet to repair Duke Julian’s Cherished Locket - epic grade. 75% chance of success. You have failed.]
I sighed as a piece of the locket chipped off. That was fine, as I could attempt two more repairs before having to wait until the treasure reset its uses at midnight.
The mallet fell against the locket once more as an angry voice called out, “Don’t!”
[You have attempted to use the Legendary Sunlight Mallet to repair Duke Julian’s Cherished Locket - epic grade. 75% chance of success. You have succeeded.]