NOVEL NEXT Book 3 Ch 43: Gerda - Physics Played Little Part When Stat Sheets Were Involved
“Do you want to be the one to tell Brownie and Lady Amaryllis, or can I?” Henrietta asked.
The couple were the last to stand, everyone else having left shortly after Julian and Calisto. Their Royal Highness extended an invitation for tea in the coming weeks - but if everything worked out in the North, I wouldn’t be able to make it.
I accepted anyway.
“I’m sure the whole palace knows by now, but do what you want.” I told Henrietta, “Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to keep it a secret as long as I did.”
“You could have remained elusive.” King Keith said, raising a single eyebrow at me, “If you didn’t get involved yourself.”
“Yes,” I acknowledged, “But where’s the fun in that?”
“Safer.” He added.
I sighed. “I’ve changed a lot of the future with a single Cast - but sometimes I need to act before instead. I can’t be Casting every ten minutes. It would get obnoxious. And it would directly let the people I’m trying to stop know that I know their every move.”
“How much exactly are you watching?” King Keith asked. He was trying to be subtle, and failing. The Dark Lord was obviously uncomfortable with her powers.
“Enough.” I just smiled. I didn’t need to share everything, and it was best to keep the Dark Lord on his toes.
“Gerda.” Henrietta took a step towards me and then threw her arms around me in a tight hug. I survived. The Dark Lady stated firmly, “I’m glad you are here. And I’m glad I met you. And I want you to know that I am very very happy with how things have turned out.”
She pulled back and then reached out for her husband, who immediately locked hands with Henrietta.
“I’m happy to have helped.” I said. There was a warmth in my chest looking at them. Some of the changes I’d made hadn’t turned out as nice, so I needed a little self-confidence boost now and then. And watching Henrietta and Keith provided ample.
“Shall we grab lunch?” King Keith asked.
Henrietta nodded vigorously. “I was told they imported dishes from the Empire of Sands and are doing a buffet! Are you coming, Gerda?”
I hesitated, considering if I wanted to make a public appearance so soon after the wedding. “As Madame Potts?”
“Maybe everyone who knows has kept it a secret?” Henrietta shrugged.
“Or not.” I played with the end of one of my braids. “Once a secret is out, it might as well be out.”
Keith interjected. “I would assume everyone knows; since the leader of the largest intelligence network on the continent found out, I wouldn’t be surprised if she has already spread the message across the continent. Even from a pair of Veralyn’s Enchanted Restraint Manacles.”
“Then I might as well get this over with.”
I briefly worried about taking the attention away from Julia and Chloe with my appearance, but since I was going to go to the masquerade ball tomorrow, I wanted to get a sense of public opinion now. I could always attend the masque in my scarf.
My fears were founded almost immediately exiting into the hallway, when the guards on duty shared knowing looks. They didn’t outright say anything, but they were having conversations with their eyes that would put anime characters to shame.
It was nice walking with the rulers of the Dark Enchanted Forest. There weren’t any brave enough to approach. No one interrupted the Dark Lord and Lady of Nilheim, and Her Viciousness was already adamantly speaking on very important matters.
“The wild rice from the Empire is black and red.” Henrietta hummed with expectation. “And they mix it with river fish and form it into medallions that they sear in aramu nut oil. The seasoning, Chloe told me, is a combination of crushed sami seeds, dill weed and powdered purple lotus petals. And they have a nut curry simmered in three types of dried fruits with overnight roasted unigoat!”
King Keith followed his wife and listened intently to her detailed accounting of lunch. The Dark Lord was a known lover of food, and he looked as excited as Henrietta.
We arrived in the hall. As it was a casual affair, we were welcomed by a palace attendant but not announced. It didn’t matter, everyone near the door noticed us and started speaking quietly to each other.
My perception, of course, heard everything loud and clear.
"Is she really Madame Potts?"
"My uncle was caught in that capybara stampede. We all told him to listen to the Cast--"
"I'm not saying it's completely unbelievable, but a bridge troll?"
There was a great table of food set up running down the center of the room set up as a buffet. People were standing in groups nearby, eating from small plates, or seated at the tables on the far side. The patio doors were open, and the soft sounds of music and conversation could be heard drifting in from the garden.
“You are finally here!” Minstrel Bronwynn greeted Henrietta with a wide grin, the half-giantess clad in a silk red dress that draped over one shoulder and was belted at the waist with a black velvet belt. She wore black slippers covered in tiny rubies that matched her earrings and necklace set. Rufus was close behind her, sporting a long black tunic with ruby buttons, calf-length pants and a red belt to match. In beastman form, he didn’t require shoes.
“We had a lot to discuss.” The Dark Lady shot me a teasing side-eye.
“It’s all everyone is talking about.” Brownie told me. “Chloe is annoyed, but Julia is using the opportunity to downplay the battle at the Sanctuary. Instead of ambassadors expected complaints about how short and un-entertaining the wedding attack was, they were talking about the big reveal. And actually–”
She leaned in conspiratorially and hid her words behind a hand, “between you and the guild mistress, I’m not sure who is the bigger reveal.”
“Guild Mistress Alice wasn’t well known.” King Keith mused. “Even if the Blackfog were famous, their leader being captured is interesting but not, I think, as interesting as finding out that Madame Potts is a common bridge troll.”
“Not so common. Gerda, held off the Drendil army all by herself. And she rescued you from the Void Mage.” Henrietta defended me.
“The Void Mage,” King Keith pointed out, “who we just captured?”
“I’m surprised.” Rufus cut in, “at how little Void magic she hit us with.”
I coughed, remembering Chloe getting consumed by a Void trap. It wasn’t a fun way to go. “Alice wasn’t able to use her abilities while in disguise… it would be different if we faced off against her as herself.”
Brownie frowned, “Why did that sound like foreshadowing?”
That made me laugh, “Because everything I say sounds like foreshadowing? I’m Madame Potts.”
As we spoke, the others in the hall were inconspicuously and not-so-inconspicuously listening in. On this side of the dining hall, at least, conversation had fallen to a dull whisper. I’d blatantly ignored them until now, though I noticed one young lady from North Sumbria was actually tilting on an angle towards us, and looked past the point she should have already keeled over.
Physics, of course, played little part when stat sheets were involved.
“Shall we go and wish Chloe and Julia proper congratulations?” Henrietta lifted onto her tiptoes to try and see where the newlyweds were.
I spotted Julian right away. He was helping his mother leave the room on the far side, and his sister stood close by. “Over there.”
“Let’s go!” Henrietta dragged us to the buffet to grab a bite, and then we found our way to the newlyweds. Chloe held Julia’s arm as they mingled, and they welcomed us into their circle.
That was when I was beset.