Taking the time to clean up and remove all traces of blood that covered my clothing and hands from healing Cedric, as well as brushing my teeth to remove the lingering taste of vomit, I began to feel more like myself and less like a victim. As I showered, I tried to process and come to terms with everything that had happened to me in, what for me, had been not even a day.There really was no alternative but to accept that this was my life from now on. Magic, kidnapping, murder attempts, time displacement. Hopefully, things would calm down, but I didn"t think that was going to be the case.
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I was beginning to get the feeling that SYSTEM had set me up, and the reason that Caraid and I had retained all of our memories was that there was knowledge from my past life that would be instrumental in figuring out what was going on.
Granted I might be missing the bigger picture, I mean even if my intellect had gotten a boost with my new level; it was still pretty insignificant compared to an ent.i.ty that regulated the multiverse, but events pointed towards the fact that SYSTEM manipulated events to get me to this place, in this position, and at this time.
I mean, wasn"t it convenient, that I just happened to have enough karmic points to purchase an upgrade and be placed in a world where system announcements would broadcast my location and ident.i.ty to the entire world? That of all the species, SYSTEM narrowed the choice down so that there was no real choice left? A Sidhe Prince or a servant? Who would be able to resist?
I couldn"t get over the feeling, I"d been set up. But, as I was drying off, I concluded there was nothing to be done about it.
Yes, SYSTEM probably used me. But so what?
What choice did I have but to be used at this point? Even before the System released that World broadcast, events had begun to move beyond my control. I was a p.a.w.n, an ethereal bit of flotsam that crossed paths with Cosmic powers. I was confident that events were set in motion and would continue to move forward no matter how I fought against them. So, the smart thing to do was to make sure I was strong enough, knowledgeable enough, and as smart enough not to be immured by attacks and manipulations, no matter where or how they originated.
Maybe forming a court might not be a bad idea. I couldn"t keep relying on others for protection. If I wanted to take control of my destiny, I needed to stop following orders and chart my own course. The first step towards meeting these requirements might not be forming my court, but it was definitely part of the framework for independence I envisioned.
I needed to find people that were talented and loyal. And maybe use the system to bind their loyalty to protect me from betrayal. I also need to find a permanent home. A way to make some serious money to pay retainers and staff. And somehow find the most efficient way to continue leveling up.
SYSTEM had given me a great start, power and level wise. But if I really was going to have to deal with the minions of G.o.ds, maybe even those G.o.ds themselves, I needed to get much more powerful than I was currently.
And somehow, I had a feeling political intrigue from the Seelie and Unseelie Royals were going to influence my decisions and choices soon. Lord Kel or Thom were innocuous n.o.bles relegated to a poor out of the way fiefdom. As I encountered higher Ranked individuals and began to traverse the murky waters of politics, found within the capital, there were certain to be more experienced and highly Ranked individuals that were going to do their best to stymie or try to recruit me to their cause.
I admit my expectations of the Seelie was biased. So far, I wasn"t really impressed with what I knew of the faction or the Ranked. Their bigotry towards Caraid didn"t sit well with my middle American "equality for all" values. And I refused to renounce the values that I had formed on Earth.
All people had worth. Sometimes you just had to encourage them for that worth to bloom.
The bag of holding that Percival had left for me wasn"t s.p.a.cious, but it was large enough to contain the garments I"d commissioned. I took the time to change into the clothes I"d commissioned from the tailor six weeks ago. The tailor had done a masterful job creating clothing for me, and the heraldic device he"d embroidered was amazing.
He hadn"t gone for the cliched phoenix or fire-breathing dragon as my House device. He"d incorporated a horse-drawn chariot of fire running across the heavens. An homage to Belenos and his chariot of fire, I wondered?
The similarities existed between Belenos, Apollo the Olympian G.o.d of Sun, and Sol the Norse G.o.d of Sun. All were depicted riding and controlling a horse-drawn chariot. I thought the heraldic device apropos and was very pleased that the tailor had managed to produce such an intricate and detailed device that looked amazing even when miniaturized.
I thought the device was even more appropriate as a spit in the eye to those other Pantheons. I would embrace and make that symbol mine. And whatever SYSTEM"s plan or scheme was. I would work to transcend the limitations and expectations he had placed on me.
Like the sun, I would rise and meet my destiny blazing with fury and glorious splendor.
Wow. That was just a bit over the top. I wondered if the heraldic device was enchanted for + to ego and swollen head stats.
Taking one last glance in the mirror to make sure everything was in place, I gave my tunic one final tug before exiting the en suite and heading for the exit.
Majordomo Tulley quickly moved to proceed me, deftly signaling the guards to surround and follow as he led the way to the main floor and a room, he had readied. I was underwhelmed and insulted once we arrived. This heraldic device may have really added +stats to my ego because I was infuriated when I saw the room I had been shown.
Oh, it was functional. There was a desk and a few chairs. But there was also storage and shelves for laundry and uniforms.
I a.s.sumed the office doubled as the Head of Household"s office. It was a room more suited for servants and staff then Prince. And it was a direct insult to my Rank.
I doubted very much that the Majordomo would have chosen this room without being given direct orders, and I knew. Knew this was done because Lord Kel and Lady Patricia believed, even with my new Rank, that I was still the naïve, grateful Odharc, willing to accept any crumb of affection. Still, that neglected young man that scurried around in the shadows trying desperately not to offend anyone. Afraid that the Lord"s son would begrudge him even the smallest courtesy.
Well, Odharc was dead!
I knew my worth even if Caraid hadn"t, and I refused to be subjected to these games. I could just imagine the reputation loss I would have with any prospective va.s.sals or staff if I conducted interviews in this room. And that was probably the point for selecting this s.p.a.ce. Lord Kel"s attempt to diffuse the loss of reputation by highlighting just how little I knew.
After all, how could he be expected to fulfill his duties as host, if I was so stupid to not know a Prince rated better than a storage closet to great guests.
Majordomo Tully, whose face at least looked embarra.s.sed, refused to meet my eyes and was painfully silent.
It would seem I wasn"t being taken seriously, and it was time that changed.
"Lord Kel and Lady Patricia wish to make a statement. So, I will make one in return," I said fury apparent in my voice. My Belenos Aura exploded pulsing in concert with and mimicking my heartbeat. The pounding and pulsating fluctuations of power grew exponentially as my anger refused to stay contained.
Turning from the room, I strode purposely down the halls, glancing indifferently in each room I pa.s.sed as I searched. It didn"t take long, the pa.s.sage and layout were logical in progression, and I soon found my way to the foyer.
Majordomo Tulley and the guards were frantically attempting to keep up, asking where I was going, what I was doing, but I no longer cared what they had to say, and I refused to partic.i.p.ate in the charade they had orchestrated.
Flinging the main doors open, I paused briefly at the sight that greeted me. An inordinate amount of people, those gathered to meet with me, were waiting to gain entrance to the Amba.s.sadors Palace.
Young. Old. Poor. Wealthy. And races varied and incomprehensible greeted my sight.
I wasn"t certain, but I thought it possible these people were here to see me. People that weren"t deemed important enough, powerful enough, or Ranked highly enough to wait inside.
Already anger, this disparity in treatment between those ent.i.tled and those not only fueled my fury.
I had had enough.
Choosing to begin as I intended to go on, I decided to address the crowd.