Chapter 27: A Chat With Swords Next Time

Chapter 27: A Chat With Swords Next Time

Is this it? Sebastian stood in front of the store that had an image of a lions head over its name on the signboard, above the door. The two windows on either side of the door had mannequins posed in down vests and coats. Past them, they could see several people in the store.

This is it, Tori replied. She was a bit impatient. Theyd spent the morning going to various markets in Horizon, looking for additional ingredients for Toris lunch and dinner the next day. Her plan was to stop somewhere and buy lunch, and then go back to her brothers flat to start marinating the meat for the next day, but Sebastian wanted to see her store.

Her brother looked upon the modest store with pride and nodded his head. It looks great, Tori.

Thanks. He walked forward and grabbed the door handle. Tori furrowed her brows. What are you doing? You said you just wanted to see it.

Yes, and now Im going to see the inside. Sebastian grinned and entered the store. Tori let out a heavy sigh and followed behind him.

Welcome! Oh, my lady! Manager Dolores, a former seamstress and now manager of the Lions Gate High Street, perked up as she saw Tori enter. Welcome back! How was your trip home?

It was great. I was able to spend a lot of time with my family, Tori said, smiling back as she walked in. She looked towards the man standing in front of a male mannequin, seemingly judging the coat on it. Thats my eldest brother. Sebby, come here. Let me introduce you to our manager.

Her brother stepped away from the display and turned to the older woman with a smile. Good afternoon. I am Sebastian de Guevera, son of Marquis Gregorio de Guevera.

Tori stood by the side, smiling pleasantly as Manager Dolores seemed to shower Sebastian with praise about her. It was awkward and she began to inch further away, pretending to find something of interest inside the store.

She walked by one of the mirrors against the wall and saw a pretty, middle-aged woman holding up two coats. She held a black colored one over her body and seemed to think for a moment before moving the brown one in its place. She looked up and caught sight of Tori in the mirror.

Shoot. Tori resisted the urge to duck away in discomfort and instead smiled through the awkwardness. She gave the woman a small nod before turning back to a rack and pretending to peruse.

Miss, the woman said behind her. Tori cringed.

Im caught. She turned around and smiled. Yes?

May I ask your opinion? The black or the brown? As she asked, she lifted each long, Biancci trench up and looked at her hopefully.

While this was technically an I dont work here moment, it was still Toris store. Shed already done some customer service work for Lions Gate when the stores opened, but she didnt expect to be doing so today. Still, she took a step forward and looked at the coats and then back at the woman.

You have a warm complexion, dark hair, and green eyes. Typically, earthy colors work well with you, so normally, Id say go with the brown. However, both are rather neutral in colors and I personally find black more flexible. Since it hits your knees, whatever color dress you're wearing underneath will be exposed and black typically goes with any other color. Id go with that, Tori said. Or white.

I see.... The woman nodded and held up the black coat. This is a bit dark.

Darker colors tend to be more popular in the autumn and winter. At least they were in my original world. Have you tried the white one? Tori turned and walked to the rack with the Biancci trenches. I think youd look good in brighter colors and white. What color do you normally wear?

They went through the rack together and Tori pulled the white coat while chatting with the woman who seemed to appreciate the one-on-one attention. She answered Toris questions and explained what she was planning to wear the coat to.

I also wanted to get something for my husband. I heard this was a matching set, the woman said, looking around. She cocked her head as she saw Sebastian standing by the mens rack. Oh my...excuse me.

She wandered over towards Sebastian. Tori raised a brow. Her brother was good-looking, but a tad young for the lady. Plus, wasn't she married? She watched the woman call out to Sebastian and ask a question. Immediately, Sebastians calm, neutral expression turned into a wide smile. He looked past the woman and at Tori.

My sister, she heard him say.

The woman turned around and looked back at Tori with surprised eyes. You designed his coat? she asked. She sounded excited and as Tori looked past her, towards Sebastian. She caught him giving her an eager look, as if saying I got you a customer! Praise me!

Tori looked back at the woman and smiled pleasantly. Yes, its a mohair coat I designed for him and my other brother. We dont sell them yet and I plan to wait until next fall to come out with more of those styles of coat.

The woman squinted and looked at Tori curiously. You dont plan to sell your design.... She bit her lips and seemed to look Tori up and down. Are you...Lady Victoria de Guevera?

Tori looked a bit surprised that the woman knew. She was sure she hadn't seen this lady at the opening and it wasnt as if Toris name was slapped on everything in the store.

Yes. And you are? Tori asked, polite.

The womans face broke into a wide, relieved smile. I am Miriam Guthry. My husband is the Prime Minister. I believe you are in the same class as my son?

Toris mind went blank for just a moment. Then, she silently screamed.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit! Does this lady know me? Did that turd Dimitri talk smack? From the womans face, she didnt seem to have heard anything negative about Tori. Her expression was earnest and seemed happy to see her. Okay, just pretend he didnt. Present yourself as you wish to be seen. You have nothing against his parents, anyway. Smile and nod.

Youre Dimitri Guthrys mother? Toris eyes crinkled up with a smile as she extended her hand. I apologize for not introducing myself earlier. I am Victoria de Guevera. Please, madam, call me Tori. Though I dont often speak to him, I am in his class. Congratulations to him on coming in second. And to Ilyana for coming in first.

Madam Guthrys face lit up. Thank you! I told him coming in second at the end of the semester was already quite good, but hes such a perfectionist. Hes determined to regain his first rank.

I have to feed Ilyana to keep up her energy to beat Dimitri. Tori nodded. I remember that as the first ranked student of our year, he made a speech to the class. It was rather impressive. He spoke for quite some time and was able to not just keep everyones attention, but their excitement. Keeping the attention of an entire auditorium of teenagers is amazing in itself. Not many people can do that, let alone at our age. You must be very proud.

Madam Guthry looked extremely pleased with the praise of her son. Her smile never left her face. Oh, I havent done anything. That boy just loves to study! She laughed and looked at the two coats in her arms, then looked at Tori with a slight, sly grin. You know, I think Ill get both the black and the white.

Flexible for multiple occasions and dresses, Tori said with an approving nod. I like the way you think, Madam.

The woman looked back at Sebastian, who had come to stand beside Tori, and seemed to look at his coat longingly. Its a shame about the coat though. I think my husband would look exceptional in it.

I received many compliments about it back home, Sebastian said. Tori made similar ones for our parents. Also as a matching couples.

Madam Guthry, I do plan to come out with spring and summer designs, Tori told her. It is my personal belief that if you are really unsure of a new piece of clothing, then dont buy it. And I say that as one of the owners of Lions Gate.

The woman seemed to take this into consideration. She looked at the coats in her arms. Im still going to buy the white one. Tori let out a small chuckle and Madam Guthry looked at them with a warm smile. This is a bit sudden, but we are having a small gathering this weekend of my husbands friends and associates. Would you both like to attend?

Tori was taken aback. She didnt expect a party invite from Dimitris mother. Then again, she was with her brother, the future Marquis Guevera. It wouldnt hurt the Prime Ministers family to be on good terms with the future Marquis Guevera.

Unfortunately, Im scheduled every day until I leave, Sebastian said in a kind, but professional tone. I barely have time to spend with my sister before she returns to Lyce and I go back home.

Oh, dear, thats disappointing. Madam Guthry seemed to pout before looking back at Tori. Lady Tori, if you have time, many people would love to meet the young proprietress of Lions Gate. Your coats have been very popular.

I will of course consider it, Madam Guthry. I do have a bit more to prepare before Lyce starts, but it shouldnt be much.

Thats wonderful! I will send an invitation to Lord Gueveras residence.

The brother and sister gave her a pleasant smile as Madam Guthry headed to the counter and was intercepted by Manager Dolores to help with her purchase.

When the duo returned to their carriage, Sebastian gave her a curious look. Are you really going to go?

Wouldnt it be awkward if I did? Tori asked. Its an evening party with the Prime Ministers peers. Im a teenager.

Sebastian chuckled. A teenager with a popular business. And youre still Marquis Gueveras daughter. He reached across the carriage and tapped her head. It doesnt hurt to know the Prime Minister, Tori.

She sank back into her seat as the carriage began to move. Her brother made a good point: it wouldnt hurt to know the Prime Minister.

Dimitri was also still a teenager. He was influential with his peers at best, but he didnt have any real power of his own. A large part of his influence came from his father. In addition, it didnt seem that Dimitri had said anything too negative about her to his parents. He didnt seem like the type that would involve his parents in his interpersonal school struggles. Perhaps, asking for aid for a friend, yes, but not reporting his personal grudges.

Most importantly, his parents were likely neutral parties. Couldnt she influence them?

Tori smiled a bit and nodded. If she sends an invitation, then Ill go, but she mightve also just been trying to be polite.

Sebastian seemed to consider that and shrugged. Tori pushed the invitation to the back of her mind, settling on she was just being polite.

And, like with many things since she woke up in the game world, she was wrong.

Sebastian walked into the kitchen the next day, holding up an envelope with her name written in neat calligraphy. Tori turned around, in an apron and her hair in a messy bun, to see her brother waving the envelope.

Whats that? She put the large pot of roasted pork shoulder on the large kitchen island.

An invitation to Prime Minister Guthrys evening party this weekend.

She jerked her head back. Are you serious? Sebastian nodded and slid his finger across the seal to open it. He took out the card as Tory picked up two large forks to shred the pork shoulder she had been slowly cooking since dawn.

We cordially invite Lady Victoria de Guevera to join us at Prime Minister Anton Charles Guthrys home on the night of the 12th. Sebastian read out loud. He glanced over at her as she ripped apart the meat in a daze. Are you going to go?

Tori took a deep breath and nodded. As much as she didnt like attending large gatherings, this was a good opportunity. I said I would.

Do you have something to wear?

Tori began to shred the pork shoulder vigorously. I brought back some dresses Mama got me. Ill go with one of them.

Then, do you want me to reply to this, accepting for you?

Please do. I cant leave the kitchen and I smell like.... She lifted her arm. Shed been in the kitchen all morning and the rich scent of spices and meat had permeated her clothes. I smell delicious, actually.

Ilyana picked up the pile of cards and looked through them. Are these the ones you were making at the dorm before you left?

Yes, and Marco and Mateo loved them, Tori said. We played several rounds a day and whoever won the most between them got half my dessert at dinner.

Ewan gasped. So, if we win today, we get dessert?

Henrik sighed, exasperated. That was for the kids.... He narrowed his eyes. And are you actually going to demand half of Toris dessert?

Its not a demand if she makes it the prize, Ewan replied, full of confidence.

Piers took a seat by the window. Tori looked over at him, as if knowing he didnt want to join in. Do you want to play or be the score keeper?

Ill keep score.

Then youre the neutral party. She handed him a pen and a pad of paper, then looked at her friends. Okay, Im going to direct the games. We have just enough people for two teams. Do you want to draw names or split amongst yourselves?

Draw names, Piers said, before any of them can answer. Itll be more interesting. No one wanted to go against the first prince of Soleil, so Tori took a piece of paper, tore it into six pieces, and wrote A and B on three pieces each. She then crumpled up the paper and placed it on the parlor table.

Pick one. All six pieces were snatched up. Ilyana was on the same team as the twins while Henrik, Ewan, and Albert were on the other team. They rearranged their seating to sit across from each other and Tori set up a chalkboard on an easel in front of them. We have three team games and will do five rounds per team. The winners get to bring home the larger portions of cured pork leg and... will be the first to try my next experimental cooking recipe, whenever that is.

The next few hours flew by with screaming, cries of frustration, and cursing.

To Tori, these were all good signs. What successful game night wasnt without verbally ripping at each others throats?

Its a horse. A horse! Henrik was on the edge of his seat, his hands clawed in front of him as he glared at Ewan. What in the world made you think it would be a cow?

You said it was a farm animal!

I also said you could ride it! Henrik ran a hand down his face.

You can ride cows!

Ewan, who rides cows? Albert asked from where he was hunched over, covering his face. They had two more rounds of this game left and Ilyanas team was in the lead.

Tori had flashbacks of her twin cousins. Why didnt you just say it pulled a carriage? Or even better, Sonia and JP both have one.

Ewan looked confused. A twin?

Henrik looked at Tori with demanding eyes. I want to switch teams.

Okay, Im going to get dinner started. Tori sighed as she glanced at the window and estimated she had another hour or two before Sebastian returned. You continue. The opposite team will keep track while Im in the kitchen. If there is a contested result, you can bring it up when I come out. I just need to cook the meat before I put the dish in the oven.

She handed the big and small hourglass to Henrik before Ilyana stood up and took up her set of cards.

The subject is...literary characters, she said after glancing at the back of the cards.

JP perked up. Its my time.

Sonia sighed and slumped back against the sofa. Yeah, this is all yours.

Tori made her way to the kitchen and began to pull things out of the cold room to prepare. One of the servants had come to heat up the stove as previously arranged and Tori placed a heavy, enamel pot on it. As it heated up, she poured in a bit of oil and lined up the ingredients on the counter.

I saw the invitation to the Prime Ministers party on the table, a low voice said behind her. Are you going?

Tori put on her apron and nodded at Piers. Sebby and I were invited, but hes busy, so Im going by myself. She looked over at him as she put a wooden spoon in the pot to check the oil. Were you invited, too? A slight sizzling was heard and Piers nodded. Are you going to go? Piers seemed to pause for a moment before nodding once more. Tori smiled approvingly. Good! Ill see you there, then.

Piers remained lingering by the counter behind her as she tossed in chicken. The pot sizzled as Tori browned the pieces. There are going to be a lot of people.

I thought there would be, she said. Im surprised youre going, actually. My brother said that you dont like dealing with people.

I dont.

Then, why did you change your mind and decide to go?

The food might be good.

A snort left Tori before she could stop it and she laughed. She looked at him with a grin and shook her head. Hand me the sausages. Obediently, he picked up the bowl and handed it to her. Piers always struck her as the quiet type, so she found herself asking him questions to try to fill the silence.

When she asked about his project at Universit, the flood gates were open and he began to ramble on about import policies and changes he thought would be necessary to have continued sustainable growth. Tori just nodded and occasionally commented, though in all honesty, it didnt interest her in the least.

She did interject every so often to ask for him to pass her a bowl and Piers would fetch it for her. At one point, she wanted to send him back into the parlor, as the smell of the food would end up on him, but she considered that he might not be comfortable with the yelling crowd she could still hear over the sound of sizzling.

It wasnt as if he was in the way, so she didnt try to get rid of him. Finally, she finished the main part of the process and covered the pot before wrapping her hands in kitchen towels and carrying it to the oven.

How much longer?

An hour and a half. Sebby will be back by then, Tori said. She led him back outside and found her friends standing as JP and Sonia yelled at each other.

How difficult was it for you to get Serka River? Sonia said as her arms waved around her. Youre my twin! How can you not understand my clues?

Were twins, not psychics! JP argued back. Tori sighed and rushed to get between them. She asked about the winners of the last few rounds and told Piers. He tallied up the score and, surprisingly, Henriks group won.

Its a miracle..., he muttered as Ewan let out a yell.

We have one more hour or so before the food is ready, Tori said as she began to clean up the last game. We have one more game. Its sort of like a lottery and you have to get five across. Winner gets any leftovers from tonight's dinner.

JP gave her a look. Did you not have any actual prizes?

You can judge after youve had dinner, Tori said, waving the cards at him. Do you want to play or not?

Ill play, Sonia said. All your food has been good so far.

Tori smirked. Its single player, so good luck to the best of you.

JP and Henrik didnt seem to take the last game seriously. Sebastian returned with dessert and called over Piers to speak to him for a bit as Tori read out the cards she picked. The one who won the most rounds was Albert.

Ewan gave him a pleading look and he shook his head. What if there isnt much left over?

If there is....?

Albert still refused. I have a big family.

So do I!

As a result, Ewan ate his delicious jambalaya with tears in his eyes, both overjoyed by the new dish and heartbroken that he couldnt bring any home.

Ewan, dont overeat, Tori said as she watched him pile more onto his plate. Youll get sick.

But I wont get to bring any home.

Whens your birthday? Ill make you a pot. Several pairs of eyes turned to her, filled with opportunistic excitement, and she narrowed her eyes. Ive made a terrible mistake.

Sebastian chuckled as she was bombarded with birth dates. After packing away a small pot of leftover jambalaya for Albert, they brought out the leftover burrito stuffing and each person ended up with at least three. Piers seemed to want to make some, but Sebastian gave him a look, as if saying youre a prince, let the kids have their food.

Piers quietly sulked, watching as Tori sent off her friends in shared carriages Sebastian called for them. Everyone thanked her and her brother for their hospitality before they rode off into the night, with Ilyana and Alberts carriage followed by two bodyguards.

When the small driveway was clear, a groom brought Snow Queen forward. Piers finished buttoning his coat and mounted with ease. Tori came rushing out of the house with a canvas bag.

Here! I noticed you like the beef, so I made you two and then one of each of the others, and theres a small bowl of jambalaya in there, Tori said as she reached Snow Queen and lifted up the bag.

Piers looked at the bag for a moment before a small smile reached his lips. He took hold of it and slung it around his body before giving her a nod. Ill see you at the party.

Behind her, Sebastian stood up straight. Piers gave him a nod and began to ride off. Sebastian looked at his sister. What party?

The Prime Ministers evening party, Tori said as she walked past him to go back inside. Piers is going, too.

She didnt notice her brothers usually smiling face freeze. Well...it looks like I need to have a chat with swords next time.