Tori Transmigrated

Chapter 42: Stabbing Someone Was a Very Intimate Act

The room went quiet.

The musicians stopped playing and the chattering of teenagers around the table ceased. Tori could feel the sudden tension fill the room as the restaurant master and a server tried to pull Duke Alvere away from the door that led to the enclosed rooftop dining room.

Axton looked at the clear, tinted liquid in his wine glass and swirled it around. I mean, its not as if you can afford to eat here.

Tori drew in her lips as a small voice in the back of her mind screamed ooohhh.

The rooftop is only used by you. What are you doing here? You hardly ever come to The Three Queens! Duke Alveres irritated voice filled the room.

Tori glanced towards Piers and saw him frowning, but did nothing to get in the way of the duke and Axton. Across from her, Axton paused. He lowered his wine glass and looked towards the door, lifting his chin just a bit.

Why would it matter to you whether I came to my restaurant or not? Axton asked. He narrowed his eyes. Dont tell me youre trying to entertain here and are embarrassed that you dont have access to the rooftop. He let out a small laugh. You should be glad I even allow you to enter.

You ungrateful little-

Youre the one whos ungrateful, Mr. Alvere, Axton said in a calm voice. Lets not forget whose benevolence allows you to parade around, pretending to be a noble. Im trying to have a nice meal with my guests and youre disturbing us. It seems you really want to be kicked out of Sun Garden and return to that dilapidated cottage with your mistress and son.

Tori watched Duke Alveres face twist as he trembled. How dare you call her a mistress!

She is a mistress, Axton said, as if the duke were an idiot who couldnt comprehend something so simple. You were legally married to my mother and vowed to have a monogamous marriage, but instead, continued to have a relationship with a third party during the said marriage.

Your mother understood!

Axton shook his head. My mother gave up on you. If she consented to your affairs, why was she so angry when on her deathbed, that you moved in with the mistress and your illegitimate son? If she didnt mind, why did she make sure that anything and everything of value was to be inherited by me and make sure you knew nothing about it? Axton narrowed his eyes. Dont forget that she asked for a divorce, and you refused. If she werent so weak, she wouldve fought for it.

This was new knowledge to Tori, and likely the rest of her friends, who sat still and quiet, trying to minimize their presence as much as possible. Except for Sonia and Ewan, who looked very interested in what was happening.

Your mother was deathly ill! Who would take care of her if we divorced! Duke Alvere still tried to argue, but Axton wasnt taking it.

Certainly not you. You were at that cottage with your second family most of the time, Axton said. He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head at the duke. You dont have to pretend you cared about my mother in front of me. I was there. I know what happened. The staff knows what happened. The peerage knows what happened.

You were a child! How could you understand the relationships between adults? the duke said as he was held back and kept from setting another foot into the dining room.

You talk as if I didnt see what was happening or my mother didnt tell me. Her biggest regret was marrying you, Axton said. My biggest regret is that youre my birth father.

Like it or not, you are my son, the duke said with a glowering look. I tried to raise you well! And instead, you treat me as if Im beneath you and constantly threaten to take my title and land, which rightfully belong to me, away!

Tori raised a brow and even her friends, who only had a basic understanding of the situation, gave each other confused looks. It was clear that the rightful title and landowner was Axton, who carried Alvere blood.

Axton continued to look at his father as if he were a joke. You are a poor, foolish, and insane man who on cheated my mother and tried to cheat me, he said. He looked away. Get him out of my sight.

Yes, my lord! The restaurant master and two other staff members grabbed on to the duke and pulled him away.

You cant just kick me out! I am your father! I have the right to be here-

I dont know what bottom-of-the-barrel company youve managed to delude into loaning you money this time, since youre here obviously trying to impress someone who doesnt know any better, but I suggest you be more careful, Axton said, taking another sip of wine. One day, youll meet an even bigger con artist than yourself and your favorite son will know what its like to have a dead parent.

Tori lowered her eyes. The restaurant master and servers dragged Duke Alvere away.

Are you all right? The question came from Piers and Tori looked over. Piers had a calm look on his face and his words were steady, but the fact that he even asked told her how much he cared about his knight and aide.

Axton let out a heavy breath. Maybe its time I kick him out, he said. I wanted to wait until his kid graduated Lyce, but if hes just going to grow more arrogant with time....

Sir Nassaun, Ewan asked with a bit of caution in his voice. Are you close with Mr. Alvere, I mean, Montan Alvere?

Axton shook his head. He took a deep breath and leaned forward. Listen, I know its not his fault that his parents are the way they are. I know its not his fault that his father cheated on my mother with his mother. On a rational level, I know none of it is that little bastards fault. But...its hard to look at him and not know why he exists. He is yet another physical reminder of that old mans betrayal and I cant bring myself to like him because of association.

You have every right to dislike who you dislike, Tori said as she reached for her wine glass. You dont owe anyone an explanation. A few curious looks were thrown her way and Ilyana looked surprised that she said such a thing.

Tori didnt elaborate.

I am curious, though, Sir Nassaun, Albert said in a tentative voice. Why were you going to wait until Montan Alvere graduated?

Axton shrugged. I may not like him, but I dont think its necessary to disrupt his life while hes still young and studying. His father wasnt causing many problems before, but now that they have little to no money left, the old man is starting to become more annoying.

Cornered animals will bite, Tori said as she looked across the table. Be careful.

Axton chuckled and nodded. All right. Im sorry that you had to witness such an embarrassing encounter, he said. Pretend it never happened. He looked towards the musicians and gave them a small nod of his head. At once, music floated into the room and everyone seemed to relax.

Piers stood up and headed to the glass doors leading out to the roof that overlooked the thoroughfare. Where are you going? Tori asked.

Theyre going to kick him out, Piers said, looking over his shoulder. Want to watch?

Several chairs scraped against the floor as everyone, except Tori and Axton, stood up to follow. Axton laughed a bit and looked over at Tori. Youre not going to follow?

She shook her head and let out a small snort. If his son is with them and he notices me, hell probably think this is all my doing.

Axton furrowed his brows a bit and began to frown. Has he been bothering you?

Tori froze. Her eyes flickered away and she pushed her seat back. You know what, I think I will go watch-

Tori, Axton said in a stern voice. He narrowed his eyes. Has Montan been bothering you? When she didnt answer, he took a deep breath. Ewan told me about what happened during the excursion; that the little bastard tried to buy your things. But, has he done or said anything to you beyond that?

She crinkled her eyes. She didnt want to trouble Axton with this, at least not when Montans little threat of using his charms against her felt so benign. Like the rest of the love interests, he was more annoying than life threatening at the moment.

He is very...invested in one of our classmates and he thinks Im bullying her, Tori said carefully. Im not. Everyone else can attest to that. She motioned her hand towards the doors, where everyone else was peering over the wall, out into the street. He told me to leave her alone or else.

Or else? Axton raised a brow, his frown growing deeper. What do you mean or else?

He uses...charms....

Axton closed his eyes and took in a low, measured breath, as if to calm himself. That little bastard took after his mother, then. A flash of hatred went across Axtons usually relaxed face and Tori felt her stomach twist.

Axton, I can manage it, she told him at once. Dont worry about it.

He shook his head. How can I not? Charms are dangerous if theyre not neutralized quickly. And the stronger the maker, the more effective and longer lifespan of the charm. All he needs is to touch you with one.

Tori frowned. She was missing something about charms, and she wasnt sure what. Axton...what did his mother do?

Charms work by manipulating energy, right? Axton asked. Tori nodded. Charms can take energy away from a person and weaken them. They can also give a person energy, making them feel revitalized. The reason the old man continued his relationship with Montans mother when he was married to mine was because Montans mother kept putting charms on him to weaken him, then fed him more energy, making him reliant on her. When my mother found out, she used crystals to break Montans mothers ability to ground and channel energy, but it severely weakened my mother and she couldnt fight her illness, which led to her death.

Tori looked towards Instructor Ignatius while reviewing for finals in the metacrystals classroom, still unable to get Axton's words out of her head.

Duchess Alvere wasnt a strong crystal user. She was deeply knowledgeable in the subject, but her innate power was weak. Still, she chose to break Montans mother in order to stop her husbands addiction, but Duke Alvere was angry at her for hurting Montans mother, who had been dependent on her ability to use charms to survive.

In the end, Duke Alvere couldnt sever his old love and affection for Montans mother despite his vows to Axtons mother, which hed kept for the first few years of their marriage. Duchess Alvere saved his life, but he turned on her and purposely refused to divorce her with the belief that she owed them. At the very least, Duchess Alvere had the last laugh. She left them with as little as possible and in a way, crippled Montans mother.

What does one need to do to break anothers ability to channel energy? Tori asked. Instructor Ignatius looked up from the axinite he was fiddling with. He crinkled his eyes and looked a bit concerned.

Why would you ask that question?

I have enemies. She said it with such a straight face, Instructor Ignatius barely held back a muffled laugh. He clearly didnt believe that she had enemies, but she didnt correct him. Is it really possible?

Instructor Ignatius nodded. It is, but it requires an obscene amount of energy to be collected and then channeled through a crystal and into the other body.

Toris head snapped up. What do you mean through a crystal and into another body? Cant it be done through direct contact?

He shook his head. No, we cannot transfer energy into another body directly. It must go through a medium, like a crystal or a charm. Lets look at the late Duchess Alvere, for example.

You know about the late Duchess Alvere? She was a bit surprised, but then again, Instructor Ignatius did know a lot of random things about crystals and their usage that werent in books.

He nodded and let out a low breath. My grandfather was involved in the investigation of Duchess Alveres death as foul play was suspected. It was kept quiet, and her death was confirmed to be natural, although other things were found out during the investigation, such as how she stabbed her husbands mistress with a jasper dagger. The mistress survived, but she apparently could no longer channel energy or even ground and connect to earth energy.

Wow, Axtons mom did not give a fuck and was all in. I see. Tori lifted her hand and rubbed her chin. She wasnt sure she could bring herself to actually stab someone if it werent in self-defense. Shed always had little fantasies of stabbing people when she finally snapped, but it was always in retaliation for something.

Besides, stabbing someone was a very intimate act. To push the blade into a persons body required her to be at a very close distance. Shed be able to feel that persons breath and the heat of their body and blood. Shed be close enough to look into that persons eyes.

What did she do after she stabbed the mistress? Was the jasper dagger carved with something?

Im not sure, the duke had it destroyed, Instructor Ignatius said. But the basic idea is to flood the other body with energy to the point that it cannot hold the amount and the internal energy field collapses in on itself, or rather...it...bursts.

Tori narrowed her eyes a bit. Like the crystal exploding?

Instructor Ignatius nodded. For most people, this wouldnt cause much of a physical reaction as if one doesnt use the ability, it grows weaker, and they eventually can no longer ground or channel energy. However, for someone who was actively using it and was rather powerful, this could cause fevers, as the mildest physical symptom. It can get as serious as putting them in a coma. Mentally, it can cause a breakdown, which I believe the dukes mistress had.

Tori leaned back against the desk. So, theoretically, if an enemy threatened me with charms or crystals and I wanted to stop them completely, Id need to pierce them with a crystal and, while connected, flood their body with energy until they collapsed?

Instructor Ignatius seemed to go over the steps she described and then nodded. Yes. And note that I mentioned stab. This is because no one in the right mind is going to hold on to a crystal long enough for you to flood them with energy.

Tori narrowed her eyes. What if they were sleeping?

She watched her instructor open his mouth and then pause. I suppose that can be done, but you can feel energy when its going in and out of you. The other party would wake up.

Not if theyre knocked out.... Tori muttered more to herself. Instructor Ignatius laughed weakly.

Miss Guevera, I think I should make it clear that forced manipulation of anothers body, whether physical or, in this case, their ability to channel energy, without their consent and in a non-emergency situation is against our laws.

Right, right, of course. No face, no case. I was just curious. Im considering this, but it seems kind of wrong when he hasnt done anything yet. At least, nothing serious. Also, considering my own abilities are probably worse than the late Duchess Alveres, I could kill myself trying this. And Im not about to ask Sebby to do it. I wont risk him.

Tori sighed and continued working on re-writing her notes. Finals were next week and she was going to spend the weekend at the delta. It was a questionable decision on her part, as she really should study a bit more seriously in order to maintain her top five ranking, but she wanted to do one final check on the delta as she also had to submit her last report of the year for her Lyce project on the last day of finals.

Considering how busy it was the last few weeks, and the amount of work that was being done for the Lyce project, Tori could see why many students ranks would drop. Despite this, Ilyanas review sessions were still packed full. Tonights review was the last night, as Ilyana wanted to review on her own before the final exams.

Before Tori finished re-writing her notes, Instructor Ignatius showed her a tabletop model of the piling machine on which hed been working. The delta was working with two wooden piling mechanisms to hammer the wooden logs into the ground with a heavy cylindrical stone block.

One belonged to Universit, and the other was borrowed from Leemburg, a city built partially over a lake where one of Professor Meyers associates worked. There were a few more being built in Leemburg, but they were costly and private guards needed to be hired when they were transported over that summer.

Tori already paid and arranged for several dozen private guards to escort the six additional wooden pile drivers and their parts to the delta through Daybreak Garden. While the pile drivers did speed up the process considerably, Tori was still a bit impatient and discussed with Instructor Ignatius if there was a way to add more force to the stone block to get it to push the pile in deeper each time the stone hit it.

Instructor Ignatius had been playing with axinite rings on a small model of a pile driver that would force more energy into the stone to send the pile deeper. The problem was that the stone on the model would crack every time.

Ive tried lowering the charge, but I just dont think the stone piece can take the excess energy needed to get our desired result, Instructor Ignatius said with a heavy sigh. I know you want to speed this up, but perhaps the best way is just to buy more pile driving rigs.

Tori wrinkled her nose. It was worth a try, she said. Thanks, Instructor.

He smiled happily. No, no, this is fun. Im quite enjoying all the opportunities the delta has been giving us to innovate. Im excited to bring the carnelian ovens to the delta after finals.

He saw her out of the classroom and Tori headed back to her dorm to collect her things and get ready to go to the delta. As she crossed campus to get to the east dorm, she saw Gideon and Fabian standing by the dorm entrance with Alessa. Tori tilted her head back and looked around.

She didnt want to deal with them and would have to go around one of the side entrances. She quietly walked down one of the smaller paths that would lead to another entrance a little further away. Then, she heard it.

...going with my mother to Anlar for the succession of Marquis OTuagh.

Tori nearly did a double take. She froze behind one of the large trees lining the walkway as she heard Gideon speak. Tori knew the empress was going to go, but she didnt know Gideon was going to tag along. Which meant shed see him at her cousins succession ceremony and there was nothing she could do about it.

It was too late to back out and even if it wasnt, she didnt want to miss her cousins succession ceremony, or the mini-family reunion she had grown excited about, because of Gideon. If anything, he should be the one to back out.

How long will you be in Anlar? Alessas voice was laced with excitement. Tori wondered if she had a favorite of the love interests. Surely, there mustve been a favorite that most of the focus would be on. Was it Gideon?

Two weeks. The succession ceremony will be on the first of the sixth month, Gideon said, sounding pleased. Ill have time to see you at Chetterswickshire.

Good, fucking stay there. Tori rolled her eyes.

Fabian, will you be coming, too? I will have Father prepare your rooms, Alessa said, hopeful.

I am unable to go this time. There was disappointment in Fabians voice and Tori found herself smiling upon hearing it. His Majesty feels I need further training and discipline, so I will be joining General von Schwert for summer training.

Ive asked Father not to allow you to fight in any skirmishes, Gideon said. There was a surprising seriousness to his voice. Even if Sir Nassaun is there, dont follow him into battle.

If I am ordered to go, I must.

No, you must take care of yourself!

Tori peeked around the tree and saw Alessa holding one of Fabians hands in hers and giving him a firm tug. Fabians cheeks were red.

Tori squinted and made a face. Oh my God...shes just holding your hand. What are you, some innocent little-oh...wait, youre like fifteen. Nevermind, that checks out.

Okay. She vaguely heard Fabian agree.

Tori shook her head and continued on her way. She entered the dorm through the side entrance and went to her room. She took her comcry off the nightstand by the window and flipped it open. She slid her finger across. Call Axton du Nassaun.

She began to collect her things for her stay in the delta, including digging out a crystal from her stash to charge.

Sorry, I cant come with you this weekend, Axtons voice filled her dorm room as she folded some clothes to pack. Will you be all right?

Nanny Rey is going with me, of course Ill be all right. I called because I had a question, she said. When are you leaving for summer training?

The end of the month. Why?

Just wondering, Tori said. Who is going to stay with Piers? She briefly wondered if Piers was going to her cousins succession ceremony, too, but if he was, Axton wouldve already told her.

Hell be working alongside the emperor for the summer-what are you doing? Cant you call her later? Piers! Tori could hear shuffling and then Piers voice.

I have invitations to several lunches and dinners before you leave for Anlar.

When are they? Ill be staying at the delta until Kasey comes to pick me up, Tori said as she paused and frowned.

Two lunches the weekend after next, with dinner one of those nights. One of the lunches is at Universit. The week after, there is a charity garden party at the Imperial Rose Garden. When you return, there is a summer polo tournament at the Imperial Stadium, then my mothers birthday banquet.

Toris mind whirled. Hold on, thats a lot. And how do you know when Im coming back?

Senior Kasen. Axton and I wont be able to accompany you to the delta and I assured him Id send you with imperial knights, Piers said.

Tori took a deep breath. Ill come with you, but youre going to have to provide a carriage to pick me up the day before those weekends and take me to Auntie Lucias. Ill call her and let her know.

I will arrange it, Piers said, as if promising her. I will come get you.

No, Axton said youll be working alongside the emperor. Just send a carriage to bring me to and from the delta, and then to pick me up from my aunts, Tori told him. Dont waste time.

I can pick you up from your aunts. I have time.

Tori let out a low breath. All right, just tell me what to wear ahead of time so I can prepare.

Do you need new clothes?

No, I still have a lot I havent worn that I brought from Presidio, Tori said. I have enough clothes.

Shoes?

I have shoes, too.

What about someone to do your hair-

The maids at Aunties can help me. Its fine, Piers, she said in a firm voice.

He was quiet for a moment. For my mothers birthday banquet, can we match? His voice was softer, and he sounded almost hesitant to ask.

Actually, yes. For an imperial banquet, if Im going to escort you, we should match, Tori said, nodding at the reminder. Itll look strange if we dont. Thats a good point. Are you free this weekend?

No, hes supposed to move back to the palace for the summer-dont glare at me; its true! she heard Axton shout.

I can leave it to Axton, Piers said. I am free.

Tori narrowed her eyes. Are you really?

Yes, he said, without a hint of remorse.

Lets go to Madam Midstrom and get a set of clothes made for your mothers banquet dinner. It should be done by the time I get back, Tori said. Is that all right?

Yes. I will pay.

I can pay for my own dress.

No, all your money is going to the delta. I asked you to come with me, so I will pay, Piers told her. Axton will still be at training. I will depend on you.

Tori let out a low sigh. All right, she said. I have to get ready to go to the delta. I will call you after final exams to confirm.

Study hard and have a safe journey! She heard Axton shout. Tori laughed.

Thanks!

Ill see you when you return, Piers said before ending the call.

Tori packed her overnight bag, and her satchel filled with notes and things she needed to review. As she headed downstairs, she realized that, aside from Ilyana, shed hardly seen her friends the last week; not since JP and Sonias birthday meal the weekend before. Since she was going to be at the delta and the following week would be final exams, she wouldnt see them until Henriks birthday next weekend.

The week after that, theyd pack up and get ready to leave the dorms for the summer. Ilyana would be traveling back immediately in order to spend as much time with her family as possible before she returned in the fall. The same six bodyguards Tori hired in the winter would be escorting her home, remaining with her all summer, and then returning with her in the fall.

While they wouldnt be paid when Ilyana was home, their lodging and food would be taken care of by Baron Agafonov.

Nanny Rey would stay with Tori in the delta until Kasen picked Tori up for the succession ceremony. Nanny Rey planned to go to Nordur and stay there until the fall, when shed return to Horizon to continue teaching Ilyana, Ewan, and Albert the dagger, as well as accompany Tori to the delta. During the time Nanny Rey was away, Tori would stay in the delta under the watchful eyes of imperial knights.

For a few weeks, Auntie Lucia and her twin cousins would also join her while Uncle Maurizo was in Alpine Valley.

With travel, work on the delta, family matters, and escorting Piers to various gatherings, her summer schedule was looking to be busy.

Tori stopped by Ilyanas review class and gave her a wave through the window before heading to the front of the school. The carriage that awaited her was a familiar one and Tori sighed once more. Since Axton couldnt come with her that weekend, Piers arranged for her carriage and two dozen imperial knights to escort her. Usually, there were only a dozen when Axton came.

The footman, who was now familiar, greeted her and opened the door to the carriage. Nanny Rey sat inside, still looking a bit confused as to why she was in an imperial carriage.

My angel, she said in her usual affectionate tone. Why are we using this carriage? And there are more knights than usual.

Tori climbed inside and sat across from her. Axton is unable to come, so Piers sent the carriage to make up for it. Dont worry, Nanny. Were not in any trouble for using it.

The door closed and the footman climbed back onto the drivers seat. Nanny Rey still looked somewhat uncertain, but slowly nodded as the carriage began to move. His Highness holds you in high regard.

Kasey told him to watch over me while Im here, she said. Axton will also be in summer training, so when I get back from Anlar, there will be more imperial guards to watch over me.

Good, good. Nanny Rey nodded, satisfied. I was worried about leaving you alone.

Tori pursed her lips and pouted. You said my dagger work is good.

Nanny Rey smiled warmly. My angels dagger work is very good, she said as her face softened and there was a slight glint of pain in her eyes. But I always worry. I dont want anything to happen to you.

Ill be fine, Nanny.

Nanny Rey studied her face a bit longer before letting out a low sigh. She bent down to open one of the compartments under the seat bench and took out a bag. She removed a small folio and gave it to Tori. This is for you.

Tori tilted her head to the side and accepted it. What is it?

I know you said it was not necessary to check for a leak, but I was uncomfortable, so I checked.

Tori raised a brow and flipped through the papers. You didnt find anyone who leaked it on our end, did you?

Nanny Rey looked mildly surprised. No...it was information from the brickmakers themselves. How do you know no one leaked it from our side?

No one knew who the brickmakers were until the bricks were delivered, but me. The professors knew how many were ordered, when theyd be delivered, and what I was looking for in terms of supplier, but I was the one who put in the order and was busy. I only told them who to expect the orders from the day of delivery, Tori said. By then, the cow-man had already put in his orders. Im sure he knew about my Lyce project and required materials. Its an easy matter to go to brick suppliers in the region and ask whats available. Brickmakers are also still merchants and if a merchant has a prominent customer and made a sizable sale recently, he can use it as a selling point.

Telling Adrien Rosiek that she was a customer was advertising. It was a common practice in her original world. Why Adrien decided to buy out a bunch of other brick suppliers, however, was to add insult to injury, but in the end, it was a frustrating inconvenience at most.

Toris new contracts had confidentiality disclosures with steep penalties if broken. At the very least, if she was revealed to be a customer, then she got free bricks.

That still didnt mean she wanted to buy from a single supplier. What if something happened and the supplier went up in flames? In addition, there was one particular brickmaker whose bricks Architect Ebbadottir found the quality exceedingly good for construction on the delta, so Tori sent her out to find suppliers with similar or better bricks outside of the region. Quality of materials was important.

All Tori had to do was collect the various suppliers and select the ones she wanted to work with. Even if Adrien and his cow company tried to buy out her supplies, they could only do so for so long; and if he wanted to waste his money, then that was his business.

But Tori was a benevolent person. Since Adrien wanted to shop at the same stores as her, she asked Kasen to spread rumors about other places she was sourcing materials from. She wanted to see what else Adrien would do if given an opportunity.

Smiling, Tori unraveled the blanket that was piled on the large carriage bench and began to make herself a small nest. Nanny, Im going to take a nap. Wake me when we arrive.