Chương 113: Countess of Cosora

"Do you want to watch their progress?" Piers asked. Tori finished her iced coffee and thought for a moment. She had some time before she had to return to the kitchen for a final check. She tugged off the scarf she was using to wrap her hair up to keep it from getting into any of the food.

"Sure." He stood up and took the knight's place behind her wheelchair to push her forward. As he rolled her through the plaza, Tori admired the decorations they had put up. Ropes were stretched from one side of the plaza to the other with white paper lanterns illuminated by light crystals. The lanterns were simple four-sided lanterns she had asked to be made. Two sides had the number '16' and the other two sides had two crossed swords in an 'x'.

The rows of lanterns would keep the open plaza area brightly lit that night. There was a small area set aside for a band to play as Tori thought it would be fun for everyone to be able to dance. With such an open space, it would feel less cluttered, and Piers could watch from the side with her if he didn't want to join, which was likely. They passed the large fountain at the entrance of the plaza, right on the promenade. It was a three-tiered, round fountain with the base tier lined with enough space to sit.

There were two colors of stone; a pale white streaked with gray, and then black with streaks of gold for accents. The cardinal directions were on four points, marked by black stone. Right beside them were marble carvings of four animals atop black spheres, where water shot out of. Tori tried her best to draw the four auspicious beasts from Chinese mythology; the turtle and the tiger came out great, although the tiger's stripes could barely be seen. The phoenix was more a glorified rooster.

The dragon was basically a snake with claws, horns, and a shaggy beard. She was sure that her reference art was just terrible, but the stone carvers were enthusiastic and didn't ask any questions. The second tier of the fountain was black stone and carved with waves to resemble a clam shell. The top tier was white marble again, also carved to resemble a clam shell. Originally, they agreed on putting a 'black pearl' at the top, surrounded by the waterspout. The pearl itself was about the size of a basketball.

The black pearl was still there, but a white marble lion had been placed over it. It didn't touch the pearl; it was more a cage, and the lion was posed as if it were protecting the pearl beneath it; its teeth were bared, and one front paw was up. It was very well carved. Ilyana told her that the lion could be removed and that they'd put the lion up for big celebrations and holidays. She'd commissioned it herself to celebrate Tori's birthday and Tori was touched.

There were to be two more smaller fountains at either end of the promenade. They were smaller, two-tiered versions of the main fountain. There were no animal statues, just spheres. Next to them were nasone, or small drinking fountains, for guests to get drinking water. The plumbing and filtration for the nasone were complicated, which was why the far ends of the promenade were the last parts built. Piers pushed her past the parking and drop off area.

The building where they had games for the Spring Festival had been changed into a boardwalk style arcade with simple games that were part of the Spy Game's challenge options. Many of them involved balls, rings, or bean bags that needed to hit a target, go around something, or fall into a hole. There were also darts and the more extreme ax-throwing. Since the player being challenged could pick the activity, Tori wanted to include simple ones so that the kids could play.

"How did they beat us?" Tori looked towards the stairs leading to the beach and resort tents. A defeated GG was climbing the stairs with several current and former members of the Sword Association.

"The better question is why did you pick outrigger canoe racing instead of something like darts or one of the other games in the arcade?" Former Captain Messer, or now just Giselle, said with a dull look on her face.

"Now your challenge card is used up." GG tilted his head back and groaned. Tiff was beside him and grasped his arm, stroking it gently as she rested her head on his shoulder to soothe him.

"It's all right. We didn't know how good the Biancci twins are at racing. You still did great!"

"The timing was very close, GG," Captain Patrick, or Tori supposed she could just call him Patrick now, said from beside Giselle. Both his and GG's clothes were a bit wet.

"We tried."

"Were you scammed?" Tori asked as she stopped by the fountain and grinned. The group of four looked over at her.

"Tori!" Tiff smiled widely.

"We haven't seen you all day. Were you cooking?"

"There is a lot of prep work for dinner," Tori said with a grin. She looked at the four people.

"Marco and Mateo have been using the outrigger canoes since last summer. They're small, but are light and have a lot of stamina and coordination." GG let out another pained groan.

"I underestimated your cousins. Is there anyone who can beat them?"

"Of course," Tori said.

"Did Ewan and Gael team up? Aside from the knights, they're one of the top pairs."

"No, Ewan's stuck with our niece and nephews, so Sir Navarro and some of the La Garda guests are on their own," Patrick replied.

"Are you going to go down to watch, my lady?" Tori shook her head. She motioned towards the stairs.

"I can't get down without someone carrying me and the wheelchair." She thought she'd wait by the arcade to watch the action. Tiff furrowed her brows and Giselle cocked her head.

"What about the ramp?"

"What ramp?"

"Henrik and Mr. Zisos had a wooden ramp prepared for you the other day. You were busy and they didn't tell you." Piers rolled her to the top of the stairs and Tori's eyes widened. A long wooden ramp had been built over a small portion of the stairs. It reached the ground below and then a wooden path connected it to the regular pathway leading to the beach. Tori lifted her hand to her chest, and she felt some pressure on her nose. She didn't ask for this.

The railings they'd installed in her tent were more than enough.

"They are so good to me."

"You are good to them," Piers said quietly above her. Without waiting, he rolled her down the ramp and towards the beach. She could hear yelling as they approached and Tori sat up straight, growing more excited as they walked through the rows of resort tents and to the deck where breakfast was served. There was another, shorter ramp that led towards the beach, but Tori was worried sand would get into the joints of her wheelchair, so she had Piers stop on the deck.

They stood beneath the tarp that shaded the deck as they watched a large crowd on the edge of the beach, yelling at the water. In the distance, two outriggers were rounding a buoy.

"Tori!" Ilyana waved her arm and rushed towards the deck.

"Who's racing?" she asked.

"It's your brothers! Against each other!" Ilyana's face was flushed beneath her straw sun hat.

"Lord Kasen won against Marco and Mateo, and then Lord Sebastian challenged him." Tori frowned at once.

"He challenged Kasen in paddling? He had his stomach cut open several days ago! Is he insane?"

"Your brother won't learn otherwise," a smooth voice said from one of the lounge chairs. Tori turned and saw her mother stretched out beneath an umbrella, sipping a fruit drink.

"If his scars rip open, it's his fault."

"Mama, Seb will be fine." Idunn was seated on a chair beside Antonia, keeping her future mother-in-law company.

"Senior Benedict healed Master's wound well," Piers told her.

"It will not open." Tori was still scowling. Her narrowed eyes were kept on the boats as they approached. The competition was tight. Her two brothers were almost in sync.

"Who do you think will win?" Tori asked aloud.

"Seb."

"Lord Kasen." Tori raised a brow as two women answered at the same time. From her side, Ilyana flushed and looked panicked as Idunn casually glanced over her shoulder and gave her a questioning look. Ilyana quickly diverted her eyes back to the water.

"Kasen will win." The Marquess spoke up and several sets of eyes fell on her. Tori cocked her head to the side.

"Why do you say that, Mama?"

"Your brothers are equal in terms of strength and stamina, as well as coordination. However, Kasen knows best when to conserve energy and when to release it."

"Ah... then after the final buoy, he'll speed up," Tori said. Her mother gave a nod. They stared out at the water and just as Tori thought, as soon as the last buoy passed, Kasen's boat began to move forward a little faster. It took a second for Sebastian to figure out what was happening and adjust his speed, but Kasen had already jutted forward half a boat's length. Ilyana clapped her hands and almost jumped beside Tori as her eyes sparkled.

"He's going to win!"

"It's impressive considering he just had a race against the twins," Tori said.

"Winner: Lord Kasen de Guevera!" One of the knights assigned to call the race yelled and everyone began shouting at once.

"All right, who's next?" Kasen easily climbed out of the outrigger canoe and held out his arms, as if inviting someone to challenge him. A wide smile was on his face as Sebastian smacked the back of his head as he passed. It only made Kasen smirk.

"Sore loser?"

"Shut up. I'm still recovering," Sebastian sneered and headed up the beach.

"Idunn!" Tori rolled her eyes as her brother sought comfort in his fiancée's arms.

"Don't be shy!" Kasen said as he looked at the group, still smiling from ear to ear.

"I'll accept any challenge!" Although he was encouraging, no one else seemed to want to accept the challenge. Tori was sure there were still players with valid challenge cards, but their opponent was Kasen. They had to weigh their chances well or they'd waste their challenge. Considering that Kasen just won two in a row, and against his formidable older brother, she could see why they'd be hesitant to throw away their challenge card on Kasen. Tori squinted at him and questioned allowing them to play.

"Why are my brothers like this...?"

"No one?" Kasen asked, glancing around.

"It doesn't have to be paddling. I am generous and will let the challenger choose. We can try one of the games in the arcade." He looked towards a pouting little girl.

"What do you say, Ava? Do you want to challenge me to ring toss or knocking down blocks?" Ava narrowed her eyes and glared at him.

"Don't try to trick me."

"Cousin, I'll challenge you." Aiden bravely stepped up and held up his challenge card.

"Daring. As expected of the heir of O'Tuagh," Kasen said with praise.

"What do you want to do, Aiden?"

"Sack toss!" Tori nodded in approval. Palm-sized cotton sacks were filled with little clay balls, and they had to toss them into holes made on a wooden board, tilted at an angle. There were several holes on the board with painted rings around them. Each hole was of varying size and difficulty, thus having different points attached to them. It was very possible for Aiden to accumulate more points than Kasen. With that, the group seemed to migrate to the promenade.

"Tori, what's that smell?" Albert had joined Ilyana and the others beside Tori as Piers pushed her towards the ramp.

"Is that the marinade?"

"Yes, I did a demonstration earlier, too, so the smoke from the grill got on my clothes and hair." Tori wrinkled her nose and tugged at her dress.

"It smells good. Nothing like we've made previously," Henrik said. He leaned forward and sniffed her head.

"What is that? Sort of salty and sweet...."

"No, it's oily." Sonia shook her head, also leaning forward to sniff Tori's hair.

"There is a heaviness to it."

"There's a nutty scent," JP said.

"There is some spice, too," Ilyana added, holding a curl in her hand. Tori pursed her lips.

"Please stop smelling my hair. I know I smell like grilled meat."" Delicious grilled meat," Ilyana insisted. Tori let out a tired sigh. They waited until the large group following the game had climbed up the stairs before Piers pushed Tori up the ramp and on to the promenade.

"Do you want to watch?" Piers asked as they approached the arcade.

"No, I should get back to the kitchen and make sure everything is ready before I go get ready for dinner."

"I'm going to challenge them soon."

"Your Highness, you're playing?" Albert looked surprised. Piers gave him a small nod.

"I see, he's waiting until there are less people who can challenge to increase the chances of holding on to it," Henrik said with a nod.

"I should've thought of that."

"Did you already challenge someone?"

"The Empress and your mother found the secret message and Henrik had to start the challenges because a lot of players didn't want to," JP replied.

"Your mother is good at puzzles. It was as if all she had to do was glance at a clue and then move on to the next one."

"At one point, everyone just followed them," Sonia said with a nod.

"There were some physical challenges, too," Tori said. Her mother wasn't as active as her brothers at her age. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"She pointed and then said 'Monica, go'," Albert said in a careful voice. His eyes crinkled up, as if unsure if he dreamt it or if it actually happened.

"Then, the Empress would do whatever the challenge was for the next clue."

"Mother is not very good at puzzles," Piers told them seriously.

"Henrik, does that mean you won the challenge against Mama?" Tori asked. She was impressed.

"It was against the Empress, and it was ring toss. I got lucky," Henrik said.

"But it didn't last."

"Sir Navarro beat him, and then the secret message exchanged hands another dozen or more times at the arcade before we got to the outrigger canoes." Ilyana sighed.

"I feel like Marco and Mateo tricked us." They stopped just outside the arcade and could hear the yelling come from within.

"I win!" Aiden's voice shouted. It was immediately followed by a little girl's voice.

"I challenge you!" Aiden snorted.

"Pass."

"Then how about I challenge you, young lord?" Constantine had sided with Ava, so he dutifully stepped in. Ava's smug voice reached her ears.

"You can't pass a second time! Beat him, Constantine!" Tori chuckled and looked at the others.

"I'll see you all later. Albert, don't forget to change into the clothes I sent you. You and Ewan are my escorts tonight since we're all celebrating something." Albert gave her an affirmative nod before Piers pushed her back to the restaurant. Piers didn't say much. He continued to push her to the restaurant and then handed her off to the knight before turning around.

"I'm going to challenge them."

"Are you really going to keep the prize if you win?" Tori asked. If the spy won, none of the other players would get anything. Not even the snack voucher. Piers gave her a small nod.

"Yes." She washed her hair, but she swore it still smelled like marinated grilled meat. Tori frowned as one of the maids the Empress had sent, who was already familiar with her, pulled her hair back.

"Tell me the truth," Tori said as she sat on her wheelchair. Her tent didn't have a vanity table, so they were using her cleared desk.

"Do I smell like grilled meat?" The maid behind her paused and glanced at the other maid.

"It... smells good, my lady." Tori closed her eyes.

"I'll wash it again tonight." Dinner would embed the scent of grilled meat on to everyone present. At least she wouldn't be alone.

"Tori, are you almost done?" Ewan spoke up from outside the tent. Everyone was to meet at the restaurant. Henrik and Ilyana were secondary hosts and were to welcome and seat their guests. As the celebrants, she, Albert, and Ewan were going to arrive fashionably late after everyone was seated. Each was going to give a welcome speech as the grills were heating. Then the food would be served to grill.

"Almost. Just finishing the hair," Tori said.

"You can come in." The flap of her tent was pushed aside and the two young men entered dressed in similar clothing from the delta collection. They wore the same hats and shoes as they did during the Spring Festival, but the colors of their pants and shirts were different. To compliment Tori's sky-blue dress with contrasting cream collar and hem, which was styled as a longer version of their shirt and tapered at the waist, both Albert and Ewan wore cobalt blue with cream color, hem, and pants.

"What do you think?" Albert asked with a grin.

"I even changed the band around my hat to match." Tori gave him an approving look.

"That was smart. You both look great!" Ewan chuckled.

"I get to be celebrated twice this year."

"You deserve it, future Sir Connor," Albert said with a grin. Ewan's face reddened, but he couldn't seem to stop smiling.

"My lady, your hair is ready," the maid said as she stepped back. Matching sky-blue ribbons were woven into her thick braid.

"Shall we put on your hat?"

"Please do." Tori sat still as the second maid placed a cream Panama hat on Tori's head.

"All right! Ewan, push me. Albert, hold open the tent flap. Let's get this party started!" Ewan scrambled behind her and pushed her wheelchair forward as Albert lifted back the tent flap. The trio headed down the wooden walkway and along the way, villagers came to wish her a happy birthday. She even got a few flowers and small gifts. It was unexpected and they stopped a few times to chat with the villagers and thank them.

The village and project leaders were already present at the restaurant, but the villagers she didn't see often had almost lined the walkway to greet her. She felt as if she were on parade.

"Are you crying?" Albert asked as they walked along.

"I'm very moved by the kindness and affection of the villagers," Tori told him as she wiped at her eyes.

"And I'm not crying. My eyes are just wet." He and Ewan chuckled. As they reached the promenade, the walkways were lit with lanterns and brighter than usual. Music could be heard coming from the plaza and as Tori approached, there were a few couples already dancing around in front of the restaurant. As soon as the trio appeared, a boisterous shout came from the patio dining area and guests rose to their feet.

"I hope all our birthdays are always like this," she heard Albert say as they approached the restaurant.

"Yeah," Tori said with a breathless, content sigh.

"Me, too." She paused.

"Except, I'm also walking."

"Yes, that, too." At the entrance to the restaurant, Henrik and Ilyana were waiting. Ilyana leaned forward to let her know that everyone was present, and Henrik stepped around them to usher in those who were dancing. Ewan carefully maneuvered her to their tables at the far end of the patio, furthest away from the restaurant. It would give them the best view of the fireworks that night. The tables were spaced far enough apart to allow for Tori to be pushed around without being trapped between chairs.

It was a bit more distance than she'd like, but at least she'd be able to go and greet guests. When everyone was seated, Ewan and Albert remained standing on either side of Tori as she welcomed everyone. It was the standard 'thank you for coming; please enjoy yourselves' speech. Albert stepped forward when she was done to say something similar, then Ewan came to thank everyone for their support over the last year to help him enter La Garda.

There was a series of applause as Ewan, and Albert took their seats on the tables on either side of hers, where she would sit with her mother, brothers, Idunn, Cousin Bridget, and three children who had come to visit her. Tori then lifted her hand and servers filed out with trays of meat and skewers to be grilled. Once they were in place, the servers returned with five side dishes to be shared amongst the table. They were the simplest to make: stir fried and pickled vegetables, fried fish cakes, and steamed eggs.

If she could find sweet potato noodles, she'd make japjae, but her ingredients were limited.

"I have some instructions before we begin!" Tori said.

"What you see in the center of your table is a grill. Please be careful, it is hot. Don't touch it with your bare hands." When she said it, she looked directly at Marco and Mateo, who looked almost offended that she suspected them.

"The grills have been heating up. A server will assist your table. They will grease the grill on the carnelian cooking plate. Take the metal tongs and use them to put the pieces of sliced meat on to the grill.

"We have cuts of beef, pork, and mutton that have been prepared in different marinades. They cook very quickly, so please watch them. The skewers are also in those three meats and chicken, and can be placed directly on the grill and should be turned to cook evenly. Again, if you have any questions, the server can help. Also at your table are side dishes. These are already cooked. Feel free to serve yourselves by taking a piece. The dishes are to be shared.

Lastly, it is recommended that the meat be eaten with steamed white rice.

"I have also provided cuts of vegetables that have been seasoned and can be grilled." Tori smiled and felt a tug at her side. Ilyana had crouched down and whispered in her ear. Tori drew her head back.

"Already?" Ilyana nodded.

"Okay...." Tori looked back towards the guests and smiled.

"It seems we also have a winner for the Spy Game-" Numerous groans and mutters of disappointment filled the patio and Tori cracked a smile. Everyone seemed much more defeated than she thought. She chuckled.

"Will the winner of the Spy Game please stand?" She watched nearly everyone's head turn to her right. Tori looked towards the table in the corner, one table away from hers, as Piers stood up. Her lips drew into a tight line and felt pity for everyone else.

"Well, at least we still get a voucher," Maeve said with a heavy sigh.

"One snack is better than none."

"I'm going to get funnel cake...." Ava muttered. Tori tried not to cringe.

"Let's applaud His Highness Prince Piers for successfully taking the secret message." She brought her hands together, but was sure it was her brothers who booed Piers over the sound of applause.

"Piers, please show your card to everyone to confirm your role." Without a word, Piers reached into his pocket and took out the card. He unfolded it and held it open.

"Spy."

"No!" Tori looked around and wasn't sure who yelled, but the mood of most of the guests dropped at once. Tori glanced over her shoulder and saw Ava red faced and on the verge of tears. Marco and Mateo also looked extremely disappointed and poor Riri looked as if someone stole his candy. He wasn't exactly wrong.

"Tori," Piers said, drawing everyone's attention once more.

"I will share my prize with all guests under the age of twenty." Several children's heads shot up and looked at him expectantly. Piers stood in place, without a smile or kind look. He sounded as if he were asking to clarify a phrase in a document.

"Will that be enough for them to get two vouchers each?" A small smile pulled at her lips. Even if it weren't, Tori would allow it. She gave him a nod.

"It is enough. I will have the vouchers distributed to guests under the age of twenty after dinner." The children all looked excited and even her friends looked relieved. She vaguely heard Patrick's voice asking if he still counted for a voucher at his age.

"What about those over the age of twenty?" The Empress gave her son a slight glare from where she sat next to him.

"They can buy their own snacks." Piers took his seat and several people protested. Tori chuckled, but didn't offer a follow up prize. Instead, she told everyone to go ahead and start. A knight pushed her to her table and Tori began directing her brothers on what to grill first. The rich aroma of seasoned meat wafted into the air as the entire plaza seemed filled with voices. Each table had at least one conversation about the food, either arguing about whose piece of meat was whose or to flip over a piece.

After eating half her bowl of rice, Tori had the knight push her around so she could check on each table. As she was pushed around, she found herself collecting a few more flowers and presents. The knight had to take them and put them aside with the others.

"Lady Tori, can we have more of this mutton?" The Bishop of Karap was seated with Constantine, Brother Cassius, Instructor Ignatius, and Master Ramos.

"Of course," Tori said. She looked towards the server and gave him a nod. He immediately nodded back and rushed to the kitchen for another plate.

"We have more in the back, so please let them know if you'd like more."

"Can we take some back to the island?" Instructor Ignatius asked, almost embarrassed. Tori laughed and nodded.

"Yes, I will have a few pieces prepared for you in a cold box." She was pushed towards two tables with business and trade associates, then greeted the Dukes and Duchesses who came. Three couples were around a table arguing with each other over who got what. That was why Duchess Fekete's son had sat at a different table. Tori had to assure them they could get more of the piece they wanted. It settled the argument. Tori made a point to thank Duke Sinan for his help searching for Alessa and the others.

Then, she spent some time talking with school and Sword Association friends. By the time she finished her rounds, the second wave of meat had arrived at her table and was halfway eaten.

"Tori, do you want any more?" her mother asked.

"Tell Mama what you want. I will grill it for you."

"Chicken skewer, please. And some beef rib slices," Tori said. Her mother smiled and snatched the remaining pieces from each plate to cook for her. Her brothers looked disappointed, but didn't argue.

"Don't eat so much. We still have dessert!"

"I heard that the first slice goes to your most important person," Kasen said as he held a pork skewer.

"You're going to give it to me, right?" Sebastian snorted beside him.

"I'm right here. Why would she give it to you?"

"I'm her favorite brother."

"You're delusional."

"Sebastian. Kasen," Antonia said in a firm voice. They looked towards her and shrank back under her stern gaze.

"I think it's clear who she'll give it to." She was clearly referring to herself, so her sons could only hold back. Tori giggled and waited for her meat to be cooked. After taking ample time to savor the familiar taste of short rib, she called out for the cakes. Three carts were moved forward, each with a different flavor of mille crepe cake. They were topped with cream and fruit, a thin glaze of hardened sugar, or drizzled with caramel and buttercream shaped like flowers.

However, compared to the three-tiered cakes of previous parties, they seemed lackluster and smaller.

"I know this doesn't look like it's going to feed everyone," Tori said as soon as she was turned around.

"However, these are just the cakes for us to cut. There are fifteen of these cakes in three flavors. They are small because they aren't baked; layers of crepe were made on pans of this size. Don't judge how tasty they are by their simplicity." She looked at the server in front of her.

"Light the candles!" Rather than the number of candles totaling their ages, she and Albert each had a candle shaped like the number of their age and Ewan had a candle shaped like two crossed swords. They matched the images on the lanterns outside.

"Ewan, are you going to make another wish?" someone shouted.

"I don't think it counts if it's not my birthday!" Ewan laughed, but on the count of three, they all blew their candles anyway. Yelling and applause filled the patio as the servers removed the candles. Ewan and Albert, on either side of Tori, were each given a cake knife and a plate. Ewan cut a small triangle and gave it to his grandma. Albert did the same and also gave it to his grandmother, Madam Martin. His family teased him.

Albert was about to hand his cake knife to Tori, but she received a round metal object from one of the servers.

"What's that?" Ewan asked.

"This is what I'm going to use to cut my cake," Tori said, holding up the device. It was a metal ring about the size of the pan used to cook the pancake layers. Thin, metal stripes crisscrossed the ring to make triangles. In the interest of being fair, and also extra, Tori had her cake-cutter specially made to be pressed over the mille crepe cake and cut out ten pieces at once.

She held the small handles on either side and carefully rested it over the top of her strawberry and cream cake and then slowly pushed it down. She gave it a small wiggle to loosen the pieces before removing the device and handing it back to the server. She then moved the slices onto plates and called out for people, as it was easier for them to take it.

"Mama!" Tori said, reaching out with the first plate.

"Sebby and Kasey." Her brothers stood up to get them, smiling affectionately.

"Ilyana!" Ilyana shot out of her chair to get her slice. Tori had made sure it had a strawberry on it.

"Ewan, Henrik, JP, Sonia, Albert, and Constantine!" Each friend came to get their slice and a few glanced over at Piers. All ten of Tori's 'first' slices were given away, but Piers was without a slice. Considering how close they were, her friends thought he'd get one. Tori could see the question in their eyes as they picked up their slice. In contrast, Tori's brothers seemed incredibly pleased with the outcome.

"Is it because your brother came?" Ewan asked as he leaned back towards her. She shook her head and motioned towards an approaching server. Unlike the others who were distributing slices of cake, this server had a small, round mille crepe cake on a silver platter.

"Your Highness." The server placed the platter in front of Piers.

"Lady Guevera has personally prepared this coffee mille crepe cake for you." The corner of Piers' lip curled up, almost looking smug as he looked down at the saucer-sized cake in front of him. He lifted his head and met her eyes, giving her a small nod. She nodded in return.

"Special treatment," Ilyana muttered with narrowed eyes and shoved another forkful of cake into her mouth. Tori got a slice of cake and glanced at her brothers. It suddenly looked as if they were not happy with their slice.

"Tori, when are the fireworks?" Albert said. Tori checked her time piece in her pocket.

"Soon. Don't worry." She lifted her hand and motioned for a server to bring Piers earplugs.

"My lady." The manager of the restaurant rushed towards her and knelt at her side.

"There is a messenger here from the imperial palace." Tori craned her neck towards the entrance and saw Chamberlain Thorpson along with two imperial knights.

"We're expecting them. Welcome them in and then prepare another table for them."

"Yes, my lady." The manager bowed his head and walked back. A moment later, Chamberlain Thorpson, dressed in an imperial aide uniform, complete with cape, walked across the restaurant towards her. His appearance silenced the guests, and all eyes were on him and the two knights behind him.

"Good evening, Your Majesty. Your Highness." He first greeted the Empress, whose cheeks were puffed out and stuffed with cake. She was in the middle of chewing when he greeted her. She swallowed and gave him a nod. Piers did the same. Chamberlain Thorpson turned to Tori and bowed his head.

"Good evening and happy birthday, Lady Guevera."

"Thank you, Chamberlain Thorpson." He held out his arm and one of the knights gave him a black leather folio with gold embossing and leather tassel. He opened it as he faced her.

"Lady Guevera, I, Chamberlain Rudolph Thorpson, aide to His Imperial Majesty, have come to present greetings and acknowledgement on behalf of Emperor Matthieu-Philippe du Soleil." He looked down at the open folio and read its contents. Tori sat hopeful on her wheelchair, excited to hear about her free islands.

"On this day, the first day of the sixth month in the 19th year of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Matthieu-Philippe du Soleil's reign, His Imperial Majesty sends greetings and congratulations to Lady Victoria de Guevera on her coming-of-age. As an adult under Soleil law, His Imperial Majesty now acknowledges her services to the empire. One, successful resettlement of refugees. Two, economic development of the Cosora Delta. Three, research on refugee and resettlement groups with guidelines for future settlement.

Four, advancement in crystal technology for the benefit of the people of the empire. And five, her efforts finding and saving Lady Alessa Hart, Mr. Dimitri Guthry, and Mr. Montan Alvere, as well as protecting His Highness Prince Piers Emil du Soleil, First Prince of Soleil. Request for the fifth acknowledgement was placed by Baron Michael Hart and Prime Minister Charles Guthry." Tori raised her brows. She didn't expect the last part. And technically, Piers saved us, too.

"For these acknowledgments and contributions to the Soleil Empire, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Matthieu-Philippe du Soleil bestows land to Lady Victoria de Guevera." Chamberlain Thorpson gave the knight on his other side a nod and he stepped forward to hand Tori another folio. She opened it and found it to be a map of the delta. She tilted her head to the side as her eyes narrowed. That's not a land deed... Do I get to pick? Do I get to pick more than the islands?

"His Imperial Majesty Emperor Matthieu-Philippe du Soleil bestows peerage." Tori's head snapped up and she couldn't breathe.

"What?"

"On this day, the first day of the sixth month in the 19th year of His Imperial Majesty Emperor Matthieu-Philippe du Soleil's reign, His Imperial Majesty bestows the peerage of countess to Lady Victoria de Guevera, granting her the honorable title of Countess Victoria Sophia de Guevera de Sophos." Chamberlain Thorpson smiled wide as he closed the folio and knelt to present it to her.

"Countess of Cosora." She didn't hear the explosion of voices around her or the boom of the fireworks as the night sky lit up. Tori sat numb on her wheelchair, staring at the proclamation presented to her. There was only one thought in her mind: I'm going to need more wine.