Spilling the beans and then...? Suppose people even believe the weird, eccentric girl over the Prince-Consort. What then? What horrible consequences does he face?
Noblesse Oblige [Znt/SI]
Spilling the beans and then...? Suppose people even believe the weird, eccentric girl over the Prince-Consort. What then? What horrible consequences does he face?
I'll answer that! For starters, if they believe her then any of several things might occur: he loses the trust of possibly everyone he's ever had any kind of relationship with; the marriage is annulled due to Henry not technically being the person he was supposed to be; they think he's some sort of evil doppelgänger that replaced the true Henry; he's farmed for his information on/about FoZ; his army loses faith in him and his cause; his family no longer speaks to him because all the lies make them uncomfortable; he's uncovered as the world's most prolific unquestionably scandalous story writer; and worst of all, he won't get to troll her anymore. You don't mess with the man's trolling power, it's one of the few joys in his life (besides coffee).
Note: these aren't likely to happen, but they very well could. The ones about trust most especially, after all it's so easy to break and very hard to build. Of course, Henry probably isn't thinking about any of that. No, the sheer power of inertia is likely what's fueling this lie now.
Oh, and he might also be executed, I guess. Maybe. Meh, let's not and say we did, too much paperwork.
What? This makes no sense if they actually come to believe he's some reincarnated person.
Kind of a stretch, especially because ranting off about it would've made him look mad without any proof.
Dumb.
Who said anything about revealing ZnT is some light novel series?
Not only would these be very unlikely to happen, this was exactly the kind of doom and gloom I was making fun of. It's absurd. There might be some reactions if the rumor spreads and she's actually believed over the word of the Prince-Consort himself, but basically nothing would happen.
@Gunman Okay, maybe next time I'll just hold up a sarcasm sign, because you somehow missed it alongside the entire second half of my post. Text based communication, almost as bad as no communication. If it helps, I said they weren't likely to happen, but the fact that he'd lose some of the trust they have in him is practically a given. That's how lies work.
Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen
- Location
- https://discord.gg/z9tBvbh
Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen
The world is your oyster, says the saying, but only if you know how to pry open its valves, and only if you are lucky enough that the oyster suffered sand upon its body to claim it. Honestly, even such a simple saying can, when seen through the eyes of wisdom, acquire an wholly different meaning.
It is only through the suffering of others, that the skilled ones acquire richness.
Someone has to work the earth, someone has to grab shit with their hands and use it as compost. Does this in any way lower their worth? No. They are an integral part of the machinery that sustains a society. Until they can be replaced by other means, until they can be uplifted to become more than just the simpler lower cog of the machine, they shall continue grabbing shit to use as compost for the fields.
The good society shall uplift them. The bad society shall discard them.
The lands of Gallia were fertile. There were vast plains and rivers that were used in the creation of fields of grain and various other crops, and they were used...only not to their full potential. It had to do with how nobles liked hunting games, or enjoyed their countryside filled with the shadows of treetops. Since the lands that weren't under direct control of the nobles were administered by the lords themselves, one couldn't ask them to turn their grassy plains filled with nothing into fields of wheat and barley.
Course, the lands under direct control of the king were another story, but even so-
"Dear husband," Isabella said with a sigh, "Gallia more than aptly manages to withstand even the harshest of winters regularly, and thus I do not see the need to increase the food production on every single piece of land there is."
We sat on a plush sofa in our rooms within the holiday villa of the Royal Family on the shores of Ragdorian lake, the servants having already left since it was late at night. The fire in the chimney was crackling gently, the light it emanated enough to allow me to glance at the surroundings, and accept the fact that no Mind of God was peeping on us from a corner of the room.
"I'm thinking about the situation in Albion," I answered, which was mostly true, just not completely true. Isabella had plopped her head down on my lap, and my left hand was absentmindedly playing with a lock of her hair. "Though they've declared themselves open for commerce once more," I furrowed my brows and sighed, "I am sure we aren't sending any ships with food any time soon, and neither will Tristain or Romalia. This leaves Germania, but with how sky pirates are currently working the most trafficked air routes-the people there are going to starve."
"And?" Isabella asked. "Ah," she sighed. "Henry...I understand," she said in the end. "That's what father's plan is all about, isn't it? That's why you've been running right and left, giving orders to increase the army-you've never been one for subtlety my dear husband, but..." she bit her lower lip. "It's war, isn't it? We're going to war."
"We are," I acquiesced. My right hand coming down to cusp her cheek gently. "Whether we'll cast the first stone or not though depends solely on Albion's new government."
"We'll need more supplies then," Isabella said, "I understand your reasoning then-but convincing the nobles to do such a thing-concessions will have to be made. Already, many are clamoring against the idea of having men of the army in their lands, but they're tolerable. To go this far-it's directly infringing on the land of another noble, and it would be ground for scandal, or even worse...you can't just decide what's best for everyone."
"I know," I mumbled. "The direct control territories instead?"
"Those...perhaps some corners could be cut," Isabella amended, "But for what I think you're planning, it wouldn't be enough. And there are more profitable things that could be put there instead-"
I sighed. "Perhaps things could be bought in bulk from Germania? They have quite the famous cattle-and I reckon I can extend fishing permissions in the area of Brittany."
"My Henry, the one thing that makes my heart suffer is watching you worry-you should not feel this way. Commoners might go without supper a few days a week, but that is most certainly not grounds for your concern. Your concerns should be on us, and us alone," Isabella pouted, lifting her right hand to grab my cheek and pinch it lightly. "Oh, your elder sister was quite right-this is an adorable way of catching your attention."
"My dear, you know that I think solely of you for most of the day and the night," I replied, gently grabbing hold of the hand pinching my cheek and calmly removing it with a smile still on my face. "But my heart is so big, it worries about everyone that it can worry for-"
"Which is unfair," Isabella mumbled, the pout still on her face. "It is all mine, your heart. All of it, not a single speck of it can belong to anyone else."
"More than one person can trudge the land, though it belongs to only one person," I pointed out calmly. "My heart is yours, and that will never change. The people I care for, though-they'll have a space in there no matter what I do," I smiled gently. "Should I not perhaps love our future children? They would most certainly be as worthy of my love as you, wouldn't they?
"Oh Henry!" Isabella's face turned crimson red, "when you say that kind of thing-our heart cannot help but flutter so-"
There was a loud knocking by the door, and the light red of embarrassment on Isabella's face was soon replaced with an angry red of fury. Her eyes narrowed darkly as she stood up, ensuring her night clothes were properly pristine. "Who dares to interrupt Our time alone with Our husband? The reason better be worthy of your life, whoever you are-" as the door opened up, a nervous looking maid hastily bowed as much as possible.
"Y-Your royal highness-a guest-"
"A guest? Who is this guest that dares intrude upon our house and requests our presence at this hour of the night? Said guest better be my father, the King, or your head and those of whoever let them in shall swiftly be detached from your necks!" Isabella hissed, her royal scepter in her hand clenched tightly.
"It's-it is her grace, the Lady Charlotte Helene D'Orleans-" as the maid said that, Isabella's eyes went from angry to confused.
"My cousin? At this hour of the night?" she looked out of the window, where the sun had already set. "It cannot be-but...very well," she nodded to herself. "See to it that she is put in the royal guest room. We will come visit her as soon as we are presentable. Send for my attendants," she added.
"Ahem," I coughed.
"And my husband's too," Isabella continued nonplussed. The maid bowed and hastily obeyed, leaving behind a sighing Isabella who groaned as she plopped her head against my chest.
"Now, now," I mumbled, patting the back of her head. "I am sure there is a valid reason."
"I guess so," Isabella said. "Little Helene being here, at this hour-she must have been sent by her uncle. Oh...I fear I will break her heart," she bit her lower lips. "Perhaps it has to do with concessions, perhaps her father sent her as an olive branch, perhaps-only the gods know why she is here, but...I hate having to be a princess in front of her too."
"Then don't," I remarked. "I can... I don't know? Say something like how I'm not angry at all with her father sometimes soon in court or something to that effect?"
"No, no, it is fine," Isabella took a deep breath and centered herself, "Now let us not show this face to the servants," she mumbled as she did her hardest to remove her worried expression. In answer, I grabbed hold of her right cheek, and pinched it slightly.
"Kyah!" she grumbled, eyes wide in shock.
"Uh..." I said, "Now I see why my sister did it so often-it's the cutest thing ever!" I smiled brightly.
"S-Stop doing this!" Isabella said, red once more, but this time of shame as she began to tremble in impotent fury. "Henry! Stop!" she waved her scepter around, and a blast of cold water doused me and made me lose the grip as I gasped. "There!" she said with a huff.
"Here!" I retorted with a grin as I proceeded to engulf her in my arms, making her shriek shrilly from the cold water.
"Henry! Let me go! This-Henry, seriously!" she giggled amidst the spinning, and I easily let her go once the servants knocked at the door to get us changed. No one mentioned the fact that we were both doused in cold water, but it was better that way.
When we stepped into the guest room, we did indeed come face to face with a young blue-haired girl that was wearing expensive clothing, if with the lower parts of them smudged with dirt and grass.
"Little Helene?" Isabella asked, blinking in surprise.
"Brother!" and just like that, Josette proceeded to rush towards me and give me a firm hug.
I looked down, and then I looked to the side. Isabella remained frozen for a brief second, trying to connect the dots in her head. I could see her actually mulling the thoughts through. I could see her think at all the possibilities that were one after the other disappearing until they shone one undeniable truth.
That truth made her shock turn into mere surprise.
"Ah, little Josette," Isabella said, acknowledging her with a small smile. "Would you please let go of my husband?" before I shank you was left unsaid, but I was pretty sure in the back of my head that she had thought that, even with her voice sweet. No, perhaps especially because her voice was sweet.
"Uh...Yes, I'm sorry big sister," as she said that, Isabella's eyes softened up, and the moment she did let go, her expression returned to normal. "I'm sorry if I overstepped-"
"It's fine, it's fine," I said with a small smile, "It has been a while," I nodded, "But...why are you here?"
Josette clasped her hands together. "Sister Charlotte said you would be staying here, because father told her so. I-I asked father if I could come visit you, but he was against it. So...I sneaked out."
"You sneaked out," Isabella said flatly, her voice flat. "You? How?"
"I used one of the secret passageways out of the villa," Josette said, looking down at her hands, her hands tightly clasped together in nervousness, to the point where her knuckles were now pale white. "And then I walked," she added sheepishly. "I followed the shores of the lake-"
"You walked," Isabella mumbled in disbelief. "You. Walked?" she sighed, the back of her hand against her forehead. "Oh, very well, the gods apparently kept an eye on you tonight-they are merciful with children after all-"
"Uh-uh," Josette nodded, not understanding at all what Isabella's tone was like. "I prayed to them to show me the way so-so here I am," she fidgeted, "Can I stay?"
"Of course you'll stay!" Isabella shouted, making Josette nearly jump back in fright. "Sending a young girl like you out in the middle of the night? No! Absolutely not! Why-if a wolf or something had-I can't bear to think about it-"
"Ah, lovely pun," I said offhandedly as I gestured to one of the servants, "do have a bath prepared and fresh clothes ready for our guest. Also, send a messenger to alert the Duke D'Orleans, lest he thinks I kidnapped her again." I chuckled, but Isabella simply stared at me with a frown.
"Yes dear?"
"Where was the pun?" she asked, "I wouldn't be able to think about a joke in such a time-"
"If a wolf or something...and you couldn't bear to think about it," I pointed out. "Nothing bad happened though, deer, so cheer up."
Josette understood, and with that she began to giggle, a hand covering her mouth. Isabella nodded to herself when she finally understood the joke itself, and then lifted her royal scepter in my direction.
A brief chant later, and I found myself doused in freezing water once more.
Seriously, would it kill her to find her funny bone?
The world is your oyster, says the saying, but only if you know how to pry open its valves, and only if you are lucky enough that the oyster suffered sand upon its body to claim it. Honestly, even such a simple saying can, when seen through the eyes of wisdom, acquire an wholly different meaning.
It is only through the suffering of others, that the skilled ones acquire richness.
Someone has to work the earth, someone has to grab shit with their hands and use it as compost. Does this in any way lower their worth? No. They are an integral part of the machinery that sustains a society. Until they can be replaced by other means, until they can be uplifted to become more than just the simpler lower cog of the machine, they shall continue grabbing shit to use as compost for the fields.
The good society shall uplift them. The bad society shall discard them.
The lands of Gallia were fertile. There were vast plains and rivers that were used in the creation of fields of grain and various other crops, and they were used...only not to their full potential. It had to do with how nobles liked hunting games, or enjoyed their countryside filled with the shadows of treetops. Since the lands that weren't under direct control of the nobles were administered by the lords themselves, one couldn't ask them to turn their grassy plains filled with nothing into fields of wheat and barley.
Course, the lands under direct control of the king were another story, but even so-
"Dear husband," Isabella said with a sigh, "Gallia more than aptly manages to withstand even the harshest of winters regularly, and thus I do not see the need to increase the food production on every single piece of land there is."
We sat on a plush sofa in our rooms within the holiday villa of the Royal Family on the shores of Ragdorian lake, the servants having already left since it was late at night. The fire in the chimney was crackling gently, the light it emanated enough to allow me to glance at the surroundings, and accept the fact that no Mind of God was peeping on us from a corner of the room.
"I'm thinking about the situation in Albion," I answered, which was mostly true, just not completely true. Isabella had plopped her head down on my lap, and my left hand was absentmindedly playing with a lock of her hair. "Though they've declared themselves open for commerce once more," I furrowed my brows and sighed, "I am sure we aren't sending any ships with food any time soon, and neither will Tristain or Romalia. This leaves Germania, but with how sky pirates are currently working the most trafficked air routes-the people there are going to starve."
"And?" Isabella asked. "Ah," she sighed. "Henry...I understand," she said in the end. "That's what father's plan is all about, isn't it? That's why you've been running right and left, giving orders to increase the army-you've never been one for subtlety my dear husband, but..." she bit her lower lip. "It's war, isn't it? We're going to war."
"We are," I acquiesced. My right hand coming down to cusp her cheek gently. "Whether we'll cast the first stone or not though depends solely on Albion's new government."
"We'll need more supplies then," Isabella said, "I understand your reasoning then-but convincing the nobles to do such a thing-concessions will have to be made. Already, many are clamoring against the idea of having men of the army in their lands, but they're tolerable. To go this far-it's directly infringing on the land of another noble, and it would be ground for scandal, or even worse...you can't just decide what's best for everyone."
"I know," I mumbled. "The direct control territories instead?"
"Those...perhaps some corners could be cut," Isabella amended, "But for what I think you're planning, it wouldn't be enough. And there are more profitable things that could be put there instead-"
I sighed. "Perhaps things could be bought in bulk from Germania? They have quite the famous cattle-and I reckon I can extend fishing permissions in the area of Brittany."
"My Henry, the one thing that makes my heart suffer is watching you worry-you should not feel this way. Commoners might go without supper a few days a week, but that is most certainly not grounds for your concern. Your concerns should be on us, and us alone," Isabella pouted, lifting her right hand to grab my cheek and pinch it lightly. "Oh, your elder sister was quite right-this is an adorable way of catching your attention."
"My dear, you know that I think solely of you for most of the day and the night," I replied, gently grabbing hold of the hand pinching my cheek and calmly removing it with a smile still on my face. "But my heart is so big, it worries about everyone that it can worry for-"
"Which is unfair," Isabella mumbled, the pout still on her face. "It is all mine, your heart. All of it, not a single speck of it can belong to anyone else."
"More than one person can trudge the land, though it belongs to only one person," I pointed out calmly. "My heart is yours, and that will never change. The people I care for, though-they'll have a space in there no matter what I do," I smiled gently. "Should I not perhaps love our future children? They would most certainly be as worthy of my love as you, wouldn't they?
"Oh Henry!" Isabella's face turned crimson red, "when you say that kind of thing-our heart cannot help but flutter so-"
There was a loud knocking by the door, and the light red of embarrassment on Isabella's face was soon replaced with an angry red of fury. Her eyes narrowed darkly as she stood up, ensuring her night clothes were properly pristine. "Who dares to interrupt Our time alone with Our husband? The reason better be worthy of your life, whoever you are-" as the door opened up, a nervous looking maid hastily bowed as much as possible.
"Y-Your royal highness-a guest-"
"A guest? Who is this guest that dares intrude upon our house and requests our presence at this hour of the night? Said guest better be my father, the King, or your head and those of whoever let them in shall swiftly be detached from your necks!" Isabella hissed, her royal scepter in her hand clenched tightly.
"It's-it is her grace, the Lady Charlotte Helene D'Orleans-" as the maid said that, Isabella's eyes went from angry to confused.
"My cousin? At this hour of the night?" she looked out of the window, where the sun had already set. "It cannot be-but...very well," she nodded to herself. "See to it that she is put in the royal guest room. We will come visit her as soon as we are presentable. Send for my attendants," she added.
"Ahem," I coughed.
"And my husband's too," Isabella continued nonplussed. The maid bowed and hastily obeyed, leaving behind a sighing Isabella who groaned as she plopped her head against my chest.
"Now, now," I mumbled, patting the back of her head. "I am sure there is a valid reason."
"I guess so," Isabella said. "Little Helene being here, at this hour-she must have been sent by her uncle. Oh...I fear I will break her heart," she bit her lower lips. "Perhaps it has to do with concessions, perhaps her father sent her as an olive branch, perhaps-only the gods know why she is here, but...I hate having to be a princess in front of her too."
"Then don't," I remarked. "I can... I don't know? Say something like how I'm not angry at all with her father sometimes soon in court or something to that effect?"
"No, no, it is fine," Isabella took a deep breath and centered herself, "Now let us not show this face to the servants," she mumbled as she did her hardest to remove her worried expression. In answer, I grabbed hold of her right cheek, and pinched it slightly.
"Kyah!" she grumbled, eyes wide in shock.
"Uh..." I said, "Now I see why my sister did it so often-it's the cutest thing ever!" I smiled brightly.
"S-Stop doing this!" Isabella said, red once more, but this time of shame as she began to tremble in impotent fury. "Henry! Stop!" she waved her scepter around, and a blast of cold water doused me and made me lose the grip as I gasped. "There!" she said with a huff.
"Here!" I retorted with a grin as I proceeded to engulf her in my arms, making her shriek shrilly from the cold water.
"Henry! Let me go! This-Henry, seriously!" she giggled amidst the spinning, and I easily let her go once the servants knocked at the door to get us changed. No one mentioned the fact that we were both doused in cold water, but it was better that way.
When we stepped into the guest room, we did indeed come face to face with a young blue-haired girl that was wearing expensive clothing, if with the lower parts of them smudged with dirt and grass.
"Little Helene?" Isabella asked, blinking in surprise.
"Brother!" and just like that, Josette proceeded to rush towards me and give me a firm hug.
I looked down, and then I looked to the side. Isabella remained frozen for a brief second, trying to connect the dots in her head. I could see her actually mulling the thoughts through. I could see her think at all the possibilities that were one after the other disappearing until they shone one undeniable truth.
That truth made her shock turn into mere surprise.
"Ah, little Josette," Isabella said, acknowledging her with a small smile. "Would you please let go of my husband?" before I shank you was left unsaid, but I was pretty sure in the back of my head that she had thought that, even with her voice sweet. No, perhaps especially because her voice was sweet.
"Uh...Yes, I'm sorry big sister," as she said that, Isabella's eyes softened up, and the moment she did let go, her expression returned to normal. "I'm sorry if I overstepped-"
"It's fine, it's fine," I said with a small smile, "It has been a while," I nodded, "But...why are you here?"
Josette clasped her hands together. "Sister Charlotte said you would be staying here, because father told her so. I-I asked father if I could come visit you, but he was against it. So...I sneaked out."
"You sneaked out," Isabella said flatly, her voice flat. "You? How?"
"I used one of the secret passageways out of the villa," Josette said, looking down at her hands, her hands tightly clasped together in nervousness, to the point where her knuckles were now pale white. "And then I walked," she added sheepishly. "I followed the shores of the lake-"
"You walked," Isabella mumbled in disbelief. "You. Walked?" she sighed, the back of her hand against her forehead. "Oh, very well, the gods apparently kept an eye on you tonight-they are merciful with children after all-"
"Uh-uh," Josette nodded, not understanding at all what Isabella's tone was like. "I prayed to them to show me the way so-so here I am," she fidgeted, "Can I stay?"
"Of course you'll stay!" Isabella shouted, making Josette nearly jump back in fright. "Sending a young girl like you out in the middle of the night? No! Absolutely not! Why-if a wolf or something had-I can't bear to think about it-"
"Ah, lovely pun," I said offhandedly as I gestured to one of the servants, "do have a bath prepared and fresh clothes ready for our guest. Also, send a messenger to alert the Duke D'Orleans, lest he thinks I kidnapped her again." I chuckled, but Isabella simply stared at me with a frown.
"Yes dear?"
"Where was the pun?" she asked, "I wouldn't be able to think about a joke in such a time-"
"If a wolf or something...and you couldn't bear to think about it," I pointed out. "Nothing bad happened though, deer, so cheer up."
Josette understood, and with that she began to giggle, a hand covering her mouth. Isabella nodded to herself when she finally understood the joke itself, and then lifted her royal scepter in my direction.
A brief chant later, and I found myself doused in freezing water once more.
Seriously, would it kill her to find her funny bone?
Last edited:
- Location
- Keyboard
Maybe not her.
Oh fuck. Sorry. I just woke up and thought you were the same person I was responding to.
It's really more an omission, and a reasonable one. Henry would've come off as a quack until Anne appeared.
EvilPorygon
Cookie Monster
- Location
- a phone
Nice weather today. Waifu with a chance of imouto.
Stranger1950
Worth It
- Location
- Reverse Side of the World
Oh Henry.
So close to finding her funny bone, yet too dense to realize where it is.
To make her funny bone appear, one must not make puns or terrible jokes.
One must make a killing joke.
For she is that type of person, if you get what I mean.
Edit: I just realized something. What happen if Henry really died? How will Isabelle react to that? I believe that the answer to that is Isabelle would think that Henry's death is a horrible joke and its so horrible that its...funny. So funny that she must laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh.
rofl:
Last edited:
GiftOfLove
From the Heart
Shade, I think you might want to get rid of that extra 's' on lip. My poor heart can't take these kinds of slip ups. My laugh was quite choked indeed.
- Location
- Kansas
And then she realizes that not only is their a Gramont in her little Lulu's year, but that shameless Zerbst has been seen hanging around her little girl. When did Tristain academy become such a den of perversion?
trooperist
Cinnamon Roll AI
After recovering from the initial grief she would go out and brutally murder anyone even tangentially involved along with their relatives. Then probably go very insane until she gets assassinated or lapse into a deep depression wondering what the point of life is before maybe suicide.Edit: I just realized something. What happen if Henry really died? How will Isabelle react to that? I believe that the answer to that is Isabelle would think that Henry's death is a horrible joke and its so horrible that its...funny. So funny that she must laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh and laugh.
Alphaleph
The Firstiest of First
Yes it would, because it's her Worry's favorite chewing toy. It's been so thoroughly chewed you can hardly see it as a bone anymore.
Why don't you go ahead and be the first person to call out the Heavy Wind for cross-dressing?
Fabuzer
The Almighty
- Location
- Milan, Italy
Damn it, Henry!
EvilPorygon Fanart - D'awwww Critical Heart Hit
EvilPorygon
Cookie Monster
- Location
- a phone
Duke Henry saying hello to Saito ^
- Location
- Germany
You sure Raven is big enough?
EvilPorygon
Cookie Monster
- Location
- a phone
To be fair, I penned it about a week back. Raven grew more afterwards
Science
If you're reading this, omae wa mo shindeiru.
- Location
- Killeen, TX
Thanks for remembering Henry's hair color.
Duke Henry saying hello to Saito ^
ShineUCrazyStar
Grossly Incandescent
- Location
- Being the Sun
What one would think on first glance yes; but underneath that heavy cloak... skin tight booty short shorts for days.
CaesriusPolybius
Worldgate Mechanic
- Location
- United States. Ish.
To be fair, the majority of her worries were proven true. Out of context, perhaps, but still true.
She doesn't need any more points in disguise. Take enough, and you can hide as a different person by doing no more than taking off your glasses!
... Or, y'know, disguise yourself as a member of the other gender while wearing booty shorts...
*obligatory, nitpicking note that this pun probably wouldn't work in Gallian*