Magically Altered
POV: Alexandra
I was relieved to hear that I didn’t have to do the greetings for the King’s envoy. Lucien was clear that the two envoys would be from the Queen’s court. With that in mind, I practiced my curtsy so that I wouldn’t insult the envoys. I found it odd that Lucien came away with a book from my grandfather since he never lent out his books. He would even always insist that I read his books in the study so that they wouldn’t be lost in my room. I had to tell him that my room was clean and impeccable but he still insisted. This being weird behavior from my grandfather, I had decided to ask him after my curtsy practice that my mother had still insisted on even though I was flawless during my last session with her. I rolled my eyes at the thought of hearing her nag me relentlessly about not practicing and messing it up during our last session before the reception.
I had time before classes were to start for the day to track down my grandfather (not that it was hard) and grill him on the book. I ran down the stairs and heard behind me at the top of the stairs, “Al-ex-an-dra Rose, ladies do not run down the stairs like uncultured heathens. Gracefully!” I slowed down and rolled my eyes for the second time today and then turned to her, “Sorry Mother. I shall endeavor to live up to your standards.” She huffed, “Don’t think I don’t know when you’re being sarcastic, child. Mind your manners.” I sighed, “Yes, Mother. I understand.” I really had no time to get into a war with her this morning so I resigned myself to agree with her. I walked down the last three steps gracefully as requested. I heard her footsteps behind me as I turned right to go to the study. She asked, “Are you going to see your father? Or grandfather?” I replied, “Grandfather.” She nodded, “Ah, then you are probably right to head there. Can you ask him to eat breakfast today? He was so engrossed in his reading that he missed it. At his age, he really should be thinking of his health a bit more.” I nodded, “I will, Mother.” She smiled at me satisfied that I will indeed relay the information then walked off to the left towards the dining room.
I got to the door and knocked, “You may enter.” I opened the door and smiled at him, “Good morning, Gramps.” He looked up from the book he was reading and smiled, “Little rose, what brings you here this morning? Shouldn’t you be off to school?” I walked into the sitting area and sat down next to him on the settee, “I am but I had two purposes here. One is a question and the other I will tell you once you answer the question if you are okay with that.” He placed a bookmark that I had made for him in the fourth grade into the book and closed it. He placed the book in his lap and tucked his hands around the spine, “Sure, go ahead.” I cleared my throat, “So I saw Lucien leave with a book. I’m wondering why you would lend him a book.” He chuckled, “Is that all? You’re a nosy one, aren’t you?” I shrugged, “Just curious since you’re always so cautious about where your books go.” He replied, “No, no. He didn’t borrow that book from me. I gave him an extra copy. It was a book on Norse Gods.” I remembered that Loki was one of the Norse Gods and with Lucien in love with me, it made sense that he would want any and all information on the God.
I heard a voice in my head at the thought I was having, “On that note, I will be appearing before you and Father. Don’t be alarmed.” I sighed, “I’m always alarmed when you speak to my mind out of the blue, Mordred.” My grandfather leaned forward, “Mordred?” I waved my arm and a portal opened right where I waved it. Out stepped Mordred, dressed in his trademark three-piece suit complete with a duster jacket and holding a cane. He bowed at my grandfather, “Good morning. I bring you good tidings. I have come to ask about that very book you were just speaking of.” My grandfather waved at the settee, “Please be seated.” I shifted to the side to allow him to sit next to grandfather. He leaned his elbows on his knees, “It appears that the book you gave His Majesty was magically altered. According to Grand Pretre, it shows the wrong information on his weaknesses.” My grandfather pulled out the book in his lap, “Here’s my copy. Let me ask, what did it say?” Mordred replied, “It said his weakness was his object of desire.” Mordred looked at me and then looked back at my grandfather. My grandfather opened the book and read out loud, “Weakness: Object of desire. I wonder if my book is also magically altered. I bought both books the same day at the Ink and Pot Bookstore.” Mordred grunted, “I feared that it would be that place, I’m afraid that I cannot continue my part of this investigation. As you know, I was a philanderer in my youth and messed with that shop owner’s daughter. I was caught with her and he banned me from going there. I don’t imagine that the ban has been lifted.”
I sighed, “And this philandering? Is this something that got you exiled as well?” He sheepishly replied, “It might have been but that secret is mine for now until I am ready to reveal it.” My grandfather stated frankly, “I never knew why it was that King Thierry exiled you either.” He cleared his throat, “We’re not talking about me right now, more pressing matters and all that. I need to find someone to go investigate the shop now.” I shrugged, “Why not just ask Whisperia?” He shook his head, “I’m sure you’re aware of what an introvert is and Myers-Briggs, right?” I nodded, “Yes, personality types. What of it?” He sighed, “She’s an INFJ to the extreme. People who aren’t close friends or family makes her extremely uncomfortable. To ask this of her would be extremely monumental.” We all heard my mother’s voice behind us, “First, Alexandra needs to go to class.” She waved in Derek and Jess. Jess was holding a banana nut muffin and handed it to me, “I figured you needed something for breakfast since you didn’t show up there.” I thanked her and we walked towards the passage. Grandfather called out, “You said you had two purposes. Before you go, what was your other purpose?” I looked over at my mother, “Mother wanted me to tell you to make sure you ate. I imagine she’s here to come get you.”
She smiled and nodded, “Good to know my message would have been delivered. That all being said, I can carry out this errand for you, Mordred. I just have to know what it is that you need exactly.” He puffed out some air, “Do you have water or wind magic?” She shook her hair, “Afraid not, I’m strictly a fire magic-user.” He shook his head, “It won’t do, I need someone proficient in either area.” Derek spoke up, “Excuse me, Mr. Mordred, sir. I can do water magic quite proficiently.” He heaved a heavy sigh of relief, “Oh thank the Gods that I won’t have to ask that short little gnat we call Dorothea. Young man, you have saved me from a headache and an afternoon of day drinking. Bless you.” Derek laughed, “She’s not THAT bad now. Is she?” Mordred rolled his eyes, “When you’ve known her for as long as I have, she wouldn’t be so easy to get along with. I don’t know if she gives anyone a harder time than me. I interjected, “She seems to give His Highness a pretty hard time too.” He gasped, “Her nerve knows no bounds. She even dishes it out to a Prince. The stones on that Lilliputian!” I laughed at the way he described her characteristic stature. My mother dramatically cleared her throat and gave me a pointed look at my outburst, I shrank, “Sorry, Mother, for my rather rude outburst.” She nodded, “So what is it you need young Derek to do for you?” Mordred waved, “Oh I know they need to be off soon so I will be brief. I need you to create a potion and somehow give it to the shopkeep. Mind you it has to be the one that sold the books to Father.” Grandfather spoke up, “It was Veireesa.” Mordred choked on the air and my grandfather patted his back, “Good Heavens, what is the matter with you?” Mordred blushed, “Veiressa was the very same maiden that I seduced that got me banned from Ink and Pot Bookstore.” Derek chuckled, “Way to go, Mordred.” Mordred shook his head, “Young man, messing with women you don’t intend to wed is never a good idea. It just ends up pissing off their fathers and you get kicked out and banned from places. I’ll speak on that another time though. For now, you need to make the potion and slip it to Veiressa somehow.” Derek shrugged, “What if I don’t know how to make the potion?” Mordred smiled, “It’s simple, ask Dorothea to teach you.”
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