Chapter 261 – Nothing gets forgotten

Noah, Theressa, Cassandra, Vella and Archduke entered the room that was filled with the laughing voices of Lady Violette, and the girls surrounding her from all sides. Priscilla and Brianna were sitting on the same couch with her, while Dryad sisters stood behind them all five engaged in heated conversation.

The room was a kind of workshop, where several half completed dresses hung on training display mannequins that allowed one to change the figure so as to see how dress would fit people of different complexions, that weavers used for training and prefitting preparations.

The shelves around the room were filled with books about knots, sewing and weaving techniques, picture books with dresses, some of which predated the Kingdom itself. No museum had a better depiction of sewing and clothes evolution throughout history than the Threadweaver mansion workshop. Although being fitted better than any weaver workshop in the world there were no sewing kits or devices for weaving as arachnas only needed their spider legs to weave something far more intricate than any device could achieve.

In the center of the room stood a tea table surrounded by the couches for the guests to rest when the tedious fitting process tires them. In the past almost every highest rank of the noble family visited this room when Theressa still was making her legendary dresses, but in recent years it was only used by her daughters to train their dress making and became quite haphazard and chaotic. Dryads made an effort to clean it as well as they could when they first came to the mansion, but without the knowing what could be thrown out and what not, they could hardly make it look any better, so the room still had a kind of unkept state, with all sort of things laying about in piles and chaotic working order in which Brianna and Priscilla left it after their last training. Luckily, the guests seemed to be fine with it.

Entering the room Noah heard the girls almost squealing from happiness as they suggested one or the other style of a dress they found in the picture books they held, comparing it with another book laying on the tea table in front of them, clearly having a lot of fun.

The prince and Archduke’s grandson, however, were sitting on the couch across from them on the other side of the table filled with dozens of books now laying sporadically around it, listing through several picture books depicting men’s fashion with bored faces.

Lord Belmont sat on a couch at the side watching the young people with a magnanimous elderly smile, calmly drinking his tea that one of the dryads served to everyone. However, his smile instantly froze as he saw the newcomers enter through the door. With his keen senses he could pick the strange atmosphere of the group, guessing something was about to happen.

His guess has quickly been confirmed as he saw Archduke signaling his knights, who stood this entire time silently at attention at the corners of the room, to leave the room.

Without a word knights calmly walked out without a hesitation.

Lord Belmont glanced at the only knight who did not move from the spot, instead gazing at him questioningly. Lord Belmont's eyes slid to the side giving his loyal subordinate a silent order. The knight calmly moved closer to the prince scanning the surroundings, ready to protect the young man from any threat.

The two young men looked strangely at the Archduke whose face was devoid of any emotions as he walked through the room, stopping right behind his grandson and placing his hand on his shoulder.

The door silently closed as the knights left the room and a moment of silence quickly came as now everyone in the room found the situation quite strange and even tense.

Noah and Theressa walked to the table and Noah introduced himself to the prince, apologizing for his impolite first meeting. The prince assured him that it was fine, although Noah still saw a bit of comprehensiveness in the young man’s eyes as he watched him.

After introducing to the prince Noah was supposed to greet the Archduke’s grandson however, Noah simply ignored him turning to the side and walking up to his fiance Lady Fertile introducing himself to her with all the etiquette before nonchalantly sitting on the couch near her, which surprised her as she saw Brianna suddenly stand up without a single word, giving up her spot on the couch to Noah, as if they somehow conversed without her knowing.

Carl's eyebrows creased as he looked at the impudent count that not only ignored him clearly being impolite, but even sat near his fiance so unceremoniously. Being a man several ranks below both him and even his fiance, this man was allowing himself too much.

“Who does he think he is?” Carl thought and was about to move forward to chide the impudent guy, but felt the weight of his grandfather's hand keeping him in place as if telling him not to do anything.

Carl gazed back at his father questioningly but his grandfather just looked straight at the Count without paying his grandson any attention.

The prince, seeing all that, calmly picked up his tea cup and gazed at Lord Belmont trying to see his disposition, the man met his eyes and gave him a quick reassuring smile. The same moment a quiet clang of a metal made by Lord Belmont's knight from behind him told him that as long as he was in this room he would not let any harm befall the member of the Royal family.

“Have you found any dress style that has piqued your interest, my dear?” Asked Theressa, watching Lady Fertille with a kind smile as if the tension in the room was entirely unnoticeable to her.

“Umm… Yes, your excelency.” Said Lady Violette with an uncomfortable voice, as she sensed something going on, but not sure who to rely on in this situation. So far Threadweaver's family had been very kind to her, and even now as the Duchess spoke to her, her daughter Priscilla sitting on the right patted her hand as if telling her everything's fine and calming her down with a kind smile.

“Lady Priscilla and Lady Brianna have shown me a few wonderful designs,” said Lady Violette pointing at a few opened picture books on the table,  “They seem to know my taste better than me, although some of them, while indeed very beautiful, are too risky for me. After all, my, umm… state would be quite obvious by the time we have a ceremony.” She added, her last words almost a whisper as she felt embarrassed to admit her extramarital pregnancy.

“Leave that problem to us, dear.” Said Theressa sitting down at her side as Priscilla stood up to give up her spot, the same way Brianna did earlier. “We will make sure you look gorgeous no matter what you choose to wear.” Theressa added in a motherly caring voice, taking her by the hand and patting her wrist gently in a reassuring manner, as if saying there was no need to feel ashamed of it.

“Although, I notice that all the choices my daughters have presented you with are quite modern and novel. Have you checked more conservative styles? It may be possible that the ceremony would have to be in a more reserved or traditional style. Conservative dress would look better in that case.” Theressa said thoughtfully, throwing a look at the picture books.

“Umm, you think a more traditional style would be better?” Asked Lady Violette, sadness tinging her voice

The traditional marriage ceremony was an archaic way, from the time when young women in noble families were still like merchandise. Instead of coming of age balls like now, back then families participated in the ceremonies to show off their family women to potential bidders like they would show a well bred mare before sale. Women had no say in who to marry, often being sold for the most profit and living a miserable life with a person they did not love.

The wedding itself back then was tedious and boring, accompanied by a series of ceremonies that made newlyweds more exhausted and devastated by the end of it than happy. The ceremony itself was less colorful and more reserved, making an emphasis on ancestral piety, familial respect and duty of the nobles, rather than the happiness of the young people.

Times have changed and with the women's right to level up their systems and be equal members of society, making choices on who to date or marry the wedding ceremonies also changed, becoming filled with banquets and lots of fun for the newlyweds and guests, rather than boring ceremonies.

Mostly none had performed traditional ceremony now, except for those so-called “traditional families”, ruled by archaic old zealots of conservatism, that lived to see the previous King grow up as a baby and die of old age, although the present King had more than a century behind his back already.

As high-leveled people lived quite a lot longer, it was common for old patriarchs of the family to step down from power at some point to “let the new wind” into the family rule, leaving the family matters to younger generation, while dedicating their own time to achieving greater strength and levels and support the family from the shadow, becoming the Guardian of the family. This allowed the family to change and advance with every generation, following the tendencies of the world.

However, not all followed that path and kept on clinging to power within the family becoming a small tyrant, unknowingly becoming more detrimental to the family than useful. In most cases such families failed to follow tendencies as their patriarch and ruler would be bent on following old rules and conservative views. With time these families would fall behind in business and knowledge so much that the power of the High-leveled individual is the only thing that would hold it afloat and as soon as that patriarch finally died, the family would have no foundation under it, quickly collapsing and ceasing to exist.

As the kingdom did not interfere with family matters it was inevitable that even in times when women regained their rights, these “traditional families” still continued to practice arranged marriages with all the traditional ceremonies.

Although these arranged marriages still existed, it was at least more to the degree of marrying a peer from an equal family for producing pure blooded noble rank kids, or to insure the talent or special systems had a higher chance recurring within the family, rather than simply marrying a young girl to any perverted old man that paid enough to have her as it was often done in the past, when women simply were a commodity.

Both her Fertile family and Archduke’s family were known to not be such ardent traditionalists, long since changing to a more modern ceremony style, following different values, so she had not thought about it until now.

However, now that Duchess Threadweaver mentioned it, Lady Violette felt she may have been right suggesting it, as this kind of tradition would be more appealing in the eyes of old and powerful families who would attend the ceremony, calming the displeasure of knowing of her extramarital pregnancy. This ceremony would bring her fiance honor and make it seem as if he is a responsible man that puts duty, tradition and honor above his own wishes.

She would of course stay the same slut in the eyes of old geezers as nothing now would wash away the shame she brought to her family. But at least her Carl would not be looked down on. She wanted a fun, beautiful ceremony that would bring good, happy memories, but if it was for the sake of her fiance she was content having an arduous, exhausting and belittling to the women, traditional ceremony too. After all, it was just a ceremony. Once the guests were away, they could be a happy family the way they wished.

“That is not what I am suggesting, dear. What I want to say is that everything would depend on the mood of the event. If there is no happiness on either of the newlyweds faces, the guest would immediately pick that strangeness and it would spread a lot of displeasing rumors. Traditional ceremonies are more reserved so it is quite common for newlyweds to feel exhausted and tired and not smile. Besides the women wear a cloth hiding face most of the ceremony just to hide the girls unhappy or crying face. With this time of dress no one would pick any strangeness in the moods of newlyweds.” Explained Theressa making Lady Violette raise her eyebrow questioningly. She looked at her fiance that she still loved as before and knew he felt the same, although her pregnancy sped up the process, but they loved each other and intended to have marriage anyways, so Duchess words seemed strange. Why would she be unhappy to marry her beloved man?

“That is merely another choice that I would like to remind you of. After all, the choice of canceling the ceremony in your state is nonexistent. Your Fertille family has already lost much face as you understand, the marriage would save some of it, but not clear it entirely. You must know your family's special power. For centuries it was sought by other families without any reprimand or restraints from a royal family because your family was known to be trusted and honorable. The Fertille family has never misused this power for their own benefit. For generation your family stayed neutral and impartial, only caring for its internal matters.” As Theressa spoke the young woman’s mood sank, as she watched down with shame tainting her wet with tears eyes.

“This situation however, makes people wonder. Has the family motto changed under your fathers rule? Did he awaken an ambition, would he now take sides, would he press on political matters using the power of your family as leverage. In people’s view, not only did your father get an Earldom but immediately used his daughter to tie himself up to an Archduke’s family. Which makes his long term partners now look at him with wariness and I am sure some of the branch families already felt a drawback, as deals or other arrangements had been pushed back by wary lower noble families. Your father is now in the shaky situation that I doubt he feels happy about, as I can’t see any of your family members accompany you here today. In a way it is your family’s way of drawing line as you understand.” Lady Violette nodded her head as a tear flowed down her cheek while Theressa spoke.

“The Archduke’s family is also in a peculiar situation, as breaking off this marriage would throw too long a shadow on them, damaging their honor and credibility. Too much honor is at stake in this matter and no matter what circumstances predate it, it can not be turned back or avoided, dear. This marriage will happen no matter what. No matter the circumstance it can not be canceled anymore.”

“C…cancelling? What do you mean? Why would we want to…” Exclaimed Carl but felt his fathers grip tighten to almost painful degree, pulling him once again back to his seat. He now looked at his grandfather with confusion and anger.

“You see honey, you are my guest, sworn safety under my roof on the piece code of a host. An oath I am not allowed to break, and if I find any trace of danger that threatens you I am bound to act to prevent it, even if it would hurt your feelings, dear. I am sorry but we need to know the truth.” Continued her speech Theressa, ignoring the short outburst of the young man across the table.

“What truth?” Asked Lady Violette looking around uncomfortably.

“We need to know whether you are being forced or manipulated to be this young man's lover with a mind magic?” Said Theressa.

“What the fuck?! Enough of this shit!” Exclaimed Carl suddenly jerking forward in anger, but his grandfather's unbreakable grip did not just hold him back, it pushed him down like an anvil forcing him to sit still.

“Grampa! What are you doing? Are you going to let our family name be tarnished like that…” His grandson asked, looking at his grandfather in shock.

“Be silent. We are in the presence of his excellency Royal Investigator.” Said Archduke. “Depending on the events of the next few minutes, anything you say from now on may be used to harm our family. If you are innocent I will legally be allowed to punish anyone who dared to tarnish the honor of our family. But for now just sit still.”

Lord Belmont raised an eyebrow questioningly at the Duchess' words, putting down his tea cup. His eyes shone in pale blue light, as he glanced at Lady Violette, but just as before he had not seen any issues about her, which made his eyebrows crease. He did not make a deep check with his spirit senses as it would have been rude to do without permission, but his quick check with spirit gaze showed no abnormality. Where was this confidence coming from to make such an accusation all of a sudden? And why did Archduke act so reserved? Lord Belmont’s eyes skipped to Noah as he studied the young man. It was after Archduke had a private moment with the Duchess and this young man that this situation developed. Could this young man, in that quick moment in the hall have noticed something even his eyes did not let him see?

“Grandather…” said Carl looking at Archduke with wide eyes. “I would never… you know that.” The grip on his shoulder increased but for the first time since entering the room Archduke looked his grandson in the eyes and nodded to him. “That is what I believe. But for now you must sit and be silent.” He said in a more gentle, almost pleading, voice.

“Wha…what are you talking about?” Exclaimed Lady Violette, jerking her hand away from Tessa’s grip, staring at her in fear.

“I ask for your forgiveness if it hurts Lady Fertille.” Said Noah putting his hand to her head from behind, surprising the woman with his sudden touch. But before she could do something a golden white light flashes around her, filling her brain with warmth that quickly turned into scalding heat, bringing her the strongest head pain she ever felt.

“Nothing gets forgotten.” She heard a voice whisper in her mind before she screamed, unable to withstand the pain anymore.

Noah took his hand away grimassing as he remembered the feeling from using that skill on himself back when he just awakened his system. He did not use the skill since, almost forgetting its existance until he thought on how to prove his words to Archduke.

This skill allowed him to restore any memory. And in theory if someone used the mind magic or hypnosis on the girl, she would have been aware of it, but her memory would either be supressed or erased with another skill or magic. With this skill, Noah would not be able to break the mind magic, but would allow the person subjected to it, remeber that it has been used on him allowing him to resist it to some degree.

The pain inside Lady Violettes head dissipated just as quickly as it came, when Noah let go of her, leaving only a throbbing pressure in her temples.

The girl breathed heavily as everyone watched her intently. Only her fiance struggled in his grandfather's grip, with a face full of anger as if ready to hurl at Noah.

“What are you doing? Let go of her, you son of a bitch!” He shouted as his grandfather held him down.

“I will ask you, one more time, dear.” Said Theressa gently, putting a hand on Lady Violette’s shoulder. “Have you been forced into a relationship with this young man?”

The girl's eyes widened as memories flowed into her mind.

“Oh my God, what have I done?!” Exclaimed the girl as tears streamed down her eyes. “NO! What have I done?” She wailed, covering her face with hands and breaking into crying, leaving everyone stunned.

Noah looked at the Archduke seeing grim shadow paint his expression.

There was no doubt. The girl really was manipulated with mind magic.