C26 - The Capital

The ensuing day was a whirlwind of activity. We were so busy I didn't have a chance to look at my new skills. The high priestess of Shani came to see me and healed what remained of the damage my body had sustained from the poison. I noticed she also possessed a similar strange mana portal in her chest. I wondered if that was a link to their deity or whatever. Today was Shaniday so the high priestess had a lot to do and didn't remain, spending only a few minutes in the villa to heal me. Once the name of this day was said around me, I figured out each day is named after a deity. I had already heard of Enki and Isfetday so Enki and Isfet must be deities in this world.

Normally after an assassination attempt, I assumed security would be tight with even more guards. However, we did the opposite. The Ducal couple, Anna and I spent most of the day entertaining well-wishers. Most seemed genuinely happy I made it through without an issue. A few of them were not so happy, saying the nice words but their facial expressions showed otherwise.

Once the sixth bell rang, the Ducal couple sighed, weary from the parade of nobles we had just entertained. Selahe, Fazio, and Anna's head maid all looked equally tired having been standing behind us resolutely for the whole day. For dinner, I had a mixture of mashed peas, potatoes, and an unidentified mashed fruit.

Anna said, breaking the silence, "Viscount Herlaug seemed most unhappy that my brother survived the incident." When she said that I tried to flip through my memory at each one we met. He was an older man with gray, thinning hair. He had milky blind eyes. His servant leading him around introduced him as the "Minister of Finance."

The Duke said, "Yes, however, I don't think it was him. Viscount Herlaug was behind a previous failed assassination attempt on little Dam." As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance at Mona, who was busily feeding me. I didn't see it, but I could feel Fazio wince behind me.

Duchess Calo commented, "I cast the Information of the Dead spell but didn't gain anything of use. Whoever used this assassin covered their tracks well."

Anna joked, "Maybe it was the King!" The ducal couple laughed but Fazio and Mona looked uncomfortable. I could sense the pressure of their soul-bound responsibility towards me was setting in. I was barely one year old and was already the target of two assassination attempts. I recognized that the only way forward was to endure and be patient with my development.

After the laughter died down, Anna continued, "I wondered why Fazio and my brother were sleeping in separate rooms? That's not what you did with Svala and me."

The Duchess explained, "Well due to the age difference, it didn't occur to us. Normally the nursery is where the children stay and it's more convenient that way. But looking back, the benefits of rooming a head maid or butler with the child is clear."

The Duke said, "Moving forward, young Fazio and my son will be rooming together." I could hear Fazio sigh in defeat behind me.

I grimaced at this news. It would be hard to practice magic at night now with him in the room. It would be hard to explain away as an accident like I did that one time with Mona. It would also be harder to use the system as it involved hand movements that look strange to others. I realized the necessity of 'discovering' my abilities soon so as to freely practice.

The conversation moved on with the Duchess Calo saying, "It seemed we can count on the Archduchess Sofia Scott as our ally, as well as Baron Adhama. They were both the most pleased with little Dam's survival." Archduchess Sofia was a tall and thick, young woman in her mid-twenties. She was unlike the people in the north of the country, like my mother or the people in the south, like my father. She had bright red, curly hair. Like that of my ancestral homeland in my old life, Ireland. Baron Adhama was an orange tiger beastman with long facial fur forming a beard of sorts.

Anna nodded and replied, "The reason for the Archduchess is obvious, the Minister of War needs internal stability to hold off the Strennians."

The Duke nodded, "Baron Adhama is an ally through our relationship with the High Priestess of Shani. He's a cleric of Sol but after our work with the Temple of Shani, he views us very favorably."

After dinner we retired to our rooms. I laid in my crib until well after the seventh bell, hoping that Fazio was asleep. I opened my skill list to see what skills I had risked my life for.

Basic Dodge. Rank 1. You have an increased chance to dodge damage by 1%.

Basic Poison Resistance. Rank 1. Poison damage taken is reduced by 1%.

While nice, these would only be worth it once they ranked up more. I was thankful everyone came running. And even though it put a damper on my night activities, it was nice knowing that Fazio was in the room and could help call for help if needed. Reluctantly succumbing to sleep, I tossed and turned, dodging nightmares of daggers.