Chapter 166 - 163 - Tension and Coping
Isabella was James' rock for that first confusing week.
There were so many confusing feelings. Betrayal. Happiness at seeing his work tested and succeed spectacularly. Anger that his work was being used by someone he loathed. Anxiety about starting over again in some new person's service, in a new environment. Relief that he now had a Bodyguard whenever he wanted. Excitement at getting a new forge and access to almost any material he wanted, just for the asking.
Surprise that he had more allies than he had originally thought.
Any time he was close to losing control of his emotions, Isabella grounded him. They attended etiquette lessons together, under the tutelage of a Maid named Josie. It was a subtle thing to understand how James was a commoner, but as the Princess' retainer, he stood in some aspects above even members of the lower nobility.
Certainly, no mere Knight could speak to him disrespectfully. It was mildly annoying that Viscounts were roughly the point where he would have to really watch himself, but Josie assured him that he would be kept away from Suero as much as possible.
Castle life was quite a bit nicer and much more relaxed than life had been in the Knight's Order Headquarters, outside the Castle walls. There was a dining hall specifically for retainers, where James could go to eat the same food as nobles. There was also a cafeteria for the servants, where he could go and relax even if the food wasn't quite as refined. He made friends with the staff of both, because it is ever always a good idea to be friends with skilled chefs.
Isabella continued to live in her family's manor, though not for lack of trying to move in with James, which had earned her another scolding.
James had had to put his foot down after that. He couldn't have his beloved getting in trouble on his behalf.
But they spent plenty of time together, during reasonable daylight hours. They attended lessons on jewelry-crafting together. It was mainly for James' sake, but Isabella pushed herself to learn, too, even without a proper Class for it. Although her work was always inferior to what James produced, she had an eye for fashion and style that surpassed his own, so in the end, it was the Enchantress who designed and enchanted each piece, while James was the one who did the forging and etching.
Smith Class Skill [Delicate Metalworking] has been acquired.
…
Smith Class Skill [Delicate Metalworking] has reached level 10.
Smith Class Skill [Minute Inscription] has been acquired.
…
Smith Class Skill [Minute Inscription] has reached level 10.
The Smith also learned the proper use of essence-filled Jewels during this time.
Mages could absorb them to gain new affinities.
Enchanters could incorporate them into enchantments, improving mana conversion efficiency.
Smiths… Smiths could melt them down and add elemental properties to metals.
Together, James and Isabella could incorporate an essence-filled jewel into a piece of jewelry that made use of both improvements. As an example, gold could be imbued with fragments from a properly cut Light Jewel to turn it into White Gold, then that gold could be fashioned into a bracelet with the cut Light Jewel to improve mana conversion efficiency, even for those without the Light affinity, and the entire piece would have a far larger capacity for Light enchantments in general. James and Isabella tested this, producing the following item:
[Appraisal]: Lux-saturated White Gold Diamond (Light Jewel) Bracelet, Quality: Journeyman, Durability: 15/15, Enchantment: Lightspeed Haste—Advanced (130)
Eighty-two percent of theoretical maximum efficiency.
It was returned to them with the following feedback:
"The design of the bracelet is out of fashion, and needs to be made more slender. The enchantment is unwieldy; by the time the wearer knows they need so much Haste, it would likely be too late. Consider [Lightning Reflexes] or a more appropriate enchantment for future pieces."
There was also a note written by the Princess herself: "Make it activate automatically when I need it to."
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
Author's Note: Interested readers are directed to Primer on Linking Enchantments to Skills, a most highly recommended text on the subject, though inscrutable to all but the most skilled Enchanters.
Although the pair groaned, they relished the challenge and applied themselves to it diligently.
James' days settled thusly: in the morning he would wake and work alone. Some days he trained physically, others he spent forging, others he merely sat and reflected on the past. He didn't dwell, but he remembered, and he analyzed.
What had gone wrong?
What could he have done differently?
If he were put in the same situation again, what tool would he want to have?
Jewelry-crafting proved fast and easy, once Isabella provided him with the design and desired enchantment.
After lunch, he would go out on the town, accompanied by his Bodyguard, to spend time with Isabella. They sampled the finest restaurants, and Isabella made a point of showing off her closeness with James in public.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Intimidation] has reached level 12.
James winced.
"Isabella, dear, do you really need to intimidate everyone who so much as frowns in our direction?"
"Yes," Isabella replied forcefully, "I do. I want everyone in the entire city to know exactly who's coming after them if they trifle with you, my love."
James' Bodyguard cleared his throat, and Isabella stopped clinging to James arm in such a way that she was rubbing up against him.
James sighed. "You know if you keep doing that, I'll have to ask for your family to chaperone, right?"
"Hmph!" Isabella looked away. "It wouldn't be a problem if we just married already."
"First of all, it would be a problem if you continued behaving like this in public, even if we were married," James retorted. "Second—"
"Sir," the Bodyguard interrupted, and Isabella twitched and then flared her [Intimidation] indiscriminately. "The area is growing unsafe. Let's move along back to the main street."
"Good idea," James nodded, and extended his arm to escort Isabella, who was fingering the handle of one of her knives. "Come along, my dear."
Isabella frowned. She hadn't been done window shopping in one of the side streets filled with boutiques. "What is this city coming to?" she complained as she laid her hand on James' arm and allowed him to lead her away.
More and more often, her [Danger Sense] was activating as she walked about the city, with or without James, and even in parts of the city that were supposed to be safe. It wasn't like she was walking around Saint Alejandro's district, but now she felt she might as well be. Groups of dirty men and women lurked in the shadows, watching like predators waiting to strike.
She was at the point where she wished they would just try something so she had an excuse to eliminate them.
She could not tolerate anyone threatening her beloved, her James.
The idea of him being hurt again nearly drove her mad with fury.
Knifewielder Class Skill [Bodyguard] has reached level 4.
She had learned the Skill from Grim and Maya, and she was glad that she had. James might complain that she was [Intimidating] everyone who was frowning in their direction, but she wasn't. All those people were looking at him with ill intent, and she wouldn't stand for it.
It was just frustrating that if she struck first, she would be in the wrong!
All she could do was sigh deeply as they returned to the wide open street—the threats fading—and let James spoil her with honeyed words and small treats before dinner.
After dinner, they would study together, train together, or work on jewelry designs together.
James had given up on designing better knives than Isabella. He might know the metal better, but she knew the knife better.
And so the days turned into months, and the months turned into years.
James' workshop expanded, and he filled multiple store-rooms with various crafted items. It was a form of self-therapy, to produce the correct tool that would have solved his problems in the past.
It helped him sleep soundly at night.
The city, on the other hand, continued to grow more dangerous. Public order was more an illusion that everyone pretended to believe in than a fact. Organized crime syndicates formed, and became more brazen about conducting their business where people could see it.
Lady Ruby directed him to take two Bodyguards out beyond the Castle Walls, and he started wearing armor again, too. Just in case.
This inspired Isabella to demand her own armor, which he obliged without complaint, even though the design was quite provocative. At least she could wear something sensible over it. James was eager to find ways to please Isabella, given her growing frustration with the repeated delays to their marriage.
She didn't allow him to see, but he heard from Isabella's father that she spent most mornings burning off frustration by training her Knifewielder Class and Skills.
Tensions continued to rise, and the more they did, the more James found himself working in his smithy. Forging. Etching. Enchanting. Over and over, losing himself in the creative process, trying to ease the vague anxiety that had him on edge.