[Bluffmore House] A Royal Visit

[Zakyyr Angus-Moonoak]

It was one of the last sunny days to bless the Lands Flaventian and citizens and villagers across the Empress' demesne were actively involved in the preparation of winter pickles (and those blessed by Bous himself tasty beverages). Bluffmore House was as empty as it had been for years now, with the last time it being occupied long passed when the then Marquis and Marquise of Klaasiya flew away and arrived in their demesne for the first time as Tsar and Tsarina. In spite of that, the royal residence was maintained in perfect condition, thanks to Royal funding, as if someone of the highest rank was living there on a daily basis. The staff, still employed, were no longer accustomed to delivering on the constant wishes, and whims, of Zakyyr - and many of those employed more recently had never even seen the Tsar.

But today was different - and no, His Royal Majesty was not paying a visit. But his sister, the Vidame of Borders Bay, was and she had arrived two days ago. At the age of 9, she was nothing like a kid full of energy, climbing up and down the residence's stairs, running around the house, perhaps even breaking some precious presents the Lord and Lady of Bluffmore had received from the local population. From day one, apart from the evening protocol dinner with prominent locals, Her Royal Highness had locked herself in the House's library and kept reading, and reading, and reading... Unlike Zakyyr, who has passionately in love with jewellery, richness, demonstration of power and authority and all other sorts royal, Naya had little to no interest in them.

"Too fictional, classy and not particularly useful" she called the Tsar's Bluffmore collection. "And a library too small, too lacking of sufficient knowledge for the mind, too unfit for its purpose" the Vidame told Bluffmore's Housekeeper, Mrs Meelvera. "I am afraid we have obtained no permission to change anything inside or outside Bluffmore House, Lady Naya. But I am sure His Royal Majesty would not mind you importing relevant books from Borders City" she wisely advised.

No one knew the reason for Naya's spontaneous decision to move to Bluffmore House, where she was away from her brother and his wife, from her father, and only geographically closer to Gwyneth. Judging from the amount of pickles Zakyyr had requested to be prepared at Bluffmore, Naya was expected to remain there for at least ten years... or, lets just pragmatically assume for all the winter.