Page 33 of I Ran Away to Evil
They entered the main castle, and Keith paused to look at her. He asked her directly, “Why?”
“It’s St. Veralyn’s Day—”
“If you are worried about the war, Ria,” Keith tried another one of the nicknames he’d been contemplating for days, and he thought it actually suited her very well. Since he had cut her off, he continued. “I apologize for interrupting, but if you’re worrying about your father’s threats, then don’t. He has been threatening war since before you came here, and I have been planning for it since I took over the kingdom at sixteen. We are ready for an attack.”
“No, no.” Henrietta shook her head. “That’s not what I was going to say.”
They went through the common room, continuing toward his office.
“Then, again, I’m sorry I cut you off,” Keith apologized. “Why can’t you officially immigrate to Nilheim?”
Henrietta looked apologetically up at Keith. “Because I’m still eighteen until the day after St. Veralyn’s Day. Registration for Drendil emigration starts at age nineteen or with confirmation from a guardian. I can’t request a transfer of tax records until I come of age.” A touch of hope filled her voice. “I could fill out the immigration forms today … but if I wait until then, I can submit them legally.”
“So, what I’m hearing,” Keith said, “is that it’s not ano; it’s anot yet.”
“Yes.”
If all they had to do was withstand a potential invasion and celebrate her birthday, he could wait.
He could also prepare.
Keith sent Henrietta out after she’d been helping in the office for a few hours, but then broke his own rule and stayed behind. He would need to finish as much paperwork as he could if he was going to create more golems for a war.
He was finishing up when Tulith appeared. She was on an evening shift, so this was the first he’d seen of her today.
“Master, there was a late-night Potts’s Cast. I’ve done as you instructed and hired sssomeone to record them all for you.”
Keith leaned back in his chair. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. “What did it say?”
Tulith pulled out a small recording Cast Crystal he’d authorized for this purpose.
Hello, everyone, this is Madame Potts.
It’s a little late, but I hope you’ll excuse me.
The Peldeep adventuring guildmaster of Vitol stumbled upon a new dungeon around Thia Falls and is trapped on the sixth floor. He will die in nine days if rescue fails.
Thank you, this is Madame Potts signing out.
“Thank you, Tulith.” Keith fiddled with the crystal in his hand. “Has anyone ever figured out who Madame Potts is?”
“No, but it’s assumed she must be from North Sumbria,” Tulith explained. “Sssince the Archwizard Jeffrey who created the Crystal-Cast Crystalsss lived there, it is thought that she found his Master Crystal and that is how she’s making these announcementsss.”
“Alright.” Keith made a note to ask Grand Duchess Calisto when he went to this year’s Spring Ball. He’d only gone once before, shortly after his coming of age, and he wasn’t fond of the marriage-market aspect to the whole thing. Hopefully he could hide behind Henrietta’s skirts this time. That was, if she chose to wear skirts. He should ask her what she was planning to wear so they didn’t clash.
Keith knew he was going to be in his workroom late, so he dismissed Tulith early. She and Chikli were off the rest of the week, and there was no sense in keeping her late.
Then he got to work on an alligator-dog construct three times the normal size. Giant-sized creations were so much better.
CHAPTER 21
Sorry, Floofpoof Lv 6
Henrietta
After my letter arrived in Drendil, I was sure my parents had a lot to say and scream about. I feared my father would march the army into Nilheim as soon as he could muster the troops, but days went by with no word.
At least no word of anarmy. If my parents had replied to my letter, then I was blissfully ignorant, and Keith showed no sign that he’d received any correspondence.
