ailaaurie posts
Aila's Ramblings - 9/28/23
š¢ BREAK: October 4-14, 2023I am out of the country on a covid-postponed trip to celebrate my mom being cancer free. :) š The Wicked House of Caroline šIt will be posted to Royal Road when I get back on October 16th. As we're a good 20 chapters ahead, I will post one chapter every day for every business day...
TWHoC: Chapter 16 - Worst Meal of My Life
As long as she could remember, water had been a part of her life. Her father was the magistrate of a seaside town on the capital island of the West Islands. Her mother was a sailor and they had brought her to be baptized in the sea before she could walk. She could swim at two and sail at six. Both sides of her family h...
TWHoC: Chapter 15 - I Can't Die Yet
A sudden pain shot through her shoulder as her body bounced from one side of the carriage to the other. If it werenāt for the cushion wrapped around her, she was afraid that there could be broken bones instead of just bruises. However, her future injuries if she survived this attempt on her life werenāt what was go...
TWHoC: Chapter 14 - Pray to Whatever Gods You Believe In That I Don't Survive
āYou exiled her to the Forbidden Valley?ā The Third Consortās eyes were large, and Iris also couldnāt help but look at Luther with surprise as he took a seat on a large, plush chair in the parlor. His eyes were red and his lips pulled into a tight frown as his hands rested on the arms of the chair and clawed in...
TWHoC: Chapter 13 - You Really Dodged an Arrow
From the wide-eyed, almost slack jawed fallen expression on Lutherās pale face, it was obvious that he never expected her to respond. He stood in place, frozen for a moment as the Grand Hall went so quiet that Beks could hear Lutherās sharp inhale.His eyes crinkled up as his voice shook. āWhat...what did you say?...
TWHoC: Chapter 12 - Once the Coronation is Over, I'm Leaving
āCollapsing was your only option? Was it too much trouble to fake another attack?ā Deo held his sister across his arms and brought her into her room after returning from town to find her being carried out of the Gilded Palace by one of the royal guards.He shoved the pastries heād bought for her to a servant, and ...
TWHoC: Chapter 11 - Useless Piece of...
Royal guards were yelling all around her, and spread out along the perimeter of the Gilded Palace. Two doctors rushed in along with their attendants to get to Chamberlain Wilton, now laying on the floor, his face pale and glassy eyes looking up at the carved wooden beams.Beks fell back against one of the walls a little...
TWHoC: Chapter 10 - Burn the Kingdom to the Ground
Despite her position, Beks didnāt recall ever taking such a big risk in her life.From the start, her life had been planned and controlled by others. Everything she did was prepared for her and in a controlled environment. And while she did so many things by herself, she had done so after extensive research and counse...
TWHoC: Chapter 9 - Everyone is Terrible
The nobles were restless.There was no way to hide the fact that Laurence had an accident and was in a coma, and Beks had a feeling it would get out even if they tried to hide it, so at the next court, she arrived with several doctors and Chamberlain Wilton to inform the court that the King was unable to rule.She then p...
TWHoC: Chapter 8 - It is Best You Pray That He Does
As per her admittedly slightly overbearing instructions, Laurence completed his duties without approaching the river. Beks was on guard the entire time, watching him as he and Lady Eleanor thanked the priest and then began a slow procession back to the carriage, stopping every step or two in order to greet those who ha...
TWHoC: Chapter 7 - They Never Should've
Two major things consumed her time. The first being the Inundation Blessing. While sheād assisted in planning behind the scenes in the past, it would be her first time attending. The half dayās travel to the major river closest to Kadmium would require a significant entourage to escort the future king and other roy...
TWHoC: Chapter 6 - It is Water
āThere are some charities that help educate children with basic reading and counting that I took an interest to,ā Beks had told Laurence in preparation for asking to leave the palace. It wasnāt a lie and philanthropic project were common for nobles to take an interest in. Even Luther supported a local orphanage w...
TWHoC: Chapter 5 - She'd Paid a Life
āSheās obviously insane.āāBrother, you canāt say that.ā Beks sat back on the sofa in Laurenceās office as he paced in front of his desk, scowling. Beside her, Lady Eleanor had a comforting arm around her and was gently stroking the side of her head, as if worried that the new oracleās words had upset Be...
TWHoC: Chapter 4 - Mistress of Nexus
āThereās a what?ā Her foster brotherās voice was laced with disbelief and Beks slowed her movements placing some bread on to a napkin to bring back to feed the birds. She looked from Laurence at the head of the table to Luther across from her.Luther nodded his head, excited. āA new oracle at the Great Temple!...
TWHoC: Chapter 3 - After You Read These Letters, Burn Them
She opened the container of birdseed and sprinkled a bit on her windowsill, then tore apart a piece of bread she brought back from breakfast for the larger birds. Once there looked to be enough, Beks closed the window and put the container away. She waited for a moment, looking out the window for any sign of birds.She ...
The Wicked House of Caroline: Chapter 2 - He Wouldn't Allow Himself to Die so Easily
It was something they had been preparing for, as it was obvious a few weeks earlier that the Queen would not recover from her illness. Despite all her attempts to brainwash herself, and the Queen, into believing that she would indeed recover, Beks knew that foster mother would die.Every day, the Queen wasted away littl...
Aila's Ramblings - 7/13/23 - BREAK TIME
š£ Main News: š£BREAK: No update next two weeks; I am resting and I'm afraid (actual) work calls. T_TScheduled Future Break: First Two Weeks of OCTOBER (Trying to schedule breaks.)⨠NEW STORY Alert! āØMy next brain dribble has been released as 2 chapters on the ALL the Coins tier (as of 10PM PST as usual). I...
The Wicked House of Caroline: Chapter 1 - Dawn in Her Hair
āWhen was the territory now known as Sagittate of Kadmus put under the control of the Carolines?ā The old womanās voice sounded over the crackling of the fire meant to keep the study room warm. Thick stone walls didnāt do much to keep out the cold, so thick rugs woven with the wool from long-haired tundra goats...
Love Interest End Story: Tom - Part II
He would be lying to himself if he werenāt the least bit insulted by what the soldiers escorting the prisoner transport wagon were whispering amongst themselves. They thought he was crazy.They just didnāt understand. They didnāt know what he did.āMr. Fields, Hart, here is your dinner. Please use this clean wate...
Love Interest End Story: Tom - Part I
āI am scheduled to speak to her doctor this afternoon, sir.ā It was the same conversation that theyād had for years.āI hope the results continue to be positive. I just want her to get better.āExcept this time, they were waiting for actual progression on her diagnosis. āHer condition has been improving this ...
Love Interest End Story: Fabian - Part II
In the city, nothing was ever completely dark a
Love Interest End Story: Fabian - Part I
Every year, there were only a handful of knights who were able to complete the grueling four-year training regimen to become a first-tier imperial knight. If he had followed his original trajectory, he wouldāve been amongst that handful and take his place at the side of an imperial family member with vows to protect ...
Love Interest End Stories: Gideon - Part II
āIām afraid heās been very busy lately. The Chamber has come to session and this is the time of the year when they get the most done,ā Axton told him as he flipped over a thick notebook filled with notes. āTo try to get in as much as possible, Piersā days have started earlier.āGideonās heart fell, but h...
Love Interest End Story: Gideon - Part I
The salty sea spray hit his face and he stood at the bow of the naval ship, looking at the horizon in the distance. He could see two watchtowers protruding up, signaling the mouth of the delta. He took a deep breath to quell his excitement. It had been so long since heād been home.Not that Viclya was his home, techni...
Love Interest End Stories: Montan - Part II
āAncient artifacts and buildings always pose a challenge, even to the best of us,ā Constantine said from the comcry as Montan carried a bucket and three water canisters towards the spring. There were two springs that provided water for site one, and both were across the site from the temple.Professor Hailan was dep...
Love Interest End Story: Montan - Part I
It was a sunny, but chilly day, and the breeze coming off the water didnāt make it any better. On the private dock of his godsisterās island, where a large manor was nearing completion, the āfastest ship in the empireā was waiting to take them to where they'd be for the next few months.For his godsister, th...
Love Interest End Story: Dimitri - Part II
He thought that no one noticed, as he lowered h
Love Interest End Story: Dimitri - Part I
He stood in front of the mirror and took a deep breath as he studied the man looking back at him. His dark hair was neatly combed, his face was washed and bright, despite being so nervous the night before that he barely got any sleep. His clothes were clean and pressed.It was the first time heād attended a school wit...
Summer Jams 4: Viclya - Part II
āWhat are children doing here?ā The thin man on the ground didnāt hide his confusion. The other man looked just as confused and before they could ask any more questions, Maeve moved.āLess talk! More stab!ā Maeve jumped forward, almost over Ava and her cousins, in order to put herself between them. The two men...
Summer Jams 4: Viclya - Part I
āThere are so many things to do in Viclya and you all choose to lay there, like seals basking in the sun.ā Tori reached the crescent shaped beach past the tents and saw her visiting cousin looming over the row of towels beneath sunshades. Andy had an unimpressed look on his face as he looked at the over half dozen ...