"Livia," she turned towards me, her eyes as calm as ever. "Want to go see if my earlier attempts at correcting terrible store employee behavior actually worked?" My grin was cunning, like a fox on the hunt.
Her expression didn't change at first, but then I saw that faintest flicker in her eyes with an obvious twitch on the corner of her mouth. Then came a smile she was trying to hold back, undeniably so.
"You really do enjoy terrorizing people," her head shaking.
I laughed, completely unbothered by her accusations. "It's for a good cause," I insisted. "Besides, Noah left me some appearance changers to do with as I please."
Livia gave a slow nod, "The illusion enchantments."
"Exactly," I wiggled my brows. "We can look like commoners, go out, blend in, and have a little fun in some shops. See if anyone treats us like trash and maybe give a few shopkeepers a heart attack when they realize who we are."
She, of course, sighed like it was beneath her to act this way, but I knew she also had fun messing with these people last time.
"Hey… What if we run into a cute guy?" My smile widened as she turned her head away immediately, but not before her expression turned a bit red.
"Just saying," I continued, stretching like it was no big deal. "We're both in our prime. Well, especially you. Those sharp purple eyes could turn any man into putty, and the way you move gives off just enough danger to be irresistible. Honestly, it's a crime that you're still single."
She gave me a look. I held up my hands in mock surrender.
"Also, real talk," I added with sincerity, "if you do ever go on a date, my closet is always open to you. We're not too different in size, and I've got more dresses than I can ever wear in a lifetime."
Livia blinked like she hadn't expected that.
"Just take whatever you want," I said warmly. "You've more than earned it. Now… if only I could get you to call me by my name. I'm very annoyed that you still say Your Grace."
"Nope, not happening," Livia said with a smirk on her face. "About your dresses, though, if I ever need one, I will take you up on that."
Smiling at Livia's reaction, I held out my hands for her to help me up. She did so with such gentleness, something I deeply appreciated.
"Well then," I said as I got to my feet with her help, "let's go cause some interesting interactions."
We made our way into the city in no time at all with the usual suspects. Even though we're a party of four and rather safe in this place, I'm sure Noah has guards in places I can't see following along.
There was no way I would walk that distance being over four months pregnant, so we got a carriage. My back is already starting to complain whenever I stand for too long a period.
"Kellan and Bors flanked us while Livia sat beside me in the carriage, her presence a quiet comfort. She always listened patiently, offering a steady ear for all my wild stories and outlandish ideas."
But today wasn't about drama; it was to see if these arrogant store owners learned any lessons from that time months ago, when two businesses died.
It was also about having fun, and who was I kidding? I thought doing this was more enjoyable than most things around here. I'm in desperate need of some entertainment!
Since I didn't have Noah's arm to hang off, I had to improvise.
"Livia," I said sweetly, latching onto her arm as we stepped out of the carriage, "you're now my official Noah stand-in for now until he gets back."
She gave me a look. "Is this necessary?" But I knew she wasn't being serious because she never once attempted to pull away.
"Completely," I grinned. "Besides, you don't hate it, right?" My eyes upturned as I looked at her.
"Of course not," she said in an almost flat tone.
I couldn't help but giggle at her actions.
Before entering our destination, we activated the image enchantments. Within seconds, our appearances dulled and shifted into something far simpler.
Nothing tattered or suspicious, just plain enough to give us the look of middle-class commoners out for a peek into the world of wealth they definitely couldn't afford.
Our first target was a noble baby store. I pulled Livia in that direction as Bors and Kellan followed along.
This was the kind of place where a single pacifier cost more than a farmhand's monthly wage, all because they put jewels on everything. Inside the window display, a golden cradle rested on a velvet platform beneath glass, as if it had been made for royalty.
Livia sighed beside me the moment she saw the price tag. Even with a salary far above that of a typical personal maid, affording anything here would be difficult for her. As for me, ever since marrying Noah, wealth has stopped being a concern.
Inside, I nearly gasped at how extravagant this place was. Nobles sure go above and beyond for their babies, but something I did find strange was how the boy's items dwarfed the female ones.
It must have something to do with heirs to their family, while girls are nothing more than ornaments for some wealthy noble to make connections. No matter the age or personality of the buyer.
Once I take full control over Coldmere, that's a tradition I will completely destroy in the future. I remember from all those stories in my past life that a young girl could be wed to someone with one foot in the grave. I wonder if that's actually true in real life.
The first thing I saw was the most beautiful baby bassinet, adorned with silver embroidery and sapphire gems that sparkled. They were atop the canopy that shimmered faintly in the light.
I leaned in closer and whispered to myself. "This would be a perfect addition to mine and Noah's room for little Lyra."
Then I turned and couldn't help but giggle at what I saw.
A set of baby bottles, glimmering with tiny rubies and diamond studs, sat neatly on display in a glass case like they were collector's items.
I tapped Livia on the shoulder, grinning as I pointed at the bottles.
"Isn't that a bit extreme?"
She looked, blinked once, and deadpanned, "Yes… because when I think of teething infants, I definitely want chokeable gemstones."
I burst into laughter at the way she said it, "Right?"
"That poor baby would need a bodyguard just to drink milk," I added.
"Possibly even a vault," Livia replied, dryly.
We continued to browse around the store; wandering past luxurious cribs, plush rocking chairs, silver-plated rattles, and clothes so soft and finely made they could rival anything in my own closet.
Livia lingered near a display of tiny coats lined with fox fur while I gently rubbed my belly, already picturing Lyra wrapped up in something ridiculously cute.
Then, from the corner of my eye, I saw someone approaching us.
A well-dressed older gentleman in a pressed navy coat, clearly the store's proprietor, walked up with a polite smile. He didn't even look suspicious, only curious.
"Good afternoon, ladies," he said. "Are you looking for anything specific?"
I turned towards him with a pleasant smile of my own. "Not really, just looking for the future, seeing what kind of options are out there."
My gaze fell fondly upon the stylish bassinet I looked at earlier.
"I do really like this though," I pointed towards it. "It's very nice."
He looked between me and Livia, his eyes briefly trailing over our commoner clothing.
Then, with a polite nod, he asked, "And… how will you be paying for that today, if I may ask?"
I smirked with delight, "By gold… of course."
He hesitated for just a breath but nodded in affirmation to my words.
"Well… if you have the funds, there's no problem."
His words surprised me, and at the same time I was satisfied with his response. I stared at him more intently.
"Really… You're not going to talk down to me for wearing such cheap clothing into an obviously higher-end store or act like I don't belong in here just because I don't look the part?" I asked with curiosity.
He shifted slightly under my scrutinizing gaze and then cleared his throat.
"Umm… no," he said, looking vaguely nervous. "It's really… dangerous to have that kind of thinking."
"Dangerous?" Livia echoed beside me, amused by his words.
The man quickly nodded. "I've heard the Archduchess goes around the city pretending to be a commoner, just to catch shopkeepers who treat customers badly based on appearances. Word is… she gets them shut down or humiliated if they act out of line. So… a lot of us have stopped judging based on that alone."
Livia and I stared at each other before I smiled and she gave a smirk.
"Now that's a good motto," I said, pleased with this guy's adaptation to the climate I created. "If they can pay, why not just accept it?"
He nodded vigorously, eager to agree as if he was being tested, "Exactly, my lady."
"Alright then," I said smoothly, "you've passed."
The man was stunned and confused. "I've… passed what?"
Without another word, I reached up and touched the brooch on my chest, one woven with enchanted silver and adorned with a very specific symbol. After a shimmer of light, the illusion spell vanished around me.
My dress returned to the glory of an archduchess, causing the man's eyes to go wide.
"I hope," I said my voice warm but unmistakably firm, "you continue doing exactly what you just spoke about."
Then I stepped a bit closer and leaned in slightly.
"The Archduchess doesn't just go around pretending to be a commoner," I whispered. "Sometimes… she shops."
The man nearly dropped his clipboard he was carrying.
"It's good that you're smart; do yourself a favor and keep being that way. It will keep your business from the fate of the others that have failed."
I glanced back at the bassinet.
"Anyway… I'll take this, that, and also this one. Oh, and that entire wall, plus those plush toys in the corner. Send everything to the Archduchy."
He stammered but nodded furiously at my words, "Y-Yes, Archduchess… of course."
Livia stood beside me, calm as ever, but her lips were twitching with restrained amusement at this man's actions.
As we turned to leave, I gave her a little bump with my elbow.
"See?" I whispered. "Sometimes people do learn."
The moment we stepped out of the shop and back into the street, I let out a happy sigh, and then, without any chance to react, someone stuck out their foot.
I didn't see who it was, but one second I was walking and joking with Livia. The next thing I knew, I was falling…
My stomach dropped as the world tilted sideways; the only thing going through my mind was… NO! Not Lyra!
There was a man suddenly lunging towards me, like he was trying to catch my body before it landed. I tensed up, and then I saw Livia slam into the man like a body check in hockey with her full weight.
She wrapped her arms around me from behind and somehow twisted my body in the air. It was like she pulled off some insane dance move.
I had been flipped around one hundred and eighty degrees, landing right on top of Livia back first. My full pregnant weight landed right on top of her, but in reality I wasn't that heavy.
The impact wasn't as hard as I had thought, but that's only because Livia took the full impact. My heart was racing so fast it hurt.
"Livia," I exclaimed, rolling off her as carefully as I could. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she said quickly, already sitting up. "What about you?"
I placed both hands on my belly; there was no pain.
"I'm… I'm okay."
Then my rage ignited at the bastard who pretty much just tried to assassinate my little girl, or at least that's how I was going to view it.
"BORS," I screamed.
He was already on the move, eyes locked on the man now trying to run down an alley, who just found out he had chosen the wrong target.
"You saw that, right?" I shouted.
"I did," he growled, "the whole damn thing."
"Good… Go bring that bastard back for the attempted assassination of the future princess of Coldmere."
It didn't take long before he was captured, and the man fell to his knees, begging for mercy, but I didn't care.
Bors didn't kill the man right away after being caught; he dropped his battered body right in front of me.
While looking down at this bastard with hatred, something else tickled the edge of my memory.
"There was someone else." I said suddenly. "I saw him try and catch me before Livia removed him."
"He looked like he was waiting for a signal," Livia said, her gaze sharp. "It seemed like he was trying to help, but the timing was too perfect. He was already in position to catch the Archduchess. I think they're working together."
"Kellan," I barked.
He appeared instantly.
"There was a second man," I pointed in the direction I assumed he went. "Find him!"
Kellan nodded once and disappeared into the streets like a bloodhound unleashed. I turned back to Bors and the man who was sobbing like a pathetic dead man.
"You don't get to trip a pregnant woman and walk away," I said coldly. "You just committed treason against the Archduchess of Coldmere and could have killed the soon-to-be princess through a possible miscarriage."
I held onto Livia, who was supporting me, before I kicked that man straight in the face as he was being held down by Bors.
Let justice be loud today as it echoed down every street in the capital.