Abbie picked her way across the mess left over from the night before trying to get back to her apartment. Viv Peony and Lara were already off getting ready for the party or already on their way for all they knew. Everyone else was still lazing about relaxing and waking up from the late night.

Francine quickly changed out of the sage green blouse she had on and into the one Abbie had suggested. Looking at it in the mirror as Gerdie buttoned her up the back, she could tell this was much better. The details on the sleeves even coordinated with the stitching on the midnight blue breeches.

As Abbie set the jacket over her shoulders, she had to agree. It tied the outfit together perfectly, especially with a few accessories, like the bracelet Matt had given her, a string of shimmery green pearls, and her hat — the little hat with the big feather.

Abbie just rolled her eyes at that assertion. She wasn’t sure how the dressing of your legs affected the aim of a gun, but this wasn’t a hill Abbie cared to die on.

The Trellingbill estate was a couple of hours outside of the City, in the country heading up to the mountains. Their holdings were in a defensive position on one of the internal Imperial borders, which had recently become much more important with the sudden recession of the entire Copper Coast from level one to level three members and barely hanging on by a thread. Something many were still talking about no matter how rumors were quashed.

A dozen carriages were headed out of town for Matt’s ninth (eighteenth in Earth years) birthday. On the Duchess’ orders, all of his Barrack mates, including Lance, Kevin, and Tristan, were invited, as were any friends and family members who had landed at other schools or just lived there in town.

The drive was already filling up when they arrived. Francine could see Ginny, Neisha’s billowing emanation, and Cinnamon appear at the front door and be admitted as they were trying to exit the carriage and gather their things. Just the shock of scarlet was enough to send a flush of rage across her face. The thought of Cinnamon using her Family as the ladder she was climbing up was just too much, but it was the only thought her brain could entertain. She couldn’t allow it to slip into darker musings. In this way, Frannie maintained a positive outlook on her newly acquired family.

She took a moment to try to collect her rage-addled mind so that she would be pleasant and prepared to face her when they went inside. Fortunately, she had her crew with her for support. Abbie was right there, and Priscilla, too, one on each arm to carry her right through the door. Their announcement was met with smiles, and Matt turned the corner to greet them — a welcome sight of relief.

If only the door hadn’t opened while they were still embracing,

She heard Matt’s breath catch in his throat. When Azure walked in, he nearly dropped her out of his arms to stand at attention.

Azure’s forceful but feminine voice was like a gust of wind clearing the entryway and setting them all in motion. Peony and Lara, happy to attend the party, greeted Matt and said hello to Francine before following Azure deeper into the house. They all followed since Matt had only been waiting for Francine to arrive. He ushered them out back.

They walked out to the terrace. Most of Matt’s friends were already there or down in the garden. Pork and Beans were sitting at a table waving them over. Frannie squeezed Abbie’s hand and gave her a look that said rescue me if I look like I’m drowning. They had been friends long enough words weren’t always needed.

She and Matt sat, only for Matt to be called away when his cousins Luke and Walter Carnac arrived. Frannie sat awkwardly, looking back at Pork and Beans, waiting for Matt to return or one of them to say something, whichever came first. Fortunately, Viv came over, breaking the silence. After about three minutes of hors d’oeuvres being pushed around on plates, drinks being gotten by waiters, and pleasantries being re-exchanged, she and her mother were already mingling when Frannie arrived.

Viv said to Pork and Beans, who were wearing their formal uniforms. About half of the boys from school wore formal military uniforms, and the other half wore personal clothes. Matt fell into the uniform crowd, as did his buddies.

Beans, ever the philosopher, popped a crab puff into his mouth. Viv rolled her eyes and adjusted the fur trim of the figure-flattering gown she was wearing.

Pork blushed at that, which made Viv grin. Her goals at that table accomplished, she flounced away, pouncing on the little group where Adrian stood holding several in his thrall with talk of trouncing his recent audition for the lead in the upcoming production of The Face of Fear, about a man who was replaced by a doppelganger and is slowly discovered by his friends and family, only to be replaced one by one, until the entire town is replaced.

Matt could hear Adrian’s voice from inside the house; he could practically see him flailing and gesticulating around. It enraged Matthew how Adrian couldn’t even give the antics a rest on his birthday. He had to be the center of attention, one way or another, every moment of every day.

After greeting his cousins, Matt wanted to return to his friends. Walter was fine; he was two years older than Matt and generally kept his life in order, but Luke was a holy terror. Only five years old, he would surely cause a scene, and Matt didn’t want to get caught up in it.

On his way back outside, he ran into Tristan, Kevin, and Lance — literally. Tristan saw him coming, and right as he was going to pass through the door, Tristan took half a step to the side, causing Matt to slam into his unmoved torso and the doorframe. He fell back hard, hitting his head on the waxed tealwood floor.

Tristan, feigning interest and assistance, reached out to help Matt up. Without thinking, he accepted, only for Tristan to let go just as he was rocking up over his heels, causing him to lose balance again and fall back down. The trio walked out, stepping over Matt, laughing.

By the time everyone arrived, most people were sitting and eating. Matt was in a terrible mood at that point, but he tried to enjoy the company of his friends. Francine was distracted by Cinnamon, who sat beside Argento at Azure’s table. Frannie wasn’t the only one having trouble keeping eyes off their table. Countess Rappaport was busy sending Olliver over to talk to Ginn. If Argento hadn’t already drawn animosity for lucking into a position next to Azure, more daggers would have been flying his way as Cinnamon Flirted with him.

Abbie, who had come and sat with Frannie once the circles of conversation broke up, couldn’t help but point it out.

She was uncommonly beautiful, but Francine’s biological mother was renowned for her beauty. Looking around, she did see a number of the military boys whispering and pointing over at her. A dad or two was “casually” standing near Azure’s table with no apparent purpose. Pork and beans were even blushing at their conversation. Matt had just gotten up to refill their glasses, but no doubt he had noticed, too. Apparently, everyone had noticed but Francine.

Matt walked back just as they were discussing Azure’s prospects.

Even Beans got in on the conversation, which upset Matt.

Abbie was annoyed that her conversation topic was quashed, but Francine was also tired of talking about Azure.

The conversation was coming to a head as the doors opened, and the cake was wheeled out to the tune of the Eidruian March. Matt’s mother had already gotten a music-projecting device like Azure’s and pinned it on the servant wheeling and cutting the cake. All those in attendance rose and, led by Azure, sang a rousing chorus of the Eidruian Imperial March.

The cart ended its journey in front of Matt and Frannie, where they stood hand in hand at the center of the crowd. The music finished right on cue. Everyone saluted, and with friends, family, and Azure looking on, Matt swept Frannie off her feet, dipping and kissing her to a round of applause.

It was a surprise but a much more welcome one this time. When they came back up, she felt lighter than air. Matt’s friends were all coming by, giving him pats on the back or punching his arm. He looked about as happy as Francine had ever seen him. They got a piece of the cake, which was an amazingly bright shade of turquoise with copper frosting, and went to watch the servants set up the Shooting machine.

Theirs was a Gnomish creation. It took the mechanical workings of many other skeet shooters and combined alchemical and magical features. The cover, which looked like an angel in flight, was removed, and a grimacing devil’s face was revealed. Little canisters in the shape of imps flew out of its open mouth. If shot, they burst into a shower of red sparks, like a firework. If the pellets don’t destroy them, they land on the ground unbroken and can be reloaded if retrieved.

When Crank Dinger came over to shoot the breeze about the Gnomish skeet shooter and the cake, which he was sure had Gnomish food dye in it, Francine took the opportunity to excuse herself. She headed to the restroom with Abbie; they passed by Argento, who was happily trapped in a corner by Cinnamon. She was eating her cake in such a way that Argento was about to drop his piece right off his plate and onto the floor. There was no time to intervene; the shooting was about to begin, and Francine wanted to look her best. She applied new lip creme, fixed her hair, and generally primped.

Lara was setting guns down on Azure’s Left side while Peony stood to her right, waiting to take the spent ones. Frannie tugged Abbie along, trying to make it down to Matt before the shooting started.

Just as Francine arrived, Matt smashed the top of the Devil’s head, sending imps flying out.

The first one buzzed out over their heads.

Then, two more several yards past the space, the first just erupted.

Azure switched guns between shots like a well-oiled machine. The last three whizzed out another several yards farther before the cloud from the last two had even dissipated.

There was a momentary pause as Azure tossed one gun to Peony, grabbed the last, and

She took the final imp out right before it hit the ground to a round of cheers, Matt possibly the loudest among them. Francine was certainly impressed. She was worried she wouldn’t be able to hit even one. These weren’t like a regular target setup. They were flying through the air, which made it much harder to get a shot.

Matt was cajoled into going next. The machine was set back to the regular setting, which sent one out at a time to a closer distance. Matt had the benefit of previously practicing with the shooter, so he was fairly confident, even with Tristan and Kevin heckling him. He managed to shatter his first pull but missed the second. He didn’t want to end up digging himself deeper and deeper into a hole, so he gave the gun over to Francine.

Francine did an about-face of sorts; she had never tried the setup, and it took a round to get a feel for it. But Francine is a natural shot because she blasted the second pull away to the surprise of most, including Matt. Priscilla was up next. Francine was ecstatic she had done at least as well as Matt, so she handed the gun off to Priscilla and ran right away to join Matt on the terrace, where he was waiting for her. He and their little group gave a tiny round of applause as she approached.

Priscilla, on the other hand, was having a much more difficult time. Adrian assisted her in loading the gun, but when she tried to fire, the gun was jammed. With so many people watching, Priscilla had gotten nervous, and even with the master at arms coming around to take a look, Adrian tried to take the gun from Priscilla. In the exchange, the firearm slipped from her grip and smashed on the ground just right so as to unleash the serendipitously suppressed round across the edge of Adrian’s chest and arm

The event of Adrian's getting shot will still appear in this chapter, I am however going to be changing some key details.

CH8~ Matt's Ninth

An imperial Education

“I can’t tell you where I got them. Just tell me if they look good with this blouse and jacket.”    “Why can’t you tell me where you got your pants? That’s ridiculous, Francine. They look alright, but they’re blue, so you need a different blouse. Get that forest green one. It has a touch of a blue tone. That will help. Oh, and I have an overcoat with a gorgeous painted forest scene. It would tie the whole outfit together.”



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CH8~ Matt's Ninth

An imperial Education

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K.B. Silver

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CH8~ Matt's Ninth

An imperial Education

This is an Exclusive Story for supporters of .css-hhy2k-Text{display:inline-block;color:var(--text-accent);}K.B. Silver

About the Creator

K.B. Silver V+

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K.B. Silver