Reality overload

I might have went a little overboard with this one but I hope that everyone enjoys reading this chapter!!!! (๑╹ω╹๑ )

No pictured today my hosting site isn’t working sorry _:(´ཀ`」 ∠):

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Inside, of the chateau the air was cool and clean.

The floors gleamed.

The halls stretched wide and welcoming.

And gathered in the main sitting room, Charlie, Riley, Lucas, Nate, Reia, and Alexa...all of them turned when they saw me.

The elder stood at the center of the room, waiting.

He smiled.

”Welcome, Zora.”

The elder waited until everyone settled, the quiet of the château wrapping around us like a held breath. The place was grand without being overwhelming. Tall ceilings, wide halls, polished stone floors, carved beams that caught the morning light. It felt lived‑in despite its age, like it had been waiting for someone to return.

His eyes moved across the room, lingering on each of us before finally settling on me.

”This château,” he said, ”was not chosen lightly.”

Halden stood straighter. Mira and Elias pressed closer to my sides, their eyes bright with the thrill of being somewhere they weren’t supposed to explore. We all watched the elder with the same quiet anticipation. Arthur taking a post near the door.

The elder stepped forward, hands clasped behind his back.

”It is old,” he said, ”but it was never abandoned. It was preserved. Protected. Kept ready. Tough not in recent weeks, but I notice that it and some of the surrounding woods came with us during the merging.”

His gaze swept the high windows, the carved stone, the banners faded but still proud with Hestia’s likeness.

”This was once the home of Solaire’s first ruler,” he continued. ”Before capital palace was built.”

He looked at me directly.

”It was built for a queen. Her majesty Isolde Raythorne.” he said with pride.

The room went still.

”And now,” he said softly, ”it is yours.”

My heart thudded hard enough to hurt.

”Eh....EHHHHHHHHHHH!?!?!?!”

”WAIT... hold the phone!!! What do you mean elder!!”

The elder stepped forward, hands folded behind his back.

”Zora,” he said, voice calm, ”this chateau is now yours.”

I froze.

Charlie froze.

Halden’s ears shot straight up.

Alexa grabbed her arm. ”Oh gods.”

Reia whispered, ”Oh wow, Zora has a chateau now.”

Riley muttered, ”Brace.”

Lucas and Nate both took a step back like they were preparing for an explosion.

I pointed at the elder.

”THIS—THIS WHOLE THING?!”

Charlie pointed too.

”THIS WHOLE THING?!”

We both screamed at the same time.

The echo bounced off the ceiling.

Reia covered her mouth, laughing.

Riley wheezed.

Halden sat down on a bench because her legs gave out.

Alexa whispered, ”Talk about crazy....”

The elder didn’t flinch.

”Yes,” he said. ”This is the Nightbearer’s estate. It belonged to Queen Isolde Raythorne. And now, it belongs to you.”

Charlie grabbed my arm.

”Zora,” she whispered, eyes huge, ”you have a chateau.”

I grabbed her arm back.

”CHARLIE, I HAVE A CHATEAU.”

She shook me.

”I KNOW YOU HAVE A CHATEAU.”

I shook her back.

”WHY DO I HAVE A CHATEAU?!”

She shook me harder.

”BECAUSE YOU’RE THE Queen!”

I screamed.

She screamed.

We both screamed.

Lucas whispered to Nate, ”Should we... do something?”

Nate whispered back, ”No. all we can do is wait at this point.”

Reia nodded. ”This is a lot to take in,.”

Riley added, ”luck stats are at one hundred right now.”

Geld, standing near the door like a statue, said, ”Protocol.”

Charlie whipped around.

I grabbed her shoulders.

”NO. NO. I GET TO YELL AT HIM FIRST.”

I pointed at him.

”GELD, IF YOU SAY PROTOCOL ONE MORE TIME—”

He closed his mouth instantly stifling a chuckle.

Halden was crying from laughter.

Alexa was bent over, hands on her knees, wheezing.

The elder waited patiently, as if this was all perfectly normal.

”Zora,” he said gently, ”this home was built for the first Nightbearer. It is meant to be lived in. Protected. Filled with warmth.”

Charlie grabbed my face with both hands.

”Zora. Zora. Zora. You have a chateau.”

I grabbed her face back.

”CHARLIE. WE HAVE A CHATEAU.”

She blinked.

”We?”

I nodded violently.

”YES. YOUR MY SISTER!!! YOU ARE NOT LEAVING ME ALONE IN A CHATEAU.”

Riley pumped a fist. ”Queen behavior!”

Lucas saluted.

Nate saluted too, because Lucas did.

Halden sniffled. ”My baby has a chateau.”

Alexa whispered, ”I’m going to faint.”

We stood there, clutching each other, staring at the enormous estate that was now...apparently...mine.

”Oh my gods,” I whispered. ”We have a chateau.”

Charlie whispered back, ”Oh my gods... we have a chateau.”

Wait... I pointed at Arthur. ”You knew...thats why you kept smirking on the way here!”

”It was fun while it lasted miss Zora.” he bowed.” I will be you’re head butler. I must say I’m quite pleased to have such a kind master to serve.”

My face went slightly fridgid at his words.

The elder walked slowly across the room, his voice steady, warm, certain. ”The place is a place of governance. A place for councils, for diplomacy, for ceremony. But a queen needs more than a throne.”

He gestured to the mansion around us.

”She needs a home. A place to grow. A place to breathe. A place where those closest to her may live and learn beside her.”

Halden’s ears flicked. Mira and Elias looked around with wide eyes, already imagining secret hallways and hidden corners. Charlie exhaled softly. Riley’s shoulders relaxed. Lucas nodded once, understanding the weight of it.

The elder stopped in front of me.

”You are queen, Zora,” he said. ”Not in name alone. In truth. In destiny, and responsibility.”

My throat tightened.

”This ”mansion” as you put it, will be your sanctuary,” he said. ”Your stronghold. Your hearth. Eventually it will be walled in with Hilguard. But untill that time, there will be a guard watch posted around the outer perimeter.

He bowed his head slightly.

”And from here... you will rise.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I stayed quiet. It wasn’t every day someone just gives you a huge mansion.

He smiled, understanding that I was beyond words.

The elder had just finished speaking with us, the air still heavy from his words. When he looked at me and saw a questioning look on my face. 

”Lady Zora,” he said softly as he folded his hands. ”You have questions.”

I hesitated. ”I... do.”

He smiled, patient, knowing. ”Ask.”

I took a breath.

”How does Hilguard have so much?”

My voice came out softer than I expected.

”So many fine clothes, master craftsmen, enchanted tools, a swordmaster, a healer’s hall, a library...this château. This city isn’t large...it’s not small either, but still. It shouldn’t have all of this.

The elder’s eyes softened.

”You have noticed much in such a short time.”

”I’ve been trying to understand,” I said. ”It doesn’t make sense.”

He nodded slowly. ”And now that you are queen, you deserve the truth.”

He glanced at everyone all watching him from  the couches. He came to one of the end chairs and sat.

”Come,” he said to me. ”All of you. You should hear this together. You are a part of Hilguard now.

We all gathered around to listen.

The elder lowered his voice. ”What I tell you now must not be spoken to outsiders. Hilguard’s safety, our safety depends on secrecy.”

We all nodded. Riley saluted.

He continued, ”There are two reasons Hilguard has wealth far beyond its size.”

His eyes drifted toward the window to where Hilguard lay.

”First... Hilguard lies directly on a leyline.”

Charlie gasped. Rileys tail froze mid‑swish.

”A leyline?” I whispered. ”Like a vein of magic?”

”Yes,” the elder said. ”A river of raw, living magic beneath the earth. It flows directly under Hilguard’s foundations.”

He touched the stone wall beside him.

”It strengthens crops. It enriches soil. It empowers craftsmen. It allows enchantments of extraordinary quality. Even the simplest blacksmith can forge a blade that holds magic for decades.”

Charlie swallowed. ”That’s why everything feels... alive.”

He nodded. ”Hilguard’s artisans are not merely skilled, they are attuned. The leyline amplifies their talent.”

Halden whispered, ”That’s why bromir could make enchanted pieces so easily...”

”And why the healers can work miracles,” Charlie added.

The elder smiled sadly. ”When we were brought to this world, I feared the leyline would vanish. That our magic would die. That Hilguard would crumble.”

He looked at me...eyes shining.

”But it remains. Strong as ever. Stronger in fact, For reasons I do not yet understand.”

I felt a shiver run down my spine.

”And the second reason?” I asked.

The elder’s smile returned.

”Hilguard sits on one of the most heavily traveled trade routes in all of Solaire. Merchants, caravans, nobles, scholars...all pass through our gates. We are small, but we are central.”

”Trade huh...makes sense now..” I said ”Trade brings wealth. Wealth brings opportunity. Opportunity brings masters of every craft.”

He spread his hands. ” Unfortunately, the trate route that was established is no longer viable in our circumstance.”

I exhaled slowly. ”Well... that would put a damper on incoming funds, for now at least.”

It made sense now.

All of it.

The fine clothes.

The enchanted tools.

The master swordsmith.

The healer’s hall.

The library.

The artisans.

The prosperity.

I had the start of an idea forming in my head, but I needed to confirm some things.

Hilguard wasn’t lucky.

Hilguard was built on magic and movement.

The elder bowed his head slightly. ”Now that you are queen, you must protect these secrets. The leyline is our lifeblood. If outsiders knew... they would come for it.”

I nodded, heart steady. ”I won’t let that happen.”

He smiled.

But something still didn’t make sense.

”Elder...there’s something I still don’t quite understand.”

The room quieted.

”Hilguard is wealthy,” I said. ”It has master craftsmen, enchanted tools, fine clothes, skilled teachers... but it’s small. And barely protected. Why?”

The elder’s expression softened...like he’d been waiting for this question.

”Ah,” he murmured. ”That question.”

Charlie hopped off the table. ”Oh, I wanna hear this.”

Halden crossed her arms. ”Same.”

Mira and Elias scooted closer.

The elder folded his hands behind his back.

”Hilguard is small,” he said, ”because it must be.”

Riley blinked. ”That sounds ominous.”

”It is,” the elder replied gently. ”Staying small is a double‑edged sword to say the least.

Lucas frowned. ”Meaning...?”

The elder looked at all of us.

”Because we are small, we draw little to no attention. No suspicion. No armies. No kings seeking to claim our leyline.”

He gestured to the floor beneath us.

”The leyline gives us wealth. Magic. Prosperity. But if outsiders knew it existed... Hilguard would become a battlefield.”

Charlie’s face fell. ”So you hide.”

”Yes,” the elder said. ”We hide by appearing harmless, we also hide our wealth deep underground. Hidden in a vault.

Halden nodded slowly. ”Small town. Light defenses. Nothing to see.”

”Exactly,” the elder said. ”If we built walls or raised armies, kingdoms would ask why. They would investigate. And they would find the leyline.”

Mira whispered, ”And then they’d fight for it.”

The elder nodded. ”And Hilguard would fall.”

Silence settled over the hall.

Then he continued.

”We cannot defend ourselves. We cannot raise battalions. We cannot repel monsters or raiders. So when danger comes... we must hire outsiders.”

Riley blinked. ”Like... us.”

The elder smiled.

”Yes. And fate was very kind to us.”

He looked at me, eyes warm, and grateful.

”The outsiders we hire to deal with the goblins...”he gestured towards me.” Just so happened to be the daughter of Hestia. Someone that to be honest we’d been searching for, for a very long time.”

Charlie’s jaw dropped. ”Hold on... does that mean!”

Riley was quick on the uptake. She grabbed Charlie’s shoulders. ”ZORA WAS A QUEST ITEM.”

”Huh...WHAT?”my confusion reached new heights.

Halden wheezed.

Lucas muttered, ”That explains a lot.”

Nate nodded. ”Yeah, like how we got so much money from that quest without a task. It must have been a hidden quest, or a glitch. It didn’t even show on our hud at the time.”

”I wonder why, ” said Charlie. Then her expression turned dark. ” I must have been Cross, I would’t put it past him to mess which his own game. I mean he did mess up two worlds for Power.

He probably didn’t want anyone knowing about it, but the question is how did he know she,” Riley pointed at me. ”Would show up?”

The elder looked pensive.

”We did not know who you were. We did not know what you carried. We did not know the goddess had already placed her hand upon your life.”

He looked at Charlie next.

”And we did not know her sister carried the dawn.”

Charlie squeaked. ”I... well—”

Riley whispered, ”You do glow, babe.”

The elder bowed his head.

”Hilguard’s wealth comes from magic and trade. But its survival... came from you.”

My chest swelled with happiness.

Charlie linked her arm through mine, looking worried. ”Guess fate wanted us here, and it’s name is Cross.”

Halden smirked. ”And now you’re stuck with us.”

Mira hugged my arm. ” we gotta beat that Cross guy up, He’s a bad guy.”

We all slumped on the couch...me, Halden, Mira, Elias... all wiped out from Samira’s morning drills. Halden leaned against the arm rest , arms crossed, tail flicking lazily.

My brain was mush at this point. All I wanted was food a bath and sleep.

The elder cleared his throat. ”There is one more matter to address.”

The doors opened.

Kathrine walked in.

Dressed exactly as a woman of status should...flowing green silk, embroidered sleeves, hair braided and pinned with silver clasps. She looked elegant, composed, and absolutely ready to ruin our afternoon.

Elias and Mira both smiled. ”Hi mom! You look so pretty!!!”

”Hello dears.”she responded, smiling back at them. Before looking at the state of their clothes. Her demeanor changed instantly to mom mode.

”Mira... Elias, the two of you will head straight home this instant, and wash those clothes!”

”But mom...” they both groaned.

”No butts you two. She said sternly. ”On the double, or should I make you two clean the stables again, I told you this morning not to sully your outfits. And look at them little better than oily rags.

Without so much as a word they both stood.

”Go and tell Geld to ride you two back to town, and if I hear about you running off to explore...”

She left the rest unsaid, giving the two a look.

“Yas ma’am.” they both said in unison looking dejected. Mira scampered over to me.

”Bye big sis Zora.”she said as she hugged me before running to Charlie. Bye-bye bis sis Charlie.

Charlie hugged her back fiercely ”Bye you little adorably gremlin.”

”Bye you majesty.” Elias said. He bowed like a little gentleman. Trying his best to look dignified, regardless of his dirty clothes and smudged face.

Charlie whispered to me, looking sideways at Kathrine ”She’s too pretty. But can be very threatening.”

Kathrine ignored her and bowed her head to the elder before turning to us. Mira and Elias trudging out the door accompanied by Arthur.

”At my request,” she said, ”the elder has arranged formal etiquette training.”

Charlie made a noise like a dying bird.

Kathrine continued, her voice warm but firm. ”You two,” she said, pointing at me and Charlie, ”must learn how to present yourselves properly in front of... those people you met yesterday.”

She paused.

Her brow furrowed.

”What did you call them?” she asked, looking genuinely confused. ”Those... government... types?”

Charlie snorted. ”I panicked, okay?”

Kathrine sighed. ”Whatever they are, they will expect dignity.

Grace. 

Authority. 

And you must be prepared.” Each word came with a tap of her finger like a ruler on a desk.

The elder nodded. ”Your days will now follow a structured schedule.”

She lifted a hand.

”In the mornings, you will train etiquette with me. 

Etiquette. Posture. Speech. Bearing. Everything required of a queen,” Her eyes met Charlie’s, ”and her advisor.”

Charlie froze. ”Advisor? Me?”

”Yes,” Kathrine said. ”You stand at Zora’s side. You must learn to do so properly. As her sister one, but also as royal yourself.

Charlie looked like she might faint.

”In the afternoons, Zora you will continue to train with Samira, Charlie you with Graham.”

Kathrine turned to Reia next.

”Reia, you will train with the maids. You will learn the duties of a lady‑in‑waiting to the queen.”

Reia lit up like someone had handed her a new corpse.

The elder looked to Riley, Nate, and Lucas.

As he to spoke up. ”You three will continue your current duties. Your roles remain unchanged… for niw

Riley saluted lazily. Nate nodded. Lucas stood straighter.

Kathrine stepped closer, her dress swaying softly.

”This chateau is your home now,” she said. ”And your training begins tomorrow. I’ve already informed Samira of the change in location.”

I groaned.

Charlie groaned louder.

Riley and nate clapped like it was a festival.

Halden snorted.

Kathrine’s lips twitched.

She was standing there....perfectly poised, hands folded, posture immaculate, and the whole room froze like I’d just frozen everything.

Charlie stared at her.

I stared at her.

Even Halden stared at her.

Kathrine blinked, elegant and composed. ”Is something the matter?”

Then Charlie exploded.

”YES. Everything is the matter. Advisor? Advisor?! I can’t even advise myself on breakfast!”

She flopped backward onto the couch so hard the cushions wheezed.

Kathrine’s brows lifted a fraction. ”Breakfast is not part of etiquette training, and Zora has told me how you held your household together after the loss of your parents, I think you are more than capable.

”Zora... you threw me under the bus!” Charlie wailed.

”I wasn’t trying to Char...”I dragged my hands down my face. ”We were just talking, I wasn’t trying to do that!!”

Riley snorted. ”You two are like adorable little twins now, to cute.”

Charlie’s face went hot.. Like literally she started glowing in embarrassment. “Who’s small I’m not small your small…”

I burst out laughing, unable to hold back “Charlie… omg Charlie your like a hotplate now. Hahaha.”

“Shaddap little miss ice cube!!” she snapped back “ Or I’ll melt your butt!”

“You two will need quite a lot of training.” Kathrine sighed. “Don’t be so dramatic Charlie.”

Charlie pointed at me and Halden. ”Dramatic…. THEY fought a bear. Her name is Samira. I was with Graham. Graham is nice. Graham gave me water breaks. Graham didn’t try to kill me.”

Halden giggled. ”Samira didn’t try to kill us.”

Kathrine’s lips twitched like she was trying not to smile. ”Samira is... Quite thorough.”

My legs still felt like jelly. ”And now we have to do etiquette training. Etiquette. With you, who looks like you stepped out of a painting.”

I pointed at charlie dramatically. ”She said posture. Posture! Char, I don’t have posture. I have... angles. I’ve never had posture since I was a b...since before!!” I almost exposed myself.”

Kathrine inhaled slowly, the kind of inhale that said she was counting to ten. ”Posture is foundational.”

I groaned. ”I don’t even know how to sit. You’re going to fix how I sit.”

”I am,” Kathrine said calmly.

”She’s going to fix how we breathe,” Charlie said, horrified.

Kathrine nodded. ”If necessary. You will be disciplined.”

Charlie threw an arm over her eyes. ”I don’t want to be anything. I want to be asleep.”

Riley wandered over, nudging Charlie’s foot. ”You haven’t even started yet.”

”That’s the problem,” Charlie said. ”It hasn’t even begun. I still need to give my two weeks notice. We still need to go to our house to get our things. 

Lucas crossed his arms. ”Yea, we can’t just leave everything there.”

”I know,” Charlie said. ” we also still have to pay the house. I am not losing it after I fought so hard to keep it. And we need to get those pods just in case.

Kathrine cleared her throat. ”We can arrange an outing, for you to take care of matters.”

Nate sat on the armrest. ”It’s just etiquette.”

Charlie sat up just enough to glare at him. ”She said bearing. Do you know what bearing is? It’s queen stuff. Maybe I should have you learn to.”

Nate laughs looking smug.

I looked at Nate. ”Don’t forget Nate I can still ask my mom to make you like me... you’ll be an old lady instead of an old man...”

Nate looked utterly horrified, his mouth snapped shut and he hid behind Lucas.

Kathrine nodded once. ”We will refine your bearing.”

Charlie made a noise like a dying animal.

Charlie groaned again. ”Tomorrow we have Kathrine in the morning.”

I flopped back down. ”And Samira in the afternoon.”

”We’re doomed,” I said.

”We’re doomed,” Charlie echoed.

Halden and Alexa laughed. Riley nodded solemnly like she was attending a funeral.

Kathrine looked at all of us, expression perfectly neutral, hands folded, posture immaculate.

”This is not doom,” she said. ”This is improvement.”

Charlie whispered, ”Send help.”

Kathrine shot back, perfectly deadpan, ”Help arrives at eight o’clock tomorrow morning...”

Charlie slumped.

Eventually we all migrated to the dining area, the talks now over... food on everyone’s minds.

Just then door opened, and the smell hit first...roasted meat glazed with herbs, fresh bread still steaming, a thick stew that smelled like garlic and comfort, sliced fruit glistening with juice, and something sweet and buttery that made Charlie sit up like she’d been resurrected.

Three maids swept in with practiced grace, skirts whispering against the stone floor. Their trays were stacked high, silver dishes clinking softly. They moved like water. Smooth, coordinated, quiet... setting everything on the long table with gentle precision.

Charlie didn’t wait. She launched herself at the bread like a starving wolf, tearing off a piece with a noise that was definitely not human. Halden followed with the dignity of someone pretending she wasn’t starving but absolutely was.

I grabbed a bowl of stew, the warmth seeping into my hands, the smell hitting me so hard my eyes stung. My stomach growled loud enough to echo.

That’s when Reia tugged at my sleeve. 

Soft.

Gentle.

”Zora?” she whispered.

I looked over. Her eyes were wide, soft, almost nervous. She glanced around. Charlie inhaling bread, Riley and Nate arguing over a roll, Lucas judging them silently, Halden pretending she wasn’t watching all of us. Satisfied that no one was listening she leaned closer.

”Can we talk?” she whispered. ”Just us?”

I nodded, and we stepped a few feet away from the small table, just far enough that the chaos wouldn’t swallow her words.

Reia twisted her fingers together, her nails painted a soft mstt black I hadn’t noticed before. Her hair now almost fully pink except for the ends of her hair. Her voice was small, almost fragile.

”I... wanted to ask...i..if it would be alright if my maids came here.” she said a little to fast.

I blinked. ”...your what?”

She swallowed. ”My maids... My personal ones.”

I stared at her. ”Reia. Hold on. You have maids?”

Her cheeks flushed pink. ”Um....Yes.”

”Wait wait wait...Are you rich?!”

She winced. ”Yes.”

I gawked at her. ”Reia! Why didn’t you tell me! Well actually I get why you wouldn’t.. That’s ok.”

”I know,” she whispered. ”I didn’t want anyone to treat me differently.”

I rubbed my face. ”Reia. Your our friend money has no bearing on how we will treat you...but dang...You have maids.”

She nodded tiny, looking releived. ”I miss them.”

She looked down, voice softening. ”They helped me with my hair. And my clothes. And... they are like the only family I have left. I didn’t get to say goodbye when we left.”

Her voice wavered.

”And now I’m supposed to train as your lady‑in‑waiting,” she whispered, ”but... I miss them.”

My heart melted instantly. ”Reia... Of course you can bring them here. You don’t need my permission.”

Her head snapped up. ”I can?”

”You’re my lady‑in‑waiting, and my friend,”I said. ”You’re allowed to have your own support. If they helped you before, they can help you now.”

Her eyes shimmered. ”Really?”

I nodded. ”Really.”

She threw her arms around me so fast I nearly dropped my bowl. Her hair smelled like lavender and something sweet. ”Thank you thank you thank you...” she sniffled. I noticed something, that made me wonder in my own head. 

If I was still a boy, this would have induced some kind of reaction. I mean having a pretty girl hug you, would cause any boy to have a reaction. Yet her I was... with nothing. Not even a hint. 

That more than anything made me a bit worried. But I shrugged it off, for future me to deal with. 

I laughed nervously hugging her back. ”Reia, you should’ve told me!”

She pulled back, cheeks pink. ”I didn’t want anyone to treat me differently.  It since your the same as me now. I thought it ok to tell you

I nodded. ”I won’t.”

She smiled again... relieved, bright, almost glowing.

Then a thought hit me.

A stupid, delayed, earth‑shattering thought.

I blinked. ”Wait…. Like you… hold on…”

Reia blinked back. ”What?”

My eyes went huge, I pointed at myself. ”I’m a Queen now.”

”Yes.”

”So... does that make me rich too?”

Reia stared at me like she couldn’t believe I hadn’t figured this out. ”Zora... you’re the queen.”

”Right.”

”The queen of Hilguard.”

”Right.”

”The owner of this castle now..”

”Right.”

”The person who technically controls the kingdom’s treasury.”

I froze. ”I WHAT?!”

Reia nodded. ”You’re rich. Very very rich.”

I sat on the floor, my bowl dropping from my hands down because my legs had just given out . ”Oh my gods. I’m rich.”

Charlie whipped around from the table, cake in her mouth, eyes wide. ”ZORA... are you okay?!”

I pointed at Reia. ”She has maids!”

Charlie blinked. ”Okay, that’s insane.”

”And I’m queen!”

”Yes.”

”And queens are rich!”

Riley rolled her eyes. “ Here we go again…”

Charlie dropped her bread. ”Zora. Zora. ZORA. We’re living in a castle. A CASTLE. How did we not realize this?!”

I threw my hands up. ”I thought it was just... a fancy house!”

Reia giggled softly. ”Zora... that’s why I talked to you about my maids coming here. I thought you knew that you were...umm...nevermind. 

I blinked. ”What do you mean?”

She smiled shyly. ”Because you’re rich now too. It felt... appropriate. Like we’re equals in that way.”

I stared at her. ”Reia. You out‑rich‑ed me before I even knew I was rich.”

She nodded proudly. ”Yes, shall I have sigmund do a happy dance for you.”

”Sigmund who’s that.” I said in confusion.

”I….he’s my Viking corpse.” she looked way to happy about it.

”Well take a raincheck or that... it might scare the staff.”this from Riley.

”Ok how about tomorrow then...” she asked.

”Reia it’s-.” She was cut off by Charlie.

She pointed at us dramatically. ”This is insane. Zora’s queen‑rich. Reia’s secret‑rich. I’m rich by familial association. We have a literal mansion now, and my own sister is a Queen. Don’t forget the fact that Hestia the goddess of like everything, is our mom now.”

She paused for dramatic effect and pointed at Reia.

”And this ones collecting corpses like Pokémon.”she sighed.

I shoved her shoulder. ”Shut up... also we don’t even know how money works here. So being rich doesn’t count yet.

Reia patted my arm gently. ”Don’t worry. I’ll help you.”

I blinked. ”Because you’re rich?”

She nodded. ”Because I’m rich, and you are to.”

Charlie flopped back into her chair. ”Zora, you’re gonna be the richest confused person in the kingdom.”

. ”I already am.” I said as realization slowly dawned for real this time.

The Elder came up to us and spoke. That’s when I realized everyone was watching our meltdown.

I felt my face go frosty. 

If you’d like your majesty we can show you the treasury and ledgers, so you have a better understanding of our financial situation. There is also a secret vault in this very chateau.

”Zora. Zora. Zora. You have a secret vault now, You are like rich rich.” I don’t know who said it, my brain had ceased working properly.

I blinked slowly.

”I know.”

Charlie shook me.

”You are queen‑level rich!”

I blinked again.

”I know.”

Charlie shook me harder.

”You have a treasury!”

”I know.”

”You have ledgers!”

”I know.”

”You have investments older than the United States!”

”I know.”

Charlie screamed.

I didn’t.

I just stood there, staring at the elder like he’d told me the weather.

The elder nodded, completely unfazed by Charlie’s meltdown.

”It is a great responsibility,” he said softly. ”But you will not bear it alone. I will show you everything. Every ledger. Every record. Every vault.”

I nodded once.

Reia comforted me as well. ”Don’t worry zora I’ll help you manage it so it grows.”

”Okay.”I said dazed.

Charlie grabbed Riley’s arm. ”She’s broken. She’s actually broken.”

Riley nodded. ”She’s in shock.”

Reia whispered, ”This is what happens when you find out you’re royalty AND wealthy.”

Halden leaned back on the stairs. ”She needs a reboot.”

Alexa fanned herself. ”I need a reboot.”

Lucas whispered to Nate, ”Should we... like... hug her?”

Nate smacked him upside the head, ”No you giant doofus, She might cry.”

The elder placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

”Zora,” he said, voice warm, ”you are the Nightbearer. Wealth is not your power. It is your tool. And you will learn to use it well.”

I swallowed. Trying to breath

”...O...whew...kay.” I gasped out.

My vision suddenly dimmed, and the room tilted sideways. I heard Charlie scream.

”ZORA...!”