<div class="floatright">(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w172/minarou/wizardress.jpg)</div>“An invitation? From whom?<br/><br/>“From her Ladyship, Sigrid von Haj!”<br/><br/>“Never heard of her.”  Shandri Obertyle took the envelope from her trusted aide’s offering hand, flipping both sides – one with the inviter’s wax-encrusted personal seal, and the other where the name of the invitee, which is her, was written – before opening it.  Her aid’s entrance to her office proved timely, as it provided a break from her toil over the backlog of paperwork piled on her desk, mostly awaiting her signature for approval.<br/><br/>“Of course you haven’t. If only you would stay put, learn to speed all the things the late Duke, bless his soul, had done in governing Aspia, and its people, instead of roaming around places, far and wide, and mingling with the masses in secret, who I must point out are not even your designated subjects – just so to know of their actual condition and of those who rule over them,” he finally had time to breathe. “You would easily come to know someone as famous as Lady Sigrid von Haj!”<br/><br/>“And I suppose you’ll tell me everything about her anyway.  Won’t you, Bertrum?” she hummed, her eyes having not left from the letter, reading its contents with the aid of a single glass spectacle.<br/><br/>Bertrum was the late Duke’s top adviser and confidant, having assisted him in the governance of Aspia without fail when he was alive.  Younger than the past lord but older than Shandri, he is now her top adviser.<br/><br/>“What kind of advisor would I be, if I do not counsel you at least in such matters?”  His features softened somewhat but he still gave her a pensive look.  Sighing, he continued.  “Lady von Haj is well known throughout the Empire as a great wizard of power, who is said to be an ardent collector of ancient artifacts.  It is said her collection includes discoveries found in many places within the Empire and even beyond.  Her estates are large and expansive, and it seems she has a peculiar preference for female servants. “  Shandri’s brow rose at the mention of this.  Her eyes now directed at Breturm; it was her turn to give her adviser a brooding expression.<br/><br/>“Are they in any way mistreated perhaps?” she anxiously asked.<br/><br/>Bertrum swallowed.  “I must shamefully admit, I do not have any further information on that.”<br/><br/>“It’s alright Bertrum.  We do have our own limits,” giving him a reassuring smile, with a hint of amusement.  The man coughed awkwardly at this.  “Is there anything else?”<br/><br/>“Well,” recovering from his embarrassment, a slight grin formed on his face. “There is one other thing. But it is too trifling to mention-“<br/><br/>“Just say it Bertrum.”<br/><br/>“Very well, if I must,” bracing himself, he continued. “I’ve heard that her Ladyship seem uninterested in the prospect of marriage.  Does that remind you of a certain someone?”<br/><br/>“That’s not an issue here,” she mentioned with a sullen face. “Next!”<br/><br/>“I’m afraid that is all there is to know about Lady von Haj, and humbly ask for your forgiveness if my information was not much of any help to you.”<br/><br/>“Oh, but it did help.  And I stand corrected.  It is true I don’t know much of Lady von Haj. But this invitation has given me the opportunity to meet and to know more about this eccentric wizard.  Perhaps her ‘collection’ deserves scrutiny, to determine if any would pose a threat to the Empire, and to its people. As well as to know the score on her estates and her subjects, particularly on her female servants.”<br/><br/><hr/><br/>“Her Grace, the Duchess Shandri Obertyle of the Duchy of Aspia, and Imperial Emissary to the Northern Lands!”<br/><br/>Shandri wanted to stop the servant girl from what she perceives as demeaning roll given to her but refrained from doing so less she might fall to disfavor with her master, and she did not want that to happen. Instead she gave the servant girl an approving smile and nod at a job well done in addressing her arrival. Moving on, she was surprised to find out that the Imperial Siblings – the prince and princess are present for the occasion.  Perhaps things will turn very interesting soon enough.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Shana's party attire</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="floatleft">https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/2/26/Vanadis.jpg</div></div></div>