章節 314: Camille First Day in the Academy
Will meant to arrive in Gadreel yesterday, but Lingling enticed him into spending the night.
She oversaw her duties with passion and dedication rarely seen outside of brothels.
But her constant need and attention meant Will visited Elizabeth and his family less and less during the summer.
Despite her plea to join him, he left her back at the base camp. Will wanted to catch up with his family without adding distractions.
Moreover, he felt it would be wrong to bring his mistress home while Elizabeth was pregnant.
He cast [Gate] from his fort's bedroom and teleported to his bedroom in Gadreel, with Micheal right behind.
He quickly got dressed and then quietly walked down the stairwell to let every know he was present.
Just before he was about to speak, he heard his daughter's voice and stopped his plans to overhear the conversation.
"Mother where's father? He's going to miss our trip to Guidon!" Camille asked Elizabeth in tears.
She had been looking forward to this trip for a month. She had expected her father to show up last night, so they could ride in the carriage as a family.
But it was after breakfast and still no sign-off father.
"Mother you don't think he's—" Camille began crying.
"No, if that happened, we would have heard something," Elizabeth said.
For months now Elizabeth intuitively felt something was off.
But it took her a while to pinpoint the problem until she found discreetly hidden cosmetic stains on his clothes.
It was then Elizabeth knew her husband had a mistress.
She was okay with Will sleeping with other women, but not missing out on his familial duties.
"My lady, it's time to go," the carriage master suggested.
"Then, let's go," Will said, walking downstairs.
"Father!" said a surprised Camille, hugging him.
"Did you think, I wouldn't come?" Will asked hugging her back.
Will walked over to a very pregnant Elizabeth to hug and kiss her, but she pushed him away.
"Elizabeth are you okay?" Will asked.
"Just the babies," she lied. She knew Will must have overheard her conversation with Camille
"Babies?" Will asked back in shock.
"Yes," she smiled as he delicately placed his hands over her stomach.
"That's great," Will said picking her up and spinning her in joy.
Elizabeth did her best to stay mad at Will, but she found it difficult. But, she loved him unconditionally.
"We'll be late if we don't hurry father," Camille warned.
The family quickly loaded into one carriage and set off for the airport.
Inside the carriage, Will caught up with his children. Camille and Edward had lots of stories to tell or tell them. Will enjoyed hearing about their lives, their friends, their hobbies, and their training.
As he listened, Will paid special attention to Camille who sat in the carriage and looked distractedly out the window.
He could see she felt nostalgic, just like he did when he first left the barony over 20 years ago.
"Are you thinking about fond memories?" Will asked Camille.
"Yes, father. I'm thinking about all the fun I had in the shopping district. The shopping district was where mom and I bought couture gowns and met with my school friends," she said nostalgically.
Will watched as Elizabeth lovingly held Camille's hand. Soon Camille's sadness faded away.
Soon, they made it to the airport, just as the last guests were loading. The airport and train station had substantially undergone improvements over the years.
The airport, train, and fort had combined into a Grand Central Station responsible for getting passengers on and off transport and through the enacted Border Force.
The Border Force was served to carry out immigration and customs controls for people and goods entering the Gadreel, as well as alerting passengers to dangerous animals nearby.
Camille saw several familiar families, families she knew would distract her father from her.
That's what she hated most about her father, she felt she always had to compete for his time.
"Lord vont Ballard," random people called out to greet her father to ask about the war, the city, or the kingdom, or if their family member was alive. Everyone had a question they wanted to be answered.
Seeing Camille and Edward's sad faces. Will raised his voice and announced, "excuse me, please let me make an announcement. Today, I am here as William vont Ballard, father not city lord. Please leave your questions with the City Manager."
"But we already have and have yet to hear a thing!" pleaded an angry female passenger.
"Madam, I shall assure you I shall have your questions answered. But not at this juncture. I shall contact Kurosawa vont Sato upon my return," Will said cordially.
"And why should we believe you? Some of us have been waiting months for news from our loved ones!" said another angry passenger.
"This is my first time hearing of such concerns. Do you think the kingdom would deny its soldiers' families from correspondence?" Will asked rhetorically raising his voice.
It was one thing to question a city lord, but it was entirely another thing to question a grandmaster-rank high noble.
"Please accept our apologies," the women begged to realize their rude behavior.
Camille happily followed behind her father to their airship suite.
"How long has it been since we went by airship or train? I've forgotten how novel this feels," Elizabeth sighed feeling the baby's kick.
"Can I feel?" Will asked excitedly.
Elizabeth nodded, as Will gently touched her belly. He could feel the soft kicks of babies pressing against her skin.
"There'll be strong like their father," Elizabeth said happily.
"And beautiful like their mother!" Will quickly add.
"Enough!" Edward called out. "I prefer not to see my parents' displays affectionately."
Will looked at his son, before quickly glancing at his attendant. She looked beat red, before looking down.
He knew he'd need to have a conversation about women later with Edward.
Everyone seemed to enjoy the family time. Camille and Edward enjoyed having their father to themselves.
At night, they leaned against Will before falling asleep.
"They missed you. Care to tell me what was more important than coming home to see your wife and children?" Elizabeth asked pointedly.
There was no easy way to Elizabeth the truth. In this world polygamy was legal, it was even expected me men would have several wives and mistresses.
Why did Will feel so bad, like he broke a law? Even after all this time, he still felt the need to follow his former Earthen norms and Christian values.
"Elizabeth there's no easy way to say this, so I'll just say it. I've been with my mistress. She was the former imperial princess of Qhosnir," he said rushing a little bit.
"I hoped it just be us for us, but I don't care if you have a mistress. It's still not an excuse to not see your family!" she said confrontationally.
"Yes, I apologize for that," Will said.
"Well now that you have two women in your life, how do you plan to manage things?
Shall she be living with us, or shall she have her manor in Gadreel?
And when are you going to introduce her to your family? " Elizabeth asked.
"Honestly, I haven't thought that far ahead?" Will confessed.
"Well think now. She can't stay in a war zone forever. And it's not far that she gets to see you more than your pregnant wife!" Elizabeth pouted.
"I'll have Kurosawa build a manor for her," Will thought.
"Well, I guess I should be happy to have you. I know how young women can captivate a man's time. You found me attractive too before I had your kids," she criticized.
"I still find you beautiful," Will replied truthfully.
"Thank you," Elizabeth said lovingly.
By the time, Edward and Camille woke up the airship was already in its descent.
They ate breakfast in the ship's large opulent dining hall before getting ready to land.
They quickly debarked and found Earl von Hannover and his family, including his new second wife Katherine, waiting for them at the airport.
Along with a bevy of well-dressed polished soldiers and ornate carriage for their family to ride to the academy.
"Greetings Grand Marquis and Lady vont Ballard," said the Earl with a bow.
And the Earl and his family finished bowing, Will and Elizabeth greeted their hosts and then greeted Katherine.
"Would Miss vont Ballard care for a tour?" Earl vont Hanover asked.
"Mother, Father, is it all right?" Camille asked excitedly.
"Yes, it's fine," Will agreed.
The Earl's family was dismissed, and he hop upon a horse and rode aside the carriage as he elaborated on the city's history.
Will also showed Camille and Edward where their parents first met and his first businesses. The little cafe, where Anne's still parents worked, served as a memento of his financial empire's beginnings.
However, what stood out as strange was the number of cadets and mages riding bicycles around the city.
Unlike Gadreel where the city was too congested for bicycle riders, Guidon's wide streets provided ample room for bike riders.
"They all look so young," Elizabeth marveled.
Will and Elizabeth looked at the young children in uniform. They looked so young, much younger than they remembered them looking.
After the tour, which Camille immensely enjoyed it was finally time to register at the Mage Academy.
The carriage pulled up outside the Mage Academy gates, where a large crowd of young people had gathered.
The students were separated into two columns, with a gap down the middle which city guards picked. Down the gap was a red slim carpet set in place for today's guests.
Everyone in Guidon knew what the Ballard family was into and the City Lord rode aside them on horseback.
For many, it was a surreal sight to see a family getting out of an ornate carriage and walking down a red carpet to where an instructor waited with a crystal ball.
Will and Earl von Hannover walked up to the instructor who bowed at the waist in deep respect.
"Here is a message from Headmaster Wang," Will said taking out an envelope from his waist and handing it to the instructor.
The instructor read the note, bowed again in thanks, and said, "I am glad the Headmaster Wang is well. I shall pass along his instructors to the other instructors."
Then the instructor turned to Camille and said, "Put your hand in this we need to measure your mana pool and aptitude," he advised.
Camille nervously complied. The crystal ball shined golden and then translucent.
"You have a large mana pool and indeed are capable of casting light and wind magic. Do you want to go into the battle mage or light mage route?" the instructor asked.
"I want to be a healer?" Camille said with certainty.
"Why? How can, you be sure? Look at your father. You'd be an extraordinary battle mage!" he advised.
"No, I want to heal and help people," Camille said again.
"Then you are accepted. Go to the Registrar to register for classes, get your uniforms, and books, and pay your tuition," the instructor said respectfully.
"Wait! What about the written exam?" Camille asked.
"Hasn't Sage Ming and your parents trained you? Due to your status, you're exempted from the test. Just go ahead and register," the instructor informed her.
Will said farewell to the city lord, and the family walked inside the Mage Academy.
Will and Elizabeth both felt nostalgic seeing the buildings, dueling grounds, and the hidden entrance to the alcove where Elder Thaddeus' cottage used to stand.
Camille quickly registered for her classes, and received her uniform and books, while Will paid the tuition.
Then the family walked to the Whitby Manor on campus. Elizabeth's had already hired staff to reopen and prepare it for Camille's arrival.
When they arrived, the staff was already outside forming a column that was down the stairs.
Elizabeth gave Camille a quick tour, and afterward, the family had a small lunch.
When it was time to leave, Elizabeth and Camille cried their goodbyes. Even Edward cried a little even though he did his best to hide the fact.
And with that Will cast [Gate], and the family waved to Camille one last time before they vanished.
For the first time in her life, Camille was on her own.
"Henrietta, let's go to the dining hall and meet some friends," Camille said determinately.
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