Chương 176: Chapter 171 - Oaths

"Our oaths," Margaret said with a small smile, her gaze drifting from Alric to the two girls. Alric looked at the four scrolls she was holding. Yeah, I still don't like this. They had discussed the wording at length, which meant Margaret had shown Alric a proper oath. Much to his horror. Any wording around obedience, permanent service, punishments for leaving, or putting their magic under his command were removed with Alric feeling various levels of revulsion.

Margaret had become annoyed with him as they had come up with the new oath. Alric had stayed committed to not having children pledge their lives to him. The oath they had come up with was closer to a pledge of loyalty but they were still swearing loyalty to him though. Alric let out a long sigh through his nose. Margaret had explained numerous times. The oath would place Margaret and the two girls under his protection and his status as a royal factor.

Some distant noble or family member couldn't claim them without directly challenging his own authority. Authority directly handed to him by the king. It also committed him to the atelier, which in Alric's mind was true without anyone needing to kneel and swear undying loyalty but nobles liked promises written down and witnessed by any important people nearby. Nobles seemed to have something against knees he noted.

Margaret untied the first scroll and spread it across the table, weighing it down with small metal paper weights. Alric leaned closer. Helfried. He stared at the signed name in confusion before realizing it belonged to Battery. Battery had been Battery from the first day Alric met him. Helfried sounded like a serious man with clean clothes who liked to prepare serious speeches about fertilizer. Battery though?

Battery filled a brewery magical charging station every morning, looked tired while doing anything and wanted to flatten fields with magic.

"Battery signed before he left," Margaret said, carefully arranging the scrolls and paperweights without unfurling them.

"I witnessed it." She pointed down to the line below Helfried where she had signed.

"He also thought it was strange?" Alric asked, glancing over at Margaret with one raised brow.

"He asked if the 'asking for help line' was personal," Margaret said, turning away quickly but Alric saw the grin. She unrolled and weighed down the second scroll; it was Margaret's scroll.

"It wasn't only for him," Alric said with a frown, he glanced toward Nicolette and Victoria. Nicolette drew herself straighter, her eyebrows shooting up. Victoria looked toward her sister and then back at Alric. Alric watched the pair for a moment with a smile before he returned his attention to Helfried's name. Alric wasn't particularly worried if Battery did or didn't trust him.

The boy had argued to remain at the brewery after all, then argued to keep filling the station and finally explained that he liked being called the brewer's mage. Margaret clapped her hands once which caused Alric to get a fright. The two maids looked up at Margaret and approached.

"You may leave," Margaret said, giving both maids a small nod and smile, she started unrolling the last two scrolls. The maids nodded, curtsied and left. Closing the door as they went. Nicolette set her quill into the little holder beside her paper. Victoria pushed back her chair too quickly and hit one knee against the underside of the table. She winced and rubbed it furiously. Both stood and made their way over to Margaret, Victoria tried not to limp.

Alric watched them arrange themselves trying to keep his cuteness aggression in check. Victoria even had a pale pink ribbon in her hair.

"You are joining them?" Alric asked, pointing toward the Margaret's scroll.

"Am I not part of this atelier?" Margaret said, stretching and smiling as she moved between her cousins.

"Wait… I thought you were conducting this?" Alric said, looking from her to the girls.

"I am conducting it," Margaret said, she pulled one sleeve forward before she checked on her two cousins.

"but I also take the pledge." Alric nodded, pretending he had known that was simpler. Margaret led the girls into the open space near the centre of the room where there was a small rug, Alric approved of that detail. He moved opposite them and tried to work out what he was meant to do with himself. Margaret had explained the ceremony, but most of her explanation had concerned the wording and that they did in fact, need to kneel. Apparently, the person being sworn to simply stood around. Love this story?

Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work! Alric folded his arms first but that felt severe and serious. He unfolded them and placed his hands behind his back but that reminded him of Calvern examining Maggie for fire hazards. He eventually held his hands together loosely in front of himself trying to seem relaxed. Margaret did her final checks on her cousins and lowered herself to her knees, somehow, she even managed to look graceful.

Nicolette and Victoria followed shortly with less grace and Victoria stepping on her skirt one time. Margaret waited until both girls had settled before crossing her arms over her chest, bending her back slightly. Nicolette copied her. Victoria looked at the position of their hands and crossed hers the wrong way around before correcting herself. All three lowered their gazes. Alric got self-conscious about his shoes again. This is awkward as hell. Margaret took a deep breath.

"I swear to stand with this atelier while I remain within it," Margaret said, holding her head bowed while her voice carried through the room. Nicolette repeated the line clearly; her arms held firmly against herself.

"I swear to stand with this… atel…" Victoria said, slowing as she reached the unfamiliar word, she glanced at Margaret.

"Atelier," Margaret said, turning her head slightly while remaining on her knees.

"Atelier," Victoria repeated, pressing her lips together before she began the line again and facing down again. She reached the end of the line on the second attempt. The pledge was simple: I swear to stand with this atelier while I remain within it. I will not raise my magic against my fellows. I will not betray those who trust me. I will protect those weaker than myself when I am able. I will learn as best I can. I will ask for help before trying something, which I think is 'probably fine.'

I accept that mistakes are lessons. I swear this freely.

"Which you think is probably fine," Margaret said, keeping her voice steady but he shot Alric a brief but annoyed look before turning her attention to the rug again.

"Which I think is probably fine," Victoria finished, smiling when she reached the end. Alric nodded, in an attempt to maintain composure, he didn't look at Margaret. They had debated that line. Alric couldn't help but think if he had followed that pledge, he would have accomplished very little since arriving in this world. Most of the brewery had begun with something Alric thought would be 'probably fine'. Maggie had certainly begun that way. It's a good rule for the girls though, probably for Battery too.

Margaret's glanced at her cousins as she continued, "I accept that mistakes are lessons," Margaret said, bringing his attention back to the ceremony. Nicolette repeated it. Victoria said the line slightly louder than her sister and looked pleased by that. Alric nodded once more.

"I swear this freely," Margaret said, lowering her chin. Nicolette repeated the final line. Victoria followed her without needing help. The room became quiet. Margaret and both girls remained kneeling. Their arms stayed crossed and their gazes remained lowered. Alric looked down at them.

"I accept," Alric said, desperately trying to make the answer sound as formal as Margaret wanted. Margaret remained where she was. Alric waited. Margaret's eyes shifted upward.

"You can… uh… you may rise," Alric said, grimacing, unsure if it was his line or not. Margaret rose smoothly, then held out a hand to Victoria who took it. Nicolette stood on her own and straightened her sleeves. Margaret led them to the table to sign the scrolls. Nicolette dipped the quill, wiped one side of the nib against the rim and began writing. She formed every letter slowly, pausing between. Victoria leaned over her shoulder.

"You are watching too closely," Nicolette said, keeping the quill lifted while she glanced sideways.

"I am just looking," Victoria said, resting both hands against the table but leaning in far too close.

"You are breathing on me." Nicolette said, her head moving forward and widening her eyes at her sister.

"I have to breathe." Victoria said, lifting one side of her lips and shaking her head slightly. Margaret placed one hand against Victoria's shoulder and moved her back half a step.

"Let your sister finish," Margaret said, giving her a firm look while Nicolette returned to the page. His name went beneath every promise. That had been another part he was firm on. Margaret had prepared a separate acceptance document for him, but Alric wanted his signature on the same page as theirs. If the pledge was supposed to work both ways, it should at least look like it. Margaret began sprinkling sand onto the ink.

Alric sat down and signed each pledge individually, cursing the quills and ink nibs at every turn. He had learnt how to use them, but he seemed to drip ink on things more often than not. Victoria remained beside Alric's chair. She watched Margaret work, then turned toward him with both hands clasped in front of herself.

"Mister Alric," Victoria said, rocking slightly onto the front of her shoes while she looked up at him.

"Hmmm?" Alric asked, putting the quill into its upright holder and turning to face her.

"I will also try to eat my vegetables," Victoria said, drawing herself upright while keeping her expression serious. Alric stared at her; he put his hands in front of his chest to stop himself pinching cheeks. Nicolette looked toward the ceiling. Margaret stopped rolling the first scroll but Alric heard a scoff.

"All of them?" Alric asked, leaning forward and almost whispering. Victoria seemed to shrivel slightly, "Most of them, I'll try," she said, looking away from her sister and Margaret. There was a slight scowl there Alric noted.

"Good enough," Alric said, giving her a solemn nod.

"I accept." Victoria smiled widely.

"Your oath is strange," Nicolette said, from her seat across the table, she looked at Alric with a frown. Margaret's head turned sharply, "Nicolette, that is rude," Margaret said, drawing herself straighter while she placed both hands against the table. She leaned toward Nicolette; Alric could sense a lecture coming on.

"It's fine Margaret," Alric said, raising one hand toward Margaret before she continued. Alric stood and moved around the table to squat down in front of Nicolette.

"What do you find strange about it?"

"It does not say we have to obey you," Nicolette said, glancing to the papers, "Like not properly."

"I don't want that though," Alric said, he tilted his head to the side and grinned.

"Then what was it all for?" Nicolette asked frowning at him.

"It's the oath I want," Alric said, pointing toward the writing.

"We will try to be good to one another. Don't use your magic against people who trust you. Ask for help when you need it." Nicolette looked toward her sister. Victoria was still smiling about the vegetables.

"You should try to learn," Alric continued, he braced his hand on his knee.

"You should help when you can. That is enough. We will probably grow but with mages who come from poor families." Nicolette was quiet for a moment, "What about you though?" Nicolette asked, leaning against the table.

"I will try to do the same," Alric said, resting both hands against his knees. Nicolette watched him for some time before giving him one slow nod. Alric stood, pressing his hands against his knees as he straightened. Margaret rolled the final page and tied it with the others.