The royal library

Since your personal library mostly contains books pertaining to your current and previous studies the amount of books that are helpful to Doe is quite limited. The royal library instead is much bigger and has a greater focus on basic and advanced magic for her. When Doe sees the huge collection of books she almost couldn’t believe her eyes. If she is already amazed by this many books, you’d love to see her expression when you show her the library in the mages academy.

You quickly find a couple of books for Doe to read and seat her at a table to read them. While she is busy you search for a book for yourself. One of your other projects it to try and find a way to absorb mana. Not like the globus imperialis. That one creates like a black hole that consume mana and makes it disappear. What you want to do is store the mana so it can be used later. But so far you haven’t succeeded. You’ve tried to trap mana in glass balls and crystals … always the same failure. Maybe some of the books here on the creation of magical artifacts can give you some clues.

You flip through the pages, trying to find a chapter that has what you need. While you do this, you see one of the noble ladies from the king’s court walk into the room. It is Duchess Akemi. One of the nobles from the eastern provinces and the one noble who last night requested you to transform her into a foxgirl.
Though she is in her late 30’s she is quite the Asian beauty. Her dress is representative of her heritage. It is a black wide sleeved kimono with red decoration. Underneath she’s got a bright red undergarment that drags over the ground keeping her feet hidden. You wonder what books she is here to read. At any rate, you better focus on your book instead of her looks.

Suddenly your concentration is broken when somebody whispers “Fancy seeing you here, Count God’s Wrath.”
You don’t need to look up to know it is the Asian Duchess.
“Your presence honors me, Duchess.” You politely whisper back at her without looking away from the book. “I take it you are here to find some reading material like myself.”
“Sorry to disappoint.” The duchess whispers in your ear. “But I’m not here for any books. I was hoping to find you instead. I just figured the library was the best place to find you.”
“I was quite tired last night, Duchess. I have not yet had time to think about transforming you into a foxgirl.” You reply.
“I understand.” The Duchess says. “I just want you to know that if you do agree with my request, you will be receiving a generous reward.”
Just like you thought. Give them some time and the prizes will come flowing in by themselves. Though this is much faster than you anticipated.
“And what reward did you have in mind?” You ask.
“How do you feel about getting married?” The Duchess asks.
A couple feet away, at the table, Doe’s ears twitch and direct themselves toward you and the duchess.
You look up from your book and your eyes are instantly drawn towards the Duchess’s chest. There is an opening in her kimono, right where her cleavage is. Her bosom is large and her clothes are tight. It is clear it was designed to draw people’s eyes straight towards her boobs.

You raise your eyes higher and look into her large dark eyes.
“You know how I feel about getting married, Duchess.” You tell her in a hushed voice abiding by library standards.
“I do.” She replies in whisper. “But my beloved daughter has just turned 18. She would make such a lovely bride for you. Besides, it is not often a Count like yourself can marry someone of higher birth. Imagine what vast lands your firstborn will inherit if you agree.”
You look back into your book and say, “I need to think about it.”
“Please don’t taketoo long.” Duchess Akemi says while smiling. “Or I might decide to marry my daughter to that rival of yours.”
You quickly look back up from your book. She wouldn’t.
“Of course, whichever man is to bind his life to my daughter’s would enjoy far reaching benefits.” The Duchess continues. “It could for example result in my land’s borders being thrown wide open for Count Indirect’s catfolk refugees to settle. Or they could be denied access to my lands while you receive a permit to transform as many of my people into foxfolk as you like.”
Oh that is a dirty move. She wants to be transformed into a foxgirl so badly she is basically willing to sell her daughter over it and if you don’t accept she’ll spite you by giving it all to the person you hate the most.
“You will have my answer tonight.” You say.
“I’m looking forward to it.” The Duchess says and starts walking away.

As soon as the Duchess has left the library Doe jumps off her chair and walks straight towards you.
“I heard everything.” She whispered angrily. “Who does she think she is, marrying off her daughter like that. The poor girl probably doesn’t even know the decision being made for her while it should be hers to make.”
“That is just how it goes with nobility. Marriages for favors. Big favors, but still.” You calmly tell your apprentice, no, fiancé.
“Yeah, having an entire duchy to turn into fox people is not a small thing. Just how big is her duchy anyways?” Doe asks.
“It is five counties large and for two of those three she holds the title of the county.”
“Wait, how does that work?” Doe asks.
“The Duchy she controls is named Kurohantõ. The five counties in that duchy are named Shirohama, Shinsei-Yama, Kosui Tõketsu, Nigiwatte hayashi and Hōfuna Tahata. When you address her with all her titles you are to call her Duchess of Kurohantõ, countess of Shirohama and countess of Shinsei-Yama. The other three counties are ruled over by counts that have pledged to be her vassals.” You explain.
“Wow, that’s a lot.” Doe says. “You would exert quite a lot more power over the land if all that territory could be yours through but a single marriage.”
You place a hand on Doe’s shoulder and say, “I’ve already pledged myself to you.”
Your fiancé holds your hand and says, “Thank you. But if you don’t accept your rival will be the one marrying her daughter and then he will get all that power.”
“But are you fine with me marrying someone else instead?” You ask.
Doe looks into your eyes and says, “I will support whatever you decide.”