"Take your time and figure out exactly what it is you'd like to do." Villian replied before continuing to eat. Kelly and Taylor were much happier now that they had spoken. So the rest of the meal had a much more pleasant atmosphere.

Breakfast was finished by the three children and Villain's schedule was a little lighter today. So she took that extra time to explain to Kelly and Taylor what was going to go on. She had only seen the ceremony once when she was eight. It was before the plague hit and most of her family died. An uncle of some nature had remarried and wanted to adopt the child birthed by his new wife from a previous marriage.

It was hard to explain but in simpler terms. Nobility isn't just tracked by blood. But it can also be tracked by magic as well. So many noble houses like the Ness family. Have ceremonies to introduce new people to the magic associated with the house. Unlike most other families, however, the Ness's family magic came from their fae lineage. While Villain wasn't sure what kind of fairy was her ancestor. All she knew was that a fairy of some sort fell in love with a human. Together they had a child and that child became the first Count Ness. Ever since then children of the house of Ness all share either orange eyes or green hair.

Villain had both proving her lineage. If she were by some chance stuck in the Far Wildes she would be fine. This is because, unlike most other ancestries, fae blood doesn't thin over time. So she was just as much of fae as the first count was. That all being said, the process of inducting an outsider to that sort of magic... Could be painful.

The three of them sat in a drawing room drinking tea that afternoon as Villian explained the process to the children. "How bad is it?" Taylor asked looking concerned, Villie frowned softly, "Bad enough that I think Kelly should wait a couple of years before doing it." Villian replied, Kelly tilted her head, "But you said I could be a Ness." She whined softly, "You will, but the process is hard, I'm worried you might be really hurt." Villian spoke calmly. Taylor frowned deeply, "I'll do it first and then if Kelly wants to do it still we'll figure it out from there." He announced. 

"If that's what you want," Villie replied taking a sip of her tea. "After the ceremony, you'll begin your education Taylor," Villain added, Taylor nodded, and they decided further into the conversation that there was no time like the present and that Taylor would be inducted into the family that night. Villian announced this to the servants and preparations were on their way to throw together a ceremony. 

Thomas assisted with preparations as well knowing the ceremony much better than Villian. Baths were given to all three children in the evening. Fine silk robes were placed on them and Villie's hair was pulled back into a bun with flowers in it. The children were taken to the forest near the estate, candles lit up a clearing under the cloudy sky. A stone circle surrounded by candles sat in the middle of a clearing filled with wildflowers and mushrooms. Somehow, even during the winter, this part of the forest was never frozen. 

Villie suspected it was from the family's magic, a warmth filled her body as they approached. The symbols carved into the stone glowed green and the area was filled with yellow orbs as Villie got closer. Kelly giggled grabbing one of the orbs and holding it gently in her hand as she was sat down by Diana. 

Usually, this matter was a private affair for the family, but being that it was different this time. The servants of the estate stood there among the treeline surrounding the clearing. Villie looked to Thomas as he sat her down. Carefully she made her way over to the stone podium covered with moss. She, with Thomas's help, was able to stand on the stool placed there. Once up Villie motioned for Taylor who cautiously walked towards the stone circle.

"Stand in it." She told him, Taylor seemed for the first time in a while like a little boy. He was scared, Kelly rushed over to his side and grabbed his hand. "Kelly." He tried to scold but his sister smiled at him, the two of them walked in together. Villian frowned disliking Kelly joining in, but if they were both going to insist on it... 

She took a deep breath, "Thank you all for coming and assisting in this ceremony." She spoke calmly looking at the servants. "Today is a special day, after tragedy, the Ness family is growing. It's my hope that even after today, my family will continue to grow." Villian focused on the brief speech she had written only a few minutes before this.

She felt a dull pain dug into her from her prosthetic, it hurt to stand without the cane supporting her. She gripped the paper tightly and ignored it. "Kelly, Taylor." She called their names, the two children perked up hearing this. "By taking on the name Ness you are agreeing to cut all ties you had before." She spoke reading off the notes that Thomas had given her. "Whatever name you may have had before is no longer yours after this." She continued, "By agreeing to take the name Ness you declare all magical ties to your previous family cut and open yourself to the binds of the Ness family." Villian continued, "Do you agree?" She asked looking up at them.

"Yes." Kelly agreed straight away with a smile, "Y... Yes." Taylor stuttered out, Villian took a deep breath. "I, Villian Ness, Countess of House Ness declare to all governing bodies of man and spirit that these children have agreed to take on the name of Ness. What spirit or deity that may have laid claim to them can no longer, these children are now children of the house of Ness!" Villian spoke loudly and clearly, she felt a surge of magical power leave her making her lean against the podium.

The symbols that were carved into the stone of the podium lit up and traveled to the stone circle. Villian felt pain as if a limb had been ripped from her again. She held back a scream of pain just as the screams from Kelly and Taylor filled the air. Her hands as if glued could not be removed from the stone for what felt like an eternity. Finally, when Villian could pull her hands free she collapsed to the ground, gasping for air she felt like she had been holding her breath for way too long.

"Villie!" Thomas was by her side in an instant. Villian was sat up by Thomas as she panted, the light slowly faded from the stone circle and the two children inside were on their knees still, despite everything holding each other's hands. Villie despite her breathlessness felt many things seeing this, relief that the children seemed okay, but also jealousy that she had no one's hand to hold like Taylor and Kelly had each other.

Catching her breath she watched as the magic settled and the children's hair turned to the same color of green as hers. It started from the roots and spread down. Kelly shivered as she looked up meeting Villian's gaze, her eyes a bright orange much like hers. Taylor who grabbed Kelly pulling her close kept his old eye color, a cool blue. Villian was aware that the younger the child is the more the family magic could take hold. Maybe that was why Kelly looked more like her than Taylor. With Thomas's help Villian stood up, Villian grabbed her cane and slowly walked over to the children.

Standing there in the circle with them, Villian helped them stand up. "Are you two alright?" She asked, Taylor and Kelly leaned against her. "That hurt a lot." Kelly mumbled, "I know. But it's over now, we're family from now on okay?" Villian spoke softly, Kelly looked up at her and nodded. Villian looked at Taylor who nodded as well, all three of them hugged quietly under the cloudy night sky.

Villie allowed all Kelly and Taylor time to rest after their experience. Though as the head of the house, Villian had no such luxuries. Piled up paperwork from her time in Ivory was her companion in her office. Though Thomas had handled most everything there were certain things that even the butler would not be able to do. Taxes were paid to the crown, new bylaws were established, and Villian eyed the stack of paperwork sent over by Count Sigmund, it had been sent over a few months after he had sent a declaration of debt. Which was just a public promise that he was paying the debt to the Ness family in full.

Villian flipped through it quietly in the silence of her office, bonds and investments were signed over into her name. The Sigmund printing company now belonged to her, there was also records showing the proof of sale of half of the Count's prized horses. All together Count Sigmund had raised one hundred platinum. Villian then took a look at the letter attached to the packet.

Countess Ness,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. As promised, here is the majority of my debts to your house. It may take me a little longer to pay the debt in full, but I hope there be no ill will between our houses from now on.

Sincerely,

Count Charles Sigmund

It was short and to the point, Villian could see the exhaustion in his writing. It seemed that after hanging Leslie and absorbing the Raymond territory she was being taken seriously. There was nothing the old count valued more than his granddaughters and the family name continuing. Villian feeling a bit more merciful grabbed a parchment and began to write back.

Count Sigmund,

Your letter has found me in good spirits. Thank you so much for paying the majority of your debts to my family. Rather than paying the remaining twenty platinum, I propose an alternative solution. I'm aware of your responsibility to your granddaughters. It would be quite cruel to leave them without support being of the same age as them.

Therefore I would like to suggest a trade for services. The house of Sigmund providing military support to Ness in the acquisition of the Westly territories. For your services there, I will wipe fifteen of the remaining twenty platinum from your debt and consider the last five as a gesture of goodwill between our houses. 

Should you take this opportunity to take the entire burden of the military endeavor, I will consider your debt paid in full and return the services by providing the town of Westmire as well as the Sigmund printing company back.

Please send a response once you've decided.

Sincerely,

Countess Villian Ness