Elysia looked at him somewhat blankly, “I simply happened to have strayed to this area of the hall.”

  “...”

  The man stayed silent.

  Even without having gotten far, it was clear as day that her excuse of ‘having stumbled here’ hadn’t seemed to convince him—it was fabricated in the moment, after all. He knew she came with intentions to speak with him, but his inclinations for that matter were unknown.

  ‘He feels distant but not so much to be strangers. How peculiar…’, Elysia mused.

  At the thought of that, she’d devised that trying to be cunning with wordplay, in all likelihood, would not fare well for her. She scanned his face: unconcerning, the dull blue hue of his eyes, overlaid by a few strands of dark hair, similarly were monitoring her.

  “Do you know why I’m here?”, she asked, this time more frankly.

  “Why, yes,” he said matter-of-factly,

  “You must be here to get details about all the fascinating hearsay from a man of the Parliament, I presume.”

  “What?” Elysia's formality slipped, and she covered her lips in embarrassment at the realization.

  “Oh… Is it not about that?”

  There was a hint of disappointment apparent in his voice. Without another word, he quaffed down the rest of his drink, plopping it down on his dining table.

  “Ah, What a fine evening it is, at such an occasion, no less… The kind of evening where one might reflect on the state of things. A kingdom standing tall… yet not untouched by the winds of change.”

  The man’s tone took a strange turn, now more on the romanticist side. Elysia’s fingers tightened around the stem of her goblet, indulging in his line of thought,

  “Change is inevitable, I’m certain you are aware of that,” she replied carefully, tilting her head,

  “But it isn’t quite a simple change, is it..? However, whether that change is for better or worse is always a matter of perspective.”

  “Ah, perspective,” the man mused, resuming the swirling of his own glass with an almost idle elegance.

  “It is a remarkable thing, Lady Luminastra. Some look at the same painting and see a masterpiece, while others see only scrawls of acrylic on a frame. And yet, for those who truly understand…They perceive.”

  “Do you perceive anything?”

  She tried to pry for more, as this clarity of his could be short lived.

  The man exhaled softly,

  “I perceive a fleeting moment approaching,” the man murmured, his voice moving almost uniformly through each of his uttered syllables, like the ticking of a metronome.

  “A moment where choices will have to be made—not in the name of tradition, nor in the name of blind loyalty, but in the name of something far more… lasting.”

  Outstretched from his hand—no, maybe his sleeve—a piece of parchment flew out, and landed neatly on Elysia’s palm. She wore a perplexed face as she took a look at what it wrote.

  “Common’s Yenta”

  She looked back up at the man, wondering if he’d accidentally given her a gossip club’s meeting letter. But, she was still met with his unwavering eyes, as though he was waiting for her to say something.

  “What is this?”

  “...Tell me, Lady Luminastra—when the time comes to truly see the kingdom for what it is, what will you choose? The order imposed upon our society, or the desires that stir within its people?”

  The man seemed to have little regard for answering Elysia, only speaking in vague questions. However, Elysia didn’t shy away from his barrage of questions, facing him directly; the weight of his words still pressed upon her, but she had to meet them with resolve. Losing his favor would mean that going to the banquet was all for naught in terms of gaining information for herself.

  “I… I would choose the desires of our people.”

  A small, knowing smile played upon the man’s lips,

  “Then, what do you think of joining those who share those visions? They may guide you so to your ambitions.”

  Elysia stiffened, her fingers tightening slightly around the fabric of her gown. She was unsure whether to accept his invitation, even if her goal was to curry favor with him—it would be problematic to explain or hide this from her family.

  “I apologize, but I’m unable to commit to your request at this time; mayhaps, might we consider another opportunity to speak on this matter in the future?” Her words were deliberately polite.

  The man shook his head lightly,

  “Well, I figured as much.” His tone carried no surprise, only certainty, as if her refusal had been but a step in a dance already choreographed.

  “But yes, our destinations may cross yet again… Shred and ignite the parchment paper if that time arises.”

  And with that, he turned, slipping through into the swirling mass of nobles. Elysia tried to track his movement, but—within that nick of time—he was gone, vanished without a trace, as if he had never been there at all.

  Upon his leaving, Elysia could only heave a sigh, releasing some of her tension and befuddlement. She looked around, wondering if anyone had been listening into their conversation.

  She quickly discovered that her concerns were unfounded; everyone else was too engrossed in their own colloquies to pay heed elsewhere.

  ‘I should get moving and think about Sir Yuriel’s proposal later… His Majesty’s arrival should be close.’

  [10 minutes later…]

  The banquet hall buzzed with activity, a lively symphony of conversation and laughter that came to an abrupt halt as the musicians played their final notes. A fanfare of trumpets rang through the grand space, commanding attention toward the towering double doors at the far end of the hall. At the end of the opening performance, a palpable pressure settled over the room—an invisible presence that could cause one to feel tremors in their heart.

  The surrounding conversations ceased, and nobles instinctively bowed their heads in deference. Among them, Elysia, Tokei, and Farthington remained near the enigmatic Seraphina, their expressions carefully composed.

  Through the doors strode King Kaelvryn Nieren, his crimson hair sharp and sickle-like, his radiant blue eyes looking upon the gathered elite. With every movement, he exuded authority worthy of his royalty. Next, Queen Trisha Nieren followed with dignified stature, her rare pink hair and viridian eyes akin to a portrait come-alive. At her side, their daughter, Crown Princess Thalina Nieren, mirrored her mother’s poise, bearing her father’s poised eyes and her mother’s regality, however yet still young and full of energy lying beneath it all.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The royal family advanced toward the elevated thrones at the head of the hall. As they took their seats, a herald stepped forward, his voice resonating across the silent chamber.

  “His Majesty, King Kaelvryn Nieren, Her Majesty, Queen Trisha Nieren, and Crown Princess Thalina Nieren,” he proclaimed,

  “May the prosperity of Arden shine ever brighter under their rule.”

  The nobles responded with an ovation, their applause resonating in sanctimonious unison.

  Elysia joined in on the clapping, though her hands trembled ever-so faintly. Even from a distance, the King’s formidable presence bore a heavy weight on her; perhaps this was the King subtly punishing the Luminastra’s high-handedness. After what Tokei had mentioned not that long ago, it didn’t seem improbable.

  Her suspicions confirmed itself when the King’s watchful eyes swept over the crowd, meeting her. She pursed her lips, not daring to look at him directly. A cold knot tightened in her stomach.

  …

  Farthington, meanwhile, stood attentively by the refreshment table with Seraphina.

  “Our Majesty, the King, appears to be in one of his... decisive moods,” Seraphina remarked softly, her golden-green eyes gleaming with intrigue,

  “I wonder what’ll come of it this time~”

  Farthington arched an eyebrow. “You’re quite well informed despite being someone who cares so little.”

  She offered a sly smirk but said nothing further, her attention returning to the royal family.

  Farthington’s earlier act had faded away, no longer bothered to keep up appearances. His eyes narrowed, taking glances at Seraphina as a distinct, but not entirely foreign, drifting feeling took over his mind.

  ‘That snobbiness of hers earlier threw me for a loop. I guess even she knows when to pay her respects, but I can’t get this unease off of me, ever since I wandered off into the woods…’

  He ruminated upon the words she eerily said with her contrastingly cheery voice,

  ‘Hah, I don’t think I’ll be forgetting about this any time soon…’

  That wasn’t to say that he wanted to stay here—in fact, quite the opposite; they were never meant to be here. So why did they end up here? Why are all of these developments happening now?

  He was starting to feel quite envious that Kaelith got to sit back at home.

  “Lucky bastard,” Farthington inaudibly grumbled.

  The guests began going up to the King one by one. Each offered up their greetings for the evening, and now it was Elysia’s turn.

  Elysia took a steadying breath as she stepped forward, the nervous energy swirling fiercely behind her barely smiling expression. Tokei followed a few paces behind, her sharp eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger or intrigue.

  As Elysia approached the King, she curtsied deeply, her head bowed in respect. “Your Majesty,” she said, her voice steady and polite. “It is an honor to be in your presence this evening.”

  King Kaelvryn’s piercing blue eyes bore into her, his lips curving into a faint, inscrutable smile. “Lady Luminastra,” he replied,

  “It is good to see you representing your family tonight. I trust all is well in the March of Luminastra?”

  Elysia nodded, keeping her expression serene. “Yes, Your Majesty. The people are thriving, and we remain ever loyal to the crown.”

  A flicker of something unreadable crossed the King’s face, and for a moment, Elysia thought she saw the slightest change in his expression. Was it in delight, or disdain?

  “Loyalty,” he repeated, sounding thoughtful,

  “A virtue every noble should hold dear. Your family has always been... steadfast in its convictions.”

  She knew what he meant; her family had brought him dissatisfaction with their actions.

  “W-we strive to serve Arden to the best of our abilities, Your Majesty,” she quickly reassured him.

  “Good. It is nobles like you who ensure the strength of our kingdom. Now then, I must be encroaching upon your time, so you’ve ought to head on your way. Enjoy your evening, Lady Luminastra.”

  “By your will.”

  Elysia curtsied to him and turned to leave, feeling the weight of his gaze on her back until she returned to Tokei’s side.

  “That was... tense,” Tokei murmured as they moved back into the crowd.

  “He doesn’t trust my family,” Elysia replied quietly, her voice laced with frustration.

  “No matter what we do, it’s never enough to prove our loyalty.”

  “Or maybe he sees your family as a threat,” Tokei suggested, her tone thoughtful. “Powerful, independent nobles likely aren’t a monarch’s favorite kind of subject.”

  Elysia gave her a faint, humorless smile. “That’s a light way to put it, but yes.”

  Tokei’s eyes flicked toward the dais, where the King was now addressing another noble. “He feels kind of off, doesn’t he? I hope your family doesn’t take his words to heart.”

  Elysia sighed, “I can only hope they won’t…”

  Time passed and before long the banquet was coming to a close. Even after a bit more snooping around and trying to get nobles close to the king to have some information slip, there were no further developments to speak of.

  “Where’s Farthington? We’ll be departing any time now, yet he’s still not at our designated meeting point,” Elysia asked Tokei in a hushed voice.

  “I’m not exactly sure, but I think I saw him with a woman earlier during the entrance ceremony. Boss didn’t tell me philandering was his passtime.”

  “It’s probably a misunderstanding, but I think it’s best to get word from him about that.”

  “True, true. Ah, speak of the devil!”

  Just in time, or just late, Farthington had finally made his way toward the two of them, looking absolutely dreadful.

  “I can’t believe she held me hostage that entire time. No fun, tsk, tsk.”

  Elysia raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued,

  “Held hostage? What exactly happened to you?”

  Farthington rolled his eyes dramatically, straightening his slightly disheveled attire.

  “Oh, no biggie. Some lady just used my face to stave off suitors, and now I’ve for sure gotten on somebody’s hit list.”

  Tokei crossed her arms, chuckling. “Ah, so the mighty Farthington was outmaneuvered by a noblewoman. I’ll admit, I didn’t see that coming.”

  “What did you see coming, then?” Farthington said with a slight pout.

  “Uh, I don’t know, that just sounded cool to say.”

  “...Perhaps you ought to enroll in one of those ‘noble etiquette’ lessons one of these days, tighten some screws loose.”

  “Excuse me?!”

  Tokei was about to deliver a punch to Farthington’s gut when Elysia cut into their tirade,

  “Who was it?”

  Farthington melancholically frowned, ducking away from Tokei towards Elysia as he recounted,

  “Seraphina Caliber. She’s relentless, cunning, and far too comfortable issuing threats.”

  Elysia’s eyes widened slightly. “The Seraphina Caliber? Of the Caliber Dukedom?”

  “Precisely!” Farthington spat,

  “If I ever see her again, I swear to the skies… Wait. Did you just say dukedom?!”

  Tokei was struggling to hold her laughter in. “Pfft… Well, at least you made an impression.”

  Elysia shook her head, though her lips twitched with amusement.

  “As entertaining as this is, we should leave. We’ve learned all we can for now.”

  The trio began to make their way toward the exit, weaving through the remaining guests. The grand hall had thinned considerably, but the guards stationed around the room remained vigilant.

  The ride back to the Luminastra estate was unusually serene. The night sky stretched wide and glittering above, offering a fleeting sense of tranquility. The rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels and the soft rustling of trees outside created a peaceful ambiance.

  Tokei leaned against the carriage window, her violet eyes fixed on the stars but her mind elsewhere. The Everhart twins’ conversation replayed in her head, their cryptic words refusing to settle. Across from her, Elysia sat quietly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

  Farthington, however, was blissfully unaware of the tension in the carriage. His head lolled against the backrest, soft snores escaping him as he slept soundly. His earlier antics had given way to an almost childlike stillness, a stark contrast to his usual animated demeanor.

  As the carriage rolled to a gentle stop in front of the estate, Tokei glanced at Farthington, unimpressed. “Great,” she muttered, stepping out first. Stretching briefly, she turned back to the carriage and leaned inside.

  “Farthington, wake up,” she called, nudging his shoulder.

  The man didn’t stir. Instead, his snores deepened, prompting an exasperated sigh from Tokei. Without hesitation, she grabbed him under the arms and hauled him out of the carriage, throwing him over her shoulder with ease.

  Elysia stepped down after them, a small, amused smile breaking through her weariness. “I don’t think he’ll appreciate waking up like that.”

  “Yeah, well, he should’ve thought about that before he fell asleep,” Tokei said with a sigh. “I’ll take him back to Emilia’s house. I need to tell Nanik what we found out tonight anyway. Hopefully, it’s enough to get us out of Arden.”

  Elysia nodded, her silver hair catching the moonlight as she adjusted her cloak. “Thank you both for coming tonight. Be careful on your way back.”

  Tokei’s expression softened.

  “You too, Elysia. Get some rest.”

  She turned and began walking toward the path leading to Emilia’s, Farthington still draped over her shoulder like a sack of grain.

  As she disappeared into the distance, Elysia watched her for a moment longer before heading inside. The soft glow of lanterns lit her path as she entered the quiet halls of the estate, but the quiet felt a little suffocating…