An empty room illuminated ever so slightly by the lit chandelier hanging from above. Curtains were drawn concealing the room from the moonlight, A staff lay against the wall with no person in sight. Suddenly a small vacuum of air starts to spiral over the centre table, and the various parchment and quills shake from the sheer force. A quill flies out of its container and slowly floats away on the updraft. A strange wave of energy resonant as Orpheus appears out of thin air. 

He lands directly on top of the table a few feet above. Scattering the contents and propelling them to the ground. The impact makes a loud crashing sound but the sturdy table remains intact. He looks down, getting situated with a confused expression and mild embarrassment at his predicament. "Ah, crap forget this was right in the centre of the room." Exclaiming out loud, he gazes down at the mess he has just created. Stepping down slowly from the table, he gathers the dispersed items. Kneeling down to grab some parchments and picking them up.

Just before placing them back on the table, he hears a soft knock at the door and a voice echoing through. "Sir Orpheus are you alright?" An elderly tone seeps through, all the way to his ears. The voice caused him to turn mid-clean-up. With parchments in his hand, his gaze is now fixed on the door. Standing up he walks over with his head turned and left ear facing. 

"Who is it?" He asks, his eyes squint in anticipation as to the person's identity. 

"It's Walter sir, I apologise for the imposition but I heard a bit of a racket, is everything alright sir?" Walter asks sincerely.

Orpheus flashes a slightly anxious expression, unsure how to proceed. Calming himself he takes a deep breath and passes the parchment into his right hand. Reaching over he opens the door with his left. "Thank you for your concern, Walter but I just knocked on the table. Nothing to be concerned about?" He opens the door to see a dapper gentleman, with his arms crossed behind him. He wears a black tailored suit with a popped collar. He stands straighter than any man he has ever met, imposing his stature upon the hallway. He wears a slight grin on his face. 

"Very good sir, I will let your return to your privacy. Goodnight, Sir Orpheus." He states in a respectable manner before gracefully turning to the right. 

"Actually Walter... may I ask you a question?" Orpheus moves forward a few paces, asking his question.

Walter turns his gaze, reorienting his entire body to face him. "Yes, sir?" He replies, his head tilted slightly to the right. 

"You wouldn't happen to have some free time on your hands, would you?" Orpheus asks his question, with an expression of uncertainty. 

"Well, sir I have been excused by his majesty... So, I suppose yes." Walter thinks for a moment before giving his answer. 

"Ah, I see well then I feel like going for a drink. Care to join me I'd love to get to know you better?" Orpheus states out loud, internally however an alternate thought process. "Getting to know Walter will be useful, he may have the information I can use." He thinks to himself, flashing a kind smile. 

"I don't sir, I thank you for the kind gesture... " Before Walter can finish, he is interrupted by Orpheus. 

"I understand... I just thought I'd extend the courtesy as I'd very much like to get to know you, now that stated since I'm new to this kingdom do you know of a good tavern?" Orpheus states with a disappointed expression, his gaze traversing downwards to further accentuate.

Walter then gives off an apologetic tone of voice before replying. "Ah, well actually I know the best." He smiles, gesturing his right hand towards the room. "May I sir?" He asks, waiting for a reply. 

Orpheus with a confused expression moves to the side, allowing him to enter. "Sure." Walter enters the room, Orpheus behind him.

They both pass the centre table; Orpheus places the parchments down and continues on. Walter reaches the small desk in the left-hand corner. He was placing his hand on a small side handle, attached to a curved lid. He pulls it upwards revealing a small compartment with two glasses and a bottle of wine. He turns around, gesturing towards the compartment. 

"Here you are Sir Orpheus the best tavern in the kingdom." He says with a mischievous but sincere smile, reciprocated by a gleeful Orpheus. 

"I had no idea." He replies with utter amazement, stretching out his hands and shrugging his shoulders. 

"Well, it is my utmost honour to assist you." Walter bows respectfully, raising his head and flashing one final smile. "I best be off Sir, please enjoy your nightly beverage." He adds, readying to vacate. 

"You sure you don't want to join me?" Orpheus moves towards the desk, picks up the bottle on his left and gestures to Walter with his right. 

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"I shouldn't sir... " Walter replies with an uncertain tone, as the wine is poured into a glass and presented to him. 

"Come on I'd prefer not to drink alone and it's just one drink?" He insists with a smile, slightly shaking the glass in front of him.

Walter looks down at the glass, pondering for a moment before accepting the drink with his right hand. "On second thought, thank you, sir, one drink should be fine." He pauses for a moment and then accepts the offer with a smile.

Orpheus turns back lifting a glass and pouring some wine. He places the bottle down and turns to Walter, they both raise their glasses in a toast. "To the longevity of the Kingdom." He toasts as they both nod to each other then proceeds to have a drink. "Hmm, nice is that Valintiyan wine?" He asks gulping down his first sip, looking at the glass inquisitively. 

"Yes, indeed sir we had it imported straight from the fields of Valintiya." Walter replies. 

"But I thought the Theavalon Kingdom and the Valintiyan Republic were at odds with each other?" Orpheus replies with a confused expression, tilting his head and arching his eyebrows. 

"Diplomatic relations with the republic have bettered because of his majesties reforms, such as successful trade." He states with an air of pride in every word. 

"Impressive, that is some feat of political ingenuity." He remarks, having another sip of wine before pondering a thought. "Reforms... Peace with the republic... I wonder how long the bandages will last." He ponders quietly while they sip their drinks. Slowly an air of awkwardness fills the room as neither says a word. Orpheus observes this and chimes in to break the ice. "So how long have you served the royal family?" He asked.

"I have served the royal family all my life." Walter replies with a prideful look. 

"All your life huh... Sounds like quite a feat to serve a family with such devotion and for such a long time." He remarks with a curious expression, probing deeper for information. 

"Thank you, Sir Orpheus, I appreciate the kind words... To serve his majesty is the highest of honour." Walter states with a sincere grin, his gaze peering up into the left, gesturing a firm and content posture. 

"I've seen that look before, it's the look of a man stained with pride over a subservient life, truly this man cannot be bought or tempted with betrayal... Admirable, I wonder how the king obtained such devotion." Pondering internally, he gazes at Walter's impressive stature. 

"If you have served the royal family all your life, that means you knew the late king Hadrian?" Orpheus takes another sip of wine before asking a poignant question. The mere mention of the name causes the once proud butler to sweat and flash an anxious expression. 

"Yes, I knew him." Walter says with an air of shame, his gaze drops to the floor. Unable to return to the prideful expression he once possessed. 

"He was a strong king, dedicated to the benefit of the Theavalon Kingdom for that I cannot fault him... But a king should not only just care for his kingdom and forsake all others... He was ruthless with his expansive ideas... Truly unworthy of the throne not like... I apologise Sir Orpheus I spoke out of turn, please forgive me." He begins with a soft tone, eventually devolving into an aggressive one, his voice rumbles like the precursor to an erupting volcano. 

"No need Walter you may speak your mind here." He replies calmly, his hand gesturing outwards, attempting to put the man at ease. 

"You are too kind, yes the past no longer matters... In the wake of the demon wars, the death of the royal family except for his majesty, the alliances he has established, and the wrongs he has righted, that is what truly matters. I just hope no one blames him for his father's actions." Walter extols the virtues of his king; his depressed expression returns joy at the mere mention of his majesty. 

"The sins of the father should never be visited upon the son; it is up to the son to choose. Follow in their misguided footsteps or make their own path to a greater destiny, whatever that may be." He explains with a powerful posture and complete confidence in every word. 

"Sir that is well said, I truly thank you for understanding my King." Walter states, taking his final sip of wine. 

"You're welcome and thank you for having a drink with me, it is most refreshing to learn of his Majesty's virtues... That being said can I tempt you with another." He flashes a sinister grin with a note of sincerity, gesturing his glass forward. 

"No thank you, Sir Orpheus I believe I've had enough and an old man like myself cannot hold his wine like you youngsters." He remarks with a sincere smile and a sarcastic tone. 

"I see Walter, then do I believe this is farewell for the night?" He asks. 

"I believe so, I have many duties to perform tomorrow, I best get my rest. It was a privilege to share a drink with the hero of the kingdom." Placing his glass back onto the desk, he prepares himself to leave. 

"The privilege was mine, goodnight, Walter." Bidding him farewell, he nods.

"Goodnight to you sir." Walter replies in much the same. 

They both bid each other goodnight, Walter bows slightly turning to leave the room and shutting the door behind them. Orpheus remains with a calm expression, continuing to nurse his glass whilst thinking about the night's events. "Hmm, a benevolent king indeed... Pathetic believing diplomacy and reformations will quell the wounded hearts of the many enemies that exist today. Just like the Atrasal Society's holier-than-thou attitude of hoarding magic for themselves. Thinking that's not in itself a provocation. The Dreburg Empire is industrious but their over-reliance on the aristocracy has made them petty and weak. Truly we live in an age governed by righteous indignation and petty grievances. Even though they oppose each other, neither has the capacity to create true progress." His fury boils with his thought, with each syllable his perception becomes more and more confident. With his morality and notions of the world, his thought grows from aggression to absolute conviction. "Pity this country won't be spared my wrath... But I suppose the innocent will be spared for the sake of mercy." He muses out loud, picking up the bottle of wine and preparing himself another drink.

Just before the liquid can leave the tilted bottle a thud can be heard outside. The sound alerts him and his gaze becomes fixed on the door. Placing the bottle and glass back onto the desk, making his way to the door. Reaching it he presses his ear against it, hearing another thud. "What's going on out there?" Querying the door, he waits for a response.