In striking contrast to his usual disregard for his own appearance, Prime Minister Saikat Ranjan was impeccably dressed.

A tailored charcoal suit hugged his lanky frame; the rich, high-quality fabric devoid of a single wrinkle. A beautiful emerald green tie was knotted at his throat. Perfectly complementing the subtly striped silk shirt that peeked out from underneath his suit jacket.

His mousy hair, usually left to its own devices, was now slicked back and styled to movie-star perfection.

His usual indifference to his physical appearance had vanished without a trace.

Safaa, for her part, effortlessly outshone everyone around her, as she stood beside the prime minister on a nearby podium identical to his. She looked resplendent in her flowing feather cloak. Her black-streaked silver hair cascaded around her like a moonlit waterfall. In the ambient glow of the grand reception hall, her dark, silver-flecked eyes gleamed.

Her wings were folded out of sight. But even without the feather cloak, the ethereal, otherworldly aura she carried would’ve been hard to miss. Six centuries removed from the mortal realm seemed to have dulled her ability to blend in.

The formal ceremony for the signing of an alliance treaty between Vaan and Vandram was attended by high-ranking officials, diplomats, politicians and dignitaries from every corner of the planet. And beyond. Almost as many Kanbarians and Zainians filled the grand hall as Vandrans. The rear was almost entirely occupied by the most prominent journalists and reporters from all three countries.

The hall was adorned with the flags and emblems of both Vaan and Vandram. The flags of Kanbar and Zaini were also present, although they occupied less prominent positions. Uniformed waitstaff discreetly circulated, serving a variety of food items from all three cuisines.

The prime minister cleared his throat, leaning closer to the microphones at his podium. The room fell silent. The soft strains of Vandran classical music that had been playing unobtrusively in the background ceased abruptly, as the performers paused mid-note.

“It’s taken months of struggle and strife, but that’s what makes this evening so significant,” Saikat Ranjan began, his pleasant baritone oddly comforting. “Today, we celebrate the beginning of a new alliance. The dawn of a new era. And none of this would be possible without the unwavering dedication and courage of the bravest men and women Vandram has to offer.” He glanced at the Aeriel queen, standing motionless behind the only other podium in the hall. “And Vaan too, of course.”

Ashwin chuckled. He stood beside Ruban, propped against a towering pillar emblazoned with a flaming Aeriel feather.

Ruban pursed his lips, a half-hearted attempt at disapproval.

Though somewhat overshadowed by his sister, the Aeriel prince exuded grandeur. Unbound hair spilled about him like liquid silver, his feather cloak shimmering with every step he took. In contrast to Safaa’s variegated, gem-like gaze, Ashwin’s eyes emitted a gentler luminescence.

“What’re you giggling about?” Ruban whispered sharply. “This is an important day. Perhaps the most important day of our lives. And even Hiya’s showing more restraint and decorum than you.”

Ashwin shook his head, clearly biting back laughter.

Ruban rolled his eyes.

After Dhriti’s arrest for attempting to escape custody during the Aeriel attack en route to the IAW headquarters last month, Atbin Siyal confessed. He admitted to trying to kill Simani under Dhriti’s orders. As well as his role in smuggling reinforced sifblades to HAVA. Also done under the directions of Dhriti and her stepfather, Kushal Mayiti.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

That alone would have been sufficient to seal Dhriti’s fate. Especially when combined with the incriminating documents released by Casia Washi on her show; originally procured by Ruban and Ashwin during their raid of the HAVA headquarters.

But the evidence against Dhriti Pathak extended much beyond that. The X-class captured alive during last month’s Aeriel attack had also confessed. In exchange for an official pardon and the promise of re-entry into Vaan; a deal Safaa had reluctantly agreed to.

The X-class admitted to being an Exile. That it – or he, as Ashwin kept insisting – had previously worked with the Qawirsin. Back when it was being headed by Janak Nath. He had been in Ragah last year, when the Qawirsin’s stronghold was attacked and dismantled by Ruban and his crew. Hence, he’d escaped the fall of the Qawirsin unscathed.

According to the X-class, he knew Dhriti and Kushal from that period. As she and her stepfather often collaborated with Janak Nath for processing Aeriel feathers to be sold in the black market.

To substantiate his claims, he divulged intricate details of the Qawirsin’s operations. Details that would’ve been impossible to know without direct involvement with the Qawirsin. Or access to government investigative teams digging into their operations.

So, when Dhriti approached him to stage an attack on the SUVs en route to the IAW headquarters, to facilitate her escape, the X-class agreed. Because he was opposed to an alliance between Vaan and Vandram that would force Aeriels to live under human law.

As for the destruction of the lead SUV, that had been Dhriti’s idea. The attack had to be staged as a revenge plot by the queen of Vaan. As her retaliating against Dhriti for what she’d done to the prince, her brother. And the first SUV had to be destroyed, to make the threat seem credible.

The real purpose of the attack had simply been to create a distraction. One that would allow Dhriti to make her escape amidst the chaos.

Facing a mountain of evidence for crimes ranging from smuggling and treason to corruption and murder, no power on earth could keep Dhriti from prison any longer. Anyone who tried to intervene would simply attract suspicion. Be tainted by association. Dhriti and her stepfather had become a liability, too toxic for even their shadiest political contacts to touch.

And so, they were abandoned by their associates; left to face the consequences alone.

On the podium, the prime minister continued with his speech, unbothered by the murmurs rippling through the other attendees. “Casia Washi of Skyline News has played a pivotal role in uncovering the criminal conspiracy between the refineries and the feather mafia. Especially some of the most prominent, powerful refineries in this city, who also frequently received government contracts. We could never thank her enough, for putting her own safety and reputation on the line to serve the public good.”

Thunderous applause erupted in the hall. Seated among the other journalists at the back, Casia smiled and dipped her head in acknowledgement.

Still, the applause continued unabated, until the prime minister eventually raised a hand to signal for silence. “And then,” he beamed at the enthusiastic crowd of listeners. “There is Mr. Ruban Kinoh…”

Ruban tuned him out. Not because he disliked being praised. That, he enjoyed as much as anyone. But everything the prime minister was about to say, he’d already heard a million times, over the last month. So much so it had become boring. Even the most thrilling narrative was only thrilling the first few times you heard it, after all.

Ruban and his team (as well as Casia Washi) were hailed as heroes for exposing Tej Enterprises – its tentacles snaking their way into every corner of the government and media.

Not to mention Ruban’s role in uncovering the source of Janak Nath’s leaked torture videos. And providing indisputable proof of Dhriti’s involvement.

On their own, the videos had garnered for Ashwin both sympathy and derision. There were, after all, those who only respected overt displays of strength. Those who reacted to any sign of helplessness not with empathy, but with contempt.

However, Ashwin’s actions during last month’s Aeriel attack had altered that perception. The footage of the Aeriel prince shielding Dhriti’s group with his own body – even as she tried to make her escape, abandoning her aides to their fate – had circulated widely. Tipping the scales of public opinion definitively in his favor, once and for all.

Needless to say, this shift also bolstered support for the Vaan alliance. Resulting in the ratification ceremony they were all attending today.

Now free of Dhriti’s influence, the rest of the Cabinet had provided near-unanimous support for a permanent alliance with Vaan. Perhaps hoping the formalization of the alliance would temporarily distract from the corruption allegations against a plethora of government officials and contractors. Even Defence Minister Rifaq Nazir had finally, if begrudgingly, given his acquiescence.