How did one typically go about choosing their room? It wasn’t exactly something Rowan had ever truly considered. The closest she had ever gotten to answering Reia’s question was choosing the style of room she wanted when staying at an inn, but even then, the actual room was chosen for her. Now she had seven potential rooms she could choose from if she ignored the fact that Seres, Lochlan, and Liadra were also facing the exact same question. It would have been even worse if Reia hadn’t already removed her own room or the servant’s quarters from the equation.

Rowan spent a good few minutes considering her options. There were a few possibilities that were almost definitely a no, which would have been great if she didn’t keep second guessing herself. Reia could have included a broom closet in the selection, and Rowan would have struggled to discount it immediately.

After a few more minutes of silent contemplation, a voice echoed in Rowan’s mind.

“Have you considered asking the others what they think?”

Shut up, Rina.

Wait. No, you’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped.

“Apology accepted. You’re not the only person who has forgotten how to speak.”

It was true; Reia had been the last person to speak back when she asked the question some fifteen minutes prior. With Reia now just standing there, Rowan chose to follow Rina’s advice by way of a question.

“What are you all thinking?”

As far as questions were concerned, it wasn’t anything special, but it was at least a wee bit more focused than the one Reia had asked.

Seres was the first to respond. “I’m not sure,” she professed. “With all these options, I’m spoilt for choice. How about you, Liadra?”

“Lochlan and I were going to wait for you to choose first,” Liadra answered, her honeyed words a knife to the back.

Not wanting to colour her voice with feelings of betrayal, Rowan asked her, “Why?”

“We don’t need anything special, so we figured it was better to let you go first. That way, we don’t accidentally infringe on your ideal room.”

“Infringe all the way.”

The response was more enthusiastic than Rowan had intended, but conveyed her point well enough. Even so, she thought it wise to clarify exactly what she meant.

“If you really don’t need anything special, you’re unlikely to infringe on our ideal rooms, whatever they may be.”

“Well, in that case,” Lochlan started, “I’ll take…”

“The servant’s quarters,” Liadra interjected. “Where you belong.”

“What was that for?” Lochlan protested.

“I know you, Lochlan. You want the master bedroom. It’s not happening. We’re not getting it even if the girls don’t want it. Think of how it would look for them to have a bodyguard in the master bedroom.”

“You raise a good point, but I’m sure…”

“I could take your belongings to the stables instead?” Reia suggested, her innocent tone rendering Lochlan speechless. Taking the hint, he instead went for one of the smaller rooms with a view of the koi pond. Liadra, meanwhile, opted for a more comfortably sized room towards the back of the mansion to ensure they had proper coverage should they ever need it.

Now that Liadra and Lochlan had chosen their rooms, Rowan and Seres were left with five options. When they also considered the veiled implications of Liadra’s exchange with Lochlan, they were able to disregard any options that would give visiting nobles the wrong impression, which limited them to the three largest available rooms.

“I think I’ll pass on the master bedroom,” Rowan confessed.

“Likewise,” Seres agreed. “It's a bit too much for my liking, and I don't want to give people more reasons for seeing us as anything but equal.”

“Agreed. How anyone could use all that space is beyond me.”

Rowan could have sworn the bedroom alone was comparable to two of the suites in the sunfall apartments combined. Add in the en suite bathroom, the comparatively modest solar, the study, and the two walk-in closets, and you were left with an overly indulgent suite of rooms that sprawled over most of the second floor.

“That leaves the terrace suite and garden suite,” Seres observed. “Both are really good options.”

“They really are,” Rowan agreed. “I can only imagine how beautiful the garden suite will be in spring.”

“It's yours if you want it,” Seres conceded, her tone betraying her disappointment.

Rowan shook her head somewhat ruthfully. “You can have it.”

“Are you sure?”

“I am. It's the more secure of the two rooms, and I'll be able to make good use of the terrace.”

“I guess that settles it,” Seres chirped happily. She had perked up immediately when Rowan made it clear that her interest in the terrace suite was, at the very least, comparable to that of the garden suite.

With no more choices needing to be made, Seres turned to Reia. “We can help with moving our belongings to our rooms if you're so inclined.”

“That'll be very much appreciated, especially as I don't actually know who owns what,” Reia answered, her lips arching into a rueful smile.

*****

Revi and Brennan left as soon as they were all settled in. It was getting late, and they both had families to see. Ultimately, they fell short of actually getting to know each other, but they were at least able to break the ice.

With Revi and Brennan gone, Rowan and Seres decided to explore the premises a wee bit more. Reia had given them a phenomenal tour, but there was something special about looking for possible secrets of your own accord.

Alas, by the time Reia called them for dinner, they were caught empty-handed. Granted, they had barely scratched the surface of what the mansion had to offer. It could take them all week to cover the ground floor alone. An activity for the future.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

Not wanting to keep Reia or their food waiting, they hurried from the parlour towards the dining room. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted vegetable soup filled Rowan's nostrils as they opened the door. It was simply divine.

“Hurry up,” Reia told them. “We don't want your first meal living here to be cold now, do we?”

She wasn't wrong.

*****

Rowan woke up at some point the following morning. She was in her room, but she couldn't remember ever actually going to bed. She'd been talking to Reia with the others for a good while after their meal, probably to the point of exhaustion. Her haphazardly half-dressed state suggested she was, at the very least, on the edge of consciousness when she arrived in the room. At the same time, it was very unlikely she managed it without aid.

“It's a good thing we didn't have any alcohol,” Rowan mused silently. Her experience with alcohol was limited, but she was sure a drunk, sleep-deprived Ardent was a recipe for disaster.

In her lethargic haze, she asked herself, “What time is it?”

Instead of getting up to check, she started drifting off back to sleep. Then she remembered the official welcome. Any lingering drowsiness vanished in an instant. The covers were off. Rowan went straight to her door, not bothering to get dressed; the tunic and underwear were enough.

She found Seres downstairs in the sunroom towards the back of the house, drinking tea with Reia. They were both fully dressed.

“Morning,” Seres said brightly. “I was beginning to think you would miss lunch as well as breakfast.”

“I was going to wake you, but Seres told me to let you sleep,” Reia added apologetically. “There are some pastries available for breakfast if you’re hungry.”

Rowan barely registered what Reia had said. She was more concerned with the time. So much so, she felt compelled to ask, “We're not late, are we?”

“Hardly,” Seres laughed. “The carriage isn't due for another hour, so you still have time to brush your teeth, have some breakfast, and get yourself clean. Maybe not in that exact order, but still, you needn't worry.”

“Okay. Sounds good. What was that about breakfast, Reia?”

“Pastries. If you take a seat, I'll go get them. Would you like some jam as well?”

“Yes, please.”

*****

Even with Seres’ best assurances, Rowan struggled to get herself ready in time. Food and teeth were one thing, but the bath got away from her. To make matters even worse, her hair was intent on holding onto as much water as possible. It took Reia and Seres working together to dry and style it in the time they had.

Then there was the question of clothes and makeup. She wouldn't normally go to such lengths, but King Dreigan had suggested the nobles attending the welcome would form the bulk of their initial impressions of them on how they presented themselves.

She also wanted to send a message to the Good Lords who knew about her and Seres. Even if there weren't any in attendance, it would only be a matter of time before word of the welcome reached them. She would show them how they failed to break her. To that end, she had her scars on full display.

“Hurry up, Rowan!” Seres shouted. “The carriage is waiting!”

The makeup wasn't finished, but it was good enough. Rowan slipped her shoes on and rushed outside, vaulting over the bannister instead of going down the stairs. She landed softly, just behind Reia. The maid practically jumped out of her skin when Rowan made her presence known.

“Shall we go?” Rowan asked.

“Yes,” Seres answered.

“I'll be staying here to watch over the house,” Reia added, her voice still a wee bit frazzled.

“Sorry about the scare,” Rowan apologised. “I wasnae thinking.”

It probably wasn't necessary, but she did feel bad for scaring Reia. She wasn't trying to surprise her — the stairs were just too out of the way. With nothing else to say, she started making her way to the door, only to be interrupted by Liadra.

“Are you sure you're going to be warm enough? That top makes me cold just looking at it.”

“I'll be fine. I'm an Ardent, remember. It could be snowing for all I care.”

“If you say so.”

*****

It took them thirty minutes to reach the palace. Their arrival was marked by a staccato of fireworks followed by a cacophony of trumpets. A footman opened the carriage door to reveal a carpet of royal purple leading up the steps to the grand entrance and flanked by royal guards standing tall in their parade uniforms.

“Go on ahead,” Liadra told them. “This welcome is for the two of you. It wouldn't be proper for us to join you.”

“That's ridiculous!” Seres protested. She was about to argue more, but Rowan stopped her.

“I know you dislike the idea of reinforcing protocol, but defying it here will tell the other nobles that Lochlan and Liadra are active players or potential pawns in their menagerie of intrigue. It will make it almost impossible for them to operate from the shadows should the need arise.”

Lochlan went on to add, “If it makes you feel better, Seres, Liadra and I are content knowing you would damn protocol to have us join you. You don't actually need to do it. If anything, we would rather you didn't. As Rowan just said, it could complicate things with our work.”

“You also don't need to worry about security,” Liadra added assuredly. “I can see Brennan and Revi waiting to escort you in with the majordomo.”

“That's good,” Rowan said. “I might not trust them completely, but I can say for sure that Brennan’s crush is, at the very least, incredibly genuine, and I dinnae have any reasons for doubting their motives whilst also trusting Queen Elarin's judgement.”

“Okay then,” Seres said finally. “You've convinced me. Shall we go, Rowan?”

The young woman nodded her agreement. As Liadra had said, Brennan and Revi were waiting for them. Like the guards, they were both garbed in ceremonial dress. They saluted Rowan and Seres as the two women stepped out of the carriage.

The majordomo acknowledged them both in kind.

“Lady Rowan'efrii Alyris Naliir, Ardent Flame of Midiris. Princess Seres Talyren El Ria Lanafae, Flower of the Red Crescent. If you'll please follow me; the Azure Court awaits.”

Rowan and Seres obliged, and the guards drew their swords in salute as the two ladies were led past them into the palace. The route to the throne room was infinitely more direct than the one they had been taken on to the study the day before. It was also a lot more conventional with its decor when compared to the east wing.

Fifteen rods of corridor later, and they were staring down the colossal double doors leading into the throne room. They were even larger than the entryway for the palace foyer. With the ornate white-gold embossing, Rowan could only imagine the weight of it all. If it weren't for the clear signs of a Resonance Array, she would have struggled to comprehend how it was practical, let alone possible, to have a door so large.

The door was opened by a pair of doormen, and the majordomo stepped aside so that Rowan and Seres could step inside. They stopped after a few paces so that Lord Marius, the Master of Ceremonies, could announce their arrival.

Marius introduced Rowan and Seres to the nobles in the same way the majordomo had greeted them, appellations and all. He didn't stop there, however, as he opted to give each of them a whole new moniker to further emphasise their prominence; Hearthseeker for Rowan, and Moonbud for Seres.

They lingered for a few more seconds after their introduction so that the nobles could drink in their dazzling countenances. If the Azure Court wanted to make a show of their grandiose pomposity with this welcome, Rowan and Seres were content with upping the ante and seizing the main stage for themselves.

When the moment passed, they started walking gracefully towards the throne. Rowan spent the entire approach showering the nobles with the sheer weight of her ego. She wasn't quite sure of how it would affect them as it was fuelled by a suite of emotions she didn't fully understand. Whatever the effect, Rowan knew it had the potential to be intense as she had no shortage of ego, even if she sometimes struggled to leverage it effectively.

From the smile on King Dreigan's face as they approached the throne, he approved of how they were presenting themselves. When they reached the dais the throne sat upon, Dreigan stood up to greet them. With open arms, he said, “On behalf of the Azure Court and House Torin of Clan Særis, I, Dreigan Vo Marik Torin III, welcome the both of you to our fair city as envoys of Queen Elarin Lanafae and as students of the Azure University. Let it be known that Lady Rowan'efrii and Princess Seres can now be considered honorary citizens of Særis.”

And just like that, the official welcoming ceremony was over. Dreigan made it clear that they could stay and mingle for a while if they wanted to, but it wasn’t expected of them, and most of the nobles were keeping their distance. It was probably too soon for any of them to make a play.

In the end, only a few of the younger ladies had the courage to approach them. They were wondering about Rowan's rather striking appearance, namely her scars. She only told them the basics. There wasn't really much reason to say more at this point.

The ladies excused themselves shortly after it was made clear they were scars and not tattoos. One of them was markedly paler than she had been before Rowan started speaking.

With no one else approaching them, they were free to return home. Reia was waiting for them.