Adrianne settled onto the couch, watching me like a hawk. I was still kneeling on the ground where Mother previously stood, with the Order in hand and reeling in shock.

The Emperor Sekhar himself… It cannot be true, but the seal is proof itself! The sun really has risen in the west today…

I was not aware back then that Marcus had left his room and forgetting to watch him that night had been a detriment to me; according to Masha, he did not get up to much in the time we had left him. He merely ate his dinner, read his notes for the next lessons after the break and went to sleep. I had a slight suspicion, though, that he was the shadow Adrianne had seen on the landing, but I could not prove it and it did not matter to anyone.

Harold’s words echoed in my mind unwanted, pushing through the confusion and the weight of the Order in my hand as I set it on the table; I crept over to the window, peering around the curtains to the training grounds.

What I saw there frightened me more than Harold’s speculation and his stories flashed all the clearer before my eyes once I saw it for myself; there was Marcus, my little brother, my cordial, well-mannered brother, swinging a real longsword against one who I presume to be called Nicholas, quickly and with terrifying precision. He was fast, much too fast and I feared not even Adrianne’s brother Moriarty could match his swift movements.

Adrianne let out a quiet low whistle, so unladylike and yet so like her, as she came to stand beside me. She crossed her arms, watching the mock battle unfold.

“I doubt even Mori can face our little rabbit like that, Eliza… Not even with his nine years’ experience over him.” She echoed my thoughts, leaning on the sill.

Marcus switched places with Nicholas, driving the poor boy around and attacked him at all angles. The child’s grip, from what I could see, was strong and sure and Nicholas was by no means a poor opponent. He held his own well, parrying each blow and attempting to throw in a few of his own, but Marcus did not seem to notice, nor to care. It appeared that this had been going on for quite some time, most likely since dawn and yet they had an incredible stamina to behold.

Adri began counting his moves, watching like a hawk.

“Parry, block, pass back, lunge, deflect, feint, parry… Shed?? Wait, how did he do that? You can go from a parry to a shed?” She stopped abruptly, her brown eyes wide and her hand to her mouth in surprise.

Suddenly, Marcus’ eyes seemed to catch onto the window, alert and Fear wormed in my gut; in that boy’s eyes, I did not see my little brother there. His eyes held none of the clarity, nor the kindness, that I knew of at all and all I could make out was deprived lunacy made manifest.

What I saw was the one Harold was talking about and even from this distance, Fear began weaving its fingers into my blood.

Marcus seemed to grin, though I couldn’t quite tell from the distance and suddenly, it was all over. With a flick of his hand, he tossed Nicholas’ sword to the side and the polished metal glinted several times in the air before it pierced the ground, completely vertical. Marcus held his sword, the long, thin blade, to his throat and Harold had to run to step between them in time.

Nicholas had lost and it was clear that Marcus, my gentle baby brother, had been toying with him all along.

I looked down, shocked.

That is not my brother. That is not Marcus. It cannot be…

Below my window, just as Harold had described, I saw small lilac petals swaying in the breeze, with winding vines and shiny green leaves reaching up to rest below the sill. The scent was thick and a quick breeze wafted the rain-laden, nauseating smell up to my nose.

Wisteria…

I gagged and Adri had to pull me away from the window. We settled onto the couch, unmoving for a long time and I did not even think to wipe the light drizzle from my face.

“What…?”

“...Precisely.”

I looked up at Adrianne, worry evident in my eyes. She mirrored my thoughts, then stood to get a towel from where the wash basin had been. I watched as she dried the raindew from her hair and copied her when she handed me the cloth.

Emperor Sekhar’s letter lay abandoned on the table in front of me and I was not sure I had the desire to read the words yet.

“The rabbit… Harold was right, it seems. Why did he plant the wisteria, Liz?”

I did not answer.

“Liz!” She shook me awake.

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

“What?”

“Why did he plant the wisteria?”

“I don’t… know…” I paused.

Wisteria, often used to decorate courtyards, was a common floral decoration among the various manors I visited during the balls and social gatherings Mother managed to drag me into. John often had me plant them at specific spots to grow onto the arbours and decorate walkways with beautiful, dangling flowers.

“The gardener, John… He mentioned once what the wisteria trees meant; if you planted them on arbours and above the walkways, it was meant to symbolise a longing, or love, or resilience between the family members…”

Adrianne looked me directly in the eye, “A well-wishing then… And if it’s under a window? What then?”

I shook, clutching my arms together.

“It can’t be…”

Adri furrowed her brow again, annoyed.

“What can’t be? What does it mean?”

I looked back up at her again, this time my mind clearing with anger.

“If someone were to plant wisteria under a bedroom window… It will be the same as saying ‘Know your place and live like the dead’...’

Was Marcus aware of that, I wonder?

Adrianne was not convinced, remaining unimpressed.

“Wisteria likes to grow voraciously, Adri. In the myths, Fayer used to be caged with wisteria by Ahavet often, only being released once Skarabeck and Oberon helped to release her.”

“My question is… why exactly were you planting with John in the garden in the first place? Lady Celestine does not seem the type to permit such a thing.”

“I like flowers, Adri. More than painting or embroidery.”

She smiled, “I still don’t believe your mother would allow you.”

“She didn’t. I just went and worked with John so many times, she eventually gave up,” I shrugged my shoulders, “she realised my flower arranging skills were improving, so she let me be.”

Adri laughed again, but soon enough, she was pacing back and forth in my room, wearing a hole into the floor in her frustration.

“It seems to me that we cannot trust your brother in any manner. The rabbit is far too voracious in his appetite and what Harold said appears to be true.”

“Yes… but we ought to set Marcus aside. Emperor Sekhar’s letter is still more essential and we must not delay it any further.”

Setting my brother aside, we turned our attention to the Archaic Order.

She sat opposite to me, offering some privacy until I could figure out what exactly I needed to know and with that small modicum of peace, I began reading the letter.

…

To Lady Eliza Vivienne Von Hestion by order of His Majesty Sekhar Adamante Lionel La Valia, the twenty third emperor of Valia:

You have been charged with an Archaic Order to assist your father, Duke Alucard Zenith Von Hestion, in his attempts to quell the Hemeoths overtaking northern Estray. You may take four others with you on your journey, but it is of utmost importance that no more than four are involved.

As the eldest of the Hestions, we charge you with this grave and dangerous task. The reward for success is great and we dare not remind you that failure is not an option.

You are to bring this Order with you to Central Valia in your confirmation visit to His Majesty. Please take everyone you require with you and we pray Oberon grants you success.

Administrative Bureau of Valia,

Imperial Assistants James Kretzmann, Juniper Kretzmann and Aria Rehatar

…

I sat there, exacerbated. There was too much information going into my mind and in that moment, I felt overwhelmed. Adrianne herself was concerned for me, but did not come any closer for fear of accidentally reading the Order.

I still feel uncertain about that moment, even to this day. It lightened my heart significantly to know that I would be the first heiress, but at the same time I was unsure if this Order was legitimate and worried about the contents.

Assist Father in the North…

I sighed, rubbing my eyes. It would do me no good to worry about this and one does not keep the Emperor of Valia waiting.

“Adrianne, it’s alright. You may look at it - you know what’s happening.”

“Eliza, that’s an Archaic Order. One does not peer into it arbitrarily and what do you mean I know what’s happening?”

Of all the things I hated most, abiding by formal protocol was one of the few that managed to toe the line between like and dislike. At that moment, I heavily disliked it.

“Adrianne Elizabeth Von Devienne-”

“Eliza, what are you doing?” She panicked, getting up and tried to hold my mouth shut.

“-I charge you in the name of-” I moved away, dodging her and she tripped on the couch.

“Stop!” She scrambled upward, trying to get at me.

“-His Majesty, the twenty third Emperor-”

“STOP, I FORBID IT!”

“-of Valia, Sekhar Adamante Lionel La Valia-”

“Oh heavens above…”

At that, she stopped all attempts to shut me up and instantly dropped to her knees, bowing her head; once the name of the Emperor was read aloud, one could not go against, nor refute the Order.

“-and Duke Alucard Zenith Von Hestion, to aid my journey in fulfilling the Archaic Order, as commanded by His Majesty. You will be tied with me, in life and in death, according to protocol and will breathe not a word of this to anyone aside from the three I so choose, lest you be charged with high treason. Do you accept it?”

“What choice have I?”

“Adrianne Von Devienne, do you accept?”

She sighed, displeased, “I do.”

“Very well,” I smiled, handing her the Order and trying my best not to grin, “See? That wasn’t so bad.”

“Shut up, you ugly toad.” She huffed and with that, I had gained my first companion for the Order.