A ripple of commotion coursed through the ballroom as the prince and princess entered. Nobles, previously engrossed in their own social machinations, suddenly found themselves propelled towards the royal pair like moths to a flame.
Kai watched the scene unfold with detached amusement. It was a ballet of ambition and flattery, a desperate scramble for the prince's favour.
By how some people ran towards them, some looked like they’d been waiting for their arrival ever since the ball started.
His gaze flicked across the throng, mentally cataloguing the faces that converged upon Eldric, just so he knew who was on Prince Eldric’s side. With a lot of barons and viscounts as well as the sons of three counts and one marquis, it was a powerful alliance.
His eyes then lingered on the princess. Unlike her brother, who was engulfed in the throng, Amara was approached by a smaller, more intimate group of noble ladies. A wan smile graced her lips, but Kai, with his heightened senses, could detect the flickers of discomfort that marred her facade. A twitch of her hand, a slight tremor in her smile— signs of a deeper struggle beneath the surface. Her skin, too, was an unsettling shade of pale, mirroring the ivory of her gown.
Her face might have looked prettier without the obvious signs of sickness, but for now, she simply looked like she needed to be in her bed rather than in the ball.
She clearly is sick, why not let her rest? Kai shook his head internally at the lack of care from whoever was responsible, but again… Having royal blood meant living in a house made of glass, and being expected of things that they had no control over to do, to feel and to attend.
He remained a silent observer, an outsider in a sea of silks and jewels.
As the dance floor began to fill, the music taking hold, a shadow fell across his path. A blonde, young man, his face smooth and his attire impeccably tailored, extended a hand towards Kai.
It came out of nowhere and for a second, he examined his face, wondering if he was an old friend of Arzan like Reyk. It wasn't as if he hadn't considered that possibility.
"Baron Arzan Kellius… I presume? I am Leopold Blackwood, first son of Duke William Blackwood.”
The name struck a chord in Kai's memory. A flicker of recognition sparked in his eyes. The necromancer they’d fought in Vasper Forest… originated from the Duchy of Blackwood. But what he hadn’t expected was for the son of the Duke to be here.
Kai took Leopold's hand, his grip firm.
"Blackwood," Kai acknowledged. "A name that precedes you, Lord Leopold. I must admit, I wasn't expecting to meet someone from your duchy at this event."
From what he knew, it was a place that was far off from the capital, situated around the edges of the northern forest.
Leopold smiled at that. The young man seemed genuine with every word he spoke next. "Indeed, However, I must confess, Lord Arzan, rumours of your presence here were highly anticipated, and I, for one, wouldn't miss the chance to meet you. My father— the duke, is highly thankful for vanquishing the necromancer."
"It was simply my duty," he replied modestly. "A threat neutralised before it could fester."
Leopold chuckled, a touch too hearty. "Duty, yes, but let's not downplay the accomplishment. That creature… was responsible for a great deal of suffering. And more than just suffering, for some of us.” Kai simply nodded at his words. The young man paused and looked around, Kai followed his action. Both of their eyes hung on some people who were still hovering over the prince. “Either way, Lord Arzan. We heard you're facing a beast wave of your own."
He locked eyes with Leopold immediately. "Indeed," he said dryly. "A situation that demands a strong front. Has… Duke Blackwood decided the matter?"
A flicker of satisfaction crossed Leopold's face. He straightened slightly, a smug glint in his eyes.
"The Duke," he declared, "is a man of action. As a token of his gratitude for your services, and a testament to our commitment to the kingdom's well-being, he has authorised the dispatch of five hundred men to aid you in repelling the beast wave."
Kai's lips curved into a genuine smile. Five hundred trained men was a significant contribution, a welcome boost to his already meagre forces. "That's excellent news," he said, his voice sincere. "Their aid will be invaluable in the coming fight."
“We all have a role to play, Lord Arzan. That vile necromancer was responsible for the deaths of many innocent souls. One of them, I confess, was a close cousin of mine."
A flicker of dark clouds passed by his eyes and sudden understanding dawned on Kai.
This wasn't just about the beast wave. This was personal for Leopold and probably Duke Blackwood.
Even if they didn't care too much about his territory, they weren't going to sit back and not help someone who they owed a great debt to.
"My apologies, Lord Blackwood," Kai said, his voice softening. "I offer my sincerest condolences for your loss. The world is a better place without that heinous dark Mage, but that doesn't lessen the pain it caused."
That was the truth. Unfortunately, it was common for beasts, fiends and necromancers to kill people in the world, sometimes proving more fatal than even viral illnesses. He had also seen people's death up close and lost those dear to him and because of that, his words came from a place far from indifference and weariness.
It came from a place of sympathy and sincerity.
"Indeed. But enough of such grim topics. Perhaps a drink to that, Lord Arzan? To a future free of necromancers and beast waves,” he said. “And please call me Leopold. Lord Blackwood is my father.”
Kai smiled at that, lifting his container filled with the drinks.
This had been a surprise, but an expected one. He might have been a bit suspicious due to how smooth the talk was going, if not for the fact that he knew Duke Blackwood was one of the neutral ones in the succession, having not chosen any prince.
When Kai had first gotten the news of a beast wave, he was quick to know not to put all the weight and hope in the kingdom. Which was why he had sent a letter to the Duke, inquiring about the possibility of aid.
They didn't have any relationship, but they certainly had a good base and goodwill to start one. Thankfully, it had worked better than he had expected.
Leopold continued to discuss the conversation he had with his father about the beast wave. It was mostly information Kai already knew, but he nodded along to everything he said.
Compared to how most nobles talked, Leopold was far more amiable and straightforward, being much more of a smooth talker than he had anticipated.
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Suddenly, a familiar face caught Kai's eye. Prince Eldric, amidst the throng of nobles, beckoned him over with a gesture by his hand.
"Excuse me for a moment," Kai said, gesturing towards the prince. "It seems I have the prince's attention."
Leopold, though slightly put out, managed a smile that turned into one of interest.
With Leopold trailing behind him, Kai walked through the crowd towards Eldric's entourage. The prince, a charming smile plastered on his face, greeted Kai with open arms.
"Lord Arzan! Glad you could join us. How are you finding the festivities? The food? Excellent, isn't it?” Prince Eldric’s voice raised at the question, almost as if he was expecting Kai to give an immediate response.
“I assume it is, Prince Eldric. I’m yet to try the dishes. The ball is a splendid affair,” Kai said politely.
Prince Eldric was already surrounded by a lot of nobles, who expectedly waited for him to say anything— and everything. It put Kai on the spot as well and as he entered the group, every pair of eyes fell on him.
“This is Lord Arzan, the Baron of the city of Veralt. I know most of you might not know of him, but the Heat stones are his idea! He created them… I'm pretty sure lots of you have used them to hide the wrath of Frosania,” he asked aloud.
Murmurs of agreement immediately rippled through the nearby nobles, their eyes gleaming with a mix of admiration and thinly veiled greed. Their words reached Kai with different compliments, some appreciating more than the other.
“Lord Arzan, I tried those heat stones consistently, and I’ve to give it to you… Much better than lighting the fireplace.”
“Indeed. My wife appreciated the custom-made Heat stones as well.”
The tall man who gave the compliment earned a small smile from Kai.
"I’m glad it was to your liking, your highness… And all of you."
Prince Eldric’s lips curled to a smile when he turned back to the group of nobles, his voice booming once more. "And speaking of benefits, Lord Arzan, what are your thoughts on my decision to increase the Heat stone distribution to provide for the whole kingdom and even our neighbours?"
Kai felt a pit forming in his stomach. He knew exactly where this was going. This wasn't a casual inquiry. This was a public display of power, an attempt to corner him into public approval.
He glanced around the room, taking in the expectant faces of the nobles. A chorus of "wise decision" and "a boon for the kingdom" would likely follow his next words. But Kai wouldn't play this game. He wouldn't be Eldric's public pawn.
Taking a deep breath, he met the prince's gaze directly. "Your Highness," he began, his voice calm and collected. "While I commend your initiative in ensuring the well-being of the populace by preparing for the next months of Frosania, I believe the current distribution system, managed by the capable merchant who originally assisted with the distribution, has proven efficient. I’d like to maintain my relationship with the merchant for now. I thank you for the offer, but I’d like to reject it."
Kai felt like he heard gasps and chatters from around, but his eyes were directed at Prince Eldric, who was frozen on the spot.
His eyes which were friendly moments ago now bore more than a hint of resentment in them.
***
The scent of lilies, usually a comforting fragrance, felt suffocating tonight. Amara wrinkled her nose, the tight bodice of her gown digging into her ribs with every shallow breath. Balls always felt the same; a suffocating display of wealth and forced smiles.
Tonight, however, the pain gnawed at her with a particular ferocity. Some days when the pain got unbearable, even the best medicines from the highly sought out alchemists would do little to curb the pain.
And right now, every twitch of her hand, every tremor in her leg, screamed at her to retreat, to find the cool solace of her bedchamber. But retreat wasn't an option. Her brother, Eldric had been…insistent.
His words echoed in her mind, laced with a masked threat. “Mother had instructed your presence with me at the ball and if you didn't join me, she would be hurt. Perhaps, she might even come here to talk to you about your… well-being.”
The mere mention of their mother, a woman as cold and unforgiving as the winter winds, was enough to send shivers down Amara's spine. It was a low blow, even for Eldric.
So, she endured. Her maids, bless their hearts, fussed over her, layering silks and jewels onto her frail frame. Each brushstroke of makeup felt like a violation, a futile attempt to mask the ravages of illness gnawing at her from within.
A pang of guilt stabbed at her heart. Balls were Eldric's passion, a way to solidify his image as the people's prince. She knew he craved her support, and tonight, more than ever, he needed a united front.
But what good was a princess who couldn't stand for even a dance? A wave of nausea threatened to rise, and she gripped the armrest of her chair, forcing it down.
She wouldn't give Eldric the satisfaction of seeing her weakness.
The doors creaked open, and a flurry of activity filled the room. Her maids backed away, their worried glances were swallowed when the doors closed.
"Amara?" Eldric's voice, usually jovial, held a hint of concern. "Ready?"
She forced a smile and nodded slowly.
When they entered, the inane chatter of the noblewomen swirled around Amara, a meaningless symphony that blurred into a dull hum.
Their discussions included everything that related to the kingdom and nothing she wanted herself to do anything with. They mostly revolved around men, balls, interesting places they have visited and delicacies they have tasted.
She listened, smiled, nodded and even gave monotonous answers when possible. It was then things got harder for her.
Ten minutes had stretched into an eternity, each forced smile and polite reply draining the remaining energy from her frail body.
A clammy chill seeped from within, spreading goosebumps across her arms despite the warmth of the ballroom. Her hand fluttered to her chest, a frantic search for some semblance of comfort against the rising tide of pain.
Escape. It became her singular focus. She needed air, needed the suffocating confines of the room to vanish.
She looked around and saw her brother freeze in the middle of a group of men. His hands to his sides, eyes wide and even his mouth gape open. By the expression of the men around him, she knew that someone had said something they shouldn't have.
What could that be— But that wasn’t her problem right now, she had to get away from here.
“I— I have to find my maid, ex-excuse me,” she said in just above a whisper.
The women that surrounded her nodded frantically, some looking at her with concern and others with astonishment. Amara knew that more rumours would probably spread by the next morning, but she didn't bother with any of them.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a guy approaching her, a smile on his lips. She knew what he was going to ask, but she had no time or strength for this.
Therefore, she withdrew herself, not giving a single glance more to the young noble.
She walked past the long curtains and slowly made her way towards the balcony, each step felt like a battle against the treacherous tremors wracking her body.
Out in the cool night air, the chill intensified, though strangely, it felt welcoming compared to the stifling warmth inside. She closed her eyes and hugged herself, taking deep breaths.
When she opened her eyes she saw stars twinkling like a scattering of diamonds across the velvet sky, a fleeting moment of beauty in a world that felt increasingly cruel.
Time blurred into a haze of pain and shivering.
The world seemed to distort at the edges, the once-familiar garden swaying drunkenly. A low groan escaped her lips, a sound lost in the symphony of the night. No one could hear her anyway. She slowly reached for the pouch and grabbed a pill, swallowing it with much effort.
It should be okay… It should be okay… It should be…
Her hands came up to clutch her sides. The pain increased from everywhere. Her gut, her ribs, and it went down to the very point of her toes.
She was staring at the sky for one second, and then, the world lurched sickeningly. Her eyes clouded with one thought in her mind, she would be better unalive. Which God cursed her and for what reason? What has she ever done—
The blurriness of her surroundings increased.
"Princess Amara?" An unfamiliar voice, sharp and concerned, cut through the fog.
A single tear traced a path down her pale cheek. "I…I don't feel well," she managed, the words slurred and ragged.
The world tilted violently, and then darkness claimed her. The last thing she registered was the strong feel of a hand on her shoulder and a single strand of warmth entering her body through it.