ASHA’S POV
Dad...
The look on his handsome face is one she’s never seen before, and it makes her smile.
Well, Lady Willow IS very beautiful.
Just like her namesake, she’s tall and willowy, her brown hair gleaming in its elegant updo, bright green eyes filled with warmth and good humor, the hint of a smile ever present on those full lips.
She seems nice.
That gentle, almost tender tone in Lady Willow’s voice when she’d complimented Asha on her gown had sent a little tingle down Asha’s spine, but not in a bad way.
I think she likes me? If dad likes her then I hope she likes us too.
But this father of mine...
Callan Lamberg is notorious for dancing only with Asha since his late wife’s passing, sidestepping any attempt by other women to corner him into inviting them to dance. That ability of his has actually reached almost mythical status in the empire, since no one has successfully eluded so many nobles’ machinations so gracefully for almost two decades.
He looks like he wants to dance with her, but he’s pretending not to and just continuing the discussion about Quan with the Ferdinands.
Chancing a glance at the imperial family, then Monique and Valora, Asha makes up her mind.
If dad won’t act, then I will.
Sidling up to her father, who immediately puts an arm around her waist without breaking the flow of conversation, Asha waits for the Winter Count to finish his sentence before speaking.
She can already feel Valora’s anticipation, Monique’s exasperation, and that makes her grin.
“Darling?” He’s as gentle and loving as always, and that bolsters Asha’s resolve to find him a good wife.
“Daddy, won’t you dance with Lady Willow?”
The silence that descends upon the hall at her words is expected, just as Valora’s laughter and Monique’s face palm are. Asha’s pleasantly surprised when the imperial family not only grins - the Emperor actually chuckling and winking at her - but when the Crown Prince, Crown Princess, and Rayleigh intervene to help her.
“Little sis is right, teacher.” Given his lessons with the Count, the Crown Prince had visited the Lamberg manor and their northern home often as a child - even helping Asha learn to walk since he’s eight years older - which probably explains the familiarity with which he treats her. “Lady Willow has only just returned to the empire after many years away, so she hasn’t had the opportunity to make a wide circle of acquaintances yet.”
“Teacher, since you’ve always been involved in imperial affairs, you’re the best person to bring Lady Willow up to speed on everything she needs to know for tonight. And sharing her first dance with a man of your impeccable reputation would prevent any untoward rumors from starting about the lady.” Rayleigh knows very well that the Winter Count favors him most out of all his students, leaning into that relationship by widening crimson eyes and looking innocently at his teacher.
I never thought I’d see the day when he’d act cute with that big body.
“Indeed, Count Lamberg. It’d be a shame for such an esteemed citizen to stand on the sidelines when she’s clearly rushed to attend Asha’s party despite only just stepping foot on imperial soil three days ago.” The Crown Princess is brilliant.
“W...well, if all of you say so...” Awww, are you shy, daddy? “Then...” Just get on with it, dad. No one likes an indecisive person, YOU taught me that.
“Daddy, you should dance with her.” Asha knows very well her father can’t refuse her, especially not on her birthday.
“If that’s what my baby wants.” Dad... She gets a kiss to her forehead, before he turns to the blushing daughter of the famous diplomat. “Lady Willow, may I have the honor of this dance?”
“The honor is mine, my lord.” Despite the flush still present on that lovely face, the Ferdinand family’s second child gracefully accepts the invitation, gloved hand placed delicately on the Count’s outstretched palm.
They look good together.
Her father is tall - taller than even the Emperor, Crown Prince, and Rayleigh - but Lady Willow stands more than a head above Asha, whose short and small build continues to be the despair of the Snowfall culinary team.
As the well-matched pair move seamlessly together in the middle of the ballroom, Asha becomes aware of whispers and intent-filled gazes.
Give it up, you vultures. I’m not letting any of you sink your claws into my dad.
“You truly do have a discerning eye, Lady Asha.” Duchess Marlowe?
The duchess looks both amused and impressed - a rare sight on that dignified face - and Asha grins before bowing. “Your grace’s generosity is matched only by your beauty.”
“Agreed, Duchess.” Marchioness Fenceton chimes in unexpectedly. Aren’t they in rival factions? “Lady Asha has a keenness of perception befitting the daughter of her House.” Where is this going...? “Perhaps we may soon be attending another engagement ceremony involving a Lamberg?” At the twinkle in violet eyes, Asha blinks before grinning wider.
With these two implying their approval for Lady Willow, no other lady would dare try to court dad unless they want to get cast out of high society.
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“The Marchioness’ wisdom is renown for a reason.” Asha bows gracefully, smiling when she sees the pleased expression on the usually calm face.
Behind her, the Emperor has struck up a conversation with Marquess Ferdinand, the Crown Princess heading to the buffet tables with the Marchioness as Rayleigh and his cousin draw the Ferdinand sons and daughter-in-law towards the group around Asha.
“Lady Elisha was just saying she’s looking for tutors for her children,” Rayleigh mentions casually. “They’ve spent most of their lives overseas, so they must be curious about the empire’s educators.”
“Oh, that’s right, Lady Elisha. I heard you have a son who’s ten and daughter who’s just turned seven.” Duchess Marlowe is extremely well-informed. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to recommend my children’s tutors.” It starts.
The Ferdinands, having been away for decades - discounting their infrequent short trips to meet the Emperor and receive their next mission - aren’t members of any faction. But now that they’ve returned to stay for the foreseeable future, and the daughter of their house might become the next Countess Lamberg, they’ll have to pick a side in the political arena.
Duke Marlowe leads the imperial faction, which is probably why the Duchess is making her move so quickly, since Lamberg is currently in that party too.
While the mothers in the group speak about childcare, Asha tunes into the conversation between Lady Willow’s brothers and the other nobles.
“Do you still have contacts in Vautour, Lord Rowen and Lord Ashley?” Duke Marlowe seems quite interested in the western empire, which is to be expected since relations have been strained after Frankland gained their independence twelve years ago. Given the close relationship between people of that free principality and the Lambergs, the Vautour Empire has long made it clear that they suspect the northern clan - if not the Loredan Empire itself - of having interfered in the civil war.
“We keep in contact with some of the nobles and merchants, your grace.” Lord Rowen is tall and slim, just like the rest of his family. “The last we heard three weeks ago was that their empress, empress consorts, and princesses have been hosting grand balls every week.”
And people made fun of ME for spending too much money.
Such extravagance is frowned upon in Loredan, which expects its Imperials and nobles to act with some measure of restraint.
“Vautour must have a great deal to rejoice about.” Count Eszes is deliberately keeping his tone mild, but his eyes are sharp and disapproving.
“From what our acquaintances say, my lord, the western imperial family seems to be in rather good spirits lately.” Lord Ashley is only a year younger than the Crown Prince, which makes him older than Rayleigh and Asha. He’s also still unattached at 26 years old - according to the information Rayleigh had given Asha about the Ferdinands, the youngest child of the diplomat had been ardently courted by the second and third princesses of Vautour, which is the primary reason why the family had been reassigned to Quan three years ago.
Vautour, huh? Something seems to be up with that corrupt country. The Emperor wouldn’t have been averse to a political marriage of a high ranking diplomat’s son with the western imperial family otherwise.
“I must confess, I’m curious about the cause for such excessive celebration.” Viscount Hawksworth particularly abhors such behavior, believing the income inequality between nobles and commoners already too great in Loredan. Hearing about the western imperial family’s extravagant spending would no doubt trigger his radical sensibilities.
“As are we, my lord.” Lord Ashley doesn’t need to treat the Viscount so respectfully, but he’s a diplomat’s son through and through. “We’ve asked some of our friends in the west for more information, and are waiting to hear back.”
That’s impressive. They’re charming and persuasive enough to get Vautourians to act as spies for a foreign nation. Or maybe the discontent in that empire is rising.
Would it have something to do with that future? I don’t remember anyone from Vautour visiting the imperial family before I died, but I didn’t really pay attention to much other than Rayleigh and Medea before.
“Asha?” Why is he looking at me like that? “You seem deep in thought, my lady.”
> ”Does that empty head of yours even possess the capacity to think?”
Rayleigh’s words have drawn the attention of the men around them, and Asha is suddenly overcome with the urge to smack the Imperial.
“I’m just curious about the Vautour family’s behavior.” Quick, Asha, think of something to say that won’t make them lose respect for you. “From what I know, Frankland was a significant source of revenue for the crown, and after the separation the western empire lost the equivalent of sixty million gold coins in annual taxes alone from the sales of raw materials from the principality, not to mention earnings from the herb farms the imperial family owned directly and through proxies”
I hope I didn’t sound too stupid. This is all your fault, Rayleigh. Next time just leave me alone.
“Indeed, my lady.” Lord Rowen has been looking at her assessingly since Asha asked her father to dance with Lady Willow. “It was a great loss to the Vautour coffers when Frankland attained independence.” Oh, that’s right. House Lamberg is suspected of intervening in the war. Though I know we actually DID get involved, and dad’s responsible for killing one of Vautour’s Magic Grandmasters.
It’s something she’d been sworn to secrecy about as a child.
Come to think of it, didn’t that snake Cass seem quite curious about my family’s involvement in the Frankland war?
“Has Vautour perhaps found a new source of income to make up for the loss?” Asha herself isn’t sure where she’s going with this, but there’s something pulling at the edges of her mind, something whispering that the puzzle has more pieces than she’d previously thought.
“Not that we’re aware of, Lady Asha.” Lord Ashley is less wary of her, probably because he’s the youngest in the family and is said to be quite playful. “The costs of war and loss of Frankland were cited as reasons for the regular increases in taxes in Vautour.”
“Yet their imperial family is having grand parties regularly?” Viscount Hawksworth is almost bristling with rage. “How fare their common folk?”
Though the other factions don’t look kindly on the radical party, noblesse oblige demands the people’s needs be met as much as possible, and nobles are expected to provide aid to the residents of their territories in times of drought, famine, or natural disasters.
“Many have abandoned their farms and gone to the capital to seek employment.” Lord Rowen’s eyes are still assessing, though his tone is congenial.
“Wouldn’t that strain the city’s infrastructure?” Oh gods, why did I blurt that out?
“Yes, Asha.” Why do you both look so proud? “Such mass migration would require significant investment in ensuring livable conditions, and preventing outbreaks of diseases as well as the rise of crime.” The Crown Prince and Rayleigh are smiling at her, and Asha’s heart suffers some of the side effects of the contract at the sight of the latter.
“It’s curious that the western imperial family should choose such a time to celebrate regularly.” True to his neutral stance and tactful nature, Marquess Fenceton encourages the discourse while not directly taking sides.
“With the reduction in farming activities, Vautour will soon face food shortages.” Shut up, Asha. Why are you talking so much? “When that happens, the palace and nobles will have to provide aid, as it is their duty to the people.” She gets approving nods at that. “But, if the palace is already claiming to be facing financial difficulties necessitating the regular increases in taxes, there’s a chance they may not be able to help the commoners.” Where am I going with this? “Historically, nations with limited resources would often raid neighboring territories for the supplies they need.” DEMONS TAKE IT, I shouldn’t have said that.
For some reason, Rayleigh chooses that moment to wrap his arm around her waist and smile down at her. What...?
“Perhaps it would be best for teacher to speak with the leaders of Frankland soon.” The Crown Prince agrees with his cousin’s words immediately.
What, in the name of the gods’ BACKSIDES, is going on?
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MOONRISE BY LUNASEA: CHAPTER 16 END