The carriage drove off the streets of the capital, all around them people seemed to be cheering and having fun. Just earlier this day, the royal family had marched through the city, but it was really just a march with no special meaning. That was why none of the higher noble houses visited it and much rather have more time preparing.
The commoners in comparison had enjoyed the show and made it a large celebration every year, it was truly easy to propagate in these medieval times. The only reason Alaric had seen them in the first place, was because it was usual to take the broader road through the masses to reach the main gate of the Palace, even though there was a faster and quieter path along the noble district. It does not matter much though, only a few minutes longer on the city roads.
Soon, the carriage arrived in front of the open palace gates and were led inside. The insignia of House Violet was in front, no one would dare cause trouble for a higher noble. Even if said noble was on the verge of collapse, it’s connections shouldn’t be underestimated. Else, how would they still have the marquis title after several years of the past marquis’ death?
The carriage drove inside till it was in front of the main palace, where the ball would be held. Kendrick opens the door from outside so Alaric can exit, pulling in the attention of the surrounding nobles that are also preparing to enter the ball.
Stretching out my hand, I give Onaia time to adjust herself and take it to leave the carriage. As she leaves the carriage, she also pulls some attention. The late stepmother might be of common origin, but those with Vessel-Affinity tended to look better, have strong bodies and loose connections to their souls, the reason why their affinity was renamed after many years.
I ring Onaia’s arm with mine, she didn’t show anything on her face, but I could feel nervousness coming from her energy fluctuations, so I use a bit of mine to mask it and pat her hand gently when everyone else is behind us. Kendrick followed behind us as Keen would be waiting outside. I tell Kendrick to talk with the announcer, who was about to say something.
“The honourable Marquis Violet and Lady-… and the late Marchioness!” close one, nearly gave her a name, that’d make her more alive than she is. Entering the ball room, I see quite a few nobles turned our way, we talk our way towards a higher platform reserved for the higher nobles. Even among nobles, there has to be distinctions, how else would our pride be fuelled, right?
The ball hadn’t started yet, so all higher nobles would keep to themselves, except those that were friends, they could talk already. That is also why the moment we took our position on the higher platform, Illic was already moving towards me. His tall stature and the cold eyes that have no glint of emotion seem so different from the man that had just cried in my shoulder a few hours ago, guess he regained his composure.
Now that he had time to think of everything, how will he behave… well, it’s obvious. The moment he came closer, his eyes softened, and he greeted with a light smile “I greet the marquis, would I be allowed to stay with you?”
“I would be honoured.” I say, and as he moves closer, I whisper to him “My Illic, those soft eyes of yours are only mine, how can you show them to other people? Someone might fall in love. That’d be too much of a tragedy for them, don’t you think?”
Although what I said was clearly a threat, Illic seemed to be happy about it. His eyes became cold once again, but even he had some fluctuations of energy, revealing a bit of his joyous attitude. They were much less than Onaia’s and someone wouldn’t be able to sense them if they weren’t close to him, but safety would always be first.
It didn’t take long till the prince and his sister, the princess, were announced. They mingled a bit with the lower nobles, looking very amiably, unlike the previous few higher nobles that only said a few words before moving on. I can’t complain though, we did exactly that.
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The prince soon arrived in the higher platform, and he greeted a few nobles in fleeting before he came to my group when he saw that both Illic and I were here. It was more likely that he came mainly for Illic, after all, he was friends with Illic before me, and only interacted so much with me because Illic had his crush on me. No doubt the prince knew a bit of that, but he never hinted that to the previous Alaric, one can only guess whether he didn’t do it because he didn’t want to be a bothersome friend, or because he didn’t approve.
When the prince came in front of us, we all bowed as we said in unison “We greet Laya’s sparks, may it grow to shine above all else.” This was the formal greeting for all children of the king, just another sign of the royal family’s light affinity.
The prince let them finish before he greeted them too “Greetings marquis, late marchioness, Illic. How have you been doing?” he did some small talk with us all, while the princess hadn’t said a word yet, she was sneaking glances at Illic the whole time.
He didn’t look in your direction the whole time, little girl, have some self-love. Why do you think you have a chance when I am literally next to you? Gosh, this will probably happen a lot in the future. That’s the pain of having a hot husband, right? But I’m also hot, so Illic will suffer just as much as I will. Bet there’s gonna be cringe weird people trying to sow discord between us, making it secretive and try to break us apart. That’s the usual trope for a non-fluff bl, right? Nah, I’ll dodge that bullet and just keep him with me all the time, and if there’s some weirdo coming for me, I might as well just tell Illic to kill him, that’ll be good training.
Even though it was obvious she had no game, I still become angry with how obvious she is about her glances. Even the nearby nobles started chuckling. I get it, yeah yeah, innocent cute princess loves the son of the duke, yada yada yada. I turn to Onaia and whisper something in the demon language “Kill this bitch when you get a chance.”
Smiling, I act like I had just coughed and not talked in the demon language, while Onaia gives me a pat on the arm. Yeah, I’m just a villain, if I ever write a biography, the title will be something + transmigration into the body of a bully with the soul of a villain.
The prince was about to leave when I ask him “Prince Garven, would it be fine with you if we go to somewhere more private.”
He looks somewhat curious as he asks, “If the marquis wishes so, naturally.”
Now in another run, other people would use this chance to talk one on one with the prince for various reasons, often romantical, but of course I don’t need that. So, before the princess can even approach Illic because I left his side, I pulled him gently. Onaia then ringed the princess’ arm with hers, acting like a mother taking care of her daughter.
Garven seemed a bit surprised that Illic joined, but he didn’t say anything. We went to the far back of the higher noble’s area, where some private rooms could be seen. Some were taken, but the prince took us to a special one where a royal guard stood. We entered and sat down, two couches could be seen parallel to each other, Illic sat down next to me on one of them.
The prince looked even more curious because we were fairly close, so I talked “Prince, you might have guessed it in the past, but Illic and I were drawn to each other. I was often confused about my feelings, so I waited a bit.
Over time, our feelings were clear, and we are here today because I would like to ask you whether you could announce our engagement. As you might now, our marquisate is currently experiencing some difficult times, while it would be inappropriate to do so in the duke’s estate, as we had decided it would be better if Illic joined my family and took on my name.”
The beginning was something Garven expected and thought they would be telling him that they were dating now, the engagement was quite the surprise. The real shock though was the fact that Illic would be marrying into the marquis family and even take on their last name.
It was somewhat of an unspoken taboo for anyone of the duke rank to do so, all duchies were part of the foundation of the country, their name carried weight of the founders of the kingdom, an now Illic would give him his name for a marquis family which doesn’t have clear origins and only exists in the kingdom for a few generations?
Illic saw the look on the prince’s face, so he added “I am not the heir of my family, nor is it the first time for someone from a duchy to marry into another family. Our kingdom also allows the marriage of two males.”