The servants moved with a sense of reverence, setting plates beside each lord's seat, one after the other. The long, oak table brimmed with an assortment of delicious dishes, their scents filling the air with the aroma of freshly cooked delights.

Rhodon wasted no time. He swiftly piled his plate high with succulent roasted chicken breast and a generous serving of creamy garlic-infused mashed potatoes. He eagerly took his seat with a resolute nod, seemingly having momentarily forgotten the solemn pledge he had made just moments before.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the table, Lord Rose maintained a stern countenance and turned his gaze away from the tempting offerings. "I shall not partake in this," he declared firmly.

Madder, who sat relatively close to him, reached out towards a nearby silver tray, expertly scooping up a satisfying portion of food on his plate and pouring himself a goblet of rich, red wine. With a mischievous grin, he turned to Lord Rose and teased,

"Rose, why be so somber? Meat and wine have always been a balm for weary souls. I shall eat my fill and drink twice to compensate for your restraint."

Around the table, lords hailing from diverse corners of the realm contentedly sated their appetites, their laughter and merriment growing with each hearty bite. The atmosphere swelled with optimism, as they all feasted together, a shared belief in a brighter future guided by chivalry and honor.

Lord Amaranth contemplated while still busy chewing on a greasy rib, offering his perspective,

"There are two more factors we haven't considered. First, Kings Vanadate and Almandite were brothers, albeit not identical twins. This familial bond might have fueled a deep-seated desire for vengeance in his majesty, turning his quest for justice into something personal and sacred."

Lord Garnet broke a loaf of baked bread in two halves. With a smirk, he chimed in,

"Young Amaranth, the red and green Kings have been vying for control of territory for years. They've never been fond of each other, it's common knowledge. Believe me, I witnessed it firsthand on the front lines."

Seeing his argument dismissed, Amaranth pressed on,

"And second, The King has harbored ambitions of conquering Verdania since the beginning of his reign. Such a conquest can't be complete without the full support and legitimacy of the Verdanian nobility. There's only one way to achieve that - through marriage."

This time, it was Lord Rose who abruptly interjected,

"Marry the sole heir to the Verdanes? I've considered that possibility. However, it's not feasible, as King Almandite is already wed. Besides, his only son died at the age of four, leaving him with no male heir to marry her to. The next in line is Duke Spessartine, who's already married and has only three daughters. He'll likely arrange a marriage alliance with a foreign prince to secure the new territory."

A spark of realization crossed Lord Rose's mind.

"Unless..." He fixed a suspicious gaze on Ameth.

"The King has access to another source of royal blood within his sphere of influence."

Madder turned to him, intrigued.

"Are you suggesting his majesty plans to marry Ameth to the princess?"

Lord Rose replied feverishly,

"I'm suggesting nothing! One possibility doesn't necessarily imply the other. Our purpose in this matter remains undisclosed. I maintain my belief that King Almandite is plotting something!"

Amaranth called him out with a furrowed brow,

"You keep addressing His Majesty by his name. It's unconventional, even for you, Rose, especially considering your House's history."

Lord Rose, alarmed, leaped from his chair, retorting,

"Don't you dare bring my House into this! Your words are a reflection of your own frustration, stemming from the shame of taking orders from one of your subjects."

This exchange prompted Amaranth to rise from his chair as well, their confrontation escalating.

Rhodon, who had been silently eating, looked up at Lord Rose with a stern expression, taking a sip from his cup. It was evident he was mentally calculating how he would have handled the situation differently than Amaranth.

Ameth felt the pressing need to bring order to the gathering. He subtly cleared his throat and gestured with a small cough, drawing attention amidst the growing commotion.

To capture everyone's focus, he gently tapped the bottom of his cup against the table a couple of times.

"My lords," he began, "I've heard your arguments, and your positions are well understood."

"Please, let's set aside our differences. Most of us have known each other since childhood, growing up together. Regardless of the cause, we must remain united in this matter. I implore you, let us sit down and discuss this as nobles."

Cups clinking against the table reverberated throughout the room, accompanied by affirming calls of "aye" and "well said" from attendees scattered around.

Ameth, encouraged by the response, turned to Lord Scarlet, whom he perceived as a figure of influence.

"What say you, my lord Scarlet?"

Scarlet, a thoughtful expression on his face, took a moment to contemplate before responding. He addressed Rhodon directly, making sure to capture his attention.

"With Rhodonite Vermilion setting the challenge," he declared in his deep voice, "House Scarlet shall once again demonstrate its worth, as it has done so in the past."

Ameth nodded in appreciation and then shifted his gaze to Lord Rose, seeking his affirmation.

Lord Rose responded with a subdued agreement.

"Very well," he conceded, retaking his seat.

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"Arguing with fools is a futile endeavor, anyway," he muttered, taking his wine cup to his lips for a sip. Amaranth cautiously followed suit.

To complete the circle of acknowledgment, Ameth turned to Lord Garnet, who seemed taken aback by the attention. With his arms crossed, Garnet let out a snort.

"There are seventeen recognized houses in the Land of Roses. I see only fourteen of us here," he pointed out, glancing around the table and addressing the three empty chairs.

Ameth calmly began to explain, his voice measured and composed,

"Carmine is currently in an audience with the King and will rejoin us afterward. He does tend to take his time, that's true, but rest assured, he shall not miss the opportunity to witness my downfall. I guarantee you that."

Amaranth contributed his own piece of information, his tone sympathetic,

"I am aware that Lord Rufous has not yet arrived. Given the recent passing of his lady wife, he has been granted the option to join us on the morrow. The old lord may still not fully comprehend the magnitude of the task before him."

Madder quickly broached the question at hand, his voice tinged with curiosity,

"That leaves us with only House Maroon. However, there's a puzzling aspect to this. They have just two legitimate candidates, and neither of them seems to make any sense."

He paused before continuing,

"The first is the acting Lord of the house, a mere child not older than seven. The second is an elderly scholar who seems to find joy in conversing with the wind. Imagining either of them wielding a sword is equally challenging."

"Many established customs have been breached as of late," Amaranth remarked with a distinctive tone. He proceeded, tinged with a hint of sadness, "Consider the situation it has placed me in. Lord Rose's observation holds true. I now find myself under the authority of one of my own subjects."

Lord Garnet, absorbed in sophistication, stirred his wine with self-possession and chimed in,

"That's not entirely accurate. In truth, you will be serving under a noble, directly under Lord Amethyst's command. It falls upon him to decide whether or not to accept orders from a commoner. Regardless, both tradition and protocol support our exemption from taking offense."

"A well-deserved commander," Amaranth reminisced, "ever since we were but small children, we played these roles, Ameth as the commander and I as his second. We used to lead the young sons of the ambassador along the wall's edge, until old Auburn caught us in the act. As punishment, he made us encircle the Redmont walls seven times. But now, instead, the King has appointed Carmine as his second, and I'm left following this fool."

Laughter and cheers erupted from a different part of the table, cutting through the ambiance. Rhodon, seemingly influenced by the wine, rose from his chair, hoisting his cup as if proposing a toast.

"To the princess! May she hold fast until my arms reach her!"

From the opposite end of the table, Lord Scarlet, ever watchful, noticed Rhodon's inebriation and couldn't resist teasing him with a sly sneer.

"Your arms may fall short, my dear Rhodon, much like your wit, as I carry the venerable lady gracefully upon my steed."

Rhodon, as if deeply offended, slammed his cup onto the table in resentment.

"You certainly will not!"

Rhodon's confidant and companion, Madder, who sat beside him, leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially,

"I had the pleasure of meeting Princess Terra when she visited the palace with King Vanadate once. To be frank, she wasn't much to look at. Always trailing behind young lords, seeking attention."

Rhodon, gripping Madder's shoulder, spoke with an unmistakable drunken slur,

"Nevertheless," he declared, "I'm determined to make her my wife and fill her belly with my heirs. We'll have little ones dressed in red and green, as numerous as the grapes that hang in abundance in the vineyards beneath my castle."

This vivid description seemed to startle Ameth, who had been holding his cup aloft, seemingly lost in thought. Suddenly, the intricacies of wine production crossed his mind, diverting his attention from taking another sip.

Amaranth interjected, eager to showcase his knowledge of royal dynasties.

"Well, in truth, she is of the brown lineage. Queen Jade, her mother, was green, but her father, King Vanadate, was red. He bestowed his color upon her immediately after her mother's passing. As a tertiary color, she has the ability to impart either green or red to her offspring, much akin to our Commander," he said with a genuine smile toward Ameth.

"When his child comes into this world, Ameth as a secondary color shall have the choice to bestow either the primary red or blue."

Ameth, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with the topic, offered a lighthearted quip.

"As you can see, the choice is quite obvious and predestined, I believe."

Madder, now half-submerged in wine himself, posed a thought-provoking question.

"I have my reservations, Ameth. I believe Azure may have significant designs for you. It might be the motive behind sending that Blue envoy your way."

"Blue envoy?" Lord Rose's alarmed voice came from the other end of the table, his full attention now drawn to the conversation.

Taking another sip and almost emptying his cup, Madder continued.

"Indeed. Not knowing how long the briefing would take, I briefly left to attend to a personal matter. As the honorable man that I am, I ventured well beyond the camp's boundaries. From there, in the distance, I spotted a man in Blue attire waiting at Ameth's private quarters."

Lord Rose's expression soured as he fixated on Ameth.

The sounds of cheers and sudden calls broke through the tension, diverting everyone's gaze to the tent's entrance where Auburn had just arrived.

"Auburn!" cried out the young lords, their voices filled with relief and admiration, viewing him as a symbol of refuge amidst their uncertainties.

Ameth's heart soared at the sight of the wise elder, his presence once again a source of comfort and reassurance.

"Auburn, what brings you here?" called Amaranth, curiosity and gratitude evident in his tone as he sought to understand the reason for Auburn's unexpected appearance.

A loud and spirited commotion had erupted within the confines of the grand tent, the air charged with a flurry of questions and remarks. The atmosphere crackled with energy as the lords engaged in lively exchanges, their voices rising and falling like waves crashing against the shore.

Auburn stood there, his presence commanding immediate attention. With a subtle wave of his hand, he signaled for the room to fall silent, every eye in the tent fixed upon him.

"I have chosen to come and witness for myself the bravery of these young men, whom I have raised as my own over the course of decades," he spoke, his gaze moving from one face to another.

"I shall not easily part from those I've come to regard as my own children."

His heartfelt words held everyone's attention captive in the room.

"When the King requested that I remain within the palace walls for my own safety, I replied that, as a man of honor, I would never disregard a royal decree, without exceptions. Thus, you now gaze upon the seventeenth champion of the Verdanian expedition, bearing the proud banner of House Maroon."

The tent filled with cheers and praises. "Auburn, you sly fox!" A triumphant call rang out from the assembled lords and nobles, hailing Auburn's words.

"With Auburn by our side, we cannot fail!"

Someone at the table struck up a song of Roseland, and a chorus of voices joined in, raising their cups and rhythmically tapping their hands on the table to create joyous sounds.

Ameth moved closer to Auburn, their eyes locking in a deep understanding. Words were not needed as Ameth enveloped Auburn in a tight embrace, his gratitude for this tremendous gesture conveyed through the warmth of his hug.

Just as the room brimmed with a jubilant atmosphere, a sudden interruption occurred. A group of royal soldiers, their armor gleaming in the soft candlelight, entered the tent. The cheerful sounds of the lords ceased abruptly, replaced by hushed murmurs.

"What is this?" Madder exclaimed from the back, his voice laden with surprise. "Who allowed the common peasantry in?"

Master Poppy stepped forward, explaining,

"My lords, allow me to introduce Lieutenant Ibis Scarlet and his sergeants. They are here by my formal invitation for introductions and to partake in our joyful celebration. This customary gesture is intended to strengthen the bond within the command chain, as they will serve as the connecting link between you and your men."

Ameth watched with concern, unsure of the consequences of his Master Aide's bold move.

Suspiciously, Lord Scarlet rose from his chair, slowly making his way toward the nervous group of soldiers. The imposing man locked eyes with each of them, then poured wine into a cup from a nearby bottle. With a swift motion, he handed the cup to the Lieutenant.

Lord Scarlet's stern expression suddenly transformed as he resumed singing from where they had left off, and everyone, including the soldiers, joined in.

Outside, the night shrouded everything in darkness. The Command pavilion stood as an island of merriment and joy amidst the void. Their songs and lively sounds filled the air surrounding the camp, creating a unique atmosphere of celebration that outshone even the thousands of stars sparkling high above.