A chandelier loomed over the audience hall, adorned with chain links made of glass that filled the room with iridescent light. The baron and baroness’s seats sat empty as both worked the crowd.

As we entered the hall, Arsen was determined to evade the notice of both his parents, likely because they would object to him lowering the evening’s standard by bringing a common girl - finely dressed though I was. When the servant at the entrance made to announce our arrival, the young lord shushed him as he dragged me by the arm towards the right side of the hall where a small group of businessmen had gathered.

“Ah, the young Lord Rydberg! How kind of you to join us!” the eldest man in the group greeted us as we approached. I recognized him as the man with the top hat from my presentation at the finance ministry. After a moment of confusion, he paid me a shallow bow and I bowed in return. “And Miss Helian as well! A pleasure to see you again. I was quite impressed by your presentation last week.”

Arsen smiled with pride as the other gentlemen turned to examine me. The youngest member of the crowd tilted his head. “Helian, you said? I’ve not heard her name before. Is she from overseas?”

The young lord shook his head. “No, she’s a rising star in the finance ministry who grew up here in the barony! I had the good luck of encountering her in a café during the administrative exams. Imagine my surprise when she ranked second—and on her very first attempt!” The assembled gentlemen murmured and nodded their heads.

“Quite impressive. I’ll anticipate great things from your partnership, you two.” A gentleman with a heavy eastern accent raised his glass and gestured towards the rest of the assembled men. “A toast to the bright future of the barony!”

The greasiest member of the group raised his glass and, with intoxicated wisdom, responded “And to the bright future of the baron’s lineage!”

Arsen’s eyes narrowed and the man in the top hat cleared his throat. “Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence, Lord Arsen. Perhaps you and the young miss should go and mingle? I’m sure she would benefit from meeting the members of the northern delegation.”

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The young lord nodded. “Thank you, sir, that’s an excellent suggestion. Enjoy your evening, everyone.”

As he said this, Arsen grabbed me by the wrist and stormed off.

------

Arsen led me through the audience hall up to the second floor. There were four doors, the first two leading to the guest restrooms, while the last two led to separate sitting rooms for guests and esteemed guests respectively. The young lord dragged me to the rear room, making me an esteemed guest, at least temporarily.

When we arrived at the door, he nodded to one of the two armed men guarding it.

The worst part of the novel soon approached.

“I’ll be using this room until further notice. We’re not to be disturbed.”

The guard opened the door for us and nodded. “As you wish, my lord.”

Arsen pushed me inside and I heard the guard lock the door behind us. The room was dimly lit by the moon shining in through the floor-to-ceiling windows on the west wall. Farther up ahead, a pair of double doors opened onto an exterior balcony.

Once he released my wrist, he practically sprinted towards the large sofa at the center of the room and collapsed onto it. He sat alone with his back hunched over.

“The nerve of those men.” He was trembling enough that I could see it from the doorway. “Even after everything I’ve done to prove myself, they still doubt me. Even though it’s obvious they’re no better than the dirt that lines the roads in outskirt villages like your hometown.”

He lifted his head and stared at me with clouded eyes. “You understand, right? It’s always been like this for me. I’m sure it’s been the same for you… worse, even. It will never change unless we show them the truth with our own hands. Engrave it in their hearts and minds, with the tip of a blade if necessary.” He nodded, as if to reassure himself, then stood up and swung the double doors wide as he stepped onto the balcony.

Arsen leaned against the balustrade and stared up at the moon, clearly waiting for me to follow. I approached and stood at the threshold, waiting for him to speak. When he turned to look at me, he wore a dead expression on his face. “I nearly forgot our first meeting. You’ve been looking down on me too, haven’t you? I can see it in your eyes – the eyes of a wild beast. That can be fixed, though, and we’ll get along just fine.”

Arsen leaned away from the railing and made to approach me, and from the corner of my eye, I saw a gloved hand reach out from the darkness.