The two sat on the edge of an old smoothed-out sea wall, side by side as they watched the dark black waves crash against the charcoal sand. The tide was strong at this hour, the waves crashing with a thunderous sound as it pelted against the ground before pulling back to repeat the process. Over and over again, never stopping, never ceasing in this time loop, it was circular and never-ending. No matter what happened, no matter how long time passed, no matter how many people were to pass on this earth, only one thing was eternal: this dark wretched sea would still crash against the sand.

"I've missed you," Jessamine broke through the silence, the words shocking Kaid. They had said nothing along their walk here, nothing as they sat upon the wall and saw the incoming afternoon clouds of a possible evening storm. They hadn't uttered a syllable, and those were the words that Jessamine chose to speak first.

The way she said it was smooth as if it were on the tip of her tongue this entire walk. It was a sigh of relief to her, exhaling those words as if she was admitting something she didn't want to.

"Kassandra said you've been very busy," Kaid spoke, wincing slightly upon the realization that was probably the worst reply to her confession.

"I have. The other kingdoms found out about what happened in Caladin. Can you believe it's the first time anyone's escaped and is capable of telling about it?" she frowned, her eyes still looking at the sea.

"I did tell you it was impossible to escape. What do the other kingdoms think? How bad is it?" Kaid asked, worry laced in his voice.

"You made it possible," her frown faded as she then glanced over at him, "It is troublesome, to say the least. Arilla and Lungor used Caladin extensively for imprisoning those with Oblivion. Our escape has inspired a bit of hope amongst the prisoners. I've been summoned to Arilla in the winter to discuss it, that's the longest I could postpone it."

"Summoned? You're an Empress," Kaid asked, knowing Arilla was a completely separate kingdom.

"Who do you think paid investments in our turbine technology? The one that saved us and neighboring kingdoms from drought? They may not have spies in this kingdom, because they're already in our pockets. By then, Payne will have gathered enough evidence against Lungor, I can discuss with the bankers over a few drinks and all will be well. It might even work to our advantage," she explained, "planning it and going through the correspondence was a nightmare as Lungor was trying to fight it. But everything is calm, for now. We can assume Lungor will back off for the time being."

"Or take the opportunity to strike again. What's their end goal in removing you? Just replace you with someone as their puppet; control two different kingdoms at once?" Kaid questioned.

"No doubt someone of blood. It does not help that my grandfather, the one who started causing all these issues, slept with a thousand women. There could be anyone out there of similar stature and blood as mine. As for the people of Vitross, they never care who is on the throne as long as there is no war. Lungor will paint it that I want war and in removing me, they will be the heroes by preventing one."

"The newspaper seemed to state similar rhetoric. They did not have kind words about you."

"They never do. My advice would be to take everything they write with a grain of salt. They write what people want to hear. Every once in a while they speak truth to keep their followers, everything else is speculative waste of letters," Jessamine hummed, not surprised. She didn't seem the type to really be phased by what words could be thrown at her and she was strong enough to not be tempted to read the words that her name plastered over the various pages.

Kaid sat there for a moment, feeling a bit of guilt at how bitter he had felt with her absence. She was dealing with a lot of stress and he never once went out of his way to ask if she was alright. He'd ask if she needed help, but he had the feeling there wasn't much he could help on. All these political schemes were so unfamiliar to him. Kaid didn't know why people just couldn't get along. This world seemed so mirrored to Caladin, how people were forced to turn against one another in order to survive and prevail. These kingdoms acted the same way and maybe there was no solution to it.

"I missed you too," Kaid admitted as well in the empty silence, removing his eyes from the sea to glance at hers, the red veil still covering her sandy auburn hair and fair freckles. He hated the way it covered her smile. Her smile haunted him, the way the muscles moved as if she had never smiled much before, dimples forming in a space they didn't even know they cohabitated. Knowing he could make her smile was the greatest feeling he had ever felt.

Her hand moved on top of his, Kaid finally realizing just how small her thin hand looked compared to his.

"I have an enormous favor to ask of you," Jessamine let her thumb brush against his knuckles, feeling how coarse they had become since his training.

"Anything for you," Kaid responded immediately. Jess let out a breathless scoff of disbelief, forgetting momentarily how this man would do anything for her. It was the most admirable thing, how trusting he was. She had never met a man like him before and knew she never would again in her lifetime.

"It is tradition of the Vitross Emperor's, in this case, the Empress's birthday, to have a guest of honor. It is mainly used for diplomatic reasons, as we sit together the entire evening. The plan was for Duke Grotto, but I changed plans. I want you to be my guest of honor," she smiled softly.

Kaid was a bit frozen at the offer. He didn't exactly know what it entailed. Kassandra and Christine had said he should be present for the birthday celebration, but to be a guest of honor? For one, he knew it would cause a lot of controversy, having the new foreigner be her guest. Maybe that's what she wanted was to stir things up a bit. Or maybe she thought he was deserving of the recognition, and more importantly wanted to spend that evening with him.

This Duke Grotto didn't sound like a very interesting person she wanted to be around the entire evening.

"You don't have to, of course. You can always say no," Jess clarified, seeing he wasn't saying anything at the moment, "trust me, I've always hated my birthday. This entire celebration means nothing to me." But having him by her side would make it a bit more tolerable.

"How can I refuse an Empress?" Kaid asked, before smiling as he clarified he was just teasing.

Jessamine rolled her eyes for the moment under the veil, tempted to pinch the skin on his hand out of irritation, "Ask me what I want for my birthday,"

"What is it, Jess, that you want for your birthday? More than anything?" Kaid asked, knowing exactly what her answer would be.

"What I want, more than anything, Kaid...is for you to be my guest of honor. I want to highlight your accomplishments, your bravery and integrity, and most of all your kindness. I care not for whatever gifts those aristocrats throw at my feet. In fact, I will sell every one of those gifts and all proceeds will go towards those orphans. You have my word. You are the one gift that I want."

He was the only thing she wanted right now.

"Then it shall be done, Jessamine," he answered immediately. He had to admit he was shocked about her generosity towards the orphans. But the gifts would be such a blessing to them, any amount of money would. For her to do such a thing, it spoke of her character. Kaid could not deny being her guest of honor, nor would he ever deny anything she so kindly asked of him.

"Excellent, I must have Christine prepare you with dance lessons then," she squeezed his hand, her smile wide enough to make her jaw taught with aches, as she never felt this happy before.

"Dance lessons?" Kaid's eyes widened, not realizing he'd have to dance. His footwork alone in sword fighting was atrocious. Dancing was going to be an absolute nightmare.

"Oh, you'll be fine. Hence the lessons," Jess laughed, the first one in a while that felt awfully genuine. It was in that moment that she realized she never wanted to part like this again, that the distance she had set for herself didn't work, in fact it only emboldened her affections for him. She thought Kaid would be a passing ship, that once out of sight it would be out of her mind and continue on its own journey. She only then realized how intertwined her journey now was with his, and that was a fate neither of them could escape from.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kaid adjusted the scarf-like waistband around his hips, securing his dark black kaftan by tucking it into his silk pants of the same fabric. Christine had really outdone herself with this outfit. It fit him perfectly, and she was ingenious enough to blend the Vitross style of royal vests and suits with Kaid's preferred kaftan attire. Kaid appreciated the gesture she took the time to not only give him dance lessons, which he still felt inadequate on, but also make an outfit specifically for him.

The noise from the ballroom was making him nervous. The entire palace was lit in decorative lights, illuminating the dark black architecture and space like stars did to the night sky. Flowers ranging all sorts of colors and shapes filled the empty spaces. Everyone else he ran into was dressed in elegance, wearing clothes that cost more than homes in the Lower Districts. Fuck, maybe even the jewelry they wore cost just the same. Hearing the sound of footsteps heading his way, he glanced up and felt his entire body freeze, similar to the moment she had stopped him from entering the portal.

This freeze was of his own doing, grasping time to take a moment to stare at her.

She wore a long dress, the color of her eyes, a teal-blue blend that clashed beautifully with her pale skin. Her hair looked darker than usual, missing that hint of red and was tied up in a bun, small braids accompanying both sides of her head to only add to her royal nature. With the matching colored heels, she was almost as tall as Kaid. The dress along the arms turned sheer rather than the silk around her torso, exposing those arms adorned at the end with silver jewelry. She looked absolutely beautiful. Kaid knew he would never lay his eyes on a woman who would take his breath away like it would with Empress Jessamine Kruzika.

He didn't know just how long he had stayed in that state of studying her with time frozen. It had a way of feeling like an entire lifetime or just a few seconds. But when he withdrew from it, he noticed a tightness in her neck, her muscles contracting as if withholding an onslaught of emotions. Globus sensation: the feeling of the throat tightening after emotional distress. She clasped her hands together in that stressed fashion she had in Caladin, tightening them together briefly before all of a sudden her body relaxed.

In a blink she was already in front of him, adjusting the scarf he had just fixed by tucking one end into his waistline. She didn't look like she had the slightest hint of distress on her face, as if she had infiltrated her own mind to calm herself. Maybe that's what the hands symbolized, forcing herself together to become the person she wasn't.

"You look positively handsome," Jessamine whispered, keeping her hands lingering at his waist before dropping them. How badly she wanted to keep them there, to embrace him and give in. But she couldn't, not now, not in front of him, and certainly not in a place like this.

"Christine knows how to work a piece of fabric. She can make anyone look handsome," Kaid blushed slightly, although was still worried about what could have distressed her.

"All Christine did was take an already beautiful piece of art and enhance it," Jessamine clarified, her eyes gazing up at him longingly, "now it's your turn to compliment me."

"You are beautiful; always have been, always will. This dress... I can hardly put it into words," Kaid whispered, his eyes drifting down once as his fingers gently reached out to feel the sheer fabric, surprised at how slightly scratchy it was, "Happy Birthday, Jessamine."

"You don't need to put it into words," her voice trembled slightly, Kaid's eyes moving back up to view hers, seeing that distress come back. He didn't mean for his comment to add more emotional toil on her, but it was clear she was doing her best to control it. She turned to glance at the curtains covering their small entrance, swallowing hard to metaphorically shove all those feelings down and aside. The amount of times she had heard a compliment so similar, from men who thought more beyond than just looking beautiful. It was a compliment men used to get something out of it. Kaid had said it simply because he could, because he meant it. He didn't need to put it into words because she knew exactly what he was trying to say.

Kaid's hand moved up to her forearm, just above the wrist as he pulled her slightly closer, "Jess, are you alright?"

"I...yes. I am," she answered, nodding immediately before realizing he had seen it, even though she had done everything in her power to not let it show, "I just had a briefing with Payne. Duke Grotto has not shown, which isn't a surprise. But, there's someone here I didn't expect to be here: a Lungor delegate. The one man I wanted here isn't, and the one man I can't stand to be around is here."

"Does Payne think he could be a danger?" Kaid asked, knowing he must keep his guard up even more now with someone from Lungor around.

"No. No, it's not like that. He's harmless in that regard. He was sent to antagonize, and so far it's been working," Jessamine sighed, knowing she was falling victim to it, "he...it's a long story for another time."

"What can I do to help?"

"Nothing. Just stay by my side, for as long as you can stand to be around me," she smiled slightly at his offer. Her arm locked around his, her free hand reaching across herself to grab his hand to squeeze momentarily, thanking him for being so kind.

"Be careful what you ask for, Empress, I might just be with you all night and until morning," he teased, seeing a rosy blush and her lips withdrawn to prevent another smile.

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This man would be the death of her.

"And now, we present Empress Jessamine, to celebrate the twenty-seventh year of her birth. Accompanied with her is her guest of honor, Kaid," Bridger had the pleasure of announcing, accompanied by claps of all the various aristocrats and politicians. Jessamine led him through the slit of the curtain, met by bright lights and the eyes of hundreds all upon them. The amount of attention on Kaid was frightening, as he never had this many people seem to care about him or pay so much of a liking to him. Though, he knew it was all for show. Half these men and women clapping for the celebration of Jessamine's birth probably wished for her downfall as well. Most of the men had unimpressed looks on their faces, eyeing him the way a lot of the Guards did on his first days of training.

The women, on the other hand, seemed rather charmed and blushed at the sight.

Kaid had no idea how Jessamine handled such things on a daily basis, although he knew this was a more rare occasion.

They moved to sit at the grand table, the rest of the party mingling or socializing at their own tables as the drinks were being served. Jessamine seemed relaxed once in her seat, only a few inches away from Kaid. But once her eyes scanned the room with Kaid, he noticed her tense up again, her shoulders clenching together. Kaid traced her eyes and found it set upon a man of similar age as hers, a man who looked already slightly drunk by the way he stood, stumbling every few seconds with himself. He was a disheveled mess, his elegant white suit clashing with the mess of his brown hair and stubble across his jaw.

The man had a history with Jessamine, and Kaid knew it wasn't a good history from the way her eyes were glued to him.

His hand moved across the way, letting it rest on her upper backside which was exposed due to the nature of her dress. Kaid felt her breath hitch at the sensation of his calloused hands against her smooth skin, before all those muscles along her backside and shoulders, ones she probably didn't even realize were tense, began to relax. Jessamine finally took her eyes off him and looked to Kaid, letting him know she was alright. And for him to stop touching her, otherwise she would take him up on that promise of being joined until morning.

Dinner was served, her mother's recipe of lemon roasted chicken which Kaid had absolutely grown to love. It was his favorite meal, and that was more than just because it was Jessamine's favorite as well. It was a refreshing flavor, to say the least. Multiple delegates arrived, introducing themselves to Jessamine and Kaid, wishing her a wonderful birthday and sharing their generous gifts of tribute. It was nice to put a few names to some of these faces, because he felt like he would see them again. Every so often, Jessamine would lean over and whisper in his ear all their scandals once they left the area, which ranged from drunken nude swims in the Vitross fountains, to dancing so horribly a man broke his own ankles.

These people certainly had stories to tell and they were rather entertaining to say the least.

"Empress, would you like your typical rosé wine?" a servant showed a dark pink bottle to her. Jessamine shook her head, changing her mind at that moment.

"No, thank you Lucian. I would like you to open this bottle of wine Director Sirman brought all the way from Arilla," she smiled, handing him the bottle which he gratefully obliged in opening. He poured the rich dark blood wine into her glass, and also Kaid's. Kaid knew by now that alcohol was not really in his flavor profile, but Christine and Kassandra insisted he just hadn't tried the right drink for him yet.

"A toast, to my wonderful prison inmate," Jessamine smiled, raising her glass for him, a moment just for the two of them, "whom without, I wouldn't be here today."

"And without, I wouldn't be here either," Kaid smiled, raising his glass as well before taking a sip. The wine was definitely strong, the smell alone intoxicating. But somehow it did pair well with the roasted chicken in small quantities. Jessamine could see he was doing his best to try and enjoy the wine, knowing it wasn't quite his thing. She was still glad he entertained her, though.

Their meal and other introductions finished, Jessamine constantly watching that Lungor man who would occasionally glance at her. When it finally seemed he was making her way over, she stood up, moving her hand to Kaid's shoulder. She had to resist the slight temptation to let her fingers run through the black curls on the back of his neck.

"Come, you owe me a dance," she smiled, Kaid soon standing up and taking her arm around his. He had to admit, he was a bit nervous, given everyone was still watching them make their way to the ballroom part of the floor. Plenty of other people danced to the piano tune and a singer who had a voice like velvet. They waited for the song to end, before stepping inside as the next tune began.

Kaid was surprised as Jessamine pressed close, much closer than Christine had been when training him on how to dance. It caught him off guard momentarily, and he realized he was standing there looking like a fool. His hands immediately moved to her hips, careful to let his mind focus more on the dancing, rather than his skin touching hers. He didn't realize how intimate dancing could be, given with Christine it was mostly just a fun but embarrassing experience.

It didn't help Jessamine didn't place her hands on his hips like Christine had done, but rather raised across his shoulders almost wrapping around his neck.

"It's nothing fancy, just swaying," she whispered, a reminder for him to take it easy. It wasn't something he'd have to focus much on, which to him didn't feel helpful at the moment.

"Yes, but, everybody is staring," Kaid whispered back, finding it hard to focus. It wasn't just staring, it was almost like gawking. Kaid was beginning to feel Jessamine hardly danced at these kinds of events, and more than likely, did not dance like this with her male partners.

His eyes found Chrsitine and Kassandra standing together, arms linked as they watched. Both of them looked very beautiful, of course. Christine nudged Kassandra about something, making both young women smile and on the verge of giggling. Probably something along the lines of how uncomfortable Kaid looked, or how Christine only had a little bit of time to teach him. Payne stood in a corner, leaning against one of the pillars as he kept his eyes on the crowd, not caring for what everyone else had their eyes on. Kaid hadn't seen him in months, and was almost surprised he was even here to begin with. Parties didn't seem like his kind of thing.

"Don't focus on them, focus on me," Jessamine responded, that demanding Empress voice of hers laced with the gentleness of the moment. Kaid didn't think that advice was very helpful at the moment. But he did his very best to forget about everyone else and just focus on them. Them, and only them.

Kaid couldn't wrap his head around how three months ago, he was locked in a cell alone and this woman was thrown in there with him, by a random roll of prison dice. And now he was dancing with her, in a room of crowded people Kaid would never really know, but it wasn't as intimidating as he thought. He wasn't the guest of honor, and she wasn't empress of a vast sea empire. It was just the two of them: the man who could control time and the woman who could control minds. Just two Oblivion filled souls who happened to find their way together in the most extraordinary ways.

"You're doing great," she encouraged gently, finally succumbing to her temptation to let her fingers ravel upward to run through the soft wired curls of his hair. Her eyes only remained on him, on the structure of his jaw, the softness in his eyes, or how tempting his lips were. The palm of her hand not in his hair was pressed against his neck and could still feel the nervous heartbeat, wanting to do her best to calm it.

"We don't have to do any of the fancy twirls, right?" Kaid asked, a nervous laugh escaping his lips.

"No. Another time, maybe. I heard you dropped Christine a couple of times," Jessamine's lips curved into a wide smile at the thought, and with how embarrassed Kaid looked.

"Tripped, dropped, slipped...the list goes on," Kaid sighed at the embarrassment, although it only encouraged Jessamine's smile. He supposed he could sacrifice the shame if it meant keeping that smile on her lips.

"Well with the way you're gripping my hips at the moment, I don't think it's possible for me to drop," she teased, knowing he was a bit tense. But she liked the feeling, the clutching and clinging as if she would fall should he think about letting go. It was an invisible crutch to their dance, and most importantly a symbol to Jessamine that he wouldn't let go, no matter what.

They danced a few more songs, Jessamine noticing her Lungor associate getting more agitated, which was the plan. By then, most people had their eyes off them and either focused on the drinking, dancing, or eyeing potential suitors for the night. Payne was seen talking to a few women, for once. While some could perceive him as having a dark, handsome presence, he had some work cut out for him tonight if he wanted someone in his bed. Everything was going smooth, according to plan, just how it should be.

"After this dance is over, I'm going to need a minute to relieve myself. In that time, he's going to approach you," Jessamine spoke, seeing Kaid wake up from whatever dream he was having when dancing with her.

"Me? About what?" Kaid asked, a bit shocked. But maybe she could see in that guy's mind that he had intentions in initiating a conversation.

"To antagonize you, since he hasn't been quite as successful as he wants with me. You should be fine. His name is Mattias, he's Emperor Bashir's nephew," she explained, forcing herself to pry her hands away from his neck, lowering to the curve of his shoulders.

"Emperor's nephew, got it," he scoffed, not surprised he had ties to some form of royalty or aristocracy, "so no starting fights."

"I thought you ended fights, not started them?" Jessamine asked, a tease in her eyes. Kaid was that kind of man, yet when it came to a complete stranger sent to antagonize her, it seemed he would be willing to initiate a fight if needed.

Kaid didn't know how to reply to that, knowing she was right. He wasn't the type to go out and start something. But he wasn't quite sure what this Mattias guy wanted, or what he would say. All he knew was that Jessamine had prepared him for the conversation, which he was grateful for, and she had faith that he'd handle it.

"Play nice," Jessamine smiled, "and thank you for giving me this dance."

"Of course," he nodded, feeling her hand slide down his chest to his hands, giving them a soft squeeze before excusing herself. Kaid watched her leave the ballroom for a moment, and once she was out of sight, Mattias out of the corner of his eye was walking over with two glasses of alcohol.

"The man of the evening, you must be Kaid," he smiled, handing him a glass, "here, try some Lungor whiskey. Much better than that rosé shit the Empress adores." Kaid took the glass, knowing this was probably another drink he wouldn't like, but he had to remain respectful. Kaid waited for Mattias to drink first, which ended up a long winded moment as Mattias swallowed it all whole. Kaid took a small sip after, feeling his throat burn at the taste. Shit, that was strong.

"You'll need to learn to handle your liquor if you want to stay here," Mattias teased, obviously judging him by his limited alcohol interaction.

"By the way you drink it, I doubt there will be any alcohol left for me to enjoy," Kaid retorted, seeing the man draw a blank face. But he soon laughed, seeing he wasn't under Kaid's skin just yet.

"So, Caladin, huh? Or am I not supposed to bring that up? Wouldn't want everyone to know Jessamine's esteemed guest is a notorious criminal," he whispered, nudging him as if he wouldn't dare spill the secret outloud.

"Yes, being an orphan is a horrendous crime, I think you should be worried to stand beside me," Kaid was tempted to roll his eyes.

"A son is always punished for the sins of his father...not daughter, though. Interesting how that works. I think you and I have a lot more in common than you think."

Kaid bristled slightly at the verbiage. Kaid didn't know his family, didn't have memories of parents or anything of the like. He thought for a moment that maybe Mattias knew something Kaid didn't, or if it was just his drunken figurative language targeted more at Jessamine than himself. Still, he didn't take kindly to any amount of family mentioned like that. Kaid didn't know whether to hate his non-existent family or hold on to the belief that maybe they had loved him. It was an answer he knew he'd never receive, and had to accept that.

"How do you know Lady Jessamine?" Kaid asked, changing the subject.

"Oh she and I go way back. Emperor Kristoff's birthday, I believe Jessamine was seventeen at the time. My uncle's gift for the Emperor was an arranged marriage, a union between Lungor and Vitross. It was such a cool, stormy Vitross evening, Jessamine looked rather beautiful from what I remember," he sighed heavenly, thinking of the wonderful memory, "I remember the way she begged...begged for me to stop, that is."

Kaid's heart stopped at the words, the blood in his veins boiling to try and get his heart racing. He felt anger surge through him at the thought. Mattias wasn't lying, that much was true given how Jessamine seemed to react around him, a woman who didn't seem frightened by much. But she was haunted by his memory, his horrific, awful memory. Kaid closed his eyes and saw a flash of Mara, his anger now turning white hot. He wanted to shatter the glass in his hand, shove every broken piece of it down this man's throat.

But that's what Mattias wanted. Esteemed guest of honor, Caladin criminal, assaults Lungor delegate at a birthday celebration. It's the exact kind of thing Lungor was hoping for, an embarrassment to Jessamine's throne.

Kaid saw Payne looking over, making eye contact with his enemy. Payne knew what must've happened, given he had briefed Jessamine before the celebration of his arrival. For once, Kaid saw sympathy in Payne's black eyes. Payne shook his head very subtly, letting Kaid know to not give into what he was feeling. Kaid's defiant nature with Payne dwindled, knowing for once in this moment Payne was right. This would do more harm than good.

"You can't handle your liquor, and it sounds like you can't handle a woman either. I can see why your uncle sent you here this evening, it's a great representation on how Lungor handles its politics. It's embarrassing, really," Kaid spoke calmly, seeing Mattias's grin diminish, "sounds to me your uncle sent you here because he can't stand to be around you either. You're a long way from home at the moment."

"Is that a threat?" Mattias stuttered.

"Take it however you'd like. Give me a reason to put my hands on you, and I'll make sure you'll be the one begging me to stop. I'll give you a taste of what Caladin is really like, that way you don't have to wonder," Kaid shrugged, remaining as calm as he could. Kaid didn't know many that deserve Caladin as a form of punishment. But he certainly believed society would be a better place with a man like Mattias locked up in that hell hole.

Mattias looked like he was about to say something before Jessamine entered the room, making her way towards Payne. She stopped and glanced at them, finding it interesting to find Mattias was the nervous one now, and Kaid the antagonizer. If this was some sort of test, a Trial, Kaid felt like he had passed it. Kaid was about to make his way over back towards Jessamine before it seemed someone else wanted the attention of the room.

Eden stood up, tapping the crystal glass gently to get everyone's attention, most people looking rather annoyed at the interruption. Eden looked slightly under the influence, which wasn't a surprise. Whatever was going on, it seemed rather unorthodox, especially with how Jessamine looked a bit puzzled as well.

"Tonight, we honor our Empress as she celebrates another wonderful life here over Vitross. It is so nice to see so many refreshing friends and faces, and see the lavish gifts we bestow upon our benevolent ruler," Eden spoke, making Kaid wonder what this was about, "I want to offer my gift to the Empress. For too long have we seen her attacked and attacked, for no reason other than sitting in that throne of hers. I propose the gift of defense, the gift of prosperity, a gift that will protect our Empress better than any of my Guards could."

What the fuck was going on? Kaid glanced at Jessamine, who offered him a look of confusion as well.

"Kiev, my son, stand over here please," Eden spoke, Kiev standing there frozen amongst his men. Everyone's eyes were on him, which seemed to make him uncomfortable as he wasn't one for unwanted attention. Finally, Bridger and the other men seemed to encourage him, Kiev walking over to the empty part of the floor, doing his best to stand proudly. It seemed he was unaware of what was going to be proposed either.

"My gift to you, Empress. As part of the Jurors Council, I invoke Guardian Protection detailed under Vitross palace legislation in a state of emergency. I nominate my son, Kiev, to be your Guardian and champion. I encourage anyone else to nominate any man, or woman, worthy of being a Guardian. It is the highest honor bestowed upon the Empress and is the best gift anyone could give her tonight."

The crowd murmured at the words. Kiev looked like he was pissed from the embarrassment. But this is what his father wanted, this is what Kiev wanted. He supposed how he got there wouldn't matter. Jessamine looked like she was seething, Payne shaking his head from the idiocy, and Mattias downing another drink to smile at the new drama. Whatever this emergency protection evoked, it seemed like it couldn't be challenged. Jessamine could fight however much she wanted, but if Kiev was nominated, there wasn't much she could do in a public place like this. Eden had planned this for this evening because he knew the implications if Jess said no.

She couldn't challenge it, but Kaid could. Kaid took a deep breath, knowing in his mind this was the wrong thing to do, but in his heart it felt right. Jessamine did need a Guardian, and while Kaid didn't think Kiev incapable, this was something Kaid wanted. He could keep her safe, he wanted to keep her safe. Jessamine told him to stay here in Vitross, find a passion, something to do, and he was going to choose this.

Kaid handed Mattias the glass of whiskey before walking over to the empty area. The murmurs grew louder and Kaid could feel Jessamine's eyes watching his every move. Eden laughed softly, either from disbelief or drunken nature, perhaps a bit of both.

"Kaid, my boy, is there someone you wish to nominate?" he asked, a bewildered smile on his face.

"Myself," Kaid answered, seeing his smile fade.

And the entire palace fell utterly silent.