Royal Night Banquet

The passing of time had brought significant changes to the Royal Palace, and before Aya realized it, the new year was upon them.

Tomorrow, the Threshold Crossing Feast would be held. Nobles from all across the kingdom would attend the ceremonial event, but tonight, most households were celebrating with get-togethers of their own in the comfort of their homes. It was also an annual tradition of the royal family to gather for an evening banquet. Both current and former royalty had a private dinner together.

‘Just like that, another two months passed.’

Feeling sentimental, Aya stared at the lanterns hanging from the ornate ceiling of the main palace’s banquet hall.

The scent of spices wafted in the air along with the aroma of incense and flowers. Gourmet dishes filled the long table in rows. Tiered desserts towered over wine glasses and porcelain bowls. Beyond the windows, snow draped the palace gardens in pure white.

‘Last year, Dad and I were plowing out the snow.’ At the memory, a deep melancholy settled in her chest. ‘This year, though… Dad would not be around.’

“Your food will get cold.” Aiden, who was seated next to her, spoke.

From beside him, Drystan arched a brow. “Why are you not eating?”

She sighed, “I am.”

“You barely rested during practice. I figured you’d be starving.”

“How come you’re paying more attention to her than your own rehearsal?”

“I-I was not! You were! Who was it that asked the instructor to dismiss us early today?

‘These two… So, they were watching my routine for tomorrow’s performance.’

Talking normally with one another like this felt odd, given what had happened.

After that night, the three of them had been confined to their palaces. The punishment was surprisingly mild considering what they did. They had sneaked outside, discovered secrets buried deep underground, rescued their missing friend, and were ever since pledged to silence. They were warned that some things were dangerous simply by existing.

And so, Aya was now banned not only from using invisibility but also teleportation.

‘Bummer.’ She glanced past the boys, then towards the king’s empty seat. ‘Maybe that’s what’s been keeping His Majesty so busy that he can’t even come tonight.’

Aya shifted her attention back to her dinner, only to catch the eye of a beautiful woman with long, white hair cascading down her back like the fresh sheets of snow outside.

Custom dictated that royalty sat opposite their predecessors at banquet tables. Therefore, seated directly across from Aya was Ercilia, the chief ruler of Morverelith Isle and former Divine Vessel of Darkness.

They'd known each other for only two months, yet Ercilia had already become an unusual presence in her life. The woman was quite peculiar. She'd been asleep for almost a year, which, as Aya was told, was actually her being in a state of hibernation.

“A terrible, terrible magic once siphoned away my very life force, and so, I replenish it through constant, restorative slumbers,” she had explained.

Her demanding condition took a toll on her, and it showed. Aya remembered the colorful dresses at the Diamond Palace. As it turned out, those belonged to Ercilia. She used to wear bright, flashy clothes all the time. Now, however, she's only ever seen in black, as if she's mourning losing that spark in her.

‘I wonder what it's like to awaken to a world that has continued without you, though she seems remarkably calm about it,' she thought to herself.

Beside Ercilia sat Lorenz.

Aya perked up. She realized he had been watching her. He was now frowning at her plate. 

"Are you eating properly?"

"Ah..." She quickly lowered her gaze.

"You should eat more."

He reached across the table and offered her a whole platter of seafood.

It was strange. Lorenz had always cared about her, but something had changed. He had become almost absurdly attentive. Gifts arrived at the palace without prior notice—expensive tea and sweets, customized dresses and accessories, and even books she’d mentioned wanting. He also visited sometimes for no reason.

Lorenz would sit down, talk with Aya, and remain until Ercilia came to see him out.

‘Aiden is hosting Lord Lorenz at the Amethyst Palace. So, I tried asking him, but he didn't know anything either.’ Despite this somewhat incongruous behavior, Aya smiled and thanked Lorenz as usual. “I-I’ll be eating, then…’

The palace musicians began playing a lively melody. Servants brought another set of dishes. Conversation continued to drift around the hall.

Fonseca delicately set down her cup and turned towards Lorenz. "I must confess, your demeanor has been rather notable as of late, though not for the first time."

Iorwerth inclined his head, agreeing. "Well, this time, one might almost believe you have become an entirely different person.”

Lorenz stayed quiet for a second, his eyes narrowed. "I was unaware I had become an object of interest."

"When someone once notorious suddenly becomes the very definition of gentility, it is hard not to take notice," said the chief of Delmaresch Isle, to which the Vonwerstein Isle chief replied, "Indeed. He was, if memory serves, quite difficult in his youth."

"Breaking windows..."

"Climbing roofs…"

"Provoking the guards…"

“Oh, and chasing people with a knife!”

“Not just any knife, but his very own Divine Insignia.”

“...Why must that always come up whenever we reminisce about the past?”

‘Lord Lorenz was a delinquent?!’ Aya was dumbfounded. ‘So, are they supposed to be commending him for turning his life around, or...?’

She could not follow. Their voices were composed, but there’s a distinct sharpness to their words. Beside her, the princes went conspicuously silent. Meanwhile, the woman before her smiled meaningfully.

Ercilia took a measured sip from her tea, then spoke at length. "I find it curious how confident you speak of him from the old days.” The smiles on their faces thinned. "Yet you were anything but at the time."

Iorwerth gave a soft laugh. "Surely, you cannot expect us to be intimidated by a child much younger than we."

Ercilia's gaze remained serene. "I understand. You merely ran when he threatened to throw that same knife at you."

“...!”

Silence prevailed in the room.

They looked at Ercilia with thinly veiled disbelief. The exchange carried on, each remark phrased with practiced courtesy that most would have assumed as cordial recollection. The children definitely did not. Aiden had stopped eating while Drystan sat unusually straight. Enzo and Gabriel also appeared increasingly uncomfortable.

At last, Yusuf placed down his glass.

"That will suffice." The arguments ceased as the former Divine Vessel of Fire looked at each person involved. “The king may not be here, but we are still in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses. Let us conduct ourselves accordingly.”

‘As expected of someone from a family of knights!’

“I had believed this evening was intended to celebrate the coming new year, not to revive grievances from a decade past." His gaze moved towards the children. "The younger generation should not be subjected to such undignified displays."

With that, the conversation steered to more appropriate affairs. Dinner resumed as the friction in the air gradually eased.

"Tomorrow’s Threshold Crossing Feast promises to be rather splendid, though it shall be the same as every other year for the most part," Iorwerth began again. "The procession will commence at dusk, and the ceremonial rites shall follow thereafter.”

Fonseca faced Gabriel. "Have you completed preparations for those?”

"We finished this afternoon.”

"What of the invitation for your family? Why, they ought to see you perform.”

“I sent it last month."

Iorwerth looked at Drystan. “How fare yours? Will they be coming?”

"My parents have assured me that they will."

"Then, I trust you shall acquit yourself admirably."

"How about Prince Enzo and Prince Aiden?"

All the princes offered polite acknowledgment. Aya waited, but Iorwerth and Fonseca passed over her. They did not ask. It didn’t appear to be a mistake either. She was ignored.

She simply kept eating.

“Ah.” Then, Iorwerth spoke in an almost absentminded tone. "Of course, Princess Hiraya… Will we have the pleasure of meeting your family this time?”

Drystan glanced worriedly at Aya. Aiden stared coldly at Iorwerth. Enzo and Gabriel stiffened, now on guard.

"Forgive me if I speak too plainly, but has no guardian been appointed for her, at the very least?" Fonseca asked Ercilia, who shared the responsibility of choosing Aya’s noble guardian with Gallahan.

Nobody said anything.

The question was straightforward. There was no malice. Yet somehow, that made it worse.

An uncomfortable truth spoken aloud in a room where everyone already knew was all it was.

Roniel was still in a coma after being poisoned, though those exact details were kept confidential. People would only be apprised of her family's presence once the king granted them an audience. However, until now, there was no such news. Instead, there were presumptions.

For these past seven months since becoming a princess, Aya had only received care and protection from the palace.

"Perhaps the matter need not be so complicated.” Iorwerth’s gaze lay upon Lorenz. "Someone could always fill the role.”

"I beg your pardon?"

"Well... There is a certain resemblance between you that makes the arrangement quite fitting."

Lorenz shot him a pointed look. "Is there?"

Fonseca smiled behind her cup. “In terms of temperament, perhaps.”

"You and the princess are rather headstrong. Neither has ever possessed much patience for counsel, and both have demonstrated a rather unfortunate inclination toward defiance."

For the second time that evening, a palpable tension descended upon the banquet table.