Zane let out a short cough drawing attention from all sides. "Apparently, about 130 years ago there was a traveling Reece mage who had revolutionary ideas regarding enchantments… to encourage him to visit Smyrna their laws regarding Reece's were… revised. While the mage eventually left little more than a week after arriving in the capital of Smyrna the laws have not yet been updated."
More than a dozen Smyrnaean nobles flushed, Charmaine fanned herself in order to cover her face. She glared at the lower royals who were usually too afraid to so much as let out a peep, but now openly ridiculing and snickering at them.
Charles patted Charmaine's hands in an attempt to calm her down, unfortunately the foreign royals continued the topic.
"Yes, I do believe it was at the same time Emperor Brotzel decreed they would be allowed to title Reece's without two other nations confirmation. No less than a dozen envoys were slain when they delivered letters of opposition, one was the crown prince of Gippsi if memory serves." Princess Noelle commented sympathetically glancing at Hazel who baod her head shirking into herself.
"It's hardly surprising only us lowly kingdoms and queendoms remember such trivial details, burning and pillaging must be a near everyday occurrence for Smyrna. Who could possibly remember every victim over 700 years?" Lucera sighed with feigned understanding.
"That's right, Gippsi's rank then fell from 8th to 10th and never recovered, I also believe this is the first time a royal from Gippsi has visited since." Noelle commented pointedly glancing over the imperial children.
Monroe snorted, "If the cowards of Gippsi finally found their backbone after a hundred years, then that in itself is a miracle."
Ashton only raised a brow, "Or perhaps… for the first time in more than a hundred years… there was something worth seeing here in the capital." Ashton teased glancing over Hazel with a knowing smile.
Neolani glanced around and shuddered. "If you weren't here, I wouldn't set one foot in this accursed graveyard."
Ashton slumped with a sigh as he let his eyes wander, "Truthfully… there just isn't much to see so close to the dragon's hoard. Soon there won't be any room left…" even with the mask enchanted to reduce his sight… there was a constant haze from the damned bound to the dragon heart. The father away the darker the haze. It wasn't reassuring that the damned were getting bold with his inaction.
Alexei shuddered, "I am more than content to stay blissfully blind."
A round of shudders went around the young royals who had vague understandings of what happened to the sacrificed. Zane just nodded in understanding.
Levi hesitated with a glance to his father who kept a straight face, either dad didn't know or this wasn't the time or place for such a conversation.
Jaxon shared a glance with the others, apparently there was even more to investigate.
Ashton then glanced over the Smyrnaean lordlings, "That being said, prince Serafin. You and yours are not permitted to sit at my tables."
Serafin took another deep breath, "Calix and others from the Carlos duchy are already sitting at your tables." Serafin pointed out doing his best to remain calm, but his fists were straining from the effort not to clench.
Ashton was almost surprised, "Considering how respectful, tactful, and understanding the duchy is… they are worthy of sitting at my tables. To give them face… you may stand at the far end."
Serafin glared indignantly, but before he could say anything Levi stepped forward with his box held up.
"Lord Reece, I am Levi Silas, second son of Marquis Silas. We would be honored, even to stand at your table. This is an offering I hope pleases you." Levi stated formally as he walked past Serafin.
Ashton raised a brow, then picked up the box. Inside were three enchanted rings, each of which amplified fire mana. Surprisingly, the center ring not only had a ruby, it was dragon blessed, though not by their greed dragon.
Levi didn't raise his head as he awaited Ashton's judgement, but the tension had sweat rolling down his back. Suddenly he felt as if the air around him was pressing him down.
Ashton narrowed his eyes at Leonard. This ring was not dragon blessed, but the illusion was nearly perfect. "Leonard… do you know what will happen if I refuse these offerings?"
Leonard paled glancing at the rings… he'd had them tested thrice over before bringing them, "My lord?"
Ashton let out a sardonic laugh, "For a moment I believed my intelligence was lacking… but for you to have your second son hand me a cursed item… truly daring."
Levi started to tremble as the temperature started to rise rapidly.
Ashton sneered at Leonard, "Whichever beast gave this to you trusted you even less than I do. Every member of house Silas who has touched this box is now carrying a beast of sin curse Leonard, and only if I accept the offering will the curse dissipate."
Leonard nearly fell to his knees, only Jaxon quickly gripping his left arm held him up.
"What to do, what to do." Ashton tilted his head from side-to-side glancing down at the rings. Ashton plucked the center ring, the blessed red ruby ring. An enchantment to size the ring according to the wearer was also in place, the other two rings didn't have such enchantments. Though the far-left ring was clearly a man's ring, and the far right was a woman's ring.
Alexei stepped closer to look at the rings… they looked oddly ceremonial.
Ashton carefully examined each of the near dozen enchantments… clearly only the ruby ring was for him. There was a blessing, tailor made for his ascending even. Ashton let his gaze fall over the lordlings and rested on Zane for just a moment.
"Ash?" Neolani asked as his eyes burned with silver flames as he turned the ring in his hand.
"If I weren't paying attention… I would believe this were dragon blessed, the illusion is so perfect it's become physical. The blessing is also real… but only for me. Anyone else attempting to wear the ring would have a legendary beast of sin cursing them and their descendants until there were none left." Ashton informed almost amused as he glanced over Leonard and Levi.
Leonard glanced up uncertainly, Ashton was now looking at them teasingly.
"Though I'm not sure if I should take this as a challenge… or a gift of courtship." Ashton finally added looking into the ruby, under the ruby was a single golden hair coiled loosely around the edges only visible with direct light.
Neolani stared at the ring, "Why a courtship gift?"
Ashton glanced over Neolani, "Only one ring is meant for me… but the real question is whether to accept it or not." Ashton mused placing the ring back in the box.
Levi's knees were getting weak from his half baoing posture, whatever was happening was so far out of his control he felt like a boy hanging onto a rope over a pool of sharks. Each time Ashton spoke it was like a buffeting gale nearly shaking him lose.
Alexei glanced over the rings uncertainly, "Is there anything that will hurt you if you take the ring?"
Ashton tilted his head from side to side, "Not that I can see, a sin beast blessing to enhance my fire is rather appealing… but to not gift in person is rather unbecoming of a suitor."
Neolani raised a brow, "Perhaps the cursing of the Silas house is another gift?"
Ashton glanced over Levi, the blood red curse mark hovering over their hearts wasn't imprinted yet… nor was Leonard's. how intriguing… clearly the beast was able to activate their curse from a distance. "Perhaps, it would also teach them how bad curiosity really is, especially when it comes to beasts of sin."
Leonard clutched his chest; he wasn't sure if it was psychosomatic but he felt a tingling in his heart. When Levi stumbled also clutched his chest while gasping Leonard was sure the feeling was real.
Ashton's eyes brightening, "How interesting, even my considering rejecting the gift is starting to imprint the curse." The bloody mark was starting to lay itself on Leonard instead of hovering over his heart.
Levi paled in horror as an uncomfortably warm sensation slowly spread on his chest.
"What an interesting way to curse someone, perhaps I should try to do the same." Ashton murmured as the imprint was half settled on their chests. Then Ashton frowned, "Of course… my curses would be less… radical."
Alexei couldn't see anything but couldn't help his curiosity, "What kind of curse is it?"
Ashton glanced over Alexei then back toward the sweating lordlings. "It's an amplifying curse, so if the sin was… gluttony, the more they eat the hungrier they would be next time. Leonard, what manner of beast did you get these rings from? And what promise did you make?"
Leonard looked at Ashton confused. "I swear, I met no beast… I bought these from an accomplished merchant after several inquiries. I made no promises." He swore going over the interaction in his head. The merchant had insisted on meeting outside the capital which had made him suspicious… yes thinking over the meeting now… nearly the whole interaction had been unconventional.
Ashton narrowed his eyes, "I do not pity fools."
Leonard gripped his head as he winced, "He was a merchant, he… he wanted to know if the gift was for you. I promised… I promised not to covet the rings…"
Ashton smirked, "What a smart beast to pick you. Only House Silas might have had a dragon blessed ring, not to mention you're the only one Lucian would have trusted to bring such an item into the capital." Ashton closed the box.
Leonard's memories of the interaction were both fading and becoming clearer, he looked up at Ashton as the box was closed. What manner of beast had he met?
"To have muddled your mind but leave so many traces… perhaps you only met a proxy. I will accept the offering." Ashton informed, the imprint immediately fizzled away, "But your flesh will pay off this debt in the days to come."
Leonard paled, unsure which was worse… the unnamed curse or being in Ashton's debt. Jaxon led him closer to Lucian so he could quickly write down any details he remembered.
Alexei glanced around, "Do you know what beast it was?"
Ashton grinned as he folded his arms on the edge of the nest and laid his head down, "I have an idea," Ashton trailed off glancing over the lordlings.
Alexei caught the uncertain glances between Zane and Rommel, perhaps a chat was in order.
"Let the Smyrnaean's stand at the far side," Ashton added letting his grin fade, "Also, what happened to the boar from yesterday?" Ashton asked glancing around.
Alexei nodded for a few warriors to go fetch more food.
Before the Smyrnaean's could gather themselves, a soft snicker caught their attention.
Rowena covered her mouth with her fan, it still looked out of place as she crossed her legs and grinned at Serafin.
Serafin glared but kept walking until he was standing the furthest away from Ashton, but still at the table.
Ashton glanced over the standing lordlings, Levi was carefully wiping his face of sweat. "Lucian, is this not a familiar site?"
"Is this retaliation for some petty grievance?" Lucian asked mildly while glancing up. Leonard was still writing, but there were gaps as he wasn't remembering in order and some, he thought were false memories since some of the details were changing.
Ashton only raised a brow, "Your kin have not earned a seat at my table is all, besides… is the view not entertaining?"
Tania fanned herself dramatically as she leaned back to enjoy the view, "I must admit this karma is rather welcome, even if the victory is small."
Serafin flushed as they gave him mocking smiles.
Lucian let his glare settle over the table, however the children who usually cowered at the mere mention of Smyrna all just gave mocking nods and brilliant smiles. "Do you have something to say?"
Rommel grinned, "I was just mentioning how nice the scenery here is in the royal garden, especially the view from this particular seat. Even looking up at a few people isn't so taxing." Rommel made a show of sipping his tea as he looked over the standing Smyrnaeans.
Lucera fanned herself to cover her smile, "Ah yes, how many times were we asked to give up seats for visiting dignitaries and their guards? A very welcome view here in the Smyrnaean garden."
"I was just commenting to my cousin, that this might be a humbling experience for some." Noelle added with a contented smile. "What say you crown prince Serafin?"
"Don't forget Ashton won't be here forever princess." Lucian growled menacingly.
Noelle sent Lucian a brilliant smile, "I assure you, your majesty. I believe Smyrna will be far too busy to worry about such an insignificant petty grievance.