"My lady, if you don't mind my asking, why you of all people would volunteer to be my partner in this ball, I don't mean to be rude, but we've never even met until a few months ago." Ezra caught Percia's eyes from the corner of his eye–she blinked in confusion too as she heard him ask.
"Why? Hmm, why do you think, my lord?" Riana asked suggestively as she pulled Ezra along and into the hall. Percia, unfortunately, had to stay back and stand at the wall like all the other attendants. Only Glorians and their invited guests or partners were allowed to mingle and enjoy the function. Their attendants were forced to stay near the wall looking out for the gestured commands from their lords to see to their needs. They were like personal maids and servants waiting.
Ezra didn't like the idea of being alone among these people without having Percia near at hand, or to leave her alone by herself. But she took it as a matter of course, and so did Ezra.
"By the way, I heard that your father passed away a few weeks ago, so please accept my father's sympathy, and mine. I can understand it couldn't have been easy. But you must also be congratulated on your recent elevation." Riana's tone was sombre and subdued. Ezra could only nod and wanted nothing more than to steer away from the topic.
"You said you've been to this city and Fallrein before my lady? Are you close to Lord Farron? I know he is about the same age as us, though I've never had the pleasure of meeting him yet." Ezra looked around as if hoping to see a familiar face, he didn't know much about the Glorian social circles, but he did know a few of them who had often visited his home to meet his father.
"Oh, of course, Farron is a precious dear, in fact…" her words trailed off as a figure appeared out of nowhere in front of Ezra, blanketing him in shadows, and suddenly he felt a weight pressing down on his feet.
Ezra looked down to see a big red boot on top of his feet. Pressing down on his shoes–his father's shoes. It took Ezra a moment to realise what was happening before he looked up As he did, however, he glanced at the people around him, looking at him with half-hidden smiles and hushed whispers spread throughout the ballroom. Ezra felt the attention of everyone set upon him, just as his eyes met the man who was standing on his feet.
"Lord Perez," Ezra said, his blood turning to liquid fire in his veins.
Like so many things, he should've expected this more than anything else when coming here. And yes, indeed, he had; he knew he would meet this bullfrog of a man. But Ezra was still taken by surprise. Again. Ezra wanted to slap himself.
Perez Sadaan was a name he had come to despise the most after he became the Prime.
Perez the Prime of the Beron Province to the west of Vania, Ezra's immediate neighbour. And half the reason Ezra had even come to this city was to seek an audience with the Warden.
Perez had instigated border disputes with Ezra, claiming to own parts of his lands, and burning down about half a dozen farms in the process. Ezra had come to bring the matter directly to the warden.
Perez was a huge man, wide of girth with a bushy beard, big harsh eyes and a scowl on his face as if he was smelling something foul.
'Probably his own fart.' Ezra mused.
Ezra tried to pull his feet from under the boots of the huge Prime but Perez's meaty hands fell on his shoulders like a vice. Ezra didn't want to make a scene, especially not with another Prime, he glanced at Riana, but her gaze was averted away from Ezra and Perez.
'Wha–'
"Long way from home boy," Perez said, bringing his face down to eye level with Ezra. He was 'whispering', his voice loud enough for people to hear. And Ezra felt something really-really wrong.
He had heard from his father once, that the Glorians live the way the Emperor does. And the Emperor promotes the way of the jungle, which means the survival of the fittest and the most vicious.
He had known Glorians were aggressive, but he hadn't expected such animosity. It stunned him for a moment, as the moment and realisation crashed down on him.
But he looked up at Perez and forced out a smile, "Prime Perez, such a pleasure."
Perez's weight became even heavier as his feet tried to grind Ezra's feet to a pulp; it took everything he had just to not pull away and curse out in rage. He caught sight of Percia, who had just taken a step towards him, and gestured with his hands for her to stay back.
"A pleasure is it? Of course, of course, who can resist the pleasure of free food, eh? So much so that you came all the way here? Truly. You really do take after your father, he was also a go-getter."
A round of chuckling passed through the crowd, but Ezra didn't respond. He would not let his worst tendencies get the better of him this time. He represented his people and was here for a purpose. Not to play their games. He would not disappoint Old Gardner, Percia or his father today.
"Well then, enjoy the dinner. I've heard they've got mountain goats, too," Perez called for one of the waiters, pulled a glass of apple juice, and placed it into Ezra's hands forcefully.
The implication was clear: Apple juice wasn't alcoholic. So by giving it to Ezra, the man made him look like a child who shouldn't be allowed to drink alcohol. So he must be treated like a child by others as well.
Perez clinked his own glass of wine with Ezra's in a mock salute. "Well go on, you must not miss out on expensive drinks, I wouldn't want to go to the afterlife and face your father as someone who let his son go thirsty."
Another round of muffled chuckling followed, and this time he felt Rinia's arms tremble. He glanced at her and found her holding back a laugh as well.
At that moment Ezra wanted to laugh too. He wanted to lose control of himself and his rational self. But he didn't, miraculously he held himself back. If Prime Darron were alive now, his father would definitely be proud of the self-control his son just displayed. He breathed in deep and was about to say something–anything, maybe one of his friends' bar jokes. But he was interrupted by the clinking of glass, and all the attention in the hall turned towards the stairs, where a girl stood who had brought everyone's attention away from Ezra.
Seizing the chance, Ezra pulled his feet free and took a step back, half hobbling. He cursed under his breath and, for the moment, tried to avoid looking at Riana. And turned towards the woman who had just said something Ezra had missed, someone else came up to the stage hugging the young woman with golden hair. He had the same golden hair, a sign of one of the pure blooded Glorians.
He was saying something, salutes and cheers erupted but Ezra could barely focus on anything because of the blood rushing through his head.
"–Thank you again for making it everyone, and please enjoy the evening. Nothing would please me more than seeing my friends happy on my birthday!" Another round of cheers erupted and the raising of glasses followed.
Ezra forced himself to calm down. Deep breaths came and went and his anger subsided drop by drop. And Ezra realised the handsome man with pale yellow eyes and golden hair was the heir of the Warden, Farron Redran.
And just as he realised, looking at the man from a distance, their eyes met, and Farron winked at him knowingly.
"It was Farron who had asked me to be your partner today, my lord." Ezra's head snapped to the side, looking at Riana, who was also looking at Farron.
"W-what?"
Riana just shrugged, "He knew Prime Perez would try to put you down, so he asked me to make sure to look after you. So.." She turned and met Ezra with a cold gaze and a smile he now saw for what it really was. Now that Avin was really sober, even though he hadn't drunk anything.
"So.. please. Don't do anything you will regret. Just take the lashings as they come, but don't growl, don't bark, and it goes without saying, don't bite more than you can chew. Know your place, and act like the little street dog that you are. We might not have met before we knew about you, and how much of a pride you were to your father." Riana laughed; to an outsider, it might've looked cheerful, but to Ezra, it was so obviously mocking.
'How did I miss this woman's obvious disgust for me?'
"Your father used to be a laughing stock of the Perchian nobility. And guess who was responsible for that?" Ezra's blood ran cold, he felt no anger any longer at those words. All he felt was shame, a shame so hot he feared it would turn him to ash.
"So when we heard his son was coming to an official function for the first time in his life after being elevated to his father's position…" Someone walked past Ezra, and as they passed, they stepped on his shoes. Another bumped into him from the left again, stepping on his shoes. They nodded more than bowed to him with a smile and a glint of triumph in their eyes.
"...We were, of course, thrilled."
The celebrations went on and on, and halfway through it, his shoes–his father's shoes–the shoes that he had been gifted by his mother were dirty, and the leather was crumpled.
In Glorian, functions like this, when someone steps on your feet, it's a gesture of domination or disdain for someone who did not belong there. Someone who should and would be ignored.
But of course, Ezra didn't know any of this, but he guessed what was happening. He had seen it in the streets often enough although in a much more violent way than this–he was being bullied, and quite spectacularly at that. Apparently, everyone was in on it. Ezra didn't understand the need for such hostility however. He had never even met these people, never even talked to any of them.
He was a Prime, wasn't he? He was, but it seemed that they did not accept him as one. He almost lashed out a couple of times but Riana tightened her grip on his arms, pulling him back. It was like he was sinking in a mire, and she was his chains, pulling him deeper and deeper. He felt it was unfair, unreal and he felt isolated.
Just as the function was nearing the latter hours, Ezra's feet had turned so sore and in such excruciating pain to make him limp, but he pulled himself up. He will take the lashes as Riana had said, he won't even fight back or word a single complaint and he would not limp if he could help it.
Riana pulled him to one of the pillars at the far ends of the banquet hall and told him to stay there and not move because she had something private she needed to attend to.
And so like a pup tied to a lamp, Ezra stood leaning on the pillar as he pulled a glass from a passing waiter.
"Hey, Ezra", A voice came from beside him. A young woman dressed in a beautiful blue dress, with golden eyes and brown hair, stood beside him. She had a pretty, tanned face with a small mole beneath her left eye that made her face even prettier somehow.
"Hello Fhinela.." Despite his mood and situation, Ezra managed to put on a smile; he was genuinely happy to see Fhinela. "Good to see a familiar face here."
Fhinela smiled in a fond yet sad way, her eyes drifting down to his dirt-marked shoes, "I remember this was your father's shoes, right? I often saw him bragging about it to my mother."
Ezra just chuckled and shrugged, "Well, you know me, always ruining everything my father used to stand on. It's one of the few talents I have."
At those, Fhinela grimaced and averted her gaze away from him, "I-Im sorry, Ezra, I should've known and told you. I had no Idea that you would even be here… I just asked Percia and she told me. I'm–"
Ezra just waved his hands, "oh don't be like that Fhiena, you and I both know that I kind of deserve this–"
"No!" She said forcefully cutting him off, "Yes, you've led a carefree life and have not lived the life of a Prime's heir in the past. But that doesn't mean you've lived a bad life, you never hurt anyone, never bullied anyone. Living a life avoiding duty is not the same as living the life of a scum like they pretend you are, you should not be treated like this. You do not deserve this, when my mother finds out about this she will be furious, I promise–"
"Please, Fhienla no. Respectfully I would much prefer if you don't tell her anything or voucher for me. I'll be fine. It's just an event, come morning, it will all go away. I'm just here to handle some business with the Warden, and then I'll be on my way. I'll pretend this never happened. They can laugh and insult me all they like, but I can take it. My shamelessness is stronger than their disdain for me."
They talked for a while after that, reminiscing about the good old times, when once he had helped her run away from her house and had gone drinking in a carnival when she and her mother had visited their Estate in Vania. And the time when Ezra had bullied one of her suitors away because she had told him he was lecherous and greedy. They had gone and done so many shenanigans that remembering them almost made him forget his current situation.
It all came to a halt, however, when Riana returned and found Ezra talking to Fhiena. They both nodded to each other, and Fhiena bid him good night, not even acknowledging Riana.
"I knew you and Lady Fhiena were close, but I didn't know you were this close," Riana said but Ezra didn't reply, feigning ignorance.
"Well, as much as I would like to show you around Prime Ezra, and as much fun as it has been, it seems our night together must come to an end. Lord Warden has called for you."
Ah, finally. Ezra sighed in relief, he nodded towards Riana with a forced smile and started to make his way out of the function hall.
As he moved through the nobles mingling, he caught sight of Farron and Perez standing at a distance with a few more figures dressed in lavish dresses surrounding them.
Ezra caught Perez and Farron's gaze, rage built in his heart and wanted to walk up to Perez and punch the bloated bastard in the face–but suddenly his feet got caught in the folds of the carpets and the all strength he had mustered to keep him standing was not enough.
His legs gave out and he sank on one knee with a soft thump. The buzzing and humming of the crowd erupted into laughter around him, Ezra's red hair came free obscuring his face in shadows, and nobody could know what kind of expression his face made at that moment.
Ezra shoved himself off the floor and as much as he wanted to–needed to, he couldn't hide the limp any longer. The moments passed by in blurs as he made his way out of the function halls and into the silent dimly lit corridors. He remembered asking some guards for directions and now he was in the corridor outside the Warden's office.