The silence took a suffocating grip on everyone. The reminder of that bitter time of the past brought a dull drag in the air, as if a crushing weight pulled them down.
Aeren said, "To this day, Lady Melissa's family is ostracized. Every descendent born in that family is forced to hide their face behind a black veil in shame and embarrassment to atone for their ancestor's sins. I believe that the Great Three family on your side must be facing…similar discrimination."
None on the demons' side spoke to defend the accusation.
"What are we supposed to tell them? If we agree to this union, Crown Prince Zerath, then both families would've quite some resentment to unleash upon us. They've been targets of mockery and disdain for over centuries now, and now the same royalty agrees to a human and demon's marriage…so easily? Then what did they suffer for? What are they still suffering for? Who will compensate those lost years to them? Who will take responsibility for punishing them for a crime we'd now agree to just for our political convenience?"
The onslaught of Aeren's knife-like questions struck everyone cold and deep.
"That's why I propose this exchange. You'll get the assurance you want regarding the Realm of Harmony. Besides, stationing an envoy has larger benefits to make national matters easier. They can aid us in facilitating smoother communications, trade and transactions with minimal misunderstanding."
Zerath studied the glint of cold but calm calculation flickering across Aeren's eyes.
On her side, Vivia's heart sank. The small ray of hope crumbled right before her eyes as Aeren's bold move shook her to her core. A demon living in Emberlain posed a significant risk from a political standpoint as it introduced espionage into the picture.
Why'd he propose something like this over the safer treaty?
"You said the envoy's safety would be honored, but will it?" Balam asked bitterly.
"That's the process of building trust," Aeren raised a brow.
Trust? Or a spy? Asmodea thought.
Similar concern naturally crept in Nefarion's mind too, yet he took a conscious pause to consider Aeren's suggestion. At the same time, Orobas approached, dropping his voice to a whisper.
"Your Majesty, if I may?"
"Go ahead."
"I believe we should consider the second prince's proposition."
"That's too much risk, Sir Orobas," Despite her physically frail figure, the glint across Veloria's eyes remained as sharp as ever.
"I understand, Your Majesty. But it's as beneficial as it is risky. We need information about what the Emberlain Kingdom will be up to. Crown Prince Elvin has ambitious goals, certainly loftier than King Rosrell's and his predecessors. If we keep standing at a distance, then we keep him in the shadows where we cannot see him. We cannot risk our trade being hurt at any cost. Besides, our envoy's information would also help us be better prepared for any surprises."
Nefarion thoughtfully glanced at Gressil. "What do you think, Gressil?"
He pinched his brows. "It's a double-edged sword, Your Majesty. Though I'm concerned from a safety point of view, Sir Orobas does make valid points. We cannot afford to continue being in the dark."
Nefarion lightly pressed his lips, his gaze focusing back upon Aeren, who continued the discussion.
"Trust is paramount here. We'll have one of our own in your palace too. The stakes are the same on both sides."
Aeren watched Zerath, stoic but careful. "We're grateful to you for sheltering my sister, and I think this is an answer we can all reasonably agree upon. I understand Clairette did something unnecessary by being ignorant about your brooch tradition, and we sincerely apologize for that. But Crown Prince Zerath…"
His eyes, as emerald as Clairette's, squinted. "Though we respect your traditions, a legend cannot translate into a marriage alliance."
—
Lucian bowed. "My lord. You summoned me?"
Back in his office after the long meeting was adjourned, Zerath stared at the royal courtyard outside blossoming with spring flowers, his gaze still and unapproachable.
"I believe there are some rats infesting the palace."
"Rats?"
"It seems Princess Clairette wished to keep Eurus's ice tide incident a secret from the Emberlain Convoy. That's why we didn't see the burn scar on her wrist. She likely reached out to Sir Doloros last night for his help hiding her injuries."
"Indeed I, too, was wondering about the same."
"But she was in pain after the private discussion with her brothers. I caught her subtle movements with her wrist."
"I happened to notice that too. Princess's hand and cheek…" his voice slowly trailed off.
Zerath's jaw faintly clenched. "I think Crown Prince Elvin intently grabbed that very hand. He most probably received information from an insider about the incident, but because the injury wasn't visible when Princess Clairette came in, it never came to light. He couldn't cause a ruckus about how his sister was harmed. I'm sure he wanted to make us accountable and had plans to politicize it."
"But Princess Clairette somehow held it through."
"Indeed. Princess is a strong woman…" Warmth flicked his gaze before returning to its iciness.
"The question is where they got that information from when it's barely been any time since they stepped foot into our realm."
Lucian bowed. "I'll immediately look into it."
He half-turned, then paused and faced his lord again. "Can I ask something, my lord?"
"Yes?"
"Are you disappointed by the outcome?"
The faint flutter in his lashes was gone before it settled any longer than a moment.
"A marriage would've helped us, that's all I thought. I would've been able to access the Emberlain Kingdom better through the princess."
Lying through his teeth proved to be harder than Zerath believed, especially to Lucian, his dear friend and an aide who had been serving him for years.
"An envoy's presence in Rudaheim is dangerous, my lord."
"That depends on how we make use of him. It's a double-edged sword for both Prince Elvin and me."
Feeling Lucian's silent gaze, Zerath blinked. "What's the matter?"
"I feel uncertain whether I should believe your words or not."
"You don't think I actually fell for her, do you?"
"Who knows? As far as I've seen, Princess Clairette is a decent human. I wouldn't find it that hard to believe if…my lord's heart betrayed him."
Zerath blinked twice, a chuckle escaping his lip. "It's nice to see your sense of humor widen, Lucian."
"You'd know best if it's humor or not, my lord. I'll take my leave and report to you as soon as I find something," he left with the same impassive face as he had come in with.
Listening to his steps fade away, Zerath softly exhaled.
Lucian has known me for quite a while. I need to be cautious around him.
His lashes closed with a gentle flutter, his palm clenching against the wall.
So close…I was so close.
Or was I never?
Opening his eyes with a slow, deliberate movement, the beautiful, endless vast sky stretched before him on the horizon.
The past Festivals of Light where he had briefly met Aeren now washed over his consciousness. Even during those short meetings, the second prince's enigma had always been a mystery to decipher. Like a dutiful brother, he stayed a step back from Elvin at all times as if his presence barely counted for anything, yet…
I was right about him. He's not that simple a man to just stay in the shadows. In the blink of an eye, he took the entire narrative away from Prince Elvin, yet nobody felt it was strange. He led the outcome all by himself.
"An exchange of envoys…" he whispered to himself, watching a bird from afar take flight before him.
"He didn't put forth that suggestion without any thought. He seems to have…his own agenda of placing an envoy here. What is it? What is his purpose?"
Aeren Emberlain…
I'll remember to never underestimate you again.