Lady Faye of Blood Aron was, from her looks, in her mid twenties.
She had a gallant figure that was well complemented by the black hair and eyes she wore with pride.
As the sun set over the hills of Blood Aron, her figure was the representation of the night between the last light of day as she first walked out of the carriage, holding the door open for her guests.
"Much appreciated, Lady Faye," Blanc said, carrying the half-asleep twins off the carriage.
As Blanc said that, he looked around their surroundings, seeing a large mansion towering over him.
In the time they spent in the Golden Forest and the Silver Gardens, he forgot how it felt to lay eyes upon such a manmade construction.
The walls of the mansion were clean, limewashed, and from the straightened grass, properly taken care of.
Just then, the large wooden doors of the mansion opened sideways, and from inside, three maids and two butlers left, walking towards him with calculated precision.
Behind them, an older woman, in her late fifties, walked out, looking over her guests as they emerged from the carriage.
"Matriarch of Blood Aron, Fallyn Aron," Blanc bowed, while at the same time putting down the now awake twins, "Good evening to you."
"And to you, Blanc of Blood Denegis," the woman replied, walking slowly down the steps, her back straight, "I have heard of your visit in Blood Certa's Domain, and I must say, wonderfully done."
"Nothing compared to your achievements, Matriarch," Blanc smiled, placing a hand on his chest before taking a step to the side, "May I present to you my wives, Celine and Miyanna of Blood Denegis, as well as my two youngest siblings, Kael and Lune of Blood Denegis."
"All of Blood Denegis is welcome at my home," the woman replied, nodding towards Celine, since she recognised her without hearing her former Blood name. "Please come, eat at my table, wash with my water, and sleep in my beds."
They did not deny her invitation, nor did they wish to do so, as they began walking up the stairs past bowing maids and butlers, following the Matriarch closely behind.
"I will go and change into something more appropriate for dinner, Mother," Faye said as she walked between Celine and Miyanna.
"Do as you please, Faye, but make sure that something appropriate reflects your status, and not your wishes," the Matriarch replied, eyes looking forward.
Faye did not say another word, only scraping her arms around the two women's shoulders as she passed, smiling towards the two, and walking towards a separate set of stairs.
Once gone, the Matriarch sighed, shaking her head lightly.
"Is there something wrong?" Blanc wondered.
"I will never be able to understand a woman who wishes to act like a man," the Matriarch sighed, "In the past, she walked to breakfast in a full suit of plate armor, saying this is who she was, and refused to change out of it for a day or two."
Blanc chuckled lightly, "This is what the Matriarch meant when she said that what she wears must reflect her status and not her wishes?"
"Precisely," she nodded, "Since when do ladies act with such… such barbarism?"
"Times change, My Lady Aron," Celine covered her mouth, laughing, "My sister and I present here both use the sword, and have sent enough souls to the Vita to be able to call ourselves soldiers, but still being women, regardless of it."
"I-I agree," Miyanna stuttered, trying to be a part of the conversation.
"Perhaps so," Fallyn nodded, side-eyeing the two women as she stopped near the end of a long corridor, "But let's have dinner first before we continue our conversations."
As her words left her mouth, a guard stationed on the opposite side stepped forward and opened the doors, ushering them into the dining hall.
Inside, two older men rose from their seats at the long wooden table, prepared to greet their guests.
Fallyn strode confidently toward the head of the table, the place reserved for the head of the Blood.
Once sat down, she began speaking, "Members of Blood Denegis, let me present to you my wonderful husbands, Constantine and Benedict of Blood Aron."
"It is a great pleasure for my brother and me to finally meet other members of Blood Denegis besides your father," said the older man standing to Fallyn's right, Constantine, offering a warm smile. "And do forgive Benedict's lack of conversational skills; he has been mute since birth."
Constantine appeared to have, behind wide clothes, a strong build, as the thickness of his arms betrayed the small body he tried to portray.
However, age seemed imminent even to him as the brown hair he once may have had was now slowly losing its color.
Benedict, the mute man on Fallyn's left, was not attempting to hide his smaller stature.
As, despite being mute, the smile he wore on his pale, aging face told as many poor jokes as Constantine did.
"My Lords Constantine and Benedict," Blanc and his family bowed lightly.
After another round of introductions on Blanc's side, followed by a casual conversation between both parties just as the food started being brought in, they sat down, waiting for Faye to get dressed and join them.
Unfortunately, as it seemed to take a while, the conversation naturally reemerged, despite the deep hunger all people present felt, while the food stood waiting in front of their eyes.
"I must apologize for my two daughters' absence," Fallyn spoke, "All besides Faye are off at the Imperial Academy."
"Congratulations are in order then, Lady Aron, not apologies," Celine replied, "It is no small feat to enter the Academy, especially in such dark times."
"Dark times indeed," Fallyn sighed, taking her cup of wine and bringing it to her lips, "All because our beloved High Monarch decided he was done with this life."
"Suffering what He suffered may have brought anyone to desperation," Celine sighed, "May the Vita rest His beautiful soul."
"May the Vita rest His beautiful soul," all present replied, all but Benedict.
Even the soldier standing guard at the entrance, or the maids bringing more and more food, uttered those same words.
For the High Monarch was most loved by most living beings in this Empire.
Loved.
Or feared.
It was all the same, really, when it came to Him.