To say the party was extravagant to the point of arrogance would be an understatement. Food, servants, and more were all gathered and preparing the ball room as we all sat in the garden. Jax was in a long trimmed coat that ran down to the end of his tail, while my suit was one that had a lot of light blue and a strange thing on one shoulder I didn't know the name of. The ladys however were dressed like they were being shown off. Thalia's dress was a deep gray color, with strings spiraling from different points and outward with bits wrapping around her ankles and wrists like a puppet. Liora was wearing a deep blue dress that ended at her knees, a scarf of feathers wrapped around her neck. Selene however took the proverbial cake. Regal, and refined, it might just be that she actually understood how to hold herself in such a dress, but it was an elegant deep green dress, with streaks of color like accents extenuating her figure. If it wern't for the fact that her face was a mess of nervousness, I would have assumed she was a noble who had arrived early.
I had brewed several extra energy potions to help her hide her arm for the entirety of the party, and even now she has a set of 3 more vials on a small pouch tied to her thigh. From what I had heard, Kaelen was also being fitted for a white suit, but we haven't seen him in the last few days.
Some would say that it was for the best, but if anything it made me nervous. Regardless, we sat, small snacks, and cups of tea sat in front of us as Kaelen's 8 siblings stood, the Duke and Duchess looked over them to make sure their clothes looked good as servants rushed past to prepare the ballroom. The first guests were supposed to arrive in an hour or so, so everyone was doing last minute preparations.
"I can't believe how this suit is designed, the feeling on my butt is so weird."
Jax complained quietly as he shifted in his seat. He had been more vocal about it earlier, but considering everyone but Jax was wearing a corset and getting organs crushed to look better, we shut him up quick.
"Say's you, the strings look nice, but when I move I can't help but feel like something is crawling on my arm when they brush."
Thalia grumbled as she adjusted the string loops on her wrists. In general we were all nervous, as the hour seemed to be passing in moments. My biggest worry was about Kaelen doing something at the party. It was for that reason that even as noble families began to make their way in, I kept Kaelen in the corner of my eye. For the most part he stood beside his parents, a small polite smile on his face as he shook hands and laughed in a fake way you would see at parties of this scale.
Despite my attempts, I was surprised at just how many people approached us, curious about adventuring. Jax was more than happy to go into detail, describing, and embellishing the details of our adventures. Liora a bit to my surprise, was being approached by several noble men, as she seemed to have broken out of the funk she had been in for a while and happy to lead the conversation. Thalia stood to the side, using her strings to make a set wooden puppets she had finished carving move, as several noble children, including Kaelen's youngest siblings were gathered around her watching.
This left Selene and I standing to the side, I was watching Kaelen, waiting for what he would attempt to do, while Selene seemed to be at my side looking around nervously. I found that Will kept scowling and telling people off from my head as I found my attention drifting in confusion.
Dude, what are you doing? I thought about shifting my stance and looking back to Kaelen.
"Well, I can't exactly talk, but why aren't you doing anything, they can actually see what you do."
Will said crossing his arms. I looked around in confusion as I realized what he was talking about. Around us, people were staring at Selene, some were guys who looked at her with expressions of surprise, and shock, while others were looking at me like I was an obstacle. I glanced back to Selene who seemed uncomfortable and like she wanted to leave. I tapped my earlobe to signal I wanted to whisper something to her as I leaned in.
"You ok? If you want we can step to the balcony and get away from them."
Selene squeezed my arm as I felt a pang of pain run up my arm from her grip strength as I forced myself not to react. She gave me a small nod as we both made our way through the party and out to one of the balconies without anybody on it. As we stood there, Selene seemed to visibly slump a bit as she leaned on the railing and took in a deep breath of cold air.
"T-Thanks, I was starting to get a B-Bit overwhelmed in there."
Selene said as she leaned back against the railing. I went to her side and leaned back as well.
"Of course, have you seen anybody you know?"
I asked, a bit curious more than anything. Selene however shook her head.
"N-No, the Drakemire family lives right on the border between the main monsters and the mainland, s-so most other families avoided the territory."
I nodded along as inside the party there was a change in the music. The conversations went silent as everyone in the party dropped to a bow as Selene and I, taking the signal quickly bowed down as well.
"Now arriving, the third princess of the Misagen royal family, Ariana Misagen."
Came a booming voice as inside the bowing nobles all looked up to see the procession. Walking in, the princess was wearing a dress that seemed to have details from all kinds of plants on it, leaves and other parts sticking off at various locations. Behind her a twin set of white fox fullblood beastkin walked in, seemingly her personal servants, as further behind them, a large elven man walked in, a large scar ran across his face as in a lot of ways he seemed to resemble the Duke in appearance. She made her way forward to where the Duke, Duchess, and Kaelen all stood in a bow.
"My dear Fiancé, I am truly blessed to see you returned to me even after all this time."
The princess said, her voice sounding light and potent as she spoke. Kaelen from his bow looked up and gave a smile that could make almost anyone swoon as he seemed to have ditched his hiding amulet.
"My lady, it is by the grace of the gods that I may be allowed to once again be in your presence."
Kaelen said, kissing the back of the princess's hand as he looked up at her with an expression of joy that would have been convincing, had we not seen his breakdown earlier. The princess beamed down at Kaelen as she held her arms out.
"I have been told that those who have returned my darling husband to me are in attendance, please step forward."
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should crawl forward, or stand, but seeing Selene stand and begin to make her way over, I stood up and followed. We made our way over as we Kneeled beside Kaelen as if we were all still friends with him. The princess looked down at us with a polite smile.
"I thank you all for returning my husband to me, and I have prepared adequate rewards for each of you, please follow me to the garden where they are located."
We all stood as Kaelen bumped my shoulder a bit as he stood, and I almost slugged him in the face if not for the fact that the princess would not have let it happen. As we silently left the party I noticed that some people were looking at us with jealousy, others with curiosity, but the part that worried me were the ones that looked at me with pity.
"My lady, I want to thank you for your generosity towards my friends, however we have already discussed the bounty and the reward within."
Kaelen said smoothly as we walked. We all glanced at each other with looks of confusion as Kaelen continued.
"Due to our time apart from my unfortunate kidnapping, we have agreed that the money should go towards a beautiful honeymoon for the two of us, so we can make up for so much lost time."
"Oh that SACK OF SHIT!"
Will roared as each of us all tensed, muscles primed and ready to attack Kaelen, and only held back by the rational part of our brains saying it would be a death sentence. Kaelen glanced over to me and Selene and gave us a vindictive smile like he had just gotten back at us for doing something wrong to him.
The princess nodded along, but said nothing as we slowly approached the princess's carriage. As we did there was a strange feeling that passed over us as I looked around confused.
I cannot tell you why I could sense it, maybe it was because I had been near those who emit so much danger in the form of Red and Indigo recently, but I felt a prickle of danger as I grabbed Selene.
"DOWN!"
I yelled yanking Selene down as Thalia's strings grabbed Liora and yanked her out off the way. The sound of whistling steel flew as Kaelen, who had stayed standing seemed to wobble for a moment before he fell back, his head falling forward, as blood spurted from the stump and began to form a puddle. We all slowly turned to where Kaelen laid, bits of blood had splattered onto my face as my hearing seemed to not be working just right. I turned back to the princess as she stared down at Kaelen coldly.
"You embarrassed me in the highest fashion, and I spared your family. I gave you 100 years to return on your own despite knowing where you were, and you ignored me. Even now, when I offered a reward, tired of waiting, you couldn't help but attempt to betray your friends while acting as if it is out of altruism. This death is the least you could expect from me."
We all looked up to the princess with a single thought in our heads.
Does she care if there are witnesses or not?