Walking by my side, Phia leaned her lips close to my ear, whispering erotically in her gentle voice, "Such an earnest man." She said, giggling.
My ears burn up with a tingle.
Leaning away from my head, she continues teasingly, "Forcing the Lords to interact with each other… how cruel." She finishes with a pout. "It seems all this party is meant to do is nettle them."
I glance over at her with a faint smirk, my voice playful. "Call it my way of being petty."
The rest of the day passed much the same. Heading to each department, managing a specific aspect of the party, and following up on their progress.
The kitchen staff recommended a special meal for the event, in regard to my favorite dish. Smoked Tiche Pasten.
Meat from a Tiche Beast is rich and soft, and filled with flavour. The special taste comes from its specific preparation. The meat is first marinated in a stew of spices for several hours. It then goes through a smoker to add to the flavour. When finished, thick fillings of pasta, sauce, and rice are stuffed inside the meat. Bringing a full meal inside a single piece.
It's one of the few delicacies I missed during my trip with Leo.
The entertainment staff came for my opinion on music and events. I let Phia handle the music, as she shares my son's love for it, while I helped plan the New Year party's traditional events.
The small auction, hosting weapons, armor, Beast cores, and artifacts. The lucky draw, in which the winner shall receive a tour of the Royal Palace. Party games of the gambling type, the favorite being Lord's Run. Along with the annoying 'Fact Questions of the Night' that mostly involve the hosting family.
The final arrangements for the event were the more tedious type. Setting up the living room for the young children that will no doubt be attending, and marking rooms as off limits. Primarily the entire Eastern side of the building and the second floor.
When all was said and done, Phia went to our room to bathe, while I went to check on Rin's training.
I was left sorely disappointed, Rin having made no progress in controlling, or even unlocking for that matter, the cap that brought his Transformation so soon.
With nothing left to do but wait until tomorrow's event, in which Rin will no doubt fail me, I headed off to join Phia in bed.
After a quick bath, the soft flowing water, and rich aroma of salts and soaps doing nothing to calm my body or soothe my thoughts into relaxation, I climbed into bed. My anxiousness was apparent to my wife, who was already laying down, reading.
Putting down the book, one much too lude for my taste, Phia eased my shoulders as I tossed the coverings over my lower body. "Rin will show results… in time."
"Of which I have no doubt. But will that be before or after they chastise me and throw me off the council? Time is of the essence."
"You believe time is of the essence because that is what you put on yourself. You've only just inherited your father's mantle. Of which has been broken long before you were born. Fixing things will take more than a few years, let alone a few months. You expect too much, Elgin, even from yourself. Monarch knows Lavina doesn't feel par–"
"What do you think of Rin being here?" I interrupted her, staring at the wall ahead. Not wishing to speak of my daughter at the moment. "I have come to realise I never truly asked you."
She eyed me with a hurt look. She knew I was avoiding. "Rin… is a project I think you should be more careful with. And I mean more than just growing strong. He has his own views, judgments. Lose control, and he could be this family… your own undoing." She held her gaze with longing eyes.
She still doubts my capabilities. Rin is not someone I'm looking to control. He can think how he wants. That is not my purpose with him.
I did not answer her.
She lowered her eyes, dejected. "Rin is coming along well. While slow, he's picking up useful information and skills in his training. He is… a decent addition to the family."
A slight grin spread across my face at her words.
Casting my gaze to her for the first time, I spoke again, "Do you truly believe Rin attained his Transformation from his fight with Leo?"
She leaned in, wrapping her arms around my chest, resting her head against me. The smell of her hair was fragrant.
"You think he is lying?" She said with a pause. "Perhaps." Shrugging her shoulders. "Although this whole situation is uncommon, unseen, in fact. Who's to say what truly caused it? Maybe your direness to understand is blinding you."
My eyes lit with realization. "Direness…" I whispered the word to myself. "Direness to understand." Speaking louder, "What if Rin's direness to win is what brought about the Transformation?!"
Phia raised her head until our eyes were mere centimeters apart. She looked through me as if what I had just suggested was ridiculous. "Elgin. We both know ones Will does not grow in strength simply because they're desperate for it to happen."
"Of course not," I chuckled, "But just to make sure, if it was the direness, why not send him on a mission?" I spoke lightheartedly, as if I were joking.
I was not.
Phia disregarded my seriousness to the proposal, playing along with the joke. "Elgin Grimwald, I did not take you for a foolish man. Rin is far from ready for that tension, or fidelity. However, if you truly want him to learn faster in a dire environment, one where he can constantly be challenged and one upped, we should sponsor him to attend an academy. Perhaps Quincy, accompanying Lavinia and Leo?" She finishes with a wide grin.
Is she… scheming?
My eyes widened, and my face contorted surprisingly enough to make Phia laugh.
"Ohhh, don't give me that, Elgin. Honestly, what do you say?"
"Where is this coming from? Did Rin put you up to this?!"
She did not respond. Instead a twisted smile, much like Leo's, curled up her soft lips as she shook her head.
That child and his plotting ruse!
I face away from her, pouting childishly. "Leo's done just fine without an academy. The only reason we are sending him is to his own request. Besides, Sir Chiron, my brother, and I have our own regimen we planned for Rin."
"I've seen your regimen, the academy wouldn't get in the way if his training continues there. In fact, it would only help." She took a deep breath, lightly pushing away from my chest. "Talk to Headmistress Aurelle, I'm sure there are a couple dozen rooms she can spare for his training."
Still facing away, I adjust my eyes enough to see her. "No promises, but… I will… think about it."
"Great. That's all I ask!" She said with a smile that fluttered my heart.
She exhaled loudly, breathing heavier. The shadows growing darker with each pant.
I match her breath. Light steam flaring from my nose. The lights of the room flickered, frantic with the pace of my heart.
She whispers, leaning in closer. "Now, are we done talking for the night?"
With a dramatic flair, I snap the lingering lights of the room off.
...
There are three main differences in the way people act.
When they know no one is watching them.
When they know someone is watching them.
And when they know someone is observing them.
The second, to me, is the most interesting of the three. They know they are being watched, so they put on their best facade and perform for favoritism. However, unbeknownst to them, to someone truly watching them, observing, cracks are easy to find. Not enough to make their act feel disingenuous, but enough to dissect insecurities they like to hide. Negatives they refuse to show as they assume others wouldn't understand, or be compassionate. As if they are the only ones with problems.
Standing along the indoor balcony above the rear foyer, it was the perfect vantage point to watch as the guests for the event entered the estate. As their snow covered jackets were removed and taken into storage by the servants.
One lady, dressed noticeably nicer than the rest, often glances at those surrounding her, quietly commenting to her husband when she thinks no one is looking.
A man, before handing his coat to a servant, removed all valuables from it before handing it over.
As if I don't keep my servants in check.
From this perfect distance, every insecurity was open to me. I enjoyed watching it. As the guests kept piling in, in a line, more and more aspects of these people became available to me.
A young woman wearing high heels she could barely walk in, just to appear taller. A young boy with an expensive watch around his wrist that dangled obnoxiously, likely stolen from his father by the way he often covered it.
Mrs. Clinton, despite having a slight limp, is in heels and without her cane. Made even worse by her tight dress.
There were only a few who came in carrying everything out in front of them, all their insecurities and embarrassments, for everyone to see.
Fewer were the ones whom I couldn't get anything off of. They hid everything with security and reservation. Acting as if the whole world were constantly observing them.
As I watched the Von Leer family enter through the doors, a slight scowl marred my face. His children were easy to read, his wife less so, but Lord Blake Von Leer held just as true as his pride. Nothing from him showed, feigning to be the perfect man. The fact that it seemed just like so, was what annoyed me.
Now, in a sour mood, I quickly averted my eyes to better views to watch. Trying and failing to decipher Blake would bring me no amusement.
After all these years, there's only one piece of valuable knowledge I have gained from him. However, it is more an open fact than a hidden flaw.
The only person he loses composure around… is the Vestige of Fire. Reece Yasuro. Also, his cousin.
Despite my enjoyment of observing insecurities, my current pass-time still goes against everything I was taught for hosting a party. The host usually greets their guests at the door. But that is what Sir Chiron is for. Standing near the entrance, holding the most spurious smile I've ever seen from him. Welcoming every guest with a genuine appraisal.
All because it is tradition that the hosting family not be seen until most of the guests have arrived. Basking in our entrance of subversion. Marking ourselves as the best in our own home.
Usually the tradition means hiding in a far room until the designated time of our arrival, but… here I stand, observing others, no different from any other day.
I don't hate the rule, but I do find it needless. After all, a welcoming host should make all feel… welcome.
None can see me, due to the usage of my personal technique with my Light Will. So, in the end, I am still hidden.
As the influx of arrivals slows down to a few every couple minutes, I head off to join my family in the Living Room. Walking through the foyer, still unseen.
Wasting minutes in the Living Room, my family spends their time… uniquely.
My daughter, seated on the couch, rapidly tapped her foot against the ground. No doubt wishing to join her friends.
Leo, to the right of Lavinia, was playing that abhorrent instrument of varying, reverberating pitches. Either being too high, assaulting my ears, or too low, sending a weird vibration through my chest. A harmonica, they call it.
Phia has joined him, standing behind the couch, humming a lovely tune to drown out his dreadful noise.
Before I got the chance to join my wife by the couch, a frantic servant came into the room speaking loud enough to be heard over the 'music'.
"My Lord!" He called out, signaling Leo and Phia to stop playing. "They are ready to present you all now!"
Walking down to the Grand Hall, we all stop just before the large doors. Faint whispers and shuffling echoed from the other side.
Overpowered by a familiar, elegant voice, "Now that everyone is here, thank you all for attending this evening." Sir Chiron said. "Before we formally begin with the festivities, it is my honor to traditionally welcome the host for tonight…" He took a long pause, letting the drama of our simple entrance wash over his crowd. He was no doubt making large gestures with his hands.
As the large Grand Hall doors slowly opened, washing the partially dim foyer with the bright light from within, Sir Chiron spoke up once again, "I would like to present to you… the Grimwald family!"