Night draped Aerinthal in a cloak of silver, the moonlight reflecting softly off the city's white spires.
Inside the Royal Palace of the Air Household, the quiet corridors hummed with anticipation, the polished floors reflecting chandeliers like captured stars.
KaelGravemont stood before a full-length mirror in his chambers, the soft glow of candlelight glinting off his polished boots and tailored royal outfit.
His cloak, this time without fur, flowed like liquid night behind him, edged with subtle silver embroidery that caught the candlelight.
His leather gloves were snug, sleeves perfectly pressed, and his tunic bore the muted emblems of the Gravemont household, a subtle nod to his lineage of balance and authority.
Two maids moved gracefully around him, adjusting cuffs, brushing stray golden strands from his hair, and smoothing the cloak's edges.
"Your cloak sits perfectly, my lord,"
one whispered, her voice soft but precise.
Kael nodded slightly, already aware of every fold and crease, every reflection in the glass.
A faint smile touched his lips as he noticed one maid's hesitant glance toward the small pendant at his belt a tiny, star-forged trinket, one of many heirlooms the Gravemonts maintained.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts,
Queen Serenya Skyfall entered, her flowing robes brushing the polished floor.
Even at this distance,
Kael could feel her presence equal parts admiration, apprehension, and calculation.
Her silver-blue hair glimmered under the candlelight, the air shifting subtly as she moved.
She paused, studying Kael as one might study a rare artifact,
Internally, she struggled;
The desire to ally with his household,
The admiration for his raw yet controlled power, and the fear of what he represented.
But even beneath the weight of political calculation, her eyes betrayed a quiet concern for her daughter,
Princess Aelina, whose gaze Kael had met only hours ago in the duel.
A mother always reveals her worry in some small, unmistakable way and Kael, having grown accustomed to such subtleties from birth, recognized it immediately.
"Your permission, my lord," Serenya said softly, voice steady, though her mind raced.
Kael inclined his head, a formal yet courteous acknowledgment, and together they descended the sweeping staircase.
Marble steps reflected the warm light from the chandeliers above, carved in intricate patterns of swirling clouds and wind currents a design celebrating,
TheAir Household's mastery, yet restrained enough to reflect elegance over ostentation.
Servants and attendants moved around them silently, the hushed whispers of the palace staff blending with the faint rustle of silk and soft leather.
As they entered the grand hall for the banquet, the effect was immediate.
Conversations ceased, and every noble man or woman, from distant cities or neighboring courts turned to watch the heir of Gravemont walk forward.
Hand in hand with Queen Serenya,
Kael's presence radiated authority and quiet strength.
One observer saw the immense power he wielded; another could not look away from the commanding beauty of the heir's form.
The hall seemed to inhale collectively, the subtle air currents responding to
Kael as though even the room itself recognized the Gravemont presence.
At the center of the long banquet table sat Lord Aerion Skyfall,
Head of the Air Household, his expression carefully measured.
His eyes betrayed confusion;
He could not grasp the depth of Queen Serenya's internal struggle, the hidden knowledge she carried about Kael's potential or the dangers it might bring.
But Kael, observing carefully,
Understood the tension reflected in the queen's movements the quiet concern for her daughter, the wary admiration, the unspoken calculations.
His gaze found Princess Aelina briefly across the hall,
He noticed the subtle blush rising along her cheeks, the slight hesitation in her stance a spark of emotion that mirrored his own, though he kept it unspoken.
The hall itself was a masterpiece of understated grandeur.
White sheets draped the long tables,
Red chairs trimmed in gold provided contrast, and polished crystal glasses caught the flickering candlelight, each filled with ruby wine.
The ceiling soared high, adorned with wind motifs carved into soft marble,
While delicate chandeliers hung like frozen whirlwinds of light.
Yet the beauty was not ostentatious;
It reflected the Air Household's philosophy strength in elegance, power tempered with refinement.
Kael approached his seat at the head of the Gravemont side, and immediately, every king, queen, and princess present rose.
This was no gesture of fear alone it was respect for the Gravemont household, acknowledgment of Kael's father's dominion, and recognition of the heir's presence.
Murmurs ran through the room as Kael sat, the room settling into silence only after his calm posture was mirrored in stillness.
Lady Elenora Gravemont, standing a respectful distance behind him, allowed herself a subtle smile, noting the genuine reverence her son commanded without needing to assert it.
As Kael settled, he lifted a glass of red wine with a precise, deliberate motion.
The flicker of candlelight reflected in his eyes as he scanned the hall, finally resting on Princess Aelina.
A subtle spark of recognition passed between them an unspoken acknowledgment of the connection forged in the duel hours earlier.
His voice rang clear, carrying both warmth and authority:
"To the reward for today's duel," he declared, lifting the glass higher, eyes never leaving hers.
To be continued…