Sera stood in the high-domed ballroom, supervising the workers as they fixed the chandelier.
"A little to the left, mister," she commented, her tone calm yet attentive.
With a satisfied nod, she glided towards the orchestra balcony and observed the musical instruments, which were arranged with meticulous care. The setup was close enough to the centre to ensure that everyone would hear no matter where they stood.
"Don't you think it will be better if the piano were moved to the centre?"
The man was stunned—not by the question itself, but because of the voice that asked it. He turned, and there stood the Princess of Eldoria, standing beside him, serene and radiant. Her presence was commanding but gentle.
"M-my Princess," he bowed low in greeting.
Sera turned to him and quickly pulled him upright.
"It's okay. In here, I'm merely a supervisor, so treat me as one."
Sera shared a soft smile and the man blinked, dazed.
'She touched me…'
Internally, he was already thinking of hanging this shirt in his room as his most prized possession.
"...Would that be okay?"
He blinked once again, realising belatedly that she had asked a question, "Y–yes, yes, Your–I mean that would be fine."
"Good, then I leave the rest to you."
Sera walked toward the large double doors and exited the ballroom. Her strides were elegant, and the servants in the hallways all paused to bow.
'A ball for a breakthrough?'
Sera wondered, disbelief riddling her countenance. She couldn't believe it when Minos told her of it initially—and thinking deeper about it now, she realised it was indeed absurd.
Balls were hosted for grand transitions—marriages, birthdays, coronations —but a breakthrough? It was unheard of. Not to talk of one held for a breakthrough to High Human, not even Great Human or Warlord. It was sheer… eccentricity.
It wasn't that she was envious of Garran's success—never that—but she was concerned about how people would think of their family. It was going to spark whispers and endless speculations.
Sera sighed softly, tucking a strand of her golden hair behind her ear and entered the next door–the kitchen.
The warm air greeted her with a combination of spiced broth and herbs.
The maids stopped and bowed deeply, though none were shocked by the Princess's sudden arrival; she had been visiting often these past days.
The head maid walked over and bowed.
"My Princess."
"Head Smith, the aroma hit me before I even entered," Sera commented, inhaling deeply.
She turned to look at the aged maid, who wore a proud smile.
"Your words are deeply appreciated, My Princess," Miss Smith said.
But before she could bow again, Sera stepped forward.
"You're growing, Head Smith, it wouldn't do your back any good if you continue bowing so often." she chided gently, helping the woman to her chair despite her protest.
"Thank you, My Princess. I pray the sun takes note of your kindness and blesses you with a joyful life."
Sera smiled at the aged maid's words and nodded in acknowledgement.
"Thank you. I came here to check if you needed anything, but if there's nothing, I'll be leaving."
The maids all turned and bowed again. Head Smith would have done the same had Sera not glared at her.
The maids stared at her receding back with admiration.
"Head Maid Smith, the Princess is really kind. She even brought us gifts yesterday."
The others nodded eagerly, reminiscing about the gifts the Princess had brought the day before.
"She truly is," Head Maid Smith said softly, eyes on the door the Princess had left through. After a sigh, she turned back to her maids. "Enough daydreaming–back to work, all of you."
She looked out the window while the maids worked, whispering amongst themselves. Dark clouds had begun circling the skies, promising rain tonight.
Sera looked outside the hallway windows, and a faint,wistful smile tugged at her lips.
'How many months has it been?' she wondered silently.
"Are you planning to throw yourself out from this height?"
The familiar masculine voice echoed behind her, and her smile widened. Without turning, she replied,
"I would, now that you're here. After all, you would catch me, wouldn't you?"
There was a pause before a soft scoff escaped Garran's lips.
"Logically speaking, we would both fall to our deaths."
Sera turned to face her brother.
"You should be able to protect me. After all, you're a High Human."
Garran shook his head and a faint smirk hung on his lips.
"How are the preparations going?" he asked after a moment.
"So far, so good," Sera replied, turning back to the stormy window, a flash of lightning travelled the skies. "You have to look good too—you can't let my preparations go to waste."
"If I do, what will you do?" Garran teased, his grin broadening.
Sera rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Don't think because you're a High Human, I can't beat you."
"Oh… are you talking about the day I prevented you from falling after you failed to hit me?" Garran's tone dripped with sarcasm.
"I was not falling," Sera snapped, pouting. "That's why my husband is going to beat you instead."
At the mention of her husband, Garran's expression faltered slightly, discomfort shadowing his face.
"I heard you're going to get… married."
Sera paused and looked down at her hands, dampened by the light drizzle.
"Yeah. It's happening too early. I haven't even gotten to hold my nephews."
She forced a smile, but when she turned, Garran's frown only deepened. The atmosphere grew tense.
"It has to happen. It would have, sooner or later," she said, sounding as if she were reassuring herself more than him.
Ever since her marriage was announced, she had tried to push it to the back of her mind. Maybe, subconsciously, she hoped it would just vanish.
"Even if it has to happen, why now?" Garran's voice rose, fury lacing each word. "They can't just decide for you. It doesn't work like that."
Sera's eyes softened with resignation, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"It's to strengthen the kingdom… I suppose," she murmured, eyes darting away.
"That's the reason I quickened my breakthrough. If Eldoria needs an ally, then what would the likes of Tharion say?"
Garran clenched his jaw, unable to comprehend why they would give his sister away to a stranger. He was not going to let that happen.
"It's okay, Garran. I have no problem with it," Sera said softly, though her smile lacked its usual brightness. "Seriously, I've even started classes with the Governess. She's teaching me how to prepare tea and to be a proper wife. Can you believe it? I did—"
The air shifted uncomfortably, and an amethyst aura surged through the hallway, the curtains fluttering violently.
"You've started what?" Garran asked, voice low and trembling with anger.
Sera's eyes widened. She tapped his arm repeatedly, her breathing shallow and forced.
"Garran… I… can't breathe."
Her words came out broken. Realising his aura was suffocating her, Garran quickly suppressed it and caught Sera before she fell, holding her gently.
"I'm sorry… Sera, are you okay?" His worried expression calmed her, though she was still panting.
"I'm okay… I'm okay." She breathed trying to steady herself.
"I'm sorry, I… I don't know what came over me…" He ruffled his lemon-blonde hair as thunder rumbled outside.
"I have to go," Garran said abruptly, turning away before she could stop him.
Sera stood frozen, confusion shadowing her face. She couldn't understand why her brother had taken her marriage so seriously.
Thunder crashed through the skies, shaking the palace walls as if to echo her thoughts.
In one of Eldoria's well-developed towns, rain poured heavily, keeping everyone indoors.
Inside a modest house, Miss Thalebrook sat on a bed, caressing a woman's hair as she lay on her lap.
"Twinkle, twinkle, little star… how I wonder what you are…" she sang softly until the woman drifted to sleep.
Noticing this, Thalebrook stopped singing and gazed outside, where rain pelted the roof like stones.
Just as she covered the woman with a blanket, a loud knock sounded at the door.
She froze, frown deepening.
"Who is knocking at this time?" she murmured.
The knock came again, louder.
To avoid waking her mother, she descended the stairs quietly, picked up a knife from the kitchen counter, and approached the door cautiously. After a deep breath, she opened it.
Cold wind rushed in. Thalebrook frowned—no one was there.
"Or had it been my imagination?"
She shivered, about to close the door, when her eyes caught a black envelope lying on the floor, weighed down by a small metal rectangle.
Brows arched, she picked it up. It was cool to the touch and not wet—meaning it had been placed there recently.
She frowned and went inside, taking a seat in the kitchen before opening it.
Her frown deepened as she read the letter. When she finished, she exhaled tiredly.
Meanwhile, in the city of Narest, Earl Reggie held one of the same black envelopes.
With a curious expression, he opened it—and soon, laughter echoed through his chamber, swallowed by the sound of the rain.