The afternoon sun started to go down, making long, yellow shadows on the market's cobblestone streets. Edward Vistro walked quietly toward his carriage, after completing the bargain with the blacksmith.
As he approached, he saw the group of maids huddled near the carriage door. Fiona was the first to spot him, her blue eyes lighting up with a mixture of relief and curiosity.
"Young Master!" she exclaimed, stepping forward. "We were beginning to think you'd found a different way back to the manor."
The older maid, the one who led their small foraging party, crossed her arms with a playful but prying squint. "You were gone for a good while, Young Lord. We went to the jewelry stall, but you were nowhere to be found. Did you find something more interesting than Lady Sara's trinkets?"
Edward stopped in front of them, his face hard to read. "I had a question to ask, nothing much. We should get going; we're probably running late."
Fiona was about to ask more questions, but Edward's tone shut her down fast. The words died in her throat before she could even get them out. She recognized that look on anyone's face– the one that said, Don't even think about pushing it. The maids quietly got back into the carriage, settling into the soft seats. Edward followed, and took a seat by the window.
The carriage gave a sudden jerk, and the sound of the horses' hooves hitting the road, as they headed back to the center of the Vistro family's influence.
As they rode through the wealthier parts of the city, the view outside the window changed. Instead of busy market stalls, there were well-kept lawns and tall stone walls surrounding fancy houses. Life in Luminaris was all about knowing your place. The order of things was set in stone by the first kings and queens and backed up by the Church of Light. Everyone knew where they stood.
At the base were the Barons, the minor lords who managed single villages or small estates. Above them were the Viscounts, often serving as intermediaries or administrators. However, true power in the kingdom began only at the rank of Count.
The king had declared that only noble families with the title of Count or higher could have what were called the three Pillars of Rule. This were the right to govern a sprawling territory, the right to maintain a private standing army, and the authority to enforce royal decrees and collect taxes in the King's name. Above the Counts sat the Marquises, like Edward's father, who acted as the iron walls of the kingdom's borders. Higher still were the Dukes, the blood relatives of the crown, and finally, the Royalty themselves..
The Vistro family, being Marquises, were almost at the top of the heap. They weren't just a noble household; they ran their own little country within the bigger one.
The carriage turned onto a wide road with trees on both sides. They passed a nice-looking house, not too big, but classy. It had vines growing on the walls and shiny silver gates. Edward noticed Fiona's movement, she was looking out the window, staring at the house like she was sad or missing something. She kept looking until they turned a corner and couldn't see it anymore.
"That building," Edward remarked, his voice cutting through the quiet of the carriage. "There is a history behind it?"
Fiona started, her cheeks flushing. She looked at her lap, her fingers nervously twisting a loose thread on her apron. "You have a sharp eye, Young Master. Yes... that is the Viscount Aris estate. My mother worked there as a head laundress many years ago."
She paused, a sad, distant smile touching her lips. "I was born in the servants' quarters of that manor. My mother... she had an affair with the Viscount's eldest son. He told her he loved her, but when I was born, he rejected us both to protect his inheritance. He called us a 'temporary lapse in judgment' and sent us back to the outskirts with nothing."
Fiona shrugged, a gesture intended to dismiss the weight of the story. "When I turned fifteen, I managed to get a position as a maid for the Vistro house. It paid better, and it was far enough away that I didn't have to see his face. But enough about me. It's a common story in this city, isn't it? Everyone is someone's secret."
She looked at Edward, trying to change the subject. "At least Lady Sara is different. She's finally going to be happily married to the Prince. She'll have a life of true joy."
Edward didn't say anything to make her feel better. He just looked back out the window, watching the trees go by. After living for countless lifetimes, he knew the world was built on sadness and forgotten stories. To him, Fiona's story was just one of many sad stories in the world.
'Everyone has a story to tell,' Edward thought idly.
The carriage slowed down as they came to the huge iron gates of the Vistro family's mansion. The guards saw the family symbol and waved them through.
As they entered the courtyard, the feeling in the atmosphere changed.
"Oh!" Fiona whispered, her eyes widening as she peered out the window. "They're already here."
In the middle of the courtyard was a beautiful white carriage, decorated with gold and red silk like the royal family used. Four white horses with silver braids in their hair stood proudly in front. Royal Knights in shiny armor stood perfectly still, their capes blowing in the wind.
The Fourth Royal Prince had arrived earlier than expected. The entourage was currently stepping out, the Prince himself—a man of slender build and arrogant bearing—being greeted by a bowing line of Vistro senior officials.
"We arrived a bit late," Fiona fretted, her face pale. She turned to the driver, her voice urgent. "Quickly! Use the back gate to drop us off! If the Marquis sees us arriving with the Young Master while the Prince is in the courtyard, we'll all be in trouble!"
The driver didn't need to be told twice. He pulled the horses' reins, veering the carriage away from the main stairs and toward the service entrance at the rear of the annex.