The words struck Viana like a shockwave. An invitation to Valendale?
The sheer, unbelievable nerve of him. Her mind spun, the polite calm she had worked so hard to keep, shattered. She felt exposed and vulnerable.
In that terrible second, her mind went utterly blank. The Emperor, the Empress, Rayne’s parents. They know nothing, absolutely nothing, she had completely forgotten about them.
Rayne though, didn’t stop. He tightened his grip on Viana’s hand, pulling her back to reality. He felt her trembling body, and the quick change in her eyes, the mont she almost broke.
He stepped forward slightly, hiding her just a little, behind his strong fra. His smile stayed, it looked even warr now.
"Lord Lazarus," Rayne replied, his voice clear and carrying authority. "It would be an honor. We welco all who want to congratulate us in our engagent ceremony in Valendale."
He deliberately paused, his eyes locked on to Lazarus, a stubble challenge hidden deep in their depths. "Consider your invitation given, and we look forward to having you. When the ti is right, of course. Many preparations must happen before such a grand event in Valendale, after all."
Rayne’s unclear words, ’when the ti is right,’ were smart, keeping control of when it would happen. Viana felt a rush of relief.
He had covered for her, understanding her unspoken fear and panic. He had saved her.
Lazarus’s smile didn’t change, it remained fixed on his flawless face. "Of course, Prince Rayne. Patience is good, after all. I will look forward to it with great anticipation. Until then, enjoy your wonderful celebration."
He gave one last, small nod to Viana. His eyes stayed on her for a second too long, a silent signal of his twisted ga on her.
Then he turned, disappearing into the crowd, leaving Viana with a cold feeling that lasted deep in her bones.
The sounds of the banquet ca back. The music, the laughter, all of it rushed in. But for Viana, the joy had turned sour.
He had dared to challenge her, involving Rayne, and Valendale. It was a declaration of war, a terrifying new step in their long, silent battle.
She looked at Ryane, his grip on her hand stayed, reassuring. A new, unexpected feeling grew in her chest.
***
The last guests had finally departed, their cheerful goodbyes echoing hollowly in the grand hall. The palace, monts before alive with music and laughter, now settled into a deep quiet.
Servants moved through the cavernous space like ghosts, extinguishing candles, gathering stray glasses, their movents hushed and efficient.
Viana felt an exhaustion deep in her bones, a weariness that went beyond the physical. The weight of Lazarus’s presence, his chilling audacity, pressed down on her.
The next day, she took her day off, away from all of the kingdom’s affairs, and sipped her afternoon tea in the garden in her imperial palace. Her confidantes, her friends, her closest people were already there with her, enjoying the warm tea and the refreshnts.
A knock, soft but firm, sounded at the door. It was Rayne.
He entered, wearing a simple, dark tunic, much like the one Lazarus had worn, a strange, ironic twist. He looked tired too, but he offered a small, reassuring smile to the group.
"I thought we could continue our discussion," Rayne said, his voice quiet, almost a suggestion. "Perhaps, can I get so tea? It’s been... long night."
Viana nodded, grateful for the normalcy he offered, even if it was a pretense. Then they settled into a comfortable silence.
Rayne sat beside Viana, their knees almost touching. His presence, quiet and strong, was a palpable comfort. Joel took the armchair opposite, Reyes remained standing by the window, anwhile Arden, along with Sina and Cooper sat close together on a smaller sofa, their usual playful energy muted by the gravity of the situation.
"Lazarus," Viana began, her voice barely a whisper. "He knows...and his presence... It was a ssage. A clear one."
"Indeed, Princess. It was not a gesture of defeat. And to make that audacious request," Joel nodded, his voice low and gravelly. "An invitation to Valendale. The nerve."
Viana felt a cold dread creep through her again. She looked at Rayne, her eyes searching for his eyes. "He knows about us, our... arrangent."
Rayne’s jaw tightened. "It appears so. He is more connected than we assud, or perhaps, he is simply bolder than we imagined."
He paused, picking up a teacup, his movent deliberate. "Which brings us to the next step. My parents."
He took a slow sip of tea, his gaze moving across the faces of Viana’s confidantes, then resting on Viana herself. "The engagent, as my father so aptly put it, must now be formally discussed with them. They will, naturally, be... surprised."
A faint, almost imperceptible sigh escaped him. "You see, Princess, my parents, have had a different lady in mind for . For many years, actually."
He paused, a wry twist to his lips. "The daughter of Duke Cassian, Lady Agnes. A prominent noble lady of Valendale."
Viana felt a jolt. A pre-arranged marriage. She should have expected it. Royal matches were rarely about personal choice.
"I have... little fondness of her," Rayne continued, his voice carefully neutral, yet a clear distaste lingered beneath. "She is... well-suited to courtly life, I suppose. But her ambitions extend beyond simply being an empress. She desires power, influence, for her family, first and foremost."
He shrugged, a slight, dismissive gesture. "Our conversations were always stiff, formal, lacking any genuine connection. It was... a tedious expectation."
He looked directly at Viana, his eyes softening, a genuine warmth flickering within their depths. "And now, I have you. My fiancée. A princess, brave and intelligent, who has faced down threats to her kingdom, and to . A true ally, a woman who... I find myself drawn to, more than I ever anticipated."
His gaze held hers, steady and sincere.
A blush ward Viana’s cheeks. His words, delivered so simply, surprised her. The line blurred again, the performance and the reality twisting into sothing complex.
"My parents, however," Rayne went on, his voice returning to a more serious tone, "are traditionalists. They value lineage, long-standing alliances. This... sudden engagent to Elysia’s princess, while politically advantageous, will be a shock. Especially given their prior plans for ."
Reviews
All reviews (0)