They stepped onto the grand staircase, their movement slow, deliberate— commanding silence without a word. The murmurs that once filled the hall faded into stillness. One by one, heads turned, and all attention gathered upon them.
The nobles below, caught mid-conversation, straightened where they stood. Their attendants hovered close, arms laden with jeweled boxes and silk-covered trays— gifts prepared for the newly named heir.
Each step down the crimson carpet echoed softly through the hall, the golden embroidery glimmering beneath the chandelier's light. The air grew taut, thick with unspoken awe and scrutiny alike.
Even after they reached the floor, the crowd's gaze clung to them— watchful, unblinking— as they walked the royal carpet beneath a thousand judging eyes.
Ray glanced at the nobles surrounding them. "I wonder what's going through their minds right now," he murmured.
"Many things, no doubt," Grace replied. "But if there's one thought most of them share, it's how to secure an alliance with Elenor—or at the very least, make themselves known to us."
Ray turned to her. "Why? Why are they so eager to ally with us?"
Grace blinked and gave him a puzzled look.
"Elenor is the most powerful nation on the continent. Our influence reaches far beyond our borders, and few could oppose us if we truly set our sights on them. It's only natural that others would want us as allies rather than enemies."
She paused before narrowing her eyes slightly.
"But you already know all that, don't you?" she said. "So why ask?"
"I still don't understand," Ray said. "They're already powerful, aren't they? They rule entire nations. Why would they want even more power?"
Grace smiled faintly.
"Not everyone seeks an alliance purely for power," she replied. "Some desire security. Others seek greater wealth, influence, or stability."
Her gaze drifted across the hall.
"They may be powerful, but so are their rivals. A strong relationship with Elenor offers protection against hostile nations and opens the door to immense prosperity. For many rulers, that's reason enough."
"Hmm..." Ray fell silent, deep in thought.
Grace glanced at him, amusement flickering in her eyes.
"And what's going on in that head of yours?" she asked playfully.
"Then why don't they simply become like Elenor?" Ray asked.
Grace let out a quiet laugh.
"If only it were that simple. Reaching Elenor's level could take decades—perhaps even centuries. Wealth, influence, military strength, trade networks... those things aren't built overnight."
She paused for a moment.
"Though, if I'm being honest, I hope no nation ever truly catches up."
Ray raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
Grace drew a slow breath.
"Because the moment another nation stands as our equal, Elenor becomes its greatest obstacle."
Her expression remained calm, but her voice carried a note of certainty.
"The same reasons they seek our friendship today—our wealth, influence, and power—would become reasons to see us weakened tomorrow."
Ray's eyes widened slightly.
Grace looked ahead at the gathered nobles.
"Give a ruler the chance to surpass Elenor, and many would seize it without hesitation."
A faint smile touched her lips, though there was little warmth in it.
"Some would gladly build their future upon Elenor's ashes."
Ray and Rui exchanged uneasy looks, both unsettled by Grace's words.
"That's scary," Rui admitted quietly.
Ray turned his gaze toward the crowd once more. Nobles chatted and laughed beneath the chandeliers, their smiles warm and effortless.
"Then how do you tell?" he asked. "How do you know which of them harbors those thoughts when they all seem so pleasant?"
"That's the worst part," Grace said quietly. "You can't tell."
Her eyes swept across the smiling faces filling the hall.
"It could be anyone in this crowd, hiding behind a pleasant smile and courteous words. It could be a ruler who praises you in public, an ally who has stood beside you for years, a friend you've come to trust..."
She paused.
"...a relative."
Her voice softened further.
"Or even someone closest to you."
Ray fell silent.
For the first time, the laughter and cheerful conversations around him felt different—less comforting, more unsettling.
After a moment, he spoke.
"Then what can anyone do?"
"You know what I think?" Grace said softly. "The people you can trust most are those who need no reason to remain with you. Those who stay by your side through joy and sorrow, through triumph and hardship—not because they gain something from it, but because they choose to."
Her gaze lowered for a moment.
Then she looked up and found Ray and Rui staring at her with shining eyes.
"Then we'll stay by your side forever!" Rui declared.
"In the good times and the bad," Ray added eagerly.
For a moment, Grace simply stared at them. Then a light laugh escaped her lips.
"Of course you will," she said with a warm smile.
"By the way, Sister, how long have we been walking?" Ray asked, sounding both curious and slightly exhausted.
Grace glanced at him. "Why?"
Ray looked ahead at the seemingly endless stretch of carpet.
"It feels like we've been walking for ten minutes, and we're not even halfway there yet."
Grace blinked.
"...Wait, really?"
"Yeah..." Ray said, scanning the vast hall ahead. "Want me to look back and see how far we've come?"
Grace immediately tensed.
"No!" she hissed. "A noble must always keep their gaze forward, never behind."
Ray blinked.
"Okay," he replied casually.
.
.
.
.
.
"Maybe..." Grace said after a moment. "Maybe you should take a quick look."
Ray glanced at her. "What happened to your whole 'nobles never look behind them' lecture?"
Grace's eye twitched.
"We can revisit that topic later," she muttered, suddenly far less confident in her own rule.
Ray stole a glance over his shoulder.
"...I've got bad news."
Grace immediately frowned. "How bad?"
"We've only made it about a quarter of the way."
A horrified silence followed.
Rui let out a dramatic groan.
"No... no, that's impossible." She clutched her chest as if mortally wounded. "My legs are already at their limit. Leave me behind."
She raised a trembling hand toward the distant thrones.
"Tell the future heir I fought with honor," she said solemnly. "And that my final battle was against a hallway."
Grace turned toward them, smoothing the faint irritation from her features and replacing it with a look of dignified composure.
"Rui," she began, her voice calm yet firm, "you do realize that I'm the heir to the throne, don't you? The future ruler of this kingdom."
She gestured toward the seemingly endless stretch of hall ahead.
"And if I can walk this entire distance without complaint, then surely my brave and capable siblings can manage a few more steps."
A silence followed.
Ray and Rui stared at her.
Blankly.
Neither blinked. Neither spoke.
It was the sort of look that conveyed a very simple message:
We understood every word. We simply found none of it motivating.
Grace's eye twitched.
Grace continued, her tone softening though her resolve remained unshaken.
"Being the heir doesn't make things easier," she said. "It means carrying on even when it's difficult. It means standing tall while everyone is watching, even when your legs feel like jelly."
Straightening her back, she lifted her chin with practiced grace.
"So come on. We keep our heads high, smile when necessary, and continue forward. Surely a little walk isn't enough to defeat us."
Rui let out a wounded groan.
"A little walk? This isn't a walk—it's a pilgrimage."
"This hallway might actually be endless," Ray remarked, staring into the distance.
Rui nodded solemnly.
"Maybe that's the whole point. So no one ever actually reaches the throne."
For a moment, Grace considered the possibility.
Then she sighed.
"At this point," she muttered under her breath, "we might actually need a royal carriage just to get across this hall."
"Um... Sister?" Ray said, squinting into the distance. "Why does that man up ahead look exactly like Welfred?"
A heavy silence followed.
"Because," Grace replied at last, her voice utterly flat, "that is Welfred."
Rui froze.
"What?!"
She looked at Welfred. Then at the seemingly endless stretch of carpet. Then back at Welfred.
"How is that possible?" She cried. "He took the longer path and still got there before us!"
"Maybe it's that thing he's always going on about," Ray said thoughtfully. "You know—how keeping a straight face keeps you young."
Rui stared at him.
"That's supposed to be for your skin!"
Ray shrugged.
"Maybe it works on the legs too."
Rui fell silent.
"...That would explain a lot."
They exchanged a knowing look, then both straightened up at once. Their expressions turned deathly serious— brows furrowed, lips pressed tight, eyes focused ahead like soldiers preparing for battle.
Grace slowed, eyeing them suspiciously. "What… are you two doing?"
Neither answered. They kept their faces stiff and unflinching, marching forward in perfect, exaggerated seriousness.
Finally, they spoke in unison— calm, reverent, ridiculous.
"We're practicing the Never-Ending Youth Technique, taught by our master—Welfred."
Grace stared at them for a long moment, utterly defeated. Then she sighed and muttered under her breath, "When did my life turn into this…"
.
.
.
They finally quit their 'eternal youth' practice once they noticed the only thing growing younger was their patience.
Welfred stood at the right side of the grand staircase, positioned before the second platform. At his side were the Lord Commander, two Royal Advisers, and the Knight Commanders, their presence lending an air of solemn authority to the gathering.
Opposite them, those of matching rank and station had taken their places in precise formation, maintaining the long-established order of court protocol. Only the Second Minister's absence disturbed the symmetry— a detail that did not go unnoticed among the assembled dignitaries.
Grace, too, noticed the absence. Her gaze lingered, curiosity flickering in her eyes as she murmured softly, "Where is—"
Before she could finish her sentence, Rui spoke up, breaking the moment. "Sister, I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when we get there," she said, already sounding halfway asleep.
"Rui, no—don't pass out on us now! We're almost there. And seriously, how can you even sleep while walking?" Grace asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and disbelief.
"She can," Ray said dryly. "Trust me, sis— Rui could fall asleep in the middle of a sword fight."
Grace smirked. "Impressive. Maybe she's secretly training to become the world's first sleep-walker champion."
Rui's lips curled into a proud, sleepy grin.
Ray stared at the two of them in disbelief, thinking, "(Not you too, sister)."