Emberlain.
Silence had settled over them when a voice called out.
"Lady Melissa is here?"
The four glanced up to find Aeren standing before them, alert and watchful. He held a plate of puddings in his hands. His gaze alternated between them.
"Why's the air so quiet? What were you talking about?"
Before Vivia could answer, Judith whistled. "About you~ I was taking some notes from your sister and sister-in-law on how to seduce you. Since the subject of interest is here, how about you add something valuable to this conversation?"
He didn't miss a beat. "Apologies Lady Judith, but a marriage between us is impossible."
"Don't be quick to reject me. Am I not beautiful?" She blinked twice. "Or maybe you like an innocent type of beauty? Like Melissa?"
"Innocent…" his indecipherable gaze remained fixed at Melissa, unperturbed and unruffled.
"Oh, is that pudding?"Judith sparkled. "It's Melissa's favorite. How about you offer your plate to her~"
Sierra squinted faintly. "Which is the same as offering it to you."
"You look too deeply into the details, my dear," she smiled, "Did you also look into those details when you married your husband?"
"What do you mean by that?" As if right on cue, Elvin arrived - quick to send displeased daggers at Judith. "Your tone seemed to be insinuating something, Lady Judith."
"Oh so both brothers are here. Perfect. So who should I choose? Snatch His Highness Elvin or seduce Prince Aeren? Such a difficult decision," she sighed. "But I think I should go with His Highness. Faster way to kick Sierra out of the royal family."
This woman…I don't understand their relationship seriously…
The more Judith spoke, the more Vivia's jaw dropped at her sheer audacity. And yet Sierra's expression barely registered even a flicker of it.
Elvin smiled. "I feel honored by your interest, but I already have a beautiful wife I'm happy with. Right, Sierra?"
"Indeed."
Judith smirked. "Don't you feel that happiness is momentary? It could be permanent with me though~"
Meanwhile, Aeren offered the plate of puddings to Melissa. At first, she didn't move, completely aware of the displeasure her presence caused in this palace.
"The puddings are delicious, Lady Melissa," Aeren said expressionlessly.
After a long moment of deliberation, Melissa accepted the plate. "Thank you, Prince Aeren."
She offered it to Judith in turn, but the latter only waved her hand in dismissal. In the end, she didn't know what to do with it.
"Don't be shy, Melissa," Sierra said, "Go ahead. They're indeed delicious."
Elvin eyed Vivia, his hostility clear and unmasked. "I hope you had a pleasant conversation with Lady Melissa. But next time, you don't have to inconvenience her to come here."
The subtle and simple translation was to never invite her to the palace again.
Vivia feigned ignorance. "Why would Lady Melissa feel any inconvenience? I simply wanted to talk to her. Besides, won't she be happy to meet her dear friend, sister-in-law Sierra?"
It seemed like her retort would fan the flames of his fury, but he held it in and smiled instead. "That's true."
Huh…Why does it feel like he's in a good mood? Vivia wondered.
Her answer arrived a moment later when a knight from Benjamin's troop approached Elvin and bowed.
"Long live, His Highness. The troop from the expedition has returned."
"Did they find it?" A subtle change passed his features, looking more sharp and attentive.
"The troop did find some freshwater tributaries, though tracing their source remains perilous. A few knights succumbed to their deaths…"
Tributaries..? Wait, I remember now.
Weren't they trying to find freshwater sources in the Realm of Harmony? He still hasn't given up on that?
Elvin looked somber. "That's truly unfortunate. Prepare a list of all the knights who gave their brave lives for this noble cause. Their families would be adequately compensated."
Vivia gritted her teeth.
Noble cause? It's only a power play to win against the demons!
She hadn't forgotten about Elvin and Aeren's possible involvement in Malphas's death.
Was that a power play as well? I don't have much time…
Before Nefarion marched into the Human Realm, she had to uncover the truth whether Clairette's brothers were truly innocent or not.
Melissa spoke then, taking everyone aback. "Finding the source of freshwater will be fruitless. What Your Highness Highness aims to achieve must not continue. It would only push the demons towards taking more extreme steps."
Elvin's gaze darkened. "You're implying we should be afraid of them and be reliant on those wretched demons forever?"
She fixed her gaze at him through her veil. "That same desire five hundred years ago had brought the war upon our doorstep, Your Highness."
He burst into a mocking laughter. "Was it our greed or some flimsy love your family's wretched ancestor held towards a loathsome demon?"
Melissa paused.
"Many knights have lost their lives in this search. It's a sign that there're some things not supposed to be touched. The water naturally flows into the Demon Realm. We must not disturb that-"
"I believe it's time for Lady Melissa to take her leave."
Vivia clenched her fists in fury. "She's my guest. Mother has allowed her visit."
"And now this small tea party is over, Clairette. She leaves. Now."
Judith smiled. "Aish, Your Highness is a grown-up man but still cannot handle a rejection~"
"Excuse me?" His voice rang with a subtle alarm.
She hummed. "Nothing. Yes, I'm sure of it now. It'd be more fun to tame your arrogant pride~ Tame and then crush it beneath my foot," she said cheerfully.
—
At the palace gates, Vivia bowed. "Apologies for my brother's rudeness."
That damn Elvin! She gritted her teeth. I'll kill him one day!
Sierra looked equally distraught. "Please don't mind him, Lady Melissa."
"There's no need for an apology, Princess, Lady Sierra. I'm more than happy that I was invited."
Judith slung her arm around her neck, pulling her close. "Don't be like that Melissa. Aren't the doors of my house always open for you?"
"Your house is very noisy, so I would rather not go there," she whispered softly.
"It's your house that's too quiet."
Vivia's brow twitched, then asked, "Lady Melissa. Before you leave, can I ask you something?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever spoken to Count Martin at the Covenant?"
"Sometimes. Though he preferred to keep his distance from me more often than not. Is something the matter?"
She cleared her throat. "I heard he wished to meet me but soon after, he disappeared. I wondered if you might know something."
"Unfortunately, I don't."
"Ah. It's fine! I'll figure it out somehow," she grinned.
Melissa stared at her, then reached out to her and took her hands. A quiet tremble passed through her fingertips.
"You must be careful, Princess…" she trembled all of a sudden and lost her footing - but was safely secured in Judith's grasp.
"Lady Melissa! Are you alright?" Her eyes widened.
"Melissa!" Sierra offered her support from the other side, her face pale with concern.
"Is it one of those ramblings again?" Judith grimaced.
"They are prophecies, and you must refer to them as such with respect, Lady Judith," Melissa scolded her, though her miniscule raised voice carried little pressure.
"Could they not greet you normally? Must you always fall sick to be able to hear some old God creepily whispering into your ear?"
At which point, Vivia wondered in all seriousness that despite Judith belonging to one of the Great Three Families - did the Gods actually appreciate her attitude?
Then again, the Gods chose Priscilla as the Blessed, so I wonder what God's thought process is too…
But for now, she held another question.
"What prophecy?"
Melissa's eyes quivered. "It's not a good prophecy. Your brother must stop invading the forests. Our world shall fall into peril with such imbalance. And you…"
Her gaze dropped to Vivia's hands, peering at her opal ring. "You're at the center of the storm, Princess. Just like…"
"Just like?" She blinked.
Melissa looked up at her, her breath quickening and her eyes becoming unfocused.
"When twin realms bleed beneath a fractured crown,
A veil-born heir shall tear the sky asunder,
From earth's blackened core, the serpent's wrath shall rise,
To drown the sun, eclipse the moon, and pluck the stars like eyes.
Beware the hour when harmony wears chains,
For only the fractured can mend what the whole has slain."