The noble House of Billeter was a sophisticated edifice that dominated an enviable territory. The prestigious Duke held the confidence of the King of Kevland firmly in his hands. Cain had been summoned by this high-ranking figure only to reconsider, once again, the ease with which he had accepted the invitation of the Duke's lovely and only granddaughter.
On his way to the grand residence, he anticipated the Duke's concern. Even so, restlessness dominated him until the moment he finally stood before the imposing profile of the nobleman. The Duke did not have much time to waste on a warning disguised as a conversation, but neither did he wish to send a simple messenger. Those words had to be spoken with the firmness that the situation demanded.
First, he showed Cain a letter marked with the noble emblem of Count Salieri. It had been sent with a special request: that Eilith be allowed to travel accompanied by his eldest son. While the relationship between the Duke and the Count could be presumed cordial, Billeter felt the need to make it clear—to both father and son—how precious and adored the "princess" was to his family.
—The Duke must be very busy —Cain said with a slight bow—. I apologize for the inconvenience.
The Duke observed him closely. He had heard much about this young man, but now that he finally had him face to face, he understood that he did, in fact, have reasons to worry. The kind figure and stoic presence were, truth be told, an annoyance to the eyes.
—I have no time for empty comments —he responded dryly.
He took a paper from the desk and extended it toward Cain for him to read. Right now, he was unable to refuse the wishes of the lovely Eilith, so the only thing he could do was issue a special permit for the Count's son to act as a knight escort, maintaining her respectable reputation. The Duke would not allow a single error to tarnish the future he desired for her within the royal court.
—Since it is a wish of our precious Eilith, it is inevitable —the Duke continued, intertwining his fingers on the table—. Someone with your appearance can surely get whatever he wants. But you must know that Eilith is impossible.
The Duke's bluntness did not intimidate Cain. He simply smiled, trying to maintain his composure.
—I believe there has been a misunderstanding, sir.
He pulled the family seal that still belonged to him from his coat pocket and stamped it carefully upon the Duke's request.
—I do not have those kinds of intentions toward your granddaughter.
Contrary to what Cain expected, the Duke seemed enveloped by a visible frustration. If for some reason this conceited man had not been hexed by the notable beauty of his adored granddaughter, it would be something difficult to comprehend.
—Is Eilith, the only granddaughter of Duke Billeter, not the most beautiful woman in all of Kevland?
Cain held the old man's gaze with serenity.
—Eilith asked me to accompany her. Of course, it is an honor I could never refuse. That is all.
The Duke frowned slightly.
—What kind of attitude is that? I cannot approve of it.
—I deeply appreciate your granddaughter —Cain responded calmly—. I assure you that during this trip, I will take good care of her.
Although the Duke found it hard to overlook such a bold response, he found no way to reproach him further. If what he desired was the assurance that Cain would not represent an obstacle to his plans, the matter ended there.
—You are exactly as you look —he finally said—. But if things are this way, there is nothing to worry about.
He extended his right hand to seal the agreement. The clauses imposed in that understanding only seemed to hold true importance for him. Cain was about to withdraw when the Duke spoke again.
—Karis Salieri is not worthy of being the Count's heir.
Upon hearing his younger brother's name, the confident expression on Cain's face weakened for an instant.
—He is still very young —he responded calmly—. But he will be.
He offered a brief bow and left the place with his characteristic distinction. He never let it be seen how embarrassed he felt denying Eilith's beauty, but he understood the Duke's concerns perfectly. After all, how could anyone simply look away when reflected in those crystalline blue eyes?
Eilith's smile was more radiant than the sun of a Yuor afternoon. And when her voice rose, even the deafening noise of the streets seemed to vanish into the air. The delicate goddess simply became even more resplendent when they reached that region. Cain was easily enveloped by her innocent joy.
Yuor was celebrating one of the most important festivals in the region, and Eilith, who had grown up in the capital, had every reason to appear so blissful. The day the elder Billeter was named Duke, his entire family was forced to travel to Kevland to settle as close as possible to the King. During the first few years, they made frequent visits to Yuor, but over time these decreased due to the demands of the monarchy. It was natural for anyone carrying a title granted by the King.
The young woman walked through the streets of her childhood memories with visible happiness. Cain would have dedicated all his attention to observing her if it weren't for the shields bearing the Bathory insignia, scattered across every corner of a festival so distant from their domains.
It was well known that the Bathory family controlled most of the trade in Kevland. And although Cain was accustomed to those diamond-shaped crests, at that moment he was in no mood to think about them.
Eilith stopped in front of a massive imported fabric shop. They were both accompanied by a discreet group of guards, so he did not draw too much attention when Cain exited the establishment. However, enduring the Bathory presence in the surroundings would have been a much more tolerable experience than what occurred when he crossed the entrance.
Across the street, where wide windows and transparent glass allowed light to enter unhindered—along with the curious gaze of anyone passing by—the silhouette of a red-haired woman of ruthless beauty dragged him into an unthinkable reality.
An uncontrollable shiver ran down his skin. He even felt unable to breathe. Instinctively, he brought a hand to his head, holding his breath in his chest. There was a great distance between that surreal scene and the fabric shop, but the woman's blue eyes stood out like a curse.
—Is something wrong?
Eilith's sweet voice reclaimed his attention. Cain reacted instantly. Any sensation that had perturbed him vanished immediately. His expression regained its habitual serenity, and he responded with a slight negative gesture.
He was afraid to look around again. But when he finally did, everything seemed to have been a terrifying illusion. The only significant beauty there... was Eilith's.
♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠♠