A proud woman took a few steps toward them. Queen Orchid had dark skin, and her black hair was styled in numerous braids intertwined with strips of colorful fabric. A triangular diadem adorned with rubies encircled her forehead. She smiled at them and opened her arms.

"I welcome you, people of Dawn," she said in their language. "We are pleased that you have answered our call for peace. I hope you will find your stay here to your liking, as well as your betrothed, the jewels of my kingdom!"

She gestured to the side, sweeping the space with her wide sleeve to reveal two young people standing in the background. The man behind them, undoubtedly their father, finding that they weren't moving fast enough for his liking, placed a hand on each of their shoulders and pushed them firmly forward.

And finally, Jasper laid eyes on his betrothed.

She was as lovely as in the portrait but in a different way. She wore a violet gown that brushed the floor, over which she had draped a long saffron caftan, split at the side. Her hands were politely clasped in front of her belly, her eyes lowered. When he approached her, she dipped into a deep curtsey.

"It's an honor to finally meet you," she said in a slightly husky voice.

She spoke with more of an accent than her mother, but Jasper found it charming. She extended her hand, and he delicately took it to brush his lips against it.

"The honor is all mine, Princess Acacia," he replied duskily.

As he lifted his gaze to her face, he met her scrutinizing stare, far less timidly than he had imagined when seeing her with lowered eyes.

Embarrassed by this intensity, Jasper let his attention drift to Prince Willow. He had the same slender silhouette as his sister, the same long, black hair braided. He wore the same colors as his sister, further accentuating their resemblance. A fitted vest covered in embroidery emphasized the elegance of his frame. He bowed before Beryl, and as he straightened, he caught Jasper's gaze on him and smiled.

During this initial contact between the betrothed, the queen introduced the dignitaries surrounding her to the dawnian delegation.

"You must be tired from this long journey," she finally said. "We will have you escorted to your new quarters where you can relax and refresh yourselves. A grand banquet will be held at noon so we can get to know each other better."

As if waiting for this signal, an army of servants appeared. Some seized the luggage that the coachmen were unloading from the coaches and carts, while others tended to the visitors' needs.

Jasper let himself be guided through the palace corridors. He marveled at the vast, airy spaces that composed it. The floor was covered in mosaics with varying tones from one room to another. They passed by interior gardens where fountains mingled with clusters of shrubs and flower beds. Finally, the servant guiding him stopped in front of an elaborately carved wooden door in a long corridor.

"These are your chambers, Your Highness," he said, bowing. "I will return to fetch you for the meal."

By some mystery, his travel belongings were already displayed in the middle of the room. Jasper refreshed his hands and face in a basin of rose-scented water. Then he tested the couch covered in plump cushions. He reached out and grabbed an orange fruit from a bowl on the low table before him. He bit into it, eyes shining with anticipated pleasure. And immediately spat it out. How awful! It was terribly hard and bitter! He scrutinized the culprit suspiciously. Was this the culmination of a complex plan to poison him as soon as he arrived in the Dusk Kingdom? After a more thorough inspection, he discovered that the rest of the fruit, hidden beneath the skin, was deliciously sweet and entirely edible. He decided that the only thing endangering his life was his ignorance of the region and its peculiarities and proceeded to eat it with relish, necessitating another wash of his hands.

He was later fetched and found Beryl in the corridor. Her quarters were just opposite his. Her delicate brows furrowed in annoyance, his sister latched onto his arm and whispered:

"I had the hardest time preventing Aunt Carnelian from settling into my room. She takes her role as a chaperone a bit too seriously. If I let her, she'd sleep curled up in a ball in front of the door!"

"She's the guardian of our morality and will ensure that our visit follows the rules. We'll have to get used to her presence and interference."

Jasper thought to soothe his sister with the soundness of his reasoning, but he saw her jaw tense, and she remained silent for the rest of the way.

Guards in armor were posted around the large dining hall. Around an immense horseshoe-shaped table, thick cushions were arranged. The brother and sister were separated, each invited to sit on either side of the royal couple presiding over it.

Before everyone sat down, Queen Orchid called for the attention of the guests.

"Before sharing this meal, I'd like to introduce two of the most eminent figures of our kingdom who have just joined us. First, His Serenity, the Grand Priest of the Wise Ruby Dragon who has guided us with his foresight for many years."

One of the two men behind the queen stepped forward. He was tall and broad-shouldered. The resemblance of his silhouette to the Grand Priest of the Mighty Gold Dragon struck Jasper. His square jaw protruded, seemingly ready for confrontation. Amidst his dark hair, gray had only attacked his temples thus far. After casting an incisive glance over the gathering, he bowed without a smile before joining the guests at the table. What a reception... he seemed just as pleased to be there as their own Grand Priest.

"I also present Lord Cypress, my Prime Minister," continued the queen. 'I consider him the architect of peace. Without his insistence and wise counsel, the alliance between our two countries would still be a distant utopia."

"Your Majesty is too generous with me," said the man, bowing.

Lord Cypress was entering his fifties with the assurance of one who has devoted his life to his kingdom. Under an aquiline nose, a well-trimmed salt-and-pepper mustache adorned his upper lip. His smile and voice were friendly, and he spared no effort in greeting the assembly.

"I hope to have the opportunity to converse with each of you, dear guests," he said before taking his seat not far from Beryl. "Learning to know each other is the first step toward mutual trust."

"I won't keep you waiting any longer," the queen concluded. "You must be famished after such a journey. I wish you all a good appetite."

She sat down and with a graceful gesture, urged the guests to follow suit. At this signal, everyone settled. Jasper struggled to tuck his long legs under the table but eventually found a comfortable position among the cushions. Princess Acacia sat beside him, courteously greeting him.

Seated next to his wife, the prince-consort was a frail man with a receding hairline. As an attentive host, he inquired about the guests' comfort in their quarters, then wanted to know about the atmosphere in the Dawn Kingdom since the announcement of peace. He had a kind word for everyone and occasionally turned to his wife to serve her a drink himself or whisper a few remarks in her ear, which invariably made her smile. Jasper thought that no man seemed more at ease than him around that table. He was the queen's support, and it was evident he fulfilled that role perfectly, without bitterness or jealousy.

Most of the prominent duskian figures wished to attract his attention, and Jasper had to recount their journey several times and give his first impressions of the Dusk Kingdom. Occasionally, he made sure his sister was feeling well, concerned about the fatigue she might have accumulated during the journey coupled with the excitement of arrival. He frequently saw the Prime Minister leaning toward her and felt reassured knowing she was in good company.

Whenever he got the chance, Jasper hurried to Acacia's side. He passed her the dishes, refilled her glass. While frequently glancing towards her parents, she thanked him with a smile or a nod.

Jasper desperately tried to think of an appropriate topic of conversation. Directly tackling the theme of peace and political dispositions was obviously out of the question. As for marriage, it was a sensitive subject, and he was unaware of the princess's feelings about it. Forcing her to discuss it in front of the court could prove disastrous. He could have complimented her dress or her hairstyle, but he felt overwhelmed by an invincible shyness at the thought, especially with all eyes on him. The Duskians were trying to figure him out, and his own compatriots were monitoring his conduct. He regularly felt Aunt Carnelian's attention passing over him from the other side of the table and congratulated himself for not being in Beryl's place. He knew that if he turned his head further to the left, he would meet the gaze of the Grand Priest, and having done so once, he did not wish to repeat the experience. His whole demeanor exuded disapproval. Jasper had heard him grumble when he discovered the absence of chairs around the table and fervently hoped no Duskians had heard it.

"Prince Jasper?" suddenly came Acacia's voice.

Jasper shivered upon hearing his name from her lips, instantly giving her his complete attention.

"We were thinking of suggesting that we visit the palace gardens together after the meal," she proposed. "What do you think?"

"That's an excellent idea! I was just thinking earlier that I know very little about the flora of your country. It would be a pleasure to share this moment in your company."

She smiled at him and once again glanced briefly at her mother before returning her attention to her plate. Jasper felt a certain unease about this. He would have preferred her to be more concerned about his presence than her parents, but he couldn't really blame her. After all, they had only known each other for a few hours.

Throughout the rest of the meal, they exchanged thoughts on the food. He asked about the names of the dishes being served, and she inquired if they suited his taste. Nothing more personal intruded into their conversation. However, it was one way to get to know each other, and Jasper was determined to take his time.

As Acacia had announced, the afternoon was dedicated to a visit to the gardens. There was a serene and relaxing atmosphere, perfect to accompany digestion. Saule and Acacia escorted Jasper and Beryl to showcase the gardens. A few steps behind them followed Aunt Carnelian, Cousin Pyrite, and some duskian notables whose names Jasper hadn't yet absorbed. A handful of guards from both nationalities watched from further back. Jasper hoped that Sandon and Irons would integrate well. Knowing the gossip circulating among the guards could be useful. But the prince's thoughts didn't linger on his bodyguards for long.

The air was filled with a gentle fragrance, and their hosts were very attentive to them.

"It's often believed that flowers are the domain of spring," explained Acacia, her eyes bright. "But that's untrue. Look at these chrysanthemums, these asters, these camellias!"

She quickened her pace, moving ahead on the small gravel path. She turned to them and walked backward to better show them the trees and clusters of flowers in soft colors. She named each one and presented them like old friends. Her voice became lively and enthusiastic as she shared legends or anecdotes associated with them. Occasionally, Prince Willow added a detail to his sister's speech.

"If I remember correctly, you even fell from this tree when you were little," he suddenly said as Acacia praised the cool shade of a large cedar.

His sister glared at him while Beryl stifled a cry of fright in her hand. Willow just laughed. Jasper delighted in the scene. Seeing his fiancée relaxed enough to react like that was exactly what he hoped for on this trip. However, he didn't want her to feel like she was losing face in front of near strangers. He leaned towards a cluster of white flowers tinged with pink.

"May I pick one?" he asked.

Acacia looked at him in surprise.

"Um, yes, of course. Pick what you like. Just as long as you're reasonable."

Jasper delicately cut the stem of a small lily and approached her.

"May I?" he asked, presenting the flower towards her ear.

Confusion appeared on the young woman's face, and she glanced backstage at her brother.

"I guess so?" she hesitated.

He courteously pinned the lily in the princess's hair.

"With your magnificent black hair, it suits you perfectly," he complimented.

She thanked him with an embarrassed smile.

As the visit continued, Acacia abandoned her role as a guide to walk alongside her brother. She nudged him with her elbow and whispered something in his ear before returning to her place at the head of the group. Intrigued by this maneuver, Jasper kept his attention on the young man.

Acacia seemed to gradually lose her enthusiasm.

"I feel watched," she eventually sighed, nodding towards their escort.

"We are," he confirmed. "So many responsibilities rest on our shoulders. But it's just a bad moment to pass; soon we'll be free to move."

"Free, really? Do you think so?"

Acacia's voice was suddenly tinged with bitterness. Jasper scratched his head uncomfortably.

"Well, as much as we can hope to be."

She turned away without responding. He had apparently touched a sensitive point. Before he could find something to say to rectify his blunder, Willow finally decided to engage with Beryl.

"May I ask what your favorite color is?" he inquired.

Jasper made a face; there were better ways to break the ice.

"My favorite color? Hmm, it depends so much on the situation," answered Beryl, taking the question very seriously. "But if I had to choose one, it would be purple, I suppose."

"Wait here."

Willow bowed with a smile before disappearing down a side path. He returned shortly after, holding three flowers whose different shades of purple matched perfectly. He had woven their stems with a long golden leaf. He gallantly offered it all to Beryl.

"Thank you, it's lovely," she exclaimed, tucking the stem under her dress strap.

Acacia's nod of approval to her brother did not escape Jasper. The brother and sister seemed to support each other in what must be a trial for them too.

As they approached a charming gazebo hidden under the vegetation, voices could be heard. They stopped to listen. The altercation seemed violent, and Jasper immediately reacted.

"Stay here," he ordered the other three.

He began to run, hand on his sword hilt. He leaped over a cluster of flowers and pushed aside the low branches of a shrub to discover a rather sad sight.

Two men were grappling in front of a small pond.

"How dare you say that?" one of them bellowed.

To Jasper's dismay, not only did he know this man, but he was also one of the most eminent dignitaries of his kingdom. The High Priest of the Golden Dragon.

"It's in the very writings that you deny!" shouted the second. "Everyone knows it was your pitiful yellow Dragon that attacked the Wise Ruby Dragon and mortally wounded it!"

And this was the High Priest of the Ruby Dragon that Jasper had seen at the meal a few hours earlier.

"Heresy! He was merely defending himself!"

The two men could have been twins, both in appearance, ornamentation, and the long white robe embroidered with gold for one and scarlet for the other.

As the guards, alerted by the noise, finally arrived at the scene, Jasper stepped between the two priests and firmly separated them. A fist flew within an inch of his cheek.

"Finally, gentlemen, some decorum," he said sternly. "Aren't you ashamed to behave in this manner?"

With hair askew, clothes in disarray, both men opened their mouths at the same time.

"And I don't want to hear any 'He started it'," Jasper cut them off.

The two priests immediately closed their mouths but continued to give each other murderous glances. As the chaperones' escort also arrived, they distanced themselves from each other to adjust themselves, attempting to gather the tattered remains of their dignity.

Unfortunately for them, the scene was so obvious that no one mistook it.

"What is happening here?" questioned Lady Carnelian, outraged.

"I assure you the queen will be informed!" squeaked an indignant voice.

Behind Jasper came Acacia, followed by Willow and Beryl out of breath. It took them just one glance to understand, and their three faces expressed disapproval so perfectly that Jasper was reassured of their shared desire to achieve agreement between their kingdoms.

After this incident, there was no more talk of the stroll, and it was decided by mutual agreement to return to the palace. On the way back, the group had become disorganized, and guards, notables, princes, and princesses were now walking in complete disorder.

Jasper was looking for Acacia when Willow made a detour just in front of him. He then bent down to pick something off the ground. Jasper immediately recognized the flower he had given to his fiancée. Saule turned it thoughtfully between his fingers and jumped when Jasper appeared at his side. He made a move to hide the lily behind his back, but Jasper's eyes were fixed on it, leaving little hope that he hadn't seen it.

"It's an accident, you know," he hurriedly explained. "She must have dropped it. Acacia would never throw it away on purpose."

"Really?" asked Jasper, vaguely worried about his haste to justify his sister's actions. She might not have liked it.

"Oh yes, Acacia likes flowers a lot. But she's not very..."

Saule abruptly interrupted himself, glanced around, and bit his lip.

"Ah, I suppose I can tell you," he continued in a lower tone. "You'll realize soon enough, and it will save you some disappointments. My sister isn't very coquettish and pays little attention to what she wears. Don't expect her to get excited about jewelry and lace."

"I see," murmured Jasper, thoughtful.

An idea occurred to him. As soon as he returned to his quarters, he would start a list of the information he discovered about his betrothed. It would undoubtedly be useful to avoid any missteps.

"Prince Jasper?" suddenly called the object of his thoughts. "May I speak with you for a moment?"

As he nodded, delighted with the request, Acacia pulled him aside by the sleeve from the crowd.

"I wanted to apologize for the behavior of our Grand Priest," she said formally. "He has always been very... extreme, but I had hoped he would understand the importance of conducting himself properly."

"Don't worry, ours is just as much at fault as him. They obviously both come from the same mold."

She seemed worried.

"My mother will be informed; we won't be able to stop it. I just hope it won't cause too much of a stir. Otherwise, today won't be the day I can go to the stables."

She added the last sentence more quietly, as if to herself, but Jasper couldn't pretend not to have heard it. His heart quickened.

"To the stables, you say?" he asked, not daring to believe it. "For what, if I may ask?"

She stared at him with surprise, almost pity.

"To take care of my horse, obviously. With all the preparations for your arrival, I haven't been able to see him for three days."

Probably realizing what she had said, she panicked:

"No, not that I regret your coming, of course! Nor do I question the importance of what we are doing, not at all. All this for a simple horse would be ridiculous, hahaha..."

Jasper smiled to put an end to her embarrassment.

"Would you allow me to accompany you?" he asked hopefully.