Calion stood in the covered courtyard at the entry of the colonnade, ready to greet the guests as they arrived. Next to him was Elwin's personal assistant, someone that he'd been told was necessary. Calion had spent most of his life in another world. He had no idea who any of these guests were. No one wanted a social faux pas.

Nalan Thayer was the best, according to Elwin. He was always up to date with information about families and the world around them. He knew what was ideal and not such a good idea. Protocols and procedures were his forte, Nalan thrived in moments like these, and he hoped that tonight would go well. If it did, then there was a strong chance that Elwin would ask him to do this again for Kelleck's time. There was always the option of an events manager taking control, and Nalan was thankful that Elwin had been too busy to find someone else.

"Remember, I shall tell you their names, but no one expects you to know them at this point in the evening."

Calion was grateful that he'd spent his life on Earth. If he hadn't, then he was expected to know their names. It was the etiquette of the elite and also showed that he wasn't some uncaring half-wit that couldn't be bothered learning these things.

With a nod, Calion hoped to steely himself for the next half an hour. He glanced through the open doors, fully aware that his mother was making sure that the servants were ready to bring out the food. Calion hadn't seen Elwin but knew that he would be in there too. Probably annoying the musicians.

An older couple approached, smiles on their faces and excitement in their mood. It had been a long time since the Halls of Rochester had been opened.

"Lord Carris and Lady Elora Stone. I will be gone for just a moment."

Nalan scuttled to the door, catching Elwin's attention. With a flick of his head, Nalan urged his boss to the door. Elwin wanted to be present to greet the guests as well.

When Nalan returned to Calion, he was surprised to find that the conversation flowed better than he'd anticipated for someone who knew virtually nothing about this side of life.

Remaining behind Calion, Nalan was there when he needed guidance but left Calion to it. Elwin joined them, then gestured to the doors. There was already a line behind them.

"There was no daughter for them," Calion whispered.

"Well, it would be a rather dull event if only the daughters and their families came. I invited a few family friends and some of the elite. Ah, the first of the candidates. Kaeda Jonala is the daughter. Nalan can take over from here."

Elwin stepped forward to greet them and then introduce Kaeda to Calion.

He offered a smile to the woman before glancing at Elwin. It was a ball, yet the woman wore a tight dress that did not allow her much movement. Elwin returned his brother's questioning look with a vague shrug.

There wasn't much he could do. He'd told them that the first event was a ball. Elwin had even given each of the women a list of the planned events so that they could prepare and be ready for everything and anything. He wondered if something happened to the original dress, and this was a last-minute attempt to save the ship from going down.

While Calion was conversing with the Jonala family, he turned to greet the next group. It was the Lovaris family with an excited Sarras leading the group. She turned with a broad smile on her face, happy and ready for a fun night of dancing. Elwin smiled softly, appreciative that at least one family understood the requirements.

Sarras wore a teal dress with a massive puffed skirt of tulle. It would suit the night well. She was even bold enough to show that she'd done a little research. Small flowers trailed over the lower half of the bodice and onto the skirt. Flowers that were quite similar to the cherry blossoms that dominated the view behind Elwin.

The cherry blossoms were a gift from Barwin to Selene when they first married. She'd requested a garden to sit in, play with their children and find peace with the world. He'd ordered the staff to plant whatever Selene desired, and this was the result. A sea of various tones of pink that were beautiful.

Lady Lovaris was slightly less obvious with her dress, selecting a matte gold number that was full of lace and ruffles but not so heavy in the skirt. Both women looked good in their dresses, and they'd clearly taken the time to think about it, unlike Lady Jonala. Elwin thought that she was lucky this was not a scoring system. Otherwise, she'd regret the dress. He figured she would regret it anyway. It was incredibly tight and he doubted that when the time came when she could dance with Calion, she would not be able to. At least not comfortably.

Amused in his thoughts, Elwin turned to say hello to Maylin and her father. She was much quieter than her sister. Her dark eyes lifted to Elwin. The soft pout smiled gently when she realized that he was looking at her. Blush crossed her cheeks as her head lowered.

"Quite a sight, really."

Elwin snapped back into the moment, nodding at the statement.

"I hope that it means that we will be favored with good fortune."

"Many don't believe in the tales of old, but I'd like to think that there's some truth to it. Such a stunning view."

Lord Lovaris was looking through one of the arches at the trees that were still covered in blueys. Elwin smiled at the woman who was still blushing, still shy in her stance.

"Breathtaking," he murmured.

Sensing the need to continue on, Lord Lovaris guided his youngest to the man that he hoped would snag one of them. Maylin looked over her shoulder. One last look at the man that could not detract his gaze.

Her heart raced as the unknown sensations and thoughts floated through her. Maylin smiled softly again before turning to say hello to Calion.

There was a reason that Elwin had suggested that their parents didn't apply for their youngest. He'd tried to throw them off with a reminder that there would be other years where she could be a part of the events here.

They did not get the hint, and now she was here, and he was faced with a rather large problem. It would be worse if Calion picked Maylin to be his wife. She was just another woman that he could not have.

Still, he tempted fate by watching her.

The long skirt of her dress dragged over the floor. Seemingly a poor choice, Elwin thought that it wouldn't do well on the dance floor until he watched Maylin move in it.

It was a skirt that flowed freely. What looked like a small amount of material was actually deceptive. Hidden in the pleats was a lot more material. The bodice of the dress swept to one side over the shoulder, leaving the other shoulder bare. A beautiful black dress that slowly cascaded down into an ombre of multiple colors that were dark.

Veronna Rolonae was next with her family. Elwin greeted each of them, eager to get the night underway. He didn't need to be standing in the entry talking to the guests while those that had gone into the ballroom stood around waiting for the party to start. There was a long stream of fae behind them, and they were eager to get inside. They did not want to be standing around in a line all night.

When it seemed like they were nearing the end of the line, the servant marking off the guests scuttled over to Elwin.

"All but Lady Chandrelle's family. I expect that they will be here soon, though."

"Trouble on the road?" he asked Nalan.

"Perhaps. They were traveling from the far western side of the city, and I believe that the remainder of the family had found lodgings nearby and intended to settle in for the duration of the event."

"Could they have become lost?"

"Anything is possible. If they don't arrive in the next half an hour, I will send a rider out to the house."

Elwin turned into the ballroom, leaving the servant and Nalan to decide what to do about the missing candidate. Nalan knew that Elwin wanted all options available for his brother, and if one of them wasn't here, then he might miss out on the perfect woman.

Standing at the doorway, Elwin marveled at how this place seemed to come alive when they had guests. The merriment flowed through all of them. Some stood in the pre-function area where food and drinks were served, but the majority of the guests were already dancing.

Nalan cleared his throat. Elwin turned to see familiar faces, offering them a smile.

"We were worried that you'd become lost."

"Just a slight hiccup with the carriage." Lord Iralan offered.

Chandrelle emerged from behind her father, giving Elwin a smile. Her dress choice was impressive and not as space-consuming as some of them. There was flare in the skirt neatly tucked into the folds and curves. The rich red dress suited the pretty woman.

"Of course. Come, let me introduce you to Calion."

Weaving through the guests, Elwin guided the Iralan family to Calion. He'd settled into a riveting conversation with Lord Lovaris. Was Calion finding his birth world to be more enticing by the second? It was true, and he was considering a permanent return. With his father gone, there was nothing here that would drive him away. Also, it would be rude of him to remove the woman he picked from her family.

In the coming days, he'd look at the maps and discuss options with Elwin and their mother. There would be the perfect place to start his new life, Calion wasn't sure, but he was beginning to think that it was definitely going to be found in Merah.

With even more for company, Elwin left Calion to enjoy his night and hoped that this was the start of something better. Tonight was not about meeting the women or even getting to know them. There wouldn't be much time for that, and it was rather noisy.

No, this was about reintegrating Calion into fae society. That's why Elwin invited more than just the women and their families. It's why he'd spent months planning every single aspect of this night. He, together with his mother, hoped it would be enough.

Fae born in Merah were always destined to want to return, but for those who had issues like Calion clearly had, the urge was fought intensely. Selene wanted to get to the bottom of his issues but never got anywhere with Calion. Whenever she asked, he always shrugged her off and changed the subject.

But, the future was glowing with positivity. Calion had accepted the decree and the limitations he was now bound to. Selene knew that there was a strong chance that he'd return. More so now that Barwin was gone.

Elwin stepped out into the cool evening. The frost hadn't set into the air yet, but it would soon happen. As the wind passed his fingers, Elwin could feel the chill. He waved them through the wind, watching the flakes form.

"Cold as snow," he whispered. "Hard as ice."

It was the mantra that his father lived by and one that Barwin insisted that his eldest son followed. Unforgiving, relentless, ruthless. It was not an easy life, but it was why Elwin was so successful in the human world. It's why he could set fire to half of his wealth and still spend the rest of his immortal life extremely rich. It's why he could lose his Earth assets if the gate snapped shut permanently, and nothing would change much.

Elwin might have been grateful for the inspiration, except he knew why his father taught him to be merciless with his business tactics. Not only did Elwin have to provide for the family that he would one day create, but he'd have to manage the Rochester estate. All of his siblings had to receive their stipend in their adult years and then into their lives with their own families. And of course, not to forget, Selene. It wasn't said but there was an unspoken expectation that Barwin had for Elwin. She was to be his top priority.

Barwin might have been an unloving and cold husband, but he knew the value that his wife offered. She'd given him the legacy that he craved, and for that, he was grateful. Elwin wondered how he could ever be truly grateful when it seemed that his father cheated on his mother for their entire marriage.

His thoughts about the monster that had been hidden from them were broken when Elwin heard a soft voice. As she cleared her throat to announce her presence, Elwin turned to the beauty that had bewitched him from the moment he first saw her.

It was then that Elwin knew that he was in trouble.