"We believe deploying more knights to the streets would be a better idea-"

"But isn't it about time that some other family does the opening ball-"

"We should be worried about the economy of the Empire instead of the ball!"

Words are bouncing off the walls and coming at me all at once at the speed of sound. While everyone is preparing for the festivals with joy and laughter, I sit here with a bunch of nobles, with many opinions and questions.

Derek beside me seems to have given up and is now making origami with the documents presented in front of him.

"The trading routes are all open this year and we are getting all positive feedback-" Count Osyth said calmly as he sipped his tea.

"But the borders of the West still seem to be an issue!" Marquess Eirian slammed his fist on the table as all the nobles present and Derek glared at him.

"You seem rather eager to send me back to the borders, Marquess" I speak up after a long time, setting my eyes on him to meet him. Marquess seemed to have regretted his words as he looked away and apologized.

"Well, I will have a word with the captain and the vice captain regarding the border issue before the festival" I said with a sign as the discussion among the nobles started again.

I stared out the window as the chaos began to unfold once again. I watched the gardeners outside crafting new art pieces by trimming the leaves of the plants before the festival. It can be said to everyone all around Alastaria. To be fair I didn't didn't get the time yet to take a look around the royal grounds and watch all the preparation and the decorations, so far I have been cooped up in the Emperor's castle with different nobles in different batches of meetings.

The royal castle of Alastaria is situated on the hilly grounds beside the capitol, and touches the beach which also acts as an outlining border of Alastaria and from very specific towers of the castle, one could oversee the entire capitol.

Not to mention, the design of the castles. In general, the four main castles are placed like a rectangle.

I heard one of the nobles yelled about using magic to make flying transport. Is this the potential discussion about making aeroplanes? This conversation was derailing faster than a cheap kids train set.

Soon after that, Derek passed me the origami of Marquess Eirian, the ugly mole on top of his nose was detailed to perfection. I don't know why he did it but the more I stared at it the more I could see the details on the ink dot.

That was it, I am losing my mind.

"That's enough for today, the meeting is dismissed." I ordered as the whole room fell into silence. I hear Derek from the side breath out a sigh of relief which makes me wonder if the mole origami might have been intentional but regardless we exited the halls.

***

I spent the rest of the night reading multiple files and documents, with a glass of whiskey. Derek joined a few minutes earlier, toying with a few documents. I fear he will make origami with that too. He has been doing it ever since Asterin taught him to make origami.

"What do you plan to do about the border situation, brother?" Derek asked as I looked up from my papers.

"Like I said, I plan to have a word with the captain and vice captain" I replied as I ran my fingers through my hair. Derek looked so much like me, yet there was something about him that felt different. Maybe his eyes shined more than mine.

"You don't plan on going to the border yourself?" Derek asked, tilting his head. "Didn't you usually inspect the situation yourself before forming a plan?"

I froze momentarily at his words, my hand tightly holding the quill, fearing I might break it. But before I could answer, Sir Declan knocked on the door and walked in, followed by one of the attendants of the Empress.

The attendant of the Empress came bearing the message of needing some transaction documents that were happening during the war. I didn't want to dwell over it and simply asked Sir Declan and helped the attendant with what he needed.

"I expect the papers to be back by tomorrow," I voice carried out with a harsh tone underlining it.

"Yes your highness," the attendant bowed before he left. I asked Sir Declan to see him out before I turned back to Derek who had a very frustrated look on his face.

"Is anything bothering you?" I asked.

"No, it's just that one of the Empress' attendants showed up a few days ago asking for papers related to Hico," Derek replied. "I wonder if I should be concerned since she is snooping around here too."

"We have to be concerned but it won't help us since we don't know what is going through that woman's head," I said as I put my papers away.

"For now just be on your guard and hope for the best." I said.

Derek nodded as he slowly pulled a paper from my stack and started making an origami. I don't know if I should be concerned about him at this point or not. Sir Declan came soon after carrying a tray with a letter on top of it.

"Thank you Sir Declan," I took the letter from him as he stepped aside silently. The envelope was decorated with blue ribbon and dried flowers but what stole my attention was the Esmeray symbol wax seal.

Evanora.

I grabbed the letter opener and opened the envelope, pulling the letter out. It was carefully folded and perfumed sprayed on it.

Greetings,

This is Evanora Esmeray. I hope my letter reaches you in good health. I write this in regards to your condition that you wished me to fulfil. As the time this letter reaches you can vary, it's only fair to set a date, hence let's meet on the upcoming Sunday. If Sunday is inconvenient, I hope you let me know and we can reschedule or cancel it.

Sincerely,

Evanora Esmeray

Matriarch of Illusions.

I couldn't help but chuckle as she was still hoping to have it cancelled.

"Sir Declan," I called. "Clear my schedule for tomorrow."

Derek gave Declan a look like, 'here we go again' while he himself was making origami like a mental hospital escapee.

"You sure you're not in love with Miss Esmeray?" Derek asked for the nth time which made me sigh for the nth time.

"Seeing you explains enough what love is and I know I am not in that stage yet." I started as Derek gawked at me, either planning his next argument or to throw his origami at me.

"Besides what drives me to see Miss Esmeray, isn't the lust and physical attraction most men feel" I pushed my papers away and took a sip of my whiskey. "Her indifferent attitude, the different ways she portrays herself is refreshing, not fake like the rest of the ton."

"Do you have a degrading kink?" I choked on my whiskey as the works spewed out of Derek's mouth. What the fuck.

***

I stood by one of the restaurants. The capitol square was buzzing with nobles doing their daily or extended shopping for the upcoming festival. Some vendors are also setting up giant pandals to set up festival stores for foreign vendors and merchants in colorful materials and clothes.

Circus set ups and other enjoyable rides such as ferris wheel where also being done, to attract the town and their children.

I stand by the restaurant and listen to the distant piano forte being played inside, twirling with the thin bracelet which happens to be a magic artefact that hides the presence of a person from unwanted eyes and only makes them visible to people they seek.

Which stops me from critically judging the questionable piano forte and admiring the wonders of magic once again. And seemingly so, a carriage in elegant blue comes to a stop in the capitol square.

In an unbiased judgement, one would say that the capitol is the only place in Alastaria where you might see people of all kinds and demure. From most typical to the most extraordinary.

Yet, all the heads turn when the doors of the carriage open. Lady Evanora Esmeray steps out, dressed in a simple, form fitting a-line ivory silk dress with long sleeves and rectangle neckline. There was simple lace design but no jewels, white heels and a few accessories adoring her. Her hair elegantly pulled back into a bun with a huge ivory cartwheel hat hiding her from the prying eyes.

Lady Esmeray might be the only person to make the capitol stop and watch. Some say second only to the Imperial family and some say first, but it's best to leave the debate to the experts.

She walks away from the carriage and precedes mind her own business to elude the eyes, which oddly worked, before she turned her direction and walked toward me. Evanora lifted her head as her mauve eyes met mine, leaving me marveled even though I have seen them before.

And it makes me wonder,

Is it those eyes that draw me towards her every single time?