The melody of the harp wafted over the quiet voices and distinct sounds of utensils clinking against dishes and bowls. The crystal light lanterns hanging down from the high ceiling of the restaurant were dimmed, and well-dressed servers zig-zagged around the small tables with trays of small, elaborate plates.

Henry had been recommended the restaurant by wife-devotee, the Earl of Braniff, Soraya's brother-in-law. He assured Henry it was the most romantic restaurant in the city, which was a bold claim considering they were in the largest city in the continent.

So far, the food was good. Not the best he'd had, but delicious and with a strong southern Dareisol flavor. His and Elka's table was surrounded by small square tables with other couples having a romantic night out.

In the center of their table was a small flickering lantern, and across from him was Elka. Both were dressed far too casually for the restaurant, but as the reservations had been made, and Henry was Henry Atractas of that Atractas family, they were welcomed with open arms. It also helped that the restaurant was partially owned by an acquaintance - the Crown Prince Consort.

That's why it was named Ale-Jo, which was short for 'Of Beloved Johanna' in the local language.

"I knew I shouldn't have ordered sea bass when we are not next to the sea...." He heard Elka's quiet, critical murmur and chuckled.

"It shouldn't take longer than a day and the fish are either brought in live or frozen," Henry whispered back. His lamb was excellent in comparison.

Elka wrinkled her nose. "It's not as good as back home."

Back home was in Carthage Harbor. Being on the water, the sea food was extremely fresh. It was not unheard of to buy fish off a boat in the morning and cook it for lunch. Henry cut the remaining portion of his lamb in half and brought it across the table to put on her plate.

"Medium-rare, spit roasted, like you like it." He watched her eyes widen and her lips pull into a smile as her sun kissed cheeks blushed.

"Thank you...."

"I can order you more sides, if you'd like," Henry said.

She shook her head. She looked across the table at him. "Will you be hungry?"

He almost wanted to laugh. How could he be hungry after they walked through a row of renowned baking and patisserie streets, and tried whatever seemed appealing? Elka's eyes were bigger than her stomach, and as a result, ordered more than she could eat. Most of the pastries that she only took a bite of went to Henry, so he wasn't hungry to begin with.

There was a paper bag in the coat room at the front of the restaurant that had the untouched pieces that were being donated to Effie and Ash.

"I won't be, don't worry. Go ahead and eat." He gave her a doting, encouraging smile and Elka picked up her knife and fork. She dug into her food as Henry took a sip of wine.

The ambiance of the restaurant wasn't bad, but it felt a bit too confining. It was dark and there weren't many windows. Perhaps it was because he spent his youth in Ashtar's capital, Ridua, which was usually hot and dry. Temperatures only dropped at night, and it was only during their 'winter', that it was really cold. As a result, the homes of wealthy people had many pavilions with entire walls opening up to a courtyard to let in the air, giving off a spacious, bright feeling.

Even in Carthage Harbor, each room had windows, the upper floors had skylights, and they spent a lot of time on the roof.

"That's what's missing."

Elka looked up and swallowed a piece of lamb. "What's missing?"

"The view," Henry replied, putting down his wine glass. "When we're home and we go out to eat, don't most restaurants have some sort of view? You can sit outside or by a window to watch the sea or the plaza below?"

Effie's favorite place to hang out with her friends was on the small balcony of the tea house, overlooking a busy street and plaza.

Elka's brows rose and she looked around. "Now that you mention it, it does seem quite...restricting." She glanced back at him, leaning forward and lowering her voice. "Should we have gone to the tea house instead?"

Henry let out a low laugh and shook his head. "The tea house isn't exactly the most romantic place."

"Oh, don't tell me you haven't noticed," Elka said, drawing her head back and grinning. "A lot of couples go to your family's teahouses. Here and in Carthage Harbor, to meet up and have meals."

He shook his head to dismiss the idea. "The tea houses don't serve full meals like this. We had a long day and deserve a nice dinner."

Elka opened her mouth and paused. She furrowed her brows. "You know, I thought your brother was going to join us for dinner."

Henry almost rolled his eyes. "Knowing him, he's either lost in buying raw materials or he found a quest that he's going to sneak off and do."

She raised a brow. "And you're not concerned?" He gave her a knowing look in response and she let out a heavy breath. "You're right. This is your brother...likely the best mage of this generation." Henry opened his mouth and she quickly cut him off with a grin. "And don't worry, I won't tell him that to his face. I know you don't want his ego to swell."

He chuckled and raised his brows. "Thank you for your consideration."

"Young Master." Henry turned his head to look up at one of the restaurant hosts who'd come to his table. The middle-aged man wore an apologetic look. "I am sorry to bother you during your meal, but there is a gentlemen outside who says it is urgent."

Henry drew his head back and frowned. He glanced at Elka, who slowly chewed as she watched with concern. "What is the gentleman's name?"

"He says his name is Ash Atractas."

"Short silver hair and glasses?"

"Yes, Young Master."

"I see. Tell him to wait." He turned back to his meal and Elka sighed. She reached across the table to squeeze his hand.

"Henry."

He took a deep breath and tightened his lips into a line before taking his wine glass once more and finishing its contents. "Fine." He squeezed Elka's hand in return before pulling away. "I'll be just a moment."

She nodded in approval as he rose from his seat. He placed his napkin on the table and followed the host to the front of the store. Henry didn't stop to get his coat as he stepped outside.

Ash was waiting under the overhang above the door and turned his head when he heard the door open. His lips immediately frowned, showing clear annoyance.

"I have been looking for you all afternoon," he said as he came forward. "I tried to get the ravens to find you, but they just kept flying in circles."

"Huh...." Henry furrowed his brows. "That's strange." Not really. He'd told one raven to keep Ash away until that evening, unless it was an emergency. He supposed the ravens and Ash had different definitions of emergencies.

"I knew you two would go to dinner, so I asked around and went to the most cliched, overpriced restaurant known for romantic dinners in the city," Ash told him. Henry narrowed his eyes. Ash waved his hand towards the door. "Not surprised I'd find you here-"

"What do you want?" Henry cut him off and motioned for him to step further away from the restaurant so as not to make it awkward for the doormen.

Ash took a deep breath. "I ran into someone from one of the adventure parties I temp-ed for."

Henry let out a heavy breath. "Again? How many different parties have you taken a part-time job for?"

"A lot, I'm popular and have excellent ratings," Ash said with a scoff. He shook his head. "That's not the point. Reggie came to the capital to enroll in the music conservatory. During this time, the rest of his party was going to continue adventuring while he was in school, and once he completes his study in three years, he planned to rejoin and continue. On the way here, one of the party members got into a fight with the other, resulting in her quitting the adventure party and joining another one."

Henry nodded, keeping up so far. "All right, but I don't see how that would involve you. Do they want you to replace them?"

"No, since she left, the rest of the party didn't know she rage-quit until they went to the Guild. They waited for her to return to talk to her and ask what was going on, but the party she left with arrived without her."

Henry's irate expression slowly melted into a frown. "Missing person?"

"Missing persons," Ash replied with a wince. "The party suspected that something was wrong and went after her. No one has contacted Reggie since."

"Where did they go?"

"Seni Mountain Range."

Henry drew his head back. "That's two days on horseback from here."

Ash nodded. "And that's not all."

Henry took a deep breath. "And it gets worse...."

Ash winced. "The party that she disappeared from had gone to a fairy spring."

"What-"

"And they got the fairy spring water." That meant the party was successful, meaning that they must've paid a price for it.

Henry swallowed hard. "What price did they pay?"

"It was not disclosed."

"Then, how much was the reward?" The more potent and expensive the price for the fairy spring water, the higher the reward.

"I checked the original posting. A million and a half demas for a vial the size of Effie's pinky. It could've been negotiated for more."

Henry felt his body chill. That much money for such a small amount of fairy spring water meant one thing: it was very potent for healing, or it could bring back the near dead. The price was heavy.

"Then they're right to be worried," Henry said in a tight voice. "Did Reggie ask you for assistance?"

Ash nodded. "He hadn't heard from them and was growing frantic. He's one person, and a bard with low combat ability. He needed help and I was the only person he could think of. He was at the Guild to send a message to me."

Henry closed his eyes. On the one hand, this would delay their plans. He'd need to notify Nera, tell them to go ahead, and then meet up with them. He'd also have to arrange for different transportation to Shae.

He looked at his brother's worried face and released a low breath.

On the upside, they still had time before the Invitational.

Henry conceded and nodded. "Did he post a quest?"

"Yes."

"All right," Henry said. "Include my name and accept. Tell Reggie to meet us at the teahouse at dawn." He stepped back and patted Ash's shoulder. "The sooner we start, the sooner we finish."

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Though he had much to do before dawn, Henry still took his time with Elka, and explained Ash's emergency.

"If I wasn't leaving, I'd go with you for added support," Elka told him with a slight frown. The situation seemed dire and the more skilled people the better considering the unknown, but she couldn't temporarily deflect from her family's army.

"Ash and I aren't helpless. My main concern is actually finding them." The Seni Mountain Range wasn't large, especially considering the mountain range that came after it, but, searching it would still be a challenge due to its unique jagged, and numerous, mountains.

It wasn't affected by Dareisol's development through the ages due to its difficulty to farm or build on. The valleys were narrow and there were many streams, pools, and caves, some with water fed from the underground river.

It was known as a hot spot for fairy springs, though Henry wouldn't consider those beings in the springs typical fairies. Ash told him that the Traceras Clan books didn't call them fairies. That was a recent term, and one that seemed to soften their identity and make them gentler and appealing to humans.

The Traceras Clan books classified them as mim spirits, or spirits that gave a piece of their power in exchange for something of value to a mortal. They weren't technically classified as good or bad spirits, but how they were often used tended to lean towards bad.

Elemental spirits like Raiju and Naali did not have good opinions on mim spirits.

"Rebranding themselves as 'fairies' is an excellent public relations move," Simir even quipped. "They become whimsical, harmless creatures instead of near-demons lying in wait for one's soul, if they could bargain so."

Before the sun rose, both brothers were awake. Ash had already called for the horses to be brought while Henry sent a message to Nera informing them of the sudden change of plans.

"Did you inform Momma?" Ash asked as he tucked some slips into his pocket.

"I did," Henry replied as he closed the door behind them and made their way to the stairs. "I also asked for help."

"Help?" Ash raised a brow and followed behind him.

Henry took long, swift strides forward. "She's the greatest beast master in the world. If anyone can utilize the eyes of animals, it is Auntie," Henry replied. He looked over his shoulder and smirked at his brother. "Don't you wish you could do that?"

"I admit, it has some benefits during particular times," Ash said with a small nod of agreement. "But between greatest beast master and greatest mage, I'd rather have the latter."

Henry chuckled and looked ahead. "Well, when the inevitable conflict arrives, we'll undoubtedly be glad of that."

The teahouse was still closed, but the exit of the property above it was separate. It opened into the side street, where the groom had brought two horses, already packed with supplies.

Ash looked around and then up at the sky. In the horizon, there was a thin sliver of orange indicating the arrival of the dawn. "He should be here soon."

Henry let out a small hum of agreement and checked the horses and their saddles and packs. When satisfied, he thanked the groom and dismissed them.

"He's a bard, you said? Is he any good?"

"Good is subjective."

"So, no."

Ash rolled his eyes. "I don't think he's realized it himself, but I have. Reggie has clear energy channels and a disposition for air."

"Air?" Henry raised a brow. "That's ideal for bards."

"Hmm...yes, but he's never had formal training and bard is not a class that is often taught. To gain some mastery and maximum effectiveness, he needs a master."

Henry sighed. "And exactly how many people are considered master bards?"

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Ash winced. "Few. If you check with the Guild, the number of bards that are S-class or above can be counted on one hand."

"And how do you know that?"

"Since I had music lessons since I was a child, I considered the bard class at one point, but it's not very popular. Most parties can go without one," Ash admitted. "Although, a powerful one can make a great difference. The music conservatory here has two master bards. Reggie is in the right place."

"It certainly saved him from whatever happened to his friends."

"And his brother," Ash reminded him. He looked down the street and Henry followed his gaze. The silhouette of a man on a horse was approaching. Sticking out from above his shoulder was the outline of the neck of a lute. "If you were lost, I'd go find you."

Henry nodded. "And if you were lost, I'd find you, too."

Ash chuckled and looked back at him. "You sound confident. What if you couldn't find me?"

Heny met his eyes. "If I can't find you, then it means I'm dead."

Ash's smug smile faded a bit. He pulled his lips into a tight, acknowledging line and nodded. "As long as you know, you will always come," Ash said in a quiet voice using Ashtari. "Second Brother knew that. Third Brother knew that. We all do."

Henry's eyes reddened for a moment. When he heard Arunsha had had an accident, despite being told to stay, he went.

When Laheran had slipped into a coma just before death, Henry had sneaked into his room to comfort both him and his mother. The eldest son always came for his siblings not only because of the duty as the oldest child, or as heir to the throne, but he knew very well at an early age that their father wouldn't come, so someone had to.

"For the others, I can only hope I arrive sooner."

"As long as you arrive," Ash replied. "When I was hiding when we fled, I was never afraid that you wouldn't find me. Brother always finds me, is what I held on to." He looked back ahead, towards Reggie's approaching figure. "I was afraid you had died."

"Ash! Good morning!" Reggie prepared to dismount, but Henry stopped him.

"Stay on the horse. Ash, mount. Let's go." Henry gave his brother a nod. Ash grabbed the reins of his horse and climbed up.

"Reggie, let me introduce you. This is my older brother, Henry."

"Young Master." Reggie gave him a small bow of his head, aware of their family's wealth and status.

Henry returned a small nod. "Call me Henry, Reggie. I'm sorry to hear about your brother and friends. We'll do our best to find them."

"Thank you." Reggie's eyes were red and there were dark circles beneath them.

Henry led his horse forward without a word and the other two followed behind him. "Ash told me the details of the quest. I've reached out to a beast master for assistance in using animals to help track your party."

"Will this beast master be able to help?" Reggie asked. He looked at Ash, who gave him a helpless shrug.

"A beast master is probably the best person to help at this time. She will help," Ash said, confident. His reassurance seemed to relax Reggie.

"For now, we'll go towards the Seni Mountain Range. She works quickly and hopefully by the time we reach the base of the range, we will have some word," Henry said.

"Will they meet us there?" Reggie asked.

"No," Henry replied. "But their...familiar, if you will, should be there to guide us."

"Looking over what we found from the Guild, it looks like the party that Brenda joined is rated quite high. Most, if not all of the quests they completed were dangerous...extremely risky, even from the start," Ash said. "You said that Alana told you there were four people in the party who returned."

"Yes," Reggie said with a nod. "A fighter, a ranger, an alchemist, and a former thief turned fighter."

"I traced their history. The alchemist is a new addition," Ash told him. "Only in the last three years. Previously, there were five members. Before that, four, then five seven years earlier, but one thing that caught my eye was that the fighter, the ranger, and the former thief were consistent in the group. It was always after a quest that the other members 'resigned' from the party."

Reggie frowned. "That's never a good sign. Even with a core team, to have so many members falling out every few years shows lack of loyalty."

"Those who resigned never took on another quest."

Reggie snapped his head towards Ash. "What? They retired completely, then?"

"No, Reggie," Henry said ahead of them. "It means that those resigned party members likely disappeared after a quest was completed, and the resignations were filed by that core trio."

"Precisely!" Ash perked up. He looked at Reggie and smiled. "I told you my brother is very smart."

Reggie nodded his head, but remained distracted. "What does it mean if all of those people disappeared?"

"I had the same question," Ash said with wide eyes. He leaned towards Reggie. "The first time it happened; it was after a fairy spring. The second time it happened; it was after a fairy spring. Each time it happened; it was after a fairy spring exchange. In fact, the party is known, and often recommended, for fairy spring-related quests. Now, if you keep that in mind and remember that fairy springs always ask for something of equal value...."

Reggie's eyes slowly dilated as he seemed to understand what Ash was implying. He paled and his hands tightened around the reins, turning white. "They planned it?" he asked with a slight tremble in his voice. "Brenda...and those others...."

"It seems like it," Ash said.

Reggie shook his head, as if unable to accept that people would do such a cold, heartless thing as to accept members into their party only to use them in exchange for expensive magical water. "Why hasn't the Guild stopped this?"

"The Guild can't stop what they have no proof of," Henry said. "Let us hope we find that Brenda woman, and that she's alive. Maybe then, she can tell the Guild what is happening."

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"There should be the energy of a Sword of Echoes, but don't rely on it. Keep your eyes open and isolate the path of the people I described." Nera stood on the rooftop of the Snake, Scarab, and Sons tea house in Solyek Port. Surrounding her, nearly wing to wing, along the barrier around the building were birds, the majority of which were large, black ravens, including the two that followed her sons. "Void will go with you and will come to me when the quest is completed. Donut will also come as a messenger. Should there be danger, come to me. Understand?"

A cacophony of chirping and squawking was heard to confirm the understanding of her orders. She nodded and threw her arm up. Flapping and feathers filled the air as the birds flew up in all directions before flying towards the Seni Mountain Range.

"Momma," Effie said from the side next to Commodore. "Do you think they'll find Second Brother's friends?"

Nera wore a serious look and she let out a low breath. "I don't know if they'll find them alive, but at the very least, they can be traced to their last known location," Nera said. "The rest depends on their skill and luck."

"Brothers?"

"The missing party's." Nera took a deep breath and turned around. "My baby, since our situation has changed a bit, we might as well go directly to Shae from here."

Effie nodded and followed her mother downstairs. The family's new carriage was ready, along with some supply wagons, and guards. The head of the guards was an old Lunapsar man Nera hadn't expected to join their escort.

As the mother and daughter settled in to eat their lunch, she sent for the old man.

Before their food was served, a knock came from the door of the private room.

"Madam, General Tamang is here," a woman's voice speaking in Iverian Common said from the other side.

Nera raised her eyes. "I will see him."

The door slid open and a tall, burly man with silver hair in a tight braid down his back entered. He stood to attention in dark green uniform with dark gray accents. The door closed behind him, and it was only then that he bent his knee and bowed his head, putting his hands together in front of him as he did.

"Greetings to Her Majesty, Queen Annaneraka. Your servant awaits your order." His low, graveling voice greeted her in Lunapsar. "And greetings to Honored Princess Euphemia."

"Hi, Grandpa Aneel," Effie replied cheerfully, but continued to brush her ice wolf by the window.

"Rise, General," Nera replied much more formally. The old man rose to his feet with ease. He was older than her mother by ten years, but didn't look a day over forty, considering Lunapsar aged slowly in their adulthood. "There is a change of plans. Henry and Ash accepted a quest. An emergency, as friends of Ash have gone missing."

"Do Their Highnesses require assistance, Your Majesty?"

"Not at this moment, but we will leave directly for Shae instead of returning to the capital, as planned," Nera told him. "I entrust you to coordinate the journey's necessary adjustments. We will leave as scheduled after meeting with my guests here."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Also, regarding the reports of the unified territory, my will was clear that we will proceed with the arrangements made by my mother. If they do not agree, seize each king and prince's capital, and detain the ruling family," Nera told them. "If they did not honor the agreement to return the territory, then there is no need for them to keep their positions. We have been more than lenient on the timeline of the transition of power. We have allowed them to keep their wealth, primary residences, and will allow them to purchase land from the kingdom in ten years. This is in no way looting them, but if they refuse, then my patience and tolerance end."

"The Council of Elders agrees with your wishes, Your Majesty," General Tamang said, standing up straight. "The east and south army have positioned themselves along the shared border with Ashtar and are not allowing any Ashtari troops into the territory during this time of transition."

Nera nodded. "Have any of them resisted this policy?"

"They have. There have been three skirmishes so far regarding their refusal to accept the policy."

"Did we win?" Effie asked, perking up.

"The Ashtari did not enter, Your Highness, so as of right now, yes," he said, his gaze softening as he looked at the little girl. "However, the situation is always changing, so we cannot be lax."

Effie nodded in agreement.

"What about news of the Smiya-Suna caravan route?"

"The north army is in position along with the Atractas army."

"Escort guards." Nera corrected him gently. "Let's not scare everyone by revealing that all the guards we have form an army and all our merchant sailors are a navy. The less it's obvious, the better. I don't want our enemies to know until it's too late."

General Tamang gave her a single nod. "Yes, Your Majesty. General Rai will make arrangements as you ordered."

Nera gave him a nod and dismissed him. The food arrived shortly after, as if waiting for the General to first leave before being brought into the booth. As the mother and daughter sat across from each other, Effie looked across the table.

"Momma, after Brother takes back his throne, are we really going to go back to Carthage Harbor?" she asked in a quiet voice.

Nera raised a brow. "You want to stay with your eldest brother?"

Effie scrunched her face and shook her head. "No, but he will be lonely."

Nera smiled slightly. "Just Henry?"

"I'll be a little lonely, too," Effie admitted. She fidgeted in her seat and looked at the door. "Are you going to go to the territory to become queen?"

"Not for a while," Nera said. "Aside from the Council of Elders and our generals, we remaining royal family are kept hidden to avoid being targeted while we're working on finalizing the resettlement. Until then, the Council of Elders rules on my behalf." She paused. "Or rather, I'm delegating them."

Effie's eyes brightened. "Then, you'll stay with me?"

"Of course, my baby. I will stay with you." She reached across the table to cup her daughter's face. "And your Second Brother will also be nearby."

Effie hummed and nodded. "Momma, was it always your plan to settle in Carthage Harbor?"

"Considering what needed to be done, yes."

"What about before?" Effie asked.

Nera paused. Her eyes were fixed down on her food as her brows knit. "My plans had...changed. Multiple times." She gave her daughter a weak smile.

Effie squinted. "Is it true there was a man you loved when you were young?"

Nera nearly dropped her fork. Her head shot up. "Who told you about that...wait...." She narrowed her eyes. "Was it your godmother?"

Effie drew her lips inward and bit them and looked away. "…and Empress Grandma. Brother also mentioned someone who was a pickle."

"Fickle." Nera sighed and put down her knife to rub her head. "When I was your Second Brother's age...no, younger, I got involved with a young scholar who was away from his home, but things happened and we could not maintain our relationship."

That was the most simplified explanation. Got involved with someone really meant fell in love with and was engaged to marry, and the things that happened involved being drugged and forced into a royal marriage while the man she was engaged to married her half-sister.

But a child didn't need to know such in-depth details.

"Oh." Effie continued to eat. Nera thought that was the end of that until her daughter asked another question. "What happened to the young scholar?"

"He had to return home," Nera replied. "You see, he was the second son from a family of...scholars and ministers. He had no plans to become a minister or carry on his family's position, as he had an older brother." She let out a low, tired breath. "Unfortunately, his older brother and sister-in-law died. It was a...hunting accident. We received the news while in West Wind Valley and he had to return to Ashtar."

"And you went with him?" Effie asked.

Nera nodded her head. "I went with him. His family knew he wanted to marry me, and they were truly kind, Effie. They were a small family, but they were good people. I did my best to support him and his family throughout the grieving of his brother. I even cared for his nephew for a period of time. He was made an orphan because of his parents' deaths. I would stay with him, coax him to eat, sing to him...I taught him Lunapsar." She smiled slightly at the memory of the child who was Henry's age, though when she first saw him, he had grown so thin, she thought he was younger. She was close to the boy who also affectionately called her Auntie. "They were more hospitable to me than your grandfather's family."

Effie scrunched her face once more at this. "Grandfather's family doesn't sound nice."

"They're not." She didn't deny it. "But at the very least, your grandfather agreed to the engagement. The marriage preparation customs were followed. We even had a date settled after the mourning period...but then, I ended up marrying your Second Brother's father, and here we are."

"Were you sad?" Effie asked.

Nera was quiet for a moment. Sad would not be enough to describe what it felt when she woke up in a daze to the sound of trumpets and drums passing by the walls of her father's family's estate. Her door was locked and servants she was unfamiliar with would not obey her orders to let her out.

The trumpets and drums had been part of the procession of her half-sister's wedding to her fiancé. They told her he had agreed to the marriage willingly and did not want to see her once it was settled.

"I was disappointed." Nera brought some food to her mouth and chewed it. "And sad."

"Do you miss him?" Effie continued her questioning, but Nera didn't stop her. She didn't want to lie to her children, but she would share things provided they were appropriate.

"The last time I saw him was at a new year celebration, in which many of the ministers and their families attended a festival. I only saw him from across the gardens...." She had been relegated to an area with the rest of the Court of Imperial Wives, heavily guarded with their children, who were also confined with them.

Ministers and their families were paraded past them to exchange new year's greetings. The then Prime Minister, her ex-fiancé's father, greeted them with his son, and then Nera caught his eyes.

The lapis blue eyes of the royal family were rare and said to be eyes inherited by royal family members, as most Ashtari had dark eyes. Her ex-fiancé's eyes were burgundy. He once told her it was a sign of their original tribe. Aside from his mother, everyone else in his family had burgundy eyes, including his nephew. Curly, thick black hair, and burgundy eyes were signatures of the Heigoren Clan.

Her mercury gray eyes met his under the lantern lights. His expression was cold and detached. He was looking at her, but not at her. He'd grown out some more of his facial hair, making him look more mature and like a young minister following his father's footsteps. He wasn't the young man she'd fallen in love with years prior.

Not that she resented that. Time changed people, and that was a fact. She herself had sharpened into adulthood. Baby fat was lost, features became more defined, strength increased, and senses heightened. Even the Emperor's brother called her the most beautiful woman in the Court of Imperial Wives.

But her ex-fiancé had looked at her as if she were a stranger. At that time, she wanted some sort of recognition from him. To see longing at missing her or shame for marrying another without telling her. To see something.

But his face was blank.

Her heart had turned cold and she looked away, hugging a young Ash against her as the next set of ministers and their families arrived for greetings.

"You sound like you miss him," Effie said, tilting her head to the side and drawing her out of her memories. "It's okay."

"I don't miss him, exactly," Nera told her daughter. "I miss the promise of what could've been." She smiled and continued to eat. "But I don't regret having your second brother or finding you. Life is one unexpected event after another, and we can only try to prepare to have the best advantage in dealing with those unexpected events. That is why we should think beyond ourselves, beyond what we can see, and always be prepared."

Effie nodded. "I will work hard to support my brothers and they will work hard to support me."

Nera chuckled. "I know you will."

"Momma, if Brother returns to his throne, will you see that man again?" Effie asked, as if suddenly realizing something. Nera raised a brow, but nodded.

"That's likely, depending on how the court ends up." Nera reached across the table to wipe her daughter's face. "Finish eating. The guards will take you to buy the snacks for the journey after lunch. Remember, not just sugary treats."

"I know, I know...." Effie twisted her face away and quickened her speed. She finished before her mother and Nera allowed her to leave with Commodore.

Nera checked the time and finished her meal before calling someone to clear the table and prepare some tea.

At the designated time, someone knocked on the door once more.

"Madam, a Mr. Heiartsi is here."

"I will see them." The door opened and a thin old man walked in. He had a tired, wrinkled, sun-darkened face, and white hair. He prepared to kneel down, but was stopped by Nera's hand. She looked at the host by the door and gave them a nod. The door closed again.

"Good afternoon, Your...Madam." The old man corrected himself as he bent down. His Iverian Common was heavily accented.

"You should know who I am. Don't kneel or bow. I am Madam Atractas," Nera replied in a firm voice, shifting to Ashtari. She motioned for him to take a seat across from her. "I hope you are well, Mr. Heiartsi. I am pleased you came."

The old man took a few hesitant steps forward and sat down. Nera had removed her veil after she first entered the private room and hadn't put it back on.

"I heard rumors," the old man said as his eyes squinted and began to grow moist. "They whispered that you were alive, but no one believed it."

The corner of Nera's lip curled up. "I'm not the only one who is alive."

The old man's eyes widened. His hands on the table clenched into fists. "His Fourth Highness?" His voice was quiet, but shook, laced with hope.

Nera answered with a nod. The old man shut his eyes and lifted his hand to cover his face.

"Prince Ashan...?" The old man swallowed hard and grit his teeth, trying to keep back tears. "A prince...a real prince...he lives?"

"Princes." Nera corrected him between his choked cries. "Plural."

The old man lowered his hand slowly and lifted his wrinkled face to look at her. "Plural?" He lowered his eyes, appearing to take in the information before looking towards her stomach. "Did Your Highness have a second?"

Nera chuckled and shook her head. "No, but I took the first."

"Took the...." The old man didn't finish his sentence. His breathing stopped as he sat there, looking at the neutral-faced Nera. She watched his face loosen as tears pooled in his eyes. "Prince Hedrajan?" He sounded breathless. "He's alive?"

Nera took a deep breath. "Lord Heiartsi, Marquis of the Spear, I know you came because I asked the others to summon you to me," she said as she placed her hands on the table. "Ashtar is reaching where it should not, plunging the empire further into poverty. The Emperor and his son are a danger to the empire."

The old man nodded his head, acknowledging every word she said with a heartbroken sob. "The favored ministers only gain more wealth...those of us who opposed were sent out on the guise of bringing money into the Empire, but with no support, what do we have to negotiate with? And our families are held hostage while the eldest of us are almost exiled out of the country. And the common people...." He shook his head. "We never recovered from the famine. The favored ministers continue to take land and make indebted people, which they then exploit. Your Highness, you have not seen the damage their negligence has done."

Nera took a deep breath. "But I will," she said in a firm voice. "We cannot allow this to continue."

The old man's hands trembled. "Will he return? Your Highness, will he return?" he asked, shaking.

Nera looked at the old man. "Do you wish him to?"

He nodded, leaning forward. "When he was born, the holy fire blessed him. Selected him as heir apparent. To this day, the holy fire has not acknowledged another, and is weakening. Everyone says that this is a show of disapproval from the gods; they do not accept Prince Eskander. The older he becomes, the more power he has, and the more Ashtar is made to suffer to support him. He is not a ruler, Your Highness. He is a selfish, power-hungry threat that will destroy the empire. Ashtar needs its rightful Crown Prince."

Nera took in his words and nodded. "Will you swear a blood oath of loyalty to him?"

Without hesitation, the old man nodded. "Your Highness, I did so when our Arunsha was a child...and I will do so again. The First Prince taking power from those who harmed them...it is what Arunsha would've wanted. It is what would avenge him." His voice continued to shake at the mention of his deceased grandson's name.

"Very well." Nera took a deep breath, her hands still flat on top of the table. She lowered her head, bowing until her head touched the wood table top, humbling herself. "Marquis of the Spears, Lord Patriarch Heiartsi. His Royal Highness Prince Hedrajan Heidar III, son of Lady Saphira, the last daughter of Traceras, rightful Crown Prince of Ashtar, blessed by the Goddess of the Sun and the Holy Fire of which she sent, asks for your support and the support of the Heiartsi Clan in taking the throne of Ashtar."

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