'I knew you'd figure out the trick. You aren't the Crown Prince for nothing, Zerath Rudaheim~'
A chuckle rang sweetly through his lips.
'I know, I know, you'd say this is such a big risk. What if I got caught? But I couldn't help it. This letter was a way to convey how much I miss you. How would I have let this chance go?'
The edge of the scroll faintly crumpled under the pressure of his fingers. His lips quivered, thinking all kinds of beautiful expressions etched upon her face as she wrote this letter.
'I miss you. Even though it has hardly been a few days, this distance…feels only more bludgeoning. Everything is so new here. It's the first time I've stepped foot in Orseth. You know, it reminded me of Casca. It occurred to me how our towns and people are not so different, after all. I wish I could scream in front of everyone how wonderful the demons are!'
He laughed.
'I know you must be worried about my well-being, so let me assure you that I'm fine. Elvin is a little prick but nothing too difficult for this mighty Clairette Emberlain to handle hahah! Aeren is quite the rigid one, though. And too sharp! Ugh, he annoys me so much. The only ray of hope in this palace is Queen Regina. She's the sweetest and the warmest! She loves Clairette so dearly. Now I wonder…if I'm stealing love that was never meant for me.'
A faint light flickered across his eyes.
'But I'll be fine! I'm always alert and cautious, and I'll take good care of myself. There're so many things I want to tell you about. Things are moving so quickly I can barely wrap my head around it, and this letter would fall too short. But do know that I'm doing well. I miss my little sunshine Eurus too! Hope he's playing a lot and eating lots of good food!'
Eurus nodded hard.
'And Zerath, I want you to do well too. No overworking to death! And no falling weak before Queen Veloria. I know you respect her, but you must always stand tall and proud because you're a good demon and a kind Crown Prince. I love you, Zerath.'
A quiet breath of longing escaped his lips in silence. The letter trembled in the grip of his hands, and he closed his eyes.
I Iove you too, Vivia. I miss you too.
Opening them again, he observed Eurus's shoulders droop with sadness. Smiling, he ruffled the boy's hair.
"We'll meet her again. Definitely."
A fog of worry then clouded his eyes, thinking about the unknown waters she would have to swim through ahead.
Be safe, Vivia. Please be safe.
—
Emberlain.
As soon as Vivia and Sierra made their presence known at the Grisbane family's tea party, every gaze in the room instantly fell upon them. The daughters of the respectable noble families swallowed a gulp, consumed by their shadows - though some of those gazes carried a sharp scrutiny.
Vivia, still getting used to the royal etiquettes, was afraid to make even the tiniest slip. She didn't care how people saw her, but a burning wish remained torched in her heart - against a stain appearing upon Clairette's name.
Are they staring at me or the plethora of knights behind me?
Some ladies stared with a not-so-subtle disdain, while some glanced with pity. It was obvious how their courteousness was surface-level at best. Whether inside the palace or outside, nobody held Clairette in much high regard.
"Long live Princess Clairette."
A woman of high stature and polished etiquettes gingerly approached them, dropping a graceful curtsy.
"I feel honored by Princess Clairette's and Lady Sierra's presence at my humble tea party."
Vivia arched her brow, finally face-to-face with Raffert's wife. "Lady Claudia. Thank you for the invitation."
"No, no, Princess! You don't have to thank me. How can a tea party be complete without your presence?"
But it seems like many ladies here would prefer for me to leave, she coughed.
Sierra smiled warmly. "We've brought some presents for you."
"That wasn't really necessary, Lady Sierra…" Her greeting smile shifted to something closer to anxiety.
"It's okay, Claudia."
A man approached her side and smiled. "We shouldn't be rude to them. They're our esteemed guests, after all."
The man lifted his gaze towards Vivia. "I apologize on Claudia's behalf. She's too modest. But then again, that's why I love her so much."
Vivia stared at him in a cutting silence. A layer of frost formed in her eyes, yet her lips never wavered from their pleasant smile.
"Mr. Raffert Lowe. Finally, we meet."
"Indeed, my lady. We heard of the attempt on your life, and Claudia and I feel so relieved to see you safe."
She smiled. "Yes, I'm safe and sound and…alive, which probably won't be good news for some people."
Raffert blinked, perplexed. "Apologies, but I didn't quite follow, my lady."
"You will. Soon," she cast a sidelong glance.
While Claudia prepared snacks and tea for everyone, Sierra had already gelled herself right into the atmosphere, most of the noble ladies surrounding her with zest. The other half of the crowd had gathered around her sister, Priscilla, who was happy to bask in their praises for her newly bought dress. One woman lay seemingly drunk and wasted on the couch, while another woman with a black veil upon her face held her silence as though it were as precious as gold.
With the few ladies around Vivia having talks that held no value whatsoever, she was already beginning to wish for the horse ride back to the palace.
How can these ladies talk so much? I'm feeling dizzy…
One woman intended to approach the drunk and the black-veiled woman, but another lady swiftly pulled her back.
"What are you doing?" She whispered urgently. "Stay away from them. Don't you know they're Lady Judith and Lady Melissa of the Great Three!"
"B-But everyone else is only talking to Lady Sierra and Lady Priscilla."
"Because they are royalty too. At least Lady Sierra is. We all know about Lady Melissa's family, and Lady Judith, well…needless to say has a bad reputation…"
Vivia's ears perked up at the gossip.
"She's known to crash all parties. She's a very troublesome woman who…" the lady lowered her voice further, "is eyeing the Crown Prince."
Vivia choked.
Why would she want to be with that idiot, violent brother? Is her brain not in the right place?
"Naturally, it puts Lady Sierra and her at odds. Who would bear watching another woman shamelessly seducing her husband?"
She gasped. "So why did Lady Claudia even invite her?"
"Does she have a choice? She's from the Great Three! The Grisbane family would incur their wrath if they offend her. Though the most shocking news for me is Lady Melissa attending the tea party. This family hardly attends public gatherings."
Another lady joined them, a displeased expression marred across her face. "For everyone from the Great Three and even the royal princess to attend this humble tea party…I just wonder who exactly Lady Claudia is?"
All of a sudden, a woman conversing with Priscilla let out an exclamation in a voice slightly louder than necessary, drawing the attention of the room towards her group.
"I cannot believe how Princess Clairette managed to live in the Demon Realm for so long. They're such hateful creatures!"
"They're so ugly and loathsome. Have you seen their eyes?" One woman shuddered. "My father says that they've slit pupils like wild beasts. That's so terrifying!"
"They have sharp nails too that can tear your skin apart with just one strike."
"I hear they smell dreadful because they're the creatures of the dark."
"That's not true at all." Vivia raised her palm, calmly interjecting their onslaught of curses and slander and bringing forth a steep silence.
"Demons are not ugly and loathsome. They look just like us humans. Yes, they have slit pupils, but they're not terrifying at all. They hold the same curiosity, warmth and kindness that we have. Yes, they've sharper nails, but they use it to tear into hard fruits and nuts, not human skin. They don't smell bad at all. The last one is a complete myth."
Visible layers of shock and disdain rippled across the room.
Priscilla took a step forward, smiling. "I didn't expect anything less from Princess Clairette. You've been advocating for demons all this time. I just wonder how easy it is for you to betray your own realm."
"How am I betraying my realm?"
"By singing praises of our sworn enemy," her eyes darkly narrowed.