"How was the ball?" Odessa queried later that night during dinner.

Of course, Sofia was the first to answer, "Wonderful, I had a conversation with a pair of twins, Lady Ileen and Lainey. They were very cordial."

"Ah, the twins have a very known rep for being kind, tolerant people. They're the daughters of a former lady-in-waiting of Queen Theia's, Lady Eavan. " Aira replied.

"What about their father? Was he involved with the royal family?" Sofia asked.

"Their father was the Duke of a minor duchy in Dolpinium, executed by King Iaeiros on charges of treason when they were just six years. Ever since they've been in exile at the Fealettian court with their mother." She explained.

I swirled the wooden spoon in my broth endlessly, looking down at the chunks of meat and vegetables with disengagement. I still was pondering over the events tonight. From the strange behavior of the servants and courtiers, all the way to my atrocious behavior at the end. Initially, I barely felt bad for lying nor did I feel horrible for fleeing when he asked for my name. I've lied about worse matters to mama and papa. So if I was able to lie to their faces so quickly then why not a stranger?

And yet the guilt poured in. He never intentionally did anything bad. Everything he did was with good intention in mind, making sure I was fine, inviting me to dance with him, right down to asking for my name. Yet I chose to lie about something so harmless, so simple as my name.

"Liselotte, what about you?" Aira inquired.

I shrugged, "Nothing."

Hestia gave an imperious glare, "Nothing you say? You seriously think any of us are going to fall for that half-assed answer? Try again."

I signed, the wooden spoon I was previously swirling now grating against the bowl, "That's the truth. Besides, even if I was lying to you it wouldn't matter because theoretically, I don't have to divulge anything."

"You're just one stubborn pain in the-" I heard minuscule cascades of water flow from behind Hestia, sprinkling her cropped hair in a hushed yet coltish manner.

Of course, Odessa.

"Dear little sister, there will be no need for such arbitrary antics. I'm sure she'll come around at her own pace. Now that's ethical Liselotte, is it?" She brooded, focusing her shimmery gray-blue eyes towards me.

Instinctively, I knew she was secretly encouraging me in her own astute, contorted way to share. And I learned by now that I wasn't going to get off so easy with her. She was far too knowledgeable when it came to spotting evasions of any kind. So I breathed in and out briefly, as if I were an expectant warrior before a battle, preparing to die.

"Well... I guess you could say I danced with one person. We didn't exactly introduce ourselves but..."

"Neither of you bothered introducing yourselves?" Aira piped up.

I nodded, "No, I didn't care."

"Well can you try to describe what he looked like? I'm sure at least one of us might have met him before."

I groaned in resignation, "I'm recalling from the top of my head but he was tall, that I remember, with slightly tousled blonde hair, jade green eyes, and a slight tan too."

Aira gaped at me, her jaw slackened, "Well..." She glanced at Hestia and then faced me directly, "Don't mean to get invasive but did he flirt with you?" She asked.

I felt myself heat up. Did he? As embarrassing as it was to admit, I had no clue. I was far too concentrated on my usual brooding to notice.

"Maybe he did, maybe he did not. Like I said before, I didn't give a damn. Maybe you should ask Sofia?" I replied, using the wooden spoon to ladle up as many chunks of meat and vegetables as I could.

Sofia bristled, "I'd rather you not involve me into this."

"And why is that Sofia? You're always breathing up my neck about how I'm so lazy and irresponsible. You're always speaking for me to Mrs. Harsbarry and mama. So why now? Cat got your tongue?"

She stared me down, her face neutral, though I could see she was holding a lot of her usual earnestness back, "I'm not perfect Liselotte. You forget that I'm only human. I have my flaws, I have my insecurities and I know I've made mistakes. Very foolish ones. I refuse to get involved because what you're discussing concerns you and only you. Therefore, it's not my place to speak." She broke her eye contact.

Hestia's face wavered between mine and Sofia's, albeit she kept eying Sofia more than usual. "It's fine Liselotte, you don't have to answer the question. Anyways, that description alone cements it. Congratulations, you met Prince Chariton."

I swore my world was reeling. Now that I thought about it...the smile, big limpid eyes, and blonde hair were akin to Queen Theia's, whilst the jaw and tall, muscular build resembled Bervon's. He was a physical representation of them both if you looked hard enough.

"How come none of you bothered to tell us about him before?"

Hestia put her hands up casually upon hearing my exasperated tone, "Because of Bervon. He insisted we shouldn't provide any extra information, only what you needed to know of their children for both personal and safety reasons. But technically I can say my sisters broke that rule, did they?" She shrugged, "Not that I fully agreed with his methods anyway."

"You know, Chariton and Bervon are akin to both soul and personality than either would wish to admit. It's why they always clash and quarrel with one another. It's because Chariton retains the side he hates. His more compassionate, buoyant nature, the recklessness, and unyieldingness when it comes to handling emotions." Odessa affirmed.

"And how did you come to that conclusion?" I probed.

She smirked, "Simple, doesn't take a prodigy to figure it out, especially if you pledged service to them voluntarily every day. One time, I even told him they were one and the same, two peas in a pod. And what did he do? He went berserk and lost all composure, threatening that if I dared to presume those words again, he'd ripe my hide. He even refused to speak to me for half a year."

"That's downright overkill," I remarked, shaking my head.

Odessa just gave me another one of those composed looks, "Because he knew I was right."

Hestia scowled in agreement, "It's ironic really because he was troublesome, maybe even worse himself as a child. Way too argumentative and hotblooded for his own good. And that's coming from me. So there you go. There's one little dirty secret of his you didn't know."

"Now off to bed, both of you. You'll want to be rested for what's to come tomorrow." Odessa added.

For what's to come tomorrow? I wanted to pry for more information but she just went upstairs, obviously not taking any whats or whys.

Later at night, when a waning crescent moon arrived upon the lands and the hoots of owls resounded, I lied in the bed of the guest chambers. I stared at the ceiling, reevaluating the events of the day for what had to have been the one-hundredth time. The behavior of the servants and courtiers. Or more specifically, the manner they spoke to one another. They're murmurs while they moved rigidly. I promised myself I'd find out what was causing it- and that was nothing but a rash decision of mine.

What if the Elemental Weavers were right downstairs? What if they heard me as I tiptoed downstairs? That wouldn't be good trustwise, especially after that whole ordeal with Lilith. Yet my feet twinged with so much curiosity, a hunger for answers that I couldn't ignore. So I crept out of bed, delicately, alike two meager souls in the making. I held my breath...took a hold of the doorknob, turning it until the sound of shuffling sheets came from behind.

Oh god no, please... I turned around and checked on Sofia, her silky tresses surrounding her face like faint gold flickers of the sun, her breathing as soft as a bird's hymn. Even when she was asleep, she still managed to look angelic, almost resembling a glistening jewel in a chest. I could see it now... why those snobby heirs to aristocratic family fortunes went after her. She just so happened to have the exact aura about her that they were looking for. Genteel yet still spirited and pellucid in manner. A charm one would ever get tired of staring at.

Wait, what am I saying? I slapped my forehead. I need to focus. I peeped through the small door opening, monitoring the pathway I'd have to tread down if I wanted to ever reach those stairs. The environment was surprisingly stilled and silent, other than the aflame charcoal shaded centerpiece, spewing out subtle flickers of life to the main floor.

Quietly, I tiptoed my way down, in the exact way I was taught to by Calix. The furnace was off surprisingly, making conditions around me penetratingly bleak. I grabbed my shawl from the hook, wrapping it around my shoulders and made my way to the makeshift passageway. This was essentially the sole entryway they had to their chambers, so it had to be the only exitway.

I kept going, peeking through the wooden double doors. I'd would've expected guards to be present, monitoring these halls but there wasn't. That's bizarre, no guards? Would they want to be more guarded when it came to the palace? Especially after what happened with the princess? But at the same time, it was entirely possible they were comprising for the war at hand? I walked further down the halls, examining the portraits amongst each wall. The sculptures of different gods, goddesses, hunters, and huntresses.

There was a painting depicting what resembled a ceremony of some kind, in a throne room with whom appeared to be Hazmier, holding a sword over the shoulder of Hestia, her lengthy tresses flowing amongst her back like flames. Next to Hazmier, stood who had to be his wife, Queen Mariam. Based on her unique appearance of pale blond hair and mystical sea blue eyes, possessing the unique ring of lilac which was so often broached about. She stood tall and stoic as Odessa and Aira, also with awfully lengthy hair watched from the sides.

This must be what Aira was referring to, the honor given to them only three generations before. It baffled me how they all looked exactly the same today. Save for the matching hairstyles. Aira and Hestia's hair was nowhere near their knees while Odessa's hair still went past her shoulders, but nowhere to the knees. Yet if you looked beyond it all, they were just adolescent girls, resurrected after losing everything they had. The Spring Forest, their family, even their identities. And they never gave up, pledged their lives to their service, all to prevent the same fate from happening to Eileithyia- even if it cost them their lives. And that was in a way inspiring.

Quietly, I moved along, coming across splotches of refulgent light from the left. I kept tiptoeing, still no sign of guards. So I moved forward slightly. Then, a voice stopped me straight in my tracks.

"Lord Carbrey, where is Tahan?" I heard a voice harshly demand. Tahan? Who the hell is Tahan? Nevertheless, I placed myself against the wall, far enough to escape but still near enough to listen if needed.

"Your majesty, I've sent him away for a week to infiltrate the wall up the southern north for a reason. We mustn't ever obliterate one certainty from our minds; it serves as the sole protective barrier, the one encumbrance that's kept Khthonios from destroying us years before. Not to mention, you put your faith in him, treated him well, gave him the title of spymaster and captain of the guard. Not once has he failed you."

Of course... King Bervon. Should have guessed right away from the tone. Never had I heard any mention of 'Lord Carbrey'? All I could assume was that he was some court official of some kind. Based on the way King Bervon alone was addressing him.

"Lord Carbrey, This has nothing to do with dependability. The problem is you not taking it up with the Counsel and me first. What if he was killed? What if he's abducted? That would be on you for placing him directly in the hands of our enemies so thoughtlessly, without anyone being aware." He thundered calmly. "There's already enough death ravaging us, don't you think?"

I allowed myself to shift my position, taking a good look at Carbrey. Average height, downturned hickory brown eyes, a disgustedly gloppy complexion, and a balding head. Lord Carbrey laughed superciliously, "You'll thank me later-"

Bervon grabbed Carbrey by the neck, slamming him into a nearby wall in the most tranquil way possible, watching as he sputtered incoherent wails. "You already very nearly got my son killed because of your incompetence. Who else are you trying to get killed?" But no sound other than Carbrey's panting. "No answer?" Bervon released his grip, "If I had my way, you'd be on the scaffold, with an ax looming above your neck."

Suddenly, a man who looked to be in his early twenties walked in. He was tall and sturdy, with deep-set pecan brown eyes, and a soft brown tan. His face, from what I could discern under the hood, was aciculate, keen and composed, yet had a strange warmness I couldn't quite explain. Upon entering, he premeditatedly looked up towards the two, with an indifferent, sarcastic glare. "Should've I planned my return at a more convenient time?" He took off his hood, revealing his mocha brown hair. That was none other than Tahan no doubt, based on the completely black apparel and sheathed knives at his side.

"Castonguay, you're back. Anything to report?" Lord Carbrey recomposed himself, looking down upon him. As if him nearly getting choked to death never happened.

Tahan bowed but only to King Bervon, "Your majesty, I checked every perimeter of the wall. Exceptionally, the area was depreciatingly inanimate, the land charred and a bloodbath with undead corpses."

"And where's your proof, Castonguay?" Lord Carbrey drawled.

Tahan promptly removed a black celluloid brooch, shaped in the form of a cicada with seed pearls embellished, which was cleverly disguised with his sheathed daggers. "I found this crux charm on an undead corpse, the symbol of their people on their uniform." He revealed a second and third one.

Lord Kalabhiti? The undead? I've heard about the undead plenty of times in my life but Kalabhiti? No one ever told nor warned us about that.

"Castonguay, I'm sure your sputtering nonsense about Lord Kalabhiti is pure haughtiness at it's best. Lord Kalabhiti was defeated by King Dragomir so long ago, at the cost of his demise. Instituting that he's made his return would be besmirching your majesty's great ancestor and the honor of his sacrifice."

King Bervon paced the room, something akin to uncertainty arose in a way that had my bones turning to marmalade. "What I was told on Lord Kalabhiti and the undead in my youth was from theory only, not experience. You should send those brooches to the shamans. They know more than anyone about the undead, they can check for forgery."

Tahan nodded, "Of course your majesty."

Who exactly is Lord Kalabhiti? How exactly did he and King Dragomir die? I was tempted to go ahead and ask Odessa in the morning but if I did such a thing, she'd get suspicious.

There is the Book of Guidance. Something had to be in there about the undead. Aira did mention something about storing manuscripts and books for generations. But I had to leave now. There was only so much time I could stay before they noticed me. So without hesitation, I took the same pathway back, passing through the hall of portraits and sneaking right back into bed, where Sofia still reclined.