Three carriages bearing the crest of House Elfred rolled to a halt before what could only be described as a fortress. Calling it a "house" would have been laughable—its towering stone walls loomed like an unshakable bastion, their battlements bristling with centuries of pride and war.
The carriages stopped in perfect unison, the creak of leather harnesses fading into the low murmur of the gathered nobility. Today was no ordinary visit; this was the prelude to a high-stakes peace meeting between two nations long steeped in blood and suspicion.
Everyone was here to display loyalty to the royal family—or at least, to wear the mask of it. Beneath silks and smiles, every household carried its own private ambitions, as sharp and dangerous as hidden daggers. The royal family knew it, of course, yet they had no choice but to host such gatherings. Appearances, after all, were the currency of power.
Somehow, it had been the Clastrus Kingdom that had first petitioned for this meeting.
Inside the second carriage, Rubina Elfred sat across from her butler, the enigmatic woman known only as Darkness.
"Darkness, do you know why the Clastrus Kingdom requested this peace meeting?"
No one else had been able to give her an answer, but Rubina knew the servant network could carry whispers from the deepest halls to the quietest kitchens—and if anyone had caught such whispers, it would be Darkness.
Darkness tilted her head slightly, as though weighing whether to speak.
"Hmm… I don't know."
Rubina's shoulders fell in disappointment, but before she could look away, Darkness added:
"However—the Emperor didn't initiate it. The Princess of Clastrus forced his hand."
Rubina blinked, surprised.
"Wow… such a kind-hearted princess—"
"Two hours standing like a statue," Darkness interrupted flatly.
Rubina's eyes widened.
"What? Why?"
"Because you seem to have forgotten who this Princess is—and since when can an ordinary princess compel an Emperor?"
Memories stirred uncomfortably. Rubina had heard the stories. The "Monster Princess" of Clastrus—young, untamed, and terrifyingly powerful. It was said she had single-handedly shattered an Alzeder Kingdom army, and that only the might of the Zeldard family's master warriors, strategists, and wizards had stopped her rampage. She was their age—perhaps younger—and yet her name already inspired fear in seasoned generals.
A faint chill crept into Rubina's stomach.
"And… we have to meet her?"
"Don't worry. I'll be there with you."
Rubina's pride prevented her from admitting the comfort she felt at those words, but her silence spoke enough.
---
The golden afternoon sun spilled over the sprawling estate of House Zeldard as the Elfred family stepped down from their carriages. The crimson-and-silver banners of the warrior house snapped in the wind, casting flickers of color across the vast courtyard.
Lord and Lady Elfred moved toward their peers, entering the cluster of high nobles already locked in polite, strategic conversation.
The courtyard itself was a marvel. Carved stone pillars stood like silent sentinels, while enchanted torches burned steady blue flames unaffected by the breeze. Servants moved with the precision of soldiers, seeing to the smallest detail of the gathering.
Rubina made her way toward a knot of noble ladies—her allies, acquaintances, and those she intended to influence before the evening was done.
Unseen by most, but felt by many, Darkness walked among them.
Dressed in a tailored obsidian suit of spider silk, her aura suppressed to a razor-thin edge, she moved like a living shadow. The moment one's eyes tried to fix on her, she seemed to vanish into the flow of the crowd. Yet she drew attention effortlessly; people noticed her without knowing why.
---
At the center of it all stood Lady Selphira Zeldard, heir to the house. Clad in ceremonial crimson-and-silver warrior robes, her fiery red hair bound in a battle braid, she radiated a raw, disciplined power. Her amber eyes scanned the courtyard like a hawk searching for its next target.
When she spotted Darkness, her lips curved into a grin—part challenge, part invitation.
"You came."
Darkness bowed slightly.
"Lady Selphira. I, Darkness—servant of House Elfred and personal butler to Lady Rubina—greet you."
Selphira stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper only Darkness could hear.
"You're more than that. Why lower yourself?"
Darkness said nothing. This was not the place for certain truths. Selphira knew her role tonight; as heir to Zeldard, she had to play the perfect host, flawless in conduct, untouchable in dignity.
That didn't mean she couldn't make her own entertainment.
"Let's get along. I have so much to discuss with you," she said, suddenly taking Darkness by the arm.
"Lady Selphira, I must remain with my lady—"
"You must see the flowers I've cultivated in the garden."
The tone made it clear it wasn't a request. Bound by both duty and etiquette, Darkness allowed herself to be drawn away.
'If I refuse, things could escalate,' she thought. Still, her attention lingered toward where Rubina now stood among her peers.
Rubina might not be seeking trouble tonight.
But trouble, Darkness knew, had a way of finding her.