The halls of Vaelcrest Hold bustled with activities as servants moved swiftly to tend to the needs of the royal guests and their kinsmen.
Lady Evelyne walked through the corridors with Lucien trailing behind her, his small boots making impatient taps as they walked.
"Must I come?" he grumbled for the umpteenth time.
"You must," his mother replied without breaking stride.
He sighed. He didn't see why they had to visit the Queen at all. The woman was cold, distant, and nothing like her jolly husband, the King. He couldn't put a finger on it but there was just something he didn't like about her. He glanced up at his mother's face to glean something from her expression but as usual, Lady Evelyne's face was unreadable.
Oh damn you and your pretty stoic face, mother.
He hadn't seen Sophia since the introduction which was fine with him. The last thing he wanted her to do was start showing off in front of the queen which would then lead to the queen knowing that he was manaless.
He was curious about her son, the young prince and if he had already been assessed. If he had, it was another reason for Duke Aldric to be reminded of his own son's ineptitude.
When they reached the room where the Queen was, the guards at the door straightened. At a nod from Evelyne, one stepped inside to announce their arrival. A moment later, they were ushered inside.
Queen Margaret sat near a vanity, her delicate fingers removing the last of her bejeweled earrings. Beside her on the bed, Prince Dorian was playing with a wooden horse by himself. A maid stood beside her, ready to assist, but the Queen waved her away when she saw who had come.
"Lady Evelyne," she greeted coolly, then glanced at Lucien. "And young Lord Vaelcrest."
Evelyne dipped a graceful curtsy. "Your Majesty, I came to ensure you had everything you required. You'll have to manage our humble castle. I'm sure you're used to more fancy accomodations."
Lucien looked between them in worry as he was sure that the Queen would notice the sarcastic bite in his mother's words.
However, Queen Margaret just took a long look around the room and then focused back on her with a smile. "I assure you, we are well tended. I've stayed at worse places."
Lucien squirmed as the silence stretched. He could sense the tension. It wasn't outright hostility—no, that would have been easier to deal with. It was hostility draped in niceties.
Then, the door burst open, and Sophia entered the room casually as though it was hers. Lucien was surprised at her lack of formality and was waiting for their mother to reprimand her.
"Your Majesty!" she said cheerfully, giving a quick curtsy. "Oh, I love your dress, it's so beautiful."
"Thank you, you're beautiful too," The Queen replied slowly and Lucien could see that she was just as startled as he was and didn't quite know what to make of her.
"You're too kind, your majesty. Mom, could you make the royal seamstress make me a dress just like this?"
"I'm sure she can…" Lady Evelyne replied, saving her scolding for later.
Sophia's eyes then flickered to Dorian and then back to the Queen. "Your majesty, could I borrow Prince Dorian?"
The young prince, who had been concentrating on his own game perked up. "Borrow me?"
"Just for a game, it's boring playing with my brother alone," Sophia clarified, her blue eyes sparkling with mischief.
Queen Margaret then turned to her son to know what he thought.
"I'll like to play with them, I'm getting bored of playing with Blaze," He said, flipping the toy horse in his hands.
"Please, Your Majesty," Sophia pressed. "We won't go far."
The Queen hesitated, her sharp eyes going between Sophia and Lady Evelyne. Then, with a slight incline of her head, she relented.
"Very well. But not for long."
Dorian got up from the bed and went to join the Vaelcrest children, curiosity lighting up his small face.
Sophia then dragged Lucien from where he stood with their mother and then the three children left the room.
Lady Evelyne and the Queen listened to their footsteps until it died down and there was silence in the room.
"They are spirited," Margaret remarked at last, moving toward the small table where her tea had gone cold.
*
*
*
Outside in the open courtyard, Sophia led the two boys toward a quiet corner, where she knew that they wouldn't be disturbed.
"You're not very much like your mother," she told Dorian thoughtfully.
Dorian tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"She doesn't like my mother very much," Sophia stated plainly.
Lucien shot his sister a warning look, but Dorian only frowned. "Why not?"
"They were rivals when they were young."
Dorian blinked. "Rivals?"
Sophia grinned. "Want to hear the full story? Beat me in a duel, and I'll tell you."
Dorian's face fell slightly. "I… I haven't awakened yet."
Sophia laughed. "Well, that's a problem, isn't it? How's a prince supposed to rule if he can't even hold a sword properly?"
Dorian pouted. "I will awaken! Just not yet."
"Sure, sure," Sophia teased. "In that case, let's play something else. Do you know any games other than playing with toy horses. Blaze. What sort of stupid name is that?"
Dorian face grew red at her words but he didn't say anything back to her.
"Blaze is not a stupid name. I'm sure you named him that for how fast he runs," Lucien said consoling him with a pat on his back and shooting a dirty look at Sophia.
"Thank you, I don't really play any games since I don't have a brother or sister—"
"I knew you'll stand up for him" Sophia said interjecting. "Well in that case, let's play hide and seek? I'm sure you know that."
Dorian nodded and Sophia grinned.
"Alright, you two hide, and I'll count."
Dorian nodded and then bolted into the darker corridors leading toward the western halls. Lucien hesitated for a moment before running off in a different direction.
Sophia covered her eyes and began to count.
*
*
*
A figure watched the children from the shadows.
They had been lingering and waiting for the right moment. When Prince Dorian darted off alone, they immediately went on the move.
Their footsteps were silent and their presence went unnoticed.
As the young prince ran deeper into the corridors, the figure moved with quiet purpose and vanished into the same direction Dorian had gone.