Asmodea stepped forward with a smile. "Rest Assured, Emberlain Crown Prince. Princess Clairette wasn't aggrieved during her stay in the slightest."
"It doesn't mean much when it comes from you, Lady Asmodea."
Facing Elvin, Vivia said, "I'm doing fine."
His eyes dangerously narrowed in response. "I'm more inclined to learn the cause of this incident."
The answer evaded Vivia too, as she herself was clueless. Though depressed, she was still in the pink of her health - until now. The mere thought of that unknown, fiery space brought a shudder through her. But she could see how her collapse was stirring the situation in the wrong direction even before any conversation had begun.
"I'm simply tired. Yesterday, Crown Prince Zerath took me to participate in Casca's grand festival. I felt genuinely honored. It was so exhilarating that I hopped all around the festival endlessly and strained my body. I couldn't get proper sleep either."
From the corner of her eye, Doloros didn't look so convinced with her explanation, yet his neutrality conveyed otherwise.
As long as Elvin is convinced, she thought.
However, to her dismay, Elvin didn't seem to have any intentions of abandoning the matter. Before he could counter it with a fresh wave of fury, Zerath rose and bowed.
"Allow me to humbly apologize. It was my mistake that I didn't keep a close eye on Princess Clairette and let her exhaust herself."
His humble voice and bow were so unexpected that even the quiet Aeren's expression cracked just a little. It was a rarity to see a human or demon admit their mistakes before the other race, much less bow. Pride never allowed them to look weak and controllable.
Balam, seated beside Gressil, clenched his jaw as he urgently whispered. "How could my lord bow before them? Demons don't bow before these pesky humans! She just fainted, that's all!"
"I like how you're so simple-minded, Sir Balam," Gressil dryly commented.
His gaze darkened.
Raising his head, Zerath faced Elvin. "I understand your concern as her elder brother. I hope you forgive us. It was the Princess's last day with us. We simply wanted her to enjoy and have good memories of the Demon Realm."
Zerath then smiled. "I envy Princess Clairette. She has such loving brothers. I'm an only son so at times, I feel lonely. But I'm glad that you care about her so much. That's why I assume there must've been some progress in regards to catching Princess's attacker by now, isn't it?"
A suffocating silence descended in slow but agonizing waves. Though Vivia wasn't in the line of fire, she could imagine how the brothers' hearts must be burning with indignation. A brother who couldn't sit still until knowing what caused his sister to faint would in no way slack upon finding her attacker, now would he?
Elvin's composure remained intact, as if Zerath's provocative words didn't bring a single crack to his face.
"I'm leaving no stones unturned to find who hurt my sister. Naturally, the culprit will have a heavy price to pay. Right now, Clairette's safety is my top priority."
I smell a blatant lie there…Her lips thinned with a grimace.
For a brother whose smile had subtly dropped upon Clairette's arrival, Vivia firmly believed that her safety was at the bottom of his priority list instead.
As everyone settled down, the conversation steered to its original starting point. A man in crisp, elegant robes that sharply pointed to his high stature and position now stepped forward. He unfolded a scroll, his countenance stern and no-nonsense.
"Greetings to Rudaheim and King Nefarion from Rosrell Emberlain. On behalf of the Human Realm, I, the Emberlain King, extend my deepest gratitude for allowing my dear daughter Clairette to take shelter in your realm. Words fail to express my joy as I learn that she's safe and sound. I hope she has recovered and is in great spirits.
I understand that Clairette must feel disappointed at my absence. However, I'd like to assure her that her father constantly thinks about her wellbeing. My duties and responsibilities made it challenging to depart on this journey, which is why my capable sons would take my place in completing the necessary formalities and expressing our sincerest gratitude. Please accept our presents as a token of our appreciation."
The man folded back the scroll, after which Asmodea smiled. "Thank you for conveying King Rosrell's message, Sir Xaviston."
Sir Xaviston…ah. He's Lady Asmodea's counterpart. Minister of Diplomacy in Emberlain, His identity then occurred to her through Clairette's memories.
"My pleasure, Lady Asmodea."
As he returned to stand beside Elvin once again, he continued, "As His Majesty expresses in his letter, we're deeply grateful to Rudaheim for taking care of our Princess. We also apologize that our internal realm's matters forced you to take some uncomfortable decisions you might not have liked."
Zerath raised his palm. "It wasn't an uncomfortable decision at all. I'm glad that we could be of help to Princess Clairette."
A fragment of stressful silence hung in the air, which Vivia tried to comprehend as
Xaviston's gaze shifted to Elvin and Aeren for a moment and focused back on Zerath.
"We appreciate your sentiments, Crown Prince. However, His Majesty and His Highness agree that we must pay your good intentions with what they deserve. Hence, we implore you to let us know if Rudaheim has any wishes for which we could be of any assistance."
An equal weight of silence hung on Zerath's side as well. This was the precise moment that he had been waiting for - had Nethermoor's eternal winter not been lifted.
"It's unnecessary, Sir Xaviston. Princess Clairette has already helped us in resolving a very crucial crisis."
Elvin's head slightly tilted. "Clairette helped you?"
"Indeed. It was a miracle for us, but our longstanding problem with Nethermoor's eternal winter ended because of her."
When they heard all the events unfold, the Emberlain princes were nothing short of stunned and could only stare at their sister, befuddled.
"There has been some mistake, Crown Prince Zerath. It seems like you're insinuating that Clairette performed the blessed Harbinger of Seasons Dance? That's impossible. I believe everyone knows why."
"I simply stated the facts as they are. I believe what I saw, and so does Nethermoor."
"It must be just a coincidence. The royal family doesn't belong to the Great Three, and besides, Clairette has always had a tough time with her dance lessons."
No wonder my body ached so terribly. Clairette's body is not used to such dance forms, Vivia inwardly clicked her tongue.
"She'd fumble with even the simplest lessons, so there's no way she performed such a complicated dance on her own. The Crown Prince is also aware that only the blessed can perform the dance, not just anyone."
Elvin threw a pondering gaze at Vivia.
"But for the Crown Prince to praise Clairette so much to the point that he considers it at the same level as the blessed's dance - I wonder, just since when did you become so affluent in dancing?"