Julie was watching Robert pace the length of the main room as she sipped her tea. She started to worry that he might wear a trench in the carpet that her grandmother had stitched together herself.
The fireplace at the room's center crackled softly behind him, a sound too gentle for the storm of anger and worry coiling in his shoulders.
He had gone to Elena's room late in the morning and found it empty, only to learn she had slipped out the night before to attend a lover's ball—with a partner no less. A man known only as L'amore, who had appeared from nowhere, whom no one could give a proper name, or say where he came from.
Elena should have still been in her room. Lily had brought breakfast to her room, which Elena tended to ask her to do sometimes. Then some servants mentioned that Lily asked for a carriage but didn't know where to. Then shortly after saw Elena entering the carriage and riding off.
Leaving behind nothing but a cold bed and too many unanswered questions.
"What's wrong with that girl? Does she have any idea what she's doing?" Robert said as he finally stopped walking, his fist clenching, until his knuckles became white.
Julie scoffed in amusement, "I told you it was a bad idea to try and marry her off again," she said as she put down her cup of tea. "What did you think would happen? Thought she would go along with it? Allow you to control who she loves or be with for the rest of her life?"
Robert looked at her, his eyes narrowing, "You were also married off," he reminded her.
Julie shook her head, "No, dear, I wanted you before our marriage was proposed, so I did," she said with a mischievous smile.
Robert, despite himself, chuckled, "You are a fox like her," he said, a small smile appearing before fading.
Julie smiled as she stood up, walked towards him, and took his hand. It was rough and jagged, the magic running through his blood, turning it into living stone.
He calmed instantly as he felt her soft, familiar cold hands holding onto his. It wasn't the cold that was like winter, but the one you felt in a breeze on a summer day on the shore of the Hallowing sea.
"I have a few ideas where she went, which I have already sent servants to," Julie said as she wrapped her arms around his neck, his skin becoming softer. Stone turned to regular flesh as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. Taking in her familiar scent.
"The marriage was supposed to secure us a large amount of the market, which the Young family has heavy influence on," Robert said, straightening. Julie's arms were still wrapped around his neck.
"Yes, but what do you think comes first, politics or your daughter?" Julie said with a small smile on her lips. His brown meeting her amber eyes.
Robert closed his eyes as he let out a long sigh, "You know it's always gonna be our daughter, Julie," he said, his hand cupping her cheek. She leaned into it, enjoying the small moment.
Then it was broken by a person clearing their throat, and both pairs of eyes looked over to see a servant girl. She was standing patiently in the door frame that led into the main room of the manor.
"We found Lady Falmil, Mistriss," She said while giving a curtsey, "She was found in the training colosseum as you suspected. She is on her way back as we speak."
Julie unraveled herself from Robert before she spoke, "Thank you, Dali," she said as she started to straighten her dress.
Dali nodded, "Is there anything you wish to task me with?" she asked.
Robert shook his head, "No, that's all."
Dali nodded once more before leaving the two alone to wait for Elena's return.
Once Elena entered the manor, she was directed to the main room, Lily close behind.
She continued to ignore the small hums of the artifacts as she made her way to where she would confront her father. Where she dreaded the conversation, hoping her lies and half-truths would be passable.
She took a deep breath, preparing herself, then entered. Her mother and her matching red hair and amber eyes sat quietly in a chair. Sipping some tea.
While her father stood tall, looking down at the fireplace that sat in the middle of the room. It's fire crackling like a ticking clock.
"Elena," he said, his voice heavy, "You snuck out last night."
She stiffened, then smoothed her expression into calm marble. The mask of nobility slid into place as easily as breathing.
"And you tried to marry me off again," she replied sharply, "after I warned you, and you were told it would end badly."
Robert did not answer at first. The fire cracked between them, each pop stretching the silence thinner.
"I know," he said at last. "But that marriage would have strengthened our position."
Elena's eyes narrowed. "Strengthened it how?" She folded her hands in front of her, fingers biting into her own skin. "We are already one of the Seven Houses. Third-oldest in the kingdom. Only the Crown and Selene stand above us."
Robert turned then, his gaze hard as cut stone. "And you know exactly why that no longer means what it once did."
She held his stare. "Say it."
"The Tybor line is dying," he said. "William Tybor is the last of them. When he falls, the Crown falls with him."
Elena's jaw tightened. "And the Selenes will take the throne. Everyone knows that."
"If they are allowed to," Robert snapped. "The Tybors hold the Pact, Elena. Not the Crown. Not the Selenes. The pact between Altor and the Undercity is bound to their blood."
Her hands curled tighter. "Then that is the Tybors' burden, not mine."
"It becomes ours the moment the Pact breaks," he shot back. "If one of the Seven Houses does not continue it, the Undercity will not stay silent. You know what followed the last time that happened."
Her voice cooled. "Civil war is not stopped by trading daughters like coin."
"No," Robert said, stepping closer. "But it is stopped by alliances strong enough to hold when the city burns. That marriage would have placed us where we need to be when William Tybor dies."
"And chained me to someone I don't love," Elena said, steel bright in her tone. "To secure a pact that should never have depended on bloodlines to begin with."
Robert dragged a hand down his face. "This was important, Elena. And now it is likely ruined after the spectacle you made." His eyes sharpened. "So tell me— who was the man you went with? People say you were… close."
For half a breath, her mask wavered.
"He's a knight I train with," she said, steadying herself, "someone I hired after you told me you intended to sell me to another noble house that bought its way into power."
Robert took a step forward, his shadow swallowing her as if she were standing before a mountain. "What is his name?"
Elena straightened, meeting him eye to eye. "I won't tell you."
Roberts brow furrowed as he glanced toward Lily. Who stood stock still, hand clasped neatly in front of her, her eyes closed as she listened. But she stiffened as his eyes landed on her as though she could feel the heat behind them.
Elena's anger surged as she spoke, "Don't you dare," she hissed, venom seeping into her voice, "By her pact that she signed. She is under my protection, under my direct command, and is allowed to keep personal secrets that I have shared with her, that even you can't ask for."
Robert's jaw tightened as he held back a growl.
Julie's voice cut through the air like a knife through warm butter. "Robert, she is correct. You can't ask Lily for those things," she said quietly as Elena and her father glanced toward her.
Julie smiled as she stood up and walked to them, "Elena isn't injured or harmed, and she only went out with a friend to a childish party," she said smoothly.
Elena gave her a small smile, Julie only quirked a brow, "We all made mistakes in our youth, things that didn't please our parents," she said, grabbing his hand in a gentle caress.
Robert closed his eyes, then he breathed in and out, slowly. Letting the anger and frustration settle deep in his gut.
"I guess you're right," he said quietly, glancing towards Julie.
Julie smiled brightly as she drew him into a hug. "You stress too much over her. She is a capable woman after all, this is her fourth time she foiled your plans of marriage," Julie said softly, looking up at her husband.
Robert sighed as he nodded and started to pull away from her. Julie let him go as he walked over to the fireplace.
He stared into the fire, his eyes clouded in thought.
Julie continued to smile, then turned toward Elena, "You like him, don't you?" she said bluntly.
Elena's mask cracked. A flush, she tried to suppress, rushed to her cheeks. Julie's smile grew wider, getting her confirmation as she turned away and sat back in her chair.
Elena stood there in the silence for a moment, her eyes still wide. Then she cleared her throat, her voice wavering, "I will be in my room," she said, "I won't be sneaking out tonight," she tried to add jokingly.
Her father grunted, his jaw clenched tight, while Julie giggled, her lips hidden by the cup of tea she started to sip on once more.
Elena only nodded, and she left swiftly, Lily close behind as they entered her room.
Once Lily closed the door, Elena let out a shuddering breath, bending over, hands on knees. The tension, the fear, the anger, she let it flow through her body.
"That was not pleasant," she murmured, her breath heavy.