Skydorn City was alight with festivities. The streets were crowded and bustling with cheers and merriment.
Every man, regardless of age, was holding a flask of either heavy wine or plum tea. The women were dressed to the ninth heavens, styled in a vast variety of exotic dresses and robes personally designed by their beautiful City Lord.
The air was filled with the scent of street food and incense. Not a single frown could be seen on any face. The people of Skydorn loved their City Lord, and in turn viewed her family with the same reverence.
"Did you hear about the party list?"
"Yeah, so many big names are coming to our city! It is truly a gathering seen once a generation!"
"Hahaha, as it should be! The young lord's first birthday is an event that should be written into the annals of Genara's history!"
"HEAR, HEAR!!"
But as opposed to the joy and mirth of those in the city, the manor's atmosphere was much different.
Within the City Lord's manor, the atmosphere could only be described as frantic.
Maids and butlers were bustling through the halls, sweat beading on their brows as they rushed to fulfill their duties. The cooks seemed to have been injected with potent stimulants as they cooked with the fury of a seasoned army.
Old Hei stood at the forefront, barking orders with the trained precision and focus of a veteran. Gone was the lazy, nonchalant grin he was known for. It was replaced by a serious, grim expression highlighting the grave responsibility he was entrusted wi—
"WHERE THE HELL IS MY LIQUOR!?"
Author: "..."
Kitchen staff: "..."
"WHAT!? You lot try being sober for more than two hours. The clarity of a clear mind is horrifying, I tell ya," Old Hei huffed in annoyance.
It had been more than a week since he had last felt the sweet embrace of intoxication. Whenever he even began to form the thought of sneaking a quick sip, Meilan would seemingly materialize out of the shadows.
Staring at him with a blank expression, her eyes two dark whirlpools that sent cold shivers down his spine. Old Hei was sure that his experiences the past week would scar his psyche for a long time into the future.
Feeling sweat beginning to gather on the back of his neck, he hurriedly shook away his stray thoughts and focused on the task at hand.
"That fire drake steak is a favorite of the Aetherion Matriarch. If it ain't cooked to perfection, I ain't putting my neck out for ya! Hey you! Yes, you, ya limp noodle! Who said adding nox honey to salad would help with a calming flavor!? You tryna get us all killed for poisoning a guest!?"
As Old Hei continued to lament his sober fate, Meilan was within the manor's war chamber with both Kaelira and Vairon, along with their most trusted subordinates.
The atmosphere of the room was filled with a somber tension, the air tight like a bowstring on the verge of snapping. As the City Lord, Kaelira would usually be seated at the head of the table. But to the surprise of everyone in the room, her husband, the elusive wanderer, was now seated on the obsidian throne.
The throne seemed to gleam with a faint gray light. Serpents were etched along the throne's frame, weaving intricate patterns that spoke of ancient sovereignty. The very air around it felt heavy, its aura weighing down on those below to the point where it was hard to breathe.
Even Meilan, as one of the oldest followers of the old couple, still found it difficult to stand comfortably near it. Let alone the personnel below them, who couldn't even lift their heads to gaze upon it.
The only person unaffected by the aura the throne exerted was Kaelira, who was happily munching away at an apple. One of her enchanting legs hung over her armrest as she lounged lazily on her seat, looking for all the world like an untouchable empress. Or a contented cat in Vairon and Meilan's opinions.
The captains and generals seated around the main table with her simply gazed at her with wry expressions. Meilan rolled her eyes, turning her head away so as not to see her mistress acting so uncouth, losing her face.
Vairon sat with his eyes closed, looking as if he was not even aware of his surroundings. His aura was dark and heavy, his brows taut as if a great weight was settling over his heart.
None of them knew why they had been called, save for Meilan and Kaelira. But going by the knowing look on Kaelira's face and the helpless resignation in Meilan's, they knew what he had to say would be extremely important to the integrity of the celebra—
"My son refuses to let me hold him…"
"..."
"..."
"..."
A dead silence fell upon the room at Vairon's words. The men and women seated there, all warriors who had gone through innumerable life-and-death situations, who had faced death without pause or fear… were called because their young lord was throwing a tantrum?
All eyes turned pointedly toward Kaelira, whose head was bowed and shoulders were trembling violently. Feeling the eyes staring at her, she finally couldn't hold it any longer.
"GAHAHAHAHA!" Kaelira erupted in clamorous laughter. Her voice pierced through the silence of the room.
Meilan, the ever diligent and serious maid, sighed as she raised her head toward the ceiling. The throbbing vein on her forehead pulsed in tune with her growing frustration toward the frivolous couple.
'Remember Meilan, one is your sworn sister and mistress. The other is her husband, a man you have great respect and admiration for. Don't kill them. Don't kill them…'
As she mentally restrained her growing murderous intent, Meilan continued with an expressionless face, "The reason you have all been called is to go over the security of the celebration. Mainly, to give you all a list of high-value targets to keep a close eye on."
The others within the hall turned toward Meilan, their eyes glimmering with looks of appreciation and gratitude as they promptly ignored the flippant couple.
Meilan completely tuned out Kaelira's tears of laughter and Vairon's despair and put on a serious expression as she slid a jade talisman across the table.
"These are our persons of interest."
The jade glowed as images were suddenly projected into the air in front of the room, different profiles floating in front of them like a slideshow.
"Before I begin, is there anyone unclear about their purpose here or what is being asked of them?" Meilan's voice echoed through the chamber solemnly.
A hand suddenly shot up. Attached to it was a young man with androgynous features, his skin as pure and white as a woman's. His slim, dainty hand held a fan that sparkled with gems of all kinds.
If not for his pronounced Adam's apple, it would be hard to tell that he was a man.
"Lady Meilan, is the nature of this mission surveillance or threat removal?" the man spoke with a faint smile on his lips. The beauty of the scene sent a shiver down the spine of the other men in the room, who immediately began to reaffirm their sexuality.
Meilan's deep eyes locked onto the young man who spoke. As she nodded her head she responded, "A fair question, Captain Adonis. The answer is simple: unless otherwise stated by the City Lord or Master Vairon, they are to be treated as threats to our family."
The atmosphere of the room instantly froze as the weight of her words sank in. Even Kaelira had come down from her laughing episode, a complicated expression flashing through her eyes as a familiar image of an elegant beauty appeared in the projection before her.
Adonis' smile never left his face. He languidly closed his fan as the smile on his face deepened, his eyes flashing with a sinister light that was almost imperceptible.
"Is it alright to assume we can kill them the second we get the opportunity?"
Meilan glanced at him briefly, unfazed by his climbing killing intent. She swept her gaze across the room as she spoke, "No. And that goes for all of you. Under no circumstance are you to engage the targets with any sort of hostility until they themselves move against us."
The sinister light in Adonis' eyes dwindled as he put on an alluring pout, "Aww~ Big sister, you're no fun~!"
Yet again, the other male captains turned their faces away, repeating their mantras with increasing fervor.
One of the captains, a gruff-looking older man, harrumphed in displeasure as he leveled a pointed glare at the beautiful man across from him.
"Today is the celebration and introduction of the young lord. You will not sully it with blood. You would do well to contain your bloodthirst, cream puff."
Adonis turned toward the man with his signature smile, though the temperature around him had dropped several degrees.
"At least I am using my head to think, not just following orders like a good little puppy~"
The man jumped to his feet, his face a mask of rage. "YOU!"
"Enough."
A clear, resolute voice cut through the mounting tension. It wasn't loud, yet it traveled through the ears of everyone in the chamber like a crack of thunder. Adonis and the old man both shut up, the old man sitting back down begrudgingly, but no longer continuing to argue.
Vairon had now come out of his depressive cloud, his eyes sharp as they scanned the room before settling on the two figures who had been arguing.
"Adonis. Marcus. I understand that you have your differences… but there is a time and place. Now is neither of those."
Hearing his imposing tone, both captains stood quickly and bowed toward Vairon.
"Forgive me, Master, I spoke out of turn."
"Sorry V, won't happen again~"
Vairon disregarded Adonis' flippant tone and nodded toward Marcus before returning to the task at hand.
"The people listed are all of some importance, but there are five in particular that are to be watched at all times, and under no circumstance are they to be allowed within ten meters of my son."