Verinia was no stranger to a required attendance in the matters of the civil court; she had sat by the Sovereign's since she had been eight, after all, and seen her fair share of pleas and appeals.
Even though she wasn't a good woman, she had an inflated sense of justice, so her heart ached upon hearing the condition of her people. Oftentimes she found herself wishing to do more for them.
"Have they arrived?" Was the first thing her father asked when he finally became aware of her presence. He wouldn't even turn his head to look at her, because her face made him feel guilty.
His apathetic voice was like a bucket of cold water on Verinia's spirit, and it sucked away every ounce of warmth she had been harbouring for the peasants.
"They're settling now." She smiled stiffly as she sat. For the sake of imagery and her own reputation, she always made sure to never display the true strengths of her temper in front of others.
That being said, Verinia had more efficient ways to vent her anger. It was an emotion she would be full of every day, so it needed a reasonable outlet in order for her to continue functioning like a capable young woman.
The Sovereign glanced at her briefly and felt like his eyeballs were going to fall out of his head.
Tch. He should know better than to look at that incorrigible child. She was just like her mother, and every time he saw her face it irritated him to the point of inappropriate wine indulgence. His eldest daughter was going to turn him into a drunk.
Derzev Hellfryne acutely ignored the point that he already was a drunk.
The suns moved across the sky and the measure glass was turned three times.
Verinia's legs were going numb with pins and needles but she stayed silent and smiling like a gentle angle sent to the world to solve everyone's emotional trauma.
She snorted to herself. How could she solve other's emotional trauma when she was drowning in her own?
Ah, that wretched sense of justice. It was pestering her all over again.
Her golden eyes the colour of the mid-morning suns were cold as she looked at the court. That coldness turned to warmth when she looked at the commoners.
"Sen Hosar," she began softly, using the address for agriculturists of low economic status. "Light Tower hears your plight and we appreciate your appeal to us. The economy of our villages and the success of our agriculture is the survival of Oalta, therefore I would like to extend a formal invitation to your village, to provide one member of the families most affected by the sand storm to the sovereign service. Su'ira Velnue, would this be agreeable?"
The Master Chamberlain looked through his bound book, taking into account the record of the village in question and calculating how many new people they could hire.
"Yes, Your Sovereign Highness. Given the grant, the tax of their wages will be invested into the prosperity of village Kull in accordance to the Sixth Principle from the Ordinance of Civil Unity. Su'na Sarivi, is this agreeable?"
The Master of Coin marked something in his own bound book, calculating the cost of the new hires. "It is, Su'ira Chamberlain."
"Sen Hosar, is this proposal agreeable to the needs of your village?" Verinia turned to the man, who was gazing at her with stars in his eyes.
It was a look that she was used to receiving, yet to her, it felt no less jarring than the first time she had seen it. In a way, she acknowledged, it was her own fault.
She was bound to be seen as a figure from the heavens when that was the impression she put in the effort to portray.
The farmer bowed deeply, smiling in relief. "It is, Su'Adrit."
"Light Tower thanks you for your faith, Sen Hosar," the Su'Datheram rumbled, taking everyone in the room by surprise.
He hadn't said a word during the entire proceeding. As per usual, the man spoke little and governed even less, in Verinia's mind.
"Thank you, Your Effulgent Majesty. Su'Adrit. Long live the old blood." The man bowed several more times before he left, collecting a token on his way. First Minister Velnue's office would see that he generously received his needs.
The day continued as so, and Verinia's legs were almost ready to drop off her body by the time she was allowed to leave for her rooms and rest before supper.
It was a tiny grain of peace compared to the chaos she walked into in the dining room of her father's palace.
"—and do you know what her father bought her? Do you know, Dres?" Syvia was leaning toward the table from her seat eagerly, facing the Sixth Princess Dresderia who was the same age as her. "A pure blooded Thalon stallion. Can you imagine?! A pure blooded horse like that? How much must that have cost?"
The two girls had a gossipy gleam in their sunlit eyes. All of the Sovereign's children were occupying a place at the long table, a rare sight that was only brought about for special occasions.
Verinia took the seat beside her brooding father. "Thalon stallions are becoming more popular, I hear."
"Heard from whom?" Syvia's head whipped around to stare at her, narrowing suspicious eyes. "Those horses cost two hundred era each, Ina. Even some nobles can't afford that."
"Su'ni Sarivi told me it."
"Of course she did." Fourth Princess Numer rolled her eyes and crossed both arms over her ample chest. She was one turn younger than Verinia. "House Sarivi could afford to bathe in Thalon blood for an eternity and have coin left over to smelt a golden palace."
Syvia nodded her head in agreement and grinned maliciously. "I want to marry into House Sarivi."
Verinia rolled her eyes.
"Where is Halen?" Their father asked impatiently, tapping his fingers on his wine glass. "He is not still training, I hope."
"He finished his swordsmanship practice earlier in the day. He was attending to his studies the last I saw him," the Third Prince Rukan answered. "But he could just as well be ogling the maids."
"Rukan!" The Fourth Princess smacked the back of his head. "Have some respect!"
Third Prince Rukan rolled his eyes but apologised in a very reluctant manner.
The doors opened some time later, and the Grandpires were escorted into the room by the solemnly faced Sur Ka'iser himself, who gave Verinia a discreet look before leaving.
All of the Sovereign's children looked at each other before nailing their eyes on the Su'Adrit. If she reacted favourably, so would they.
The First Princess smiled warmly. "You're just in time." They were late. "Are you well rested?"
"Yes, thank you, Serenity." Viola bowed her head graciously, then turned to their father. The stiff frown on her face was miraculously nowhere to be seen. "Your Effulgent Majesty."