The time had finally come for Kaelbi's introduction to the Court of Light, in which he would, at long last, be granted the title of Darath and recognised as a Prince once Viola Grandpire was finally inducted into the harem.
Verinia did not feel any unease over the official recognition of this illegitimate son. If all went well, Kaelbi's ascension to princely title would present no issue.
She had weathered this storm many times before and she could do it again.
Her face wore a pleased smile in the mirror's reflection and she lightly touched the stone resting on her forehead from the headpiece draping over her half-tied hair.
As there was to be an official ceremony, she could not simply wear the diadem that sat on her head every day and had to dress decorously in stately garb that would certainly leave the impression of what her rightful position was in the sovereign court.
The Su'Ailfi's diadem, which she always wore during her waking hours, was part of a larger headpiece that would only be worn during occasions such as this. It was intricately made and very stunning, but it surprisingly did not weigh very much.
With strings of pearls and gold chains falling elegantly from the headpiece and her sparkling skin, Verinia quite literally looked like something otherworldly that had fallen from the divine realm.
Even though she was the highest of nobility, it was not often that she could don the official garb of the Lady of Light Tower, so she felt quite pleased with her appearance.
"Your Sovereign Highness, the Fourth Princess is here." Eva entered the room with a low bow and introduced Fourth Princess Numer, who was as beautiful as an angel in her own composition of stately garb. She too wore a beautiful headpiece for the special occasion, which was woven from the purest pearl strings and complimented the lighter toned skin beautifully.
Fourth Princess Numer's mother was a foreign noblewoman from the northern island kingdom of Hela near the frozen sea. The pearls that were produced in that part of the world were peerless in their quality, and would sell for a very high price wherever they were taken. Naturally, Benevolent Consort Sushan had brought many of those pearls with her upon coming to New Oalta.
Princess Numer bowed delicately and presented herself. "Greetings from Fourth Sister to the Su'Adrit."
"No need to be formal." Verinia waved a hand and smiled teasingly. "Are you so eager for tonight's activities that you've come to show off your appearance?"
Princess Numer's smooth cheeks flushed and she frowned. "First Sister is ruthless to tease me so."
The First Princess laughed. "Ah, don't frown, Numer, or your betrothed might have my head."
Fourth Princess Numer's flustered appearance seemed to clear at the mention of her future husband and her eyes became eager as she looked at Verinia expectantly. "Does First Sister have instruction for me?"
Seeing this, the Su'Adrit thought for a moment. "You haven't seen Su'an Kuzreni for quite some time, he will surely be eager to spend some moments of quality with you."
"Won't he be impatient?" Princess Numer revealed a thoughtful expression of her own. "The last time I saw him, I recommended the company of concubines. He did not take it well."
Although she was a pure beauty and gave off the impression of a delicate flower, Fourth Princess Numer was actually highly ambitious and cunning in nature. When Verinia proposed the matter of her marriage, she naturally only saw the power of autonomous wealth and naturally agreed.
Su'an Men Kuzreni was already the same age as the Su'Datheram and had never married nor had he sired any children at all. It was not because he couldn't, but because he deliberately made sure to keep his reputation as a serene man of focus intact, and illegitimate children would muddle that reputation. Moreover, he had no concubines, but it was not to say that he was inexperienced.
Fourth Princess Numer had set her sights on him and it was no surprise that the man had fallen for her. With Verinia's guidance, however, Princess Numer was clear on the fact that what awaited her was nothing but bliss.
She fully trusted this capable First Sister, who had set her power within the vicious harem even as a child.
"Do not mention it again yourself, but if he does, avoid the subject." Verinia stood up from the dressing table and allowed Eva to help her don a heavy and luxuriously embroidered overcoat. "Let his mind run free with conjecture and he will inevitably desire you above all else."
Eva stood to the side with a small smile upon her face.
Hearing the First Princess speak, one would ask how an unsullied maiden like herself knew so well how to toy with the hearts of men. She had many tactics of seduction in her arsenal of knowledge, some of which she didn't hesitate to use.
But they weren't tactics of seduction at all. They were tactics of war strategy.
In order to entrap one's enemy one must lure that enemy with something they cannot refuse. Su'an Kuzreni desired Fourth Princess Numer's pure, maiden heart the way a drowning man desired air. This would inevitably be his downfall.
Princess Numer bowed her head graciously, with not a ripple of anything but innocence appearing on her delicate face. "Since this is the counsel, Fourth Sister will take my leave."
She bowed once again and left the room with her maidservant in tow. The Fourth Princess's movements were light and graceful, like a beautiful flower that resided at the peaks of the most perilous mountains.
Everything about her, even the way she walked, spoke of reserved purity that could not be found in the mortal world. A gentle smile rested on her pretty lips, as enticing as dew on a rose petal.
From the very moment she stepped into the throne room, Princess Numer felt the weight of a stare on her. She pretended not to notice as she presented herself before her father's throne with a delicate bow.
"Your Effulgent Majesty's Fourth Daughter bids good tidings to her Sovereign Father." Princess Numer performed a formal salute of touching the fingers of her left hand to her forehead, then her chin before extending out her hand as if expecting something.
"Rise." The Su'Datheram was pleased with this daughter of his, and awarded her a rare smile. Fourth Princess Numer never gave him any troubles and she did not ask for much. In terms of appropriate behaviour, she was a perfect example.
The princes sat from the right hand side of the Su'Datheram onwards, from the order of the First Prince down to the last born child of appropriate age. Beside the empty throne of Light Tower's Lady, the princesses all sat from the left hand side onwards in the same order. Once all of them were present, the doors opened once again.
"Presenting, First Princess of New Oalta, Her Sovereign Highness the Su'Adrit!"
Collectively, the eyes of the entire court turned toward the doors the moment the herald had spoken.
Verinia stepped inside, dressed in a blood red dress made of translucent moon silk and a black, heavy overcoat embroidered in gold thread. The complete headdress of the nation's lady sat on her head and beneath it a veil of gold chains draped over her intricately arranged hair.
Her reflection was clear as she walked over the meraldi blocks that created a clear path toward the throne dais. Every step she took created a ripple of her dress's fabric, which was layered in such a way that it reflected the light from the refractor plates as if it were actual blood.
Contrary to the overcoat, there was no embroidery on the moon silk. Her shoes, however, were heavily covered in not only gold thread but rubies save for the frontmost curve of the shoe that turned upward from the ground.
Every single person in the room seemed to stop breathing at the sight of her.
How could such a person be so perfect as to don so much opulence without being gaudy? This was a mystery that would never be answered, because even the Su'Adrit's skin sparkled like a precious gem and it was still in perfect harmony with her decorations.
Verinia presented herself before her father wordlessly, as she did not need to say anything to him. She performed the formal salute, then, without being told to rise, ascended the dais herself to take her seat upon the second throne.
As soon as she sat, everyone in the room bowed according to their ranks.
"You may rise." Her melodious, rich voice carried out over the entire room, reaching the ears of even those who were stationed at the very back.
She had been the last person to enter the room, and with her presence, the ceremony could finally begin.