As the party wore on through the night, the nobles wined and dined with each other as the servants moved through the crowd with silver platters of food and wine. These events were perfect for the noble to catch up and show off. The noble was dressed in finery that most people would never see again in their lifetime. They would show off their wealth and status or try to curry favor with the other higher-ranked nobles.
But as the party continued well into the night, Duke Garth Richt stood up and waved his hand. The floating lights dimmed and faded except for the one over him, creating a spotlight. He taps the wine glass, causing it to ring out over the crowd. He stood in front of everyone and took a deep breath before speaking to the whole of the nobles.
"Thank you all for coming to celebrate my sons' awakening. Sadly, one of my sons, Asher, could not be here due to mana sickness." Whispers flooded the room at the announcement.
"Asher. Isn't that the eldest?"
"Does that mean the dukedom is in trouble?"
"If the elder brother has mana sickness, does that mean the dukedom will go to the younger brother?"
"I know I heard the rumor but did not believe them. Can you believe it?"
"That poor boy! He probably will not see his sixteenth birthday."
"I heard that the elder brother is awful. A true demon child. From what I heard, he had it coming."
"Don't say that. Just think of poor Duke Richt. To think he would lose his wife and son like that, and I am shocked he can even make complete sentences."
"If that happened to me, I would be completely distraught. I would not leave the bed for a day after such news."
Standing near the duke, the head butler let a scoff come from his lips. "Nobles do love nothing more than a good piece of gossip. Vultures one and all. As fake as their make-up." He spoke low enough so that only he could hear him.
He thought, 'When Garth told me of this plan, I can't say it is ethical. It was cruel and clever in equal measure. The noble would not dare move against a boy who would die. It gives Asher time to get stronger so he can go halfway decently. But after what I saw today,' He looks up at Asher's darkened window, 'it might be us who needs protecting.'
He still felt unsettled by Asher's apparent progress, and the more he thought about it, the odder Asher's behavior was. Not to say that Asher wasn't bizarre, to begin with, but he did always act more mature than a child his age.
When the duke raised his hand, the hush murmurs of the court and the whispers behind jeweled fans disappeared. Everyone wanted to know what the duke would say next.
"Thank you all for your heartfelt concern. It is a difficult time for my family. But for today, we will celebrate the success of the awakening and the prosperity of the Holy kingdom..."
As the duke continued, his speech drew the attention of all the guests except for one. A feminine figure disappeared into the darkness of the garden. Next to the courtyard was an extensive labyrinth of hedges. She walked calmly through the rose-covered archways scattered along the path to the garden's center.
The garden's center was full of pretty flowers, and soft lanterns illuminated the colorful petals. In the center of the space was a small gazebo with a white wooden table with matching chairs. Ivy climbed up the poles, reaching for the heights. It was like an empty fairy garden hidden from the world.
However, a masked figure sat at the table, awaiting his guest's arrival. The blonde woman sat down across from them. They sat in silence for some time until the woman waved her hand. A soft blue light rose from her fingertips, creating a small dome around the pavilion. The crown would prevent anyone unwanted from hearing their conversation.
"I suppose that you failed by your attitude, Bishop." The woman was the first to speak.
The figure named Bishop poured a cup of tea and set it in front of the blonde woman.
"Unfortunately."
"Well, at least my ass is not on the line. You can't poison someone who doesn't even show up. What is your excuse?"
"The duke might have gotten wind of our plan. When I made it to his room, he wasn't there."
"You think the 'mana sickness' story was an attempt to protect him."
"Yes, if the eldest did have mana sickness, he would not have been able to move. However, our agent confirmed that he did not have mana sickness. He was a hexamage, and the family was embarrassed, so they made up the mana sickness story to hide that the eldest was weak."
"Why don't we expose him? Would that not allow us to undermine him?" The woman took a sip of the tea as she questioned Bishop.
"The duke is well-respected and openly announces that Asher has mana sickness. No one in the nobility will question him, and not even in their dreams would they believe he would lie open to them. Besides, the eldest is too wild and unpredictable, and the younger is easier to control. Then..."
The woman set down her cup and cut him off. "Yes, yes... Then, we will control the dukedom through him. You need to relax, and you'll break out, darling. Stress is never good for the complexion." She gave him a soft smile like nothing was wrong.
"And you should start stressing. Do you think that King will be happy the plan failed?"
"Of course not," the woman laughed as if she heard something funny, "But what can we do? We have been outplayed and outmatched. Nothing is to be done now without bringing undue attention to our associates and us. For now, we are enjoying the party. We still have our spy in the manor, and they will keep an eye on our little brat."
Bishop let out a sigh. "Glad you can enjoy yourself even in disaster."
"It is a gift. If you are going to control the world, you have to learn to deal with these little hick-ups. There is nothing that we can do. Report back to King of the failure."
"Yes, Rook." The masked man disappeared in a second. The woman stood up, straightened her gown, and let back into the party in the courtyard.
***************
Meanwhile, the nobles left in their carriages in front of the manor. However, Julian, Lakeland, and Mirr stood looking around. "Has anyone seen where Diana wandered off to?" Julian questioned his brothers.
"No, but knowing her, probably gathering gossip." Lakeland snickered at his jab at his sister.
"Wait!" Diana came rushing down the steps of the manor like Cinderella running from the ball. She huffed as she reached her brothers. "S-s-sorry, I hope I did not delay our departure."
"No, the carriage is still being pulled around. Where were you, and why is your dress so dirty?" Julian snapped. As the eldest, it was his responsibility to protect his siblings, and it did not help that he did not trust anyone here as far as he could throw them.
"Oh, my dress!?!?!" She looked down at her beautiful emerald dress, and dirt covered the brim and edge of the dress. "I felt faint during the duke's closing speech, so I went to the garden for some air."
"No one else was there, correct." Julien pushed, and even the hint of a scandal would ruin their name.
"Yes, I was alone the entire time."
"You know you should not wander off like that. If you..."
Lakeland cut in between them. "Enough. You can scold her in the carriage." He pointed to the royal carriage that pulled up to the front of the house.
"I hope you enjoyed yourself." A deep voice spoke out, causing all the siblings to look to the source. It was Duke Garth who towered over them. They all bowed respectfully to their host.
Julian was the one to speak for the group. "Yes. We had a wonderful evening, and we hope your sons have both luck and grace in the future." Mirr and Lakeland bowed silently and climbed into the carriage without a word. Julian followed.
Diana reached out and held the duke by the hand. "There are advancements every day, and perhaps the great goddess will pity your blight and give your son deliverance."
"Your words are too kind, Princess."
"Hope is something you should never give up until the last moment possible. A life without it would be too torturous for even the strongest to bere."
The duke chuckled. "You are wise beyond your years, Princess, just like your mother."
Diana blushed at the compliment as the duke gently kissed the back of her hand. With a curtsy, she turned to join her brothers in the carriage. Once the horseman saw her in, he jolted the reins. The horses neighed as the carriage was carried into the night.