The next day, the Imperial Palace hummed with a flurry of activity that reached far beyond the notable preparations for the secret banquet. Since morning, whispers of hidden efforts resounded through the corridors, spoken only in hushed tones amongst the Palace staff.
King Edgar and Draven rested in their respective dorms. In the meantime, they were engaged in friendly conversations with Almerian officials, nobles, and even barons, while fostering connections .
Servants strolled around occupied, their footsteps echoing the sound of anticipation. Under the watchful eye of the Emperor and Empress, arrangements were made discreetly, each detail carefully attended to. The hall chosen for the banquet underwent a remarkable transformation-- its chandeliers polished to brilliance and the tapestries adorned the walls with their resplendent colors.
The gardens outside were in full bloom with exotic flowers. This was the scene of hustle and bustle in the Imperial Palace.
Abel, Arawn, and Raven themselves were drawn into the work, preparations and administration in the grand celebration hinted at by their conversations with advisors and the knowing glances they exchanged amongst themselves.
"Yeah. Ensure the tapestries are adorned with gold threads, and the curtains, oh, they must be of the finest silk," Abel directed a courtier who promptly acknowledged, relaying instructions to the servents. Accompanying him, side by side, was Raphael who carried a pile of arranged documents and invitations.
Approaching, where an adviser was involved in a conversation with an Arawn, Abel closed the distance. The adviser soon left.
Arawn turned to face Abel. "Hey! You," Abel said, his gaze momentarily shifting to the side. "Have a look at this. Any improvements?" He extended a handful of parchments toward Arawn.
Arawn gave a concise nod, his fingers lightly accepting the offered parchments as they made further ammendments.
The preparations sure were undertaken suddenly and swiftly yet their execution displayed no hint of peculiarities. After all, the ones administrating were none other than the Empress and Emperor themselves and further, Abel and Arawn. (In some way)
The assembly of minds that stood behind the event, guaranteed seamless planning, leaving no room for oversight or irregularity.
Knight's Training Base
"Hey, did you hear that? There is a sudden, upcoming banquet orchestrated by none other than the Emperor and Empress themselves," a cavalier murmured while on patrol. His companion leaned in, intrigued. "Yeah... So cool. But-- shh! Keep your voice down. And. What's more, it's a suprise event to appreciate the presence of his majesty's brother."
The cavalier's eyes widened with excitement, though he maintained a hushed tone. "Oh, that's just too cool for words. I've heard that even the nobles and high-ranking officers are on the guest list."
The other cavalier nodded in affirmation, and they both exchanged amused glances and continued their patrol, keeping their conversation in hushed tones.
Later, Enya practically dashed towards her house after her practice session. "Huff, huff," she panted. Ameren eyed her from the counter of the shop, engaged with several customers, "She's back, huh. She is so small..." she wondered adoring Enya who stood straight, with her hand on her waist, smirking, "Heh... Not bad." she held.
Soon, freeing herself, Ameren called, "Come, Enya." Enya headed over impressed, "Woah. Man. What a lottery today. Haha."
Ameren couldn't help but chuckle at her dramatic acts. "Seems like you've been racing more than just time, Enya."
Enya let out a sigh, with nonchalance. "Oh, you know, just adding a bit of thrill to my day."
Ameren chuckling, beamed, "Yeah...Well, I wonder, why so many Imperial servants visited today? But, by the way, it's great! Today I am so glad." Enya smiled back, "Haha. It's great indeed. Good work." she showed her thumbs up.
Inside the little residence, Noah pulled back the curtains and gazed out of the window. The view outside was a bustling painting of life. Friends strolled by, children giggled as they played tag, and the air buzzed with the lively vigor of day. To him, this was... Life.
Although, he wouldn't say he felt remorse for a life with circumstances as such, it wasn't something he could deny either. He had already been used to suffering with a breathing disease ever since childhood.
Remorse, to him, felt like an unnecessary burden on the people he cherished most. Instead, he chose to treasure every moment, although his dreams of a different life remained nothing more than distant fantasies glimpsed through a small window.
But he was always grateful for one thing: His life was far from a hardship, thanks to his sister—Enya. He harbored a deep-seated desire to protect her, even though he knew his limitations too well.
In the other hand, Enya and Ameren took a breather from their work and strolled indoors, only to find Noah standing in a daze by the window.
Ameren stepped froward to approach him, but Enya extended her arm before her, shaking her head. Ameren raised an eyebrow, soon concurring with a subtle nod.
"Sometimes...one must overcome their own vulnerabilities alone..." Enya whispered softly, her gaze fixed on Noah.
"Um, Enya. Did you get along with the knights of the training base?" Ameren asked while skillfully slicing vegetables. Enya, busy cleaning the table, let out a sigh. "Yeah," she replied. Ameren smiled, "That's good."
"And. What about your job in the library?" Ameren inquired further, curiosity dancing in her eyes. Enya grinned, "Oh. That was what I wanted to tell you. It's all clear! I have be assigned with a shift of three hours."
Ameren clapped her hands in delight, her enthusiasm contagious. "Oh. Brilliant! Enya, you rock!"
Enya shoved her hairs back, a confident grin on her face. "Oh yeah? This is no issue for me. Told you so."
This light hearted banter, was proof of a strong bond. It was moments like these that Noah cherished, the ones that infused their lives with a feeling of warmth and comfort.
...
Gradually the sun began to descent, the vivid hues of morning transformed into the warm welcome of evening. Shadows extended, radiating a golden shade over the landscape. From a brisk vitality of the early hours to a gentle calmness of twilight, the world's energy shifted.