Even before stepping inside the vast chamber, Ayla sighed. The sight of her father always instills in her a sense of loss and sadness. Every time she laid her eyes upon the king, Ayla remembered her childhood.
King Acrisios El Valtiere sat at the head of a long, polished oak table. Tall and commanding, he is a figure that exudes both power and authority. His flame-red hair cascaded down to his broad shoulders, framing a face etched with the marks of hundreds of battles won. His piercing blue eyes, like icy flames, seemed to hold a glimpse of the fire that burned within him.
Looking at the man's eyes, Ayla felt gratitude, even if it was as small as a poppy seed. Her eyes were the perfect mirror of Acrisios' and were better than her mother's muddy ones.
Acrisios was a man of formidable stature, towering above most, and his presence was impossible to ignore. His broad shoulders and muscular build spoke of countless hours honing his body into as lethal a weapon as possible. His arms bore the remnants of past conflicts, a testament to his lust for battle and bloodshed. Scars crisscrossed his forearms, a tapestry of wars fought and adversaries whose necks he wrung with his bare hands.
Upon his face, two prominent scars cut across his left cheek, a permanent reminder of a fierce encounter. These rugged marks added a touch of aggressiveness and mystery to his visage.
Even with his innate battle-lust, King Acrisios carried himself with an air of regality. His presence commanded attention and respect but mostly fear, and his voice held a commanding timbre that could freeze dissent with a single utterance.
Ayla didn't pause her gait, even while analyzing the one person that could order her execution with the flip of a palm. She knew her father took great offense at his power being assessed by others, but Ayla also knew Acrisios loved being revered, just like a god would.
The room exuded an air of opulence, adorned with intricate tapestries and bathed in the soft glow of crystal chandeliers. Ayla walked around the long table and took her seat beside him, her expression guarded and her eyes sharp.
Acrisios glanced at his daughter for a few moments with a calculative gaze and tapped the wooden table with a rugged finger, the sound of it reverberating throughout the chamber. It was hard to believe one could create a sound as loud as that by merely tapping one's fingers, yet proof was right there.
Driven by the sound, the servants brought forth platters of sumptuous delicacies, tempting aromas wafting through the air.
Ayla took a moment and glanced to her right side, beyond Acrisios seat, and raised an eyebrow. "Is Mother not joining us?"
Acrisios took the large glass of wine brought by a servant and took a sip. "I wanted this meal to be shared only by me and my children."
Ayla nodded faintly, asking with fake curiosity. "Wouldn't this act offend Mother's family?"
The servants finished laying the food on the table and retreated out of the dining chamber with a bow. The king took his utensils and cut a slice of meat, still dripping with hot fat and juices. Ayla refrained from doing so, awaiting her father's answer.
"It might, or it might not. Doesn't bother me either way. Their mana formations seem to break increasingly faster, which bothers me to no end. I'm pouring massive amounts of money into their experiments, so they have no grounds for showing dissatisfaction with my actions."
"Yes, Father." Simply agreeing, Ayla started eating as well.
Unlike the king's plate, which was filled by the cooks with red meats, bread, and lots of mead, Ayla's plate was full of leafy vegetables and fruits, with the occasional white meat, such as fresh-water fish or poultry.
A few moments passed when neither spoke, causing Ayla to frown. She wanted to inquire why her father summoned her, but she couldn't ask it outright.
Instead, she asked about the prince. "Is Sevaran supposed to arrive today?"
"Yes. Yesterday I was informed Sevaran should arrive sometime at noon..." The king started but trailed off as his eyes focused beyond the chamber's closed doors. "It seems he arrived earlier than expected."
Ayla's hand paused in the air, causing the piece of chicken breast to almost fall off her fork. She paid no attention to this, instead focusing on the door before shifting her eyes to her father.
It was rare to see Acrisios make any genuine expression, yet that fact didn't apply when Sevaran El Valtiere came into discussion. The king couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from twitching upwards, noticing the large figure of his son approaching the dining room.
Ayla mentally sighed and stood up as the large double doors swung open, and a figure entered the room with an air of confidence and authority.
The princess bowed and formally greeted her brother but was ignored.
"Father," Sevaran started, his voice booming through the chamber, threatening to rupture Ayla's eardrums.
'Why am I related to idiots like these?' The princess silently lamented, occupying her seat once more. Without sparing even one more glance at her blood brother, Ayla resumed her meal while paying close attention to the conversation between father and son.
Not even noticing his sister's discomfort, the First Prince continued as if nothing happened and threw something on the floor. "I have returned from the north."
The object rolled and wobbled into the chandelier's gentle light, stopping after hitting one of the desk's leg. Open, frosted dead eyes looked back at Acrisios and Ayla, garnering a grunt of approval from the king.
"I see you succeed in your mission." Acrisios nodded, laying his fork and knife down, and motioned for the prince to take a seat between him and Ayla.
"Yes, Father. Our kingdom's borders have expanded, but I do not think we should end our fight here. We can push those barbarians back; I know it. Just lend me 500 more men, and I'll..."
Just as the prince began rambling on, Acrisios raised a hand, immediately quieting the prince. "Should I lend you more men - that is for me to decide. Now, let us enjoy a meal together."
As servants brought in more food, Acrisios opened his mouth and asked, forgetting that he had invited his daughter over too. "Tell me, Sevaran, what brought you home in such a rush?"
The prince's gaze locked with his father's, his voice unwavering. "Wailmastaba, Father. The unearthing of this ruin city presents a rare opportunity. I request your permission to lead an expedition..."
"No!" The king replied firmly. "I've already decided to let the nobles fight over the entrance rights."
Ayla watched the exchange between her father and brother, her curiosity piqued. She knew of the prince's ambitions. Maybe she could use his help in gaining more influence? It would certainly be a step toward her autonomy.
Despite the harsh rejection, the prince's eyes gleamed with relentlessness and stubbornness, his voice booming. "Father, I have faced the savage hordes of the north, and I won. The dangers within Wailmastaba mean nothing compared to that. With the city's power in our grasp, we can finally forge our kingdom into an empire that commands respect and fear."
Amelia observed the exchange, sensing an opportunity. "Father, perhaps granting Alexander access to Wailmastaba is a wise decision. We can act as observers and referees of the Royal Family, making sure the competition between the noble families remains fair. Plus, with the Royal Family's presence within Mastaba, we can advertise the competition to the masses, thus gaining back the money from annulling their taxes."
Acrisios glanced between his children, a calculating gleam in his eyes. Ayla's words brought up an interesting point. Previously, he wanted to regain his money by auctioning whatever the nobles excavated from Wailmastaba, but Ayla's proposition could also achieve the same goal.
Eventually, the king nodded. "Very well, Sevaran. You shall have your expedition. I will lend you fifty knights of the Silver Division. But make no mistake, you are not to step within Wailmastaba. Understood?"
The prince sighed before nodding. "Understood, Father."
Grunting in response, the king finally shifted his gaze to Ayla. "Ayla, I wanted to let you know that more and more families are showing interest in you. You are at the most suitable age to marry too. So tell me, do you have anyone in mind?"
Instead of answering outright, Ayla placed her utensils down. "May I know who shows this much interest in me?"
"Besides the nobles of our kingdom, several ducal families from our neighboring countries also sent propositions, but all this is old news. I've heard that major families from Eredar shifted their gazes upon my kingdom."
Although it was hard to believe, Ayla could have sworn she heard pride in her father's tone just now. Shaking her surprise, the princess started ruminating over Acrisios' words. "Eredar shows interest in Blackwater? Why?"
Ayla was genuinely confused. Eredar was thousands of kilometers away from Blackwater. Just the distance alone should serve as a detriment.
What's more, tensions began rising between the Northern Empire and Blackwater. Why would Eredar show any interest in a kingdom that could very well disappear after an imminent war?