[Two hours before "the incident" in the palace of Takèif]
Radelaine, Geiyra, and their mother followed Lord Derktse to the palace's main door. It's a heavy double door made with iron metal and strong oak wood.
The place is filled with the finest ornaments that fit in the vast high and hand-painted ceiling. It's a depiction of history as anybody from Shaoghal can recognize, the horizontal scape and framed painting. In the painting were two kings and one queen fighting side by side to defeat the dark enemy.
Despite having fancy jewels and gold inside with all these enormous paintings made with such detail and texture, the palace doesn't seem as dreamy at all to Radelaine as she expected it to be.
The chandelier has made it gloomy. At first, you would think this kingdom is more focused on battles than actually providing peace. If it weren't for some chandeliers and wall-mounted candles, this hall the sisters were walking into would be grim.
As they finally entered the hall, there revealed to them a long room, higher than it is wide with a beautiful stone vault ceiling.
The great hall was already filled with guests in suits and gowns all coming from different sides of Takèif, with one common aspect among them, politicians and wealth.
All were a family of wealth.
King Carteph is indeed the weakest King among the Kings and Queen who ever lived in Shaoghal as he feeds himself glory from these families of wealth.
He is a King Council and a direct descendant of King Vardyr, son of the One King, the ruler of 5th Century Shaoghal.
It is still a mystery how he passed a law.
At the far end of the hall are two long dining tables placed facing each other at each side of the room and one royal table at the center.
Nobody was seated at the table but were standing in the open space made for musicians and jesters to entertain the guests while eating later.
As the family got too close to a group of nobles talking with each other, their presence was welcomed and finally, Lord Derktse can introduce his daughters to the young men of each family present in this banquet.
"Ah Lord Derktse Sarsheden, good to see you." Said the old man in a red-accented black suit filled with stars on his shoulders and medals on his chest. He is a battle warrior before, Radelaine thought.
"Yes! Sir Herelph Nemago, good to see you too. It's been a while. Here is my wife, and my two daughters." Lord Derktse responded and right away Lady Madelra extended her hands and introduced herself.
"I am Lady Madelra, and this is my two daughters Geiyra and Radelaine." The sisters then showed their faces and bowed to the sir.
"Hello, Sir Herelph." Both said and smiled in unison.
"I didn't know you had two daughters. But I have to say such beauty is one of a kind. Their stance is indeed alluring. What a great impression ladies."
The sisters looked at each other and smiled at the flattering comment of the sir. It's not every day that they get to be complimented by another Lord. But no one is as pleased to hear the Lord as Geiyra. She had a wider smile than Radelaine although she tries too hard not to in order to keep her genteel composure.
"I just can't help but introduce to you, my grandsons... Gentlemen, come closer." The Sir gestured his hand to the two men to give way for their introduction. An introduction that one of them has been waiting for for a long time.
"Greetings milady, I am Lord Phraselm Nemago, grandson of Sir Herelph, Lord of Little West." Lord Phraselm reached his hand for Radelaine and gently pushed his lips in the back of her brown crimson laced-glove hand.
Radelaine couldn't help but get flushed. She tried hard to keep her composure but the gentleman's eyes were locked on her. Radelaine couldn't do anything but get disarmed by his gaze. So this is what it feels like, she thought curiously.
"I am Lady Radelaine, daughter of Lord Derktse, Lord of Kilruin" She reverently responded.
"Of course." He said flashing thoughts to Radelaine that he knew of her.
"And I am Iuliān Troe, Lord Phraselm's cousin." Since Lord Phraselm still got the hand of Radelaine. He reached for Geiyra's and did the same for her delicate hand.
Radelaine removed her hand from the Lord when Iuliān was introducing himself to Geiyra. Lord Phraselm's hand is not getting comfortable for her. He on the other hand was just captivated by her beauty that he could not resist holding her hand longer. And as Radelaine did think, the Lord did know of her.
With their hands away from each other, Iuliān then reached for the hand of Radelaine to do the same but was somehow interrupted when Lord Phraselm suddenly cleared his throat. So instead, he just shook it.
"I am Iuliān Troe, nice to meet you." He said and flashed a smile that made Radelaine respond with a smile as well.
His smile was so carefree that Radelaine thought this sir is a perfect match for Geiyra and a delightful sight to see for Lord Derktse. Sir Herelph on the other hand, unlike the rest, got his eyes on his son to be paired with Lady Geiyra, the eldest and heir of the Sarcheden wealth.
"Ah! I remember Lady Geiyra playing the harp for the Pentecost feast a few years back, It was very beautiful," said Sir Herelph with such confidence with such knowledge he has said.
A misbelief from Sir Herelph made Lady Madelra softly laugh in confusion with her hands slightly covering her mouth. "Forgive me for laughing Sir, you must be mistaken. But my daughter doesn't play any instruments."
Sir Herelph seemed to be taken aback by his problematic memory but he was sure he did witness something of the likes. Lord Derktse is rather anxious that the Sir got offended. Being rude to the Sir was none of his plans to reckon with.
"It was I that you saw for the Pentecost feast Sir" Radelaine troubled that he be irked, revealed it was her on the feast.
"Yes, your Magistri did ask you to play with him for the Pentecost some time ago." Lord Derktse said as he pieces memories together. Some time ago, the father forgot she traveled out of their town for Pentecost.
"Master Bingen did want me to go with him and I played... the violin," Radelaine said and looked to the ground as she said those last words.
Sir Herelph cackled and the slight tension was finally sent off. "I got everything wrong, silly old me trying to talk with the young Lady Geiyra."
The conversation went on talking about the future endeavors after the Cartephian Code and how it could bring honor to the kingdom. Their kingdom has rather no exemplary accomplishments or victories in the past and somehow they were able to get the code approved.
[An hour before "the incident" in the palace of Takèif]
"I need a drink. Not wine." Lady Geiyra whispered to her mother. She is starting to feel light-headed. "Wine is the only drink the servers walk around with. Maybe it's on those tables, my dear." She glanced at the corner where food and drinks are served from.
"If you may allow, I can accompany you, Lady Geiyra," Iuliān said after he overheard Lady Madelra talking to her daughter.
Their father already introduced his daughters to all of the families present in the hall. As time passed, the sisters couldn't help but get numbed on their feet and feel tired from all the small talk they had to say. On her own, Lady Geiyra feels dizzy more and more.
They were getting hungry. Good thing the royal family finally entered the hall, initiating the start of the feast.
Along with the King are his Queen, two princes, and a princess. Such class, there is to these families. The gaze and their posture scream grace and power as their way are paved by their knights.
The princess glanced to the side at the familiar face as they did their entourage of the feast. The princess with a light smile acknowledged a friend that she made some time ago.
It was Lady Radelaine.
Lady Radelaine with a wide eye of startling and confusing surprise bowed as the royals passed by them.
The princess smirked at the revelation she did. The lady never really knew she was talking to the princess back then.