House of Varian
Duke's Room
"I believe the Emperor would like to see you even if he doesn't send letters or henchmen to get you", Gilbert poured him wine.
He served it to Charles. "I fear that as Eleanor grows older, I won't be able to protect her further. Gil, would you like to marry her?", Charles asked. Gilbert slightly punched the back of his head. "I apologize. That's a joke I don't want to hear", Gilbert slightly flushed. "I know. You're still in love with her, aren't you?", Charles smiled at the thought of that woman.
"I will be heading back to the House of Franciscans tomorrow. Please don't tell Lady Eleanor about it this. Even if I want to spend more time with her, I just can't...", Gilbert grabbed the bottle of wine and chugged it. "Just tell me when you'll ask her hand", Gilbert broke the bottle with his bare hand.
"Once you step out of my house, you know I won't be able to do anything", Charles said in a serious tone. "I know that you hated your House. Corruption, Slavery, and Smuggling. Your house gained quite a reputation. Instead of it being handed over to your brother, you would take responsibility because you want to change it. You could have done it before... What's causing you to do it now? ", Charles leaned on his chair.
"Have you not noticed, Charles? Everything changed when lady Eleanor came back from death. The Council who hated Varian accepted a woman carrying that blood. The Crown Prince who had always been in the thread of his mother did something he wasn't asked to. That candidate, who had always been an intelligent woman, ran away. There's some kind of magic... That she owns", Gilbert smiled and left the room.
Council Building
Small Council Room
"That clown went missing again!", Fineil shouted and papers flew all over the place. "Pick it up, newbies", Rufus commanded. "Why should we?", Jenos sighed but did it anyway.
"Jenos! How is your work with the South?!", Fineil felt irritated. "I received a message from the Chancellor's aide. She said the damage had cost a million coins. The pirates managed to run away. She requested another month of acting as the overseer of that place", Jenos informed. "Call her back and relieve her from the position. The Crown Prince's coming of age is near. She needs to attend it", Fineil said with a calm voice.
"Who will be her replacement? I believe there are countless complaints filed in that area. Who will we send?", Rufus asked. Fineil looked at Eleanor. "Me?", Eleanor asked. "This will be the Crown Prince's day. He will also be announcing his wife to", Fineil looked into Eleanor's eyes intently. Eleanor felt like he was staring into her soul. "I won't cause any ruckus. I don't want to go to the South", Eleanor complained.
"Who said you'll be going?", Fineil sighed.
"You'd be staying at the Palace. The Royal carriage came here to drop by your things but I told them to send it back", Fineil informed. "Why? I don't want to work there anymore. Plus, getting involved with the Crown Prince like that...", Eleanor stopped when she noticed how the atmosphere suddenly turned dark.
"I apologize", Fineil stood up and faced the wall.
Eleanor was puzzled by the heavy look on their faces. "Hello! It seems that everyone is already rejoicing that our princess is here. You had pulled all-nighters to figure out who was pulling the strings", Ren entered twirling and showing off a fury coat he got from the North.
"And yet the Crown Prince took the cake of being the knight in shining armor", Ren added insult.
Stupid Clown?!
"You did... What?", Eleanor looked at them.
"Who cares who took the credit Everything went well", Jenos leaned on his chair.
"Then, High Council Fineil. Regarding my position in the Council... Are you keeping me out of this place because I'm a wo-", Eleanor's reckless statement was disturbed when Jenos slapped the papers they are about to discuss. "Are we just going to waste time here? I have a lot of things to do", Jenos said with irritation.
"Tch. You talk highly when the fact is that you're the newest", Ren slapped his brother's head. They argued for quite some time.
Eleanor gazed at the three empty chairs in the room. As of this time, there are 4 official High Councils in the Capital.
Fineil, the leader.
Ren, the secretary.
Rufus, the council for the audit.
Jenos, the representative of the capital Council.
The rest of the members have mysteries in their disappearances.
After the discussion, Eleanor stayed and watch Fineil silently walk around the room.
"Council Fineil", Eleanor called him out.
"My decision is absolute", Fineil said without even listening further. Eleanor thought it was wise to keep quiet this time.
Council Building Dining Hall
Eleanor entered and saw hostile stares from the other council members and apprentices.
She breathed deeply and sat at an empty table. The food in the council building is quite nutritious in nature. The cook must have put a lot of thought with regards to their diet.
"May I take my seat here, Council Eleanor? ", she looked up and saw a new face.
"Of course. The table is wide for one person to use", Eleanor forced a smile. He doesn't look like a council member or an apprentice. "It's a shame that you know my name but I haven't heard about you", Eleanor shrugged. "I guess the rumors were wrong", the white hair and scarlet eyes man covered his mouth to laugh. Eleanor looked around and saw people murmuring. "Ah~ birds of the same flock", Eleanor heard.
"I'm a guard of the Council Building. My name is Kiel. I just pushed my luck to have a small conversation with you. I'll be leaving then", Kiel took his tray and was about to stand. "Stay. I bet it's better to eat with someone", Eleanor permitted.
"I can smell some... Hostility here. Don't worry. I mean, I know most of it is for me", Eleanor chuckled and ate the broccoli. "When I heard that Duke Varian's daughter was here, I felt quite relieved", Kiel suddenly opened. In contrast to his tough look, he speaks with a voice of a delicate person. His voice mostly breaks because he doesn't have the opportunity to practice talking with someone.
"You're the daughter of the one who bathes this place with blood", Kiel said straightforwardly. A hand dropped on Kiel's shoulder.
"High Council. I will leave right away", Kiel was frightened to see the beige-haired High Council. He got up right away and left.
"High Council, want to eat with me?", Eleanor invited.
"You always end up concerning yourself with peculiar people", Fineil took her offer and sat in front of her. The crowd turned into stone and acted in their most proper manners.
"High Council, why is Kiel the only one with a different uniform?", Eleanor asked.
"You really like sticking your nose everywhere. Well, it's not a secret in this place. Kiel is a slave of this place", Fineil informed. "Slave?", Eleanor remember how neat he looked.
"Not that kind of slave", Fineil seems to see through her thoughts. "As long as this building stand, he will never be able to leave", Fineil added.
"Why is that so? I believe this kingdom already abolished slavery", Eleanor furrowed her brow.
"He's a remnant of the previous generation of the Council", Fineil said with bitterness in his tone.
Chapter end.