The journey to Einar had been nothing short of a trial.
From the moment we crossed the border into this dreary duchy, I'd been acutely made aware of the stark contrast between it and Scadrial.
Everything here was duller, less grand, as if the land itself had resigned to a life of mediocrity.
But of course, Licht saw none of this. His eyes sparkled with delight as he pointed out various landmarks and features, each one, according to him, more impressive than the last.
"Look, Kaltes! That's the Einar Forest, the one I was telling you about," he exclaimed, gesturing toward a dark, sprawling woodland on the horizon.
"Isn't it magnificent? The trees here are centuries old, some say they're as old as the duchy itself."
I nodded, maintaining a polite expression.
I found the forest rather unimpressive. The trees were gnarled and twisted, their bark a sickly grey compared to the rich, vibrant colors of the Vespertine forests.
I could hardly fathom how anyone could find this bleak landscape worthy of admiration.
As we neared the portal that would take us to Balzab, the capital city of Einar, Licht's excitement reached new heights.
The portal itself was a towering, shimmering arch of stone and light, crackling with energy. It was clearly meant to be an impressive display of magical prowess, but all it was little more than an ostentatious attempt to mask the otherwise unimpressive nature of this duchy.
"Ready, Kaltes?" Licht asked, his eyes alight with eagerness as he stepped toward the portal.
"Of course," I replied.
I had little choice in the matter, after all. The sooner we reached Balzab, the sooner this tiresome journey would be over.
We stepped outside the carriage where I was immediately welcomed by the chilly air of Einar, much to my wound's annoyance. The chill it sent up my spine wasn't very welcome at the moment.
We stepped through the portal together, and I was struck by a wave of nausea.
The sensation of being pulled through space was not unfamiliar to me—Vespertine had its own portals, of course, far more refined than this one.
But something about the way this portal functioned was... uncomfortably rough as if the magic was straining to hold itself together. It was a crude, jarring experience, one that left me feeling slightly disoriented as we came out on the other side.
Balzab greeted us with loud sounds and bright colors. How very 'Einar'.
The city was bustling, to be sure, but there was an air of disorder about it, a lack of the elegant structure and careful design that defined Vespertine as well as every inch of Scadrial.
The streets were crowded with people—commoners, mostly—who had apparently gathered to welcome back their dear Duke Einar.
"Ah, they must have heard we were coming!" Licht said with a wide grin as we were met with cheers and applause.
"They're always so welcoming here."
The people of Balzab seemed so easily pleased as if the mere sight of their duke was enough to brighten their otherwise dreary lives.
I offered a courteous nod to the crowds, though inwardly I found the whole spectacle rather nonsensical.
The noise, the press of bodies, the overwhelming stench of unwashed masses—it was all gathered in one place for what? Welcome the Duke? I'd run away if I was the Duke.
But the said Duke seemed to like it. His loud voice cheering with the mobs could be heard inside the current carriage we were in.
If not for the sheer force of will required to maintain my composure, I might have snapped then and there.
We finally reached the gates of Maria House, the estate of the Einar family.
Maria House was... well, it was certainly huge.
But that was all it was.
It was a far cry from the elegant splendor of Vespertine's Grand Ducal Palace.
The estate looked almost medieval, with its heavy stone walls, narrow windows, and an air of grim austerity.
The gardens were well-kept but lacked the vibrant beauty of the Vespertine gardens, where every flower bloomed in perfect harmony, each petal a testament to the meticulous care of our gardeners.
Here, the plants seemed to grow out of order rather than beauty.
"Welcome to Maria House, Kaltes!" Licht exclaimed, clearly proud of his ancestral home. "What do you think?"
"I think it's... charming," I replied, forcing myself to sound sincere.
"A fine estate indeed."
Maria House looked like something out of a history book—one that had long since been closed and forgotten.
The architecture was outdated, the decor painfully simplistic, and the entire place had a musty, stale odor as if it hadn't seen a proper airing in decades.
I was beginning to sympathize with the people who called Einar people savages.
As we entered the main hall, I took in the surroundings with a critical eye.
The floors were cold stone, the walls lined with tapestries that had clearly seen better days.
The furniture was sturdy, I suppose, but there was nothing luxurious about it.
Every chair, every table, every chandelier seemed to be there out of necessity rather than design.
It was as if the Einar family had collectively decided that comfort and aesthetics were frivolous concerns, and had instead opted for a more... 'direct' approach.
"Come, Kaltes," Licht said, gesturing for me to follow him. "Let's settle in the drawing room for some tea. It's been a long journey, and I'm sure you could use a moment to relax."
I nodded and followed Licht down a corridor lined with portraits of dour-looking ancestors.
The hallway was dimly lit, the only source of light coming from the small, flickering candles set in iron sconces along the walls. The air was thick with the scent of old wood and something faintly metallic.
We entered the drawing room, which, much like the rest of the estate, was functional but hardly inviting.
A large fireplace dominated one wall, the flames within struggling to cast warmth into the room. The furniture was arranged in a stiff, formal manner—no doubt intended to encourage proper posture rather than comfort. A heavy wooden table sat in the center, surrounded by high-backed chairs upholstered in a dark, unremarkable fabric.
It looked like the academy's detention room.
Licht moved to one of the chairs and sat down, smiling at me as if he hadn't noticed the utter lack of charm in the room.
The fireplace was roaring, but the chill in the air was undeniable. The walls, lined with faded tapestries and dark wood paneling, seemed to absorb what little light there was, giving the room a somber, almost oppressive atmosphere.
It was a far cry from the bright, airy drawing rooms of Vespertine, where the windows were wide, the drapes were light, and the furniture was as comfortable as it was beautiful.
A servant entered the room, carrying a tray with a tea set that looked as old as the estate itself. The silver was tarnished.
I barely resisted the urge to sigh as the tea was poured into the cups and handed to us.
Licht took his with a grateful smile, while I accepted mine with all the grace I could muster.
"Thank you," I followed Licht's words to the servant, who gave a small bow before leaving the room.
It seemed a norm here to undermine one's noble's status and offer pleasantries to commoners.
I took a sip of the tea, it was far too strong, with an almost bitter aftertaste.
"It's lovely tea," I said.
"I'm glad you like it!" Licht replied, taking a hearty sip of his own. "This blend is a favorite here in Einar. It's a bit stronger than what you might be used to in Vespertine, but I think it has a certain... character."
Character. That's one way to describe it.
Licht leaned back in his chair, his expression one of contentment as he stared into the fireplace.
"I've missed this place," he said after a moment. "It's good to be home."
"Home," I said. "It's clear that Einar holds a special place in your heart, Licht."
"It does," he said with a nod. "And I hope, in time, it will hold a place in yours as well, Kaltes."
I highly doubted that.
"Perhaps," I said. "Time will tell."
The conversation drifted on, Licht prattling on about the many wonders of Einar while I nodded along, making the occasional comment to feign interest.
The tea, which I had determined was more suitable for cleaning rust than for consumption, continued to steam in my cup.
I was just considering ending this charade when a soft knock came at the door.
A servant entered, moving with the kind of deference that spoke of years of servitude.
His eyes were downcast as he announced, "My lord Licht, I've brought Lady Himmel."
I looked towards the doorway, where a little girl stood, her tiny frame almost swallowed by the vastness of the doorframe.
She was clutching a white rabbit doll that was nearly her own size. Her small hands were gripping it tightly. Her raven-black hair flew down in soft waves, contrasting sharply with her pale skin. Her hazel eyes, so similar to Licht's and the Duke's, were wide and cautious as they darted around the room, taking everything in.
For a moment, I simply stared at her, processing the sight before me.
This... this was Himmel Einar?
My fiancée?
I had known she was younger, of course, but this... this was practically a toddler, not even a proper child yet!
The idea that our fathers had arranged a marriage between me and this tiny creature was almost laughable.
Licht, of course, was overjoyed at the appearance of this hermit. He leaped from his seat, his face lighting up with genuine affection as he rushed toward his sister.
"Himmel!" he called out, his voice filled with warmth and love.
He scooped her up with the ease of someone who had done so many times before, spinning her around in a display of brotherly adoration that I found both endearing and too loud for the activity.
"Licht," she said in a small, almost inaudible voice, wrapping her arms around his neck.
It was clear that Licht adored his sister more than anything in this world, and to be fair, she was a beautiful child, with delicate features that must have come from her mother's side.
This tiny thing, this fragile little girl, was supposed to be my fiancée?
How inconvenient.
A part of me could now understand why Licht had reacted so strongly when our fathers had announced the engagement.
As Licht settled Himmel into a chair beside him, I observed her closely.
She was watching me, though her eyes flicked away whenever I met her gaze.
Wary, perhaps? Or just shy? It was hard to tell, but there was something about the way she looked at me that suggested she wasn't entirely comfortable with my presence.
Himmel clutched her rabbit doll closer as she cast another glance in my direction.
For a moment, our eyes met, and I saw the confusion in her gaze as if she wasn't quite sure what to make of me.
She was such a tiny thing, barely more than a bundle of nerves and hesitant movements.
How could anyone look at this child and think she was ready for the responsibilities that came with being the future Duchess of Vespertine?
I was about to open my mouth to greet her with the polite, meaningless words I'd rehearsed in my mind when something unexpected happened.
Ting!
A familiar, almost irritatingly cheerful sound rang in my mind, followed by the appearance of a glowing blue inscription.
[DUE TO SKILL 'HIMMEL'S GUARDIAN', YOU CANNOT LIE TO HIMMEL]
How brilliant.
As if this situation wasn't already precarious enough, now this bloody system was conspiring against me.
I could feel the words forming in my mouth, the truth bubbling up against my will.
"This thing is so tiny," I heard myself say, the words slipping out before I could stop them.
There was a beat of silence in the room as the words hung in the air, my own voice echoing in my ears.
Licht froze, his eyes widening slightly as he processed what I'd just said.
Himmel blinked at me, her little mouth forming a small 'o' of surprise, and for a moment, I thought I might have actually shocked the child into silence.
I could feel my face maintaining its perfect mask of composure, but inwardly, I was cursing every deity that might be listening.
Of all the things to say in this situation, of all the possible words that could have been forced out of my mouth, it had to be that.