Aradian Calender 1674, Early Spring, Month of the Saint

Springtime Ball, Capitol

"Ah, Lady Tipton! It has been a long time, has it not?"

"Oh yes, Lady Wenche! Such a delight to be meeting you here! I heard that your son just received his invite to the Royal Academy?"

"Yes, he did. I am immensely proud of our little boy."

"That is such a wonderful news."

"Say, have you heard of the talks in the circle?"

"Is it about the Lord Margrave's wife caught with the manor guard?"

"No, that is old news. I heard that Lord Margrave is to send her away to the countryside or perhaps to Lorna."

"To Lorna, you say? How saddening. But what is this new talk you mentioned, if not this scandal?"

"Of the Vaneheim Duchy's Lord."

"The Dark Beast?"

"Hush, you mustn't be caught calling the His Excellency the Archduke that!"

"Ah, I apologize…"

"It doesn't matter, I am your friend after all. It is good that none of the Archduke's ears heard that."

"Yes, yes. Very true. So what happened to the His Excellency the Archduke? I heard he came back from the borderlands victorious a while ago."

"He did. But did you know that he may grace the capitol soon?"

"Gasp. Surely that is just hearsay!"

"I assure that this information is credible. I hear the Imperial family is scrambling around in anxiousness. His Highness the Crown Prince is gathering his aides to discuss countermeasures against the Archduke."

"I can only imagine how worried the Imperial family is. After all, Vanehiem is a titan stronghold preceding the Empire itself. And every generation of Dukes born to House of Nightshade is equally as ferocious to defend the Vanehiem territory."

"But I believe—nay, its common knowledge that the current Lord Nightshade is the most vicious of them all. I fear that the flames of war may soon reach the steps of Helios as well."

"Sigh. There is not much to be done other than to offer prayer to the Goddess."

"You are right, Lady Tipton. We as Countesses can only offer up prayers."

"Say, I had heard that Archduke Nightshade is very attractive man…"

"Truly?"

"Mhm. I heard from Marquis Devrove's concubine Bellaria, that her maternal Viscount is a Vanehiem Duchy vassal. Concubine Bellaria had once seen the Archduke and said that he was the most perfect nobleman she had ever seen. Tall, dark and devilishly handsome she says."

"It is true that they say a concubine would never be a wife. Such a lack of decorum to say such scandalous words about another man while being married to Marquis Devrove!"

"I agree. She thinks that she is the most beautiful woman in Aradia just because the Marquis favors her nowadays."

"Anyway, if what she says is true then I cannot wait to meet His Excellency the Archduke soon enough."

"Ah, so am I! After all, such a strong man well-versed in magecraft and swordplay is bound to be a sight to look at and dream."