A proposal is the art of convincing someone that what you want is what they need.
A Proposal
Livius's court was nothing short of magnificent, with its towering arches and walls lined with silver filigree that shimmered in the soft, magical light. The air carried a hum of tension, whispers filling the space as Lil and I strode forward. Alex and Berti trailed just behind, their gazes darting around the room like two wide-eyed tourists.
"This place looks like it could host a royal wedding," Alex murmured under his breath, awe tinging his voice.
Berti leaned closer, his tone hushed but tinged with wonder. "Royal wedding? More like a royal treasury exploded."
Lil smirked. "Welcome to Livius's court. Subtlety isn't in the vocabulary."
Alex glanced at me. "Do you guys always meet in places like this? Because I feel like I should've dressed fancier."
"Just wait until you see the council chamber," I muttered dryly, keeping my focus ahead.
As we neared the council chamber, the weight of what was to come settled more heavily on my shoulders.
"Shay!"
I turned to see Gil and Iris approaching, their faces a mix of relief and worry. Gil looked like he hadn't slept in days, his face tempered by exhaustion. Iris's eyes, sharp and discerning, softened slightly as they met mine.
"How's Mose?" Gil asked, his voice low but filled with urgency.
I stopped, Lil slowing beside me. "He's stable," I said, keeping my tone even. "But he hasn't woken up yet."
The two apprentices recognizing Lil bowed right away. "Greetings, Myriad Mage."
From behind me, Alex and Berti were murmuring to one another, their curiosity barely contained. "Who are these two?" Berti asked, eyeing Gil's figure.
Alex shrugged. "I don't know. Friends of Shay?"
Iris's gaze snapped directly to him at that moment. She inclined her head in a graceful bow. "My name is Iris," she said, her tone crisp yet polite. "Nice to meet you, Subjects of the Hueless King."
Gil rigidly mimicked the greeting. "My name is Gil. Nice to meet you, Subjects of the Hueless King."
Alex blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected formality. "Uh... nice to meet you, too. I'm Alex. First time here."
Gil offered him a nod, his expression pure politeness. "Welcome. And your companion?"
Berti gave an awkward half-bow. "Berti. I'm just... here for support."
Iris's eyes flicked over them both, assessing them with that sharp gaze, but she said nothing.
"Understood," Gil said, his tone even and professional.
Lil nudged me lightly with her elbow. "You really brought these two here?"
"They'll adapt," I replied dryly. "Or they won't. Either way, they're here now."
"They don't need all the formalities," I said, addressing Iris and Gil. "Alex and Berti are my friends. Treat them as you would Rolo or Mose."
As someone who had studied under the infamous Sorcerer Lord, Gil was trained to be a perfect disciple. Before I spoke, Gil was the picture of formality: his back stiff, his hands clasped behind him in a rigid pose. His words were precise, his tone carefully neutral as though every syllable might be judged. It was the demeanor of someone accustomed to walking on glass.
After my words, the transformation was immediate and striking. Gil's shoulders dropped, and the tension that had tightened his frame vanished like a dissipating storm. His stance eased, and his clasped hands fell naturally to his sides.
"Thank God," he said, his voice carrying a warmth that hadn't been there moments ago. "Formalities are tiring."
The contrast was sharp—a man shifting from an image of the Sorcerer Lord's apprentice to the more easygoing person I knew.
"I like him," Alex whispered to Berti, nodding toward Gil. "Seems chill. The other one… not so much."
Berti's lips twitched in an almost-smile but he quickly schooled his expression as Iris glanced over.
"Is there something you'd like to share with me?" she asked coolly.
Alex straightened up, hands raised in mock surrender. "Nope. Just, uh, admiring the architecture."
Gil huffed a soft laugh, the sound barely audible, but the slight upward tilt of his lips betrayed his amusement. "Relax," he said to Alex, his tone reassuring. "She's not that bad once you get to know her."
"I'm right here," Iris said dryly.
"We need to keep moving," Lil said, her tone polite but firm. "Livius is waiting."
Gil nodded reluctantly. "Alright. But Shay—if you need anything—"
"I know," I said, cutting him off gently. "And I appreciate it."
Iris gave me one last look, a flicker of worry crossing her face before she nodded. "Good luck in there."
As we continued, Alex and Berti fell into step behind us.
Alex leaned closer to Berti, whispering, "So, is she scary, or am I just imagining that?"
Berti glanced at Iris's retreating form, then nodded solemnly. "Oh, she's definitely scary."
I pretended not to hear, though I couldn't suppress the faint smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. With that, we continued toward the council chamber.
As we stepped into the council chamber, the first thing I heard was Violan's voice cutting through the air like a dagger.
"…and this is the backdrop you chose? Livius, honestly, were you aiming for regal gravitas or a discount magic pawn shop? I can't tell!"
Livius pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly at the end of his rope. "For the last time, Violan, yes, this is the backdrop. No, I will not commission an entirely new tapestry overnight just to satisfy your artistic sensibilities!"
Violan huffed dramatically, pacing near the table with the kind of flair only he could muster. "I'm just saying, the public will think we're unpolished amateurs. I mean, look at this lighting—my skin would look flawless if we'd gone with my suggestion for softer enchantment glows."
By the wall, Mazen was leaning against a column, arms crossed, staring into the void like a man regretting every choice that had brought him here. His expression screamed, I should've stayed in bed.
Meanwhile, Livius's apprentices buzzed around the room like a flock of panicked birds. One was teetering on a ladder, adjusting an enchanted sconce that refused to stay lit.
"It's too dim! I need regal ambiance, not 'mysterious dungeon,'" Violan snapped, pointing dramatically.
"It's on the highest setting already!" the apprentice wailed, frantically tapping at the sconce like it owed him rent. "Master Violan," he added it hastily.
Another apprentice was arranging artifacts on the walls, muttering under their breath.
"No, no" Vio sighed. "The ceremonial orb has to go next to the sword of unity, or the symmetry will be ruined. Don't you people understand visual harmony?!"
"Forget harmony," Livius barked, his patience fraying. "Just make sure nothing explodes mid-broadcast!"
Violan turned his sharp gaze toward Livius again, clearly gearing up for another critique. "Oh, I assure you, Livius, if this room doesn't implode under the weight of your poor choices, it'll be a miracle."
At that, I glanced at Alex and Berti. Alex was squinting at the setup, trying to make sense of the chaos, while Berti leaned toward him and whispered, "Does this… always happen?"
"I wouldn't know," Alex muttered. "I'm still trying to figure out if this is a council chamber or the set of a low-budget historical reenactment."
The ladder-wobbling apprentice let out a yelp as the enchanted sconce flickered violently.
"Careful!" Livius snapped, running a hand down his face. "If you break that, it'll take a week to re-enchant!"
Violan smirked, his arms crossing as he leaned toward Livius. "You see? This is what happens when you ignore my advice."
The commotion only seemed to escalate as we made our way inside, and I caught Mazen's muttered words as I passed him.
"I should've stayed home," he grumbled, not even looking up.
I smirked. "You get used to it. Sort of."
Mazen shot me a deadpan look that could've curdled milk. "I don't think I want to."
Olie and Edie were already there, looking as though they were waiting for a ship to capsize rather than a meeting to begin. Olie's eyes met mine, and he offered a small, tired smile.
"Shay," he said, leaning into a dramatic sigh. "I didn't think I'd see you today, considering the circus going on in here. Can you believe they're making me sit with him?" He pointed a finger in Violan's direction, who was still engaged in a heated debate with Livius. "The greys will be one group, but I swear, sitting beside him is going to feel like an eternity. I'd rather spend the next hour with a handful of paper cuts, honestly."
Edie chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement as she gave Olie a playful nudge. "Oh, come on. We'll live."
Olie glared at him, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward. "You're one to talk, Edie. You'll be sitting right next to me, so I hope you're prepared for some epic eye-rolling."
Before I could respond, my attention was drawn to a tall figure standing near Livius, his posture stiff and dignified. He had raven-black hair and chiseled features that made him look as if he had been carved from stone. His eyes met mine for a brief moment, and I could swear I'd seen him among the white mages before.
"Ah, Shay, you've made it," Livius said, motioning for me to approach. Standing beside him, the man turned to face me, a calculating look in his eyes.
"Shay, this is Lord Valerus," Livius introduced with a note of formality. "He's the father of Calista."
Valerus bowed his head slightly, studying me with eyes as cold and deep as a winter's night.
"Greetings, Hueless King." His voice was deep, resonant, and laced with a sharp edge. "I've heard whispers that you have an interest in my daughter," he said, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes playing at his lips.
Why did he have to be so ambiguous? It sounded like I was some kind of predator, hungry for young mage girls. I looked down at Lil but she didn't look at me. Okay, I think I smell trouble.
I couldn't help but feel a twinge of tension as I met the man's gaze. "Lord Valerus," I greeted him. "I respect Calista's power. She's unlike any mage I've seen."
Valerus's expression didn't change, but the air between us seemed to shift. The room buzzed with the distant hum of conversations and the occasional thud of someone moving a piece of enchanted equipment. In that moment, surrounded by the noise and the strange mixture of anticipation and tension, I knew this meeting was going to be more complicated than I had initially expected.
The room seemed to freeze as Valerus's words hung in the air, his voice cutting through the murmur of the crowd. "I have come with an offer," he said. "An alliance, of sorts. I propose a union between my daughter, Calista, and Shaytan, the Hueless King."
The silence that followed was thick, almost tangible. Eyes widened, mouths fell open, and even Violan paused mid-argument to stare at Valerus with wide, incredulous eyes.
Mazen, who had been leaning against the wall with an air of utter disinterest, suddenly dropped his hand from his face and let out a long, exasperated sigh. "Oh, for the love of—," he muttered under his breath, and I could almost hear the eye roll in his voice.
Lil's gaze shifted from Valerus to me, her brows knitting together as she tilted her head. A bemused smile played at her lips, but it was tinged with irritation. "Well, that's one way to make an entrance," she whispered, half amused, half exasperated.
I swallowed hard, trying to process what I'd just heard. An arranged marriage? With Calista? The last thing I expected today was to get such a proposal.
"Lord Valerus," I said, my voice steadier than I felt, "I'm honored by your offer, but—"
Valerus cut me off with a wave of his hand, the gesture as dismissive as it was confident. "Think of it as an opportunity, Your Majesty. Please give it some thought."
A snicker escaped from behind me. It was Alex, his eyes wide as he whispered to Berti, who looked like he was about to choke on the laughter he was stifling.
I glanced around the room. The awkward silence that followed Valerus's offer seemed to stretch into eternity.
"Lord Valerus," I began, voice steady but edged with a hint of playful defiance, "I appreciate the offer, but I already have my eyes on someone."
Lord Valerus's eyes narrowed, his expression shifting from bemusement to something more calculating. He glanced at Livius, who looked like he was preparing to step in but decided to let me speak for myself. Valerus's voice, deep and smooth, filled the room with an air of gravitas.
"Hueless King, who could compare to Calista?" he said, his gaze as sharp as a blade. "Let me tell you more about my family, a lineage steeped in power and elegance. We, the Fortis bloodline, are known for our adaptability in battle, our strength reinforced by the crystalline magic that flows through our veins."
"Calista, my daughter," he continued. "has been raised with the finest tuition, mastering both the nuances of noble diplomacy and the raw power of her crystalline magic. A mage of her caliber deserves the highest regard. She is an exemplary personal apprentice of the Sorcerer Lord himself and I daresay she would be of unparalleled merit to any ruler."
"True," I said, allowing my eyes to flick to Valerus, the smile still in place. "But I think I've made it clear that I am interested in someone else."
A collective gasp swept through the room, and Valerus's perfectly composed smile twitched at the corners. Livius, quick as ever to play damage control, cleared his throat and leaned forward, hands clasped in front of him. "I think we can all agree that alliances—"
"But who?" Violan's voice cut through Livius's, a sharp note of irritation ringing in the air.
I could almost feel the tension radiating from Violan as he pressed his hands to his hips, eyes narrowed in impatience. His usual nonchalance was replaced by an expression of barely contained annoyance. "Who is it, Shay? Come on, spill. You're not getting out of this one."
Mazen sighed so deeply I was half-convinced he'd drawn the air out of the entire room. "This is going to end poorly," he muttered, half to himself.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Alex and Berti exchanging looks, their eyes wide and mischievous. Alex's lips twitched as if he were holding back a laugh, and Berti was struggling not to snicker, fingers pressed to his mouth in an attempt at restraint.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you just yet, Violan," I said, smirking at the way his eyes twitched in frustration. "It's still… complicated."
"Complicated?" Violan repeated, his voice rising. "Shay, you've got an entire room of mages and nobles hanging on your every word. Don't leave us in suspense. This isn't fair."
"Fair?" I raised an eyebrow, the teasing smile still in place. "Violan, when have I ever played fair?"
The sudden shift in his demeanor sent a ripple of silence through the room as if everyone were holding their breath, waiting for the next move. Livius's brow furrowed, and I could see the quick, calculating flicker in his eyes, trying to decide whether to step in or let this play out.
Violan's eyes narrowed, his smirk sharp and knowing as he stepped closer, the air between us practically vibrating with the unspoken challenge. "Exactly," he said, his voice dropping low, dangerous. "And that's what makes you so infuriatingly compelling."
I shrugged, letting the smirk stay in place as I met his gaze. "Wise choice of words."
A ripple of amused gasps moved through the room, and I felt the eyes of Alex, Berti, and even Mazen shift between us, expressions a mix of shock, confusion, and barely contained laughter.
Lil coughed, clearing her throat loudly to break the moment. "As entertaining as this is, perhaps we should refocus on the reason we're all here?"
I met Violan's eyes again, the challenge there still smoldering. I chuckled and looked at Lil. "Of course. But I'm always happy to put on a show," I said with a wink.
"Just don't forget who's in the front row," Violan replied, an edge of playfulness to his tone that betrayed just how much he was enjoying this.
Mazen shook his head, muttering under his breath, "I'm too old for this. I really am."
Alex leaned toward Berti, his grin wide. "Best meeting ever, right?"
Berti nodded, eyes sparkling with anticipation.
I turned my attention back to Lord Valerus, a flicker of distaste flashing across his features before he quickly smoothed it out with a practiced smile. His eyes, dark and sharp as the feathers of a raven, met mine with an intensity that felt like it could cut through steel.
I winked at him, the playful smirk still curled at my lips. "Don't worry, Lord Valerus, this is for the best. I'm sure you wouldn't want your precious daughter ending up in the hands of a playboy like me."
The silence that followed my words was almost tangible, but it was shattered by the sound of Alex and Berti erupting in laughter from the background. Alex's laughter was loud and brash, almost a full-throated cheer, while Berti's was the quick, stifled kind that threatened to turn into snorting if he didn't catch his breath.
Mazen, who looked like he'd just witnessed the collapse of civilization, shook his head slowly, the exasperation radiating from him like heat. "Why do I always get dragged into these things?" he muttered, though the slight twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed the amusement that was struggling to break through his otherwise exasperated demeanor.
A small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Lil's lips, and for a brief moment, it looked like she might actually be entertained.
"Honestly, I don't know what to do with all these suitors. It's getting out of hand. There was this one ball, a vampire gathering—I thought it was just a simple social thing, you know? But the moment I stepped out, it was like I had a target on my back. By the next morning, I had enough proposals and love letters to paper the whole of Livius's council chamber. It was so bad that I had to move to a new address," I threw my arms up, feigning exhaustion.
A ripple of laughter broke through the room, with Alex and Berti clapping each other on the back as if they were watching a performance. Mazen buried his face in his hands, shaking his head with a muttered, "This is why I don't come to meetings."
But the true drama came from Violan. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he leaned forward, placing a hand on his chest as if wounded. "You know," he said, his voice dripping with mock envy, "I'm am a bit jealous of you, Shay. I should be the most popular!"
He turned to the others with a pointed look, eyebrows raised as if daring them to disagree.
I couldn't help it—my eyes flicked to him, and then I let out a loud laugh, the kind that echoed through the stone walls. "I see, Violan, your ego's taking a hit. Don't worry, we'll make sure the next ball is one where you can truly shine as the object of everyone's affection. I could really take a break from the constant spotlight."
Lord Valerus, who had been watching this entire exchange with thinly veiled disbelief, cleared his throat. "Well, it seems my daughter has... quite the competition."
Violan's scowl was gone, replaced by the glint of triumph. "Just don't forget who the prettiest man is when all of this is over, Shay. I'll be waiting for my next proposal."
I smirked. "You wish, Vio."
"A spirited group, indeed," Lord Valerus muttered, glancing at Livius as if to say what on earth have I walked into?
Violan leaned forward, eyes gleaming with challenge. "Oh, I don't just wish, Shay. I'm a man of substance. I can't be forgotten. Just remember, I'll be right here, waiting for that proposal." He winked, and the entire room erupted in more laughter, this time even Livius snorting as he tried to contain himself.
"Well, my schedule is packed as it is," I turned to look at Violan. "And it's not one that involves a marriage proposal. Sorry, Little Master."
Violan's mouth dropped open in mock offence, and Alex, who had been standing at the edge of the group, couldn't suppress a snicker. Berti elbowed him, trying to stifle his laughter while shooting a grin in my direction.