The Fall Festival continued in full swing, the air filled with laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the vibrant sounds of music and celebration. Mikhailis remained seated beside Elowen, watching the unfolding festivities with an outwardly relaxed expression. But, even as he smiled at the sight of the children chasing each other, a sense of unease gnawed at the edges of his mind. Earl Vaelis Drakar was still nearby, seizing every opportunity to engage Elowen even after they annoying dance, and the longer it went on, the harder it became for Mikhailis to keep up his façade.
"Your Majesty," Vaelis said, his voice dripping with nostalgia, "Do you remember that evening at the old manor, just outside the capital? How splendid it was with the candles and that little dance we shared by the garden?"
