Everdale is an eastern kingdom surrounded by Ossian waters. It flows as the River Luminara, originating from Aerie Isle and flowing through the Everdale, culminating in Feathercave, making it the land of lush greenery.
Everdale is ruled by King Evander Dawnwing, a successor from the noble Eagle clan. His heir-apparent, Orion Dawnwing, is betrothed to the princess of Aerie Isle, and their wedding ceremony is set on the coming full moon.
People from the four kingdoms flocked to Everdale to take part in the Crown Prince's wedding ceremony. The port of Everdale has been busy for a few weeks with importing goods and welcoming significant officials from across the nations.
Inside the Everdale Castle, in the middle of the bridge that connects the east wing, stood Eros with his back casually leaned against the railings. His gaze fixed on a small building away from the main castle while his mouth hummed mellowly.
Suddenly, a massive eagle with its feathery wings flew in his direction and perched on the opposite railing. In a split second, the eagle shifted into a human: a man as tall as Eros stood there, his expression one of displeasure. The wind tousled his dark brown hair as he made his way to him.
"Greetings to the King of Dusthaven," the man said solemnly.
"Pleasurable morning, Crown Prince," Eros replied with a wide grin, as if he found something interesting in the man before him.
Orion observed Eros silently for a moment, his lips set in a thin line. "Keep your beak out of my business, Eros," he warned sternly.
Eros clicked his tongue in disapproval. "Is this how you address the King? It would be best if you had another round of disciplinary education, Orion," he remarked.
Orion chooses to ignore his words. "Go sing somewhere else," he said, walking away in the opposite direction.
Eros watched him leaving. "Always with that paralyzed face, how boring!" he tutted and whistled his way back to the castle, searching for the next prey to feed his amusement.
Inside Everdale's grand hall, the lively chatter of the people softened, and the jovial tunes in the background shifted to a melodious and charming tone filled with passion as if welcoming the man who arrived at the grand hall's entrance.
The men and women in the hall couldn't help but be mesmerized by the man, their gazes fixed constantly on him. Eros walked in nonchalance, his boots clicking sharply on the marble floor, carrying the power and the noble position he held above his head.
Hearts raced faster in anticipation, each longing for a single glance from him.
Why wouldn't they? The man is Eros La Velle, the youngest king of the southern kingdom, Dusthaven. Of the four kingdoms, Dusthaven alone was ruled by the younger generation, while the others still had their Crown Prince-in-waiting to claim the throne.
Eros is a man of power, wealth, and position, not to mention his irresistible look. It is his first public appearance since his coronation. His arrival in Everdale sent a wave of surprise and curiosity throughout the kingdoms.
Ignoring the people's stares, Eros walked straight to the cellar to grab himself a glass of wine. He leaned on the stonewall of the cellar and sipped his wine leisurely, a charming smile playing on the corner of his lips. People exchanged knowing glances as they saw Marquess Caelum Aetherwind of Everdale approach Eros with his youngest daughter.
Eros's smile broadened when his eyes fell on the people approaching him. He emptied the glass in a single gulp, a drop of red stain escaping from his mouth and trailing down his lips. He caught the residual drop with his tongue, dragging it slowly and deliberately along the seam of his lips. His eyes met the woman walking behind the Marquess.
Elowen, walking behind his father, caught his action and blushed furiously. Her gaze immediately sank to the floor. Even the Marquess, who witnessed his action, felt flabbergasted. His ears reddened with embarrassment, but he quickly composed his expression and approached him with a polite smile.
Eros stood there, swirling an empty wineglass in his hand. The faint light from the chandeliers cast shadows across his face, emphasizing his sharp features and giving him an air of mystery that only heightened his allure.
"It's a pleasure to see you here in Everdale, Your Majesty," he greeted Eros with a slight bow.
"Hmm. The grandeur of Everdale's celebrations has reached beyond Dusthaven, so I thought I'd take a break from my royal duties," Eros replied, his smile never flattering.
The Marquess laughed lightly and agreed with him. "I haven't seen your advisor, my king," he remarked, knowing well that the young man would rarely wander around without his advisor by his side.
"He is resting in a comfortable place, thinking of good advice for the prosperity of his kingdom," Eros said with a grin. His blue eyes then shifted to the woman standing behind the Marquess and asked, "And who might this lovely lady be?".
Marquess Caelum's eyes brightened at the question, and he wasted no time in introducing his daughter. "Forgive me for my negligence, Your Majesty. This is my youngest daughter, Elowen," he said in an enthusiastic tone, hoping the young king would take an interest in his daughter.
He didn't aim to make his daughter the queen of Dusthaven. At least a mistress or concubine position will do. Such a connection would elevate his status in society beyond imagination. Seeing the young man's eyes fixed on his daughter, the Marquess couldn't help but count the future benefits.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Elowen curtsied gracefully, her cheeks still flushed from his earlier action, though she dared to steal a quick glance at Eros.
Eros took his time studying her, his smile widening even further. "It was nice meeting you, Lady Elowen. You look like a pretty doll," he complimented, his voice as smooth as velvet.
Elowen blushed even more, but his compliment boosted her confidence. Her eyes darted up to meet him, and she said, "I am privileged to receive Your Majesty's compliment. I've heard Dusthaven's gardens are akin to paradise, and I hope to see them in person one day."
"Indeed," Eros boasted proudly. His eyes briefly glanced behind them toward the grand hall, where people chatted and danced beneath the chandeliers.
"The flowers in my garden are nurtured with meticulous care."
Elowen smiled, sensing an opportunity, and asked politely, "If Your Majesty doesn't mind, may I accompany you after the Crown Prince's wedding to see the flowers in Dusthaven? I am very much interested in…" Her voice trailed off into a shy whisper, but Eros's delight was unmistakable.
"Of course, my lady. Rami would be elated to hear this. Fortunately, he is also looking for a potential candidate to marry. You would be an excellent choice," Eros replied with a thoughtful expression.
Elowen blinked, not quite understanding his words. "Your Majesty?" she asked in bewilderment.
Eros raised his eyebrows. "What is it, Lady Elowen? You've expressed interest in my garden and are even willing to travel across the seas to see it. I thought you might also be interested in the person who nurtures those flowers."
He continued, "I assure you, Rami is the finest gardener across the globe. He will be thrilled to learn that the Marquess of Everdale's youngest daughter has taken a fancy to him. Fear not, my lady; I will discuss this with your king to initiate the diplomatic procedures."
With that, Eros excused himself, leaving Elowen standing there, bewildered and speechless.
Marquess Caelum gritted his teeth as he witnessed the exchange. He turned to his daughter and scolded her sharply. "I thought you were more mature and intelligent than your elder sister. That's why I brought you with me instead of her. But what have you done? How could a Marquess's daughter end up married to a mere gardener? You are such a wasteful resource," he stormed away angrily.
He needed to meet with the king before Eros could. No matter what, he would not allow his daughter to marry someone beneath his status.
Elowen stood there biting her lower lips, feeling wronged.
Meanwhile, at the rear of the castle near the kitchen, the goods purchased for the celebration were being inspected and organized by palace guards. The Head Chef oversaw the process, meticulously checking the quality of the goods and distributing the king's ransoms accordingly.
When he finished, he held the last ransom pouch in his hand and sighed deeply. He glanced at the man beside him, who wore an arrogant smirk and handed him the pouch.
"Here, the highest bounty belongs to you again. And this is the bet amount," the Head Chef said begrudgingly, passing over the extra money along with the bounty.
Gideon chuckled and patted the Head Chef's shoulder. "No need to be sour, Calder. Here's a small gift for you," he said, handing over a small bundle of cloth.
Calder looked at the bundle with curiosity and untied it. His eyes widened as he took in the content, a smile spreading across his face.
"F**k, where did you get this?" Calder exclaimed, inhaling the slightly sweet and earthy aroma of paprika with a hint of bell pepper.
"Tch… Tch… This is Gideon, the captain bib you're speaking to. There's nothing I can't do," Gideon grinned, weighing the bounty on his hands.
Calder rolled his eyes and carefully set the spices aside, treating them like a precious treasure. The hot paprika was rare and difficult to get, but the Crown Prince Orion had a particular fondness for its sharp, spicy flavor.
Thus, whenever Gideon visited the capital to deliver goods, he always asked him to get some if possible, and he never failed to come through.