บท 19: First Encounter

The grand hall of Zephyros Palace buzzed with the murmurs of the assembled nobility, their conversations a low hum beneath the tinkling of crystal goblets and the soft strains of the orchestra. The air was thick with anticipation, every guest aware that tonight was not just any ball, but the first official event to welcome Prince Eirik of Valeidio.

The prince who was to marry their own Prince Kaelix. Yet, as the minutes ticked by and the guest of honor had yet to make his appearance, the tension only grew.

Prince Kaelix stood near the head of the table, his posture rigid, his expression a mask of indifference. But beneath that calm facade, a storm of irritation brewed. He wasn't looking forward to this, meeting the Valeidio prince who was about to be forced into his life, into his home. The very thought of it rankled him, making his skin prickle with annoyance.

"Why the delay?" Kaelix muttered under his breath, his gaze flicking towards Captain Drystan, his closest confidant and the captain of his personal guard, who stood silently at his side. Drystan, ever the stalwart soldier, merely offered a slight shrug, his eyes scanning the room with a practiced ease.

"Maybe he's shy," Drystan replied quietly, though there was a hint of amusement in his voice. " Or perhaps the prince is nervous."

Kaelix scoffed, a sharp, derisive sound. "Shy or weak?" he retorted, his voice low and laced with disdain. He had little patience for weakness, and from what little he had heard, Eirik was delicate, fragile, hardly fit to stand beside him as a partner, let alone as an equal.

But then, the grand doors at the far end of the hall creaked open, and the room fell silent.

All eyes turned toward the entrance, where two figures stood framed by the doorway. The first was tall, commanding, with an air of authority that could only belong to a royal guard.

Sadiki, Prince Eirik's personal guard, was a striking figure, his brown skin contrasting sharply with the pale, shimmering robes of Valeidio.

His eyes were sharp, always alert, as he scanned the room with the gaze of someone trained to spot danger at every turn. Beside him, slightly behind, was Prince Eirik.

The first thing Kaelix noticed was the veil, an intricate, silver-embroidered piece of fabric that covered Eirik's face, obscuring his features from view.

A murmur rippled through the crowd, whispers of curiosity and skepticism. Kaelix's irritation spiked at the sight of it, his jaw tightening. A veil. Of course. What better way for the weak prince to hide his shortcomings?

But as Eirik began to walk down the length of the hall, something in Kaelix's mind shifted. He found himself unable to look away, his annoyance tempered by a flicker of something he couldn't quite place. Eirik's posture was impeccable, his movements graceful and controlled. There was no hesitation in his step, no sign of the weakness Kaelix had been so sure of. Instead, there was an air of quiet confidence that caught him off guard.

Kaelix frowned, his eyes narrowing as he continued to watch Eirik approach. Despite the veil, Eirik's presence was commanding, almost regal. It was as if the prince was gliding rather than walking, his every move deliberate and elegant. The nobles who had been whispering amongst themselves now fell silent, their eyes fixed on the veiled figure with a mixture of awe and confusion.

Prince Eirik dressed in his finest attire, a traditional Valeidio outfit that was both elegant and understated.

His robes were a deep purple, embroidered with silver threads that shimmered like starlight. As he made his way to the dining hall, accompanied by Captain Sadiki, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled over him since his arrival.

The dining hall was a grand room, that was decorated lavishly.

Tall pillars lined the room, each wrapped in garlands of evergreen and adorned with silver and gold banners.

Chandeliers hung from the high ceilings, their crystals casting a soft, shimmering light over the assembled guests. Long tables covered in white linen stretched out, laden with an impressive display of exotic dishes and gleaming silverware.

Eirik felt the weight of the nobility's gaze as he entered, their curiosity and skepticism palpable. The room fell silent for a moment, every eye fixed on him. Whispers rippled through the crowd, speculating about the mysterious figure who was to marry their prince.

Eirik knew, they expected him to be fragile, weak, unworthy of the strong and stoic Prince Kaelix. They expected him to be less. But Eirik had no intention of living up to their expectations.

He walked with purpose, his posture impeccable, his movements graceful and deliberate. Despite the veil, Eirik exuded an air of quiet confidence, a dignity that was impossible to ignore. He kept his head high, his gaze steady as he crossed the room, aware of every whisper, every skeptical glance, the doubts, the judgments. But they don't affect him one bit. If anything, they only fueled his determination to prove them wrong.

Prince Kaelix watched Eirik's approach with a mixture of annoyance and something else,something he couldn't quite place.

He had expected to feel disdain, maybe even a sense of superiority, but instead, he found himself... unsettled.

There was something about the way Eirik carried himself that bothered Kaelix, though he couldn't put his finger on it.

The veil, which he had initially seen as a sign of weakness, now seemed to only add to the enigma of the man approaching him.

Eirik could feel Kaelix's gaze on him, heavy and assessing. He had heard much about the Zephyros prince, his strength, his ruthlessness, his disdain for anything he perceived as weak.

Eirik had been prepared for a cold reception, but the intensity of Kaelix's gaze was unnerving. He had hoped that the veil would provide some comfort, a barrier between him and the judgment of others, but under Kaelix's scrutiny, it felt like a thin, fragile shield.

Kaelix's eyes were sharp, like twin daggers that seemed to pierce through the veil, searching for any sign of weakness. Eirik forced himself to remain calm, to maintain the composure he had practiced so many times. He couldn't afford to falter, not now, not in front of all these people. He reminded himself that he had faced worse, that he had survived far greater challenges than this.

Sadiki, ever watchful, noticed the tension in his prince's posture. He subtly stepped closer to Eirik, his presence a silent reassurance.

Sadiki was more than just a guard, he was a confidant, a protector, someone who had stood by Eirik's side through every trial and tribulation. His presence was a comfort, a reminder that Eirik was not alone in this.

As Eirik neared the head of the table, he finally came face to face with Kaelix. The two princes stood just a few feet apart, separated by the silence of the room and the weight of their own expectations. Eirik kept his gaze steady, though the veil prevented Kaelix from seeing the full intensity of his expression.

Kaelix's irritation flared. He had been expecting, hoping, even,for a sign of weakness, something he could latch onto, something to confirm his suspicions that Eirik was nothing more than a delicate flower.

But there was nothing. Instead, there was only this quiet, frustrating confidence that seemed to mock him. Who did this Valeidio prince think he was? Hiding behind a veil, walking into his palace with that composed, almost serene demeanor.

"Welcome to Zephyros, Prince Eirik," Kaelix finally said, his voice cold and clipped. He forced the words out, each one a struggle against the rising tide of frustration within him.

"Thank you, Prince Kaelix," Eirik replied, his voice soft but clear. It carried a note of formality, of politeness.