[Imperial Palace — Hall of the Seven Pillars — Late Morning]
The Imperial Palace had survived wars, rebellions, assassination attempts, and the occasional disagreement between the Seven Guardian Temples, yet, by the seventh hour of the morning, it had become painfully clear that the palace was not equipped to survive gossip.
Servants whispered behind gilded screens. Guards exchanged suspicious glances whenever they crossed paths. Even the court officials, who had spent their entire lives mastering the art of keeping their expressions neutral, seemed incapable of looking at one another without remembering the previous evening.
And at the center of it all was one particular incident.
The Malik of Eshkaran had kissed the Azram of House Veyrath, accidentally, of course; at least that was the official explanation.
Whether anyone believed it was another matter entirely.
Inside the Imperial Council Chamber, Malik Zayrakh Azrath sat upon his elevated seat, listening to the report of the Minister of Finance.
He had been listening for approximately twelve minutes, and he had understood perhaps three sentences.
Not because the report was complicated, but because every time the minister paused, the man standing beside the bronze pillars seemed to be struggling with a smile.
The Malik’s amber eyes slowly shifted towards him, and the smile vanished.
"Continue," Malik instructed.
"Y-yes, Malik."
The minister cleared his throat and resumed his report.
Malik leaned back, resting one hand against the armrest. His expression was perfectly composed, his robes immaculate, and his dark hair arranged with the same precision as always.
There was only one problem: every person in the chamber knew what had happened, and every person in the chamber was pretending not to know.
It was an intolerable situation.
"Is there something amusing about the Imperial Treasury?" Malik asked suddenly.
The minister of finance stiffened. "N-no, Your Majesty."
"Then why is Lord Hazar smiling?"
The unfortunate lord immediately lowered his head. "I was merely appreciating Malik’s wisdom."
"How fortunate. I was beginning to think you had developed a sense of humor."
A few officials lowered their eyes. Malik’s fingers tapped once against the armrest. "Since everyone appears to have so much free time, perhaps I should assign the council a more productive task. We have several years of neglected tax records awaiting examination."
The smiles disappeared.
"Every last one of them," Malik added pleasantly.
The minister of finance looked as though he had just received a death sentence.
"Malik, the records are being reviewed."
"Then review them faster."
"Yes, Malik."
Malik returned his attention to the report, at least he attempted to because the moment he glanced towards the entrance, the image of silver eyes, dark hair, and an utterly infuriatingly calm face flashed through his mind.
His jaw tightened.
Vaerun Veyrath.
Of all the people in the empire, why had it been him? Why after he decided to let his one-sided love go? And why, by the Seven Guardians, had he looked so composed afterwards?
Malik pressed his thumb against his temple.
He would never speak of it again.
***
[Imperial Palace — Eastern Reception Chamber — A Short While Later]
"Malik, the Azram of House Veyrath has arrived with his daughter."
Malik Zayrakh Azrath straightened slightly in his seat. His expression remained composed, his posture immaculate, and his amber eyes fixed upon the attendant.
"Let them enter."
The doors opened.
Vaerun entered with his usual unhurried stride, dressed in dark ceremonial robes embroidered with delicate silver patterns. His dark hair rested neatly against his shoulders, and his expression was as unreadable as ever.
At his side walked a Seyra in a carefully arranged dress, her small hand tucked comfortably into his. Her violet eyes wandered across the magnificent reception chamber, taking in the bronze pillars, the carved cedarwood screens, and the magnificent furnishings. She looked thoroughly impressed.
Then her gaze landed upon the man seated at the center of the chamber, Malik. The moment their eyes met, Malik’s fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the armrest.
For one treacherous instant, his mind supplied an image he had been desperately trying to forget.
Silver eyes, dark hair, an unfortunate collision...and lips.
His jaw tightened.
Vaerun, meanwhile, had noticed Malik’s sudden interest in the armrest. He politely directed his gaze towards the floor, then towards the bronze pillars, before finally settling on a decorative vessel beside the window.
The vessel was, apparently, very interesting.
"Greetings, Malik," he greeted, bowing his head.
Their eyes met, and for the briefest moment, both men looked away.
Seyra noticed.
Oh?
Her little mouth twitched. Was this how adults behaved after kissing? How fascinating.
"Greetings, Malik! It’s a wonderful morning," she greeted cheerfully, offering a small curtsy.
Malik’s expression softened at once. "Good morning, Lady Seyra."
She smiled sweetly before looking between the two men. Vaerun was examining the room. Malik was examining the tea table; neither seemed particularly interested in looking at the other.
Seyra’s smile widened.
’Oh, this was going to be a wonderful morning.’
"Take a seat," Malik instructed, gesturing towards the cushioned seats.
Vaerun guided Seyra towards one of them before taking the seat opposite the throne. A servant soon arrived with refreshments, placing a small plate of honey cakes in front of the child.
Seyra’s eyes brightened; she immediately picked one up. Malik watched her take a bite before clearing his throat.
"Do you know why I summoned you?"
Seyra chewed thoughtfully. "Because you missed Papa?"
. . .
. . .
Both men flinched as Vaerun lifted his cup. Malik’s gaze shifted towards the child, grateful for the opportunity to look at someone other than the man opposite him.
"No."
"Oh." Seyra took another bite. "Then because you missed me?"
A faint twitch appeared at the corner of Malik’s mouth. Vaerun quietly lowered his cup. "Malik, perhaps we should begin with the matter you intended to discuss."
"Yes." Malik straightened. "Indeed."
He folded his hands before him, relieved to return to a subject that did not involve remembering the previous evening.
"Last night’s incident has caused considerable disturbance throughout the palace. I have already issued instructions prohibiting the circulation of unauthorized accounts of the banquet."
Seyra raised her hand.
Malik looked at her with immediate suspicion.
"Yes?"
"Does that mean nobody can tell the story?"
"It means nobody is permitted to spread rumors."
She considered this carefully. "Can they tell the truth?"
Across from her, Vaerun lowered his gaze to his tea. Malik’s expression stiffened. "Especially the truth."
Seyra nodded solemnly, as though committing an important imperial decree to memory.
Then she leaned towards Vaerun and whispered, in a voice that carried quite easily across the small table, "Malik is embarrassed."
"Eat your honey cake."
"But his ears were red yesterday."
Malik’s fingers curled against the armrest. Vaerun took a slow breath. Seyra lowered her head, hiding a delighted smile behind her honey cake.
’Hehehe...the Malik was suffering, and Papa was suffering too...wonderful.’
Malik cleared his throat and deliberately shifted his attention to the documents resting on the table. "Now, regarding the other matter, I would like to speak with the Azram alone, Lady Seyra."
Seyra paused halfway through another bite of her honey cake.
Alone? Her gaze travelled from Malik to Vaerun, then back again. A slow, knowing smile crept across her little face.
’Oh? Was the meeting finally becoming interesting?’
"Alright," she replied, swallowing her bite. "I will look around the palace."
Vaerun immediately looked at her.
"You will not wander off."
"I won’t, Papa."
"Stay within the palace gardens or the eastern corridors. Do not approach unfamiliar people, and do not touch anything you are not supposed to."
Seyra nodded with exaggerated seriousness. "Yes, Papa." "And Veyra will accompany you."
With that, Vaerun closed his eyes.
A faint current of air stirred the curtains. The silver markings on the floor shimmered briefly before a magnificent white leopard materialized beside Seyra. Her pale coat gleamed beneath the sunlight filtering through the lattice windows, and her golden eyes swept across the chamber with the quiet authority of a Guardian.
Veyra lowered her head, releasing a low growl.
Seyra blinked. Veyra blinked back; for a moment, the little girl and the enormous leopard simply stared at each other.
The leopard gave a soft rumble.
Seyra beamed as she turned towards Vaerun and waved again. "Alright! I’ll see you later, Papa."
"Behave yourself."
"I always behave!"
Vaerun gave her a long, unimpressed look. Seyra ignored it. Instead, her violet eyes wandered towards Malik, who was still making a determined effort to concentrate on the documents in front of him.
Then she glanced at Vaerun and a mischievous grin spread across her face.
"And..." she began sweetly, drawing out the word as she looked between the two men, "...I hope you have a good time together."
. . .
. . .
The room fell silent.
Seyra’s grin widened.
’Hehehe...a direct hit.’
"Lady Seyra," Malik began, his voice carrying the strained patience of a man addressing a particularly troublesome court official, "it’s nothing like that."
"Seyra, would you like a flick on the head this time?" Vaerun asked.
"No!"
"Then I suggest you leave before I reconsider."
"Alright, alright! I will give you some privacy."
She hurried towards the doors, her little shoes pattering against the polished stone. Veyra followed at her side, her enormous paws making barely a sound. Just before disappearing into the corridor, Seyra turned around one last time.
"Don’t forget to be nice to each other!"
"Seyra!"
Her laughter rang through the corridor as she finally disappeared, the white leopard following close behind.
The doors closed and for the first time since Vaerun had entered the chamber, the two men were truly alone.
Malik remained motionless for a moment, then he slowly lowered his gaze to the documents. "Seven Guardians preserve me."
Vaerun lifted his cup, his expression perfectly composed. "I believe that is what I have been praying for since adopting her."
A brief silence settled between them.
Then Malik leaned back in his seat. The trace of amusement vanished from his face, and his amber eyes grew cold once more. The familiar presence of the Malik of Eshkaran returned, heavy enough to silence an entire council chamber.
"Now..." he began, his gaze settling upon Vaerun. "What exactly is Kassur Nabu planning?"
Vaerun did not answer immediately, he studied Malik for a moment before leaning back in his chair, his silver eyes narrowing slightly.
"He believes you are somehow involved in the illegal Aether Core experiments."
Malik’s expression remained unchanged. Vaerun continued, his voice calm but deliberate.
"And I would like to ask you something, Malik. Why were several parchments bearing your Imperial seal discovered among the documents connected to this operation?"
For the first time since their meeting began, Malik said nothing, the question hung between them and the doors of the Eastern Reception Chamber remained firmly closed.