As they made their way outside, there truly was a lot more to see and do out here. All Sun could wonder was how much coin went into this while the king had subjects starving on the other side. Maybe the people up North had the right idea. She inwardly cringed at the thought; they'd nearly killed a boy she considered her brother. Any compassion or understanding she might have had for their cause died a quick death as she remembered him lying in that infirmary bed. Despite all the healing, he would be left with massive scars.
She could see the appeal of the circus, though; the performers were amazing, and dancing with fire looked far more interesting to learn than the ballroom dancing lessons she'd had to endure. High above them, tightrope walkers and trapeze artists entertained a captivated crowd.
Emily swiped a couple of drinks for them off a passing tray as they meandered their way across the grounds, stopping now and again to watch anything particularly interesting.
"Was meeting the king everything you dreamed it would be?" Sun asked.
Emily's smile stretched wide. "It was all right, but did you see the Prince? He's so handsome."
Sun had caught a glimpse of him from his place at his father's side. She supposed he was handsome, but he looked even more arrogant than his father and entirely disinterested in what was going on.
"What about you? Do you have your eye on anyone? Being from the houses we are, we do basically have our pick."
"Maybe you do," Sun said. "Given my background, I can't see anyone chomping at the bit to offer marriage."
"I suppose it is true some people might take issue with your origins," she conceded.
"And I'm glad of it. I'd rather not marry at all. And Kalys has assured me I'm hardly wife material, so he isn't seeking a groom either."
"You want to be a spinster? Don't you want children? A husband? Stability?" It was almost a gasp.
Sun opened her mouth to reply, not quite sure what to say to that. "I can't say I've given it much thought. Being in the Academy, I've been far too busy, and then everything with the Illusens... Beyond not wanting to get married right now, I haven't really thought on it."
Sun took in the expression on Emily's face.
"Don't give me that look; I'm not the odd one here. At the Academy, the women there aren't thinking of marriage either, or at least it isn't a priority. You're the first one I've ever met so keen on the idea."
"I suppose we just come from two different worlds," she said simply. "Although you're part of this one too now. It must be difficult to navigate."
"My brother seems to manage fine," Sun pointed out.
This made Emily laugh, a genuine tinkle of amusement. "He's a man. That's an entirely different world as well, with far fewer rules and restrictions."
"Hey," Nathaniel took issue, but Emily just shot him a look.
"If you were to go off alone with your friend, would someone need to keep an eye on you?"
He shoved his hands into his pockets and gave the most discreet eye roll Sun had ever seen.
"So it's a rule he has to babysit us?"
"Chaperone," he corrected. "In case someone tries to harass you, or gets too forward, decides to take liberties with two unescorted ladies."
"It might be a bit difficult in this dress, but I think I could take him depending on who it is," Sun said, indicating her cast. "Use my cast as a club."
"That's right, you're trained to fight," Emily said. "Sun could take care of us."
"That's not happening. I told your brother I'd keep an eye on you; he would impale me on his ice spikes if even a hair on your head was out of place."
She wouldn't have thought someone of equal standing with her brother would be afraid of him. Or that they think he would go so far in defence of her. Though, he had just threatened to cut out the tongues of those who would disparage her. But Nathaniel wouldn't have known that, and the people doing the insulting were lower ranked than Kalys.
They let the conversation rest, instead focusing on the entertainment all around them. But it was true; she and Emily were never alone. And when she looked around, no lady was on her own; she always had an escort, either on her arm or watching at a short distance.
She knew it wasn't entirely for physical protection, but a lot to do with protecting reputations. Sun hadn't realised how stringently they adhered to it. And how ridiculous that a woman alone with a man could have her reputation ruined, the course of her life altered over what could have been nothing—what was most likely nothing. Common folk were a little less concerned about a woman's previous bed partners, and the mere possibility of impropriety wasn't even a consideration. To Sun, the wealthy elite really seemed to have their priorities wrong.
By the time Sun and Emily made their way indoors, they were a little bit tipsy. The colourful fruity concoctions they'd been downing didn't even taste like they had alcohol in them. Sun hadn't thought they had at first; it was Nathaniel forcing them to slow down that made her realise.
Before they got inside, though, they were met by Kalys and their grandfather. Jinn gave her a warm smile, leaning down to peck her on the cheek.
"You look stunning, Sun," he said.
"Hello, Grandfather, you look rather dashing yourself."
The Illusen men truly had great genes; not only were they devastatingly handsome, but they also aged well. She was not attracted to her grandfather in the way she was to her brother, a small mercy she was grateful for. Whatever this madness was, it was only over her brother and not every blood relative she came across.
"Well, thank you, Sun. We were just coming to find you."
"Is something the matter?"
"No," Jinn replied. "Just catching up with you."
"Have you eaten yet?" Kalys asked, eyeing her face critically.
She could feel the heat in her cheeks, flushed from the alcohol. "Not yet."
"Come."
He probably wanted her to soak up some of that alcohol. He rested his hand at the small of her back and guided her inside. Emily and Nathaniel excused themselves, seeing their father beckoning them over.
Sun wanted to ask Kalys about his conversation with Lord Tannivh, if he would truly be sending his Division up north and if he would be going with them. The thought unsettled her, being left all alone in the manor. Obviously she would have Mika and the staff, but it wasn't the same. He was the one with all the power and knew what to do in the event of an unforeseen situation. Also, if he was going up North, he would be going to fight. She was well aware he was an accomplished swordsman and very powerful, but she would still worry. Shit happened all the time.
However, here and now was not the time to bring it up. Perhaps in the carriage on the way home.
-
The night seemed to drag on; they ate, they drank, and Kalys even danced with her once again. This time in an attempt to avoid Lady Wyndem, the lie of his next dance being promised to his sister. The woman was noticeably drunk now and even more handsy than their first encounter with her. Sun played along with the dance just to help him out. After it, they disappeared into the crowd and spent the rest of the night avoiding her. She never would have pegged Kalys as someone who would avoid his problems, yet here they were...
When Kalys said they could finally leave, Sun breathed a sigh of relief. She had been ready to go almost from the moment they arrived. She may have also reached the point of intoxication. She didn't really think she'd had that much, but that last drink had hit her hard; the room felt like it was spinning. She was relieved to be getting out of here.
"Lord Illusen."
While they had been making their getaway, a voice called them back. She felt Kalys's hand stiffen against her back, but he gave no other outward sign of his sudden tension. The pair turned towards the voice to see the King standing nearby, a smile playing at his lips.
"Your Grace," Kalys greeted, bowing.
Sun quickly curtsied beside him.
"So this is the new Lady Illusen," he said, walking towards them. "I'm glad to finally have a face to the name. And what a beautiful face it is."
He took her hand, placing a kiss on the back of it.
"Are you on your way out?" He asked.
"We were, thank you for your hospitality. We had a wonderful time."
"I can never tell if you're being sarcastic or not. I am aware you're not overly fond of these little gatherings—so difficult to tear you away from your Revenant duties."
"I am very busy," he admitted. "I'm sure you're aware of the situation in the North."
"And I am sure you'll all manage it just fine. Enjoy the festivities while you can. I must admit, though, I was expecting to see your lovely sister presented with the rest of the young ladies."
"We felt no need to present Sun to the court; she will not be spending much time here between her lessons, her attendance in the Academy, and her future Revenant duties."
"Yes, I heard you're working to become a Revenant," the King said to Sun. "An interesting choice," he added, directing that last comment to Kalys.
"She had already been there for years before I found her; we didn't want all those years of work to be wasted."
"Seems you're flying in the face of a few traditions," he said, this time to Sun.
"Is that a problem?" She asked, possibly a bit more boldly than she would have if she were entirely sober.
"I suppose we'll see. I'll bid you goodnight then, and I hope you truly did enjoy yourselves. Don't be strangers."
"Thank you for having us," Sun said, with another curtsey.
Kalys quickly ushered them out to the waiting carriage, helping her into it when she stumbled. When they sat down, he was watching her intently.
"How much have you had to drink?" He asked, a note of disapproval in his deep voice.
"Not much," she grinned, something about his disapproval amusing her.
Her head was still swimming, pleasantly so, maybe even worse than a few moments ago. And her eyelids were feeling heavy. She let her head loll to the side, gazing out the window.
"I'm not as drunk as Lady Wyndem," she said snidely, stretching her legs out until her feet were on the seat opposite, beside Kalys. Her slippers were comfortable at least, not the sequined high-heeled monstrosities she'd seen on other women. She wiggled her toes, watching the shimmer on the silk.
When they got to the estate, her brother almost had to carry her up the stairs. It was a bit of a blur to Sun, but she remembered Mika coming in and helping with her dress and possibly getting her into bed.
She wasn't sure if she'd even fallen asleep when she felt like she'd been woken, a too warm and heavy hand clamped over her mouth and strange men in her room.