When Layla returned to the party, she looked over to see Lord Vermillion still drinking with the Lords from before. His face was still visibly pale from their earlier conversation.
"Layla, darling." She heard a voice from behind her. "Come sit. We haven't really had a moment to catch up." Nimura said, gently grabbing her hand and leading her to her table. Layla looked back at Dara, who was wide-eyed, staring at the queens moving quickly across the room.
"Please sit. Lord Renly, bring my guest a drink." She commanded, waving him off his seat so Layla could sit beside her.
"What would you like?" The short Fae said, his golden hair laying lightly against his tan skin as he bent closer to her, the odor of fruit lingering on his breath.
"Just water, thanks." Layla said, giving him a smile.
"Nonsense. This is a celebration. Bring some more wine and a goblet for the queen." Nimura said, her smile widening as she sized Layla up.
"As you wish, My Queen," he replied, moving quickly to fetch more wine.
"Now... tell me. How are you finding the festivities?" Nimura asked, circling her finger in her goblet and licking the liquid from her well-manicured finger.
"I'm enjoying the social gathering. It's very interesting to see how the different kingdoms interact." She said, trying to keep an eye on Dara, who was hovering nearby.
"Oh, I'm sure it is fascinating for someone so... new to all this." Nimura's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "The relationships between our kingdoms can be quite intricate. There's so much history to navigate."
Layla felt a chill at the subtle condescension in Nimura's tone, but kept her expression neutral.
"Give it a few more. It will begin to bore you—seeing everyone every seven hundred years can be too soon for some of these monarchs." Nimura laughed. "Theron is usually a tad too merry at these events, just like his son. It's a bit over the top for a king who might have seen his last long night."
"His last long night?" Layla asked. "Is he ceding his throne to his son?"
"Well, not that I've heard, but Theron has already seen many long nights. It's only reasonable for one to assume he doesn't have many more left in him before his time comes, wouldn't you agree? None of us can live forever." Nimura whispered, smiling into her goblet.
Just as Layla was about to respond, the two ravens appeared on her shoulders, each quietly landing as if joining the conversation.
"Hello, my darlings." Nimura said, stroking the violet-eyed raven's feathers gently. The bird stood in silence—so strange for a bird to not make a sound. They were so well trained to just sit in a place so full of sound and strange faces. Layla thought it odd, but then again, magic does have a way of changing things in the world.
"Your companions are so well behaved," Layla said, trying to steer the conversation away from the downfall of the Sun King. "I have never seen birds with such manners or such beautiful eyes."
"They are special indeed. They have been my friends in some very troubling times—they are great listeners. Plus, they can't repeat what they hear. It is so freeing to have someone you can confide in and know they will never tell a soul." She said, still stroking the birds.
"How old are they?" Layla asked, staring at the birds who went completely still at the question, as if they understood her.
"Why, let's see," Nimura said, counting on her slender fingers. "They came to me almost fifteen years ago. Wow... it doesn't seem like that long ago, but time flies sometimes, doesn't it, Layla?"
"It does, faster than we think," Layla responded.
Nimura's words caused flashes of memory in her mind—her parents walking with her through the gardens, buying dresses in the city, and eating dinners together. They were great memories, but followed by sadness. It really had been a long time. Fifteen years had flown by in what felt like an instant, but that's what dreading the throne will do—make time fly.
"Enough about me and these other old ghosts. Let's talk about you. You're the new blood at the table, the new era of power. It's rare to see one so young ascend so quickly. How has the pressure of ruling settled with you?"
"It was a difficult transition, but my parents taught me well before their passing. I've come to welcome the pressures of ruling," Layla lied, trying to show the strength of her kingdom. It was never wise to show any sort of weakness when it came to the other rulers—one weak link can lead to a broken chain that affects the kingdoms for years to come.
"That's nice to hear. Trust me, power doesn't always suit everyone at first. It was a rather hard adjustment for me, but I came into my own quickly. And well, look at me now." Nimura mused, showing off her dress and beautifully done hair.
"Some rulers," she continued, leaning closer as if sharing a secret, "find the burden too heavy. They crack under the pressure, make poor decisions that affect not just their own kingdoms but all of ours. It's unfortunate when that happens." Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper. "The cost of weakness in leadership can be... catastrophic."
Layla felt the weight of Nimura's words, the subtle threat wrapped in concern. She took a careful sip of wine, buying herself time to respond.
"Have you ever been outside of Auroris?" Nimura asked, resting her chin on her hand in anxious anticipation. "I'm sure you would enjoy experiencing other lands and customs."
"I've never had the pleasure of visiting any of the other kingdoms. It's on my list of things to do when I return home. I was hoping to establish relations on the long night in preparation for such a visit at a later time, of course." Layla said, taking a sip of wine. The months spent learning court procedures with Lord Vermillion had definitely been paying off this evening—instead of fumbling for words that would make her look like a fool.
"I'm sure you would absolutely love Lunaris—its crystal gardens and moonlit nights. It's absolutely splendid. We shall arrange a visit before you go home. I'm sure we can find some suitable dates for you to stay for a few days." Nimura said, grabbing Layla's hand in what seemed like a gesture of friendship.
Lord Vermillion had always warned her about the Queen, but honestly, she couldn't see it. She seemed like a kind person—rather odd, but nothing sinister in her mind. Her birds made Layla feel uneasy as they stared her down, like they were waiting for something.
"I'm sure it will be a lovely visit. I will have Lord Vermillion work out the details. If you will excuse me, I'm going to turn in for the evening. The wine has me a bit flustered. It was great seeing you again—I look forward to tomorrow and your beautiful display." Layla said with a bow as she rose from her seat to find Dara.
"Of course. Have a restful evening, my young Queen. Tomorrow will definitely promise to be a grand event." Nimura said as she raised her glass and gave Layla a nod.
Layla moved quickly, trying to avoid the gaze of Prince Helios, who had been looking at her all evening. "Dara, I'm ready to go."
"Okay. Slow down. Can I finish my drink?" Dara said, swirling the bit of wine left in her goblet.
"Take it with you." Layla said, her eyes scanning the crowd, unable to locate the prince. Where had he gone? Just moments ago he'd been—
She felt a tap on her shoulder and spun around, her elbow catching the goblet in Prince Helios's hand. Dark red wine splashed across his golden tunic in an arc, staining the intricate embroidery.
"Oh gods, I'm so sorry!" Layla gasped, her hands flying to her mouth in horror. The wine was already seeping into the expensive fabric, creating a spreading stain across his chest.
"Please, it's nothing," Helios said, though his smile seemed a bit strained as he looked down at the damage.
"No, it's not nothing. This is terrible." Layla grabbed a rag from the nearest table, her face burning with embarrassment as she began dabbing frantically at his shirt. The wine had already set, and her efforts were only making it worse, spreading the stain further.
"Really, Queen Layla," he said, gently catching her wrist to still her movements. "No harm done. It's just a tunic."
"Just a tunic? It's probably worth more than most people make in a year," she thought, mortified. Around them, she could sense other guests beginning to notice the commotion, and she was certain whispers would start spreading any moment.
"If there's anything I can do... I could have it cleaned, or replaced, or—" Layla managed to get out, her words tumbling over each other as her face flushed deeper with embarrassment.
"Well, now that you mention it," Helios said, that familiar confident smile returning as he realized he could turn this mishap to his advantage, "how about you join me for lunch tomorrow? We could call it even."
"I... umm..." She stumbled over her words, looking desperately at Dara to rescue her from this situation.
"Your Majesty," Dara interjected smoothly, stepping forward and taking the wine-stained rag from Layla's hands, "she is scheduled to practice her display before the evening events. Perhaps another time would be more suitable?"
"Of course," Helios said, though his disappointment was obvious. "Another time then."
With a quick bow, Dara placed a protective hand on Layla's back and guided her toward the exit, leaving the prince standing there with his ruined tunic and missed opportunity.
Entering the room, Layla removed her dress quickly, trying to conceal the marking with the nightgown that she threw on before Dara could notice.
"No bath tonight?" Dara asked, tossing the dress aside. "Usually you're first in line to wash off the political bullshit."
"Too tired. I'll deal with it in the morning." Layla's response was clipped, distracted.
"Gods, the look on his face when that wine hit him," Dara snorted. "Priceless. Though I have to say, your aim was impressive."
"I can't believe I did that. Of all the people to dump wine on..." Layla groaned, flopping onto the bed.
"Could've been worse. Could've been Malachai—then we'd really be screwed." Dara grinned. "But seriously, thank fuck I was there to bail you out. That lunch invitation was painful to watch."
"An afternoon alone with him would've killed me," Layla muttered into her pillow.
"Well, get some sleep. We've got magic practice tomorrow, and you don't want to embarrass yourself in front of everyone again." Dara headed for the door, then paused. "Hey, Lay? You're doing fine. Don't let tonight get in your head." And she was gone.
Layla smiled as she laid down, sprawling on the bed, her fingers still tracing the patterns as she dozed off into the darkness.