Chapter 37:

There was a time-honored tradition among introverts: the classic ‘stand-by-the-drink-table’ maneuver. This was an ability practiced by all socially awkward individuals, and it was Eres’s strongest cultivation technique. As if her presence were erased, the eyes of the trickling masses of guests glanced over her. It would have worked perfectly. Were it not for the man standing at her side.

Leo rested against the table, sipping at a glass. Eres, who’d tried to escape his presence three separate times, seethed as the attention of countless nobles drifted from the ducal heir to his maid. A stiff smile plastered her face as people she’d never met ingratiated themselves to the brat beside her, then gave glancing looks at her as if she were part of the decor. There was a sorry condition in noble-hood: the disregard of their lessers. 

It only wounded her pride more when, each time, they approached her with intent to socialize until she politely informed them she was staff. They took more interest in the hors-d’oeuvres than her afterwards.

The courtyard filled with milling ants, mites crawling about the place, vermin in Eres’s eyes as she lamented the present company. 

She folded her arms, leaning next to Leo. He passed her a cup, the contents of which she promptly swallowed. His lip twitched when she handed it back to him. 

“Aren’t you the maid?” He asked.

“I’m off duty.”

“So am I.”

“Aren’t I your wife? Spoil me.”

Leo laughed, nudging her with his shoulder. They met each other’s gaze, both mischievous. He handed her another glass. “I’m starting to think you’re only okay with this engagement when you need something from me.”

Eres’s eyes widened. “Whoa, you’re good.” She raised her hands in mock surrender. “Ya got me.”

A voice interrupted them. 

“Young Master Leonard, a pleasure!”

A portly gentleman wobbled over, his large mustache and top hat vaguely reminding Eres of something from her past life. He pulled his monocle from his face and cleaned it with a fancy handkerchief. 

“Young Master! How good it is to meet again,” He said, smiling, “Why, I haven’t seen you since you were a boy. Your father and I were fast friends, fast indeed; I trust you’ve met my daughter, Arille?”

The polite smile on Leo and Eres’s face froze. They looked at each-other, blinked, then gazed at him in wonder. He waved over a woman who, by Eres’s estimation, may have been a few years older than Lana. 

She had a noble stature; a serious grace rose about her that commanded the attention of those she passed. A thin curve of her lips was her greeting. She looked at her husband, exasperated. 

“Do you think the children would remember a stranger? Honestly.” She gave him a light pat on the shoulder; the man blushed fierce, then removed his hat, holding it to his chest.

“Pardons, Young Master. Daniel Frey.” He bowed low, and as he dipped, his hair peeled away from his scalp. Eres choked back a snort. 

Unfazed, his wife pressed it back into place as she pulled him upright. She curtsied. “Rachel Frey.”

She smiled at Leo, then turned an interested gaze to Eres. A warmth blossomed over her.

“So, you’re the Eres I’ve heard so much about, as beautiful as I was told.”

Eres blinked, unsure of how to respond. “Ah—hopefully all good things.”

Rachel grinned. “Plenty of good things.” Eres visibly relaxed before the woman continued. “Though, I’ve heard you have quite the temper.”

Eres flushed red, opening her mouth to respond, when the woman stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace, leaving the men to converse. She spoke into her ear in a low tone. 

“I hope I’m not being too forward. Arille told me about your heroisms; I wish I’d had a chance to thank you in person before now.”

Eres tried to pull away to no avail. “It wasn’t much.”

Rachel hummed, a trickle of humor in her voice. “Well, I rather enjoy having a daughter, difficult as she may make it. I would’ve been rather upset were she swallowed up by a beast.”

She pulled away, a trace of affection in her eyes as she observed the girl in front of her. “I believe she quite undersold your beauty. I’ll correct her when she returns.”

Rachel stepped back, leaving Eres’s face heated from embarrassment and the compliment. 

“You said when she returns?” Eres asked, “Does that mean she isn’t here?”

A twinge of disappointment rolled over her. Rachel sighed, giving a light shrug.

“I’m afraid she’s been with Princess Celise for the better part of a month.”

Whoa, those two hanging out without her? Eres pouted, but thanked the woman for telling her. She pulled Leo by the arm, curtsied to the others, then dragged him off to a distant corner. 

A young man walked up, all smiles and charm, and stepped in front of them. Eres blinked. The young man adjusted his collar and flashed a debonair smile.

Eres frowned, but pulled Leo in front. To her surprise, it was Leo that was ignored. Like he was a bucket of beige paint, the man’s eyes glossed over Leo to rest on her.

“My lady, your beauty outshines the stars, your smile the sun. I would be ever so grateful if I could have your name?”

He flicked a rose from his sleeve, raising it out to her. 

Eres felt the trembling of her young master as he desperately held back a laugh. Dismay ran through her eyes. She gave the man a searing smile, its heat no doubt more striking than the man’s comparison. 

“I apologize, my lord, but I’m afraid my company is rather full.”

Her attitude did little to dissuade him. He shook his head with another smile, white teeth blinding. 

Eres’s lip twitched. Had this guy gotten his face stuck that way? 

He continued. “No matter, a woman’s heart is as boundless as her beauty; surely you can afford such a lowly creature as myself a dance?”

Dance? In front of everyone? Absolutely not. Eres’s face darkened. She reached out, wrapping her hands around Leo’s arm. “I’m afraid my fiancé might differ in opinion. Men’s hearts are jealous things.”

She smiled at Leo. “Isn’t that right, honey?”

The stiffening of Leo’s muscles was all the answer she needed. Ha! Take that! See how it feels to be the shield?

A smile bloomed over Leo’s face. He gestured to Eres, his voice woeful. “It appears so. I can’t bear to part with my beloved. Surely you understand?”

The man’s face crumbled. He looked between the two of them, suddenly bitter. “Then I will…look forward to your performance.”

Without another word, he stumbled away, dropping the rose. 

“Performance?” Eres felt a sweat drip down her brow.

Leo leaned over, picked the rose up, dusted it with his sleeve, then brought it to Eres’s hair, tucking it behind her ear.

“Yeah. We’re dancing later. Do you not listen to anything Lana says?”

Eres scratched her cheek. “It mostly goes in one ear and out the other.”

“…You’ve grown lax.”

Eres waved a hand. “Come on, Lana isn’t that brutal anymore.”

“You are braver than I.”

“I’m a lot more things than you are.”

Leo smirked. 

For some reason, Eres felt an irritation at his reaction. Had she implied something strange? She dismissed it. She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward a distant snack table. 

After witnessing the brutal rejection, no less than four other men grit their teeth and tossed their flowers aside. Their eyes lingered on the rose tucked behind Eres’s ear and simmered. A collection of bachelors congregated at the table next to theirs, dark energy emitting outward. 

Eres didn’t notice, and if she had, she would have snorted. Single dogs! Put a muzzle on! I’m just as bad as you! 

The day went on pleasantly enough; the chattering lulled as food filled bellies, and the various guests took more interest in shaded seats than courtyard talks. Eres was ever a third-wheel to the majority of conversations. Countless nobles, each claiming their own form of relation, approached Leo; many hoped to discuss engagements with the handsome youth, admiring gazes drifting over from young ladies. He had, in a manner gentle yet firm, informed them the matter of his marriage had long been decided, that the letters they’d previously sent were read and responded to; and the deftness of his words left little room to debate, though some still tried their hand. 

Somehow, they made it to their fountain. Some nobles lingered here or there, enjoying the atmosphere or the company; and Leo and Eres sat on their bench, close enough for their legs to touch. The familiarity of the two had long since passed from friends to something else. Rather, it seemed to everyone that the two were a harmonious couple. It was only a certain stubborn girl and her fool of a friend who saw otherwise. 

“This is awful,” Eres said. Leo looked over, smiled, and adjusted the flower in her hair, which had dipped off to one side. She traced the spot where Leo’s hand left, a satisfied smirk crossing her face. She looked at Leo. “Does it look good?”

He nodded. “Amazing.”

They sat in silence, listening to the bubbling of the fountain and the distant laughs of nobles. The verdant grass bent beneath their feet, the surrounding hedges in full bloom of flowers. She kicked her legs, humming a tune from a long-gone world. 

Leo closed his eyes, tilting his head to the sky, listening to the familiar song. “Do you ever think about home?”

“All the time,” Eres said, “Though mostly about stuff I miss. I didn’t have many friends.”

She rested her weight on Leo’s shoulder. “I wish I could have brought over some photos. Of my mom.”

Eres blinked, looking at the ground. “It’s weird. I know how she looked. Color of her hair, her smile. But when I try to remember, it comes back blurry. Or as Lana.”

Leo nodded. “Yeah. It’s like…it’s still there for me to remember. But it’s less vivid.”

She looked at him, tilting her head. “You were born here, right? So I guess I’ve got five years on you.”

Leo met her gaze. “I wonder why it was different for us.”

“We’ll probably never know,” Eres said, “And I don’t really care. I’m curious. But it’s my life now.”

Leo hummed. They enjoyed the quiet for some time until a commotion was heard off by the gates. A late arrival?

“Your dad mentioned something about guests.”

“Yeah. From Eremos.” He stood, brow furrowing. “Must be someone from the royal family.” 

He set off in hurried footsteps, Eres darting behind. Her eyes twinkled. 

Royalty? Maybe they’d be a proper noble! Not like that goof Celise or that fool Shiera. This was a fantasy world! There should be domineering princes and handsome kings! 

She’d heard about Eremos. People talked about it in fear; while they were currently a political ally, they followed a strict doctrine of violence in their history. They conquered their way to where Malneshe slithered. 

Eres and Leo spotted the exiting passengers of a luxurious carriage. The thing was red and black, the mark of a dragon coiling around a man as its banner. Eres’s eyes widened. So badass!

They walked into earshot, spotting Lionel Fritz stroll up to the carriage. 

The Duke widened his arms, grinning. “Hector! My boy, all grown up. Where is your father?”

A youth unfurled his large frame from the carriage. He was tall, with a sharp face, a shock of fiery hair, and a fur cloak draped over his dark colored attire. Hector flashed a smile, tugging at his collar. Sweat dripped from his red hair, rolling down his face.

“I say, Uncle, is it always this hot in Relan?”

Lionel laughed. “Your carriages are kept colder than my cellars. Come, it’s spring! Loosen your cloak and meet my children.”

They met in a short embrace, before Lionel gestured a for a servant to take Hector’s cloak. The man breathed a sigh of relief, then turned his head to Eres and Leo.

Lionel put a hand to his back, leading him over. “Hector, meet my son, Leonard, and his fiancée, Eres.”

Hector smiled at the two of them, though when his eyes rested on Eres, a flash of surprise and something more crossed his face. He raised an eyebrow at Lionel. “You never told me you had one of ours as a daughter-in-law.”

Lionel waved a hand. “She was found in our very city, though she may have relations.”

A curious glint passed over Hector’s eyes. He raised a hand to shake Leo’s, clasping it tight. He smiled at Leo, the expression friendly, if a bit teasing. “You look like your father, though handsomer by half.”

Leo laughed and pulled his hand back. Hector looked at Eres, and stretched his palm out. When she extended hers, Hector bowed and kissed it. 

He looked up, grinning. “It’s a rare sight to see someone as beautiful as yourself, Miss Fritz. Especially with our hair color.”

Eres flinched. Her lips twisted into disgust. Miss…Fritz? She looked at Hector with a sudden hostility.

“My name is Eres.”

Hector’s smile fell. “Ah. My mistake, forgive me.”

He recovered in moments, stepping away from the pouting Eres. He glanced between the present party, his smile returning. “I greet Young Master Leonard. Happy birthday.”

“No need for formalities. Just call me Leo.”

Hector nodded. “I’m pleased to see your love for ceremony was inherited from your father. Too many stuffy titles and long names.”

“Speaking of fathers,” Lionel said, “Where is yours? He wrote he’d be here.”

“Ah.” Hector’s expression flagged. He looked between the father and son, before glancing at Eres. “It is a delicate topic. Should we discuss this inside?”

Lionel nodded, gesturing for Leo and Eres to follow behind. They walked to the house, passing by the noble crowd. Lionel called out to them. “We’ll be back in time for the dance; enjoy the refreshments.”

The crowd dispersed into whispers and talking once more.