In the center of the dining hall was a long table that could seat at least a hundred guests. At the head of the table was King Jiemma, and on his right, the dark-haired woman that he had seen yesterday.
Her hooded gaze watched him steadily without blinking, reminding him of a hunting cat.
"You're early, Prince Lyon!" Jiemma called. "Come, please sit."
I endeavour to impress my future father-in-law, he thought uncharitably. He bit his tongue to prevent himself from blurting out something irreversible.
Jura was still not present, forcing him to sit down with Sabertooth Royalty, an awkward tension hanging over their heads. Yukino went to stand quietly behind the Crown Princess, while the two knights vanished silently. Yuka and Chelia were both immovable statuses behind him, keeping their expressions so bland that they looked like carved marble.
"You have not met my beloved daughter yet, have you?" King Jiemma said, gesturing at the woman beside him. "Your future wife, Crown Princess Minerva."
"It's a pleasure." The Crown Princess said softly, inclining her head proudly. She's beautiful in an utterly intimidating way, befitting the War Empress she was renowned for. He felt small under her sharp, calculating gaze, but he's far too prideful to squirm under her scrutiny.
"Your reputation far precedes you, Princess Minerva." He plastered on his best political smile, intensely aware of King Jiemma's gaze.
Minerva smiled, slow and keen. "I hope they are good things. I am far more than aware of my reputation in the other kingdoms, Prince Lyon."
King Jiemma's loyal enforcer. Cruel and merciless. A heart as cold as ice. The General of Sabertooth Army, responsible for the slaughter of most of his men.
"Only the best of your famed reputation. Some of them are so fantastical that you sound almost like a myth." He answered. "I have heard of your magical and martial prowess, your tactical skills and... a great beauty that could topple empires."
Minerva's eyes widened slightly, just a second, so quick that he thought he had imagined her surprise.
Jiemma roared with laughter, breaking their eye contact.
"It seems that the both of you are off to a good start." He rumbled in approval. "I have high hopes in the two of you establishing a tight rapport between our kingdoms. It's the beginning of a new era, a time to usher in the new generation!"
Minerva's smile grew fixed.
Luckily, the doors opened before anyone could commit regicide. His elder brother was announced, and the latter walked in, and the tension bended under his warm, unyielding smile.
"Prince Jura," Jiemma's attention shifted away from them. "What a pleasant morning!"
The tightness loosened in Lyon's chest. Without King Jiemma's piercing, menacing stare, it's far easier to breathe without feeling like there's a knife positioned at the back of his neck.
As if he could feel the tension, Jura managed to steer most of the conversations towards himself. Even King Jiemma's manipulations couldn't shake the sheer nobility of Prince Jura's honour. Of course, there's not much politicking going on, just the standard power play between two monarchs.
Fortunately, such tactics rarely worked on Jura. He's too straightforward for any power play attempts. He's also not an easy man to frighten or intimidate. With his strong, solid build and powerful aura, there's not much that could make a man like him tremble.
Lyon, on the other hand, was frequently underestimated. It used to annoy him, but he had learned to turn it into a strength instead. It surprised him quite often how people tended to run their mouths around you if they think you're a weak, powerless prince.
By the time breakfast ended, his jaw muscles ached. That's why he hated entertaining.
It took all his willpower not to look too eager when King Jiemma finally lowered his utensils.
"King Jiemma and I will confer with each other regarding the wedding." Jura said, dabbing his lips with a napkin. "Perhaps you may like to accompany Princess Minerva in the meantime?"
Lyon smiled politely and agreed.
He rounded the table and offered his hand. There was a long pause as she stared at his gloved hand as if it was dirt beneath her boots. He tried not to let it affect him too much. With an almost imperious sniff, she placed her hand in his and allowed him to pull her up.
Her fingers were long and slender, but there were scars on her hand, ridged and pink on her palm. He didn't let his eyes lingered. He's more civil than that.
Their knights and attendants followed at a safe distance, out of hearing range. He could see Sting and Yukino flanking Chelia, trying to pull her into a conversation. The latter did not look harassed, and Yuka was more than capable of interfering if Chelia feels uncomfortable, so Lyon decided to focus his attention on the Crown Princess beside him instead.
"I heard you're interested in the academics, Prince Lyon." Surprisingly, Minerva was the one who initiated a conversation before he could say anything.
"I... I am." He replied, trying not to look too astonished. He has carefully cultivated a reputation of being a misanthropic loner who preferred to seclude himself in the library during his youth, an excuse created while he's off gallivanting across the battlefields with Jura.
He's shocked that such inconsequential rumours about him have made its way to her ears, especially when he did not have any military victories—or any that she might have heard about.
"Shall I interest you with a full tour of our Royal library?" Minerva asked.
Well.
"I'll be honoured by your company, Princess Minerva." He replied.
Prince Lyon was... an enigma. She still cannot decide how she feels about him. She suspected that whatever she had just seen during breakfast was just a shade of his true self.
He has a slick tongue at least.
Sabertooth possessed an enormous library, filled with shelves and shelves of books. She was never a studious person, unlike Yukino, who spent most of her free time in the library. She preferred to dedicate her time to training, out in the field with her knights practicing her magic.
That's not to say that she's all brawn. As heir apparent, she was swarmed with tutors trying to teach her the necessities of a Queen. Jiemma was of an opinion that she only needed more strength to conquer other nations, but she did not want to be a ruler like him.
She wanted to be a fair Queen, who solved matters with a steady heart and firm justice instead of executing everyone who stand in her way.
She has never seen anyone with such a fervent light in their eyes when they stepped into the library before. Even Yukino, who loved reading and enjoyed learning, did not carry such... hungry gleam in their eyes.
Prince Lyon seemed to devour everything with his searching gaze. There was an endless thirst for knowledge brimming in those dark eyes. She could almost taste the excitement trembling in his limbs.
It was... a little endearing.
"You can peruse any books in the library." She said. "If you wish to borrow any books, please inform Lady Yukino or the royal librarian, Rufus."
A slim young man with long blond hair and wearing an obnoxiously tasteless crimson hat standing behind her bowed respectfully.
"I am at your service, Prince Lyon." Rufus said.
He was not ignorant enough to underestimate the other man, even if he's the royal librarian. There's power in that deep green eyes, magic reminiscent of a slender, sturdy spear thrumming over his skin.
"I am grateful for your kind hospitality, Princess Minerva." He said sincerely.
Once again, a strange expression flickered across her face, as if she has never been thanked before. It piqued his interest, and he wondered if there's some warmth behind that icy exterior. She has been nothing but gracious towards him, but he could feel a wall between them. Her gaze stung him sharper than his own ice magic.
He wondered if this was going to disturb his investigation on King Jiemma. Of course, it'd be so much easier if Minerva wasn't involved in her father's scheme, and while he should be more than understanding regarding preconceived prejudices and rumours, Minerva's infamy was legendary.
Think of Sabertooth, and the first thing that comes to mind is Minerva Orland.
"It's nothing." She said with a distant smile.
"It seems like my brother and your father has some obvious worry that we'll not be able to get along. I wish to pacify their concerns, so I hope that you will join me for lunch later, Princess Minerva." He continued. He's not sure about King Jiemma anyway, but Jura's completely unsubtle nudge was too obvious.
He felt a small pinch of victory at the look of surprise on her face. Her lip twitched, and she looked hesitant. He was willing to wait for her to make her decision, but it was evident that she'd agree to his invitation.
Both of them have no choice but to play this farce.
"I'll have my knights fetch you at noon." She finally said. With a graceful curtsy, she left the library with Yukino and her two knights.
"What do you think of the prince?" She asked after several minutes. "Or that maid of his?"
It didn't escape her notice that the pink-haired maidservant was sticking pretty closely to Prince Lyon.
"I can't get a read on him." Yukino answered thoughtfully. "He's almost as hard to read as you. But that maid of his... I can tell that Chelia-san is very devoted to him."
"She definitely is good at keeping her master's secrets." Rogue murmured.
That was high praise coming from Rogue. Sting and Yukino were pretty much an expert at extracting information from their unsuspecting targets. Sting would distract with his natural amiability and good humour. He has a very nice smile—Yukino's words—that makes people lower their guard down around him, while Yukino would then approach and gently draw out information. After all, who would ever suspect Yukino of deceit?
"She's very smart. I don't think she's any ordinary maid that Prince Lyon chooses to keep close." Sting agreed. "And she's not even pressured or nervous that two knights were talking to her."
Even in Sabertooth, the knights seldom interacted with the palace's servants. Since most of the knights were nobles granted a knighthood, they were unaccustomed with servants.
The mystery of Prince Lyon was just getting more baffling.