The Crystal Castle was as different from Parthenos as Annabeth could have reasonably expected. It wasn't, as the name suggested, made of crystal, it was stone that was weathered smooth by the sea, but the points of the four spires were constructed entirely of sea glass, splitting the sunlight into a technicolor dream as it passed through them. Annabeth could appreciate the commitment to the concept, even if Athena's voice inside her head began whispering about how tactically unsound it was to leave such a target above the keep, ready to rain down on anyone if it should be destroyed.
Why should it be destroyed? Annabeth tried to counter the years of training Athena had ingrained in her, We're at peace. We have been for years. Athena may have been hundreds of miles away, but Annabeth knew what she would scold. Don't be stupid, child. There's no such thing as peace. There is only control.
"Hey," Hazel squeezed Annabeth's hand, "You good?"
Annabeth smiled back, "Fine. Just nervous. It's my only chance."
Hazel rolled her eyes. "No it isn't. You always create a new opportunity."
Annabeth laughed slightly. "There are only so many eligible bachelors who are also heirs to their kingdoms to go around."
"You could always court Bianca. Or Lou-Ellen."
Annabeth laughed louder. "Somehow I feel my mother would not be interested in me making an heirless match."
"Eh. You can always get an heir from Delos if the worst comes to worst."
"She'd never agree to it. I can make it work with this one."
"But could you love him?"
"The better question is, could he love me?" Annabeth countered. "He's a notorious player, they say he's slept with half his court and that he has at least two bastards running around."
"So why are we not jumping at the chance to pick someone else…?" Hazel asked absentmindedly twirling a strand of moonflower blooms between her fingers, "Honestly, I don't see why you don't just join me in Samothrace, the Witch-Queen would love to have you as one of her retainers. We'd never have to spend the year off away from each other."
"I don't want to be a simple retainer or lady of the court." Annabeth said, her tone sharper than she meant it to be, "I was born to be a queen, and gods help me, I will die as one."
Hazel sighed and placed her hand on Annabeth's. "Then you will be. I've never seen you lose when you set your mind to it. But be careful." She squeezed her hand, "that you don't sacrifice your happiness for a title."
The carriage came to a stop in front of the drawbridge across the moat. Over the familiar sound of wheels crunching to a stop over the crushed seashells that paved the road, a herald's trumpet sounded and the door of their carriage was opened by a footman. Hazel let go of her hand and as she stepped out of the carriage her hand slipped into her pocket for a tiny bead of compressed powders. Annabeth sulked into the back of her seat, allowing the more senior of the two princesses her entrance as protocol dictated.
"Announcing her royal highness, third in line to the throne of the House of Hades, prodigy and favored ambassador of the Witch-Queen Hecate, Beloved of the goddess, and Jewel of the Realm, the Princess Hazel, the Wise!"
True to her title as prodigy of the Witch-Queen, as Hazel appeared, she crushed the bead in her fist and in the process scraped her ring against the flint in her hand, sparking the powder and setting it off in a halo of dust around her, the moon flowers and moonstones glowing against her dark outfit and the sudden cloud behind her. It dissipated within seconds, and she expertly flicked her wrist to mimic dismissing it. Onlookers gasped in shock before settling into applause at the appearance of the famous ambassador and princess. The herald had to take a moment to collect himself before signaling for the horns to be blown again for him to announce the other princess.
"And her highness, the Lady Annabeth, High Scholar and Princess of Athens, and daughter of her majesty, Queen Athena the Unfallen."
The applause was shorter as Annabeth stepped out of the carriage. It took all of her effort to smile instead of grinding her teeth together. She followed Hazel into the castle, a step behind her out of protocol and their respective guards fell in behind them, following the resident guards of the Crystal Castle to their quarters during their stay for the Festival of Light.
As soon as the door closed, Hazel relaxed her posture, her face melting with concern. "When did that happen?"
"I knew it was coming. She's been talking about it for years, I just didn't think she'd try to sabotage me right now. I thought she'd wait until after the wedding."
"How does that even help her? Doesn't she want you to succeed? Wouldn't it look worse for her?"
Annabeth sighed. "I don't know what her plan is. I think it was just meant to be a reminder that if I don't follow through with the match, I have nothing left to return to in Parthenos."
"She's being petty."
"Exactly. There's no other reason to change the entire law of Athens to make princess a title that can be granted or taken away. But everything is leverage, and with leverage you have control." Annabeth parroted her mother.
"Then prove to her that she doesn't have leverage over you anymore." Hazel consoled, "Get your own title. Be a queen instead."
Annabeth nodded. "The only thing standing between me and the crown is one man. How hard can it be?"
…
Piper was in her element. The reception of the delegations from Athens and Samothrace was just as lavish as the one the day before for delegations from Olympia and Epirus, if not more, as the only representatives still to arrive were the regents of Delos. She swirled across the room on the arm of her soon to be betrothed, picking up rumors and news as they passed by. She would hate to lose this, her highly calculated and intricately woven network of trusted confidants, insider sources and horrible gossip that she knew like the back of her hand. It would take years to rebuild that kind of infrastructure in a new court. Nothing she couldn't accomplish.
Only one thing could spoil her evening. Percy.
She excused herself from Jason for a moment, introducing him to Lord Tyson while she took her sister's arm to a quieter area of the ball.
"Do you know where he is?"
Piper shook her head. "I was about to ask you that."
Silena held in a grimace, keeping a sunny disposition on her face for the onlookers. "Of all the times he's run off, his first introduction to his betrothed is the worst so far. How's Jason?"
"Perfectly pleasant, the best partnership I could hope for." Piper breezed past the question, "I'm going to mingle with her, try to mitigate the snub that Percy is causing by at least having someone in the family be the picture of amiability. Would you-"
"Send Tyson to check on him?"
"Exactly."
"Already on it," Silena said, "Break in three..two..one."
The two engaged in simultaneous lady-like laughter and split ways, Silena rejoining arms with Charles, steering him towards Jason and Tyson where she effortlessly split the party, discreetly directing Tyson out and keeping Jason distracted from the situation with Charles. At the same time, Piper began mingling her way into Annabeth's orbit.
She knit her eyebrow slightly, taking in the words around her, already picking up on the bobs and bits of gossip and small talk. Annabeth was currently being engaged in conversation by Lady Drew.
"I only hope that his highness, Prince Perseus can find happiness with you," Drew's words were as saccharin as ever, "by the sun and moon, it seems like he's never been able to find just one person who can. I mean, last month he was all but engaged to…oh but I shouldn't say."
Annabeth's smile was rehearsed, clearly hiding her discomfort. "I can only hope that his highness finds comfort in being a king and father to his people. And that part of that is being a dutiful husband."
Drew's expression tightened. "Between you and I, Princess - oh, my apologies, I know you do things differently in Athens, Lady Annabeth - I believe his highness the prince is more of a father to his people than you'd imagine. But kingship, that will be a skill he will learn by your side.
"Lady Annabeth! Lady Drew. How lovely that the kingdoms of Athens and Cyprus are already becoming acquainted through you. How was your journey here, Lady Annabeth?"
Annabeth's smile was not less rehearsed by Piper's ambush. "It was fine, your highness. The travel was worth it to be present in your most beautiful kingdom."
"I'm so pleased," Piper effortlessly took Annabeth's arm as she spoke, "You must excuse us, Lady Drew, I would like to introduce the princess to my sister."
Without bothering to wait for Drew's response, Piper began walking toward Silena slowly and leisurely.
"It is good to meet you," Annabeth said tactfully.
"Likewise," Piper said, "I only wish my brother could be in attendance. He unexpectedly had to arrive late, a sudden meeting with our father."
Annabeth visibly relaxed, the stress of Percy's not being there melting off of her. "Of course. I wouldn't want to interrupt the normal business of running the kingdom. The prince often aids the king with business then, in preparation for his own rule?"
Piper smiled assuredly, "Percy loves Cyprus. He's a visionary in the way things could be."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow slightly. "But the details of policy and law-"
"Are still in the capable hands of my father." Piper said smoothly. Somewhere in the back of her mind, a thought tickled her that Annabeth's line of questioning was somewhat power-hungry, but she was very distracted. Now that Annabeth wasn't a taut wire from the stress of speaking with Drew, she resembled her portrait much more. Extremely pretty.
"Even if Prince Perseus could not be here, I am glad it allowed me to meet you."
Piper smiled a genuine smile, "I'd love to introduce you to the members of the Court of Cyprus while I still can. Normally this would be Percy's to do, and if you'd rather wait to be introduced on the arm of your betrothed-"
"I'd love you to introduce me." Annabeth said simply, "It will be good to have a friend at court."
Piper's smile melted slightly, "Perhaps I should start with the heir apparent of Olympia, the honored knight of the order of the eagle, Crown Prince Jason." She said, rejoining Charlie, Silena and Jason, "my betrothed. And this is my sister, Princess Silena and her husband, Prince consort Charles."
Annabeth curtsied slightly, acknowledging the disparity in ranks. "Pleased to meet you, your highnesses."
The conversation was predictable. But the more time Piper spent with her, the more Annabeth relaxed. The two went around the room, greeting members of the Court of Cyprus, and even as the night drew on and more and the gathering grew slimmer as nobles made their exits, they remained joined at the elbow, never really separating.
The longer they spent together the more at ease Piper felt. It was like she didn't realize how tightly wound she had been before, how hyper aware and alert she had been before, that state of hypervigilance so familiar that this….this comfortability in Annabeth's presence seemed unreal.
"I suppose congratulations are in order for your upcoming nuptials." Annabeth said, "How long have you known the Crown Prince?"
Piper hesitated almost imperceptibly. She was sure anyone else couldn't have seen it, but Annabeth's eyes were sharp. "Long enough. We're to be married by the end of the Festival of Light at which time we're to depart for Olympia together. I'm looking forward to the change but I will miss Cyprus. But we're in the same situation, how will you fare away from your beloved Athens?"
Annabeth's expression tightened. "I look forward to making a home in Cyprus."
"I'd love to show you before I leave."
Their eyes met, and for one moment, Piper was caught off guard. The sound of the crowd faded and it was just the two of them. Her grey eyes searched Piper's face for something, Piper wasn't sure what, the faintest trace of faded freckles barely visible across her nose. Everything about her screamed princess. Perfect. Regal. Her lips parted and it was only then that Piper realized her heart was beating out of her chest.
"I'd like that."
The silence dragged out for one second. Two. Piper couldn't find the words. She always found the words, what was wrong with her?'
"I-"
"Announcing His royal highness, the future of Cyprus, the vox populi and protector of her interests, Crown Prince Perseus!"
The tension broke as the crowd turned into a smattering of applause as Percy arrived, somewhat frazzled. Piper clocked Tyson sneaking back into the party through a side door as Percy drew the attention.
Piper almost didn't realize Annabeth was being pulled away from her by a few of their retainers, trying to make up lost time on introducing the future spouses. Annabeth's expression went back to that of careful control. Walls up. Piper did the same, her smile returning as she latched her arm to Jason's again and tried to enjoy the banquet.
…
"Where the hell were you?" Silena asked, her expression completely jovial, not giving a single word away.
"Busy." Percy said, "None of your business."
"Today of all days."
"I know, I know!"
"You've already made a horrible impression on your bride-to-be. You're lucky Piper was here."
"I know!" The exasperation Percy tried to relay couldn't quite hide the guilt. "Let me try to make it right before you rip me a new one."
Silena sighed deeply. "Good luck."
They separated, allowing the contingent of Cyprus and Athenian retainers to all but deposit Annabeth in front of him. She inclined her head slightly, just enough that no one would talk, but not enough to show any true deference.
"Prince Perseus. So good that we finally meet."
"Lady Annabeth. I feel we have already met, your virtues proceed you."
"Punctuality, it seems, is not one of yours."
Percy narrowed his eyes, his goodwill melting away. Fine. If she didn't want to try to be friendly about the arrangement, he wouldn't force it.
"But I shan't hold it against you, you have a duty to your kingdom before you have a duty to me afterall." She finished.
"Hmm." Percy hummed, trying to collect himself. What was she talking about? "It is…a large responsibility indeed. One that we will soon share."
Annabeth's eyebrow raised slightly. "Indeed. As that is the case, would you care to explain to me what kept you away?"
Percy huffed. What was she even playing at? How did she know about his mom? Why was she trying to get him to admit it? The seconds dragged on before he came up with an answer, he could feel her gaze getting sharper, as if she were calculating each crease in his face to determine the exact level of guilt and shame in his reaction.
"No. No I would not," He snapped, "Because you are not the princess of Cyprus yet. And such things are private information until that happens. Good night."
He turned and stormed off, not bothering to hide his reaction. He could feel his father's gaze burning a hole in his back as he left the banquet less than five minutes after he arrived. He didn't goddamn care.
Next up: Piper and Percy compare notes, Hazel and Nico reunite, Jason is oblivious, and apologies are made