His mother smiled, sending a wave of guilt crashing over him at the way he was deceiving her.
“Ryu, my dear, you have a kind and compassionate heart.” She smiled. “You remind me so much of your father.”
~
That night, Ryu’s heart raced with a mix of anticipation and anxiety as he led Ella into the grand dining hall of the Twilight Court.
The hall was adorned with intricate carvings of celestial beings and adorned with elegant silk banners, creating an atmosphere of regality and ancient traditions.
The long table was set with fine porcelain dishes and delicate silverware, ready to be filled with a delectable feast.
As they entered, Ryu noticed the curious glances of the courtiers, their eyes flickering between Ella and himself.
Some wore expressions of intrigue, while others masked their disdain with practiced politeness. Mizuki and Hiroshi were among the curious ones, their eyes bright with excitement.
His mother, on the other hand, was as subtle as a stone thrown into a placid lake.
As dinner commenced, she looked over at the gathered courtiers.
“Members of the Twilight Court,” she called, “allow me to introduce you to Ella of Strayhaven, my son’s human ward.”
A surprised hum of conversation buzzed around the room, and Ryu hid a wince. Well, his mother had broken the ice for him, at least. He slanted a glance at Ella, who was looking at the food with interest. He wasn’t fooled however, the ramrod straightness to her spine revealed her tension.
As the dinner commenced, Ryu noticed the divided atmosphere in the hall. As expected, the orthodox, traditional courtiers, led by Azuma and his father, purposefully avoided Ella’s gaze, their scornful eyes flicking to him repeatedly. They huddled together, their whispers barely concealing their disapproval.
Ryu’s mind raced, knowing that Ella’s presence was causing a stir. He wondered how he could navigate this delicate situation without further causing a rift within the court.
Throughout the dinner, Ryu engaged in light conversation with Mizuki and Hiroshi, doing his best to divert attention away from the disapproving gazes. At his side, Ella drank cup after cup of sake.
“Are you trying to get drunk?” he hissed at her, and she glared back at him.
“I’m trapped in an Elven court and I need to pretend I don’t hate you,” she snarled under her breath, “for that, I need alcohol. And lots of it.”
Ryu had left the matter there, unwilling to draw more attention to his human ward. He’d turned away, rejoining the conversation that Mizuki was having with Lady Isara.
Luckily for him, Mizuki was at her best, drawing the disapproving courtiers into the conversation with them, avoiding the topic of the human kingdoms completely, and Ryu had never been so grateful for her diplomatic skills as he was then.
His mother, on the other hand, spoke to her friends and companions of her experiences in the human world, the cultural differences, and the unique qualities she had observed in humans.
As the meal finally dragged to an end, Ryu stood, feeling a pang of discomfort seize him. He frowned as he looked at Ella, who was nearly swaying on her feet.
Were the effects of the alcohol being reflected to him across the bond between them?
He’d never heard of something like this happening before. Never had he ever seen a mated, bonded pair of Elves who shared sensations and feelings across a bond.
As Ella took a few slow steps away from the table, Ryu pushed his thoughts to the back of his mind. First, he had to make sure his ‘ward’ didn’t drunkenly trip and break her neck.
As he led Ella to her new room, Ryu sighed. The maid who had been assigned to her helped her inside with a bow.
Finally, he would put this terrible day behind him.
Ryu strode to his bed chambers, intent on finally enjoying this chance to relax. But a glance at the open study door had him pause, and make a detour there, instead.
He drew the door to the study shut behind him, and took a deep breath. This place had been his father’s, andhisfather’s before him. Centuries of Darkwalker Elf tradition were steeped in these four walls.
The panels running around the room depicted scenes from the past, glorious feats of his ancestors that were immortalised for all eternity.
He hoped, one day, to have performed something worthy of having it painted up there, beside the greatest of his forebears.
