The Debutante Ball (2)

By the second day of the debutante ball, the rumors surrounding Veridin and Maria had spiraled out of control. The fact that he had danced with her had reached the ears of every woman in the empire. Speculation ran rampant, and the ultimate rumor was that Maria would be the next queen. The other subject of these rumors was having a headache over the Empire's money crisis.

"Your majesty, it's almost time for the second ball. Why don't you take a break?" Raven placed a cup of tea on the desk.

Veridin sighed and leaned back. "I thought I dealt with the ministers that were embezzling money, but the costs of this ball have been a stark reminder that there's still a problem. It has to be the nobles embezzling taxes."

"I can look into the tax reports from the nobles."

"Take all the tax reports from the last four years of every noble house and bring them to my office by the end of the last ball. Earl Reifield especially. His residence in the capital is way too lavish for an earl."

"I agree. Now why don't you get dressed for the ball? You can't wear the same attire as yesterday."

"Right. Because I wore red yesterday, there are even more rumors about me marrying the lady of the Betchner duchy." Veridin stood up with a heavy sigh.

"I can dispose of those rumors if you'd like."

"There's no need. They're annoying, but they'll disperse naturally." Veridin walked out of the office, followed closely by Raven.

"I understand. What about wearing yellow?"

"Yellow is too bright. Orange is too gaudy as well."

"I think a pale yellow would be alright. How about a deep green?"

"Green looks horrible on me. Black would be fine. Or a dark blue."

They stepped into his bedroom and Raven opened the closet. "Lavender?"

Veridin took off his overcoat and turned around with furrowed brows. "Lavender…?"

The closet had a myriad of outfits, lavender included. Raven glossed over the pink one and pulled out a deep purple suit. "How about this one?"

"That's fine. Get rid of that orange outfit though. And…" Veridin looked at the pink one and just sighed.

"Then I'll set aside a black suit for tomorrow." Raven brought the clothes over to him. "I'll let you know if the ball starts before you're ready."

Veridin nodded and changed swiftly. As he made the final adjustments, he looked at himself in the mirror. Purple was what Anaroth usually wore. He brought his hand to his face. The suit complimented his eyes well. Would Anaroth notice it? He glanced down at the jewelry on the vanity. Most of them were red and gold. He smiled as he picked up a pair of cufflinks. They didn't quite match his outfit, but he didn't mind.

"You took quite a while," Anaroth remarked as Veridin walked up.

"I was looking for the right accessories, but I couldn't find them." Veridin smiled as he scanned Anaroth.

"I didn't think you were that kind of person." Anaroth glanced over him in turn.

"Well… Sometimes."

"Let's get this over with."

"You're not the one doing the ceremonies though?" Veridin chuckled and stepped into the hall after being announced.

It was nearly the same as yesterday. The two were showered with looks of admiration. The only difference was the strange hushed whispering coming from the noble ladies. Anaroth glanced over at Veridin smugly.

"It seems that your love life is quite a popular topic."

Veridin flinched. "You didn't have to mention it."

"Are you at least thinking about it?" He pressured.

"I only danced with her. The rumors will stop on their own."

"Hm. That's not what I asked."

Veridin sighed. "She's six years younger than me."

"There are many nobles who've married with larger gaps in their age. How old are you anyway?"

"Twenty four."

"Then you're two years younger than me."

Veridin's eyes widened. "That's different."

"I suppose you're right. We're acquaintances. My mother always said that women like older men. They want someone who can take care of them. No matter their age, what lady wouldn't want you?"

"All of the noble women I've met just want me to pamper them."

"I can understand that. I mean, with your face? What else would they want?"

Veridin stopped at his seat, putting his hand to his chin. My face? He covered his mouth and smiled. For some reason, those words made him overjoyed. He didn't have any time to relish the feeling as he cleared his throat and began the ceremony.

An explosion collapsed the roof of the ballroom, cutting off Veridin's words. The chandeliers hurdled down towards the crowd. Screams and panic filled the room. Simultaneously, fire broke out outside. Despite the chaos, Anaroth cast magic over the room, preventing the debris from falling down onto the crowd. It hung in the air, as if frozen in time. Rowan began shouting orders at the guards: yelling at them to put out the fire. Veridin quickly turned to Raven.

"Find whoever set the fire." Veridin looked out over the crowd as Raven disappeared. "No one is to leave this room until we find the culprit!"

"Are you asking us to stand under all that rubble?"

Anaroth glanced at the nobles. "If you don't want to be buried under it, then stand at the sides of the room."

They looked at each other hesitantly. Their lives were more important than humiliating Anaroth. They stepped aside as Anaroth walked forward. He held his hand out and the floating debris was slowly lowered to the floor. Once it was safely settled, he turned to Veridin.

"There should be evidence of magic in the wreckage."

"I felt it too." Veridin walked down the steps, stepping over dust and rocks.

Marquis Cassian looked at the rubble with darkened eyes. "Your majesty, what is this? How could you let something like this happen at such an important ceremony?"

"This is not a matter of how this happened." Veridin picked up the shattered remains of a mana stone from among the rocks. "It is a matter of who planned this."

A smile stretched across a shadowed face. "That's the new king?"

Blackwing turned his eyes away from the image in the mirror before them. "Do you find him interesting, my liege?"

"We'll see."

"This is the second time that something has happened under your jurisdiction. I can't help but think these events are more than mere coincidence, your majesty."

"You'd be right about that Marquis. These events aren't coincidences. But what you're insinuating–" Veridin stepped down from the mountain of wreckage– "Do you have the confidence to back it up?"

"I don't know what you're trying to do–"

"I don't understand what you're trying to do Marquis Cassian. What do I stand to gain from killing off nobility in this way?" Veridin grabbed him by the shoulder and whispered. "If I wanted you dead I wouldn't make it so obvious."

The marquis flinched when Veridin stepped back. He didn't say anything more. Seeing how he fearfully looked at the wreckage on the floor, he hadn't known this was going to happen. Veridin questioned whether or not he overestimated Cassian.

The ballroom doors swung open, grabbing everyone's attention. Being dragged in by two knights was a priest who had followed the saint into the party. Raven and Rowan walked in behind them. "We've captured the culprit, your majesty."

Lilis stood up. "That's! He can't be a criminal! Your majesty!"

Veridin stared down at the priest with narrowed eyes. He looked familiar. Where did Veridin know him from? It was Anaroth who recognized him first.

"That priest… Was with us on our way back to the capital, right?"

"That's right! He was one of the last of your attendants as the Holy Knight. He cannot be the perpetrator, your majesty!" Lilis stepped forward.

Veridin's eyes widened. He was the priest that had told him about Priest Julas. He was the one who set the fire? Well that much didn't matter. What mattered more in this situation was that Lilis had confirmed that the priest once worked under him. It made suspicion fall on him. There was an easy way to get the truth however.

"Bring the criminal forward."

"Your majesty!"

"What use is it? The priest was once your attendant! It's obvious that you planned this!" Cassian grinned.

"Marquis Cassian, cease your baseless accusations!" Duke Betchner glared at him. "If you speak another word that slanders his majesty I will consider that as treason."

Veridin glanced at the duke. There was no clear reason why the duke would go so far to defend him. Whatever the case, he would use this opportunity wisely. The black haired priest was forced to kneel before him. "Rowan, bring me a sword."

"Your majesty!" Lilis ran out in front of the priest. "You cannot execute him without evidence!"

"He was attempting to leave the premises when everyone else was ordered to stay. What's more, we found him carrying this." Rowan handed Veridin a device and a sword.

The small item was a small metal box with a sliding lid. When the lid was moved, the engraving on it caused mana to create a spark. It was a commonplace device used to create fires. Veridin turned it in his hands for a moment before tossing it to Lilis. She fumbled with it in her hands before furrowing her brows.

"This is just a common device used to light candles."

"Why would a priest be carrying something like that around when visiting the imperial palace? Step aside. We'll find out everything when I interrogate the criminal."

"I refuse!"

"I won't ask this again. Step aside, Saint Lilis."

"There is no reason to do this right now!"

"There are plenty of reasons. Guards, restrain the Saint."

Knights grabbed her and dragged her to the side. Veridin unsheathed his sword and pointed it at the priest. Lilis kicked and shouted. "Your majesty! You would point your sword at a member of the church? Your own attendant?!"

"Saint Lilis… You seem to have forgotten. The church has been anything but kind to me. Just sit there calmly. We'll find out the truth shortly."

"Your majesty! Veridin!"

Veridin ignored her. "Let's begin the interrogation now."