'I hope you slept well'

The last time she passed through the halls of the imperial palace where Vernon walked beside her, reminding her to mind her posture and not drag her feet, Amelia strode through one of Kaerndal Palace's halls with a regal and authoritative gait about her. There were less whispers now compared to back then. Behind her was Oswyn followed by three of her ladies-in-waiting, then Ancel and five knights of his choosing—for all she knew, they might all be Felfords assassins. As for her, Amelia ditched the trousers and opted to wear a dark red, almost maroon, dress with a high neckline. The long sleeves hugged her arms down to her wrists, and her waist was cinched by a gold band where the intricately embroidered rose vines decorated the upper half of her dress; the lower half was kept straight, covering her shoes with a little trail following behind her. And since it was cold even during midday, Amelia wore her furred cloak held together by a thin gold chain with her House's brooch on both ends. The only piece of jewelry she wore other than the ring Alexander gave her, and her father's ring that was passed down to her when she became Osmea's duchess.

Reminding herself that this wasn't a battlefield, she smiled and nodded to almost everyone she came across and greeted her. Alexander and Amelia were supposed to come together, but Christa said that they should leave that for the ball later where there are more witnesses to carry the gossip.

The servant that guided them stopped in front of a stunning gilded door with an abstract carved woodwork of the sun on both sides.  When the two footmen staying by the door greeted her, she reciprocated as she held her breath while they slowly pushed the door open.

"Duchess Florence of Osmea has arrived," one announced as Amelia crossed the threshold. She discreetly exhaled as she smiled to whoever was already there--Vernon and Elias with the duke's secretary behind them.

"Greetings, your grace," Elias walked towards her, smiling. There was an air of mischief she was all too familiar with, so she held out her hand for him to kiss. "You look beautiful as ever," he went on, squeezing her hand.

"Greetings," Amelia smiled back, and when she turned to Duke Mulford, she did a little curtsy, "Greetings to the shield and sword of the empire, the Sapphire Lion of the North, Duke Mulford."

Vernon cleared his throat after a chuckle. Hearing this, Amelia smiled wider. She too wanted to laugh at the formality. If only there weren't any servants in the room waiting to be called upon, she would've run and hugged Vernon and Elias the moment she saw them. But she reminded herself that today she's a duchess representing her people. Elias was buffer than she last saw him, and Vernon grew a beard, though both looked equally spent. She heard that they only arrived this morning from Ragalla. 

"Greetings to the goddess of the south, Duchess Florence," Vernon's beard tickled the back of her hand after giving it a kiss that she almost broke in a laughter. Elias, too, wandered his eyes around the room to stifle a laugh. He could've told her that she was beautiful or that she was a fair beauty but to call her a goddess? Even for Amelia that's a bit of an exaggeration.

Lucky for them, they're the first two to arrive or else Amelia would have to think of what to call the others when she greets them too. She's not particularly close with Ayland's father, Duke Lucius Robina. And Alexander—well, she can easily call him Guardian of the Seas since he's so close to the sea... Amelia's thought trailed off to last night and she felt hot, her cheeks warm when she patted it with the back of her hand.

Perhaps it's her cloak and the hearth burning, she thought. Yes, perhaps, that's it.

After the greetings, a servant took Amelia's attention as she guided her to her seat. She offered to take her cloak, but Christa was quick on her feet and told the servant that she would take care of it herself. Looking at the lady, the servant bowed her head and swiftly left Amelia's side to return to her station.

At the middle of the grand room was a huge round table with five high-back cushioned chairs around it with a significant space in between. Above hung a huge crystal chandelier only smaller than the table itself. Thick cream-colored draperies gathered by golden cords kept it together, and beyond the gilded windows was the wide garden with a three-tiered fountain in middle.  The room was white with gold trimmings and lavish decorations in either pure gold or marble.  At the sides were more chairs for their companions, then there were also attendants standing, waiting for orders, at each post. For her companions, only Oswyn and Christa sat down while Ancel stood near the door, closest to her, guarding, and looking intently at every other muscle that moved in the room and the souls that passed by him. Among the three of them, only Ancel had poison immunity and she thought it would be rude of her to have her knight taste every food or drink handed to her, so she refrained from taking any because Vernon and Elias ate and drank something different, saying she was full.

Amelia had her eyes set on the glistening water outside when she jolted at the sudden sound of the door opening.

"Duke Clement of Thuenia has arrived." She heard and she dared not look back because her heart was racing so hard it rang in her ears.

"Greetings, Duke Clement," it was Elias who greeted first, giving him a knight's salute, then Vernon stood up, offering a hand which Alexander shook.

"Greetings. Glad to see you both back alive, Duke Mulford, Lord Elias." Amelia took a glance, and she was impressed. So impressed that her glance turned into a stare. She realized she haven't seen Alexander act like a real proper duke before. Well, she has, maybe, but not in this kind of setting. He always seemed so… frivolous.

And then it was her turn. She swallowed discreetly as her eyes remained glued to Alexander who was smiling at her. His hair was slicked back with a few stubborn ones hanging about on his forehead. He wore a crisp black suit with this House's crest the only one in color, a golden eagle with yellow diamonds for its eyes. His coat that hung over his shoulders was also pitch black, with an eagle's head embroidered in gold threads at the back.

"Greetings, your grace," Amelia stared at every word that came out of the duke's mouth. 

She shared an intense kiss with this man last night. It was so intense that her brain stopped working, and the next thing she knew she was gasping for air, her arms wrapped around him like she's some harlot begging for more—she did kind of feel like one, even if she didn't want to admit it. With his arm around her like some strong metal wall pushing her towards him for a shared heat, that any longer, they'd meld into one, she's surprise that she didn't pass out from her heightened emotions. And his hand... its warmth still lingered on her thigh.

Given what they shared last night, why is he not the least flustered to see her? He should feel some sort of... something, right? Why is he dashingly smiling as he approaches her? He wore the small cut slightly on the left part of his bottom lip like a trophy. They didn't saw each other this morning because she had her breakfast in her room since preparing for the Gathering is already a struggle for her with all the hair, the makeup, and the dress.

"Greetings, Duke Clement," she said, handing her hand for a kiss. Alexander smiled at her, and if she only knew what Alexander would do next, she would've just nodded at him and smiled curtly. But there was no turning back now since Alexander already got a hold of her.

Instead of kissing the back of her hand, he kissed the ring he gave that Amelia had been wearing on her middle finger. Wearing it there had no specific meaning so the duchess thought it wouldn't spark rumors other than her keeping up with the trends. 

"I hope you slept well," he went on saying which made Amelia blushed, forgetting to pull her hand back. She only regained her composure when Christa and Elias cleared their throats at the same time, alerting her.

She looked past Alexander and saw Symon and Jyver bow to her. Amelia gave a small smile and nod then she proceeded to say, "I did. Thank you for asking. I...  I hope you s-slept well too." She stuttered, unsure whether she should say the last part or not, and Alexander only answered her with a charming smile and squeezed her hand before letting it go. He walked past Christa and the others, responding to their greetings.

The duchess didn't know she was holding her breath until she was settled in her seat again. She straightened her dress and tucked some strayed hairs to the back of her ear, slightly brushing her warmed cheeks. When she looked up and around, she saw her Uncle Vernon looking at her, void of any emotions in his eyes while Elias was just glancing, his eyes teasing so Amelia couldn't help but blush again. The other servants that were there also tried to avoid her gaze as much as they could, though looking to her left, Symon and Jyver looked like they haven't slept for ages, but Alexander was beaming with bright aura that looking at him made Amelia cringe in the inside.

As they waited for Duke Robina and the emperor, Alexander and Vernon exchanged some small talk and Elias answered occasionally. Amelia also had some talk with Christa and Oswyn, checking—practicing rather—of her arguments to present later. 

"How's Walton doing these days, duchess?" Vernon's voice travelled across the wide table. "I heard you did some major changes in your council. It's good to have an opposition so you can stay grounded. Only hearing yes from your council won't do you good in the long run." It was of an advice rather than a question.

"My council isn't afraid to voice their thoughts, and I listen to them." Is what she said but lately she's been forcing her way through the lot of them. "They correct me if I'm wrong, and I could say they're my biggest critics. About Uncle Walton..." Amelia paused—that didn't taste good calling him uncle—"he's been well."

Vernon nodded but his eyes told her otherwise. He doesn't completely believe her at all!

The duke was about to say another word, but the door opened, and the footman announced his majesty's arrival followed by the Duke of Bruiles, who looked so smug that almost everyone in the room made a face.

Amelia and the others stood in attention and lowered their heads, "Greetings to the Great Dragon of the Empire, Emperor Augustus," they said in unison.

"Greetings." Augustus waived his hand and gestured for them to take their seats. "How are you feeling, Duchess Florence? I hope your looking forward to your birthday celebration."