The grand hall of Saint-John Manor shimmered with forced joy. Banners of azure and cream hung limp in the stifling air. The musicians played a tune too bright, too fast, as if it is necessitated for this party—Aurelia's 10th birthday For the guests, it was a celebration. For the hosts, it was a statement
Leslie Heartlock: (She was about to reach the table where all nobles were dining) ..Breathe. Just breathe. Serve the wine. Do not look up. Do not meet his eye. You are a ghost. You are stone.
Leslie, Head House Maid to the Baroness Octavia, moved through around the dining table like she doesn't exist giving no presence. Her uniform was starched to perfection, her blue hair pinned severe and tight beneath her white cap. In her hands, a heavy silver pitcher of iced summerwine felt like it held the weight of her world.
At the high table sat the cause of her paralysis.
King Oren Evercrest: (To Baron Deak Saint-John, his voice a pleasant, dangerous rumble) Your Mansion and all these arrangements are commendable, Deak
Baron Deak Saint-John: (Bowing his head, his voice thick) Thank you, Your Majesty. Your presence honors us. It made my daughter's birthday more special… it also helps to know it was all worth it all this preparation all this efforts .
The King nodded, his grey eyes—those eyes—scanning the room. His jaw line and lower face bone structure were same like Daniel's . Exactly. The same sharp,, like some one made the two different pots from same molding base ..Leslie's throat closed.
She approached the table. Her target was the Baroness's empty goblet. Focus there. Only there.
Baroness Octavia: (Smiling weakly at her husband) It is a beautiful party, my love.
Leslie leaned in. The scent of the King—whichcshe thought she has forgotten all of sudden washed all over her. Her hand trembled. A single drop of ruby wine splashed onto the pristine white table linen.
It bloomed like a tiny, accusing wound.
King Oren's gaze, previously resting on the Baron, flicked down to the stain. Then it traveled up the arm that held the pitcher, to the shoulder, the neck, and finally, to the face of the servant who had caused it.
Leslie froze. The world narrowed to that grey stare.
King Oren Evercrest: (A flicker in his eyes, not of anger, but of profound, unsettling recognition) are you ok my dear ?
It was a question but doesn't felt like one
Leslie Heartlock: (Eyes wide, a trapped animal's panic) Your Majesty. Forgive my clumsiness.
She dropped into a curtsy so deep her knees pressed into the cold floor. She willed herself to dissolve into the stone.
King Oren Evercrest: (His voice quieter, cutting through the music) Look at me.
Slowly, terribly, she raised her head. His expression was unreadable to the Baron and Baroness, who watched in confused silence. But Leslie saw it. The memory clicking into place. Not just of a face, but of a name, a season, a secret.
King Oren Evercrest: Sudden all the past memories flood inside his head ..he mmumerd the name in his mouth only (Leslie) ..he remembered her but choses not to create any scene there as he was not alone ..he was sitting beside his 3 beautiful wifes and childrens so he chose to pretend not knowing her What is your name my dear
Leslie Heartlock: (hearing the name part was a knife-twist) Leslie Heartlock Your Majesty.
King Oren Evercrest: how long you have been working here Leslie
Leslie Heartlock: about 10 years your majesty
A heavy pause. The King's eyes held hers, pinning her to the spot. He was calculating, connecting dots about the things have happened to her in that decade
King Oren Evercrest: Are you happy here leslie. Is baron and baroness treats you good ? ..coz you look scared because of spilling few drops so tell me are you happy here
Leslie Heartlock: They are very good to me your majesty they treat me like the Family
King Oren Evercrest: (Leaning back in his chair, his finger tracing the rim of his goblet) I see. And you have served the Saint-Johns for 10 years ..
Baroness Octavia: (Jumping in, eager to smooth the awkwardness) Leslie is the soul of this household, Sire. I do not know what we would do without her.
The King's lips quirked in a smile that did not reach his eyes. He was looking at Leslie, but he was seeing a ghost. A ghost with consequences.
---
In the Shadows:
Beneath the minstrel's gallery, where the torchlight failed, the darkness was not empty. It was Daniel. Cloaked in an active, thrumming weave of dark elemental magic, he was a living piece of the gloom, unseen, unheard.
But he was not unfeeling.
He saw his mother's terror. He felt it—a sharp, sour spike in the air that his magic, sensitive to emotion, translated into a physical taste on his tongue. Fear. Her fear.
Daniel: (A silent snarl in his mind) Don't look at her. Look away, you crowned bastard. Look away.
He saw the King's gaze, on his mother like he is trying to solve the mystery. He was teasing her
King Oren Evercrest: (Turning to Baroness Octavia, his tone deceptively light) Such loyalty is rare. I would speak with her later. To hear of your good works from such a… dedicated servant.
The words were polite. The command beneath them was absolute.
Leslie's fear spiked again, a blinding wave of pure maternal dread. It wasn't for herself. It was for him. For the son she had hidden. If king talk to her alone she doesn't know if she is able to hide it anymore about the fact that she got pregnant and birth a kid with his blood runing through him ..That wave of emotion hit Daniel's carefully maintained magical shroud like a hammer.
His control, tied to his own calm, fractured.
For less than a second, the woven darkness around him shimmered. Not enough for the Baron or the guests to see. But in that small window
King Oren Evercrest's head snapped to the shadows under the gallery. His royal calm evaporated. His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, locked onto the spot where Daniel had been, where the air still vibrated with escaped power and a son's rage.
The King stood up. The music faltered. The entire hall fell into a stunned hush.
King Oren Evercrest: (His voice no longer pleasant. It was the voice of a king, and a man confronting a phantom) You. Who was hiding in the dark
He pointed a single, unwavering finger directly at Daniel's hiding place.
King Oren Evercrest: Step forward.
A deathly silence gripped the hall. All eyes followed the King's pointed finger to the empty, dark space under the gallery. Leslie's hand flew to her mouth, her blood turning to ice.
She have never imagined that that's how her whole world will come crashing down .. Daniel was there in the dark behind few guests observing everything just to get found out by the king himself
Daniel emerged. He did not slink. He stepped into the edge of the torchlight, All the eyes were on him .. Aurelia was confused why did Daniel chose hide himself when he could have joined them normally and now she is getting worry about him
A collective gasp rippled through the nobility. A stranger, hidden at their celebration!
King Oren Evercrest: (His gaze like a physical weight, scanning the tall, powerful frame, the hidden face) who are you kid why you were hiding in the dark and observing all of us . And step over here we can't see you clearly
Daniel's hands, clenched at his sides, slowly he walk towards the dining table and finally meeting his mother's eyes. In her eyes he saw a lifetime of warning, of fear, of love.
He looked back at the King. His father
The moment King's eyes met Daniels..He noticed blue eyes like Leslie and jaw line and lower face bone structure reminding him of his younger face . But the genetic Red crimson hair was not their but what he has was white hair ..this created more questions then answers
Daniel: sensei are we safe ..do you think king will notice that I'm his son
Sensei: No all heir of Evercrest House hold have Red crimson hair so you are safe
Daniel : then there is no need for me to fear the worst ..lets face the situation head on You called for me, Your Majesty.