"What are you looking at?"
A sweet voice spoke behind him, causing Rian to turn around, only to find a girl his age staring at him as if studying him, with a small smile covering her lips. She was dressed in a stunning black dress, with her long black hair cascading over her shoulders.
But it was the girl's eyes that made Rian pause for a second, a shimmering dark blue that made him feel like he was staring into the starry universe. Those eyes…why do they feel so familiar?
"I… I was just admiring the Goddess's statue," Rian spoke, quickly recovering from his haze, and proceeded to offer a slight bow. "The craftsmanship is remarkable."
"It truly is," she agreed, picking up a glass of wine from a passing tray and taking a small sip. "Though most people here aren't looking at the stone. They're looking at her." She spoke while gesturing at the woman surrounded by several nobles. "I suppose you want an audience with Princess Kiera as well?"
Princess Kiera? A Princess from the Solarius family? That's who that is? Rian gave out an awkward chuckle, while internally his mind was going on a rampage.
This would explain everything, the increased security, the scrutiny… no, no, no, this changed a lot about his plans as well.
Ever since Rian had found out about his powers of being able to temporarily steal others' bloodline, from gaining access to someone else's blood, he had made it an absolute priority to get his hands on the Solarius family bloodline ability.
He didn't know the details, but there were some rumors that the Solarius family's bloodline ability allowed their users to see through the world's ambient mana, making them extremely gifted mages. However, that wasn't the reason why he was after that bloodline ability. He needed that ability to get past one of their world's biggest secrets, something that could heavily increase his chances of survival in the upcoming crisis.
Originally, he had made this complicated plan to scour through the eastern half of the country to find one of the third prince's discarded bastard, but with Princess Kiera right here, standing only a couple of metres away from him in a social setting? Despite his current situation, he even had to admit he wasn't going to get a better chance.
All he needed was one drop of her blood. That was it.
But was it worth the risk? Worth lingering here a second longer?
Besides, how would he even get it? He couldn't simply walk up to her and cut her hand or something; heck, he couldn't even get close to her right now?
"Oh, where are my manners?" the girl continued, pulling Rian out of his thoughts. She extended a hand. "My name is Noemi. I am Princess Kiera's friend from the academy. The Princess was kind enough to invite me to accompany her today."
Friend, huh? But that still didn't answer the question, why she had approached him in the first place. It couldn't be his handsome face now, could it?
Rian took her hand, making sure his touch was brief and formal. "The pleasure is mine. I am Zathiel Graves… of Redvale Province," he said, inventing the name with a confident smile. "From the South."
Noemi's head tilted slightly, her eyes narrowing just a fraction. "Redvale Province…?" she mused, swirling the wine in her glass. "How interesting. I've studied the southern cartography, and I don't believe I've ever heard of such a place."
How could you when I just made it all up?
"I'm not surprised," Rian said with a self-deprecating chuckle. "Redvale Province is impossibly small. More of a glorified township, really. We're quite overshadowed."
Noemi's lips curved into a faint, knowing smile. "Sometimes, being overshadowed seems like a blessing. At least you can slip away from parties like this without half the court noticing you're gone."
Haha, if only. But Rian didn't say that; instead, he turned it around.
"Is that your goal for the evening?" Rian asked, raising an eyebrow. "To give everyone the slip?"
"A lady never reveals her secrets," she grinned. "But let's just say I find the view from the edges of the room far more interesting than the center. You see more. The way people hold their glasses is a little too tight. The way their laughter doesn't quite reach their eyes. You should know, after all, you have been noticing those things for a while now as well."
Rian felt a jolt of surprise. She'd been watching him. "Is that why you came to talk to me?" he questioned. "Because I looked like the one other person who was only observing from the sidelines, instead of playing a part?"
"Maybe." Noemi smiled while looking ahead. "Or maybe it was because I could tell you didn't want to be here either."
Listening to Noemi talk, Rian took in a sharp breath. This girl… she was way too perceptive. To look past his façade so easily and accurately, there was no way he could fool her into getting closer to the princess.
"My Lady. You are here. I have been looking all over for you." A voice interrupted the duo, causing them both to turn to their side. There, dressed in a red gown, was the figure of a middle-aged woman making her way toward the two of them.
"Aunty Veythar. It's a pleasure to see you." Noemi spoke with the same smile on her face as she gave her a light bow.
Aunty Veythar? As in Darian Veythar? Looking at the woman, Rian couldn't help but make his smile a little wider.
"Oh no, no. There is no need for you to bow. My husband would come to meet you as well, but it turns out some of the maidservants made a mistake."
"It is fine, My Lady. Considering our relationship, I really wouldn't mind if Uncle Darian took a little more time," Noemi answered.
Nodding slightly, Lady Veythar turned to her side to look at Rian's smiling figure. "I see you have made a friend as well."
"I am Zathiel Graves, My Lady, of Redvale Province." Rian hurriedly bowed as well, praying that the woman hadn't been in charge of sending the invitations.
"Redvale Province? Where is that?"
"It's in the south." Noemi was the one who answered this time. "It's a small province, so not many people have heard about it."
"I… I see. You must have traveled a long way then." Aunty Veythar replied as her eyes slowly narrowed as she glanced at Rian or more importantly, his clothes. "I must say, Lord Zathiel, those clothes of yours bear an awfully close resemblance to my husband's new robes. If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy those from?"