Emberlain.
Rosrell Emberlain was a man of few words. Despite reuniting with his daughter after a span of almost twenty long days - with Clairette's murder being plotted and her then forced to take shelter in the enemy's territory - Rosrell's demeanor fairly remained indistinguishable.
That was Vivia's first impression as his unfeeling gaze barely fluttered her chest with warmth. Her first assumption was of a private family reunion, but as it turned out, the return of the almost murdered princess had sparked a flicker of curiosity for the entire Court of the Senate to be present.
The Court of the Senate - like the Order of the Council - was its demon counterpart in the Human Realm, consisting of equivalent ministers who reported to the King. At present, Xaviston, who led the Ministry of Diplomacy, bowed before Rosrell.
"Long live, Your Majesty. We've safely returned from Rudaheim."
Piercing gazes landed at her as if the Clairette standing before everyone had magically transformed into a demoness herself. As Vivia, she was used to being the center of attention on stage - the only difference being resounding claps following the crowd's cheers after her spectacular performance. But being the center of attention within the palace walls was an experience that came nowhere to Stras.
The only tiny source of comfort came from Rosrell's wife and Emberlain's Queen, Regina Emberlain. A stark contrast to her husband, tears brimmed her eyes upon being face-to-face with her daughter at last. Her feet had already flown to Clairette's side, as she pulled her into her warm embrace.
"Dear goodness Clairette! Finally…Finally, my daughter has returned…"
Burying her face on Vivia's shoulder, her tears wailed her anguish and desperation. Her arms tightened around her, as if Clairette would disappear from her sight once again. Cupping her face within her trembling palms, she scrutinized her from head to toe. The faint traces of injuries from when Clairette was fatally attacked, still remained carved across her delicate skin. The brutality stabbed Regina with pure agony.
"Please forgive us that we couldn't protect you, my dear," Her eyes reddened, a frightening tremor gripping her body.
Standing before a kind and loving mother, confusion and cluelessness shackled Vivia's heart. Though Clairette's relationship with her mother was the only warm salvation in this otherwise cold palace, as Vivia, an appropriate response to her motherly emotions failed to reach her.
Raised in an orphanage and then thrown out, where Vivia wasn't fortunate enough to ever see her parents, she couldn't decide what sort of an expression to make. Other children with their parents looked like a happy family from afar, but the will to mimic that same laughter and joy stayed at a far distance from her. The end result was a stiff smile, which was the best she could muster given the circumstances.
"No need to cry for a daughter who brought that upon herself. She did nothing but humiliate us in Rudaheim!" Elvin's frosty voice shattered the air of warmth.
Regina glared. "You're Emberlain's Crown Prince for sure, but don't forget that you're a son and a brother first. Learn to distinguish between the two!"
"You always dote upon Clairette which is exactly why she has gone out of hand!"
As the heat of confrontation began to soar, a woman stepped forward and tugged at his arm, having patiently stood beside Elvin all this time.
"Mother is right, Elvin. Clairette has returned after going through some very gruesome experiences. We must be kind to her."
The new face sparked some curiosity for Vivia, though not for the body she was in. Yet, she couldn't place Clairette's relationship with her sister-in-law. As far as Rosrell and her brothers were concerned, Clairette evidently had a complicated relationship. With her mother, it was filled with love and doting. But where did sister-in-law Sierra stand was Vivia's question.
Sierra's gaze drifted to Clairette, a neutral yet warm smile tugging at her lips. "I'm happy for your safe return, Clairette. The atmosphere here was quite tense with your disappearance."
"Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law."
"Having to stay in the Demon Realm, I only hope the days wouldn't have been too difficult for you."
Vivia smiled in return. "It wasn't difficult at all. Crown Prince Zerath and everyone in Rudaheim's palace took great care of me. I've no complaints."
A shadow enveloped Elvin's eyes. "Yes, you enjoyed it there so much that you even proposed to the Demon Crown Prince with your stupidity."
Shock swept through the Senate like an earthquake wreaking havoc. A few even stumbled back in pure horror.
"An engagement!?" A crack formed in Rosrell's neutral countenance. "What in the world happened over there? Xaviston! Give me the full report this instant!"
Xaviston summarized the events that unfolded, including the decision to exchange envoys between the realms to ensure the Realm of Harmony would be kept away from politics.
Rosrell's expression rapidly worsened as did the Minister of Trade, Welles's.
"It was merely twenty odd days that my lady stayed there and we reached a point where we've to house a demon in the palace now?"
Rosrell gritted his teeth. "How dare those demons propose something as nonsensical as an engagement? Did they really think I'd agree!?"
"Your Majesty. The options presented to us were either a formal treaty or an engagement," Xaviston's brows pinched with apprehension. "Both were unacceptable to us. The Second Prince's suggestion was the least we could agree upon."
Vernon, the Law Minister, scoffed. "The least we could agree upon? So now a demon will live among us and spy on us? I knew it was a mistake to send you. You're just a fledgling when it comes to diplomacy."
Despite being younger than him and the rest of the ministers, Xaviston held his ground. "They kept my lady safe in their realm-"
"Didn't you just say that they were very appreciative of my lady's "miracle" she performed in Nethermoor?"
Being cut off midway irked Xaviston, nevertheless, he maintained his poise. "Yes. So?"
Vernon smiled. "So didn't that bring us on equal footing with them? Sure, they kept her safe, but then again, my lady seemingly was involved in resolving their winter crisis. If it were me, I'd call it equal and go my way."
He grimaced. "My lady isn't blessed, Sir Vernon. She didn't 'solve' anything as such for us to have any leverage over them."
"Who cares?" came the voice of a grey-haired elder, who couldn't wait to leave and retreat into his cocoon. "As long as they felt indebted to us, we won. But no. You had to get into such technicalities. Or is it that…"
He threw a sly glance at Elvin. "His Highness was too afraid to use it to his advantage?"
Elvin would have already pounced upon him if not for another voice's intervention.
"This is what happens when someone lacks basic education."
"What the hell do you mean?"
The new voice held disdain. "As the one leading the Magic Ministry, Sir Eugene, you're an important part of the Senate, but before you point out flaws in His Highness's decision, how about you try to find your own wandering son first, whom from what I remember, you're not so proud of?"
Eugene's gaze darkened.
"You remain cooped up in your magic tower, being the least bothered about how our realm is run, yet you strangely keep standing against His Highness's decisions. I wonder why?"
"I was simply agreeing to what Sir Vernon proposed. Or did I break any rule in your rulebook? Oh, please forgive me," Mockery reflected his eyes as equally as his, "Sir Theron isn't the one writing the rulebook here. Or does being the Minister of Education put you in some kind of an illusion?"
"Illusion?" Theron scoffed. "You're the one living in one big, fat bubble. You openly support the Second Prince, so you keep instigating everyone against His Highness."
"Is it only me who's worrying more about a demon living with us now?" Welles grimaced.
Ugh, this is so messy…
No chance ever got presented to Vivia to talk before the Senate had entirely taken over the discussion. But the exchange of clashes was useful to witness. Remembering them bits and pieces through Clairette's memories and listening to the Senate firsthand herself were different experiences altogether.
It seems like Elvin is in the same position as Zerath, she thought.
Similar to how there existed two factions between Zerath and Astaroth in Rudaheim, Emberlain had its fair share of succession push and pull between Elvin and Aeren.
Rosrell raised his hand, a gesture that brought back the steep silence. "That's enough for now. What I want to know is how Clairette can just get engaged to the Demon Crown Prince? Being ignorant of their tradition is no excuse!" his eyes glared at her with a frost-bitten edge to them.
"There's no excuse either for her to slap her brother," Elvin could barely contain the rage from spilling out of his trembling fists.
"This disrespect and humiliation Emberlain's future King went by her hands is unacceptable. Hence, I demand the strictest punishment for Clairette!"