The audience hall, with its high vaulted ceilings and intricate tapestries adorning the walls, loomed like a monument to power. Flickering torches cast dancing shadows across the faces of the assembled courtiers, each movement exaggerating the tension that clung to the room.
Azorius, perched upon his ornate throne at the head of the hall, radiated authority. Every line of his posture spoke of command, every glance of his sharp grey eyes demanded attention. The hall seemed to hold its breath as he awaited the messenger's report, each second stretching endlessly, heavy with anticipation.
When the messenger burst through the doors, his hurried steps echoed across the stone floors, reverberating off the walls with a metallic clatter. His disheveled appearance and quivering voice betrayed the fear that gripped him, yet he pressed on, undeterred by the royal gaze fixed upon him.
"How dare you disrupt the solemnity of this occasion!" Azorius thundered, his voice rolling through the chamber like distant cannon fire. His fists clenched as frustration flared, the interruption an affront to his order.
The messenger trembled but did not falter, each word spilling forth in a quivering cadence. The hall thickened with tension, each syllable hanging in the air like a poised dagger, waiting to strike.
"Your Majesty! The caravan has arrived," he stammered, dropping to his knees before the throne, hands shaking violently.
Azorius's brows drew together, confusion mingling with irritation. "And what was all this commotion about?" he demanded sharply. "Let them in."
The messenger's lips parted, hesitation marking every second. "Your Majesty, there is one thing you must know before they enter," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper.
"Stop speaking in riddles and speak plainly, if you wish to keep your head," Azorius snapped, his patience thinning to a razor edge.
The messenger inhaled deeply, bracing himself. "The bride sent by the Nuria kingdom… is none other than General Noori Azar Solana herself," he declared, his voice quavering with terror.
For a moment, the hall froze, silence swallowing every breath. Among the courtiers, one man's eyes widened in utter disbelief. He rose, his voice cracking like a clap of thunder, slicing through the frozen stillness.
"That is impossible!" Farris's words reverberated across the hall, his dark, penetrating gaze seeking answers in the stunned faces around him. Disbelief etched itself into every line of his expression.
Gradually, murmurs rippled through the hall like a tide of confusion. The notion that the Emperor of Nuria would send his feared daughter as a bride seemed inconceivable, hinting at schemes layered with calculation and danger. Apollo Azar Solana's intent was opaque but unmistakably strategic. A chill ran down Azorius's spine. "How is that possible?" he muttered, voice low, more to himself than anyone else.
As skepticism lingered, the hall's massive doors creaked open once more. A single figure entered, her presence immediately commanding attention. Noori, clad in polished armor that gleamed under the torchlight, moved with the poise of a predator, flanked by two men bearing the same disciplined bearing. She halted at the foot of the steps leading to the throne, her breath steady as she cleared her throat, her voice shifting from martial authority to refined elegance.
"Greetings to the esteemed King of Solyria, the great Azorius Coral. May you live long," she intoned, offering a subtle, measured bow, the weight of her presence leaving no doubt of her power.
Her sudden entrance, arriving just after the shocking revelation of her identity, left Azorius momentarily speechless. The hall seemed to hold its breath as he rose from his throne, descending the steps with deliberate calm, his cape sweeping behind him.
"Ah, Princess Noori Azar Solana. No need for formalities," he said, his tone warm, allowing her to straighten fully even though her bow had been brief. "I have heard much about you," he added, a friendly smile softening his features.
Noori's lips curved faintly, a flash of amusement in her expression. "I imagine not all of it flattering," she quipped, meeting his gaze briefly before shifting her attention to Bishop, who stood just behind her.
"Commander Bishop, present the prepared gifts," she commanded, her voice precise and measured. Bishop bowed and stepped forward, departing to fulfill her order.
"You needn't have troubled yourself," Azorius said smoothly, though the hint of curiosity in his eyes betrayed him. "Your arrival was anticipated; gifts are unnecessary."
Noori's gaze remained calm and unyielding. "One does not attend a ceremony empty-handed, would one?" she countered, her tone even but firm.
Azorius chuckled lightly. "Oh, you are far too gracious. Isn't that so, everyone?" He swept a glance across the assembled courtiers, who, still tense and fearful, quickly nodded in acquiescence. Farris, observing from the side, furrowed his brow, his curiosity piqued by the subtle sharpness in her demeanor.
"Not as gracious as you for initiating a peace covenant with Nuria," Noori remarked, her tone laced with subtle irony. "I never imagined our two countries would agree to such terms." Her words left Azorius momentarily uncertain, and he turned to the interpreter for clarification.
"Peace covenant?" he asked, brow furrowed.
"Your Highness, she refers to the marriage arrangement," the interpreter explained carefully. "In Nurian, the phrase translates identically." Azorius's eyes widened slightly in understanding, and he nodded.
Moments later, Bishop returned, accompanied by several men carrying large, ornately decorated boxes that partially blocked the hall's pathway. "The rest of the gifts are on their way. I hope you find them satisfactory," Noori stated, her voice retaining the poised elegance expected of a princess.
As she prepared to resume her focus on the king, something distant caught her attention. Her eyes flickered for a heartbeat toward a solitary figure across the hall. A faint, almost imperceptible shift crossed her expression—something between recognition and contemplation—before she drew a measured breath and shook her head, refocusing on Azorius as their conversation continued.