The air within Astria's chamber remained heavy with the lingering traces of Len's mischief. She moved with purposeful strides toward the bedside, where the morning light bathed the mahogany side table. Amidst the neatly arranged items sat a small, ornate call-bell—draped in black and gold—its polished surface lending a royal dignity to the corner.
Astria reached out, her fingers brushing against the cold metal. A sharp, resonant ring shattered the stillness of the room—a chime that carried enough weight to signal not just a summons, but the Queen's unspoken agitation.
Outside in the corridor, the guard, still rattled by Len's warning, remained rooted to his spot. A few paces away, a handmaid stood as silent as a statue in the shadows of the wall. The moment that familiar metallic ring struck her ears, her eyelids flickered. Without a second's delay, she straightened her attire and moved toward the chamber with measured, disciplined steps.
Crossing the threshold, she entered the room, finding the atmosphere significantly more charged than the cool hallway outside. Keeping her gaze lowered, she approached Astria and performed a deep, graceful bow. Her posture reflected the rigid discipline of the palace, yet she remained silently poised, waiting to read the order hidden within the Queen's eyes.
Astria fixed her gaze upon the bowed head of the handmaid. Her tone carried a cold firmness that could unsettle the very stones of the palace. "Go," she said, her voice brief yet heavy. "Deliver a message to Grand Duke Ethos. Tell him that I wish to meet with him immediately."
The handmaid clasped her hands elegantly in front of her and lowered her head even further. "As you command, my Queen," she replied in an exceedingly humble and soft voice. Her tone possessed that steadiness found only in the most seasoned of servants. "Your message shall be delivered to him this very instant."
Astria slowly shifted her stance, turning toward the window where the morning sun was growing more intense. However, she halted the handmaid as the girl prepared to exit. "Wait," Astria commanded without turning around. "Before you depart, select my attire from the wardrobe and lay it neatly upon the bed."
"Of course," the handmaid murmured in agreement, shifting into a disciplined haste as she moved toward the massive wardrobe.
Astria cast one final, sweeping glance across the room before vanishing behind the heavy doors of the bathroom without another word. Behind her, the handmaid worked in absolute silence, the only sound being the rustle of silk—a whisper of the grand events that were soon to unfold.
On the other side of the palace, silence still reigned. In Eric's chamber, golden beams touched the carpeted floor, but his eyelids remained heavy. He lay motionless on the bed, trapped in the depths of a profound slumber. Len stood by the bedside, his gaze fixed on the black and gold call-bell resting upon the table. With a silent touch, he rang the ornate bell, producing a measured chime.
The sound reached the handmaid in the corridor, sparking immediate movement. She stepped into the chamber and, sensing Len's presence, performed a graceful bow of greeting.
Meanwhile, the warmth of the steam was slowly dissipating in Astria's quarters. She emerged from the bathroom, her eyes landing directly on the silken attire laid out neatly upon the bed. With a single, swift motion, she let the garments she wore fall to the floor in a discarded heap. She walked barefoot toward the bed and gathered the fresh clothes in her hands.
Suddenly, the silence of the hallway was shattered by the rhythmic, heavy thud of boots. The sound grew louder and more formidable as the footsteps approached the chamber. Right outside the door, the noise abruptly ceased.
"May I have permission to enter?" a deep, commanding voice resonated from behind the door.
Astria was seated before the mirror, her fingers busy with her tresses. Without averting her gaze from the glass, she said clearly, "You may enter."
The doors swung open, and Grand Duke Ethos stepped into the room. His countenance bore the usual mark of royal discipline. He paused to bow his head and spoke with profound respect, "Greetings, my Queen. You summoned me at this hour?"
Astria slowly shifted her posture and rose to her feet, a distinct seriousness in her eyes. "Yes," she said, gesturing toward the sofa. "Wait, you may take a seat there."
Astria turned her gaze toward the handmaid standing in the corner. "Go, arrange for some refreshments," her order was brief. The handmaid bowed in respect and exited the chamber without leaving a single footfall behind.
Now, only Astria and Grand Duke Ethos remained in the room. Astria flicked the damp strands of her hair back with her fingers and moved with measured, regal steps toward Ethos. She took a seat on the velvet cushion directly across from him.
"Ethos, you must have heard about the child who arrived here yesterday," Astria kept her voice low.
A serious thought surfaced on Ethos's face. "Yes, my Queen. Even this morning in the office, this was the subject of discussion," he straightened his back. "Do you wish for me to prepare that new boy in the same way, to teach him the skills of combat and self-defense just as I am..."
Ethos suddenly faltered, getting stuck on the word 'that child.' His eyes involuntarily drifted upward, as if he were trying to recall a specific face in his mind. For a moment, a heavy silence filled the room. Ethos composed himself, and instead of saying 'child' this time, he used the name directly.
"...just as I am teaching Len?" Ethos asked firmly. "Do you want me to introduce this new boy to the same intricacies of warfare so that he may protect himself?"
Astria nodded slowly while looking into Ethos's eyes. "Yes, I want you to treat him exactly the same way and train him just as you train Len."
Astria's gaze remained fixed on Ethos's face, like a predator tracking its prey. "My wish is clear, Ethos," she said in a low but unwavering tone.
Ethos bowed briefly, "As you command, my Queen." Yet, lines of an unspoken dilemma surfaced on his face. His eyes continued to analyze Astria's expression, as if trying to read a truth hidden behind her words.
"Do you have something else to say?" Astria asked, sensing his hesitation.
Ethos took a deep breath and lowered his head further. "My Queen... did you visit that other, restricted part of the city a few weeks ago?"
Astria's eyebrows arched slightly. "Yes, I passed through there a few times. And?"
Ethos's voice became even lower and more respectful. "While there... did you end the life of a certain creature?"
At this, Astria's eyes collided directly with Ethos's. The temperature in the room seemed to drop instantly. "What kind of creature are you referring to, Ethos?"
A flicker of nervousness appeared on Ethos's face, and he instinctively drew back slightly. "I... I am talking about that terrifying beast that was kept shackled in the depths of the dungeon. Did you see it?"
A faint, cold image of that dark cell emerged in Astria's memory. "I see," she said neutrally, "you are speaking of that white dragon that was held captive?"
"Yes, my Queen," Ethos asked almost in a whisper, "Did you kill it?"
A mysterious smile touched Astria's lips. "Killed? And suppose I did, what of it?"
The lines of worry deepened on Ethos's forehead. "No... I only meant to say that the creature was extremely dangerous. A few weeks ago, it vanished mysteriously from the dungeon. Not a single trace of it has been found since."
Astria's gaze turned even sharper. "I have no knowledge of this. I saw it only once; I never returned to that dungeon afterward. I have no concern for the activities in that sector, and it makes no difference to me what transpires in that part of the city."
Suddenly, the rustle of fabric and the sound of light footsteps echoed from the corridor. Both fell silent instantly, shifting their postures. A knock came at the door, and the handmaid's voice resonated, "May I have permission to enter?"
Astria turned her head toward the door. "Enter."
The handmaid walked in with measured steps and began to arrange the refreshments on the table before them with great delicacy. As she finished and stepped back, Astria signaled her departure. "You may go now. I shall summon you if needed."
The handmaid bowed and exited the room, leaving behind the same heavy silence and unresolved questions.