Benjamin and Wren bowed their heads deeply as Princess Sofia approached.
"And who are our esteemed guests?" Sofia asked, looking towards Charles with a playful but mischievous smile.
Charles provided a short introduction. "This is Dr. Benjamin Nystrom. He runs a clinic on the outskirts of Aster. And this is Dr. Wren Baek, who has traveled here to work with our local clinics."
Despite his calm demeanor, the subtle glare he directed at Wren told Sofia everything she needed to know about which doctor Charles had been occupied with lately.
"Dr. Nystrom, Dr. Baek, I'm glad you could both join us. What brings you to the ball?" Sofia inquired.
"I have old family relations in Zephyr. No one important enough for Her Highness to know, I'm sure. But, I am very grateful that His Highness is escorting us there," Wren replied with practiced politeness.
"And you, Dr. Nystrom?" Sofia asked, turning her gaze to Benjamin.
"I'm just... tagging along with Dr. Baek," Benjamin replied sheepishly, his voice trailing off.
Those words clearly struck a nerve. Sofia watched as Charles crossed his arms, his jaw clenched as he looked away from them.
To Sofia, both men were elegant and handsome, but underneath their striking exterior, she could see that one was transparent, kind, and gentle, while the other had a coldness about him cloaked in courtesy.
"I'm sure we'll all have a marvelous time at the ball. I'd love to introduce you both to some of the guests," Sofia continued.
Charles shot her a look that tokd her to watch her tongue. The two doctors simply smiled, choosing not to get involved in the siblings' silent quarrel.
"I'm certain the world's beauties will be in attendance," Sofia added, ignoring Charles's threatening expression. "After all, the Imperial Princess is looking for her groom, or so I hear."
It was then that Wren put all the pieces together. The heavy tension and silence between Benjamin and Charles. Benjamin had found out about the engagement. He almost broke out into a smirk thinking about the conundrum Charles must be in, but when he was reminded of Benjamin, his face hardened before he regained composure.
He glanced at Benjamin who remained silent, merely keeping his face down and staring at the ground. He wanted to reach out and hold Benjamin's hands and squeeze them, to offer him comfort. But, this was not the right place nor the right time.
Sofia wanted to take back what she had said upon seeing Benjamin's fallen face. She hadn't realized that her brother's relationship with the doctor was complicated.
Sofia felt embarrassed and ashamed, as if she had poured salt into the doctor's wounds. She wanted to give Charles an earful, but she couldn't do it in their presence. She tried to smooth it over as best she could.
Irritated, Charles asked, "And what of the Imperial Prince?"
"And the Imperial Prince as well," Sofia added with a light shrug. "Perhaps this ball is for everyone to find their match. I'm sure my brother's friends are fine gentlemen. Otherwise, he wouldn't associate with them, let alone escort them himself."
She offered them a warm smile. "It was a pleasure to meet you both. Charles didn't inform me he was bringing guests until this morning, so I hadn't realized our departure would be delayed. However, I look forward to getting to know you both better."
Before turning back toward her carriage, she caught Benjamin's eye and gave him a deliberate wink.
As she climbed back inside, Benjamin felt a sinking sensation in his chest. He wasn't looking forward to this three-day journey at all. The long and silent trip to the palace itself had been like a tell-tale sign of what the journey to the Imperial city would be like.
The three-day journey took them through the southern regions of Isadora and the northern and central regions of Arcadia, before they finally arrived at the imperial city of Amara, which lay at the heart of the southwestern region.
The landscape in Isadora was a gentle sprawl of meadows and mountains far in the horizon. They stopped in the city of Alta to rest the horses.
Alta had an infrastructure similar to Aster but was much smaller. It was well-known for its arts. The city was the birthplace of renowned artists, writers, and poets.
Galleries lined the streets, and advertisements for upcoming events were everywhere. Even the people were dressed in clothing that one would imagine only appeared in fashion magazines or art installations.
As they passed through the city, Wren and Benjamin discussed how the city drew in a younger population and how many youths had moved there.
While Charles attempted to join the conversation, it took every ounce of his strength not to throw a punch at Wren. He felt irritated every time Wren reached out to rest a hand on Benjamin's arm while pointing something out.
As they passed through smaller towns, children would run alongside the carriage, offering whatever they had in hand—flowers, candies, toys, or a piece of bread. Watching them warmed Benjamin's heart, yet there was a strange sadness that he couldn't explain.
At the Arcadian border, they were met with strict security. The Imperial Guards stood, armed with swords and spears, in stark white uniforms hemmed with gold and the crest of the Andromedun Empire embroidered on their sleeves.
The Empire's crest was a classic shield that curved into a smooth semi-circle at the bottom. A horizontal bar divided the shield into two halves.
The top row of the shield consisted of three panes divided by vertical lines: the first showed an axe for Zephyr, the second a quill in an inkwell for Isadora, and the third the Rod of Asclepius for Xenos.
The entire lower half of the shield was dedicated to Arcadia, depicting a radiant sun shining over desert dunes and ocean waves.
The guards' uniforms were threatening in their simplicity. Despite the recognizable royal carriages, the guards were required to verify the royal seal, which was presented by Felix.
Once cleared, they rode on until they stopped for the night in the northern Arcadian town of Shamlaiya. This town held deep imperial ties and housed a large mansion used specifically for hosting guests of the Imperial family.
The town was quiet and filled with rigid, square concrete buildings painted in monochromatic shades. The buildings were a stark contrast to the surrounding natural beauty of the jagged mountains and lush green trees, making the town feel as it it was out of place.
The following day, the greenery of the north began to fade and gave way to the vast deserts of central Arcadia. The daytime was hot and dry, while the nights offered cool breezes.
The second night was spent in Neha, the southernmost city of the central region, where they stayed in a grand hotel reserved entirely for them.
Passing through Neha, the world felt incredibly diverse. The air was filled with a mix of different languages, and Benjamin watched as cultures intermingled and clashed in the streets.
In Neha, the streets were lined with tall, modern buildings that stood in contrast to older buildings weathered by time. In contrast to Shamlaiya, busy city lights lit the streets and were filled with the constant background noise of a populous city. There were merchants calling out to passerbys, the steady rush of traffic, music drifting from nearby restaurants and entertainment venues, and the overlapping murmur of countless conversations.
Though he had traveled through different cities and towns in Arcadia before, being here as part of a royal envoy made Benjamin feel like an outsider. It was as if he were a mere observer of a world he used to move through freely.
The next day, as the group entered the southwestern region designated for the Imperial family, the chaos of city life faded into a calm, yet lively stillness. Unlike the central region, the climate here was mild and temperate.
There were buildings and homes with elegant and sophisticated architecture with green gardens that appeared perfectly maintained. Neatly paved roads were lined with rows of palm and coastal trees.
The Imperial grounds were enclosed by massive brown stone walls, with a heavy, red two-door gate featuring the Andromedun crest in gold. Imperial guards stood at their posts with silent vigilance.
Near the gates, there was a large courtyard offering a place for visitors to rest and wait while their carriages were inspected.
Staff members, dressed in light white tunics cinched with golden belts, moved among them to provide water, juice, cooling towels, and small plates of food. There were staff who took the horses and led them toward the stables for water, feed, and rest.
It was only after a thorough inspection of the carriages, and then each and every person, that they were finally permitted to pass through.
As they passed through the gate, the area opened up into vast grounds with square, white-stoned buildings spread across.
Charles gestured toward the buildings. "This is where the Imperial guards, the military soldiers, and their families reside."
Unlike the other kingdoms, Isadora did not have military forces. Instead, they relied on only three divisions of royal guards who patrolled the borders. There had never been a need for a military force because Isadora had always remained a neutral and peaceful kingdom.
Soon, they reached a second gate which was identical to the first. Guards verified the royal seal once more, and a clerk produced a guest list. Each person was required to present identification, after which their names were marked off.
When the heavy doors finally opened, Benjamin was in awe. Far in the distance, stood the Imperial Palace rising like a monument against the sunset.
The immense brown-stoned palace was symmetrical with dozens of rounded roofs and long covered walkways with graceful arches. In front of the palace were large decorative rectangular pools bordered by neat garden beds. In the center of the layout sat a vast, open courtyard lined on each side by covered walkways.
Seeing the courtyard, Benjamin knew the journey was coming to an end and felt relieved.
Throughout the trip, Benjamin and Wren had little interaction with Princess Sofia. Whenever they stopped, she would wander with her ladies-in-waiting.
Sofia made the most of what little freedom she had, attempting to dismiss her ladies only for them to return with Hana and Lyra in tow.
Inside the carriage, the conversation between Charles, Wren, and Benjamin was stretched thin by a heavy, underlying tension. It was exhausting for Charles and Benjamin, while Wren simply watched it all unfold.
As they made their way to the Imperial palace, Benjamin was worn out. Throughout the journey, his energy was spent on hiding his constant nausea and aching heart, while feigning a sense of calm he didn't feel.
But he knew that arrival at the palace didn't mean the end of his problems. It only meant that there was more to come.