Two days on the carriage, and they had finally arrived.
From the scent in the air to the color of the plants, everything felt different almost artificial. He was used to naturality so the amount of magic in the air almost suffocated him. Magic was used for almost everything here..
Looking out the window, he caught sight of the magnificent castle he had only ever read about. The books hadn't lied. From the golden-coated doors to the silver-lined walls, everything shimmered with impossible beauty. As the carriage drew nearer, he felt a pulse of ancient magic surrounding them, likely the protective circle said to lie beneath the castle, crafted long ago by the empire's first mage.
When the carriage halted midair, his servants as they call them selves sat upright straightened in their seats. Both turned toward him. Ruda spoke first.
"We've arrived at the royal castle. There are a few things you must remember before meeting,"
"listen carefully consort you are not of royal blood and even though you are now part of the palace your status is still someone who married in always treat the Crown Prince as someone above you in rank because he's your future ruler the king, when you greet him do not greet him like your future husband or a family member you greet him like his the next king, before you speak lower head never stand taller than him, never called him by name never speak casually to him, always address him as your Royal Highness, and always address yourself as this consort. So when you go outside right now bow down and just say, 'your Royal Highness this consort greats you. May your Highness enjoy peace and good health'."
Did they expect him to memorize all that now? They'd had two whole days to tell him yet only mentioned it now.
The door opened, and the two held his hands and without warning stepped out, his heart almost dropped, he despised flying or in his case now dropping down from an unimaginable height. Outside, the courtyard bustled with people in identical clothing, palace servants, no doubt.
They didn't speak but he could tell what they were thinking.
"Is he one of them?"
"I heard he's from the meruthia."
"He's not of noble blood."
"He's not even human look at those eyes,"
The duke's carriage landed nearby, and the man stepped out, his usual false, pleasant smile in place.
Clearly there were carriages that could land in the castle and those that could not.
He approached Circe, taking his hand and leading him toward the castle.
"I presume you've been instructed on the proper courtesies?"
Yeah, about five minutes ago, Circe thought, but he only smiled.
"Yes, Your Highness."
A herald's voice rang out.
"Bow before the crown prince!"
Everyone turned toward the grand palace doors. A procession emerged a man with golden hair, their clothes woven from silks that screamed power. Everyone bowed.
He stopped before them,tall, radiant, and confident, he stepped forward, took his hand from the duke, and kissed it.
"Hello," the man said, smiling. "I'm Caecus, your future partner."
"It's a pleasure for this consort to meet you, Your royal Highness."
Caecus didn't so much as glance at the duke as he pulled him away toward the castle leaving him bowing. The duke's polite expression didn't falter, but Circe could feel his irritation. That small exchange told him everything, the duke and the prince were not on good terms.
The crowd bowed. The prince, still holding his hand, led him to the palace entrance, where a blindfolded man stood waiting. He was dressed as a noble, yet his presence was unlike any he had ever felt.
"This is the Duke of Carpathia, Merikh Aneislis," the prince announced, his tone even but cautious. "He will serve as your escort."
The blindfolded man neither bowed nor acknowledged the prince. He stood motionless, a presence so heavy it felt like the air itself bent around him. he looked closer and felt his breath hitch, the weight of the duke's aura pressed down on him like an unseen hand. Instinct screamed at him to run, but he forced himself to stay still, digging his nails into his palms. The last time he'd felt such power was during Eliphas's training, and even then it hadn't been this pressing.
"Your Highness," Circe greeted quietly.
The duke ignored him completely. His voice, when it came, was deep and cold.
"He should be taught the palace rules. Make sure of it."
He spoke not to the prince, but to the servant at his side, without even glancing at either of them. The servant bowed slightly, not to the prince but only to the duke.
"Yes, Your Grace," the servant replied flatly, showing not the faintest hint of deference to the crown prince. He turned toward him "Please follow me, Master Circe."
Without waiting for the prince's dismissal, the servant simply took his hand and led him away. The prince's smile froze, his eyes narrowing briefly, but he said nothing. The duke and his household had clearly long since stopped pretending to respect the royal line.
He followed the servant into another carriage, where Ruda and Ananke were already waiting. Once the door shut, the servant spoke again.
"I am Azar, head servant of House Carpathia. You'll reside at the Duke's castle while you attend the academy. Upon arrival, you'll have two hours to familiarize yourself with the castle before the evening meal, which you'll share with His Grace. The two of you," he said, glancing at Ruda and Ananke, "will teach him what to touch and what not to, and where he may or may not go."
With that, Azar bowed lightly and turned away as the carriage jolted up.
A guttural growl outside made him look through the window. Massive beasts roamed freely around the castle grounds, feeding and playing. Judging by the fact that he couldn't understand their speech, they were high-level creatures.
When the carriage stopped, and to his luck landed on the ground, the quiet of the new surroundings startled him. The air was serene, the plants glowing faintly with peaceful energy, but beneath that calm, he sensed something dangerous, an unseen predator's gaze. It was the same oppressive aura he'd felt from the duke.
But it was the most he had breathed since reaching the castle the magic here was clean and not forced.
"We've arrived," Azar said. "Do not be late for dinner. The Duke values punctuality."
"It was nice meeting you," he replied politely.
"You too master Circe,"
"We'll show you your room first," Ruda said, tugging Ananke along ahead of him.
He followed them up a staircase near the entrance. As they climbed, a strange sense of familiarity washed over him. He had lived his entire life in the village; there was no reason for this place to feel familiar, yet it did. Fleeting, but undeniable.
They walked through a corridor lined with ornate carvings of runes until they stopped before a large door. Ananke pulled out a golden ring and gave it to him.
"This is your key," Ananke said. "I'll keep a spare"
Ruda smiled faintly.
The room was vast, gold chandeliers, white and black curtains, a grand bed in the center, and a carved wardrobe beside what appeared to be a private bath. The chandeliers wer lit by candles instead of mana.
"Come on. Let's show you the rest of the castle."