Chapter 75

Seraphine sat with her chin up and her shoulders relaxed, a posture her parents had drilled into her since childhood. The centuries had only served to make this royal grace seem second nature to her at every celebration. Nevertheless, she enjoyed the evening, for there was no cause for tension, either within her family or outside of it. Her brother and husband, Lysandra and herself, had ensured that harmony prevailed.

The celebration took place in one of the extensive gardens, which offered enough space for thousands of guests. On the dance floor, Prince Bu Long was dancing with a daughter of the noble House Kerathal, a house of great prestige. Along with House Harkonnen, it was considered the second most powerful military house. While House Harkonnen provided the royal soldiers and guards that protected the capital, House Kerathal sent troops for the naval forces and for the defence of other cities in the empire.

''I'm going to ask him for a dance,'' Neala's voice pulled Seraphine out of her musings. Neala was her great-great-granddaughter, who in her eyes had only recently been born - in spite of her now being sixteen years old and a young woman. Like all members of House Baelaeron, she bore the typical Valyrian features and was just as eccentric as the rest of the family.

''A princess doesn't ask for a dance, It's the prince who should ask you,'' Seraphine replied matter-of-factly, gently stroking her great-granddaughter's hair as she removed a small pink leaf that had become entangled in it.

Neala pouted, as expected, which prompted a small chuckle from Seraphine. ''Do you consider him particularly handsome?"

''Somebody falling in love?'' A voice called from the side, and Nealas head shot around to give her little sister a warning look. ''Shut up!'' she hissed, visibly annoyed.

Seraphine smirked, amused by the minor quarrel. 'Enough. This is unbecoming of princesses of House Baelaeron,' she reminded them sternly. The sisters fell silent instantly, trying to mimic Seraphine's regal bearing, which made the older one smirk again.

But the quarrel had sparked an idea in her mind, a notion she had previously dismissed as impractical. Would it be possible to marry Prince Bu Long to a member of her house and then support him in his bid for the throne? So far, she had dismissed such plans because her house had no need for political ties to other noble houses. Her family had better access to potential marriages with Valyrian blood and dragons at her side. Why would someone from her house marry a prince from another house when her own members were second to none?

But now the possibility seemed worthwhile to her, at least on the condition that Neala and Bu Long developed a genuine interest in each other. After all, young love was a beautiful thing, and Seraphine would never demand that one of her descendants marry for purely political reasons. Her house was powerful enough not to need such connections. However, if both parties agreed, she would not let this chance pass her by.

She smiled gently at Neala as a myriad of strategies flashed through her mind. "If you like, I can arrange for him to ask you for a dance. I'm sure he wouldn't say no."

Neala's cheeks flushed even more, and she stammered, "I-I don't think that's necessary!" She insisted, although her eyes couldn't resist glancing up again.

Ah, young love, how beautiful it was. Seraphine let the two sisters continue to whisper about the prince, while she already thought about how she could prepare Neala should it actually come to a wedding with Prince Bu Long. Neala was still a child, after all, and to throw her unprepared into the political chaos of the imperial court of Yi Ti would be pure suicide. Not that anyone would dare to harm a princess of the Eternal Empire physically, but manipulation was a completely different matter, and in that, the courtiers of Yi Ti were true masters.

Seraphine's eyebrows rose slightly, and the corners of her mouth tightened into a smile. Oh, the poor girl was hopelessly infatuated with the prince.

''What a pity, then how about you Leana, hm?'' She asked with a playful smile, which the clever girl interpreted correctly. Leana had a devilish grin on her face. ''Oh, please, Grandmother! I would love nothing more than to dance with the prince all evening.''

She had told the children to call her grandmother. It was an appropriate way to express the age difference, but it didn't affect her as much as if they had told her how old she really was.

"Absolutely not!", Neala almost jumped out of her seat, her voice far too loud for such a sudden outburst.

When she realised that a few heads had turned in her direction, she quickly allowed herself to fall back into her seat. Her face was now even redder than before, and she whispered, embarrassed, almost pleading, "Please, Grandmother, do that!"

Seraphine couldn't suppress a small chuckle. The children were much too cute. "Don't worry, my child, no one will take your prince away from you, at least not tonight."

The young princess sighed softly as she tried to regain her composure.

The rest of the evening saw the festivities continue in full glory. The wine flowed, the music played tirelessly, and the dance floor remained lively. It wasn't long before the news of Neala's interest in Prince Bu Long spread through the ranks of those present. As expected, the prince didn't let much time pass before approaching her and asking the young princess to dance.

Neala, who blushed visibly, accepted the offer within seconds.

While Neala and the prince glided across the dance floor, Seraphine turned away discreetly and walked over to her husband, who was also enjoying the party.

"I can guess why you're here," were his first words, after she had given him a tender kiss on the lips in greeting.

"Always the observant one, " she joked, as she slid into the seat next to him. "What do you think? Does the plan deserve a chance?"

Kaelarys put aside the glass he was holding and turned his full attention to her. His piercing blue eyes, which made others tremble, were like an ocean to her in which she could still lose herself even today. "From what Lysandra and you have told me about him, he doesn't seem like a bad seed for the throne. If Neala became Empress, we could get our claws into Yi Ti and put down roots for the future. But I have my doubts as to whether Neala is suited for the role.

Seraphine let out a sigh. ''She's too nice,'' she finally admitted with a small sigh. She loved Neala, there was no doubt about that, but love couldn't undo a person's weaknesses.

Kaelarys nodded in agreement. ''She is too nice,'' he repeated her words.' But she could prove herself to us. It is not as if the wedding were to take place tomorrow. If the gods really will it so, she still has time to grow and prove the opposite to us.''

''A test then,'' she stated.

''Yes, a test,'' he told her without hesitation. ''It's her decision, Seraphine. If she really wants to go down this path, she will succeed. But if not...'' He shrugged slightly, as if the answer was obvious. ''Then it wasn't what the gods had in mind for her.''

He spoke of the gods again, and she knew exactly why he mentioned them.

She nodded slowly, lost in thought. ''Then so be it."

Neala will have a year to become a completely different woman.

---

Heyho, long time no see, again. But I did warn you. I managed to get sidetracked by another book I'm writing. Death Note x GOT fanfic. Sorry about that, but hey, here's a chapter :D

I've also noticed that the parents and Myranda haven't been mentioned for a while, at least in the back of my mind. I'll make sure to include them again soon. Until then, bye