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As soon as the hall doors closed behind Eirian's father and stepmother, Chenzhou collapsed in laughter. "Incidents, Eirian?"

"Well, it wasn't a lie!" Her voice went a little high when Yuze and Lord Zhao barely managed to hide their own laughter. Thankfully, the rest of the court was distracted by the sight of Lord Ye laughing and didn't seem to notice.

As soon as she's said it, hysterical laughter had bubbled inside him, and it had taken everything he had to keep a straight face while Eirian vaguely explained the threat to her father and stepmother. She'd somehow managed to not say what it was but still made it sound terrifying enough that her stepmother had looked terrified.

Francis Soliel hadn't seemed to be buying it until Chenzhou had admitted it was aimed at removing the Ye's from leading the Camelia. 

He'd looked disturbingly understanding at that point, buying in less to Eirian's imagination and more into the practical power struggle at the heart of it all.

Eirian had offered (re: ordered) an extra guard for their rooms and promised to send someone by in the morning that could show them where they could go. 

Chenzhou had no intention of getting between her and her father and he had no doubt she was going to keep them locked in their guest rooms until they decided to leave. 

Francis had refused to say when they planned to leave, which was as infuriating as it was disrespectful, but he'd looked like he was sucking on a lemon as he and Brigitta walked out, so clearly something wasn't going to plan.

"Who leaves their child with a nursemaid for an entire trip?" Mingzhe's brother whispered. The two Zhao's probably didn't intend their conversation to be overheard, but the room had fallen silent at just the right moment, and they both froze.

"It's not uncommon in the capital." Eirian answered, swirling her wine around in her glass. "The only time I really spent with my father growing up was at dinner and only on the nights he wasn't out."

Mingzhe shifted. "Yes, but wasn't your father in mourning?" 

Not that it excused anything, Chenzhou thought sourly. 

"Both the babes' parents are healthy and there's nothing to do on that journey." Mingzhe seemed more bothered by the Soliel's lack of interest in their child than even Eirian did, but the Zhao's had always been known as a close-knit family. Mingzhe's mother had nursed her children herself, despite coming from an illustrious line and having her own responsibilities to the Camelia.

And Lady Yang had famously followed her example with her own children, at least until the war kicked off and she'd had to deploy to the border lands. 

"They must have brought the child for a reason." Lord Yin huffed. "Though Lord Soliel was rather vague about his own reasons for coming without notice."

"Wasn't he though?" Another lord further down the table whispered and there were murmurs of agreement around the room.

It was reassuring to see that most of the court had taken away the same thing Chenzhou had. Francis Soliel hadn't made himself any allies showing up with notice and demanding their attention.

He didn't even really hold a higher station than any of them, because according to Eirian her Uncle was head of the family. The King simply left most of the day to day to Francis because he had bigger concerns.

Marian slipped in through a side door and approached Eirian and Chenzhou. She kept her voice low as she whispered. "My apologies for interrupting. Lord Soliel has requested Lady Ye stop by the guest rooms once she's finished here."

Eirian rolled her eyes and downed the last of her wine. "Well, at least I'll find out what they want." With dinner finished most of the Court was slowly drifting out, only Yuze and the Zhao's were still seated.

Chenzhou frowned. "I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow." They were all still tired from the journey and that kind of tired, topped with several glasses of wine, were probably not the best combination for dealing with untrustworthy, combative family members.

But Eirian just shook her head again. "No, I want them to leave as soon as possible and dragging this out won't help."

Chenzhou stood to pull out her chair. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Eirian paused and Chenzhou could tell she was considering it, but in the end, she shook her head. "I don't think it would help the situation." She headed for the door but stopped and looked back before leaving. "But I do appreciate the offer."

Lady Yang and Lord Yin approached and neither of them looked particularly happy.

"So that was Lord Soliel, eh?" Lord Yin tucked his hands into the belt at his waist, a habit his soldiers had all picked up from him.

"He's never bothered to visit the Camelia before." Lady Yang added. "Only the King and that was years ago."

"The King barely stayed two days." Lord Yin scoffed. "And he let us know well in advance that he was coming." 

"Lord Soliel likely felt his daughter's marriage meant he was free from those requirements." Lady Yang's tone was passive, but the fact that she'd made the remark at all spoke volumes.

"Hopefully, he'll realize there's no point in staying and leave quickly." Chenzhou didn't want him around for any longer than absolutely necessary. Not only would it upset Eirian, but it was going to delay their investigation into his mother's pendant. 

"I wasn't aware Lady Ye and her father were in communication." Lady Yang added. "There was some tension when she arrived."

Chenzhou sighed and gave her a flat look. "Any issue concerning the marriage is between Eirian and myself. Or Eirian and her father."

"Of course, of course." Lord Yin offered a jovial smile. "Besides, there is no question of her loyalty to the Camelia now. Not after what she has done so far. If she continues this way, she'll end up being the most beloved Lady Ye we've ever had."

~ tbc