Divine Realizations [ Clarion X Milori ]

Chapter 53

Milori searched in vain as he tried to find Clarion, until he was quite sure that she was not in fact here.
Disappointment flooded him, however he seemed to be a popular attendee tonight as many Lords came up to speak with him.
Schooling his features, he tried his best to look interested and make correct comments as if the night had not just been completely ruined for him in learning that Clarion was most likely not even here.
He wondered if she purposefully stayed away knowing he was here but shrugged the notion off.
He'd never known Clarion to change her plans because of him and doubted that she would start now.
It's not like he could ask someone too because why wouldn't he know the whereabouts of his own wife?
Pondering over it more, Milori looked up just as Lord Adler was coming near.
The man had a kind smile and reached out to shake his hand.
Milori commended the young Lord on the design of his keep and the two men spent a few minutes going over its details.
Afterwards, dinner was announced and groups of rulers began meandering towards the massive circular table that sat in the middle of the room.
Once more looking around at the attendees, Milori took notice how the ladies wore elaborate gowns and the men their best suits.
He rolled his eyes inwardly, some political congregation this was, more like an overpriced popularity contest.
The evenings' schedule would commence as such: Greetings, dinner, issues brought forth, socializing and then hopefully that was all and he could leave.
Milori did not know if he even had it in him to stay any further.
To him the evening was useless since he had mostly come to see Clarion.
As they all sat down in assigned seats, Milori began to chat with Lord and Lady Alpern of the Mountain region.
Now his borders did lie adjacent to theirs in a small stretch and he smiled politely as they spoke.
Milori made a mental note to start bringing Ashe with him to these as the boy needed to start grasping the kinds of issues that would soon assail him as a ruler.
Just then, Lady Alpern touched his arm to gain his attention.
"My Lord, where is your wife this evening? I was hoping to speak with Clarion after so long."
Milori tensed but kept a smile on his face.
"She has been traveling for a bit and I am not sure if she planned to make the meeting this year or not."
Lady Alpern frowned, looking confused.
"You're not sure if your wife-"
But before she could continue, Lord Alpern took her hand in his and sent her a strange look.
"Darling, let it be, I'm sure Milori has more important matters than keeping up with someone's whereabouts all the time."
Well that wasn't true, but Milori sent the man a nod anyway.
That's just what he needed, people getting into their business and asking too many questions.
This was a good reminder that no matter what, he and Clarion still needed to settle things, especially before people began to take notice of her absence.
Looking at everyone seated, Milori noticed that Lord Adler had not even attempted to seat Clarion next to him even if she had been here.
Which was odd as couples were always seated together.
If anything there should be an empty seat with her name card next to his, but there was not.
Instead both seats next to him were filled with Lord Alpern on the left and Lord Soren to the right.
It was not a big deal just interesting.
No one, not even he had known if she would be here tonight or not, unless of course Lord Adler knew some-
Milori's train of thought was interrupted as the courses were brought out and someone began a speech.
However the speech was lost on him as his mind easily tuned it out, instead listening to the sound of musical, feminine laughter somewhere down the way.
The laughter was pretty and familiar.
His head shooting up, Milori began to search the faces of the attendees for what had to have been the 3rd time that night.
It was no easy feat as there were nearly 60 rulers gathered here in total, but he got through fairly quickly, giving up on the last few patrons.
He could tell they weren't her as even though he could see one was female and wearing a golden dress in his peripheral, she also wore a deep red color mixed in and Clarion would never have worn another color.
Rubbing his eyes, Milori tried to give his attention to the speaker, a little surprised to see it was Adler who had been speaking.
Shifting in his seat and picking up his glass, Milori hoped he had not missed any important announcements.
"I want to thank you all again for coming. I hope you enjoy the meal and only ask that you listen as some key matters will be brought up first. Later I will open up the forum to anyone who would like to broach a subject. First, let's welcome Queen Clarion of Pixie Hollow. She will be telling us about her eco project that-"
Nothing could have prepared Milori to hear that as shock waves ran throughout his body.
He had just begun to take a sip, as the glass he had been holding slipped from his fingers and crashed to the floor, an eery silence filling the room as stares became glued to him.
But if anyone had thought the glass shattering was jarring, they only need to have felt the force of Clarion's gaze colliding with his.