"The ravenous fire that crackled in your souls was one and the same, stoked by repressed fear and the overwhelming desire to survive in a world that only valued material power."
In their desperate battle to survive the harsh aristocracy, the desire...
Heading House Amaranthine was the Ērmār's rightful destiny.
From the moment she had taken her first steps, her parents had ensured she excelled at every field fit for an aristocratic lady. Her skills in magic, the arts, science, and politics had earned the fervent praise of many masters across Greria. Whispers of her beauty and grace chased her anywhere she went.
In her prime, she was the most fitting of the noble ladies to be at the young Sōrmār's side. She was the only logical choice.
That man was her better in every aspect. The Sōrmār of House Amaranthine was stronger than she was. Kinder, wittier, braver. More graceful and knowledgeable and beautiful than she had ever known a person to be. In a life where she had been alone at the very top of the world, he was a new height to conquer. A challenge, a breath of fresh air, a consolation.
She had loved him at some point in time, as he had loved her too. They were happy, untouchable in their palace, away from everyone else.
Then, he was gone.
Without warning, she was once again alone. So far from the rest of the world, with no companion, no aide. All he had left her was a title, a palace, and a son whom he had cherished with his entire heart.
Hyunjin was the only living part of his father that had remained. And he was nothing like the late Sōrmār.
So, she had to make him be. To give life to the memory of the man she had loved, Hyunjin had to be better in every way. Better than any before him and any who may come. So that he may reside at the utmost heights of the world, never to be reached by another. Just like his father.
Yet, no matter what she did, she found her son to be lacking. His Tilt was a disgrace, his Azāri was imperfect. No matter what, she never saw the late Sōrmār in him. Her vision was only dying in him, and she couldn't let it be. She refused to lose him twice.
The Ērmār was determined to see the man she had loved again, regardless of the sacrifices she had to make.
Her son stood before her now, tense, with squared shoulders and a raised chin. There was a brazen air to him these days, she didn't fail to notice.
"The Carmine ball is a month and a half from now, is it not?" she asked as she opened a ledger lying on her desk.
"Yes, mother."
His responses were always void of confidence, sounding like admittances of defeat. She thought it was evidence of his inherently weak character.
"I want you to express favor toward the Ērsānvi during the event," the Ērmār said. Yeji was the most promising of the branch Houses' eligible ladies. It would be foolish not to grasp the opportunity.
"What?"
She looked up from the ledger to find her son clearly displeased. He appeared almost offended at her order.
"Is there a problem?" she narrowed her eyes at him. She couldn't begin to guess what silly thoughts rampaged in that mind of his.
Hyunjin clenched his jaw, his frustration evident in the lowness of his tone. "Is that truly necessary, mother?"
"Yes," she responded simply. "This has nothing to do with your personal feelings. Yeji is an excellent young lady and the perfect candidate for the position of Ērmār. It would do you good to start thinking about the House's future."
He said nothing, choosing to glare at the floor as if that could change anything. There was a protest in the hunch of his shoulders, and he seemed to be fighting it.
The Ērmār predicted that this would happen. She didn't trust Hyunjin to make a beneficial decision for himself, let alone for the future of House Amaranthine. She would have to instruct him, as she had always done.
She repeated, louder, having grown tired of this exchange, "Is there a problem with what I said, Hyunjin?"
He stiffened then gave in, finally biting out, "No, mother."
The Ērmār returned her attention to the open ledger while Hyunjin stalked out of the study without further comments.
She scoffed inwardly. She assumed he was heading to his training court, where he seemed to enjoy spending his time. From sunrise until the sun centered the sky, he was dutifully training. With that foul human.
That girl was still alive, and it had been months since the Ērmār assigned her to be Hyunjin's training partner. It had been a test. She wanted him to kill the human, but he failed miserably. And as though the humiliation wasn't enough, he even continued to train with her.
That human's survival was unacceptable. It was a shame more grave than imaginable. A definitive sign of weakness, and knowing Hyunjin's pitiful nature, the matter may have escalated beyond remedy.
The Ērmār needed to rid of the Azārāhi soon, and she had a suspicion that a valid justification would reveal itself once she investigated the two of them.
There should be no acceptable reason for her son to be so attached to a human girl, after all.
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A/N: hello! I hope you've enjoyed the story so far! Unfortunately, this series will be taking a break while I write the final chapters. Updates will resume in January 2025. Until then, please keep an eye out for my other ongoing stories!
