Home for the Few - The Awakening of the Silenced Ⅰ

VIII. Cold feet.

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   The cello joined in, followed by the rest of the band. An epic melody accompanied the descent of King Sauro, who, without any elegance, shouted his greetings to his subjects, who watched him as if he were Egot himself. His suit was the same color as Victoriano's. A shiny green cape rested on his shoulders, trailing down the steps. A crown entirely made of luminous salt, Horn of the Sun, rested on his head. At first glance, it had the classic design that kings usually wore in their crowns, but looking closer, one could see pines and foxes carved within it.

   As he began descending the stairs, each of the guests knelt before him, bowing their heads so low that they almost touched the ground. Upon reaching the bottom of the staircase, the song ended, and Sauro indicated they could cease their reverence. Without further preamble, he began his speech. Executioner Sigmund and the Holy Apothecaries, the forensic doctors of Serendipity, stood behind him.

   When he spoke, he resembled an over-the-top circus announcer, always performing a role.

   "It would be my pleasure to present the exquisite young ladies from the counties, along with their strong companions... Unfortunately, I must first earnestly ask each of us to take a moment to honor those lost in the sinking of the fleet from Mare Turtur, who now rest with the Gods.

   "The vile souls of the Black Block have once again deprived us of full happiness, murdering our children, sinking our fleets, using our women, and letting all of them sink into the darkness of the sea."

   The hall fell silent, and everyone lowered their gaze. To Wilhelm, the minute of silence felt like an eternity. He felt truly out of place and uncomfortable. The only sound that could be heard was the occasional lost sob among the crowd.

   "Well!" shouted the King, leaving behind his supposed sadness in mere seconds and dismissing the executioner and the Holy Apothecaries. "I believe the best way to honor our dead is to not let their spirits succumb to the traps of criminals. Let the debutantes descend!"

   The band began to play a ballroom march as, one by one, the couples from Apis and Suscitavi began descending the staircase, accompanied by the crowd's applause.

   Each of the young debutantes glanced at the Princess, a gaze that made her feel as if she were a fresh piece of venison. But she remained stoic, her gaze cold, while her parents beamed with their widest smiles.

   The couples moved to the dance floor for their first dance in Vulpes; afterward, they could disperse to find new partners. The men would go straight for the Princess; the women, if they were lucky, would find a new home with a husband who would take them as his own, forever, that same night. Those girls who did not find someone would have to stay until the end of the evening, where Lilith would follow up on them.

   With steady, measured steps, Grimn, the Royal Guard, observed each of the newly arrived youths for any signs of danger. Every so often, he allowed himself to admire Sauro, eager to grow and improve in his training and one day become the King's knight, the highest of honors—even greater than marrying him. But for now, he was merely a pawn in the Royal Guard, an ornament. Soon, he thought, he would prove his potential to everyone. They would see.

   From high above, simply observing, Lilith felt so powerless that her heart threatened to leap from her chest, not knowing that Wilhelm below felt the same. The speech against the Black Block had made his blood boil, and he could not understand how everyone seemed to ignore the Princess's unhappiness. He knew he was only meant to observe, not intervene, but he saw her merely as a child being led to the slaughter.