Chapter 7

Thin Ice

The sound of winter.

This is my first thought as I awaken to the sound of jingling bells and horse hoofs on this chilly morning. Light filters in through the lace blinds as I lay motionlessly in bed and observe dust floating through the air without a worry.

Waking up a bit more, I realize snowfall doesn't actually make a sound and get up. Toes touching the hardwood floor, I note how cold it is before walking over to the window. Peering outside, I see a carriage pull up into our driveway. There's snow gathered everywhere, a picturesque scene of glittering white momentarily blinds my just-woken eyes.

A servant opens the carriage and out steps a peerless beauty. Silver tresses cascade down as she lets her hair out from a bonnet. Its shine and color seeming to camouflage itself with the snow. 

As regal as always, I think. 

Donning a midnight-blue dress and white fur shoulder cape, her head abruptly snaps in my direction and piercing eyes make contact with my own.

"!"

For some reason, I reflexively hide below the window.

A-As I thought, she's scary... I'm a bit afraid to look out again now.

I peek above slowly. 

Lady Amaryllis is no longer looking at me, she's walking in alongside her husband. 

Oh. Their children aren't here... Well, it's not like I know them that well anyways. But, maybe I could've played with them a bit.

Pouting, I call in a maid to help bathe and dress me. By the time I finish and head down for breakfast, I see Sir and Lady Amaryllis seated at the dining table talking to my parents.

Walking up towards them, I recall the manners Aristole beat into me. "It has been a while. Sir Amaryllis, Lady Amaryllis." I curtsy.

Hearing a soft sigh, I confusedly look up.

H-Her eyes are so cold! Wh-Why!? Didn't I perform my greetings perfectly!?

The husband looks at her with an equally void expression. But it kinda looks... Deadpan?

No no no, I must be imagining it.

"Our sons are so uncute..." She's looking away and sighing.

S-She's still going on about that!? Cold sweat runs down my back and there's a silence for a few seconds.

My daddy coughs and they seem to snap out of it.

"Hello again, Aeriea. You have grown so much already in just two seasons." Sir Amaryllis nods once.

"Yes, you are as cute as ever." Lady Amaryllis delivers with a blank face.

Once again, her words don't match her looks. 

Seating myself, a butler lays a morning porridge and berry compote in front of me. While a maid pours some black tea, stirring in a teaspoon of milk and sugar. "Thank you." I say before digging in.

"Well then, let's get to business." Daddy begins. Sir Amaryllis looks at me for a second and blinks once.

"It's alright, my daughter is used to listening to these types of conversations.” Daddy easily waves it off. “Eve has been tirelessly following leads on the rogue mercenaries."

My parents let me listen in to business and political talks whenever I happen to be around. They trust I won't interrupt and instead gain some experience with such dealings.

"Currently, I'm looking into a tip that there's been suspicious activity in Harthrow." Mommy looks to be absentmindedly stirring her tea. "The Irvines and Freys are worried about having criminals breaching their territory."

"Yes, we would also like to resolve this matter quickly."

"If at all possible, we'd like for a permit to cross into Harthrow territory in order to investigate and apprehend these rogues. I think it would be the swiftest and most efficient course of action."

My mom has a business smile on her face, but I can tell she's troubled. "Indeed, it would be ideal to have your kind deal with your own..."

My daddy flawlessly providing support, "But, you must understand that would make our neighbors... Uncomfortable."

"We expected such a response." Lady Amaryllis' eyes suddenly drop ten degrees. "However, our kind has laws to judge our own since time immemorial. As such, these commandments which govern us cannot be abstained."

I see... This has to do with judicial overreach.

Normally, it doesn't matter if a citizen is originally from a different area. Even if a crime is committed in another territory, the punishment is up to the discretion of the nobles ruling that land.

But from their wording, it's seems more complicated than that.

In the back of my mind, one of Aristole's more arduous lessons begins tugging at me.

Oh.

"In other words, you'll go regardless." Daddy's face becomes grim.

Mommy lets go of the spoon in her teacup. The clink resonates in the empty dining hall. There's a tension so thick, you could cut it with a knife.

He continues, "If you send your own Knights, the Fairfolk will  interpret it as an act of aggression."

I swallow the saliva gathering in my throat. With my daddy as the Minister of Interspecies Relations, I am suddenly conscious of the tightrope my family is treading.

"Today, we only came here out of respect and deference to your ruler, King Freyjr, as well as to your family, the Newlyns. For you have always been fair and diplomatic in your governance. If possible, we would choose to solve this in abidance with realm laws governing all species. However, this is not a matter that the other conservative aristocrats will budge on."

My arms and legs begin to shake and shiver.

W-What is this? I look up timidly and see a dark aura from the couple in front of me.

I immediately snap my gaze back down.

"Aeriea." A calm voice breaks me out of my swirling thoughts. Mommy is calling out to me.

I look up, she has on a collected and dazzling smile. "You should be continuing your studies at this hour."

Hastily, I sit up. My legs are shaking, but I can control it enough to at least walk out. At the walkway, I hesitate and look back one more time.

The Amaryllis's cold, frost-blue eyes glint in the morning light like daggers. Threatening to sever the peace long built up by my family and other reigning nobles for constellation-cycles.

I run as far away from there that my wobbly legs can take me. Feeling like a newborn lamb, my knees finally buckle. 

R-Radiating that much fear. There's no mistake about it. A force of compulsion that's birthed only by true, unadulterated power - Something that can only be used by those at the top of the Kindred.

In older Human terms, the Amaryllis are the ruling familia of Vampires.