No. Despite his strange mannerisms, the King is not an occult. Though he cannot confirm nor deny that they exist, he has his suspicions. The previous king knew about them, but due to his successor's rather violent nature, Mother has kept him in the dark.

"What's with the face?", I asked my mother as I entered the house.

She seemed to have been waiting for my return.

"The King", she said monotonous, handing over a letter with the royal seal.

I rolled my eyes and went in to freshen up. I doubt this meeting is of any importance. This king has a strange habit of requesting my presence and staring at me in silence for hours.

My family is known as lesser nobility. Though we have a vast estate within the capital's borders, we are not related to the royal family or historical noble families of old, and we do not adhere to the system of a male head of estate; my grandmother, being the matriarch, handles those affairs. We don't have titles either. We're simply a long-standing land-owning family. The King likes to put pressure on us from time to time to establish a patriarch.

"I hope he's not trying to pass off his awful son to me again", I grumbled.

His eldest is as arrogant as one could be. The King once offered to marry him off to my family so that we could have a patriarch; even offered to strip him of his princely title and reinstate him as a duke for our family. No one liked that idea, especially the prince.

"It's probably just the church putting pressure on him after the witch hunt incident", Mother interrupted my thoughts.

I let out a sigh as I changed into a dress for nobility. I always hated these things with the corsets, but last time, I was badly reprimanded for not wearing it in the King's presence. Pretentious for a bastard who beds his courtiers on the regular.

Mother and I set off to the palace and presented our letter to the guard. We were taken to the throne room where the King, a brawny man, was sitting looking impatient. He's not an old king, about the same age as mother.

"You requested us, my liege?", Mother bowed.

He looked at us with a smirk.

"Come here my child", he gestured to me.

I casually stepped up to the throne. He reached out his hand to grab my chin.

"Why is it you are always causing trouble?", he stared down into my eyes, searching for something.

"Whatever you're referring to, I always do what is right and you cannot fault me for that", I responded dryly.

He dropped his hand and sat back in his throne to stare at me for a prolonged time. Suddenly, he cut his eyes at me and, in a rapid motion, grabbed hold of my arm. I had to resist the instinct to dodge and risk offending him. He pulled me into his lap and cradled me in his arms. Everyone in the room instantly had the look of shame.

This is his normal. Ever since I was child, he's had this habit and fascination with me. He has a daughter, but he is much more "upstanding" with her.

I sat stiffly as he poked my cheeks and giggled. Irritation was written on my face, but Mother was as cool as ever.

"Who gives you the right to be so cheeky with me? Is this what happens when living without a father?", he asked.

"As father of the people, I could ask you the same", I retorted, not giving in to his underhanded jab.

The King chuckled at me as the guards shivered at my boldness. He looked down at my hands for some reason then back at my face. I looked at them and saw nothing out of the ordinary, except a scratch I had gotten by accident.

"What have you been up to, my little brown bear?"

I thought about it, but couldn't figure out what he meant.

"Your daughter will stay here for a week to appease the priest's anger", he smiled.

"What!? No, I can't stay here! Mother!", I exclaimed as I struggled to escape his lap.

"You will assist the Queen Dowager"

He nodded a cue to his knight.

"I have my duties elsewhere!"

"They can wait", he said dryly as he passed me to the knight captain.

"Elnin, let me go! I'll tell your sister on you!", I threatened as he slung me over his shoulder and coughed nervously at my threat.

"I'll send her back in a week's time", the King said to my mother, who nodded and turned to the exit, abandoning me to the King's whim.

Elnin dropped me at the foot of the Dowager.

"Hello again, Lady Jylan", she said, "shall we continue from last time?"

I sighed as I stood up. She flicked her finger to signal her ladies-in-waiting. One lifted up my skirt and removed my dagger. I let out a grunt of frustration as a paper fan was placed in my hand. The Dowager is a very "old way" sort of person. In her mind, girls should have proper etiquette and never touch a sword. So, whenever I get in trouble in town, this is one of the ways I'm punished; for mother never put me through finishing school. My knowledge of nature and defense against the occult was far more important. So, one could say I'm not at all suited for court life.

"On the count of 3", the Dowager said as she began to count.

Ah, the courting dance. An annoying ballroom dance that involves fans and is done by single women of age. I know the dance, but it's never good enough for the Dowager.

As the dance continued, Lady Kirla of the Bordeaux family whispered, "so I hear you angered Father Maurice..."

The other girls stifled a chuckle.

"Yeah, nothing new"

"Good job", she smiled.

The younger women of the court are not fond of the church, but do not go against it. The men there are holy only by name. Though there are priestesses in the higher ranks, for the past 30 years under the current leadership of Father Maurice, that has stagnated.

The Dowager tapped her fan to stop our conversation. We danced for hours, stopping only for water and critique.

"Why is your waist so wide? Have you gained weight again? Tighten your corset!", the Dowager barked.

I frowned as I wiped the sweat from my brow. Indeed, I'm not as thin as the others in the waist, but there's no helping my family traits. The name "Aniceta" and "thin" is never used in the same sentence positively.

"Well ladies, it is noon, time for tea. Clean up and meet in the Eastern Garden in ten minutes", the Dowager said.

Oh no. Tea time. Tea time in the palace is better known as a tea party. It's a formal meeting of political hogwash and double meanings under the mask of a casual break. Usually, visiting dignitaries are also invited, so you have to put on your best show of etiquette. Every motion, every smile, every glance has to be controlled lest you want a scandal.

"I want to go home. I'm going home!", I protested and ran for the door.

The guards stopped me and pushed me back.

"Lady Jylan, why on Earth would ever you want to do that? Do you not like having tea with the King's court?", the Dowager asked.

"The court", she says. Those words have a double meaning. If I try to run, I will be ostracized, publicly shamed, and exiled, bringing dishonor and ruin to my family. I used to like the Dowager, but those rose-colored memories of a child's mind have faded. I glanced back at her with a snarl, then fixed my dress and did as she said. The King dropped by to further disturb me.

This torture continued for a week until I was finally let home. The carriage dropped me off at the gate.

"It was a pleasure having you visit us, my lady. Please come again soon", said the carriage man, a rather poorly disguised spy of the King's.

He held out my confiscated dagger. I huffed, snatched it out of his hand, and stumped across the courtyard, slamming the door behind me. I much rather deal with the occult than those sorts of humans.

"Ugh! So many tea parties, court meetings, curtsies, fake smiles, and corsets. I think my ribs have crumbled to dust!", I said as I flopped onto my bed.

"He's so lucky he's the king", I angrily protested with my arms and legs in the air.

Mother, realizing I was home, knocked and entered my room.

"You have guests", she stated.

"I'm so tired. Please, can't you tell them to come back another day?"

"They've already been waiting for several days. It'd be rude to neglect such honored guests"

My face twitched at Mother's words, for I knew what it meant. My guests were not normal. With a heavy sigh, I sat up and fixed myself.

"Where?"

"In the greenhouse"

She walked away without any further explanation. I stood up and rushed down the hall, halting just before the greenhouse door. I was curious to see who could it be, so I listened for a moment.

"My lord, this is nonsense. You know Queen Mother would not approve of this behavior", a familiar voice warned.

"Krindar—"

The voice stopped. I entered, guessing they had sensed my presence. There, rubbing his hands along a fig leaf, stood Aritra with a scowling Krindar by his side. His sideways glancing, silver-grey eyes pierced my face like a sword. Silence filled the air.

"Are you well?"

"A tad tired, but at least they fed me", I nervously fiddled with my dress.

"Good, then the king lives another day", he smirked.

Shock came over my face. Krindar looked as though his soul had just left his body.

"I see why you love the meadow", he continued as though he had not just threatened the life of a powerful human king.

He picked up a cutting in a nursery pot labeled, "Jylan's experiment. Don't touch". I laughed nervously, unsure of how to respond.

"Would you like some tea?", I stiffly shuffled my feet towards the door.

I led them to the lounge area of the garden, then quickly made haste to the kitchen. Mother was there, and, as soon as she saw me, she angrily marched up to me.

"Is that the elf who gave you the badge?", she interrogated.

I nodded as I moved to get the good tea and tea set from the cabinet.

"Do you know who that elf is?"

I stopped to think about it. I never processed who they were, as I didn't make it my business to need to know. By looking at them, I knew they were of high birth, but that was all.

"No, I didn't pry and they didn't say..."

Mother's nostrils flared. My ignorance disappointed her.

"That is the Crown Prince of the Elven High Realm, Aritra", she angrily clicked her tongue at me.

I nearly dropped the teapot. Silver-blonde hair and eyes to match, the silent tree of old that watches over the southern forest, Aritra. I had learned about him in my studies a decade ago, but, in my adolescence, had forgotten. I grimaced at my forgetfulness and returned to making tea.

"So, I don't get full marks for recognizing faces from book descriptions. Can you fault me for that, Mother?"

She grumbled, unable to protest my claim.

"So, I touched an archangel...", I mumbled.

"You what?", Mother exclaimed wide-eyed.

"Nothing", I sung.

I placed the tea set on the serving tray and ran out of the kitchen. Taking deep breaths to gain my composure, I pushed open the door and walked over to gently place the tray on the table. Too nervous to make eye contact, I focused my eyes on the task before me. We sat in silence sipping the freshly poured tea until I couldn't stand my inner thoughts any longer.

"Aritra...", I began.

Mother, beside me, poked me for my insolence.

"I—I mean Lord Aritra, why are you here?"

"You didn't come to the meadow"

"Oh..."

"Danger lurks the path you walk"

"So, you were worried about me?", I asked in disbelief, staring at the ripples in my teacup.

His lips parted, but he didn't answer.

"You are safe, so I will take my leave"

He gently placed his empty cup back on the tray and stood. With a loud clatter, I hastily put down my cup to fetch their cloaks and walked them to the door. As we stepped into the courtyard, Krindar stopped to turn and look at me.

"Krindar?", Aritra said.

"My lord, a moment please"

Aritra nodded and went to find his horse. Krindar watched as he moved out of sight, then snapped his eyes back to me.

"Stay away from Lord Aritra", he suddenly hissed, "because of you his behavior has become unorthodox. I respect you as a caretaker, but that's as far as it goes. Do not cross the line!"

"You have misplaced your frustration", I said coldly, unshaken by his threat.

"Krindar of the Willow, it was an honor having you here with us", Mother said from behind me.

I turned to look at her face. Though the words were proper, she wore a face of stone. It was the distinct sound of warning meaning, "it is time that you left" and "how dare you". Krindar, understanding, stepped back and gave a small bow with his eyes locked on my mother's face. We watched as he slithered away in the direction Aritra went. A glint of silver flashed in the corner of my eye, causing a knowing smirk to form on my face. They finally rounded the corner on their horses, and with a last "goodbye", galloped out of the gate. I turned to look at Mother, a deep frown rested on her face.

"Mind your head", she warned, turning on her heels to go inside.