With all of the noise dying down, Mathusela ordered the party to be shut down. Insisting that everything was just a misunderstanding and that it’ll a be back to normal by the morning. Until then, everyone had to go.

Didn’t have to go home but they couldn’t stay at the banquet hall.

One person…would not be going home at the same time as everyone else.

A man named Orion Cleon. While a member of the great House Cleon, he was still seen as a low ranking member. His main claim to even be at this engagement party was because the Cleons needed a representative to go but…no one else did.

Orion found the opportunity too perfect to pass up.

Until now. He and his wife, Cove, coming out to find their Silver Shelvie gone from the huddle of cars. He had made the choice to drive it himself after getting a custom hood ornament in the shape of his house’s secondary sigil: a dual armed water vase coated in silver as to not mess with the car’s color theme.

Needless to say, the couple were panicking.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LEFT THE KEYS IN THE VEHICLE?!” Cove shouted.

The bigger faux pa for Orion in this moment was his wife making a scene. A justifiable scene but a scene nonetheless. A scene that should be dealt with, in his mind, behind closed doors which is why he dragged her to the pantry, clearing out the servants on break.

“Honey-pie please, calm yourself. You know what the doctor says about these outbursts.” He shakily warned.

“That they wouldn’t happen if I never married you.”

“No honey-pie, that’s…that’s what your brother said.”

“I just…fail to see why oh WHY you would leave the keys in the car!”

“Honey-pie, no one else here brings their keys with them.”

“That’s because they can afford to lose them. That car was a gift of trust from your cousin. If she realizes that you’ve gotten it stolen, we’ll never have chances like this ever again.”

He gave her a soft smile. “Have I ever told you how I appreciate how you make my problems your problems.”

“I’m your wife, I have no choice.”

“A-And I understand that but—”

“But you continue to test my patience, ‘Rion. I’m more terrified of Wendy than you are and you grew up with her.”

“That’s because Wendy isn’t as terrifying as you’re making her out to be. She’s always looked out for me and by extension you. "

“Oh look between the lines for once in your life, Orion,”

He was caught off guard by her using his full name. “Honey-pie…”

“I’m…just scared. We only got this chance because your cousin, Jeffrey, ruined his own. No one has seen him since.”

“You don’t need to worry about Jeffrey. Jeffrey has taken a Pilgrimage of Reflection. It’s for his faith.”

“And how many people have come back from this Pilgrimage of Reflection when Wendy sends them away? Ask yourself, ‘Rion!”

Orion was silent. Going on a Pilgrimage of Reflection on your own accord was one thing but Jeffrey went after upsetting Wendy by not showing up to the event he was meant to be a representative for. He hasn’t returned. Yulia also went on a Pilgrimage of Reflection after upsetting Wendy with budding lack of faith. She never returned.

The same can be said for others such as Primrose, Miles, Jared, and even Cove’s brother, Sky.

But Wendy has always been sweet to Orion. If it wasn’t for her, he wouldn’t have even Cove and had three lovely children. Wendy took a chance on him when everyone else in the family told her not to. They have been close since they were teens. Wendy clearly trusted him and so he would do the same for her.

“Cove…I understand you’re scared. Especially after your brother’s pilgrimage but I promise you…nothing will happen to us. What happened here is simply not the same. We have done what she asked of us and so long as we make it home, we’ll always have her favor.”

“But…the car.”

Almost as if fate was on their side, the door to the pantry opened. Revealing Magdalene.

“Orion Cleon…right?”

“Uh…yes! It’s a pleasure to speak with you, Your Grace.”

Magdalene walked into the room, flagged by a burly man in a deep black suit and a meeker man in a brown suit. “Please dispense the formalities. I’ve come to inform you about your car.”

“My car? You’ve seen it?”

Magdalene nodded. “Apparently, my daughter and Elvira have stolen it. I’ve come to apologize for the commotion. We’ll either find it at my home or Duchess Edith’s home and we’ll return it to you after making sure that there are no damages to your vehicle.”

“Oh, well thank you very much, Your Grace.”

“Please don’t be too hard on the girls. It’s youthful rebellion. They’re probably feeling the ecstasy of what happened earlier.”

“No bother. My cousins and I have done some childish things in our youth.”

“The high and mighty Cleons? It’s hard to imagine.”

Orion laughed. “It may be because of our reputation but we all have to start somewhere in Ferto’s River.”

Magdalene nodded. “True. In the Republic of Peony, they have a belief in all life coming from plant life. Not every plant can have a peaceful growth but it grows all the same.”

“I’ve heard stories about the belief systems there. It’s truly a beautiful one.”

“Well,” She displayed a soft curtsy, “allow my drivers to take you home and then once we recover your vehicle, they’ll bring it to you. Is that all right?”

A smile of relief grew on Cove’s face. “That’s very much alright, thank you, Your Grace.”

The couple exchanged glances with each other, smiling with relief. It seemed that the devil’s eyes would be shrouded by Ferto’s waters and the two would be not be going on their own Pilgrimage of Reflection.