Against the advice of Dowager Marchioness Basileus, Aris went with Irwin to meet with Archduke von Sane instead of practicing for her Uturi lessons.

The white carriage arrived at the von Sane manor in fifteen minutes, which gave its passengers a brief moment of motion sickness. Aris exited the carriage first and tried not to dry heave into the archduchy’s perfectly cut lawn. It seems that while the marquessate had an eccentric chef, they also had a coachman with eccentric driving skills. 

"I didn’t think he would want to meet this quickly on such short notice," Aris revealed. “How’d you pull it off?”

“He never responded to my first letter requesting a formal meeting–” Irwin put his hands on his hips. “--but I have something he wants.”

“Are you blackmailing him?”

“I wish.” His response was short with an undertone of bitterness. As he walked up the stairs with Aris behind him, the doors opened to a butler whose mustache covered his entire top lip.

"How may I help you, my Lord?" He solemnly asked.

"Please let His Grace know that Marquess Basileus has arrived," Irwin said, all the playfulness gone from his voice.

The butler bowed and stepped aside to let Irwin inside. “My Lord, you didn’t mention that you would be bringing a guest.”

“How presumptuous of you to believe I need to mention anything to you,” Marquess Basileus replied, with no trace of malice or nervousness. He stood up straight, reminding Aris that he was taller than her and despite his young age, his rank as a Captain and knight was not to be disrespected. “If the archduke has an issue, he can take it up with me personally.” 

The butler didn’t back down from his stance despite the threat that was just issued. 

“I am only speaking with my master in mind. He does not like surprises, is all.” 

“Surely your master will be able to tolerate entertaining a simple visitor. Wouldn’t want to cause an international scandal, would he?”

“No, I wouldn’t,” a deep voice spoke from in front of them. 

Archduke von Sane was the only child of the previous archduke who had survived to adulthood. His two older brothers had both died within three years of each other, leaving the young boy the only heir to the title. He was tall and large in stature from his years fighting and leading the royal army, though he had long since transitioned to the king’s council as the Minister of War and Defense. 

“Thank you, Langley. I can take it from here.” He waved the older man away without looking at him. The butler, Langley, bowed once to the archduke and once to Irwin before disappearing.

"Please, this way," Archduke Deverad gestured.

Behind him, Aris whispered very quietly to Irwin. “He doesn’t seem that unreasonable.”

“Give it some time,” came a response, the bitterness much clearer now. 

________________________

To their right in the sitting room, a fireplace cast a warm glow– its crackling flames the only sound in the silence. The heat made the room almost unbearable to be in. It wasn’t quite autumn yet, and the temperature was tolerable without a cloak, but the warmth now was cruel. Despite the sweat almost dripping down her face, Irwin and the archduke showed no signs of unease. Tea had been placed on a tray in front of them but only Archduke von Sane had the stomach for it even in this tension.

"Marquess Basileus," he began, reaching for the porcelain kettle. “To what do I owe the pleasure on this fine morning?

"I believe I stated in my letter that-" Irwin was cut off. 

“Your letter stated you wanted to discuss the matter regarding the land rights. But considering how adamant you’ve been about them before, it begs the question–” He paused. “--why did you really request this urgent meeting with me?”

If Irwin was taken aback, he didn’t show it. “Very well, Archduke. We are here regarding a prisoner your knights have captured.”

Archduke von Sane took a sip of his tea and turned his head towards Aris, ignoring the marquess. His stare made her feel defensive, despite not having done anything to warrant that feeling. However, she knew better than to act on those feelings lest she reveal just how nervous she was.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen you around the capital before, young lady,” he finally spoke. 

The Lumine Scholarium was considered a prestigious college to everyone except Dailora’s own citizens. It was second only to the Sovereign College of Elders and many students who were rejected from the latter usually ended up at the Scholarium, making its student body almost four times larger. Irwin had decided that due to this large number difference, it would be easier to fake student records from them and she wouldn’t be as pressured to come off too accomplished. 

“Ah,” Archduke von Sane made a noise of feign interest. “May I ask what your thesis is on?”

She came prepared for that too. “The impact of multicultural integration on social hierarchies and class systems.” 

“How intriguing. Tell me, is Quint Havrick still teaching ‘Eldritch Folklore? You must’ve taken the class, considering your field of study.”

“I wasn’t aware you were so interested in the Scholarium’s curriculum, Your Grace,” Irwin interjected. 

The archduke’s eyes never left Aris’s. “Simply making small talk, Marquess.” 

A brief silence followed. She never broke eye contact either.

“Forgive for speaking out of turn, but I believe you’re mistaken, Your Grace.” Aris feigned confusion. “Professor Havrick teaches ‘Folklore and Oral Traditions.’ My teacher for ‘Eldritch Folklore’ was Professor le Clarion.” 

Without missing a beat, he gave her a response. “So it would seem. No apologies necessary, it must be my old age.”

I wasn’t apologizing, Aris thought, slightly annoyed.    

As if he suddenly remembered Irwin was also in the room, he redirected his attention sharply. "Now, what prisoner has the famous Marquess Basileus putting aside his pride?”

“His name is Lincoln Ashton. I believe he was arrested under false charges,” Irwin responded.

“And what relation do you have with this prisoner?”

The younger man stiffened slightly before relaxing. “I believe he has crucial information regarding evidence of an investigation I’m in charge of.” 

The archduke made the action of thinking deeply. "I don't recall any prisoners with that name. Then again, my knights don't report every criminal they've captured." 

Aris balled her hands into fists, an action that Irwin noticed. "He's not a-"

"Even so," Irwin cut her off. "We would like to take a look at your prisoners."

"I’m afraid, Marquess, that even you would know the proper channels to request an audience with a convicted prisoner.” It was quite clear the older man was amused by this display.

“Of course I do, Archduke. This would be a personal favor to me. Paid back with the rights to the land.”

Now that got his attention. “This must be very important to you. Worth more than the lives of the very people you were so keen on saving.” 

Irwin rarely lost his temper, truly. He would whine when he was with Aris or the dowager marchioness, but it took a lot to get his blood boiling. The black-haired girl was one of the few people who noticed the signs– such as the vein on the side of his neck that was becoming more and more prominent. 

Before she could interrupt, a knock at the door caught their attention. 

“Come in,” the archduke said, the smug smile never leaving his face. It was Langley again.

“What is it?”

The butler bowed deeply. “My Lord, the young master has chased out his swordsmith instructor.”

Archduke von Sane finally tore his gaze from Irwin to look at the old man. “What do you mean, chased?”

“It appears the young master slipped some kind of herb into Sir Wilmington’s tea,” he explained. “He’s currently missing from the estate.”

Even if Irwin couldn't wipe that smirk off the archduke’s face, news of his son surely did the trick. 

Aris’s feet stood up before she could think thoroughly about what she was doing. Lincoln could be being tortured right now, she didn’t have days to wait for the archduke to decide he cared.

“Ari- Alin, wait-!” Irwin whisper-yelled. But she didn’t turn around. 

She followed the archduke and Langley out the door, intending to try to get his attention one more time. They walked out into the foyer but before she could say anything, a voice spoke from the bottom step of the staircase. 

"Before you ask, I don’t know where he went.”

Aris stopped walking as her heart began to race. The three of them turned around to face the person on the stairs, with Irwin just leaving the sitting room. The new voice had his dress shirt rolled up to his elbows and even though the shirt had been supposedly pressed and ironed, it was entirely wrinkled. His shoes remained notoriously untied. His circle glasses sat on top of his messy mop-like hair that threatened to fall off his head any second now. Lincoln's eyes matched hers in a look of shock.

"Oh, really? Forgive me for being skeptical, then,” the archduke responded sarcastically, feeling a headache coming on. “What did you slip this instructor?”

But Lincoln didn’t respond. His eyes remained trained on Aris and hers on his. If they weren’t in the company of anyone else, she would’ve throttled him right there.

Archduke von Sane followed his gaze. “This is Marquess Basileus and his friend,” he emphasized.

His son seemed to snap out of his trance just a little. He bowed to Irwin, who had taken place next to the girl but made no other move.

"They were just leaving,” the archduke continued. “Weren’t you, Marquess?” 

The tension in the air was palpable and coming from two sources: the archduke and Irwin and Aris and Lincoln. The four of them waited for someone to do something. Anything.

Irwin cleared his throat first. “Of course, Your Grace. Pardon our intrusion on your family matters. Let us part, Alin.”

He knew she wouldn’t leave so easily voluntarily, so he grabbed her upper arm and ushered her toward the door with some force. She didn’t tear her eyes away from Lincoln for one second.