Chapter 18.2

The grand central hall of the Iceheart estate offered a path towards every wing on every floor. Normally, its imposing nature and central location were its main purposes. Tonight, it also served as the location for a standing feast, tall tables offering room to enjoy a variety of dishes. For now, mild drinks and snacks were all that was set out for the guests to enjoy.

Eirwen approached from the first floor, looking down at her guests from the balcony. Her appearance quickly hushed the crowd. She smiled with practised kindness. "Once again I welcome you, and once again I must apologise for the inconvenient location. While we could have hosted you more comfortably at the Verglas estate, unfortunately circumstances demand our presence here in Iceheart territory. Still, I thank you for attending this joyous occasion."

Sir Wigbeorht responded with a loud voice. "And on behalf of the crown, I express my gratitude for your hospitality, your Grace. To celebrate your unification of the dukedoms, we have brought a new communication crystal for you to employ, so that you can communicate freely even from here. We also will take care of the existing one that belonged to Duke Flameheart."

He turned and gestured at a handcart that carried multiple sealed gift boxes. "I also have been instructed to leave these with you. As your ascent to Duchess never could be properly celebrated, the crown hopes these gifts will help amend that unfortunate situation." Eirwen both saw and felt several people barely withhold a sneer towards the man's audacious reminder of the throne's failure to act. No matter.

"I thank you, as I thank all others for both your presence and your gifts. Please enjoy the feast. I hope that after days of riding, you prefer standing. Rest easy and drink and eat to your heart's content. House Verglas will handle security." With those words, servants appeared with carts holding food, escorted by knights and soldiers in light armour. But what shocked the guests was the man who led the troops. His red hair was as noticeable as the Verglas coat of arms that blazoned on his grey chest and back. The weapon master, who many had still secretly believed dead.

Eirwen ignored their surprise and the subtle twitch on Sir Wigbeorht's face. "Weapon master, you have the lead. Make sure my guests feel comfortable." He offered her a quiet bow, then began doling out instructions.

From the balcony, it was easy to see people's responses. Advisors and lesser nobles were mostly shocked by what they considered a disgrace. But when it came to Eirwen's contemporaries, a lot of them were secretly, or openly, happy. It came as no surprise to her, though she took note all the same, while carefully eavesdropping on all conversations.

As she listened in on people, she noticed a lot of her troops came across as rather stiff. The present Verglas troops were mostly young, so not used to this kind of scene. It was a good thing the weapon master was managing them, constantly giving quick signals and quiet instructions to prevent major failures in etiquette. All the while, he kept his distance to the nobles, going in and out when needed, never staying too long close to a group.

Eirwen saw Sir Wigbeorht walk up the stairs to join her, leaving his entourage behind. She'd been wondering when he would do so. A good thing he wasn't delaying it too much, as only after this would others be allowed to go converse with her. And fortunately he didn't take long to get to his point, after just a few basics pleasantries.

He stood near her at the balcony, looking at the weapon master currently discussing drink distributions, to help make sure none of the guests over-imbibed. Both Verglas and Iceheart staff were obediently listening. Sir Wigbeorht performatively shook his head. "I have to say, your Grace, it worries me a bit how they hang on his every word. Perhaps we could be of assistance there, help ensure your rule remains unchallenged."

Eirwen kept her face smiling, while being secretly impressed with how the weapon master managed to keep a straight face in response to that comment. As for her, she went with the plan she had already decided on earlier. "Come to think of it, Sir Wigbeorht, I don't believe you are aware of how the sixth Duke was killed?"

He blinked in response to the sudden remark, stammering that he indeed was unaware. With a smile, she explained. "It was a Verglas cut. One of the best I've ever seen. We're lucky he never used that in the war, because he likely would have killed or permanently crippled a lot of my people that way."

She turned around, her back leaning against a pillar as she focused on her confounded conversation partner. "Or back when he surrendered, for that matter. He recently showed us that if he had wanted to, he could have killed me back then. And if his personal guard had gotten involved, they could have actually taken me alive." Eirwen scoffed playfully. "Not that he would have needed to. He could have asked me to marry him in turn for killing his father, and I would have had it officiated there and then. But he chose otherwise, so here we are, both alone."

Eirwen was well aware that there were plenty of people trying to eavesdrop on them, a lot of them able to properly do so. It was easy to notice how conversations all over the hall were falling silent a lot, preoccupied as people were with listening in. There would soon be plenty of rumours about her words, but that was a price she would gladly pay for spreading the message she wanted the crown to understand.

"My parents would have loved giving me a sibling, but it wasn't to be. And with how life has gone, I find myself without any close relatives near me. My contemporaries, my friends, live in their own dukedoms and my current responsibilities will not allow me to freely meet them even now. Worse, I outrank them all. It will be one to three decades for most of them before they succeed their parents, and only at that point can we feel like proper equals again. Ironically, despite him being nameless, he is the only one whose experience resembles mine. No family of note, no equals to share the burden with. Part of me feels like he truly is all I have left."

She turned again and looked back in his direction, observing how he used the quiet period to hand out instructions on where the next course should be set down. One would think him the majordomo, the way he directed the staff. All the while, he was still listening in on her. She sent a smile his way, with his uncharacteristic emotional control meaning only the twinkle in his eyes betrayed him catching it.

"I also should note that I am very glad he is such a gentleman. Under our leaderships, the Flameheart and Verglas armies both fought with honour. Rather than suffering from a chain of frenzied bloodbaths, both territories made it through the war with minimum damage. If we add the gained combat experience, I dare say that once the restructuring has been completed, we will stand even stronger than before the war. If there ever is another, we will be ready for it."

It was easy to notice who properly understood her message, people freezing mid-conversation, eyes subtly widening, a few smiles. Even her generation had quite a few people catching on, understanding that she was warning not just Sir Wigbeorht, but the crown itself, to cease getting involved in her business. And given how the crown had practically abandoned Verglas in the face of Flameheart aggression, not many seemed to mind her threat. After all, it wasn't them she had a problem with. Verglas would still pay its dues. But it wouldn't stand for being mistreated.

As for Sir Wigbeorht, he both understood her message, and noticed how little support the crown had in this room. Of course most people were representatives, not the actual leaders, but he understood well enough how many of them had the ear of their superiors. He sullenly expressed his agreement and backed off, walking downstairs for meal and a drink. Soon after, other nobles meandered upstairs, engaging Eirwen in brief conversations with various pleasantries.

Of her conversation partners, quite a few men around her age showed interest in getting to spend some time with her later on, their intent obviously courtship. Some of her old friends participated, though they made it clear that they were just following instructions so they could go back home and say they tried. Those were welcome, even though they were still rejected. The others, she cared less for. While not explicitly stating she already had a suitor, she made very clear that she had no interest in taking them up on their offers.

A few hours later, Eirwen took her old friends with her to the public library, so that they could have a bit more privacy than the hall offered. They were eager to catch up, share their gossip and lament parental pressure to try to court her. Soon enough, the conversation turned to the weapon master. Given how popular he had been at the royal academy, it didn't surprise her that they were all secretly rooting for them. As for their wishes to meet with him, she had to turn that down.

"I fear that won't be possible. While this may be the outskirts of the kingdom, where I can treat him with familiarity, the same does not apply to you. If back home they hear you were being friendly with one that forfeited his name, it could endanger your political influence. So I must draw a line there." She leaned forward with a sly smile. "However, I should note that he has yet to quit his eavesdropping habit. Speaking of, care to send us some drinks?" A few blinks, before they realised what she was implying.

Soon after, a servant knocked at the door and brought in several bottles. "Greetings, your Grace, noble guests. I have here several blended bottles which combine the products of various Iceheart territories, as well as multiple bottles originating from the Verglas estate. You should find that the lovely smooth taste of the Verglas bottles is complemented with half a pour of the Iceheart blend, adding its robust flavour to the mixture."

Cheeky. A drink suggestion that would have served nicely as a veiled sneer at Sir Wigbeorht. In the current company, it was a message instead, declaring to their friends that the weapon master intended to fully support Eirwen, to better her rule. A message they enjoyed as much as the advised mixture during their conversations. By the time they returned to the main feast, Eirwen's smile was now properly genuine.