191: Activity for the gatherings

Activity for the gatherings

Music Recommendation: South Carolina - Nicholas Britell

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Emily stared at Raylen with genuine surprise, but her expression shifted to one of suspicion as her eyes narrowed at him. Was he trying to flatter her by calling her 'moon princess'? Since the moon was often associated with beauty and romantic admiration, this only deepened her suspicion, reinforcing her belief that the archdemon was up to no good. 

"I will go ahead," Raylen declared to her, his lips twisting mischievously as he walked away. 

Julia approached the princess from behind and whispered, "King Raylen must like you, Princess Emily."

"He's probably just testing Brother Dante," Emily responded to her maid. Not to mention, the red-headed demon seemed to get his kicks out of provoking others, she thought to herself. She added, "I will see you later, Julia." 

"Yes, milady." Julia gave her a bow and wished, "I hope you have a good day today." She watched her princess heading in the direction where King Raylen had disappeared, and a smile crossed her face. However, when she turned around, her eyes met Westley's sullen expression, and she rapidly made her escape to avoid being in his presence. 

After Emily and Raylen had left the castle grounds in the carriage, she heard him say, "The schedule for today's gathering arrived late last night. We will be having breakfast with everyone first, after which the gathering will be moved outdoors, or, to be more precise, behind the Ruiz's mansion."

Emily wondered who had delivered the letter in such heavy rain, feeling pity for the unfortunate soul. She inquired, 

"Did it contain details about what they have planned for today?" 

Raylen nodded and explained, "Men and women have been instructed to wear darker, thicker attire to stay warm, as the temperature is expected to drop. High boots are also recommended." 

"Why didn't you tell me?" Emily replied with a frown, glancing down at her lilac dress. She wondered why a dark-coloured dress was required, and not to mention, her current shoes didn't extend past her ankles. "King Raylen, are you attempting to jeopardise my time at the gathering?" She couldn't think of any other reason why he hadn't informed her. 

"On the contrary, I think it will work to your advantage," Raylen replied in a bright, cheerful voice that didn't match Emily's expression. He added, "I think it will put to the test the men who want to woo you."

"What kind of test?" Emily questioned, wanting to know what was going on in the demon's devious mind. 

"You will find out in due course." Raylen smiled at her while she continued to stare at him. She wasn't pleased, not knowing what to expect. "Considering your mopey behaviour yesterday, it would be better to pull out the useless weeds so that you can reach the finish line. We need to see who is truly willing to save you." 

Emily frowned and replied, "I don't need saving. It's not as if I'll be drowning."

"Are you saying you know how to swim?" Raylen questioned her in his kind and polite tone.

"I do," Emily replied, crossing her arms and shifting her seating position. 

"And you left poor Princess Niyasa to drown and wash away. Sure, you know how to swim," Raylen teased, cracking that annoying smile that made Emily wish she could hit him now. 

Perhaps next time she should ask her brother's imp to deliver Raylen's coffin, Emily mused wryly. With that thought, she realised she had forgotten to ask her family about Niyasa's whereabouts. She had intended to ask her grandmother, but before she could do so, Raylen had popped up in her room, disturbing her train of thought. 

Returning to the previous conversation, Emily suggested, "We should return to the castle so that I can change my attire." 

"I am telling you, it is all part of the plan," Raylen responded, not telling his driver to halt or turn. He said, "You need a man, someone who will not only make you feel good but also look good by your side. Someone who won't be intimidated by Nathaniel's presence. Do you regret not opting for darker colours?"

"I will tell you if I do," Emily muttered under her breath. 

Once they arrived at the Ruiz Mansion, the carriage door swung open, and they gracefully disembarked from the vehicle. Raylen wore a benevolent smile, giving him an almost saintly appearance, while Emily beside him added even more charm to his already captivating demeanour. 

Emily noticed some of the guests casting glances in their direction. She said in a lowered voice, "I feel like having them believe you are related to me is going to encourage more men to approach me." She briefly paused to exchange a smile with one of the women before continuing, "For their own benefit, of course." 

"I am certain you are an astute woman, Princess, capable of discerning their intentions?" Raylen asked, maintaining his kind smile as they entered the mansion. 

For now, Emily hoped to find a tolerable man. Someone who would not get on her nerves to the point of contemplating murder. She shook her head. Violence is not an option, Lily, she reminded herself. At least, compared to the overwhelming attention she had received in Versailles, the spotlight at this gathering was dimmer, giving her space to think and converse without being bombarded with insincere praise. 

"King Raylen. Lady Emily." Julius Ardolf walked towards them with his mother by his side. "Greetings to you both."

"Good morning, Mr. Ardolf," Emily greeted the man with a slight bow, and then she extended the same courtesy to his mother, who sized her up from head to toe before breaking into a smile. 

"Good morning, King Raylen. It is always kind of you to grace these humble gatherings with your presence," Mrs. Ardolf expressed warmly. The woman stood at a height of five feet, her body radiating good health, and her cheeks adorned with a pink hue that matched her lips. 

"How could I not when I have the Moon Princess accompanying me," Raylen remarked, causing Emily's eyes to widen slightly. Julius and his mother looked puzzled by the king's words, and the young man asked, 

"Moon Princess?" 

"Oh my, we have a princess among us?" Mrs. Ardolf's eyes began to shine with excitement at the prospect of having a daughter-in-law of such high status. 

"We certainly do," Raylen responded. "Emily is a bit clumsy, and she bumped her head this morning. You can see the moon on her forehead." 

Emily's face flushed when their eyes landed on her forehead, making her want to hide it. She laughed softly and then said, "It was a little mishap. Clumsiness seems to be a family trait, especially after you bumped your head too." She smiled warmly at Raylen.

Raylen's eyes lit up at her words and he hummed, "Indeed, quite clumsy." 

"We are relieved to see that nothing happened to both of you," Julius responded. He then turned to Emily and expressed, "I am also happy to see you again, Lady Emily. I have been looking forward to our meeting."

"That is very kind of you to say, Mr. Ardolf. I hope we can get to know each other better today." Emily smiled at the earnest man. 

"That is what I was hoping for too. Would you do me the honour of joining me for breakfast?" Julius asked, but before Emily could reply, Raylen interjected, 

"Julius, please give us a moment, as I just remembered that Emily and I have to take care of something." 

"Of course," Julius nodded, and he added, "I will save a seat for you at the table." Offering another bow, this time with his mother, he departed. 

When Emily turned to look at Raylen, he locked eyes with her and deadpanned, "Allow me to offer you a piece of advice: Don't sit with him." 

"Why not?" Emily asked, genuinely curious about what could be wrong with Mr. Ardolf. He seemed like a perfectly nice man. "Is it to attract more attention from him?" 

"I don't think he's a suitable match for you. And I say this with the thought that your brother wouldn't approve of him either," Raylen remarked casually as he picked up a glass of blood when a servant passed by them. 

"Why not? He's a good man," Emily pointed out. 

"He is," Raylen acknowledged.

"He's well-behaved and didn't come on too strongly. He's considerate," she added, presenting the next point before Raylen could respond. 

"Like I said before, he's too still, almost like the dead," Raylen responded, taking a sip of the blood and savouring its taste. 

"I am not looking for turbulent waters. He's a steady stream," Emily replied with a frown before adding, "You should be the last person advising me on whom I should or shouldn't engage with. And you can be quite judgemental yourself." 

Raylen took his time to leisurely finish the drink. He remarked, "It was just advice; there's no need to get worked up. And perhaps you are right. Still waters do meet other still waters; you might make the perfect match." 

Emily let out a sigh and turned to walk away when she heard him ask, "Where are you going, Moon Princess?" 

She clenched her teeth in irritation at the remark. She turned back to meet his intelligent blue eyes and the confident smile that adorned his strong features. She then uttered, 

"I should go mingle before the good ones are taken. Now, if you will excuse me." 

Emily took a few deep breaths before she walked inside and encountered Mrs. Ruiz, who seemed delighted to see her. The woman embraced her warmly and said, "Always a lovely sight, Lady Emily. Has King Raylen not accompanied you today?" 

"He is conversing with the guests, and I thought I would go ahead to see you," Emily replied with a smile. 

Mrs. Ruiz nodded. "That's perfectly fine. Come, let me lead you to the dining room. Mr. Ruiz is also occupied with the guests, and it might take a while, so we should fill our stomachs while we wait," she laughed softly as they began to walk through the corridors. The woman then added, "Many of the guests have approached me, asking for an opportunity to speak with you." 

"About what?" Emily asked, and the woman smiled. 

"I mean to arrange for you to meet them at Storm Castle. Unless, of course, you'd prefer to meet them in the town for a stroll?" Mrs. Ruiz offered her the choice. 

If Emily were to be married in Versailles, the idea of a leisurely stroll before the wedding would be a far-fetched notion, as save for the unions between soulmates, marriage decisions concerning the royal family had been primarily political in nature until now, and the betrothed couples would typically only see each other directly on the day of their engagement or on the wedding day. She replied, 

"I believe meeting them at the castle would be more suitable for now, before considering a stroll." 

"A very wise decision." Mrs. Ruiz nodded. "Usually, suitors arrive at the woman's door bearing gifts. However, I believe because you are related to King Raylen, they are a little wary."2

With Raylen's words lingering in her mind, Emily inquired, "Mrs. Ruiz, may I ask about one of the gentlemen attending the gathering?" 

"Oh, has a man caught your eye? Who is it?" Mrs. Ruiz asked. 

"It is Julius Ardolf," Emily disclosed, and a smile formed on her lips. 

"Oh, Mr. Ardolf. He's one of the sought-after men of this season. Many young women's mothers have been asking me to set up their daughters with him. As expected of the king's niece; you have found a fine individual," Mrs. Ruiz remarked with a nod. "No vices, and quite helpful. The poor man's father passed away during an attack, and Julius was raised by his mother."

Upon entering the dining room, Emily observed the long table, where the majority of the guests had already taken their seats. 

The smile on her lips didn't die. When her gaze landed on Janelle, her smile widened even further. Her friend was seated beside one of the men she had danced with yesterday. 

"Lady Emily, would you like to take a seat here?" asked a distinguished gentleman. 

Emily's gaze shifted to Mr. Ardolf, who was looking her way, as if eagerly awaiting her company next to him. However, simultaneously, a young woman who sought to engage Julius slipped coyly into the vacant seat he had saved for the princess. 

Seeing how most of the seats in the room rapidly filled, Emily accepted the offered chair and sat beside the gentleman. Raylen entered the room and took a seat next to the woman whom Emily had met in the shoe shop. The woman named Beatrice. She couldn't help but wonder where Gloria was, as she hadn't seen the woman since their arrival this morning. 

As if sensing her gaze on him, Raylen's shifted to look at her and the people seated beside her. There was a subtle smirk on his lips, amused by the idea of her following his advice, when in truth, it was purely coincidental. 

Following a pleasant breakfast, the attendees made their way to the back of the mansion, which connected to the forest behind it. 

"My apologies for not being able to secure the seat for you, Lady Emily," Julius expressed regretfully. 

"There's no need to worry, Mr. Ardolf. It happens to the best of us," Emily reassured the man with a smile, who appeared relieved by her words. 

Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz came to stand before the assembled guests, who were ready to enjoy the remainder of the day's festivities prepared for them. Mr. Ruiz began, 

"To make things a little more lively, we have arranged a little game for everyone to enjoy this noon. The weather is perfect—" Emily's eyes discreetly moved to glance at the overcast sky, wondering how it was considered perfect "—and you won't have to worry about breaking a sweat," he added with a laugh. 

"What is the game?" someone inquired from the front, and as Emily leaned forward to see who had spoken, she recognised it was the man named Marshall Travis. 

"It is a treasure hunt in the forest," Mr. Ruiz announced in an excited tone. However, when he noticed the less than enthusiastic expressions on some of them, he swiftly added, "You will all be divided into pairs, and the one who reaches the end will be the winner, along with the exquisite prize waiting." 

Mrs. Ruiz opened a velvet box to reveal emptiness inside it. She said, "The treasure that was supposed to be in here is what awaits in the forest. The clues are scattered around for you to find it."

"Are we to go by foot?" another guest inquired, just as horses were brought around by the stableboys. 

"We recommend you use the horses. Please go ahead and select who you want to ride with."

The majority of the men and women present at the gathering were excited about the prospect of finding the treasure Mr. and Mrs. Ruiz had hidden in the forest. The men hoped for the maidens to be seated behind them, providing an opportunity for the woman to hold them, or have them sit in front of them. And the women were no exception, sharing similar thoughts and expectations. 

The men eyed Emily like a prized possession. After all, she was the king's niece, a beautiful and dainty woman who had the power to quicken their pulses. Before the others could approach and swarm her, both Marshall Travis and Julius Ardolf stepped forward and stood before Emily, each of them politely inquiring, 

"Lady Emily, please do me the honour of riding with me." 

"It would be an honour if you rode with me." 

"Your niece is the most sought-after woman at this season's gathering, King Raylen. You must be proud of her," Beatrice remarked while standing beside the red-headed king. "Whom do you think she will choose?" 

Raylen's blue eyes settled on the two men standing in front of the princess, their tension palpable as they glared at each other. He replied, 

"Neither one." 

Beatrice raised her eyebrows in a mixture of question and curiosity. "Is she not going to participate in the hunt?" 

Raylen didn't respond but only stared at the princess, who stood out among the others. He then heard Emily speak, saying, 

"Forgive me, but I intend to ride a horse by myself." A soft chuckle escaped Raylen's lips, and Beatrice couldn't help but inwardly frown at the attention the king directed towards his niece. 

The two men blinked at her, clearly not expecting her answer. Julius murmured, "My apologies. I thought you wouldn't know how to ride."

"Lady Emily, I will be right behind you, to ensure your safety." Marshall volunteered for the role, even though Emily hadn't offered it to him. 

Emily politely smiled at them and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Mr. Travis, but I am perfectly capable of riding a horse. I have been doing it for quite a few years now." She offered them a gracious bow and made her way over to where the horses were lined up. 

Some of the onlookers looked at Emily as if she had missed a good opportunity to be in close proximity to the eligible men. However, they believed her loss was their gain, and they became elated by the thought. 

Emily found the horse that responded to her before she mounted it. As she adjusted the lower half of her dress, she heard the soft clip-clopping of hooves from another horse pulling up beside her. When she raised her eyes, she realised it was Raylen, who wore a sly expression. 

Her hazel brown eyes regarded him with curiosity, and she said, "I didn't know you were participating as well."

The game was designed for those seeking future spouses, and Raylen was looking for neither. Emily's eyes shifted to the back of the group, where she saw Beatrice making her way towards them. 

The corners of Raylen's eyes crinkled, and he remarked, "I thought a little competition would make things more interesting."

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