Ennessa room had been occupied since dawn.
Two maids stood behind her, adjusting the fall of her dress and working the last pins into her hair while Ennessa sat before the mirror.
She barely moved.
Ennessa was checking the final list in her mind when....
Screeech Thud!
The door swung open.
She looked up through the mirror.
Ender walked in without knocking.
Ennessa’s eyes narrowed.
"Have you forgotten all your manners?"
Ender stopped.
"I need to know what this is."
He held up a seating arrangement.
Ennessa turned slightly in her chair.
"Knocking would have been a good beginning."
"Ennessa." Ender says.
"Give me a moment." She replied, One of the maids adjusted the final piece of jewelry around her neck.
"Done, my lady."
"Thanks,"
"What is this?" Ender held up the seating arrangement.
"What is what?" Ennessa asked looking at him.
"This."
He walked closer and placed the paper on the table beside her.
"You separated House Aravelle and House Fenrath."
Ennessa glanced at the arrangement.
"Yes."
"Why? , They’ve spent the last several months trying to undermine each other."
"Which is exactly why they should be sitting together." Ender says.
Ennessa turned in her chair.
"Together?"
"Yes."
Ender pointed at the two names.
"Put them at the same table. Let them talk."
"Talk? , They’re both nobles, not children." Ennessa gave him a flat look.
"You expect two houses that can barely stand being in the same room to suddenly solve their problems over dinner?"
"They won’t do anything stupid with His Majesty present." Ender says.
"That’s an assumption."
"It’s a reasonable one."
"No, it isn’t." Ennessa replied.
Ender frowned.
"Why not?"
"Because if they start arguing, we can’t simply pretend it isn’t happening."
"And if they sit apart?"
"They won’t cause a scene."
"Or they’ll continue their feud." Ender says.
"At least it won’t happen in the middle of our Celebration."
Ender shook his head.
"You’re thinking too much about avoiding the problem, And you’re thinking too little about the consequences." He folded his arms.
"Ennessa, His Majesty is going to be here. The royal family will be here. Half the important houses in Maria will be watching them."
"Exactly."
"Then neither side will dare make a scene." Ender says.
"You’re very confident."
"I am."
Ennessa picked up the seating arrangement.
"I would rather not test that confidence."
Ender sighed.
"They’re going to have to settle this eventually, That is their problem."
"It’s our kingdom."
"Our kingdom has a King."
Ender stared at her.
"So?"
"So let the King handle disputes between his nobles."
"And if they start fighting inside Father’s estate?"
Ennessa looked directly at him.
"Then it becomes Father’s problem."
Ender opened his mouth.
For a moment, he had nothing to say.
Ennessa placed the seating arrangement back on the table.
"I’ll keep them apart."
Ender shook his head.
"I still think they should sit together."
"And I still think that’s a terrible idea."
Ender let out a frustrated breath.
He glanced toward the door.
"I don’t know why you girls always think you understand these things better than everyone else."
Ennessa’s expression immediately hardened.
"Mind your words, Ender."
He stopped.
She held his gaze.
"Have you forgotten what Avena did?"
Ender’s expression changed.
"That’s different."
"Is it?"
He looked away.
"Whatever."
He turned toward the door.
"Do what you want."
The door closed behind him.
Ennessa stared at it for a few seconds.
One of the maids quietly returned to fixing the folds of her dress.
Ennessa looked back at the mirror.
Her dress was perfect.
Her hair was perfect.
Everything about her looked exactly as it should.
She wished the evening itself could be made that orderly.
Ennessa reached the lower hall just as the first guests began settling into their places.
Her mother had given her a simple instruction.
Find girls your age. Speak to them.
It sounded easy enough.
In practice, it meant moving from one small conversation to another while remembering names, family ties, and the appropriate things to say about each of them.
Ennessa managed.
A daughter of House Aravelle had come with her parents. Then there were two sisters from a smaller Marian house, followed by a young lady whose family had recently returned from Pyraxia.
The conversations were pleasant.
Mostly.
Ennessa smiled when she was supposed to, asked questions when necessary, and listened more than she spoke.
Everything was going smoothly.
Then the musicians in the main hall began to play.
The Gala was about to begin.
Ennessa glanced toward the entrance as another group of guests arrived.
Her eyes wandered for no particular reason.
They always seemed to.
And, as they had several times over the past few days, they found him.
Caiden (eldrin)
He stood near the corridor leading toward the private rooms and washrooms, dressed in the plain clothes of a household servant.
He appeared to be doing nothing more important than directing guests whenever they asked for directions.
Ennessa looked away.
She returned her attention to the conversation beside her.
"...and my father says we’ll probably leave for the academy a week early."
"Really?"
Ennessa smiled.
"That sounds sensible."
She listened to the girl’s answer.
Then.....
A commotion came from the corridor.
Ennessa’s eyes shifted instinctively.
She saw Caiden again.
Except he wasn’t standing quietly anymore.
Someone had grabbed him.
For a moment, Ennessa simply stared.
What?
Eldrin twisted away.
The man lunged again.
The movement was quick enough that several nearby guests turned their heads.
Ennessa’s expression changed.
That wasn’t an argument.
They were fighting.
She immediately turned back toward the girl beside her.
"Excuse me."
"Lady Ennessa?"
"I’ll be back."
She moved toward the corridor.