The wedding hall is a vision of splendor—hundreds of candles cast warm light across walls draped in silk and velvet, while towering floral arrangements fill every corner with the scent of roses, lilies, and jasmine. Guests from a dozen kingdoms fill the room, their colorful robes and elaborate jewelry creating a tapestry of cultures and traditions. Music floats through the air from a small orchestra in the corner, their instruments weaving melodies that blend Callibean and Soria's musical styles into something new and beautiful.
I enter alongside Vonce, and immediately, a wave of greetings washes over us. We move through the crowd slowly, stopping to speak with each group of guests—our words carefully chosen, our smiles warm and genuine, all while knowing that Custodian's spies are watching from somewhere in the room.
"Prince Vernom! How wonderful to see you looking so well."
I turn to find Duchess Clara of the Western Marches, a close ally of Callibean, standing with her husband and daughter. She's dressed in deep purple silk embroidered with silver thread, her gray hair pinned up with pearls.
"Your Grace," I say, bowing politely. "Thank you for traveling so far to join us. I hope your journey was smooth?"
"Perfectly so," she replies, her eyes twinkling. "Though I must say, the roads have been far quieter since your brother strengthened the border patrols. We haven't seen a single bandit in months!"
"the crown prince has done remarkable work up north," I say, glancing at my brother who's speaking with a group of Soria's military advisors. "Though I suspect the peace has as much to do with the upcoming union as it does with our guards. When kingdoms stand together, troublemakers think twice before causing chaos."
"Wise words," says Duke Mathos of the Eastern Plains, joining our conversation. "Which is precisely why we've brought a proposal—we'd like to establish a joint trade route between our lands, Soria, and Callibean. More than just goods, we could share knowledge, crops, and even military training."
I let a look of thoughtful surprise cross my face. "That sounds like an excellent idea. Though we'd need to be careful—some kingdoms might see such an alliance as a threat."
"Let them," Duchess Clara says firmly. "We've seen what happens when small kingdoms stand alone against those who seek to conquer. It's time we showed the world that cooperation is stronger than conquest."
As we continue discussing trade routes and mutual defense agreements—all of which we've planned in advance to draw attention away from our real preparations—I spot Prince Aldric across the room, speaking with Princess Miolla's parents, King Torvin and Queen Isolde of Soria. I excuse myself and make my way over, stopping to speak with other guests along the way.
"Prince Vernom!" calls out Lady Seraphina of the Silver Coast, catching my arm lightly. "I must tell you—your gardens are the talk of every noble in attendance. The way you've arranged the moonblossoms near the fountain is simply magical!"
"Thank you, my lady," I say with a smile. "I've found that gardens teach us valuable lessons—some plants need plenty of sun, others thrive in shade. The key is understanding what each needs to grow strong. Much like alliances between kingdoms, wouldn't you agree?"
She laughs, a bright, musical sound. "How poetic! Though I must admit, I've never thought of diplomacy in terms of horticulture before. Perhaps we should invite you to redesign the royal gardens in the Silver Coast?"
"I'd be honored," I reply. "Though I warn you—I have a tendency to plant flowers where others might put statues. I believe beauty should be accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford to admire it from afar."
As I reach Prince Aldric and the Soria royal family, King Torvin greets me warmly. "Prince Vernom! We were just discussing your brother's wedding vows—such beautiful words about unity and mutual respect."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," I say, bowing low. "Rondolf has always had a way with words. Though I think he'd credit his betrothed for inspiring him—Princess Miolla's commitment to improving life for her people is truly remarkable."
Princess Miolla smiles modestly. "We all have a role to play, Prince Vernom. You yourself have been doing wonderful work with your agricultural programs—helping farmers improve their yields and share their surplus with those in need."
"I only do what I can," I say, glancing at Aldric. "Though I've been thinking—we could expand those programs to include other kingdoms. Imagine what we could achieve if we shared our knowledge of farming, medicine, and craftsmanship across borders."
"That's precisely what we were discussing," King Torvin says. "Prince Aldric was telling us about Meodes' expertise in mountain agriculture—they've developed ways to grow crops in terrain where we'd thought nothing could thrive."
Aldric nods, his expression perfectly calm and friendly. "We'd be happy to share what we know. In return, perhaps Callibean and Soria could teach us about your irrigation systems and crop rotation methods. When kingdoms share their strengths, everyone benefits."
Just then, a group of nobles from the Central Kingdoms approaches, led by Lord Cedric of Valeria. "Your Highnesses! Forgive us for interrupting, but we couldn't help but overhear your conversation about trade and cooperation. We'd like to add our voices to the discussion—Valeria has long been a hub of learning, and we'd be pleased to open our academies to students from all allied kingdoms."
"Now that is a proposal worth celebrating," I say, raising my glass of wine. "To knowledge shared, to lands united, and to a future where no kingdom stands alone!"
The group raises their glasses in agreement, and the room fills with cheers. As we clink glasses and exchange stories, I catch sight of a man in dark robes standing near the back wall—his eyes fixed on our group, his hand moving subtly to adjust his cloak. A Custodian spy, no doubt.
I make a point of keeping the conversation light and focused on public alliances and peaceful cooperation. We discuss plans for a joint festival next year, talk about exchanging artisans to share their crafts, and even joke about organizing a friendly tournament between our kingdoms' knights.
"Prince Vernom, you speak so passionately about unity," says Lord Cedric. "Have you always been so interested in bringing kingdoms together?"
I laugh, a warm, easy sound. "I suppose I've always believed that we have more in common than we do dividing us. Growing up in the palace gardens, I learned that different flowers grow better when planted near each other—they support one another, keep pests away, and create something more beautiful than any single plant could on its own. Why should kingdoms be any different?"
The spy turns and slips out of the room, and I allow myself a small, almost imperceptible smile. We've given him exactly what we wanted him to see—nobles from across the continent gathering in friendship, discussing peaceful cooperation and mutual prosperity. He'll report back to Custodian that Callibean is focused on celebrations and alliances, not on military preparations.
As the music swells and the first dance of the newlyweds begins, I join the crowd in applauding Rondolf and Miolla as they take the floor. The room is filled with joy and hope—a perfect mask for the serious work we're doing behind the scenes.
I catch Cael's eye across the room—he's standing near the door, watching me with a proud smile. He gives a small nod, and I know he understands. Tonight, we celebrate love and unity. But tomorrow, our real work continues—planting seeds of hope that will one day grow strong enough to protect us all.
After another round of conversations—exchanging pleasantries with ambassadors from the Coastal Realms, laughing with young nobles who've traveled from distant lands to witness the wedding—I feel the familiar pull to step away from the noise and crowds. I've said all I needed to say tonight, planted all the seeds we'd planned for the watching spies.
I catch Cael's eye across the room and give him a subtle nod. He understands immediately, excusing himself from the group of servants he's been talking with and making his way toward me.
"Shall we step outside for some fresh air, Your Highness?" he asks aloud, his voice carrying just enough to be heard by those nearby.
"Please," I reply, letting a look of mild exhaustion cross my face. "All this celebration is wonderful, but I find I need a moment to clear my head."
We make our way through the hall, exchanging brief goodbyes with guests who call out to us. As we exit into the palace courtyard, the cool evening air hits my face—a welcome relief from the warmth and scent of the crowded hall. We walk slowly through the gardens, following winding paths that lead away from the main buildings, until we reach a small gate that opens onto the city streets beyond.
Cael pulls a dark cloak from his satchel and helps me fasten it around my shoulders, its deep gray fabric designed to blend into the shadows of the night. "The meeting point is just ahead, Your Highness," he whispers. "Tomas should be waiting for us."
We turn down a narrow alley between two merchant shops, the cobblestones beneath our feet worn smooth by years of use. At the far end, a figure leans against the wall—broad-shouldered, with a cloak pulled low over his face. As we approach, he straightens up and pulls back his hood to reveal Tomas, one of Vonce's most trusted soldiers.
"Your Highness," he says, bowing his head. "The men are in position as you requested. We've identified three spies so far—one from Custodian, two from kingdoms we suspect are working with them."
"Good," I say, moving deeper into the alley where we can speak without being overheard. "I want you to let them all go. Make sure they leave the city unharmed, and ensure they have clear passage back to their masters."
Tomas's brow furrows slightly in confusion. "Your Highness, we could capture them—interrogate them to learn what they know about Custodian's plans."
I shake my head, leaning against the wall as I look out toward the main street where lanterns cast dancing shadows across the ground. "We already know what they've seen tonight—nobles gathering in friendship, talking of trade and festivals. Letting them go unharmed will only confirm their reports. If we capture them, Custodian will know we were aware of their presence… and they'll send others who are harder to track."
"Besides," I continue, "we want them to carry our message back. That Callibean is focused on peace and unity, not on war. The longer we can keep Custodian believing that, the more time we have to prepare—both here and in Meodes."
Cael nods in understanding. "It's like when you plant decoy crops in the garden to keep pests away from the real ones," he says quietly. "We're letting them see exactly what we want them to see."
"Exactly," I say with a small smile. "Tomas, I want your men to follow the spies at a distance—make sure they reach the border safely, but don't let themselves be seen. We need to know where they go, who they report to. That information will be valuable when we move forward with our plans."
"Understood, Your Highness," Tomas says, pulling his hood back up. "I'll give the order immediately. The spies will be out of the city by dawn."
I clap him on the shoulder. "Thank you, Tomas. And tell Gilbert I said to keep up the good work at the border. We'll need every man ready when the time comes, but for now… let them rest. Let them enjoy the celebration too."
As Tomas slips away into the shadows, Cael and I make our way back toward the palace. The sound of music and laughter still floats through the night air, a reminder of the joy that fills the halls we've left behind.
"Your Highness?" Cael says as we walk. "Do you think they'll really believe it? That we're just here celebrating, doing nothing to prepare?"
I look at him, then up at the stars shining bright in the night sky. "They'll believe what they want to believe. Custodian's king thinks everyone is as greedy and power-hungry as he is. He'll see our alliances as weak, our celebrations as foolish. And that will be his mistake."
We reenter the palace grounds and make our way back toward the wedding hall. As we approach, I pull off the cloak and hand it to Cael, straightening my royal robes and letting a smile return to my face.
"Now," I say, "let's go back and enjoy the party. After all, we have to make sure our guests believe we're having the time of our lives."