-Prior-
Prior, Talina, and Professor Keron were waiting in Evlina's room. This time, a few more people had been allowed to attend the reception.
Prior had also asked Yin, but unfortunately she was apparently not considered important enough. Prior would have liked to see her again, but she had already planned to return to the laboratory sometime this week.
She was also looking forward to seeing Professor Nara and Yin again. They would definitely be there.
Talina had styled Evlina's hair into a beautiful updo. A few strands fell gently into her face. She was also wearing a lipstick that matched the fuchsia in her dress perfectly. She looked truly stunning.
Prior herself was relieved that she was no longer wearing the Gelserkh traditional dress. At the same time, she now almost felt like nothing more than a small shadow.
Then someone knocked on the door—and her heart immediately began to beat faster.
-Kashion-
Kashion stood in front of Evlina's door and knocked.
It almost felt like déjà vu, but this time everything felt different.
Talina opened the door.
Kashion quickly scanned the room with his eyes. He saw the strikingly beautiful Evlina and then let his gaze settle in a corner of the room.
Prior had changed clothes. She was wearing a simple black dress—his color. She still had the Gelserkh hairstyle and looked enchanting.
She didn't even look at him and seemed so shy—also enchanting.
Kashion had to fight to tear his gaze away. He cleared his throat and said,
"Ready, Princess?"
Evlina nodded and walked over to him. This time, however, she did not place her hand on his arm. She simply said,
"Let's go."
Then they walked side by side toward the palace's grand ballroom.
As usual, Oren, Talina, and Prior followed them—and this time the scientists as well.
Kashion could feel Prior's presence behind him like a source of warmth and had to concentrate on looking straight ahead.
-Prior-
Prince Kashion was wearing a black suit.
It suited his pale skin perfectly, and he looked incredibly elegant.
She had barely been able to look at him.
Now that she was walking behind him, she couldn't help glancing at him again and again—even if it was only at his back.
That's natural, she told herself. Of course the most desirable bachelor in the galaxy would also have some effect on her.
She noticed that a few strands of his hair were not perfectly in place but slightly loose. He also seemed a little tense.
She thought back to his message from earlier. It must be exhausting for him. The whole day already.
Prior would have loved to ask how he was doing or encourage him—but that was Evlina's place now.
Next to him, Evlina looked like a radiant jewel. And they were almost the same height. Prior was much smaller.
Then Prior suddenly noticed something.
This time Evlina hadn't placed her hand on Kashion's arm.
Why?
Right—Talina had said he had been much more distant.
Soon they arrived at the large doors of the ballroom. Oren had explained that it was the largest hall in the palace. It even had its own large balcony.
Prior was curious.
They waited in front of the doors until Kashion's parents arrived.
They didn't have to wait long.
Queen Ada immediately walked over to Evlina and embraced her.
"Oh, my dear, you look absolutely charming!"
Evlina showed her most beautiful smile and complimented Queen Ada in return.
Prior, once again, was not even granted a glance.
At least not by Ada.
But she noticed that Kashion was looking in her direction.
She looked back at him—and his eyes shone so brightly as he looked at her. At the same time they had something magnetic about them, like a pull.
She couldn't look away.
Finally the great doors opened, and she forced herself to break away.
Kashion briefly closed his eyes, turned around, and entered the hall with Evlina at his side, followed by his parents.
Everyone applauded again.
The hall was enormous and beautifully decorated. Small flowering trees stood throughout the room.
Everything was done in pastel colors: rose, yellow, apricot, mint, and a soft blue.
The tables were much larger this time. In the center stood the table of the royal family. The envoys from the other countries would also sit there.
Oren showed them where they were supposed to sit.
Prior was pleased to see that Professor Wan and his family would be sitting with them again. This time Professor Keron and Professor Nara—as well as a few other scientists—would also sit at their table.
There were small name cards.
Prior saw her name and noticed she would be sitting next to Talina and Professor Nara. She was happy about that.
Then she noticed something else.
From her seat she once again had a direct view of Kashion.
She almost laughed.
He stood across from her at some distance—and he was actually looking in her direction.
It almost looked as if he were winking at her.
-Kashion-
Kashion had personally changed the seating arrangement.
Normally his mother handled such things, and he only had to approve it.
But then Prior wouldn't have been in his field of vision.
And she would have been sitting next to that scientist Tin—which really wasn't necessary.
He himself would again sit on Princess Evlina's right side.
The other seat beside him belonged to Crown Prince Rein.
-Prior-
Prior greeted Nara, Professor Wan, and his family warmly—almost like old friends.
She was also happy to see Kassia and Lina some distance away and waved to them. They waved back.
Little Yina almost ran off to greet Prior, but Kassia held her back and spoke to her quietly.
Of course that wouldn't be appropriate now.
Prior laughed at the scene and felt touched at the same time.
Kashion would of course sit next to Evlina again—which gave her a small sting, even though it was obvious.
Standing next to Kashion was a tall, blond, handsome man she couldn't place. He seemed very cheerful.
Finally Kashion began to speak and welcomed everyone.
He explained that they would first eat and afterward there would be dancing.
He also welcomed all the envoys and mentioned them by name.
So the man next to him was Crown Prince Rein of Firefields.
King Mandach and his wife looked warm and kind.
Count Kashk Rutz, on the other hand, looked very arrogant, and at the sight of him a small shiver ran down Prior's spine.
Finally everyone could sit down.
Suddenly Tin said loudly,
"Nara, would it be alright if we switched seats? I'd like to talk with Prior about a few things."
Nara laughed and immediately stood up.
"No problem, Tin."
Then they switched places.
"You haven't been in the lab for a while, and I'd like to talk about a few things. I hope that's alright even in this setting," Tin said.
Prior nodded and smiled.
For her, such conversations were far more pleasant than any small talk.
-Kashion-
Kashion could hardly believe his eyes.
He had seen movement at Prior's table—and then that Tin had switched seats with Professor Nara!
And now Prior was even smiling at him.
The first dishes were served.
"Oh yeah, Dao noodles!" Rein said enthusiastically. "I haven't eaten those in ages."
Then he leaned across Kashion and looked at Evlina.
"Princess, have you already tried the Dao noodles?"
Evlina nodded.
"They are very delicious."
Kashion gently pushed his friend aside.
"Your head doesn't need to hover over my plate. Or do you want to switch seats too?"
Rein looked at him in confusion.
"Too?"
Kashion waved it off.
"Just saying."
Rein shrugged and started eating.
"Is everything alright?" Evlina asked quietly.
Kashion looked at her.
"You seem tense," she explained. "I think everything is going well. So you can relax. We don't have to negotiate tonight. Let's simply enjoy ourselves."
Kashion gave a dry laugh.
"Thank you, Princess," he said and began eating.
Then he looked toward Prior.
She had started laughing and was covering her mouth with her hand. While laughing, she was looking at Tin.
Kashion suddenly lost his appetite.
But he kept eating anyway so that no one would feel unsettled.
Under the table, his left hand was clenched tightly.
-Prior-
"Really?" Prior asked, laughing.
Tin nodded.
He had just told her that in the laboratory they had recently tried something playful: creating a kind of choreography with Aethereleum. They had experimented with different frequencies and patterns and tried to synchronize it with music.
Prior shook her head.
"But you do know that resources should be used responsibly."
Nara spoke up.
"My bigger concern is that something might explode someday."
Prior nodded.
"Yes, Aethereleum isn't a toy."
Then she laughed again.
"Well… actually."
Tin laughed as well.
"Of course we only use minimal amounts."
Then he took out his messenger.
"We even recorded a small video. I'll show you."
He showed Prior the video of the choreography.
Prior shook her head.
"I have to admit—it turned out well."
Tin nodded.
"We also discovered several frequencies that work well and know how long they remain stable before something changes."
"That's what you'd call playful learning," Prior said.
Tin grinned.
"We also noticed that the electrical voltage in the chamber briefly increased."
"Oh, probably because of the metallic hydrogen, right?" Prior asked.
Nara nodded.
"We believe the electrical forces in an Aethereleum engine could be concentrated or directed more precisely if handled correctly."
"That would be a real discovery!" Prior replied.
That would certainly be extremely valuable for the agreement.
Prior was also grateful to Tin and Nara for distracting her from other thoughts.