Page 39 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“Oh, sorry, Father. I needed some fresh air.” I took the hand he offered me and glanced at the ladies. “I’ll be back soon.”
Father swept me across the ballroom without looking back. “It’s good that you’ve made friends with those ladies. Did I see you speaking with Lord Ezra earlier?”
“I was on the terrace when he stepped out for some air,” I replied as we joined the line waiting to greet the Imperial Family.
“What do you think of him?”
Ah-ha. I was right—Father did consider him an option for me.
“He made quite the impression,” I said vaguely. “He said he will visit me later this week at the house.”
Father nodded slowly. “It would be an advantageous match to connect the Vermillion and Alansia families together by marriage. Your mother’s family would also approve such a match.”
I peered up at him. There were very few memories left behind from the original owner of this body of times where he’d spoken about his first wife and her… er,my… mother. All I knew about her was that she was the first daughter of the late Duke Lovett, a house once famed for its ability to wield great divine power, something that had linked them closely to the temple for generations.
“Do you think so?” I asked. “Lord Leon Trelawney also asked me for a dance earlier.”
“Another good option. Very well. If you’re agreeable to it, I could seek an audience with both dukes and see if they would be amenable to discussing a possible engagement for you.”
I glanced forwards and once again found my gaze trapped in a vibrant purple sea of coolness that, when next to the rest of his family, seemed different.
Gold.
It was almost as if there was a ring of gold around Kalon’s irises, one that flecked dreamily into the purple.
Why were his eyes so different? Why was he so magnetising? What was it about him that enraptured me so?
Was it simply because I knew this man would be the reason for my death unless I did something about it?
People were inclined towards things that were bad for them.
I dragged my gaze away from him to focus on the rest of the Imperial Family.
Emperor Cassius III was the root of Kalon’s good looks, even if his were peppered with age like his silvery-grey hair. There was still no denying the similarities between them—almost as if the Emperor had copy-pasted himself onto his son.
The second Empress, Eudocia, sat next to him. Her blonde hair was pulled into an elaborate updo that held her small tiara in place, and her extravagant red dress adorned with gold showed that her status was heads and shoulders above everyone else.
Then there was Crown Prince Torin.
He was tall with the Imperial Family’s electric purple eyes like Kalon, but that was where their similarity as brothers ended. Where Kalon’s hair was jet black, Torin’s was a deep blonde like the locks of the Empress. His attire wasn’t too dissimilar to Kalon’s, except Torin wore white and gold, and his cape was a rich scarlet that matched the one the emperor wore.
Vivi was right.
Grand Duke Kalon Stein didn’t look like he belonged here at all.
I had no doubt that was intentional. The rift between Kalon and his family, especially his stepmother, was no secret.
After all, the title of Crown Prince was his from birth, until Empress Eudocia gained so much backing for Torin while Kalon was at war that the Emperor had no choice but to change his heir due to political pressure. Even now, the situation was tense, with most of the nobles split into two opposing factions based on who they supported as the rightful heir to the throne.
“Perhaps we should discuss this further at home, Father,” I said as the nobles in front of us finished their conversation.
“You’re correct,” he said, stepping up. “Your Majesties, Your Highnesses. It’s an honour to greet you again with my daughter, Lady Alicia Vermillion.”
I pinched my skirt in my hand and matched my deep curtsey to Father’s bow. “Your Majesties, Your Highnesses. I apologise for being late in greeting you and seek your forgiveness for my rudeness.”
“Please, stand straight,” Emperor Cassius III said. “Marquess Vermillion said you were still recovering from your accident and taking a rest, so do not worry yourself.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. That’s very gracious of you.”
