The emperor and I approached a blonde man standing against one of the walls of the banquet hall.

“Ravis.” The emperor greeted him.

“Ah. Lian.” The man replied. They clearly recognized each other right away, though I had no idea how.

The emperor turned to me. “Iona, I’ll be back soon. In the meantime, Ravis will look after you.”

“I can go back to the room, if it’s easier.” It’s what I would have preferred, being so tired.

“I might be a while, but you should enjoy the ball a bit more.” He was trying to be considerate, knowing that I had been having fun.

I felt bad for the emperor. He had been relaxing and enjoying himself at the banquet for the first time in a long time, and I couldn’t believe that work would still bother him, even at this hour. I felt sad. I knew what it was like to be overworked. I let him go, expressing my concern. He just smiled, kissed the back of my hand, and said “I’ll be right back.”

“Ravis, please take good care of Iona.”

“Don’t worry about a thing,” Ravis replied.

The emperor nodded to us, then turned and rushed out of the hall at the heels of the servant who had summoned him.

Ravis turned to me after the emperor walked away. He had his usual gentle smile. “You look beautiful today, Iona.”

“Thank you, Ravis. It’s truly an honour to be praised by a man descended from the divine lion.” My face had brightened by his compliment, though I did not feel worthy. Especially when he looked like an angel standing in front of me, in his brilliant white robes.

I had forgotten that Ravis and the emperor were brothers. Until the emperor had dyed his hair blond, the same as Ravis, the two did not look similar at all. But, standing close to Ravis, I could now discern similar features in the structures of their faces.

“Are you enjoying the ball?” Ravis asked.

“Yes, I’m having fun,” I replied.

“I’m glad to hear it. It’s getting late, aren’t you tired?”

“I hadn’t planned to stay this long, but the servants keep summoning the emperor away. I’ve been here for hours now, but I’m enjoying the ball. I don’t mind staying a little longer.”

“I see,” Ravis replied, distracted. His focus seemed to be more on the people in the hall, than on me.

“Ravis, are you looking for someone?”

He flinched and looked at me. “Is it that obvious?”

I was curious why Ravis had shown up at the ball and decided to have some fun with him. “The Temple of Teres doesn’t prohibit priests from getting married, right? Are you in a secret relationship?”

I had only intended to tease him, but I noticed Ravis became startled as his face turned red. “What do you mean relationship?” he sputtered. “No, I’m not!”

“But it appears you are desperately looking for one.” I decided to push the teasing a little further. “Is it perhaps unrequited love?” I actually enjoyed hearing the exploits of other lovers, so I was excited to know his answer.

Ravis regained his composure and cleared his throat. “It’s not like that.”

“You should see the look on your face.” I couldn’t help but laugh.

“I don’t know what my expression looks like, but I can at assure you that I am not looking for a lover. I am here simply on duty? I’m looking for someone who has done something wrong.”

“Who is that?”

“It is temple duty. It’s better that you don’t know, Iona.”

I decided not to push the subject. There was nothing else he would be able to tell me, if it had to do with his position. Being a high priest includes the duty of keeping secrets, and Ravis did not want me to have anything to do with this particular secret. I nodded my head in understanding.

“Have you seen anyone strange or acting suspicious in the palace recently?” Ravis asked suddenly.

I was confused at this random question. “Does His Majesty count as one?” I joked.

“Why? Does he bother you?” Ravis asked.

“It’s just feels strange that he has suddenly become so… kind.”

Ravis stared at me with the strangest look on his face. It was if he was going to laugh and cry at the same time. “You still have a long way to go,” he said.

“What do you mean by a long way?”

“Iona, what do you think of His Majesty?” Ravis deliberately dodged her question.

“He’s an insomniac?”

Ravis burst into laughter. As he held his belly in pain, he lifted his mask and wiped the tears from his eyes. “Ridrian really should cheer up.”

“Well, he has changed,” I mumbled, ashamed that I had said what I did about the emperor.

Ravis controlled his laughter and returned to his original question. “But you haven’t noticed anyone else strange in the palace? Someone acting suspicious or reluctant?”

“Reluctant?” I suddenly remembered the chill I felt when I went to the sky terrace. It had been a creepy, unpleasant sensation. I suddenly got goosebumps and rubbed my forearms with both hands.

“Iona?” Ravis could tell that I had thought of something.

“When I was waiting for His Majesty in the garden a fortnight ago, I felt a strange sensation. But His Majesty didn’t notice anything, so I thought it must have been all in my mind.”

“What did it feel like?”

I tried to remember the sensation I felt that day. It had been a dark, sticky, unpleasant feeling, like tar at the bottom of an oil tank. I shivered at the thought. “It was only for a moment, but it was extremely unpleasant.”