Dominic sat comfortably upon his crimson-cushioned chair, crossing one leg over the other before gently setting his crystal glass upon the small mahogany table that separated him from Donel Hughes.
"Please, come in," he said, intertwining his fingers before resting his hands neatly upon his lap.
Garfield stepped into the room and quietly shut the door behind him. A welcoming smile spread across Dominic's face as he snapped his fingers, summoning his assistant.
"Tesser, please bring a chair for Mister Garfield."
Dominic's assistant was unlike any ordinary servant. Pointed ears protruded from beneath silver-blue hair, while his fair azure skin immediately revealed his heritage. He was an elf. Unlike humans, whose abilities were restricted by the necessity of wielding Celestial weapons, elves possessed an innate affinity for magic, allowing them to manipulate it freely without such limitations.
Without uttering a single word, Tesser vanished from the room. Barely a heartbeat later, he reappeared with an elegant wooden chair resting beside him. Bowing respectfully to those gathered, he quietly excused himself and disappeared once more.
Dominic shifted his attention toward Garfield, who still stood hesitantly near the entrance.
"I promise we don't bite," he said with a light chuckle, gesturing toward the chair Tesser had provided.
Garfield nodded awkwardly before offering a faint smile. He carefully pulled the chair back and took his seat. The moment he sat down, however, his fingers immediately began fidgeting with one another.
Dominic sighed softly before extending a reassuring hand and placing it upon the golden-haired boy's shoulder.
"Relax," he said calmly. "You have nothing to prove here."
Garfield's tense shoulders gradually loosened as he leaned back into his chair, allowing himself to breathe a little easier.
"Tell me," Dominic continued, "why couldn't Lord Redgrave attend this meeting? And why did he send his bastard son in his place?"
Dominic rolled his eyes impatiently as he waited for an answer. Garfield glanced briefly toward Donel before turning back to Dominic, his nervousness slowly fading as he addressed the entitled noble.
"Lord Redgrave is occupied with matters that require his immediate attention. He sends his deepest apologies and regrets for being unable to attend. Therefore, in his absence, I will serve as his representative and relay everything discussed here directly to him."
Dominic chuckled.
"Very well," he replied. "Then let us begin."
He snapped his fingers once again.
Within an instant, an invisible barrier enveloped the room. It was imperceptible to the naked eye and nearly impossible to detect, forming the perfect veil beneath which confidential matters could be discussed without fear of being overheard.
"For far too long," Dominic began, leaning slightly forward, "we have been treated as second-rate nobles by the Five Great Houses. They have looked down upon us, mocked us, and dismissed us as though our blood carried less value than theirs. But today... that ends."
His voice became colder.
"Our goal is simple. We will seize control of a Sector within Constella. We will gain wealth, influence, and authority. And once we stand above them, those so-called higher nobles will finally learn what it feels like to kneel."
Donel lazily waved a hand before closing his eyes for a brief moment.
"That all sounds wonderful," he said, "but how exactly do you intend to accomplish this? Unless, of course, you're speaking without a plan."
Dominic laughed.
"Do you truly think so little of me? Naturally, I have a plan."
A sly smile crept across his face.
"I have an associate within Pillar Orion. He and I pursue a common objective—one that benefits us both. Once he secures control over Pillar Orion, we will move swiftly. House Vermillion will fall, and everything they possess—their status, their influence, and their fortune—will become ours."
Donel abruptly shot to his feet, the legs of his chair scraping harshly across the polished wooden floor.
"T-That's suicide!" he exclaimed. "You want to seize Orion? Have you completely lost your mind?"
Dominic merely wagged a finger.
"That," he replied calmly, "is only my first plan."
He once again intertwined his fingers and rested them upon his lap.
"My informant recently uncovered something... fascinating. Exactly five days ago, the Five Great Families held a private meeting."
Both Garfield and Donel's eyes widened with surprise. Donel slowly lowered himself back into his chair, intrigue replacing his panic.
"What happened?" Donel asked. "Why would they meet?"
Dominic smiled as he lifted his glass from the table, slowly swirling the crimson liquid inside before meeting Donel's gaze.
"A war is coming."
Silence settled over the room.
"And that," Dominic continued, "works entirely in our favor."
He pointed toward Garfield.
"While the Five Great Houses are distracted fighting their war, Lord Redgrave will move against House White. That responsibility belongs to him."
His finger then shifted toward Donel.
"And you, Lord Donel, will seize House Garnet. They intend to flee before the conflict truly begins, meaning their resistance will be minimal."
Dominic paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in.
"I suppose that makes up for the possibility of failing to capture House Vermillion."
He leaned comfortably into his crimson chair.
"Two Great Houses could disappear in a single day."
His smile widened.
"Perhaps even three... if fortune chooses to smile upon us."
Donel turned away, covering his mouth with one hand as countless possibilities flooded his thoughts. The prospect of ruling an entire Sector consumed him.
Dominic quietly observed him before shifting his attention toward Garfield. Unlike Donel, Garfield's expression remained almost entirely unreadable.
"What do you think of the plan?" Dominic asked.
Garfield answered without hesitation.
"It is not my place to judge whether your plan is wise or foolish. My responsibility is simply to relay everything discussed here to Lord Redgrave."
Dominic nodded.
"A fair answer."
He raised a finger.
"Remember, however, that the second plan will only be enacted if the first fails."
Lifting his glass into the air, Dominic smiled toward his associates.
"To our success... and to the fortune that awaits us."
Donel eagerly raised his own glass, clinking it enthusiastically against Dominic's.
Garfield, however, hesitated. His gaze lingered upon the drink before returning to Dominic.
"I'm sorry," he said politely. "I don't drink."
Dominic laughed warmly.
"That's perfectly fine. Humor me, at least. Simply raise your glass and join the toast."
Garfield sighed softly before lifting his untouched glass. He gently tapped it against Dominic's.
Dominic inclined his glass toward the young man before draining the remainder of his drink in one smooth motion.
Amelia's POV.
Amelia gazed upward through the grand glass ceiling as gentle snowflakes drifted across it, gradually concealing the brilliant tapestry of stars that had illuminated the night sky only moments before.
A faint smile found its way onto her lips as she gently swayed to the elegant melody performed by the musicians scattered throughout the ballroom.
Beside her stood Veronica and Francis.
The two had become so absorbed in one another's company that Amelia had all but disappeared from their awareness.
Their laughter echoed softly through the hall as they exchanged stories and playful remarks, each clearly enjoying the other's presence.
Amelia could only sigh.
Her shoulders sank as her gaze drifted toward the polished marble floor. Without warning, her thoughts wandered toward Tristan.
He lingered endlessly within her mind. No matter how hard she tried to think of something else, his face always resurfaced.
Yet tonight...tonight felt different.
It was almost as though she could feel his presence. Her eyes instinctively shifted to her right.
Almost immediately, she noticed a young man with striking purple hair watching her from other end of the serving table.
The moment their eyes met, he calmly turned and began walking away. Amelia gently placed a hand upon Francis' shoulder.
"Please take care of Veronica," she said softly. "I'll be back in a moment."
Francis nodded without question.
Amelia immediately set off after the mysterious young man.
There was something about him...
Something that reminded her so vividly of Tristan that she couldn't ignore it.
As she followed him through the gathering, she watched him stop to exchange a few words with Bernard.
Keeping her distance, she remained just far enough away to avoid drawing attention while staying close enough to observe their conversation.
The discussion lasted only a minute before the purple-haired boy continued on his way.
Just as Amelia prepared to approach him, a woman stepped beside him, momentarily interrupting her chance.
She waited patiently.
Nearly a minute passed before she finally gathered the courage to close the distance between them.
Taking a steadying breath, Amelia reached out and gently placed a hand upon the young man's shoulder just as he was about to leave.
"Excuse me," she said politely, her voice calm despite the uncertainty in her heart. "May I speak with you for a moment?"