Shackled Exalted

Emil

Those were some pretty ominous words.

Otto's advice sounded more like a warning. While Liesel's separation from Prince Rory might have been one of the triggers for the ongoing tensions, House Belle themselves haven't done much to escalate hostilities. From Steiger's point of view, they've been fairly reticent. Their Exalted recruitment activities remained consistent nor have they made any drastic moves to consolidate power amongst the elites.

This is despite the fact that Liesel was now available again as a bachelorette.

Emil couldn't imagine how many marriage offers she must have received since her declaration at the Clash of Dawn banquet. Despite the stigma around courting a lady who had her marriage annulled, none of that mattered when it came to securing the Prodigy and an allegiance with the second most powerful house in Ardair.

Maybe Otto wasn't lying when he said that he only cared for his family.

With that being said, his words insinuated that House Belle's passivity was about to change. Emil sighed, exasperated at the potential of House Belle becoming an aggressor in the current political tensions with the royal family. Graf needed to know about this—he must have had a better read on what was happening behind the scenes in Isarelle.

"Something bothering you, Emil?"

The ladylike voice brushed by his ears. The words themselves were elegant and gentle, but the person's tone betrayed a subtle hint of authority.

"You suddenly went quiet. Are you uncomfortable with anything?"

Emil raised an eye at his partner across the table. Liesel wore a pleasant smile that glowed under the morning sun. They were seated in one of the many terraces scattered across the Belle estate. The table between them was filled with a beautiful arrangement of pastries and fruits. A steaming pot of tea rested in the center. A butler and Delilah waited on them from outside the stone terrace.

You're one of the reasons for my headache, Emil thought as he took one of the pastries and tossed it into his mouth. If Liesel hadn't broken up her marriage with Rory, then the landscape of Ardair would be very different now. Instead of being distracted by the power struggle with the elites, Steiger and the royal family could have focused their attention on dealing with Vigil.

She's the daughter of House Belle—there's no way she was oblivious to the consequences of her actions. It was undoubtedly a selfish move. Still, Emil couldn't find the heart to condemn her. Liesel shouldn't be held solely responsible for the current situation. If all it took was the whims of a young lady to upend Ardair's status quo, then perhaps it always meant to collapse.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about the Aurous Festival," he said, hiding his thoughts, "It's happening in a day. It'll be the first major event since the Clash of Dawn where a bunch of people across the kingdom will be gathering in one place."

"You think Vigil might make a move?" she asked, reading between the lines.

Emil nodded. It was hard not to be anxious, especially with the discovery of rare monsters appearing in the Canticle beneath the city. At the end of their discussions, Emil had tried to probe Otto's thoughts on the matter without revealing what he knew. The head of the house didn't seem like he was aware of the monster's emergence.

"Father has been making an effort to work with the Lionhearts despite the ongoing political tensions. So rest assured that security will be better than what the Council of Mana came up with during the Clash of Dawn. If nothing else, I'll make sure that he does his job properly as the governor of Isarelle."

Must be hard having such a wilful daughter. Emil grinned while imagining Otto squirm under Liesel's scolding.

"Leave the worrying to the adults. You should be focused on enjoying yourself. The Aurous Festival spans the entire Arts and Commerce Districts. There's enough to see to occupy you for at least a week," Liesel said excitedly, suddenly procuring a piece of paper from the pockets of her dress, "Here's a list of the attractions and performances that I've noted down. Do visit these if you find yourself overwhelmed by with choice."

Emil glanced at the list. There were at least twenty items present, each accompanied by a short description of their location and what the attraction entailed.

"You won't be joining us?" he asked.

Liesel shook her head. "I have some family stuff that I need to attend to."

Is this related with what Otto was insinuating? Or—

"I know you and Aoife are in a weird spot because of your families," Emil said, deciding to dive straight for the elephant in the room, "But you don't have to keep your distance. Feel free to join us if you're not busy. We're all friends and classmates at the end of the day."

Liesel's eyes widened for a brief instant. She then quickly composed herself, a satisfied smile breaking onto her face.

"Emil, I appreciate the thought, but there are still some things that shouldn't be said out loud."

***

After the tumultuous morning at the Belle estate, Emil made a short stop at the Bank of Ardair to deliver what he heard from Otto to Graf. The Steiger branch leader was noticeably less hostile compared to his attitude during their first meeting. Dark bags clouded beneath his wary eyes. Evidently, he had not slept the entire night, preoccupied with investigating the source that produced the Gutter Slime.

Steiger wasn't able to make much progress. The Canticle needed to be drained of rain water first before they could reach the deeper parts of the underground sewers safely. The possibility that there were more monsters lurking in the depths also necessitated more personnel than normal, especially since a Courier's life had been claimed. Emil let Graf know that he would likely be in the Commerce District in the afternoon before making his way back to the tavern.

After a short nap, he was stirred awake by loud knocking.

"Ready to head out?"

It was Anna. She looked well-rested for once. Her scarlet hair, which was normally unkempt and messy, was done up nicely in twin braids. Being freed from the Academy's rigorous morning lectures finally gave her the time and energy to make herself presentable.

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"It's rare for you to sleep in. The others have already headed out. It's just me waiting on you," she revealed casually.

Why does it feel like those three are deliberately leaving me alone with her?

Emil rolled his eyes at whatever conspiratorial plans that Kai, Charlotte, and Aoife were concocting behind the scenes.

"I didn't sleep in. I spent a rowdy morning at the Belle estate. I'll be ready in a second."

"That was today?" Anna asked, a note of concern in her voice, "Did that wench force you to join her family?"

Emil grinned. Apparently, all those times that those two spent sparring together over the past month hadn't done much to improve their friendship.

"No. There was a bit of drama, but it got sorted out. I have a tentative offer from the head of the house, but I don't plan on giving them an answer just yet."

"Still playing hard to get, I see."

"It's just basic negotiations. You know how it is," Emil said with a shrug before gently pushing Anna out of the room, "Now wait outside so I can change out of these clothes."

Anna rolled her eyes. "Oh please, you speak as if your body has anything notable to see," she mocked as Emil closed the door.

***

The Commerce District of Isarelle was noisy as expected.

Shops and stalls were crammed along the roads. The entire district was like a vast market. The roads and paths were conveniently organized in a grid-like structure, affording plenty of space for merchants and farmers to display their wares. There were streets designated specifically for horses and caravans, and narrower paths meant only for walking on foot. Patrols wearing the House Belle insignia were diligently maintaining order and directing folks to the proper lanes.

While there was still a day left until the Aurous Festival, the Commerce District was already bustling with activity. Not only were there tourists who arrived early like Emil and his friends frolicking around, but there were also merchants and vendors busy trying to set up shop for the oncoming week of festivities. Near the center of the district, there was an open square where a stage was being built to host performances and shows.

Needless to say, it was packed.

Emil marveled at the chaos. He had one eye taking in minute details of the district—and another on Anna who was dancing around the stalls with elation.

"Wow! A set of porcelain handcrafted from the East! And is this piece of fabric procured from the nations to the south? What? This is from overseas?! Do you have proof of its authenticity?"

Questions poured out incessantly, her words nearly slurred, her thoughts apparently too fast for her own mouth to follow. Emil felt sorry for the merchants manning the stalls who were suddenly subjected to an impromptu interrogation. Sometimes I forget that she comes from a merchant family. Anna's eyes were sparkling as she scrutinized all of the items on display.

"Porcelain from the East…it's well-made. Much better quality than the junk from Dannan. This guy is selling it for one gold per piece. That's a steal. The elite class would pay a premium. It looks luxurious, hip, and even rumored to have health benefits. If I can get my hands on a supply line…" Out of nowhere, she produced a piece of paper and penned down some rough calculations before suddenly bombarding the vendor with more questions.

Realizing that this might take awhile, Emil stopped to look around. His nose caught a whiff of oily fat being grilled nearby. His stomach nearly growled at the thought. I could use some meat right now. The grueling match with Sven left his body famished. While the snacks offered at Liesel's tea party were good, Emil wanted something more satiating.

He followed his nose and found a stall that was selling grilled meat. Slices of beef modestly seasoned with salt and a few chunks of roasted onion were skewered on a thin wooden stick atop a pit of charcoal. The smell was mouth-watering.

Unable to resist, Emil immediately ordered two sewers.

Damn.

He almost made an unpleasant noise as his teeth sunk into the meat. Lacquered with marinate, the beef slices melted into his mouth in an explosion of flavors. The lingering smoky fragrance gave the meat a slight accent, while the roasted onion provided a nice sweet contrast that served as a palate cleanser against all the oils. It was an ingenious combination.

Just as he was about to devour the last piece on his skewer, he suddenly found Anna eyeing him with interest.

He turned back to the skewer stall. A long line had suddenly formed while he wasn't looking—nearly all of them stealing glances at him as he ate. Inadvertently, he had somehow ended up marketing for the stall owner's food.

"Can you eat with any less dignity? It's like watching a barbarian," Anna quipped. Emil didn't miss the desire in her eyes as she remained fixated at the untouched skewer in his hand.

"Want it?" he offered.

Anna's eyes lightened up for a moment before quickly composing herself. "As if. But! I suppose, if you insist—"

"Alright, never mind then. I guess I'll just have it myself. Ahhhh…"

"Wait! Wait!" Anna almost lunged at him. Emil raised the untouched skewer just out of her reach, taking full advantage of their height difference.

"What? I thought you weren't interested," he teased.

"Okay, okay! It looks delicious, alright?! I would be extremely grateful if you could offer me one of your skewer!"

***

They retreated to a corner of the block. The area around the skewer stall suddenly grown unbearably crowded thanks to them bickering.

That stall owner better thank me the next time I see him, Emil thought, amused that he had been the cause of the commotion.

Anna was seated beside him while biting greedily into the skewered meat.

"Thoughts?" he asked.

"Absolutely amazing," she mumbled with a mouthful of food.

What happened to eating with dignity? Emil handed her a canteen of water, which she immediately accepted.

"You owe me one then the next time we pass by that stall."

"Yeah, I don't think that's possible now that you've broadcasted to the entire world how amazing the food is. Word spreads fast. That stall is never going to be empty again for the duration of the festival." Anna shot him a disapproving glance. "Next time, try not to be so obvious when you've found a hidden gem."

Emil smirked as he held his arms up to feign a surrender. Without missing a beat, Anna wiped her hands on a napkin and took out the notes that she had been taking on the merchant shops.

"Not bad for a first haul. I found a bunch of potential business ventures and got a sample of the product," she muttered to herself, holding up a broken piece of porcelain glassware that she apparently brought off the vendor for cheap, "I wonder if it's possible for Dannan's industrial district to replicate this…"

Emil stared at her with a mixture of amusement and awe. Most people came to the Aurous Festival to buy trinkets, eat food, and have a great time. Anna apparently came to investigate new business ideas and create connections with the merchants gathered. Despite it sounding like work, she looked as if she was enjoying herself more than the actual tourists. She was a true merchant at heart.

Would I have been just like her if I had been allowed to have a normal childhood?

He felt a pang of envy. His late parents were also merchants before their abrupt death during a business trip. Emil would probably have followed in their footsteps if misfortune hadn't befallen them. In some ways, looking at Anna was like staring at a vision of what his life could have been.

Well, it's not like she doesn't have problems of her own.

From what little Emil knew, Anna had an estranged relationship with her parents who were owners of the Seibert Merchant Company. After a nasty fight, she was forbidden from working and inheriting the company. Unlike most students at the Academy, her goals were straightforward—raise her value as an Exalted, forge connections with the elites, and then use those as leverage to win her position back at her family's business.

It was a very merchant-like way to resolve a family matter.

"I know I look like I'm in my own world, but I can still feel you staring at me," Anna suddenly blurted out, her head still buried in her notes, "You can at least be subtle about it if you're going to judge me."

He chuckled. "Not judging. Just feeling envious."

"Envious? Of what?"

He was about to respond with a joke, but the side of his head suddenly flared with an oppressive pulse. Mana? He stood up, narrowing his eyes down the block. The ambiance in the air suddenly changed. The festive atmosphere turned tense. Tourists and merchants further up the block had their attention drawn to something in the distance. There was a nervous energy in their gaze.

"Emil?"

"Something is wrong," he mumbled, moving closer up the block to see what was happening. Graf's assignment for him to investigate abnormalities came to mind. Before he could tell Anna to stay put, a loud shriek echoed through the air.