39 - Protective
The Vernon estate was unusually loud that evening.
Normally, dinner in the grand hall followed a predictable rhythm-silverware clinking softly, servants moving silently between tables, and calm conversation flowing among the members of House Vernon.
Tonight was different.
The moment Grand Duchess Darelene and Mariana arrived, the entire household immediately sensed something had happened. Servants hurried to open the tall doors of the dining hall just as the last rays of sunset bled through the high windows. The enormous table was already set for dinner.
Grand Duke Maximus sat at the head of the table.
His massive frame alone made the chair seem smaller.
Broad shoulders, silver hair tied loosely behind his back, and the quiet presence of a warrior who had spent decades commanding armies.
Beside him sat the Vernon sons. Eirwen, the eldest, calm and dignified.
Aguerico, restless and sharp-eyed. Alistair, quiet and observant as always.
The moment Darelene entered with Mariana, Maximus immediately noticed something was wrong. His brows furrowed. "Darelene." His voice rumbled like distant thunder. "What happened?"
Darelene didn't even sit down first. She walked straight to the table. Her expression was perfectly composed-but there was a cold edge beneath it. "The Luminaris Chapel attempted to take Mariana today."
Silence fell. Absolute silence.
Then-
"What?" Maximus's chair scraped violently against the floor as he stood. The entire table shook slightly from the force. "Explain."
His voice was no longer calm. It was the voice of a man who had commanded battlefields. Darelene calmly recounted the events. The modiste.
The arrival of the Holy Knights. Their demand that Mariana accompany them to the chapel. The Pope's sudden appearance in the city. And the thinly veiled attempt to escort her by force. The temperature in the room seemed to drop with every word.
By the time she finished, Maximus's hand had already gripped the sword resting beside his chair. The blade slid halfway out of its sheath with a metallic whisper. "Those arrogant priests." His eyes burned with fury. "They dare come to Forebros and lay hands on my daughter?"
Across the table, Aguerico shot to his feet as well. Unlike his father's controlled rage, Aguerico's anger was explosive.
"Say the word, Father." His hand was already reaching for the weapon strapped to his belt. "I'll ride to that chapel tonight." A sharp metallic ring echoed as his blade shifted in its sheath. "Those holy dogs need a reminder whose territory they're standing in."
Mariana stiffened in her seat.
Oh no, not this again!
The Vernon family... was extremely protective. Violently protective.
Meanwhile, Alistair's older twin brother Aguerico looked ready to start a holy war before dessert.
Maximus fully unsheathed his sword now. The steel gleamed under the candlelight. "I should have marched to the chapel the moment they entered the city." His voice was cold. "If they think they can threaten my daughter-"
"Maximus." Darelene's voice cut through the hall like a blade. The Grand Duke stopped. Slowly. His wife looked at him calmly. "Sit down."
The command was simple. But coming from Darelene, it carried authority. Maximus exhaled sharply. His jaw clenched. But he slowly pushed the sword back into its sheath.
Meanwhile-
Aguerico was still practically vibrating with rage. "We can't just ignore this!" he snapped. "That temple thinks it can walk into Forebros and take our sister like she's some offering!"
Before the situation escalated further, another voice spoke. "Aguerico." Eirwen. The eldest son hadn't raised his voice. But there was quiet authority in it. Aguerico paused.
Eirwen leaned back slightly in his chair. His crimson eyes were calm. "Sit down."
Aguerico scowled. "They tried to abduct Mariana."
"Yes."
"And you want me to-"
"Sit."
Aguerico glared at him. Then finally dropped back into his chair with an irritated huff.
Meanwhile-
Mariana sat quietly in her seat. Her back straight. Her hands folded neatly in her lap. She had not spoken once during the entire discussion. And she did not intend to.
Her mind was exhausted. Holy Knights. The Pope. Zafiel's sudden engagement declaration. Her brain had officially reached its daily limit. So instead, she stared quietly at her untouched dessert plate.
Strawberry cake. Normally, she loved strawberry cake. But right now even that felt distant. Across the table, Alistair noticed. He had been quiet during the entire discussion. Watching. Observing.
While the rest of the family argued about war with the Temple, he simply reached over. Then slid his own dessert plate toward Mariana. A perfect slice of strawberry cake. Fresh cream. Bright red strawberries. Mariana blinked. She slowly looked up.
Alistair met her gaze. His expression was calm. "Eat." His voice was soft. "You look like you're about to faint."
Mariana stared at the cake. Then back at him. "You didn't eat yours yet."
"I can get another." His tone was simple. No fuss. No dramatic concern. Just quiet practicality.
The small gesture felt strangely grounding. Mariana hesitated. Then slowly picked up her fork. "... thank you, brother."
She took a small bite. Sweet. Light. Comforting. Some of the tension in her chest eased slightly. Across the table, Alistair watched her carefully. Then nodded once. Satisfied.
Meanwhile-
Maximus was still fuming. "They should consider themselves lucky the Crown Prince was present." He crossed his arms. "If those knights had tried anything inside my territory-"
"They didn't," Darelene interrupted calmly. "And the matter has already been handled."
Maximus grunted. "Yes." His gaze shifted toward Mariana. "Because of him."
The Crown Prince. The man who had threatened the Temple with war.
Aguerico scoffed slightly. "That bastard." Darelene shot him a warning look. Aguerico rolled his eyes. "Fine. The Crown Prince." But his irritation remained obvious.
Eirwen leaned forward slightly. "What exactly did His Imperial Highness do?"
Darelene paused briefly. Then answered. "He declared that Mariana is his fiancée."
The room went silent again. Mariana froze mid-bite.
Oh no. Not this conversation too...!
Maximus slowly turned his head toward his daughter. "... he said what?"
Aguerico nearly choked on his drink. "HE WHAT?!"
Eirwen raised an eyebrow. Alistair, surprisingly, looked the least shocked. Mariana slowly set down her fork.
Her shoulders stiff. "... it was a political maneuver." She said quietly.
Maximus leaned forward. "Was it?" His gaze sharpened.
Mariana avoided eye contact.
Please don't ask more questions... Please...
Aguerico slammed his palm on the table. "That snake is trying to claim her!"
Darelene sighed. "Yes, exactly."
Mariana took another bite of cake. Very slowly. If she kept eating maybe no one would talk to her.
Unfortunately, Aguerico leaned forward. "Mariana."
She froze. "... yes?"
His eyes narrowed. "Do you want to marry that man?"
Mariana's brain immediately screamed.
NO ,ABSOLUTELY NOT. NEVER!
But aloud, she remained silent. Because answering that question honestly could create an entirely new political disaster.
Across the table, Alistair quietly slid the rest of the cake closer to her. A silent message. Focus on the cake. Not the interrogation. Mariana gratefully obeyed.
And in the midst of a tense political discussion about temples, wars, and imperial engagements, the Grand Princess of Forebros calmly ate strawberry cake.