"Ah, so it's Your Highness Tales and Miss Hilaire..."
Inside the Iris District's famous old theater, the Tidal Theater, a richly dressed patron excitedly approached a box on the second floor, only to be stopped by both Wyatt and the Vigilant Officer Carquere. He could only raise his voice as high as possible to draw the attention of the two distinguished guests inside.
"I was too far away just now, so forgive my poor eyes for not recognizing you. But from a distance—ah, you really do make a perfect couple!"
No wonder he hadn't recognized them—their conversation interrupted, Tales responded politely on the surface while sighing listlessly inwardly. Could he really not see all the security personnel stationed throughout the theater, inside and out, layer upon layer?
Soon, Marius politely escorted the bold patron out of the box. He returned to an ordinary seat on the first floor and, while watching the play, regaled everyone with the extraordinary tale of how "the Prince and I chatted merrily," basking in their admiration and envy.
Hilaire, by contrast, remained completely undisturbed. She watched the play with great enjoyment, applauding or laughing from time to time, giving the theater owner plenty of face.
On the third day of the Emerald Celebration, one of the traditional activities at the Empty Palace was the "Noble Lords' Procession."
It was said that after the "southerner" Hyman married Miss Regina, the Eight Fingers King and Duke Coke stayed at court to entertain guests from every corner of the kingdom, while the newlyweds went out on procession together to inspect the people's circumstances, rewarding good and punishing evil, helping the poor and rescuing those in danger wherever they went.
Thus, on this day every year, the Duke of Iris had to reenact the glorious deeds of those two