In the banquet hall, two servants dragged the knight's wife out by her arms, her skirts trailing across the floor in a sorry spectacle.
The little disturbance actually set the stagnant atmosphere flowing again.
The conductor in the corner glanced at Hubert, the steward. Only after receiving his approval did he raise a hand and signal the musicians to switch to a light, cheerful tune.
The lute sounded again, its melody lively and lilting this time, like birds in the woods.
Veylin looked around, meeting gazes filled with either envy or awe.
Veylin wiped his hands with a napkin and raised his glass toward Diana.
"All right, all right, it's only a gift. Let's get on with the banquet."
His tone was casual, but the indigo glow of the Tide Sage on the table made his words sound like boasting instead.
The atmosphere around the long table grew rather strange.
The nobles stopped whispering among themselves. Many simply cut the food on their plates in silence, their minds entirely elsewhere.
Philip and Valerius were left out in the cold.
In the face of overwhelming power, their earlier words and posturing seemed like a clumsy clown show.
Now every gaze clung to Veylin, filled with curiosity and awe.
If even this man's pet could obtain such a treasure, just how wealthy were he and the Gray Marsh Fief behind him?
Diana looked at the pearl, then at the man beside her.
From the three thousand Gold Suns that afternoon to this oceanic marvel now, she felt as though she were dreaming.
In less than a year, he had already risen this far.
She suddenly remembered the marriage contract she had torn up with her own hands, and conflicting emotions flooded her heart.
Just as Diana's thoughts began to wander, Veylin spoke.