// Chapter 4 \\

We were all now in the dining room of the Eastern Court palace. The dining room was unique in its layout: the dome of the place which oversaw the ocean from under its currents. The underwater of the endless sea where shadows of fish jutted through the blue liquid and were clearly visible through the limpid glass. The room was illuminated by golden flames which flickered on white ivory wicks. Those candles jutted from the walls upon golden beams which held up the dome and the clear glass. The golden light mixed with the blue, illuminant atmosphere of the water beyond the glass, creating a cyan lighting that shone down on the checkered black gold floor beneath. There is where we all sat around a large white marble and circular table. Tropical foods of every variety and color sat atop it, filling the golden plates that sat in front of each individual at the table.

I glanced to my left where Hongjoong ate in silence. His grey eyes were illuminated a more saturated blue as he took a humble bite of an aquatic delicacy. He moved a hand up to brush the auburn locks— which had more of a dark purple tint— out of his face before he glanced up to my gaze. He quickly retracted his eyes back down to his plate of food with a nod, bringing his attention back to his food.

To my right was Yeosang, who'd had a joyous conversation with me as our dinner was being served. It seemed like the grudge he'd held since the storm had washed away, almost like it had never been there in the first place. I would've been annoyed with the fact if I hadn't known it to be Yeosang's nature. I did grow up with him, after all. Even if we didn't speak for a time when he left to become High Monarch of the Spring Court. Bringing my gaze over to his lavender tinted hair, I saw him carrying a conversation with his Captain of the Guard.

Theron was sitting next to Yeosang's right, his usual smile upon his face as he gave an assuring nod to something Yeosang had said. His bronze eyes never looked over to me as he kept them glued to Yeosang's. Despite this, I knew that he knew well of me watching him. Perhaps that's how I still felt slightly uneased, even when he wasn't watching me. Like Yeosang, he was observant. Too observant.

I looked across the table, diagonal to me, where a recognizable figure sat. Recognizable, yet not well acquainted with. His name was Como Cairior. I knew this Captain of the Guard from the more recent visits to the Eastern Court. The man had barely touched his plate of food, rather, he hadn't eaten a morsel. Perhaps that was why his figure within the blue and gold suit had a more slim frame, yet it still seemed well built. He had his gloved white hands rest on either side of his plate on the table, strong hands gently folded. His lush black hair curled, as if it was touched by the sea and the winds of its current. It fell over his face, almost hiding one of his pale blue eyes which matched the colored streaks in his hair. His neck— gills on either side— craned as he tilted his head to where I viewed his strong profile. The sharp features of his face were bold in the lighting as he took an interest into the conversation being held by the two women beside him. Those two women being Leeyon and Heeyoung. I decided to let my attention drift to them as well.

"He is a rather.. strapping fellow." Leeyon quickly took a sip of her sparkling emerald green drink before she pursed her lips together.

"Oh really?" Heeyoung drew out as she raised her brows in an amused manner. Her arm was over on the table as she leaned in, resting her head upon it as her red eyes glimmered.

Leeyon gave a knowing look to the Monarch, her slits of her eyes widening with a small chuckle. She calmed herself with a sigh as she tapped her hands on the table, "Yes. Mingi... Eleven seas and above, I never expected him to really... grab my attention the way he did."

"Well I wouldn't see why not. Of course, I am not close with Mingi, but his charming nature is evident. Especially when it comes to such a fair lady," Heeyoung was practically giddy in her seat.

To think she hadn't been good friends with Leeyon beforehand was almost absurd. She seemed to illuminate at the talk of courtship between Leeyon and Mingi. Perhaps she wished the same for herself and Jongho, as if the bond between them wasn't evident enough. Or perhaps she was the same romantic she was as when we were kids. I could've chuckled at the memory, but I didn't. I let a small smile satisfy the thought as I tilted my head.

Leeyon let a prideful smirk cross her face, though her flustered demeanor was evident as she swiftly picked up her drink to down what was more than a sip. She set her glass on the table with a bit of a loud thud. She spread her arms out to either side of her as she lightly raised her eyebrows to Heeyoung, "The Serpent attracting a Monarch of the monumentous Dusk Court?"

Heeyoung gave a deep, curt nod as she spoke in a regal voice, "High Monarch of the Eastern Court, Ray— The Serpent of the eleven seas and above— and whom I'd say is now my dear friend, Leeyon— has indeed been bonded to a Monarch to the Dusk Court, who is also one of the selected few competing for the rank of High Monarch."

Leeyon nodded along at Heeyoung's words with a chuckle before she raised her glass to Heeyoung, "That's something I'll raise my glass to."

Heeyoung laughed in agreement before she sat straight and raised her glass to Leeyon's. The two of them laughed at this.

"It's good to see you in good spirits regarding your courtship, Leeyon," I commented with my small smile growing wider on my face.

The woman's eyes were illuminated a spectacular green as they looked over to me. There was a bit of surprise there before it was batted away with a blink of an eyelash. Her white lips spread into a smile, "Thank you, Star."

"Your bond will unite the two of your Courts," Yeosang spoke, "I feel it will be a strong and thriving bond."

I glanced to my right to find Yeosang oddly closer than what he seemed before. I didn't pay much mind as I faced Leeyon once more with a smile.

Leeyon nodded to this with a smile as she grew heated in the face once more. She calmed herself before replying with another thank you.

"High Monarch, Ray!" A voice called out in desperation, bringing the conversation in the room to a halt. My frown came before the one the voice had implied. Leeyon furrowed her brows slightly as her eyes landed on the servant who had entered the room. Their figure wavered but spoke firmly, "There is a matter you must come to attend to."

Leeyon's frown deepened as she leaned back in the chair, finally sparing a glance to the pale blue eyes that had been watching her this entire time.

"Como will deal with the matter and report back to me," Leeyon simply stated, not sparing the servant another glance, who shifted in unease.

Como looked to his High Monarch for another moment before he rose from his seat and took strong strides towards the entryway to the dome, where the servant stood. The servant bowed before leading him out of the room. Conversation then picked up as normal, but I still found myself looking after them. Even after they disappeared down the hall, I couldn't find myself interested in anything brought up about the table.

Then, suddenly, a spark of something ignited in me. I gasped quietly at the feeling. It was almost as if a missing puzzle piece was here. My eyes widened, brows furrowed, as my gaze fell to the floor as I tried to comprehend this feeling. It was so familiar, comforting, yet almost undeniably unknown all the same. I tried to pinpoint its origin through my memories but all of what I sought was denied to be known. Night, if only I could—

"Star?"

I immediately perked up to the mention of my name as my gaze swiveled over to be met with Yeosang's turquoise eyes which were quite close to mine. A small smirk played on his face as his eyes twinkled. This was nothing like the Yeosang from mere hours ago. Instead of a gaze as hard as stone it was one... of affection?

I shifted back slightly as I gave an unsure smile, "Um, yes?"

"I was just asking if you remembered the time Hongjoong and I both sailed here in the Eastern Court during that storm?" Yeosang rose a brow before taking a sip of his honey wine.

The time when we were kids and the two had left some time in the night. The Eastern Court monarch had even reported to me on the incident. No one had expected kids of a foreign Court to take sail on the endless sea during one of the many tragic storms that take siege upon the endless plane. Of course we weren't ordinary kids. At least, at the time, I wasn't. We were teenagers, practically. I still remembered the sheer emotion I'd felt when I was taken up to one of the docs, watching as the storm raged in the distance. The waves were erratic and choppy, like mountains if they were to dance among a dark horizon. Of course, the only way those waves were illuminated was by the amount of lighting which struck down at the waters with flashes over flashes of those white hazardous branches. I'd fallen to my knees at the known fact my two best friends were stuck in the middle of that storm. To think one of them was sitting before me right now with a smirk on his face as he recalled it.

"You still never told me why you and Hongjoong got into that mess," I stated as my response with a frown as I looked at Yeosang.

"And why would you even bring that up?" Hongjoong spoke softly yet accusatory to the antlered man. Causing me to glance back to his grey and blue eyes, filled with a strong passionate emotion that had me immediately looking back to Yeosang.

Yeosang took another sip of his wine, smirk never faltering, "Isn't it alright for a group of friends to recall some memories of their childhood?"

"After today's incident?" Hongjoong whispered as he leaned over to Yeosang, crossing my space. I felt the breath of his words fan the left side of my face. Yeosang inclined his head in a bit as well. I backed up in my chair, not wishing to speak up about how the two literally leaned over my chair after the mention at my stunt from earlier.

"Do you propose we ignore it?" Yeosang questioned in a low whisper as well. The others couldn't hear it, however, I was more than able to hear it just fine at the proximity we shared.

"Yes, in fact, I think we should," Hongjoong let his nose scrunch slightly as the two shared a seemingly unnoticeable glare.

I scooted my chair away from the table— away from them and quickly stood with a sigh. This caused the two to look up at me. Our eyes met again before I cleared my throat and gazed up to see I'd attracted the attention of the rest of the table. I quickly diverted their gaze with a bow.

"If you'll excuse me," My awkward and shaky voice spoke before I turned on my heel and made my way into the hall, away from the dining room.

I glided down the hall, taking the memorable twists and turns of the palace I remembered from my many visits here. I was swift in my actions and movement, finding myself stiff from my mind replaying the incident of a few moments ago. I was so caught up in it, I didn't mind being aware. I turned into another hall only to have my head smack right against something. A brush of a nose met mine before I heard an irritated tsk, the breath of it meeting my lips not too long after. I backed away as my hand found my now stinging forehead and my eyes met the pale blue ones of the figure I'd run into. Como stood before me, his eyes level to mine with a glare.

"Night," I breathed as I shook my head, "I— I'm so sorry."

"No need," Como spoke, yet his voice didn't seem to have any hint in accepting my apology. His eyes narrowed slightly towards me before the suspicious look was blinked away, "Just watch where you're going next time."

With that, he turned the corner and stalked down the hall from where I came from. My lips parted as I watched him go. A High Monarch would have his head for saying that. However, I simply allowed my eyes to roll and continue on my original path.

Well if that wasn't rude.

I'll be collecting the title of simp character creator now 💅

But fr you would not believe half the plot I conjured from writing this chapter.

REMEMBER:​​​​​​

1. Smack dat butiful star

2. Leave a comment talkin abt dis tea

3. Share dis tea induced book with yo fwends

WHY? Because I appreciate it 🥺

\\ Next chapter A-THISAWAY- \\