Of Velour And Thorn

He listened intently as she spoke. The Isvalen Empire, she explained, stretched across much of the northern lands—its heart nestled in the cooler regions, surrounded by rugged mountain terrains, with a few southern stretches warmed by gentler seasons.

Her voice carried both pride and responsibility, painting a picture of a land shaped by resilience and grace.

The royal family held the core of the empire’s power, but it wasn’t absolute. Two dukes ruled over semi-autonomous regions—each commanding their own armies and their own underlying loyalties. The balance between them and the throne was delicate, maintained through tradition, diplomacy and the royal family's strength yet it was still evident that the axis around which the empire spun was the Isvalen Royal family. Izana understood the general state of her empire. The royal family remained optimistic about the upcoming peace talks, but he knew all too well that if the dukes had other intentions, trouble was inevitable. As they walked through the garden, each member of the group gradually drifted into their own thoughts, lost in quiet reflection.

After a while, they arrived at a small, cozy eatery and settled in for a light snack.

Soon after, the group made their way back to the palace.

“I’ve long heard of the Emberstone Market, Prince Izana,” Nyra said, slowly easing the conversation back to life. “Would you like to visit it, Princess?” he asked gently.

Nyra smiled. “Or is Prince Izana keeping secrets there?”

“How can the princess be so sure there weren’t any secrets hidden in the Moonveil Garden?” His ash-grey eyes sparkled with quiet amusement. He gestured to Jade, calling him forward. “Would you like to share some more secrets with her?”

Jade pouted at him with exaggerated innocence, and Izana shook his head, clearly used to his antics.

“We’ll visit it tomorrow, Princess,” he said with quiet resolve. “Jade will accompany you for a tour of the palace.” His tone shifted slightly, more serious now. “I have some work to attend to,” he added, offering a polite nod as he excused himself. Nyra saw him leaving. For reasons unknown, the sight of his back filled her with a strange, aching longing. Jade snapped his fingers in front of her face, pulling her back to the present.

"Princess Nyra," he said with a smile, "I'm honored to be your guide for the day."

He glanced at the knights behind them. "Are they accompanying us too?"

Nyra selected two from the eight; the rest departed to their quarters.

The palace was regal, but never ostentatious—its spires soared, crowned with domes of pale stone and burnished metal. Several grand courtyards graced its heart, each a marvel, but none so breathtaking as the Moonrise Courtyard. Vast and marble-paved, it was bordered by slender colonnades draped in moonflower vines. Two white peacocks strolled there with the dignity of old souls. Izana used to walk here after dusk. It had been the Queen’s favorite place, once. There was the Hall of Briar and Velour, the throne hall—adorned with golden-rimmed tapestries, softly glowing chandeliers, and a floor patterned like a blooming rose. Delicate carvings traced the exquisite skywalks and inner balconies. The East Solarium, connected to what were once the Queen’s private quarters, was a glass-walled haven bathed in sunlight and overgrown with vibrant flora. Now it was mostly quiet, a place where the royal family gathered only occasionally, in shadowed remembrance. Beyond the public halls lay the private wings. Some were kept for visiting dignitaries, others reserved for the princes—each suite distinct, tucked away behind veils of stone and silence.

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Nyra gazed at the peacock as he gracefully unfurled his feathers—ivory brushed with red, a striking, ethereal contrast.

"He looks gorgeous," she murmured.

"Myrr," Jade said softly. "His name is Myrr. My mother was gifted a pair of peacocks. They died not long after she passed... he's their only offspring."

He glanced around the courtyard. "There's another—Caelum. He's probably wandering nearby.

Nyra turned to look at him.

Sorrow clouded his gaze—not sharp, but soft, like mist clinging to old glass. He looked at the peacock, but his eyes seemed fixed on something far beyond it, a memory blurred by time.

Silence stretched between them—not heavy, not awkward, but gentle. A quiet space where grief was acknowledged without needing to be named.

"My condolences," she whispered.

Jade stepped forward, his voice softer than usual, yet warm. "Izana is the spitting image of our mother," he said, a faint, wistful smile tugging at his lips.

"Father Emperor loves him the most," Jade continued, his tone calm—devoid of envy, just truth.

Nyra studied him for a moment. "From what I see," she said gently, "you are very beloved too."

He grinned, shrugging off the weight of the moment. "Well, of course, Princess Nyra. I'm the youngest. The jewel of the kingdom," he laughed, the sparkle returning to his voice.

Nyra smiled softly. The bond between the brothers was evident—woven with warmth, teasing, and something unspoken beneath.

Then Jade leaned in slightly, voice lowering as if sharing something forbidden.

"There's a little secret, Princess Nyra."

Her eyes narrowed with curiosity. "What is it?"

"Day after tomorrow," he said, eyes squinting with mischief as he smiled,

"—there’s going to be a ball."

They both nodded, as if silently agreeing on something unspoken.

"Alright, we've reached your room," Jade said with a gentle smile. "You can rest now—we’ll see each other again at dinner."

He stepped aside, giving her space to move forward.

"It was my pleasure to act as your guide today," he added, offering a graceful bow.

"The pleasure is all mine," Nyra replied, mirroring his gesture with a smile of her own.

Nyra could see now that the palace, for all its grandeur, felt strikingly homely—unlike the other royal households she’d encountered. There was no coldness here, no stark divide between public masks and private truths. It was warm, lived-in, human.

It would have been even more beautiful, she thought, if the Queen were still alive.