Page 54 of The Kingdom of Flames

“I must attend to myself, my lord.” Celestine went to rise, but Tristien grabbed her wrist. His blue eyes flashed, then softened. His grip loosened, taking her hand and kissing it.

“Of course, my love. Just ask.” Tristien snapped his fingers, and a servant came forth. “Have a lady escort Lady Celestine to the powder room.”

“At once, Lord Solis.”

He did not nod nor thank the servant. Celestine felt the wine flow and followed the servant out of the hall while others ran past, carrying the next course.

“This way, my lady.” A female attendant came forward and escorted her to a powder room. The raucous ballroom behind her finally ceased its loud assault, and she heard her own footsteps. As they walked out into the hallway, Celestine heard something and turned.

A servant spread her hands on the table, bent over and heaving. Celestine saw a nobleman behind her, ravaging her with his lust. The serving girl looked neither shocked nor in rapture. For a brief moment, their eyes met.

Two other noblemen standing on either side, sifters of dark liquor in their crystal glass, watching with feigned interest. The door shut as she passed.

“What is happening in there?” Celestine asked.

The attendant turned, seeing the shutting door, and her face turned from confusion to complacency.

“Lust comes with the wine, my lady. She is serving him willingly, I assure you. All do.”

Celestine kept walking. A bit tipsier than she had been earlier today, but… something seemed wrong.

They were standing around, watching her being bred like a prize mare. Like noblemen trying out a new saddle and tack.

Once she came from the powder room, the door was still closed. She walked back into the hallway towards the raucous goings-on inside.

She floated on air the rest of the evening, sitting next to Tristien. He knew when to speak and when to listen. Everyone fought for his attention, even the most experienced noblemen and women. The servants always smiled when near him.

Towards the middle of the dinner, he placed his hand on her thigh. Tristien leaned over to catch her ear.

“If it were up to me, we would end the evening now.”

“Is that so?” Celestine smiled, caught up in the merriment.

Tristien’s beautiful young face nodded down, and she looked to his thigh, where his arousal slid thickly along his silver trousers.

“It’s agonizing, to sit next to your beauty.”

Celestine blushed, looking up. He hardens for me, just me sitting here. The lust of these gods will be the death of me.

When she tried to think of Encarmine he seemed far away, even in her mind.

The powers of these Seasons are like each realm is its own universe. I was a pining heartbroken girl this morning, now I am doted upon, and this strange magic makes me a heartless shrew.

“Not before my elaborate gift,” Celestine laughed. Then she slid her hand across his muscled thigh, down, feeling him. It was so thick.

Laughter rang out as a bawdy joke was made. A nobleman tugged his wife’s dress down, freeing a single breast, which she cackled at and covered while bringing her dress up.

“A lively court you have, Tristien.”

Tristien sat back, surveying his people and realm, a table that sat some hundred, attended to by nearly twice that. Celestine saw the servant in the room with the three noblemen, walking and smiling, chatting with another servant.

She looks in good spirits. Or is it a mask?

Tristien stared down at the table of guests. “Nobility acts with vulgarity to enjoy themselves. The yeoman and bonded laborer treat themselves to morsels of luxury. It’s funny how one side of the wheel seeks to imitate the other.”

“Perhaps we seek to enjoy that which we are not, or do not know?” Celestine sat back, watching the party with him.

Tristien reached out, holding her hand on the arms of their dining chairs for all to see. She left it there, a little drunk, gay, and merry from the feast and dining.

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