Page 15 of A Heart Disguised 1

“Excellent!” Ignis beamed. “This is going to be quite the spectacle. The Shadow Duke wed to a human noble—the other lords will be talking about this for centuries!” He stretched his impressive frame, his eyes glinting with mischief. “Now, I think I’ll take a stroll through your domain, old friend. It’s been too long since I’ve visited this part of our fair realm.”

Darius raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “If you’re planning on venturing beyond the keep, you’d do well to temper your appearance, Ignis. The citizens of Lunaria are accustomed to my presence, but your fiery visage might be a bit… overwhelming for them.”

Ignis laughed, the sound reminiscent of crackling flames. “Ah, where’s the fun in that? But very well, I’ll dim my radiance a touch. Wouldn’t want to outshine you in your own duchy, now would I?”

“Speaking of which,” Darius said, rising from his chair, “I trust you didn’t make this journey alone? A grand duke such as yourself must have brought an entourage.”

“Sharp as ever, my friend.” Ignis grinned. “Indeed, I brought a small retinue with me. They await outside your keep, not wishing to overwhelm your household all at once.”

Darius nodded, already mentally rearranging the castle’s accommodations. “I’ll have my butler prepare suitable quarters for you and your escort in the east wing. It should provide ample privacy and space for your needs.”

“Always so hospitable,” Ignis said with a mock bow. “Well, I’ll leave you to your preparations, then. I’m sure you have much to attend to, what with a wedding on the horizon and all.”

As Ignis swept out of the room, his booming laughter echoing down the hallway, Darius moved to pull a velvet cord near the fireplace. Within moments, a soft knock at the door announced the arrival of his butler.

Clarence entered with a bow, his movements speaking of years of service within these stone walls, long before Darius had claimed the castle as his own. “Your Grace,” the elderly human said, “how may I be of service?”

Darius regarded him for a moment, noting the man’s composure in the face of his demonic presence. It was… admirable, in its way. “Clarence,” he addressed the butler, “arrange suitable accommodations for the Grand Duke of Solarys and his retinue in the east wing. Ensure they have everything they need—and more. Ignis has expensive tastes.”

“Of course, Your Grace,” Clarence replied with another bow. “I’ll see to it immediately. Is there anything else you require?”

Darius waved a hand in dismissal. “That will be all for now.”

As Clarence quietly exited the room, Darius allowed himself a moment of silence. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and reached out with his magic. He felt the familiar tingle as his consciousness split, connecting with the five birds he had sent to observe his intended. These living creatures, once ordinary birds, were now extensions of his will. The magic he had imbued them with allowed him to see through their eyes and hear through their ears, transforming them into the perfect spies.

As his consciousness spread, Darius felt the unique presence of each bird—the raven, hawk, dove, magpie, and starling. Their individual traits and perspectives melded into a comprehensive network of surveillance. It was time to see what his feathered agents had uncovered about Lord Aldercrest’s daughter, the young noble who was to be his bride.

Through the eyes of the raven, its feathers as black as the deepest night, Darius saw an aerial view of the Aethorian countryside. Lush forests gave way to rolling hills, dotted with small villages and winding roads. The raven’s keen eyes picked out the glint of armor—the escort party, no doubt.

Switching his focus, Darius connected with the hawk. Its vision was sharp, almost painfully so, every detail crisp and clear. He saw the escort team in full now: a dozen armored guards flanking ornate carriages. The hawk circled lower, and Darius caught glimpses of the occupants through the windows. A plump, middle-aged woman with a kind face—likely a nursemaid or chaperone. A man of similar age, perhaps her husband. And there, just for a moment, a flash of blond hair.

The dove offered a gentler perspective as it flew alongside the procession. Its snow-white feathers caught the light, creating an almost ethereal effect. Through its eyes, Darius saw the way the guards relaxed slightly as they passed through a peaceful meadow, their hands moving away from their weapons.

The magpie darted between trees, its black and white wings flashing in the dappled sunlight. It provided tantalizing glimpses of the road ahead, scouting for any potential dangers. So far, the journey seemed uneventful.

But it was the starling’s view that truly captured Darius’ attention. Its iridescent feathers shimmered as it followed the procession closely. As the carriages came to a stop for a rest, the starling’s gaze fixed on a figure moving away from the group.

Darius leaned forward in his chair, his physical body responding to his magical focus. Through the starling’s eyes, he spotted a slender figure emerging from the carriage, clad in an elegant gown that seemed at odds with their furtive movements.

The figure—presumably Lord Aldercrest’s daughter—emerged from the carriage with all the stealth of a bull in a china shop. She glanced around suspiciously, her head swiveling so dramatically that Darius half expected it to spin clean off her shoulders. Her movements reminded him less of a noblewoman and more of a pantomime villain about to commit a dastardly deed.

At her side, a large hound trotted faithfully, tail wagging. The dog seemed far more at ease than its mistress, occasionally looking up at her with what Darius could swear was canine exasperation.

The young woman took a few tentative steps, clearly struggling with the voluminous skirts of her gown. She lifted the fabric as if it were a live serpent, her face a comical mix of determination and disgust. At one point, she nearly tripped over her own feet, catching herself at the last moment with a graceless hop that sent her teetering like a drunken acrobat.

The dog, apparently deciding his mistress needed help, grabbed a mouthful of her skirts and began tugging, as if to guide her. This well-intentioned assistance resulted in abrief, undignified tug-of-war that ended with the young woman stumbling forward, arms pinwheeling wildly.

As she regained her balance, she attempted to smooth her hair and regain some semblance of dignity. However, this effort was promptly undermined when she stepped on the hem of her gown and let out a squeak that sounded more befitting a mouse than a noblewoman.

Darius found himself chuckling, a sound that startled him as much as it would have startled anyone who knew him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been genuinely amused by a human’s antics. Baffled by his own reaction, he shook off the feeling and focused once more on the scene before him, curious to see what other entertaining mishaps awaited this clumsy bride-to-be.

The young woman continued her comical escape attempt, ducking behind trees and peeking around corners as if she were on some grand espionage mission rather than a simple trip to the stream. When she finally reached the water’s edge, she let out a sigh of relief so exaggerated that Darius could practically feel it through the starling’s senses.

As she began to unlace her gown, Darius immediately directed the starling to turn away. Regardless of his curiosity, he was not about to invade the privacy of his future bride in such a manner. The bird obediently flew to a nearby tree, its back to the stream.

Moments later, a commotion broke the peaceful scene. A wild hawk appeared, diving toward the starling with talons extended. Darius felt a jolt of pain as his spy plummeted toward the riverbank, its vision blurring.

Through the bird’s dazed eyes, Darius saw a figure approaching—his bride, freshly bathed and clad only in wet undergarments. As the figure knelt beside the injured starling, Darius’ breath caught in his throat.

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