Eventually, the event began winding down and a few guests had begun departing in small groups.

As guests made their way toward the front of the mansion, where cars were being brought around, the only thing on their lips was the announcement.

Ethan, Hayley, and Isabella stepped outside together, but the moment they crossed the entrance, Hayley pulled ahead.

She quickened her pace without a word, offering only a lazy wave as she left them behind.

"Is she alright?" Isabella asked, staring at Hayley who left weird.

"I’m unsure" Ethan said with a concerned look. That definitely seemed weird.

With that they both continued towards his own ride.

Right then, Beatrice arrived at the very spot they had just left, slowing down her steps as her gaze settled ahead.

She watched as Ethan opened the passenger door for Isabella, waited for her to get in, then moved around the car toward the driver’s seat.

A frown formed on her face.

She hated that she had been stalking him for most of the night. Hated it even more now that she had stopped to watch.

And yet, she couldn’t stop herself.

She shook her head, trying to dismiss it, but the heat in her face wouldn’t fade.

As Beatrice made her way back toward the house, with her face lowered and her thoughts elsewhere, she nearly crossed paths with Wilson coming from the opposite direction.

But she didn’t stop nor glance up.

Whether it was distraction or simple indifference, she passed him without so much as acknowledging his presence.

Wilson, for his part, had known she was at the gathering. He simply hadn’t bothered to seek her out.

As they passed, his gaze drifted past her and caught sight of Ethan in the distance just as he reached his car.

Then his eyes returned to Beatrice... noting the direction she had come from.

He sighed, shook his head, and kept walking.

Moments later, he was gone into the night, blending into the steady flow of departing guests.

—

The fire crackled softly in the hearth, giving a warm amber light to the walls of the room.

Lady Audrey stood before it with a glass of wine in hand, staring at the dancing flames as she took a sip.

Then, the door opened from and footsteps crossed the threshold as the voice of Alistair came forth "Well, that was quite the announcement."

Audrey smiled, although maintained her position without turning.

Alistair moved toward the cabinet and poured himself a drink, then came to stand beside her, facing the fire as she did.

"Mm," he drank. There was this comfortable silence that held for a moment.

"The Stark boy," Alistair began, without quite making it a question. "You spoke with him tonight. I saw you both step in here."

Audrey turned the glass slowly in her fingers. "We had a good conversation," she said, without elaborating more than that.

Alistair waited on more but she did not continue.

"That’s all you’ll give me?" he asked, with a trace of amusement.

"For now," she said simply. "He is interesting. And I would like to see how he moves next before I decide anything further."

Alistair looked at her a moment longer, then let it go, returning his gaze to the fire.

It was Audrey who broke the quiet next. "I saw one of your sisters tonight," she said. "What was her name again... ah yes, Isabella."

Alistair glanced at her. "Hm?.. I didn’t even realize she was here."

"She arrived with the young Stark." Audrey quickly replied which made Alistair pause for a second with the glass remaining still on his lips.

Then he drank slowly, and lowered it again. "Strange," he said.

"Now I think about it, I haven’t seen her in months, but then again, that’s not unusual.... The palace is a very big place and she keeps to herself mostly."

Audrey turned toward him then. "Your sister may try to hide it," she said. "But she is more powerful than she lets on."

Alistair looked at her. "How so?"

Audrey considered the question for a moment before answering.

"I’m not entirely certain," she admitted. "I only caught something. A texture to the air around her that does not belong to a standard reawakening."

She took a slow sip. "But if I had to name it...She is a Blessed."

For a second or two, Alistair simply looked at her. Then he let out a short, disbelieving laugh and dropped his gaze, shaking his head along with it.

"That’s not possible," he said, looking back up. "Of all my siblings, I’m the strongest. There’s no reawakened amongst us, and there’s certainly no Blessed either."

He scoffed lightly. "Do they even still exit?"

Audrey simply replied, "They do, but they are very rare in today’s world."

Her eyes returned to the fire. "However, there was a time when they were not. And I lived in such a time."

Something in the tone of her voice had changed.

"In those days," Audrey continued, "there were barely any reawakened at all. The world was younger in that sense and the ceiling of human power had not yet been broken open the way it has now."

She turned the glass once more. "So the blessed stood at the very top. Being favored by gods made them the most powerful beings walking. And they were regarded the same way the Grand Class are regarded today, perhaps more so, because there was nothing to rival them."

She paused. "It wasn’t until certain people began reawakening that they could finally be challenged."

Alistair seemed to have been considering what she said, though largely still in misbelief.

"But even if she were," he said at last, "my father would have noticed. We all would have, at some point."

Audrey glanced at him then. "And yet," she said softly, "you just told me she keeps to herself."

He said nothing.

"Perhaps," Audrey continued, returning her gaze to the fire, "that is precisely why he hasn’t."

——

The car moved steadily through the night, with the hum of the engine being the only sound heard for a while.

Isabella broke the silence. "That... was the strangest announcement I’ve ever heard, I wonder how my father is going to react to it."

Ethan kept his eyes on the road. "I don’t think it’s going to be good."

A brief pause followed before he added, "I also don’t think Lady Audrey is the only problem he’s dealing with."

Isabella turned slightly toward him. "What do you mean?"

Ethan exhaled. "The Desdemonas are only one half of it," he said. "The other half... are your siblings."

"How so?" she asked after a moment.

"If Hayley is really not mistaken," he said, "then the one who attacked my team at the guild was your sister Andrea, and she did so, on behalf of a Desdemona"

Isabella’s expression shifted, though she said nothing.

"And now," Ethan continued, "Alistair is expecting a child with the same Matriarch your father is weary of."

Isabella leaned back into her seat, letting her thoughts consider what he just said.

The road stretched ahead of them, long as the car carried them deeper into the night.

——

The Next Morning...

The throne room doors opened with a heavy creak and Alistair Tudor stepped in, looking rather composed.

He made his way forward, stopping at a respectful distance before the throne before inclining his head. "Father."

King Carson did not return the courtesy. Instead, he stared down at Alistair with growing fury on his face.

"Would you mind, explaining to me the rubbish I have been forced to hear all morning?"

Alista remained silent for a brief moment before finally saying, "It is as you’ve heard, Father, I am expecting a child... and Lady Audrey is the mother."

The King’s eyes flared with fury, "Are you fuckin stupid?" he snapped, rising from his throne. "Of all people— Audrey Desdemona?"

His voice hardened further. "You know exactly who she is. You know what she represents."

He took a step forward. "And yet this is the nonsense you bring to me?"

Alistair was quiet for another moment then finally answered, "On the contrary, Should this not be seen differently? The most powerful house in the country... and one of the most influential... coming together."

He lifted his gaze fully now. "Is that not something you would want?"

"Hm.." The King Muttered. "Alistair... are you trying to sabotage me?"

Alista Tudor frowned slightly. "I don’t understand what you mean, Father."

"You are my first son," Carson continued. "You’ve been at my side long enough to know how I think. You know my dealings and my concerns."

There was a pause

"You also know exactly how I feel about that family."

The King’s eyes burned into Alistair. "And yet... you go and involve yourself with the one person who stands at the very center of it."

He walked further. "You sleep with her and you let her carry your child....So tell me, Alistair,

what exactly am I supposed to make of this?"

"If I didn’t know better," the King continued, "I would say you’re either incredibly foolish or you’re directly challenging me... so which is it?"

Alista straightened slightly. "Neither," he said. "This is not stupidity... nor is it defiance."

He held his father’s gaze. "I am doing what I believe is best for our house... and for the country as a whole. House Tudor and House Desdemona coming together could bring a new change things. It could—"

"Enough!" The King’s word reverberated. "Shut up, Just—shut the hell up."

Alista fell silent immediately.

King Carson turned away with an exhale. "I see no point continuing this conversation," he said. "I’ve already decided what will be done next."

He then glanced back with cold eyes. "So listen carefully. From this moment onward, be stripped of your privileges within this palace."

Alista’s eyes widened slightly. "Father—"

"You will not interrupt me!" carson shut him up again and continued after that pause.

"You will no longer attend palace meetings. You will withdraw from every function, every duty, and every position that ties you to the workings of this throne."

His hand lifted, gesturing toward the towering pillars of the hall. "And for those Sigils, You will return anything and everything that connects you to them."

Frustration began building within Alistair.

"You are hereby confined to your wing of the palace. You will not step beyond it nor leave the palace grounds under any circumstance." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The King’s gaze hardened further.

"You will surrender all means of communication. Your Arcphone and any such device that allows you contact with the outside world."

"You will not communicate with outsiders, Nor with your siblings... Not even your Mother"

Alistair froze.

"They are not to visit you. You are not to reach out to them."

The King’s tone did not waver.

"You will be placed under constant watch. No fewer than two Imperial Guards will be assigned to you at all times. They will guard you... and they will follow you."

"And this," the King finished, his voice final, "will remain in effect...until I decide otherwise."

Alistair finally spoke. "These are punishments befitting a child," he said. "And I am not one anymore."

King Carson clapped back. "But you have acted nothing less than one. And a very stupid one at that."

His gaze hardened. "So this is how it will be."

"I don’t care what you think you have with Audrey," he continued. "And even if she does choose to have that child...I want nothing to do with it."

The King turned his head to the left. "Iroh."

The General stepped forward immediately "Yes, Your Grace."

"You will escort him to his wing to retrieve everything I asked for," the King ordered. "And you will personally see to it that two of your best officers are assigned to him."

"Annette and Leona."

Iroh bowed. "As you wish, my King."

He moved at once, but Alista stepped forward, about to speak..

"One more word," the King cut in sharply, "and you will be confined to the dungeons instead."

Then a smile crossed his lips. "With Beilong....I’m certain you wouldn’t prefer that."

Alistair stared at his father for a moment, saying nothing. Then he turned and walked away with Iroh following right behind.

The King walked back to his throne room and stared ahead with a furious expression.

——

A/N: I chose not to divide this into two short Chapters.

I will return in 10-12hours with more Chapters and Bonuses. I already have it all outlined, but today’s Eid and half my colleagues are Muslims.

We kinda have to celebrate with them. Happy Eid to Every Muslim Reader❤️