Octavia

"Octavia, I would like to introduce you to Carlos Siqueira, the foreign ambassador of the Epidórpio poulí." Queen Luna states as she introduces me to the sixth ambassador of the night.

I smile politely at the winged male, dipping my head in greeting as I do my best to not stare at the giant sand coloured feather wings. The Epidórpio poulí, the desert birds, or rather the fae who dwell in the sand dunes of Solaria are renowned for their trade in spices. They contribute to 60% of Solaria's economy with their inter-realm trade.

"It is an honour to meet you ambassador."

"And it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance princess." Ambassador Siqueira replies warmly, his ageing face rippling with the movement. He reaches forward to gently clasp both of my hands before bringing them up to touch the back of my knuckles to his forehead.

"It is custom within my people to greet one and other formally in this way. It is a sign of respect and symbolises the work of another's hands and the respect in your mind of their dedication."

I glance at the Queen who merely nods for me to reciprocate the gesture. I smile nervously but gently take his hands to repeat the actions. I grin at Ambassador Siqueira as he smiles at my efforts. We separate hands and I take a polite step back as I grab a flute of Glowberry champagne from a nearby waiter.

"I hear the production of asafoetida has suffered from last year's drought?"

The Ambassador huffs a small laugh and a grin at my mother's barbed question. Asafoetida is the rarest and most popular spice amongst the rich upper classes.

"I can assure you your highness, our work is more than sufficient." His teeth flash, in a viscous smile. "Perhaps it is your taxes draining my workers."

I watch with rapt attention as the Queen's eyes narrow as she hums in thought.

"Perhaps, but I was once told by a young tradesman that many Epidórpio do not seek riches and gold."

Siqueira takes a step towards us, his eyes flaring with glee at the thought of battle. I tense at the small grin that graces his face.

"Times have changed, your majesty. The ways of old have been lost and I won't have my people left behind to starve as food now becomes scarce, taxed and bought through a currency not of their making."

"What are you implying Ambassador?" Luna questions as she too takes a step forward. "It is impertinent for someone of your political standing to question the ways of an entire realm."

Those magnificent talon tipped wings ruffle and tighten with indignation and I see the ambassador's guards step forward in response, I quickly place my champagne flute on a nearby table before moving back to Queen Luna's side. The guards' wings straighten up before flaring slightly to become more imposing, I can see our own guards step forward at the challenge. Useless though they will be against the trained soldiers of the East. This is going to get ugly fast if the two continue to fight. I doubt either will back down and I know subjecting my opinion to scrutiny would merely add fuel to the fire.

"Someone of my standing?" He demands, eye sparking with fury.

"You forget yourself ambassador, you are merely holding a job you are entirely replacab-"

"Ambassador Siqueira." I interrupt. Ignoring my mother's burning gaze as she glares at me in shock.

I wait silently for the winged male to remove his attention from the Queen. My head lifts higher at the challenge in the Ambassador's golden eyes as he stares me down, clearly intrigued by whatever foolish thing he expects me to say.

"Would you join me on the ballroom floor? I have been in your company for far too long to not have had a proper conversation with you. " I hold his gaze watching as surprise flickers across his face before that neutral mask slides back into place as he realises the predicament we are in, all signs of his previous anger are gone. All of the guards slink back to the shadows yet the Solarians remain tense while the Epidórpios relax. "I travelled briefly through your lands during my childhood yet I feel as though I've barely scratched the surface of your people's culture, perhaps you could tell me more."

Siqueira glances back at Luna who merely smiles politely at us both as she sips from a recently acquired glass of glow bubbles. I watch from the corner of my eye as our guards tense when the Ambassador step towards me, the smartest among them pales and steps back at the flash of talons from one of Siqueira's own guards.

"It would be an honour, princess." He bows cordially and offers his arm for me to take. "Tell me, have you been to the trade markets in the southern regions of our territory?"

We walk through the crowd as the guests part to make way for the large male and his imposing figure. I smile politely at a few faces I recognise in passing, catching a glimpse of Stella talking to the minister of health by the banquet table.

"I visited a market in the west, near the red dunes. Is there a large difference between them?" I ask, glancing at the the male beside me.

He chuckles. "Quite the difference, princess. My family and I stay in the north but we hold a residence in the south. My daughters have taken a particular liking to their Massa de Pastel there."

I arch an eyebrow in curiosity. "Can I make the assumption that it is food they are interested in."

He laughs at my obviously correct guess as we twirl onto the dance floor, both of us quickly falling into an easy waltz.

"You would be correct. It is essentially a fried pastry filled with various flavours."

I can already feel my mouth begin to water at the thought of fried food. We glide across the floor in silence for a few beats as we go through the complicated twists and turns of a Solarian waltz.

"Sweet or savory?"

"Both, but they have taken a liking to the ones filled with a creamy sauce and spiced meat."

I hum in contemplation.

"I wonder if they fill some with strawberries and chocolates. It's always been my favourite."

The ambassador laughs and I can't help but join in him.

"How very Solarian fo you." He comments with a sharp grin. "Only your people would conquer the realm in search of flavour and spice to decide that you quite like your bland food."

I scoff in mock indignation before sighing dramatically.

"True, very true. But we never said that Solarians had good taste, now did we."

He chuckles at my answer before his face turns more serious. The joking is clearly over now and I'm not sure I'm ready for the political debates. Especially if he gets so easily riled up, even if it was by my mother who has that effect on anyone.

"You interrupt my debate, why?"

I sigh. "Because you would have lost, one way or another." He snarls in irritation, clearly offended by my supposed jab at his skills and male pride.

"Do not delude yourself," I snap, huffing slightly. "My mother has no intention of letting such a beneficial supply train fall apart or separate itself from the crown. The only way to achieve change is slowly."

"That is easy for you to say, your people's children are not starving and working in factories."

I close my eyes briefly, picturing the starved faces I saw on my travels, before meeting his angered gaze, refusing to back down even as his hands tighten on my waist.

"It is." I concede, "your people are starving, they won't survive if Solaria withdraws its aid, funding and supplies. I visited your people and I only saw the surface of the damage, even that was horrific. You know this, so why the sudden change of tactics?"

His eyes darken. "Circumstances change princess. Slow progress inspires decent within the masses. As one of their leaders I must do what is best for our dynasty and them."

"Are we not making progress?"

"Progress for whom?" He croons, eyes dark as he spins me in a powerful movement. "The recent taxes on big companies have done little to help. They've merely made it so the visible factories are safer and cleaned."

"We were not given reports of conditions, requests for change, we can do little ambassador if we are not reliably informed."

He scoffs and rolls his eyes.

"You will find princess, your sister has been rather kept out of the loop." A dangerous look over takes his face. "It is her responsibility to oversee these bills is it not?"

My brows furrow with confusion and I open my mouth to ask-

"It seems our dance is over." He states with a cold look, "I shall take my leave."

I watch in shock as the ambassador strides through the crowd, leaving me by the edge of the dance. I quickly get my bearings, realising that I am by the banquet table. That certainly could have gone better. I reach for a chocolate coated strawberry, wincing as it reminds me of the earlier conversation. This truly is going to be a long night.

"You seemed to be having a rather interesting conversation in that last dance." Stella comments as she moves to my side, miraculously appearing from the crowd.

I snort. "Interesting is the right word for sure."

Stel follows my gaze back into the crowd, catching sight of the talon tipped wings. Her face tightens in worry slightly but she turns to me with curiosity filled eyes.

"What was he like?" She whispers conspiratorially to me as we link arms to walk through the crowds. I move with her silently, thinking through my answer.

"He cares for his people, that much is clear." I state finally.

"An admirable quality lost amongst most of these dignitaries."

A cool breeze floats through the room from the open balcony doors and I can't help but sigh in relief as I look at my twin. What did the ambassador mean?

"Stel,"

She hums and gives me her attention.

"What reports have you been given on the state of poverty in Epidórpios?"

Her eyebrows raise in shock and I wince as Stella's gaze darts back into the crowd as if she can find Siqueria. My sister straightens, sensing the importance of my tone.

"There are monthly reports, nothing drastic has changed. The conditions are still abysmal but the latest factory acts seem to have made an impact."

I take a bite of strawberry as I pause in thought, Stella eyes me curiously.

"Why? has something happened."

A sigh escapes me. "Just something the ambassador said and of course what I saw at the beginning of my... travels."

I look away from Stel at the thought. The Queen did a good job at allowing me to enjoy the first year of my travels, ensuring I was seen by the people. By the time I turned thirteen we started going to worse and worse places, not at all the glamorous trip I had been expecting. I feel my eyes begin to water at the thought, all those children. Just left for dead.

"That's why we made the acts, remember." Stella implores, eyes pleading as she touches my arm. "Because of what you saw, we helped and we will continue to help."

I nod and blink back the water in my eyes. Movement catches my attention and Stella smiles in greeting to a passing river nymph.

"Lady Answither, allow me to introduce you to my sister, Princess Octavia."

The pale lithe figure smiles at me cordially, her pure black round eyes sparkling with mischief and I'm instantly reminded of the tales of old, of mermaids and sirens luring sailor to their deaths. Her closed gills flutter slightly with movement as she eyes me, the copper scales that spatter around her eyes and cover part of upper chest and shoulders left on display glitter like sparkling jewels.

"Princess." She trills, voice distorted by its use on land. She dips into a shallow curtsy and I bow my head slightly in response. "It is an honour to make your acquaintance. My people were grateful for your contribution to the poverty bill. They were most pleased with your inclusion of seasonal poverty."

I blush but pride blossoms through me.

"I'm happy to have helped but I cannot take full credit. My twin, Stella, lead all of those bills."

The nymphs attention darts to my sister and I see the way Stel tenses as that watery gaze bores into her soul. Stella regains her footing, her back straightening and a polite smile dancing on her face. 

 "We are making an effort with the newest bills to include all of Solaria's people, especially in the areas where they were previously excluded."

"And that is most commendable of you." Answither states bitterly before gliding away.

I share a look with Stella before swiping a blue and purple cocktail off a tray.

"Well," I comment, my voice doing little to hide my offence.

"What can we expect, Tavi." Stella says with sad eyes. "Change is coming too little too late."

I sigh and nod in agreement. Moving together through the crowd we continue to socialise and rub elbows with the upper classes of Solaria. Four dignitaries, two businessmen and a renowned artist later, we make our way back towards the ballroom floor.

"Who did your surprise friend turn out to be." I ask, remembering mother's words from earlier.

Stel sighs. "No clue, they've not made themselves known so perhaps I have been freed from some old goat's company."

Chuckles escape me at her over dramatic sigh and eye roll.

"This is getting tedious." Stella complains as she sips from champagne. "I need a dance."

I chuckle at my twin's forced polite face as she smiles at a passing Solarian dignitary.

"From what I hear, dear sister, you've been dancing plenty tonight." I jest, watching in delight as my twin's face flushes.

"I-"

"I believe it was a flirty nymph, a posh businessman and, what was it again."

Stella looks away from me as she fights back a smile.

"One of the fae from the Zoúnkla allásson delegation."

"Ah." I grin in delight. "A shifter, I hear they have great stamina."

Stella chokes on the drink she was sipping from, turning to gape at me.

"Octa-"

"I meant in dancing. You did have two dances with him, didn't you?"

I grin in delight at my sister's flushed face as she scoffs at me.

"Oh can you blame me." She snaps as I cackle with delight. "She was just such good company and her dancing was far better than the males here."

I hum. "I can imagine, the women always have more fire."

I grin, fighting off the laughter that tries to bubble out of me. Stel rolls her eyes at me and hands her drink to a passing fawn waiter.

"If that's how it is, I'm going to go dance with that businessman who's been eyeing me up for the past 15 minutes."

"Oh?" I exclaim in mock offence as Stella grins at me. "If that's how it is then go on ahead and dance with the balding, old white man who clearly has a drinking problem."

Stel rolls her eyes. "Oh, he's a silver fox. Better than nothing."

I smile at her as she walks away from me into the crowd. Shaking my head at her antics I make my way through the crowd towards the large glass doors in the arches of the wall. Helios, I need some fresh air.

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Stella

"-and so I told her-"

I sigh in irritation as I continue to dance with the CEO of sexism. Thankfully a partner swap should be coming up soon. I wince as he talks about how his secretary was leaving the company because he wouldn't pay for maternity leave.

"- if you're not here to work then why would I pay you?" He breaks into loud, obnoxious laughter as I awkwardly chuckle with him. My gaze stuck firmly on his shoulder so I don't have to look at his blotchy face. Oh how Octavia will laugh when I inevitably tell her of this, of course I had to pick the dance where we would have to swap partners almost immediately.

"What about you my dear?" he questions with a leer, I force myself to meet his shrewd eyes. "Did you come with a date tonight."

Ew. Helios, no.

"Yes, I also came with my mother and sister as apart of Solari-"

"Ah, your father must be one of those dignitaries flittering about." I declares with a huff. My face heats in anger, presumptuous old fart.

"No, that's not quite right-"

We shift and move and before I know it I'm in another's arms.

"It seems you've escaped rather the conundrum there." A silky smooth voice drawls.

I look up into my saviour's face and hold back my gasp. The most beautiful pair of warm chestnut eyes stare back at me. He's young, maybe a little older than me, pale skin and rich dark hair. His jaw ripples as he chuckles and glances down at my parted lips before his gaze settles once again on my eyes. I barely feel us gliding across the floor as he smiles gently at me.

"I hope he hasn't rendered you speechless." He comments with smile but there's genuine concern in his eyes.

"I- No, just needed a breather." My voice is breathy and rushed.

"Ah, well. I only caught the tail end of your conversation but I assume you were going to smite that spoiled aristocrat." He arches an eyebrow and gives me a roguish grin. Pausing to twist me into fast spin before coming back to cradle my body as we glide into the next step.

"I don't know about smiting," I blush with embarrassment and look down, Helios, I really did get worked up.

"What ever are you hiding away for?" He questions in low tone, gently tightening his grip on my waist and hand to give me a gentle tug. "I thought it was rather strong of you, I was quite disappointed to miss your response."

I look back up, holding his mischievous gaze before rolling my eyes and looking over his shoulder into the crowd.

"I was merely going to tell him that I was here with my family as a part of the Solarian Royalty."

He pauses, smile faltering slightly and hesitance takes over his face in such a way that I can't help nervously tense.

"Oh," he frowns. "You're here for business then."

"Would it have made a difference if I was here for pleasure." I ask tauntingly, unable to stop the bite in my words.

We begin to slow to a stop as I watch his face with rapt fascination. The way his eyes sparkle as he looks down to hide his laugh. My breathe catches in my throat as he looks up at me from under his brows before straightening up as we stop completely.

"Well, it changes how many times we'll be able to dance." I blush at his cheeky grin. "I was hoping for at least three slow waltzes to get to know you better."

I glance around at the couples leaving the floor, pausing as he offers me his arm to lead us off the floor. I take his arm, blushing as I feel the corded muscle beneath his suit, we quickly walk off to the side.

"Well," I smile nervously, eyes dancing between the figures in the crowd. "That doesn't seem too unreasonable."

A smile curls on his face as we pause my a shadowed column. With a generous bow, he takes my hand and plants a delicate kiss on the back of it. Butterflies erupt in response to his gentlemanly etiquette that I once thought lost to my generation.

"Brandon Archon, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Stella Siatra."

Brandon grins at me, his attention turning briefly to a waiter as he takes two glasses of Glowberry.

"What business am I taking you from then Miss Siatra." He arches an eyebrow in curiosity while passing me a glass

I delicately shrug. "Conversations with various dignitaries, politics and sweet talking gullible businessmen."

"Now that sounds like a complex job."

"It can be," I look out at the crowd, taking note of all the different races that have come in attendance, the number of foreign dignitaries, all of who are from the Solarian realm. "Nothing compared to the inter-realm relations of course."

"Of course." He agrees with posh nod before breaking of into chuckles as he glances down at the floor.

"I'm boring you aren't I?" Smiling nervously as I glance away from Brandon's kind face.

"Not at all." A reassuring smile spreads across his face,

My free hand instinctively reach up to cover my face before I lower it again with a guilty look.

"I'm like one of those awful potbellied balding businessmen who have no lives outside of their work."

Brandon bursts into laughter and I can't help but join him at the sight of his glowing face. His eyes are bright as he calms down enough stare at me with enough admiration that I blush and look away.

"No, dear Stella. You are far more intriguing than them."

A/N: Do you want to see more of Brandon at Alfea?