Transcendence?

***Norfolk, Fellmar***

***Celestial***

“I can't believe that it's already that time of the year again. Why are we even participating in this stupid event? There aren't even enough guests here. What a giant waste of money. We invited the whole world to the party and just our people show up!” Ascathon is grumbling beside me.

“The Ball of Fellmar is a long tradition. The previous Jarl held at in regular intervals to maintain the good relationships with other countries. I have to do at least that much, or there will be an uproar from the nobles.” It's an unfortunate necessity.

“But there aren't any guests! Jamaian is gone, Mislow and the Nation of Mist are at war with us and the Academy is controlled by Phenex.” He guides me to our table in the great hall. Everyone steps aside and holds a respectful distance to us. A sea of people is parting before us, how amusing.

“On top I have bad memories of my last visit here. I got stabbed!” He complains.

I grin. “But you looked like you enjoyed it? And you shouldn't be so pessimistic. I invited everyone and I have high hopes that at least one party shows up.”

His head turns sharply. “It can't be. You wouldn't. Did you invite Phenex too?”

“Sure. The previous Jarl always invited everyone. Our nobles can't complain if we invite her to this festival. And once they see that nobody besides Phenex is willing to talk to us, they have to change their attitude.” It's a devious plan to change their opinion.

“Indeed.” Ascathon tilts his heads and thinks about something.

So I take a seat at our table and order the best available food. The previous Jarl's cook is a genius, no wonder that he looked like a balloon. I take a look around the dining hall and admire the expensive chandelier. There are many guests around, though all of them are from Norfolk.

“Say, Celestial? Isn't it strange that you changed your opinion of her? This is quite sudden.” He scratches his chest with an uneasy expression. “It can't be that you plan to lure her in to...”

“What are you thinking? Of course not.” Well, at least not immediately. “You know that I am very practical. After thinking about this for a while, I came to the conclusion that I have to control my personal feelings in this matter. It's the only path that's left open for this country. And we can't deal with Mislow and the Nation of Mist on our own.”

I make a pause to order my thoughts. “There is something fishy going on. Someone is playing a game with us and we don't know the rules, nor are we sure of the number of participants, or their goals. So it's necessary to proceed with maximum caution, while not wasting any opportunities. If we have the possibility to have one enemy less, we should take it.”

Ascathon nods. “I see. I guess I just didn't expect that you would be able to overcome your feelings.”

I smile. “Don't have too high hopes. I may still tear her to pieces if she provokes me. Nor will I forget that Sera was abducted by one of her servants.”

My secretary Natasha approaches us from the crowd of people and I turn my attention to her. “A delegation from Phenex arrived as anticipated. They want to speak to you.” She bows to Ascathon and me.

“You may tell them that we await them.” I smile at Natasha and she leaves.

“You still treat her very formally.” Ascathon states while looking after Natasha and I don't fail to notice his eyes, which are fixed on a certain spot.

“Dear husband?” I smile at him.

“Yes?” His eyes are still somewhere else.

“Dear husband, Natasha is lesbian. That's why I am wary of her. And if you don't look at me, I will poke them out.” I grab a knife from the table.

He changes his focus of attention. “No way?” His eyes wander to the knife in my hand and he realizes what he just did. “I was just looking! Of course you are the only one for me. You can't blame a man for looking! That's the same as forbidding me to breathe!”

I sigh. “Haven't you learnt to do it discreetly during your many lifes?”

He nods. “Of course, but you can't savour the view if you do that. Men don't have such a good peripheral vision compared to women.”

Then I purse my lips. “That's still no excuse. You will have to make up for it.”

He squints his eyes. “How?”

“I am sure you'll find a solution. Otherwise you will sleep alone tonight.” I avert my eyes, but he grabs my hand and kisses it.

“I am not sure if there is a proper method to apologize for looking at other women.” He scratches his cheek and gives off an impression of being deep in thought.

I give up. “Haah... I understand. An old man like you can't lower himself to flatter an old woman like me. I guess we will simply forget about the matter and continue with our work. Such a pity, there may be no time to cook chocolate.”

Then he smiles at me like a gentleman. “Sugar cat, I love you. There is nobody else for me. I would pick the stars from the sky if you wish it.”

A shudder runs down my spine at his sudden change and I smirk. “So you can act like that if you want to.”

“You are the one who gives me sweet dreams.” He focuses on my eyes and comes closer.

“I see...” So he just doesn't want to have nightmares.

“You are the provider of the thing which I need the most.” His hands wander farther up my arm.

“So that's the reason...” He would do everything for chocolate! But I can't find a hint of lying in his face.

“You are the perfect match for me, as you do the bothersome work for me.” Now his face comes too close!

“Stop it. I can't take it any more! You won!” I shy away. There is only so much I can take. He immediately returns to his usual self and I ask, “Such frightening skills. Were you an actor at some point? Why didn't you display those skills earlier?”

“Those skills are reserved for dire situations.” He lifts his glass and takes a sip.

Then we are interrupted by a group of people with a dazzling white haired beauty in their midst. Both of us stand up to greet the Immortal Empress. “It's pleasure to meet you again, even if our first meeting wasn't that happy. I am the Jarl, Celestial Asceron. And this is my husband, Ascathon Asceron.”

The Immortal Empress smiles and nods. “You may call me Jazira. This is my aid, Tjena.” She gestures at a familiar face. I knew that person for a short while as my babysitter. Tjena bows fast and steps behind Jazira after taking a look at Ascathon. He just smiled at her and she immediately paled.

“And this is my old friend, Sagittarius. The headmaster of the Academy. I convinced him to join hands with me.” The old man beside her nods.

“It's a pleasure to meet you for real this time?” She looks at Ascathon with curiosity.

“Yeah, the real thing is quite a disappointment, isn't it?” Ascathon chuckles.

Jazira shrugs her shoulders. “I don't know what I expected. May I take a seat?”

I gesture for them to continue and sit down again. The rest of Jazira's staff leaves, or backs off to give us privacy. “Please do. What's spoken on this table shall remain between us. There is a warding spell against sound on every table. Nobody who is farther away than a metre can overhear us."

“So? How did your little distraction for Mislow look like?” Ascathon smiles and asks Jazira about her part in our secret plan.

She shrugs. “I marched my army to their borders and crushed one of their outposts. That was enough to trigger a massive reaction from them. They intercepted me with a huge army and we had a stand off for a few days. Then I retreated. At least I know now that they can mobilize very fast within their own land.”

“Mislow and Jamaian were always in conflict with each other. Even if they didn't have an open war, there were still small scale conflicts and both countries kept their military in top condition.” Sagittarius explains the situation.

“~Yes, Yes.~ That's all very nice, but before we continue. Do you have the certain item, which I requested.” She looks at Ascathon with shining eyes.

He nods and pulls something out of his pocket. It's a device with a screen and I watch curiously as Jazira grabs it.

“Finally! Oh I missed technological realms so much! There is nothing more wonderful than having a camera to take pictures of important moments!” She raises the device and takes a photo of Tjena and Sagittarius. Their faces went expressionless as soon as Jazira received the device.

“We moved an entire army …” “... for that device...” “... to make pictures?”

“~Of course! Look! It's a version with a screen, so you can immediately take a look at the photo!~” Jazira turns the camera and shows the picture of their dumb faces to both of them.

.