The royal family settled down around the table while servants prepared the tea and placed it upon the table . CLovis smiled as he took his seat at the Emperor's right side beside him the Empress settled onto the low pillow . He reached out and steadied her, helping his mother to a resting position .

"Thank you, Princeling . " Eve's warm voice sincere as she spoke kindly to her son . There was a moment of a smile between the two . "Congratulations . " She added glancing at the nervous white tiger who stood near the doorway . Her smile faltered as she realized the tigress was less than at ease entering this palace . She could hardly blame her, the stench of death could never be truly cleansed from these halls .

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The Emperor before the current, Clovis' grandfather was known for the blood of his reign . So many s.h.i.+fters had been slaughtered in these halls . A young s.h.i.+fter Monkey called Saya had been put to death in this very hall only twenty years ago . Evelyn had been here then, and watched as the Emperor's Second Queen was drug into the tea hall and her second form revealed . She had been killed on the spot, without the chance to explain herself at all . Forced to marry the king for her beauty, and then killed because he could not accept who she truly was . Such a sad story… Eve could remember her own nervousness to enter the tea room since then . Her posture had been similar to this Tigress, and who could blame such a n.o.bel beast stepping into a den of indecency?

"Clovis, It seems she may be uncertain . " Eve pointed out and Clovis nodded turning back to her .

"Moondance, join me . " He called to her, offering a warm smile . It was so similar to the look he had given Kyera the night before that she felt more at ease . She moved toward him, her graceful posture carrying her well to his side .

Kyera sat at his side, between him and the Empress, still keeping a slight distance between her and the Emperor, Clovis as a buffer . Her eyes traveled over the two queens as they both took their seats on the left side of the table . Bastil and Feya sitting at Queen Kira's side as she instructed the servants to pour the tea for the Empress first and move around the table . Alexi took the pot and poured the tea for his brother Damar and Queen Fae, seeming unwilling to let the servant do so for his family . This action earned a curious glance from Kyera .

"Good girl . " Clovis' soft a.s.surance was enough to draw her eyes away from the wives of the brothers and their behaviors . J

"So Clovis, congratulations on another step toward catching up the race . " Fae greeted with a nonchalant smile . Alexi cut her a look while adding a lump of sugar to her tea, stirring it gently . Kyera tilted her head curiously, her golden eyes fixed on them both a bit confused at the tension that suddenly seemed to flood the room .

"Very well actually, Queen Fae . I only have a single step behind my siblings now . " Clovis replied offering a kind smile . He seemed to be the only one not bothered by this question . Curiosity did p.r.i.c.kle at the back of her mind as she wondered what little secrets she had yet to learn .

"Oh? Are you sure? We wouldn't want you to be disqualified for missing a step . " Queen Kira added seeming genuinely concerned as she looked up from her tea . "Perhaps later we could sit down and discuss your plan . Since The Empress has been in the Cold Palace, perhaps I could help you catch up since she is still ill?" She offered and Kyera couldn't help but rumble deep in her chest . Something about that offer seemed so… conceited .

"No, that's alright . My mother is more than capable of helping me, but I thank you for your thoughtfulness . " Clovis replied, offering a kind but cool smile to the Queen . Kyera picked up on each little fluctuation of emotion, and even more so when a solid wall formed between the outside world and his feelings . The control was back but this was the true force of his ability, and now Kyera could see the usefulness of it .