Chapter 850: The Other Observer

Rhosyn had barely finished speaking when footsteps sounded farther down the corridor. Before either of them could continue, a servant appeared around the corner, dressed in the same dark blue and silver colors Trafalgar had already seen throughout the castle.

The man stopped several steps away and bowed politely. "Good morning. If you would please follow me, breakfast has been prepared for you. I'll show you where it is."

Trafalgar gave him a small nod.

"Understood. Thank you."

The servant turned without another word and started down the corridor, keeping several steps ahead of them.

Trafalgar fell into pace beside Rhosyn, slipping his hands into the pockets of his coat. "I suppose we'll be well taken care of during our stay."

"Stay focused, Trafalgar. I know you're joking, but we probably won't be alone at breakfast." Rhosyn kept her voice low. "There are other observers here. We'll probably meet at least one of them."

Trafalgar gave her a flat look. "Don't worry. I'm as focused as I always am. And you're probably right. It would be useful to finally put faces to whoever the other heirs decided to bring."

"That's what worries me," Rhosyn replied, dry enough to make him glance at her again.

They continued through the castle. Morning had brought more life into the corridors, with servants carrying trays and documents while guards stood at the main junctions.

Trafalgar still counted them without making it obvious. He and Rhosyn had agreed to stop making their interest obvious, but that didn't mean he had stopped paying attention.

Eventually, the servant led them into one of the castle's main dining halls. Long tables filled most of the chamber, already crowded with maids, guards, clerks, servants, and other workers beginning their day.

Conversation mixed with the clatter of plates and cutlery. Trafalgar had expected somewhere private, but apparently Myrrhvale had other priorities.

The servant guided them toward several smaller tables set apart from the rest. "These are reserved for the observers. Please sit wherever you prefer. Food will be brought shortly."

"Thanks," Trafalgar said. He and Rhosyn chose the same table, and a maid arrived soon afterward with fish, fresh bread, fruit, eggs, and several dishes Trafalgar didn't recognize.

The food looked good enough. He had barely started eating when a voice came from beside the table. "Excuse me. Is this seat free?"

Trafalgar looked up. The man appeared to be in his late twenties or early thirties, with short brown hair, gray-green eyes, and an ordinary face. His clothes were good quality, though nothing about them screamed wealth or rank.

Trafalgar gestured toward the empty chair. "Depends. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking with?"

The man laughed softly. "Fair question. Toran. I'm here as an observer for Corvyn." He placed one hand lightly against his chest before looking between them. "And you two?"

"Trafalgar du Morgain. Lyren asked me to come."

Toran's expression changed immediately. His eyes widened before he caught himself. "What— Sorry. I didn't realize who you were. I wasn't expecting someone from one of the Eight Great Families to be serving as an observer."

Trafalgar had gotten used to reactions like that. "It's nothing special. I'm here to fulfill the role I was given and make sure nobody outside Myrrhvale interferes with the succession."

Rhosyn spoke before Toran could ask about her. "I don't have a family name, so don't worry about remembering one. I'm Rhosyn. Nerith invited me as one of her observers."

Toran visibly relaxed. "Thank the gods." Trafalgar paused with his fork halfway toward his mouth, and Toran immediately realized how that had sounded.

"That came out badly," Toran admitted as he pulled the chair back. Trafalgar lowered his fork. "A little."

"I only meant that I'd already heard there was a Vaelion here. I didn't exactly want to walk up to another member of a Great Family without knowing who I was dealing with."

"You're surprisingly honest," Trafalgar said.

"I came here to observe the truth. I wasn't expecting to navigate Great Family politics over breakfast."

"Then you picked an unfortunate succession to observe," Trafalgar replied, earning a short laugh from him.

A maid placed breakfast in front of Toran. He thanked her, took a piece of bread, then looked between them again. "So how did you end up here?"

"Lyren came to see me, explained what was happening, and asked whether I would serve as an observer. I agreed." Trafalgar returned to his food. "That's about it."

Toran waited as if expecting more. When none came, he turned toward Rhosyn. "And you?"

"The same," she replied, cutting a piece of fruit without looking at him.

Toran stared between them. "You two are difficult, aren't you?"

"You asked how we got here. We answered," Trafalgar said.

Rhosyn kept eating, though Trafalgar caught the slight movement at the corner of her mouth. Toran noticed it too and sighed.

The rest of the meal passed much the same way. Toran asked harmless questions about their journey, how long they expected to stay in Meraval, and what they thought of the city so far.

Trafalgar answered every question, but none of his answers contained anything useful. Rhosyn was even less generous, and after several attempts Toran seemed to accept that neither of them planned to make his morning easy.

Trafalgar, meanwhile, formed his first impression. Toran didn't strike him as dangerous. He spoke freely, seemed genuinely curious, and hadn't tried to push the conversation toward anything sensitive. Still, that didn't mean he would be convenient if he intended to stay close to the other observers.

Before Trafalgar could think much further about it, another servant approached their table. "Lord Trafalgar. Lady Rhosyn. Lady Nerith di Myrrhvale would like to meet with you this morning. She asked that I bring you to her once you finished breakfast."

Trafalgar set his utensils down. "Now?"

"If it is convenient."

He exchanged a brief look with Rhosyn. So much for taking the morning slowly. Trafalgar stood, and Rhosyn followed a moment later.

"Lead the way," Trafalgar said as he adjusted his coat. The servant bowed and turned toward the exit.

As they started walking away from the table, Toran raised one hand toward them. "I suppose I'll see you both later."

Trafalgar glanced back. "Probably. Enjoy breakfast."

Toran smiled and returned to his plate. Trafalgar faced forward again as he followed the servant out of the dining hall, Rhosyn walking beside him. Their first real meeting of the day had arrived sooner than expected, and Nerith di Myrrhvale was ready to see them.