AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Good evening,” he proclaimed as he stood upright. “Welcome to the estate of Professor Belledieux.”
Elyse looked around, expecting to find Professor Belledieux there to greet them, but the large marble foyer was empty. A grand staircase twisted its way up to the second story while expensive-looking paintings and artifacts lined nearly every inch of free space. Elyse had worried that she’d be overdressed in her extravagant gown, but she breathed a sigh of relief. This was a man of decadence.
“Professor Belledieux and the other guests are in the Sapphire Hall,” the servant announced. “Luis will show you there.”
Another servant dressed in white appeared seemingly from nowhere and sauntered toward them. He held a silver tray with two fluted glasses of pale liquid, which he delicately handed to them. “After me,” he beckoned.
They followed Luis through a set of double doors on the right side of the foyer, and Elyse immediately understood why the room was deemed the Sapphire Hall. Every wall was painted a rich blue, made even more vivid against the white tile floors. The ceilings were adorned with chandeliers that glittered with dangling sapphires. Columns decorated in ornate mosaics stood throughout the hall, and in the center of each mosaic was a sapphire the size of Elyse’s fist.
“Gods above,” Manny breathed as his eyes roamed over the room. Elyse couldn’t even think of the words to voice her astonishment.
“Mr. and Mrs. Nottingfeld!” called a man’s voice from across the room. A tall gentleman dressed in a black velvet jerkin excused himself from the small group he’d been conversing with and headed in their direction. He walked with the sort of grace that came with extreme wealth, his perfectly groomed black hair flowing behind him. “It is an honor to make your acquaintance,” he trilled.
“Professor Belledieux, I presume?” Manny asked, a slight pretension in his voice. He extended his hand, which the man clasped with enthusiasm.
“Guilty as charged,” Professor Belledieux declared with a wink. Then he turned his attention to Elyse. “Mrs. Nottingfeld, I must say you look absolutely regal. Your dress is exquisite—you fit in perfectly with the room.”
“Thank you, Professor,” Elyse said as she curtsied. It was true—the rich blue silk of her gown matched the deeper shades of the sapphires. “You have a lovely home.”
“I’m glad that Jaime could arrange an invitation for you,” Belledieux replied. “Come, meet the other guests.”
Belledieux gently took Elyse by the elbow and guided her farther into the room. She put on her warmest smile in anticipation of meeting the other attendees, but as soon as she realized who she was about to meet, that smile vanished.
Green eyes stared back at her—green eyes that belonged to none other than Niall Royce.
As she forced herself not to take in a sharp breath of air, Elyse reminded herself that Royce didn’t know who she was, that she was disguised. It didn’t, however, stop her throat from going dry and her heart from racing. Thanks to her, Royce had spent several days in prison after she framed him for assassinating King Cyril. That wasn’t something he was likely to forgive.
He coolly ran a hand through his white hair before extending it to Elyse. “Niall Royce,” he introduced himself as he dipped low and planted a kiss on Elyse’s hand.
“Clarice Nottingfeld,” Elyse answered, forcing herself to keep from cringing.
Manny was somehow managing to stay calm. He extended his hand coolly toward Royce, a bored expression on his unfamiliar face. “Charles Nottingfeld,” he declared in a pompous voice. “Pleasure to meet you, Niall.”
They shook hands while Elyse tried to relax. No one knew who she was. She was safe.
“Royce is a trader out of Sevhella,” Belledieux explained. “He’s rumored to own the Blade of Hanael.”
Elyse knew the rumor to be true. She had seen the blade during a private tour Royce had given her—when she had distracted him as part of her scheme to plant evidence against him.
“It’s not a rumor,” Royce stated with some irritation.
“Very impressive,” Elyse crooned. She placed a hand on Manny’s arm. “Forgive my husband if he doesn’t share my enthusiasm. I’m the artifact connoisseur; he’s merely the financier.”
Manny let out a haughty chuckle and placed his hand atop hers. “She’s lucky I have deep pockets.”
“Hear, hear!” Professor Belledieux agreed, clinking his own glass against Manny’s. Then he gestured toward the next guest. “Allow me to introduce Mr. Grayson.”
Elyse nearly gawked as her eyes landed on the ancient man standing next to her. She’d been so focused on Royce, she hadn’t even noticed her beloved former customer.
“Please, call me Alfred,” Mr. Grayson said, his eyes bright. He stood out from the other guests, not just because he was over one hundred years old, but because he wore a simple jerkin and trousers. Elyse supposed that at his age, he was given a pass when it came to dress code.
She curtsied and offered him a genuine smile. “It’s a pleasure, Alfred.” Truly it was. She missed his playful energy during his monthly visits, and seeing him here brought her a sort of contentment.
“Alfred also hails from Sevhella,” Belledieux disclosed. “He’s quite the… experimenter.”
“Oh, and what do you experiment in?” Manny asked, sounding intrigued.
“Necromancy!” Mr. Grayson announced, just as enthusiastically as he always did.
