It was sunny in Hamtalin of Megurion and perhaps it would be for longer than usual. Global-warming was a really bad problem, but thankfully it wasn't as bad as in their neighboring world, Earth. The creatures who lived there, as in the humans, didn't really care about their world.
Alas, it didn't make the situation in Hamtalin any better. There were only two seasons--summer and winter--and both of them were just as bad as the other. Valora would love to be at the beach right now, but alas no, the noble life was not so forgiving.
"Valora!" her mother whispered aggressively from next to her. "Ladies don't sigh. Raise your head."
Just the usual afternoon.
Valora raised her head, softly flipping her hair behind her shoulder so it wasn't bothering her. Hopefully, she did it softly enough that no one would notice. These nobles were too busy with their own business and gossips after all.
The Antoinette noble family was hosting a birthday party for one of its family members, apparently Valora's relative who's named Garrett Audric Antoinette. She'd never heard of the man other than rumors about him being quite the player, though--and even then, those were rumors she just discovered today.
Perhaps Garrett lived in another place--the Antoinette owned many a land, after all. But having never seen him in any of the Antoinette-exclusive parties, too, it was quite a surprise to suddenly have him in her house like this. Valora usually preferred to have connections and information.
Sometimes she wondered if these nobles--especially the women, no offense--knew of one essential skill needed in life; whispering. They were all talking so loudly, laughing, gossiping with no worry in the world.
Oh, how Valora missed her sister.
Unfortunately, Lyra had gone with their father to Chirnce to accompany him on a certain matter that Valora, as her mother had said and she quoted, shouldn't "worry her pretty little head about it." That woman sure knew how to increase one's curiosity.
Chirnce was a land owned by the noble family--guess what--Chirnce. Basically, they bought a large land, built a town on it and named it by their family name because what better way to immortalize your name than putting it on the map? Valora would've done the same thing.
Other than obviously owning a fortune, the Chirnce family was quite tame. They didn't make it to the 'royal rumors', as Lyra and Valora liked to call it, so she didn't really know much about them.
That didn't change the fact that this party was a bore. Her mother had told her to go find a partner to dance because she was sick watching her daughter be so negative in their own party.
Valora finally stood up from her seat located in the very front of the room, kind of like a throne. She fixed the imaginary dust on her purple asymmetrical gown, decorated with light flower decorations that matched the dark color. Her head was quite heavy on her shoulders, she dared to say, obviously from how her red hair was made into crown braids with bangs that would definitely be a pain to get out of.
She walked down the stairs elegantly that she noticed some people started to swoon. Hopefully, it was enough to ease her mother's worries that she actually remembered those lessons of walking with books heavier than her own head. If it didn't, then Valora was out of ideas--and mostly energy--to really think about it.
Looking around, the party was quite calm compared to the usual very-packed ones. Everyone pretty much already had their own partners to talk to. Valora walked through the bodies of busy people, trying to find someone that would help her get away from her mother's glare that she could still sense even here.
Her high heels made clinking sounds every time she stepped, but it wasn't a foreign sound in the ears of nobles. After a while, she realized there were some commoners around here, too. Wearing clothes and bringing bags with no brands, looked awful because they couldn't match their clothes, smelt like they just got bad perfume poured on them . . . Yeah, definitely commoners.
Valora was most interested when she found one. A man who looked around just her age, standing on the corner and obviously just here for the free food. She wondered how this person got through security.
Slowly, she approached him. He didn't even notice her until her shadow appeared in his line of view--which was pointed down because he was focused on the table full of pastries. "Good morning, gentleman," she greeted, adding a hint of sarcasm somewhere in there.
He immediately swallowed the cupcake, looking shaken as he returned her gaze. Instinctively, he raised his hand to comb his hair back, but that only made the crumbs fall on his head. Valora was tempted to laugh at him before scolding herself that this might be the first time he came to such a party.
"Is the party to your liking? My name is Marjorie Valora Antoinette, part of the noble that's holding this party," she asked and introduced herself, even accompanying it with a salute.
As Valora had predicted, he didn't know how to handle a salute and looked even more out-of-place. He finally realized her devious little game of making fun of him and decided to just roll it. "The party's wonderful, though I recommend adding more chocolate cupcakes. They're quite a hit right now, you know?"
"May I have your name?" she asked back instead.
"Anthony Brickell," he replied, bowing his head a little. Of course, the commoners were not taught about etiquette. He probably didn't want to try saluting because of fear he would look ridiculous, and Valora bet he would look very ridiculous indeed if he tried.
"Well, Anthony--you don't mind me calling you that, don't you?--we actually have more chocolate cupcakes. They're right over there, actually," Valora said to his earlier suggestion while pointing to a table a bit far from where they were standing, located more to the middle of the ballroom, but not quite exactly in the middle because that was reserved for dancing.
Anthony looked hungrily to the area she was pointing at before shaking his head. Then, he looked at her with a longing expression that perhaps would've been a good puppy-face had she not been used to such deception. "I can't go there. Don't ask; you know exactly why."
"Why not? What if I ask you to accompany me for a dance?" Valora offered instead, interested in this man. It was nothing romantic, though. She had realized long ago she had no interest in those kinds of matters and no one could change her mind about that, but dancing was still a crucial part of being a noble.
Now, the commoner in front of her looked horrified. "But, Lady Marjorie, dancing with me would surely lower your . . ." He opened and closed his mouth repeatedly like he couldn't find the perfect word that was just on the tip of his tongue.
"Reputation?" she attempted, to which he nodded with still gaping mouth. "Of course it will, but who cares? My house is already known as a mysterious one, mainly because of me. Guilty. But, I think it's more the fact that you cannot dance, is it?"
Anthony bit his lower lip in embarrassment, seemingly a habit that he already had for a long time. "Please do not make fun me, my Lady," he said.
Valora smiled. "Oh, I apologize. I did not mean to. It's just weird you would come up with such an excuse. Are you not listening? People are already calling me weird for talking to a commoner, but I think they're weird for making such a fuss about it," she stated, subtly motioning to the people behind her.
It appeared he finally realized. It wasn't hard to focus to their conversations despite the music, especially when someone practically announced to the world, "The host herself is talking to a commoner? I hope she's planning to drive him away."
It must be hurtful, Valora concluded once she saw Anthony's face change from one of curiosity to one of shock and hurt. She suddenly had the urge to blame someone before shaking her head internally.
"Anthony, come with me," she said, holding his wrist and pulling him with her. They wordlessly walked outside and Valora wanted to smack herself upside the head. This would surely be good for the front cover of royal rumors--A.K.A. it would be a very hot gossip. At least if someone asked, Valora could just lie about driving away a commoner like that noble said.
"Where are you taking me?" he asked when they were finally outside. "If you want to shoo me away, I'll just go."
From that point, Anthony started tugging his hand weakly. To be honest, Valora just wanted company outside, away from the boring party she never even wanted to partake in. It rained last night, so the ground was wet and uncomfortable to walk on. Despite that, she headed for the garden, curses.
"No. Just accompany me. I have food," Valora stated simply. Indeed, Anthony was not the only one who had packed some snacks in his bag. She was two steps ahead of him, bringing them in her very large pockets after stealing them straight from the kitchen. Her dress was designed perfectly for a little bit of harmless stealing.
The garden was a very large place. Flowers and trees everywhere. It was so colorful, like a more complete version of a rainbow, with colors ranging from white to black. Thankfully, they didn't have to step on the wet grass. There was already a stone path that led to the middle of the garden circle-shaped bushes decorating each side.
The morning air was fresh and calm. It reminded her of green scenery, but then again, that might be because they were in a garden. The Antoinette's garden was very well-kept--there being many people in their house, nobles and servants alike, and everyone enjoyed the garden.
Finally, they sat on the wet white chairs in the middle of the garden. Uncomfortable, but Valora didn't really mind. She was wearing a dress with such a color that even if it was wet, she wouldn't look like she just peed herself. Anthony, however, was a different story. It was very obvious how he didn't want to sit there, doing this half-sitting, half-floating-his-butt-midair.
"Your pants are already wet and you aren't gonna go back in there again, are you? Just let it be," the noble said with a bored tone. She took out a lunchbox from her convenient pocket and placed it on the round table, which was also white to match the chairs, of course. "Here."
"So, why'd you bring me out here?" the commoner asked suspiciously, not making a move to even touch the box. And just when she finally sacrificed it for him. Sigh.
Valora tilted her head. "Boredom. Besides, it's always nice to meet new friends. All the people there are . . . fake," she stated before pausing. "I have nothing against fake people, of course. You commoners might not know it, but some people sacrifice so much to be who they are now." She motioned to the building, shining so bright from the windows. "Just to be what they're supposed to be--what people expect them to be."
"And your point is?"
Valora smiled. The person in front of her didn't look angry, more like suspicious and a little afraid, of what she didn't know. As far as she was concerned, the nobles and commoners didn't have many relations to each other, so she didn't have any idea why this man looked so scared of her. Maybe it was something else?
"My point is, it's difficult to find friends in their circle. What about you? What are you so afraid of, Anthony? I can understand the suspicion, but . . . What is that look in your eyes, the hidden fear?" Valora asked back with a smile. She rarely talked about one's feelings because people in the high society thought conversing about such things was weak and showed fragility. Valora personally thought it was curios.
Anthony looked surprised again, like he had just been found out--the second time. Then, he sighed, and his fear went along with the suspicion. "You're quite sharp, milady. Surely, you've heard of half-demons, haven't you?"