I took the boy's white coat that was stained with wine. Red wine was not a good stain for anything white.
"My lady, so you were here." Oscar who was looking for me a while ago was now in front of me. "Quickly, the party is about to start. You cannot be absent in the opening ceremony."
The opening ceremony Oscar was talking about was when the duke presents my little brother to everyone that is present. He will be announcing Alden as the heir to the Broderick Dukedom.
"I am sorry Oscar. I will go back right away." I said. "By the way, can you help me with this. I saw one of our guests had his coat stained. I know you are good with this." I smiled at him and presented my angelic smile.
Oscar sighed. "I understand my lady. You don't need to use your charms on me." He smiled and patted my head. "Is this boy a new friend you made just now?"
I pinched my chin in thought. "Well, I wish to make him my friend. So please help me with this, okay." I winked.
"Haha, of course my lady." Oscar chuckled. "I will do my best with this so that you can return it to him before the party ends."
"Thank you, Oscar." I smiled widely. "I know you do magic in this kind of stuff." I giggled.
"You praise me too much my lady." Oscar smiled. "Well get going. The master and mistress are waiting for you."
"Thanks Oscar." I waved my hand while running.
"My lady, don't run." Oscar added.
I was reminded that running is not proper etiquette for a young noble lady. Because there are many aristocrats present, I became conscious and walked liked a proper young noble lady should.
**
After using the bathroom, I quickly came back to where the party was held. The garden was now filled with people from noble families. I glanced around searching for Eric and Derrick.
"Where have you been?" I jumped at Eric's voice behind me.
"Eric, you startled me." I said in fright. "Where is Derrick by the way?"
"The party has started and so he was stationed to guard the perimeters." Eric replied.
Derrick was my personal bodyguard and knight, but in this kind of occasion he cannot stand by my side. The parties in high society only permitted people of noble birth to attend. Because Derrick's known linage was that of a lowly commoner, he cannot attend such gathering and can only guard nearby. His true linage as a high noble and one of the persons in line for the throne of the Alistaire Kingdom is kept a secret. Only me, Eric, and Oscar know of this.
"I see." I said with a sigh. "So, you are here to escort me big brother." I smiled sweetly at him.
"That is a given." Eric said indefinitely but his cheeks blushed in contrast. I giggled seeing him saying indifferent words, but his expressions are the opposite.
"So, you are the little miss of the Broderick family." I heard a voice of a girl. When I looked around, I saw two girls my age. One with strawberry blonde hair and light blue eyes, the other with auburn hair and light green eyes.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Maris Francesca Duplet." The strawberry blonde said with a curt tone and curtsied.
"My name is Artisia Juliet Ainsworth." The auburn haired presented herself more courteously.
'Duplet and Ainsworth? Two of the four great ducal houses.' I thought.
"It is a pleasure Lady Maris, Lady Artisia. I am Alyssa Yvonne Broderick." I presented myself courteously.
Maris looked at me indifferently and sized me up from head to toe. I was trying my best not to get offended with this little girl in front of me.
"Maris stop that." Artisia said meekly. "You are being rude.
"Well I am just sizing up one of my rivals for the crown princess title." Maris said. "You are not a threat to me Artisia so do not worry."
'This little girl is cutting my patience thin.' I thought to myself. 'To think that this Maris said she was aiming for the title and for the position as a fiancée to the crown prince himself. You can see her true intentions clearly.'
"What do you mean rival for crown princess title?" I asked ignorantly. "I thought the selection was over?"
"Well the selection was put on hold because you were not able to attend." Maris said with a raised eyebrow. "Well judging by your looks, you are clearly a threat to me."
Maris was speaking arrogantly towards me that I was getting quite irritated. Aristia was trying to warn her of her rudeness but Maris is only brushing her away.
"Excuse mis but you are acting quite rude." Eric, who was beside me, said with a cold tone.
Eric looked at Maris coldly. I can feel a menacing aura radiating from here. The two girls were stunned with Eric's sudden words.
"P-Please forgive her. She just talks that way." Aristia tried to defend Maris.
"I am sure that you have been thought proper etiquette knowing that you are from the Duplet family. But remember that you are talking to Alyssa who is someone of same standing to you." Eric said with a harsh tone.
"W-Who are you to scold me?" Maris who was clearly frightened with Eric's menacing aura stuttered with her words.
"He is my cousin, Eric." I said proudly.
"You…" Maris was about to refute when a boy with similar features to hers arrived.
"That is enough Maris." The boy said. He looks like the same age as Eric. "I am sorry for whatever my sister has done, she has been spoiled by our parents."
"It is fine." I accepted his apology.
"By the way, my name is Tristan Ashford Duplet." The boy said, "It is nice to meet you Lady Alyssa, Sir Eric." He took my hand and kissed the back of it as gesture.
"T-The pleasure is all mine." I was caught off guard with his sudden gesture.
"Well Lady Alyssa, I would like to stay but I can see that your parents are looking for you." Tristan said with a smile.
"Then we will take our leave." I said still flustered.
"Let's talk soon." Tristan gave a smile once again and left with Maris and Artisia.
Looking at the Duplet siblings, I felt some bad vibes around them. I would rather not meet them in the future.
"Don't get close to that Tristan." Eric said coldly. I guess he also felt something off with them. "I got a bad feeling about that guy." I just nodded, agreeing to Eric's words.
Eric and I walked towards my parents. My mother was carrying Alden in her arms.
"Alyssa, come. The queen wants to meet you." Father said.
Not far from where we were, I saw a beautiful lady that was dressed in gold. Father take a few steps with me in tow.
"Your majesty, this is my daughter Alyssa." Father introduced me.
"Greetings to the moon of the Argentine Kingdom, forever be the glory." I gave the proper greeting to the queen and curtsied.
"Rise child." The queen said. "Your daughter is quite a beauty Elessar. I am sure she would be much more beautiful when she grows up into a fine young lady." She complimented.
"Haha, thank you your majesty." Father said.
"Thank you for the compliment your grace." I said respectfully.
"By the way, where is the crown prince?" Father asked. I flinched with the mention of the crown prince.
"Oh, I don't know." The queen grimaced with the mention of the crown prince. She quickly covered her mouth trying to hide her displeasure, but I was able to see it before it was covered. "He must be hiding in a corner somewhere."
"I-Is that so." Father was taken aback by the queen's words. I am sure the queen's words was not to his liking, but the queen is still the queen and he cannot refute.
"I am here your grace." I heard a boy's voice from behind. It sounded quite familiar.
"Your highness crown prince Noctis." Father turned around. "I am happy you came to my son's birthday celebration. Oh, and I want you to meet my daughter, Alyssa."
'It can't be. Can it?' The voice I heard was similar the boy's voice that I have helped a while ago, near the man made pond.
I turned around slowly, and my eyes widened with surprise. The crown prince in front of me was non other than the boy I met a while ago.
'What kind of luck is this!' I screamed internally.
"Hello lady Alyssa, it nice to finally meet you." The crown prince said. He took my hand and kissed it. "I am Noctis Elliot Argent." He smiled sweetly at me that I felt goose bumps creeping behind my neck.
My plan was to stay away from the crown prince as much as possible. If ever I cannot avoid meeting him, then I will act aloof so that he will not show interest in me. But now he was showing full interest in me.
'You and your kind heart!' I scolded myself internally.
The crown prince before me radiated under the sun's light.
'I was the one that fixed his hair and arranged his clothes earlier, but why am I being dazzled now?' I was getting flustered by the twelve year old boy before me.
edited: nalyn