After dancing for a while both Prince Rudo and I were tired and due to some business he had to attend to, he left the room, leaving all the attention on me.
For a while, I distracted myself by looking around the ballroom to see if anyone was wearing the pendent that Loki had described to me, but it was to no avail.
This was when I began to notice the stares more and more.
It was uncomfortable as always but thanks to Prince Rudo, it wasn't as bad as if had been before. The only stare which bothered me, however, was that of Ellie.
She bore holes into me without holding back.
I couldn't help but wonder why... I even wanted to go up to her and ask but for today, I wanted to stay as far away from Ellie as possible. It was Ariadne I was looking for but sadly, she didn't appear in my sights.
This was the strangest thing since Ariadne was the one person who, in the game, seemed to love and thrive in events like these. She was a beautiful woman. And despite her hair being a shade of brown, she still stood out as a beauty.
In this world genes which would be considered recessive or impossible to achieve without dying one's hair were common. Hair colours like blue, green, pink even, could be seen in any village. However, hair colours like black, blonde, and brown we're ones which ran strong in royal or noble blood. Especially blonde or platinum.
The more golden your hair was, the more regal you were perceived to be.
It was a shallow society...
Whilst playing the game, though, I didn't pay much attention to that. Ellie had golden hair, she was thought to be a beauty amongst beauties and despite being bullied for it, it was obvious her life would only go up from there.
But Ariadne who only had brown had was always mentioned more than Ellie.
The fact that Ariadne wasn't here yet was strange and beginning to weigh on my mind. By now, I had seen her father but she was nowhere in sight. Was I crazy? Was this not actually like the game world I knew?
With that thought I went to look for her and when I found her, Ariadne stood outside.
She was walking around on her own with worry in her face. It was like she was deciding whether to stay or whether to go.
And when I approached I began to head her whispers.
"What do I do... life... Ellie..." she said. Some words I could hear, some I couldn't.
Hearing Ellie's name, a strong protective Instinct almost overcame me. It almost controlled my body into jerking forwards towards Ariadne and doing who knows what. But I controlled myself. Instead I walked up to her slowly.
"You know Ellie?" I asked with curiosity.
Hearing my voice Ariadne turned around brusquely. Her long brown hair almost whipping me in the face and for a moment, particles of water began to form in the sky. She was drawing the water out of the air.
"What?! No! Why could I know her!" Ariadne practically screamed in panic.
The water particles sharpened.
Seeing that, I put my hands up in the air and said, "Okay! Okay. I get it. Please, could you calm down."
Ariadne was puzzles for a moment and then she looked around seeing the water in the air, ready to attack. As soon as she realized this, she forced herself to calm down and I knew she was calm when the water plopped on the floor.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm so sorry!" Ariadne said.
And with that said, I felt my eyebrow furrow. This was not like Ariadne. In the game she was arrogant and spoiled beyond belief.
"Not to pry but... why were you speaking of Miss Ellie. Where you talking about Ellie Van Strident or was I mistaken?" I said slowly and politely.
Ariadne's face paled. " I-I... it's nothing."
I nodded. Not wanting to agitate her too much, I smiled.
"You're Ariadne Fritz right? We'll both be attending the same academy I see..." I said simply.
Ariadne nodded.
Most girls were sent to school for only 3 years. Unlike men, they usually developed their abilities late and so, at 15-16 girls were introduced to society and then they attended school during the next school year.
"I know this might be strange and forward of me, but would you like to be friends." I said.
Ariadne froze due to my question. Then, she said, "Im sorry but you are...?"
I was taken aback for a second. I thought by now, I would have been famous at this ball. But it seemed like Ariadne had not stepped foot inside.
I tilted my head but I tried to hide my shock nonetheless.
"My name is Cecilia Ashington, daughter of the Duke of Ashington." I said simply and formally.
Ariadne's eyes widened and then a murmur came out from her mouth, "No..."
I frowned.
No? Why not? I wondered. Was it because I looked Anwarian? Or was it something else...
Ariadne seemed to notice my questioning eyes and so, she composed herself slightly.
"Ah... no. I didn't mean no to your question from before... I meant that I had just assumed you were an anwarian Princess." Ariadne said a bit nervously.
I laughed a bit. It sounded more bitter than I had expected and so I stopped and then smiled a bit sweetly and said, "thank you... my mother is closely related to the royal family of Anwar but to call me a Princess is a bit much."
Ariadne laughed but as since the moment I had met her, it was a bit nervous. She was unable to hide her emotions.
Had something happened to her since the commencement of the ball? The Ariadne I knew was a confident women without qualms.
I thought and thought but I then realized I didn't know anything about Ariadne on the night of this ball. The only thing I knew was that that night Ellie would meet Prince Ilya and this would trigger her first ability.
Having this thought cross my head, I paused.
Had Ariadne perhaps witnessed this?
From what I had seen from the game, Ellie had been consumed in a golden light when this happened. The light which would signify the coming of a new queen. And Prince Ilya had been immediately taken by her...
Was this Ariadne's way of being worried since by now, she had already had her sights set on Prince Ilya?
I was curious but no questions left my mouth. I shouldn't know any of this. I shouldn't even be talking to Ariadne. I was always a supporting character who never conversed with others. My only role was to protect and die for Ellie.
I felt my head lower slightly and gloom fill me.
"A-are you alright?" Ariadne asked.
I paused for a moment and then I touched my head and nodded.
"Yes... it's been a really long night. I miss my home."
"Me too..." Ariadne said as she held herself close. There was a dark glint in her eyes. It was a mix of many emotions but the one which dominated was fear. Completely and utter fear. And it crept towards me slowly and for a moment I could feel it too. Twisting and turning into itself. Amplifying by the second.
I felt sick.
Feeling this, I suddenly began to pray I hadn't just acquired the ability of empathy.
I would hate that.