When people dream,do they know exactly when they started to dream?
Because the moment Cellentine opened her eyes,she knew she was in a dream.
The long red hair that glided to the waistline wasn't hers. The pale slender fingers that combed it wasn't hers.
Most importantly, there was amiror right infront of her and the woman reflected in it obviously wasn't her.
she was beautiful,though, the woman in the mirror.
She had a high cheekbones and a slender jawine that defined elegance,looming dark eyelashes and a pair of lethally gorgeous grey eyes. Her pale,usually fair,looked even paler today. Her lips were coloured cherry red.
Cellentine couldn't but gasp in a breather at the striking beauty in front of her. The face in the mirror, however, bore no sign of surprise. Even her hands kept combing monotonously as if nothing had changed.
"Of course. That's how it always is."
She was in one of those dreams again.
No matter what she thought or felt, she was merely reduced to a lingering thought in the corner of the body she has inhabitated now. All her senses were hers. She could fell the world,see the world,hear the world through this body. She was stuck inside the same situations as this lady with the same impression to react. Only she couldn't.
That's because Cellentine was only a parasite in these dreams.
And this woman whom she always embodied was the actual thing.
Cellen knew her name.
Azaelia Rosenwether.
She even knew how she was.
The knight of the bloody dawn.The hound of war. The poison lilac.
All titles exactly befitting of her. From the earliest times she could remember, Cellen had these weird dreams about her. But not just dreams. Almost every night, Cellentine would become Azaelia Rosenwether. And what followed were sleepless nights and a splitting headache as a six year old witnssed herself hacking slashing ,murdering and rummaging around in a bloody war fied littered with carcasses.
Most of her dreams were like this. Azaelia was either prepaaring for war or training for war or just plain i berserker mode.
But, today....she is waering a dress....and possibly make up.
Cellentine sighed in her mind. Maybe today won't be a nightmare.
Meanwhile, Azaelia clicked her tongue as she finished combing her hair. It now laid over her shoulder in a singlr graceful braid.
She stood up and studied her reflection.
"tch,this is quite the pain...but nothing to do.....THey didn't mke me a noble for nothing,huh. Especially since HE will be there....It's annoying, but I have to put on my best show."
She flashed a brilliiant smile at the mirror while she was at it.
"let's get this over with,shall we?"
..... ..... .... ...
"Ladies and Gentlemen!please welcome tonight's host, Baroness Azaelia Rosenwether!'
A mildly loud aplause rose in the room as Azaelia stepped inside the dazzlingly white ball. She silently scanned around the choked room. Too many unknown eyes followed her.
"They showed up more than I anticipated."
Azaelia smirked. Chin up. Tis time to initiate the formalities.
"Dear guests and fellow nomlemen!"
Her voice rung through once the clmour subsided.
"As much as I am awestruck, I cannot hide my ecstacy at your zealous reaction to my humblest invitation. Seeing so many of you gathered here reminds me of the sole reason I decided to put faith in this kingdom's agenda in the first place."
She paused for a moment to let them savour these words.
"If there is I regret at this moment, that woud be that my amenities can barely be counted appease your wuthering expectations: yet what I present i my utmost. I know this is being greedy-" She smiled ,"-but I do hope you will make yourselves at home."
A final bow and complicated curtsey to finish the topping.
"And may the Glory of Sabrik Empire reside within our souls."
No, it wasn't any mistake. The cheers indeed were much more louder this time.
"The first victory is secured..."
Azaelia muttered as she leisurely strided towards the refreshment counter. After her speech, the invited guests must have decided to give her a breather because the usually popular spot was oddly empty.
Azaelia had just leaned her back against the rows of glasses....
"Tiring, isn't it?".... A voice from beside her.
A finger twitched reflexively. The reply didn't loiter either.
"Your majesty," Azaelia turned her face with a smile that made her face muscles stiff...
"I ws thinking you would not be able to make it here today. Ah, there must hae been SOME pressing matter,no?'
The person in address smiled sideways.
"I couldn't possibly miss the possibly the birthday ceremon of the most influential figure in my kingdom,could I? You're usually so contained, but when YOU of all take the attempt to organize a social event, it would be downright rude to miss it out. And any sane person would know better than to irk you out. I would rather have my country be famished with hunger than make an enemu out of you."
Her hands clenced."Then, wouldn't it be more efficient to bestow the title of an earl at least to this extremely important person? That would be a much better way to flaunt your dedication."
The man smirked.
"you want more out of me?"
".... ... ..... "
"seriously?' was the thought that surfaced on Cellen's mind when she saw him bare teeth directly at Azaelia's face. She was a bit daunted by his courage to do it so boldly as well...even though it was a smie just.
However, a shiver went under Azaelia's skin after this exchange. Her gaze sharpened and when she spoke, her voice was beyond frozen.
"I thought we were over with this."
".... .. as you say-'
"No, I have told you already and I swear the next time I repeat this it will be over your dead body."
Azaelia stared at him coldly.
"There was areason why I swore alliegiannce to you. And you should be content that I have yet to walk the path of mutiny. But if speak nonsense like this, I promise I will be-"
"-Unforgiving"
Azaelia's eyes widened as the man finished her sentence before her. His eyes cold and blue latched on to Azaelia's own gray stare with tenacity that did not fall behind.
Their staredown continued and it was the man who decided to yield.
"many happy returns on your birthday, baroness. May the glory of Sabrik reside with your souls."
He raised a toast and silently drifted away.