HOW PECULIAR ―― ever since lillian had returned from the empress' palace , she couldn't stop smiling , and was acting very weird . she wouldn't let ambrosia get anywhere near the garden , and kept her trapped in the recreation room . not just that , she had also dressed ambrosia very beautifully .
haa . . . sighing , ambrosia plopped down on a big fluffy cushion placed on the floor . what was the point of dressing up ? her birthday wasn't really celebrated after all .
and she didn't really mind it , after all it wasn't like she always did something special on her birthdays .
but the small gestures of the maids itself were enough for the girl . it was more than anything anyone had done for her in past and she was happy .
from door left slightly ajar , she could hear the other maids excitedly whispering to themselves , mention of the new empress coming more often than not .
the new empress , as ambrosia had expected , kept to herself . at first the princess had decided to charm her just as she had done with all the royal palace's staff , but when arriving in inca empire ― the rumours about the beaufort princess being a wicked woman scared her . to add to that , when faced with her father's bride , ambrosia couldn't help but feel the rumours were true .
she'd smiled at the older woman to wish her luck ( along with her brother , sir reynold ) and she didn't even smile back ! she looked cold , and distant . not to mention her presence wasn't one of a friendly person either ; persephone beaufort was an intimidating figure who seemed to have a wall of ice surrounding her .
so when the new queen decided to keep to herself and not pay ambrosia any mind ― and was slightly relieved even . better indifferent than hateful ― she thought .
but this . . . had the empress gained the staff's favour ? The princess wondered , insecure over the fact that her six years of hard work would be gone to dust if she decided to take the staff on her side .
tch ―― lets not think about it for now ― at worst , i will be left alone . that wouldn't be too bad ; ambrosia mused , carrying on colouring the portrait of herself and felix she'd been working on since two days . it isn't like she felt dejected on being ignored by everyone on her birthday anyway .
the afternoon passed fleetingly , and ambrosia gave up on waiting for the cake and usual wishes and dozed off on the floor with the portrait she'd been working on stuck to her face .
it was the soft whisper of lilian that woke the princess from her slumber , with light shaking .
" your highness ? ― your highness ,, please wake up . " the nanny sweetly urged , picking a mumbling toddler from the floor into her arms . sleepily , ambrosia held on lilian with her arms tight , her face hidden on the nanny's neck .
she found herself falling into the slumber once again , but it was the cool breeze that hit her face that brought consciousness back to the little girl , albeit slowly .
rubbing her fist against eyes , the princess yawned and raised her head from its hideaway in lilian's neck , met with . . . twinkling light ?
azure eyes widened at the spectacle in front of her , the trees decorated with twinkling tinsel , all the staff of ruby palace gathered together and a big chocolate cake with lightened candles placed in between .
" HAPPY BIRTHDAY ! " they all chanted in unison , surprising the slack - jawed girl . she gasped , clasping a hand in front of her mouth and instantly reddening up .
lilian laughed and placed the girl down , handing her a neatly wrapped present with a gentle smile .
" happy birthday , your highness . " ambrosia blinked , surprised still , eyeing everyone who urged her to cut the cake .
it was unlike anything , and ambrosia couldn't help but beam at the simple yet sweet arrangement . the group chanted birthday song as she cut the cake , and it was then she noticed the empress standing beside antonius with a faint grin of her own .
once done with cutting the cake , persephone approached the little girl who was practically jumping with joy .
" happy birthday , princess . " she wished , kneeling to ambrosia's level . extending her hand , she held up a small pendant in front of her .
" this isn't as refined , my apologies , but it is a mana stone with healing magic that i crafted myself . I hope you like it . "
she accepted ghe gift , speechless momentarily . antonius chimed in from behind " my apologies , princess . I couldn't get a gift for you ― since i was planning on going with his majesty . "
The princess furiously shook her head , violet eyes wide as saucers " this is more than enough ! sia doesn't need any more gifts ! " to which antoniuslaughed , adding .
" i wish i could take the credit for this your highness , but it was the empress who planned all of this . " lilian who was standing beside him , quipped in .
" planning this party was the reason her highness called us in the crystal palace yesterday . apparently she heard about your birthday from the servants and wanted to give you a surprise . "
ambrosia , touched , looked at her stepmother with wide eyes . persephone in reply , simply shrugged with an awkward smile . before she could say anything , small feet trudged towards the empress and the princess hugged her with all her might .
" thank you thank you thank you ! " persephone simply laughed in reply , with the tension between them eased , lifting the little girl in her arms to carry her towards the celebration .
the group of people rejoiced on their own , happily singing . their hesitation around the empress eased away when persephone suggested dancing , and demanded lilian and antonius to start .
it was a beautiful spectacle , joy obvious on everyone's faces in the dim glow of the magical tinsel .
azazel watched the scene from the window of his bedchambers . his entire figure a stark contrast to the view of ruby palace's garden ― being bathed in the darkness and stench of alcohol that surrounded the room .
wordlessly , he turned away , pulling the curtains over the glow that seeped in from his window .