Straight jet black hair flowing in the wind reached her hips. She had big sharp eyes that had the color of evergreen forest and pale skin. She looked like a woman straight out of a painting.
"Why do you keep on insisting on me?" She looked annoyed when Sebastian persuaded her to join the king at the banquet which was about to be served.
-"Who might she be? Did Lord Sebastian have a sister? How come I never knew?"Numerous thoughts and questions
about this mysterious man flooded her mind.
By that time she did not know that the mother and son were looking at her.
"Are you perhaps lady Nirvana?"
"Huh?"
She came back to her senses when Lucrezia questioned her out of the blue.
"Ahh!My apologies!" She panicked feeling guilty about unintentional eavesdropping.
"Lady Sloane? What brings you here?" Sebastian followed the woman behind.
"I just came here for some fresh air since the palace is suffocating," she replied.
"Hmm! You are a straightforward person.No one has the guts to speak ill of royalty." the woman smiled.
"Are you perhaps...?"
"Who me? I am this Lord's mother." She said proudly.
"This person is my mother Lady Sloane. And the second wife of the 'late' King Charles the first."
Gasp*"Your Highness!"Sloane immediately humbled herself respectively.
"You damn brat. You want me to become a widow at this age?" she snapped back at him.
But Sebastian continued to ignore her nagging.
"Pardon my arrogance, your highness. I thought you were Lord Sebastian's older sister. I am Sloane De Nirvana of house Nirvana."
"Pfft. Do I look that young?"
She giggled.
" So you are Sloane. You were easy to recognize since you are a spitting image of Azriel. Sebastian dear, she is the one you mentioned to me am I right?" Lucrezia was head over heels after meeting her.
"Mother I prefer if you come along inside. It is getting cold outside."
"Ah, the banquet! Well, let's hurry up before the mad king draws his attention to us."
-"mad?"
"Please forgive my mother's rash behavior. She is lately stressed out with her duties as the queen in the palace."
"I never guessed she was your, mother, Lord Sebastian. It took me a while to figure it out. I thought she was your sister." Sloane said awkwardly.
"Well, you are not at fault. She looks too young for her age." He replied looking at the night sky.
"But she is a great mother."
"She is the only family left." He explained.
-"He despises his father and brother? What did he go through?Gasp*He is a prince?!"
The night sky was clear studded with twinkling stars in the darkness. The crescent-shaped moon gave out dim light while the breeze blew lightly through her hair which was tied up in the usual high ponytail.
This was a peaceful moment for Sloane. She was so immersed in enjoying the cool night that she forgot everything
around her.
"Lady Sloane!Lord Sebastian?"
Jack came out on the terrace witnessing the two standing side by side.
"Milady?"
"Jack! What is it?"
"The...banquet.The nobles have gathered at the tables."
"Shall we go?" Sebastian asked.
She agreed and hurried back in followed by the boy.
He glanced back at the sky one last time and followed them inside the hall.
"Ah!Lady Sloane."
After dinner, a familiar voice called her.
She looked around seeing a woman in a green ball gown approaching her.
"Baroness Günter! It's been quite some time."
They exchanged greetings.
"Yes, it has been."
"You were amazing during the exam."
"Why thank you, madame. Our hard work paid off."
"Indeed, I feel like my daughter would have accomplished what she was after."
Sloane was silent at this comment. She yearned for children.
-"She must have been lonely. She doesn't even want to get married."
At that moment she remembered what she wanted to ask from her.
"Lady Elise Gunter! You said that you will help me whenever I was in need."
"Y-yes I did say that. And I am true to my word."
"I request you to grant me a favor."