There he was, the young Duke of Oncidium, a prestigious national contributor called as the Sword of the Empire! I didn't need to ask anyone around me, because I knew. It was said that he had a heart like a diamond and if you crushed it, the cold and clean blood that resembled the pure water from the top of the Mount Eclamen. The peacock who was said to have a cold personality and integrity, but his face unexpectedly quite funny in some aspect to my opinion.
"Where is Emily now?" "She was at the back of the banquet hall with the 2nd Princess' attendants." Bell and I tried our voices as low as possible so the Empress Dowager unable to hear us. "Tell her that I'm looking for her," I whispered. "Yes Your Majesty." While Bell exited the hall, I observed the Duke of Oncidium in more detail, but suddenly a loud trumpet announced that it's dance time. People stepped on the center with their own partners one by one. "Your Majesty, will you give me the honor to dance with you?" Suddenly Noah approached and politely waiting for my permission, but instead of answering, I reached out my hand as he gladly held and kissed the back of my hand then escorted me to the center of the hall. Everyone split themselves as if they were the Red Sea and paved a way for us to be the center. Lobelia partnered with the 1st Prince, while the Empress Dowager partnered with one of the elder noble. Soon the Waltz's song came out. It's the song the Noah and I practiced dozens of time a day over the past four weeks.
"How do you feel about attending your first party after a while, Noah?" I asked him. "I'm glad that I still fine. Isn't this your first time, Miss? I'm glad you look good today," he answered with a smile. "Thank you. I'm more happy because your dancing skill is getting better," I teased him and Noah laughed shyly. "Look. The noble ladies are looking at you. Miss Roxanne just stepped on her partner's feet because she was looking at you." "Don't lie to me." "I'm not. See for yourself," I insisted. Noah made a swift and smooth turn while holding on my waist. "I don't know because I can only see Miss," he replied and smirked. "Noah, where did you learn this kind of comment?" I asked playfully. "I don't know," he replied as he smiled. The turn was made smoothly again and the dance ended. Soon afterwards, applauses poured out here and there, and the orchestra stopped playing, I returned to my seat and Noah returned to his place, we separated and back to our original positions, as a Princess and her Knight. "Thank you for the dance, Sir Noah." "I will do my best, Your Majesty." When I returned to my seat, I felt a tremendous feeling from a man that passing by my side. It was a threatening , 'What are you doing here?' feeling.
As the dance time ended, I felt better again when I saw Emily stood by my side, and it's the time to punish this traitor. "Emily, why did you not join the dance?" I asked her. Emily smiled awkwardly, making an excuse, "I was looking for a cool drink so I've filled the glass with a champagne." Emily continued to speak, "Catherine and Bell have returned to the 1st Princess Palace." "Why?" I asked. "The 2nd Princess gave Her Majesty Poinsettia some gifts so they went back to organize those," Emily answered. "Okay."
I noticed the filled glass of champagne that Emily had been holding, I wondered what's their plan this time. "Emily.." "Yes Your Majesty?" "Why are you still holding the glass? You filled it full because you want to drink it, right? Drink it," I told her. "Oh no. I just..." "I told you not to let me to repeat my words," I cut her words. Emily stared at the glass quietly, her hand trembled. "Make sure to drink it all up," I reminded her. Emily who hesitated for a while, placed her lips on the glass tip, closed her eyes tightly and had a sip. "Wouldn't it be a waste if you left that much?" I asked. "Drink it all." By now I could noticed that she put a drug into the drink. Emily looked at me like a puppy, "Her Majesty..." "Why?" "Can I go to the bathroom?" Emily asked. "I don't have Catherine and Bell, are you saying that you want me to be alone?" I asked in an anger tone. "No. No..." I watched her carefully, it was me who sent those two back and because so I couldn't left my seat yet. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. Can't we just go back?" Emily asked desperately as she twisted her legs trying to hold in. Suddenly I heard a loud noise coming from Emily's stomach, so it was a diarrhea medicine.
Just in time, the sound of another trumpet announced a new dance time. "Emily, it's a pity that you never danced in this party." "Y--yes?" "I saw the Duke of Oncidium that you really want to marry. He is really a handsome man," I said. "Y--yeah.." "You. Bring the Duke of Oncidium to me now." Emily was contemplating and tried to stop me but the maid who I ordered already on her way to see the Duke. As much as I wanted to flame her jealousy on, but thanks to the backfire plan, I didn't have to and it's a perfect way to end this traitor for good.
"It's so nice to see you at this wonderful evening, Duke of Oncidium. No wonder this kid is so interested in you. I couldn't resist her wish to dance with you because she's the child I truly care," I spoke to the Duke. He hesitated for a moment then accepted my suggestion and reached out to Emily. She looked like want to run to the bathroom so bad. But on the same time, for the first time in her life, she received a dance invitation from the Duke of Oncidium. After thinking, Emily finally grabbed his hand and headed to the center of the hall. "This is going to be fun."
Emily could barely took off her feet and began to dance. Every time the man's hand touched Emily's waist, an intense abdominal pain stroke her. As the Duke of Oncidium, he noticed there was something wrong with her. However, it wasn't that long when the music was over. Time passed and the orchestra was at its peak.
"Ahhhh!!"
It was the scream from a noblewoman who was dancing right beside the Emily and Duke of Oncidium. Soon after, the music stopped and people moved away with their noses covered. Only two people was left on the center, they were Emily and Duke of Oncidium. He stared at me with a sharp gaze, while Emily fell down there and started crying. After saw what happened, the Empress Dowager was furious and left the hall, followed by Harold. With her eyes, Lobelia cursed at Emily before she followed out as well, 'You couldn't handle a single job properly!'
I was being left alone, I beckoned to the who stood by to blow the trumpet to announce the closing. "We're deeply sympathized with the unpleasant thing that happened in this sacred Imperial Party. Hereby, tonight I announce to end the party. We'll see you for tomorrow's party." The nobles bowed down in unison to greet me out. Catherine and Bell followed me from the mess heading back to my room.
"This is bad. Tonight I'll have to take a bath with a lot more perfume than usual," I uttered. "What will happen to Emily now?" Bell asked. "At least she won't show herself tomorrow," Catherine replied. Suddenly I remembered something I discovered from the party. "Are you two familiar with perfume?" I asked. "What kind of perfume, Your Majesty?" Bell asked. "At first, I thought it was tobacco smell then I smelled teak and musk scents were mixed. But at the end it has an orange scent," I explained. "Ah! You mean Blanc Homme Eau De Perfume," Bell claimed. "Is this a common product?" I asked again. "No. It's a legendary product that you can't buy even if you have money. You have to wait a full year to get it from a craftsman. There are only 3 people in our empire that have this perfume," Bell answered. "Who are they?" I asked. "It's His Majesty Emperor and His Majesty the 2nd Emperor.." "Then the other one must be the Duke of Oncidium," I cut Bell. "That's right. How do you know?" Bell asked. 'So the owner of the smell who passed by me on the hall was him. No one wore that perfume tonight and it's not even the Princes.' I thought to myself and suddenly without me knowing, I smirked.
"It'll be a fun day tomorrow," I uttered. And the 2nd day of the Winter Blossom Party was approaching.