The ball was extravagant. The ballroom itself was just as grand as one would expect. The ceiling was painted with pictures of beautiful angels and demons, dancing with each other across clear sky. Gold and pearl embellishments of flowers danced down the marble walls and to the dark blue velvet rugged floor. The steps of the grand staircase were made of marble with the floral gold railings shone brightly from the magic shining in the air. Magical fire was used in the grand chandelier, dripping in diamonds. Each diamond reflected the light and shone the huge ballroom. The Imperial family was the sun of the Aethran Empire, as well as the darkness and moon with the Archduke station. The Imperial palace reflected their bright bloodline of the story of Diana and Riaville. The Imperial palace designs was as such to almost encourage that thought. It was so bright, it seemed to cast any shadows away. Blue, white gold being pasted everywhere. Black, red and silver purposely being missing from anyone, except for some of the guards. Imperial guards of the Prince and the Archdukes legion were guarding the entrances. All those in a tight black military uniform with gold buttons on the left side, with a red wolf insignia over their heart. None of the other nobles flitting about would wear red or black, leaving me the odd man out. They tried to made me look like a fool who thought she was appealing, while also branding me with supposed unlucky colours. Out of all the beautiful noble ladies who had their hair decorated lavishly in mostly buns and ponytails, my hip long hair flowed freely around me. Despite being so openly branded and different, it was like I was invisible. I was actually quite happy for that, as I was still drained. I wasn't able to collect all my mana, so a tiredness weighed down on me. I kept an eye on Agatha's movements. Most eyes were on her, decorated heavily in jewels and satin. She was dressed in almost pure white, her skirt looking like petals off of a rose. Even though this was Lady Ophelia's debut as a woman, Agatha seemed keen to steal the spotlight. The close the the floor, the petals started to fade into the signature shiny navy blue of the Empire. Everyone was wowed by her, but I was disgusted and annoyed. I truly felt like a villainess because I wanted to see her crumble to the floor. She wasn't my target this time, Ophelia was. My tired eyes scanned the crowd. I remembered from the novel that Ophelia had lavendar hair and bright blue eyes. She was almost beauty without compare unless against Agatha. There weren't too many girls here with lavender hair even though the colour was popular in this world. Blue and green eyes were still rare, so rare I barely saw anyone else with different. I held my fists together, the powder safely tucked into the end on my long sleeve dress. Even though I was in a sea of people, I could feel eyes on me watching my every move. The Count had spies and support everywhere, so trying to keep track was next to impossible. Instead I kept my head up tall, hoping to give Mercy a little bit of justice. It was hard since I was just over five feet tall, and in these old heels hidden by my dress I was barely five four. Everyone else towered over me and I wanted to almost shrink away but I forced myself to stand strong. In my previous life, I often made a fool of myself to make children to laugh in a pediatric ward, so having to walk through this crowd was difficult. It wasn't children laughing and smiling, but powerful adults sneering down at me. I held back the embarrassment and fear in my throat and I searched for my target. I knew immediately when my eyes laid on her. She positioned herself closes to the end of the staircase since the Crown Prince nor Grand Duke had arrived yet. She was a picturesque noble lady of these times. Long straight lavender hair pulled back into an elegant ponytail. A soft and adorable face that looked like angels crafted it. She was wearing a loose and flowy pale purple dress, the train of it having a second layer of tulle fabric decorated with flowers. The dress hung from her shoulders gracefully, with the sleeves opening like bells and flowing. She was chatting with a group of noble ladies, giggling and having a good time. That was until her eyes passed over me. Despite Mercy being a innocent victim, her family had destroyed her reputable. I could see her pinky happy and anxious aura turn black when she looked at me. The girls stopped speaking and a few nobles around us glance out way. I respectfully curtsied and nodded go a irritable Ophelia.
"I greet the honorable lady." I nodded towards her and I could see her feeling go pink hut her aura flash red with a speck of rage. She hated seeing me.
"Miss Roswell, how are you?" She said sweetly, an expert at hiding her anger. She waved me over. I knew it was because she wanted to hide evil and nasty words with a sweet way but I knew would be to mock my humble origins. I couldn't give her the time too, since I knew I was running on it borrowed. In the original novel, the Crown Prince arrived at eleven o'clock with the Grand Duke and it was currently quarter to eleven.
"I am very well thank you milday," I mustered and angelic smile, imbuing it with a tinge of pink mana. As my words raced towards her, the pink aura of them splashed like pain against hers. Just a tinge of affection, and her aura because confused and distorted. You could see it on her face, she was clueless how to respond. My practice had paid off, despite me only being able to work on this with only air. I needed to figure out how to isolate her. The disgust in all of their eyes were evident, and I knew they were waiting for a moment of weakness. I refused to crumble, keeping steady eye contact with Lady Ophelia. I pointed my mouth to her and burned mana into my lips.
"You look absolutely lovely Lady Ophelia," I was like honey, my pink tinted words pushing into her skin. Her black aura now striped with pink and her face lit up ever so slightly.
"Oh, thank you Lady Mercy." She seemed flustered, but the word Lady through me temporarily off guard. I tried to play off my faint shock as a smile of sincerity. I don't know if it worked. I was always a good kissass, but I was usually not a good liar. More pink bubbles floated across her aura and she left out a soft smile. The tension seemed to fade a bit and more nobles went back to prior gossip. Even the girls around her were tinged a bit pink. I was known to be standoffish and rude, so I think they were waiting for a back handed comment but I stayed smiling.
"Congradualtions on your twentieth birthday Lady Ophelia. I wish you all the happiness for this next year." My lips were burning as my mana passed through them. I could feel the warmth in my chest burn more. I was concerned my face would appear flushed but as if I hit harmony the pink words tickled the other ladies and mostly dispersed the gloomy auras.
"Is that the Counts half-baked daughter?" I heard a woman's voice whisper. I flinched a big, and they began to nibble more.
"The one who was born of a prostitute?"
"I've heard she's a nightmare."
"I heard she beats her sister."
"Poor Agatha." The voices swirled around me and I had to catch my mask of sincerity from falling. The other girls looked a little uncomfortable but I stood firm.
"I apologize if I caused a fuss Lady Ophelia," I bowed my head to her causing more murmurs, "I appreciate your infinite patience with me." The clock was ticking and my mana was wavering. I was even having a bit trouble breathing. She waved her arms as is to hit my words out of the air.
"No trouble at all Lady Mercy," She wavered with her words for a but but he aura was still stained pink with affection.
"I actually came over here because I overheard Viscount Parker telling his daughter Selene that the Crown Prince was going to be here at eleven." She visibly perked up. Sheepishly I pushed some strands of hair becoming my ear to act shy. I could feel their auras vibrate happily in response to my look. Instead of being stunningly beautiful like Agatha, Mercy had her strength in looking pretty and adorable. Doe eyes, high cheekbones and a heart shaped face my face was more pinch your cheek adorable than drop dead gorgeous. I had go use that to my advantage.
"I wanted to know if you wanted to go to the balcony and watch the carriage get here." Her face instantly flushed and she couldn't stop herself from nodding vigorously. I held my tiny hand out to her, my bell sleeves dropping down with the black ruffles.
"Let us go Lady Ophelia." I smiled sweetly. As if entranced she reached out and grabbed my hand, abandoning her entourage. I managed to let myself breath, my face flushed from mana usd. I was hoping to pass it off as a simple flustered from talk of the imperial carriage arriving.
"Thank you so much for telling me Lady Mercy, I very much so appreciate it." The equivalent of how she was bouncing and celebrating like a exacted K-Pop stan in my workd would do. I nodded as her eyes were sparkling with excitement. I kept my cool as we approached the terrace, feeling myself staring to break down and get a bit jittery. I could feel eyes on me, and even Ophelia's fangirling couldn't drown out the stares. We finally got to the balcony and the cool air flush across my face. We made it just in time to see the moonlight shining on a blue and gold carriage riding down. Ophelia was squealing, but I patiently waited until we got to the marble railing as she was jumping in joy. That was went I let my mask drop.
"Ophelia," My voice was so sharp I instantly snapped her out from her fangirling. My sudden change would have given anyone whiplash, but one also under the influence of my mana would stun them even more.
"Listen to me carefully of you don't want to die," Her eyes widened in surprise and she stared at me in disbelief.
"How dare you threaten me you--" I looked to her and it was like something clicked in her made her understand my tone.
"I'm not threatening you milady. In fact, I'm trying to save your life."