"My lady, it's time to wake up, we have to dress up quick for the banquet today." Wendy chimed as I groan opening my eyes.
She reach for me and pick me up as I lean against her, in reality, I'm scared.
This is the first banquet I'll ever attend no matter how small it is, I was forbidden to attend one before due to my selective mutism, it's to prevent trouble, mostly avoiding the Imperial family since it will be consider a huge disrespect to not greet them back if they initiate a conversation, especially in public.
"Do you feel sick anywhere, my lady?" Wendy ask worriedly as I shook my head and she sighed "We'll give you a bath, but the breakfast is on the way so eat first." she announce just as the maid Noel, a girl with pale blue hair and brown eyes entered with a cart of my breakfast.
After I was fed with squash soup and bread, Wendy take me to the connected bathroom to my room.
I was bathed and polished well, the soft and fresh floral scent was left on me, nothing like strong headache causing perfume.
Everyone is so busy running around, it was loud but not that bad with the aura I can see, it's all bright and yellow with excitement.
I was dressed in an undergarment, followed by a light and fluffy petticoat, lastly my tailored dress by Forema, it's white high neck dress that has a lace ruffles, inverted triangle collaret with white small floral embroideries and lace ruffles and puffed cuff long sleeves, the skirt reaches just right bellow my knees and hiding it with fluffy ruffles on the ends, it is indeed as light as Miss Soilla said, it has a big white ribbon at the back too.
I was assisted to wear a white stockings and the white silk shoes that Miss Gizelle crafted to my comfort and matches my clothes beautifully, it doesn't have any uncomfortable risers and has this beautiful floral details too just like my dress.
"You look like a little light fairy that I've only heard in commoner's fairytale plays, my lady." Martha, one of the maids complimented in awe causing me to blush, flustered.
"My lady will grow up to be the most beautiful in the empire, she already is." Noel the other maid said exaggeratedly while Wendy hummed in agreement enthusiastically while combing my hair.
"Your hair looks beautiful as it is my lady, let's only put this one." Wendy put the white laced bonnet on my head, it was crafted to match my dress by Miss Soilla too.
Wendy carefully tied the ribbon around my neck, enough to have the bonnet sit securely on my head, and help me put on my round gold earrings with round cut diamonds on it.
After I was dressed up, I still feel a bit sleepy, I hop out of the chair and walk aimlessly.
"My lady, where are you going?" Wendy asked with a chuckle and amuse tone, my childish side is out of control, as much as I remember my 18 years of life before I died, whether it was a dream or a reality, this body is too young and has it's own need and function, I can only do a little yet think big.
So far, I always have a nightmare of how Malina killed me, only Wendy can wake me up in the middle of it and read me stories till I sleep peacefully, so I couldn't really get a proper long sleep.
I was rubbing my eyes when I bump into the wall making me stumble aback and landed on the floor.
"My lady!" Wendy called while I was lifted up off the floor, I immediately wrap my arms around the neck of whoever lifted me with my eyes half shut.
I can only sleep in my dad's office while daytime without the maids presence.
"M-my lord, welcome back." Wendy stammer as I hear a soft hum just as I frown and turn to the face of who's carrying me.
A younger version of my father, he seem softer unlike my father who is the renowned warlord of the country, same jet black hair yet fluffier looking, golden eyes that ducal family inherits consistently, fair skin and taller than his age, wearing a white shirt with black tie and matching coat and trousers in black too with his leather shoes.
He's supposed to be 10 this year but he looks like he's already in the stage of puberty, a grown sprout, exactly the same when I first met him since he's been gone to academy when I was only 2.
"I'll take the baby with me." my brother said as I lean against his shoulder and he look at me with a poker expression.
Yet he can never hide his aura from me, that pinkish red aura that contradicts his stature.
I know my brother doesn't hate me.
"Yes, my lord." Wendy obeyed while a familiar boy was following my brother that I've never met before at this age.
It's a year early right now, it should be next year.
Brown fluffy hair and amber eyes, wearing a knight in trainee uniform which is compose of small Wisteria insignia made out of iron which symbolizes as a student knight, he's wearing a white shirt and wine reddish purple trousers and a sword on his belt.
"Greetings, my lord." the boy greeted as my brother wave his right hand dismissively.
"You forgot to greet my sister, Paul." my brother called out as the boy seem visible shaken and eyes wide open.
"S-Sister? I-I, Good morning my lady!, I'm Paul Eadric Terezia, second son of the High Clerist, Viscount Terezia, I'm one of the 10 chosen scholars under the grand ducal and an apprentice knight, I serve as Lord Dritan's right hand man in training." I blink realizing it's Paul, the same holy knight who follows my brother around just as much as the Crown Prince from the rumors, a funny rumor about a love triangle.
In reality they're just all boys who grow up in the same dormitory at the academy and became close friends.
I awkwardly wave and chew my bottom lip anxiously.
"Did you cry?" my brother asked, making me blink while I rub my eyes and shook my head.
"The lady just lacks of sleep, my lord, she's been having nightmares lately, it's only natural for a child her age." Wendy explained briefly while my brother started walking followed by everyone.
He lead the way walking pass the workers who greeted us fondly while busy double checking the banquet hall, he took me downstairs and walk his way to the left side of the castle till we reach the garden, my late mother's exclusive garden that was meant to be a gift for me.
"Get us some snacks and a cold tea that will suit my sister's taste, we'll be at the conservatory, and do give us some privacy, we'll call if we need anything else." My brother ordered as Wendy bowed and go while Paul and the other servant obeyed too, leaving me and my brother who continued to walk.
We walk pass the massive fully bloomed Wisteria tree, the exact spot where I was killed, sending chills down my spine.
I blink the nightmare away, holding onto my brother tightly who pat my back ad we reach the botanical conservatory made out of glass and pure gold pillars that has a protection magic which was casted by my mother the moment it was done being constructed.
My brother opened the door as we enter and was greeted by all sorts of various floral plants which is still well maintained by our gardener for sure, Mister Kristof who has a small vitality attributes that only works on plants as I remember.
There is a marble fountain in the middle and a vintage golden tea table with 2 seats on the side of it.
"Isn't it beautiful?" brother ask as I nodded in agreement, feeling the pleasant warm ambiance.
My brother put me down the chair and have me seated as I let go of him while he place the other chair next to mine on my left and take a seat while we're facing the fountain.
His aura, it's a shade of blue and pink.
"Do you still recognize me?" he asked cautiously as I look up to him and nod, feeling my heart heavy.
'I'll come back in a few months, Thea, quit crying, it's just a small argument of two countries we only need to talk to them so they'll stop bothering the people at the border. I'll come back with a cake you like again, I promise.'
But he was a little too late.
"B-Brother!" I burst into tears and hug him making him squirm and chuckle while leaning down and hug me back.
"You've been lonely all this time haven't you? You grew up well, Thea, mother must be happy." he mumbled reaching for my face and taking out a cotton handkerchief from his pocket and wipe my tears away gently.
"It was so scary, scary." I cried my heart out in frustration, not saying anymore than that while my brother hummed chuckling shakily and quickly wiping his eyes where tears were threatening to spill.
"Still a baby, I see." he muttered and caress my cheeks warmly, just as Wendy entered with the sweet tea and the food.
It was a red velvet cake.
"I heard from Rupert that you've been having snack breaks at father's office lately and enjoys sponge cakes a lot so I thought you might like this, it's called red velvet." he said stroking my hair and fix my bonnet, while Wendy smile fondly at us as she slice the cake which made me immediately calm down and the lovely scent of the freshly made cake taking over my senses and losing control over my childish side.
"For me?" I asked hesitantly as my brother hum nodding and he take a big table napkin to put on over my neckline that covers till my knees.
"I ask Rupert to get one for you, just eat enough so we can have all the sweets that will be serve at the banquet later, how about that?" he said as I nodded obediently and Wendy serve a slice on my plate and one for my brother.
"Can Wendy have one too?"
"My lady, you don't have to-"
"I was just about to ask, Wendy, have a plate too." my brother said brightly, making Wendy sigh and could only obey with a motherly smile, then take an extra plate and a slice.
"I can't say no then." she mumbled making me giggle while my brother hummed chuckling.
We carry on the whole day catching up.