The day go by so fast, it's already the time for formally welcoming the delegates.
The ladies my age are all ready and wearing a same exact yellow ballerina dress and shoes, only their hairstyles weren't coordinated.
They're all from the family of aristocrat fraction, with Talia on the same group.
There are 3 groups, one where Talia is participating, second group will perform a piano and violin piece wearing a color coordinated red outfits, the last group will sing in their black and gold color coordination.
I'm the only one who doesn't have a group, I'm by myself.
And I'm alright with that, I don't like working by group.
I did feel a little out of place and under prepared, I'm still wearing the same dress I have this morning and my military cloak, my bonnet was the only thing missing at Wendy keep it in the carriage.
They will perform in the middle of the palace concert hall.
The place looks almost exactly like an opera house embellished with jewels and gold, there are seats on balconies, my father and brother are on the same floor with the Emperor and the crown prince along the other delegates and below them are the nobles and aristocrats.
"My lady, just do what you can, the Grand Duke said if you don't wanted to continue then we can go." Sir Ulysses said as I sighed deeply and look up to him.
"I don't want the imperial highness to scold my dad for not making me participate." I said as he hummed sighing deeply and obviously more nervous than me while Wendy look visibly nervous too with her trembling hands.
There are people from academy too, I can see Madame Louisa along the other academy professors who are part of the nobility too.
I watch the performance, the group of kids singing started, they actually did really good and everyone applauded.
I was startled when Talia show up in front of me and hastily greeted me.
"It's a pleasure seeing you here, I heard you weren't feeling well so we take in consideration of not inviting you to join the dance." Talia said while I tense seeing her murky green aura.
This child, is only 7 years old and is already full of greed and envious against the 5 yeas old me, who only met her once at the banquet of my own territory.
She really thinks just because I'm younger, they could outcast me.
"I would decline immediately if I was invited even in good state, mind if you reintroduce yourself to me, I'm not the best at remembering people I rarely encounter." I said smiling, pointing out her flaw which startled her and stare at me in surprise, as I lean over her left ear.
"The Grand Duke and the heir apparent are watching, in case you weren't made aware." I added threateningly as she courteously bowed quickly.
"I apologize my lady, I'm Talia Monique Melba, niece and adoptive daughter of Marchioness Calista Melba. We met at the banquet in Wisteria Grand Duchy, if you don't remember." she said with her hands trembling as I look down on her long enough to make her a bit unstable and almost lose her balance.
Her aura is getting murkier.
"Ah, yes, I don't, is that all? You're blocking my view." I said harshly for the first time as she dismiss herself and fled with her fists clenching.
"M-My lady." Wendy called hesitantly which shaken me up as I look up to her and she sighed smiling gently.
Sir Ulysses have an unreadable expression while Wendy looks at ease, yet their auras are both purple and powdery pink, they're not mad at me for being rude.
"That child dare outcast the Grand Duke's daughter." Sir Ulysses spoke threateningly which will probably look scary to others, I only rely on their auras to read their mood, Wendy looks disheartened from what Sir Ulysses said.
"Don't mind them, it's a waste of time, Sir Ulysses." I mumbled making Wendy gasp in shock while Sir Ulysses drop his jaw.
"My lady, I'm limiting your visit on the Grand Duke's office, you're picking up his grace's way of speaking." Wendy assumed while Sir Ulysses choke a laugh, covering his mouth.
"Daddy said, if someone dare disrespect Thea, remind them who your father is, and ask them if they value their lives enough." I said trying to mock my father which made Wendy squirm covering her mouth in amusement from laughing.
I wasn't lying though, my father really said that to me before.
"Dear God, and here I was, uselessly worrying about how people might harm our lady." Sir Ulysses said laughing silently, good thing the audience are all upstairs and couldn't hear us here below with the speaker blasting music.
I shrug and watch the stage again, it's Talia's group's turn as I cross my arm and watch her intently.
Her murky green aura stinks and the scent spread worse as she dance, this is why I want my ability to be awaken for me to be able to control it, the nauseating smell of bad auras, it makes me want to throw up.
The performance went bad, Talia was way too distracted and out of sink, I could only watch in amusement which visibly annoyed her, once they're done, they bowed with the audience applauding weakly, as the curtain shut and they get off the stage.
The last one I wasn't really expecting, but wasn't so shock, is when the curtain open, Malina, is in the stage in red and black gown with a bunch of roses attached on it, the rest of her group looks like a background with their gold and black color coordination.
Either she, or her parents intentionally made her dress up like that to stand out.
It's so obvious.
I watch as they play a simple 10 minute piece of classical song.
Malina as a child was raised and brainwashed by her parents and aristocrats when they found out that she could be my replacer for the crown princess candidacy, but what they didn't expect was the crown prince turning everyone down.
She missed a note which made me frown and her groupmates almost messed up too because of that, I hate having sensitive senses.
I feel less nervous now that I realize, this is all children, I'm basically the only adult one on my child form.
I performed on so may recitals in my previous life, I could do it again and again.
Once the short performance ended, Malina smile so proudly standing up as I catch her glance at me and her green aura turning murkier, just like Talia's.
I stare at her back, just as they were ask to get off the stage and the curtains was shut.
I stand up with Wendy and Sir Ulysses who assisted me at the back stage where we walk pass the group of girls with their nannies, they all bowed as I walk pass by which was so awkward.
"I'll hold your cloak, my lady." Wendy said but I shook my head and look up to her.
"I'll keep it on." I said as she sighed smiling and nod just as the black grand piano was polished before I was ushered to go.
I ignore Malina and Talia's wide eyed stare as I walk pass them and head my way to the center, I could only pull my hair off the cloak from being stuck, stand in the middle of the stage, gulping as the curtains was pulled open.
I did exactly how I do in recital, letting the lights blind me as I courteously bowed first, then proceed to the recliner seat and sit.
I didn't waste time and started playing the 3 acts of the Sonata of Heart of Forever Maiden with will take me about 20 minutes to finish the whole piece, starting with the slow tempo which is the first.
The whole academy staffs are here, might as well impress them too to secure my spot on the academy if I ever find myself in need to learn magic if I ever get awaken.
Everyone applauded thinking I'm not gonna proceed to the next act but I carry on, to the second part, the coda, letting myself play it freely without a care, hearing a couple gasps.
I finish the second which cause a loud applause but still proceed to play the last tailpiece, which remind me of what Madame Louisa said, no one dared ever deliver these 3 acts of sonata in one sitting, and the last piece alone is the hardest even the academy's best music scholar couldn't successfully do the third.
I finished the song, finally, earning a deafening applause as I stand up walking to the front, seeing I earned a standing ovation, I courteously bowed and glance at the people of academy who all have a bewildered expression except for Madame Louisa who's still in awe and proudly clapping.
If she only knew that she was the one who taught me piano in my past life and my music teacher in my previous modern life.
I headed off the stage and most of the kids have bright auras and genuinely congratulated me on my performance while some have murky green, not just Talia and Malina who are both seething in the corner.
I thank them and smile kindly, then left to go to Wendy and Sir Ulysses who are both so bright it's almost blinding.
"Hearing you play that piece on the stage full of people watching gave me goose bumps my lady!" Sir Ulysses said as Wendy cried emotionally and tried to compose herself.
"The late grand duchess reminds me so much of you and her love for music." she said trying to fan herself, gushing as I oh and smile at Wendy.
I heard that from her before, but it was when I played a music for her in my room after learning the first composition I studied.