I waited on my seat with Wendy and Sir Ulysses while the rest of the girls are waiting too, I remain silent and avoid any interactions, all I could think about is how long this night is taking.
The Emperor's advisor Sir Luther, went down with an imperial knights next to him, holding a red velvet box and bouquets.
"All the ladies will receive an honor in participating the performance, please proceed to the platform." Sir Luther said as I get up sighing and go follow the others.
I stand at the end near the curtain, couldn't bear the crowd, I impatiently fidget my cloak, watching the advisor award the participants with a long stemmed arm sheath bouquet of red roses, and gold rose pins was awarded to them.
"The most loved performer by the delegates, Lady Althea Lucine Agyros of Wisteria." Sir Luther called, smiling brightly as I raise my brow as innocent as possible, not showing I'm already expecting things to go this way.
Applause field the whole opera with some gasping and obviously just saw me for the first time today.
I was motion to go in middle front as I did and Sir Luther handed me the bouquet of red roses which is bigger than the rest, and was awarded with a rose pin but instead of just it being gold, the petals are made out of pure ruby stone, the stem and two tiny leaves are gold yet the leaves have emerald stones on it.
"The delegates would like to reward you in private, Lady Althea." Sir Luther said as I hum fidgeting at the pin that was attacked on my cloak. I was led down the stage, Wendy and Sir Ulysses quickly followed us while I'm being escorted by the imperial knights.
I was congratulated by a lot of people along the way, as I feel my heart race when we get to the floor upstairs where the delegates, emperor and father was, along the 4 other dukes and duchesses.
The eastern delegate is holding a flowering plant of red camellia planted in a white ceramic vase with gold floral patterns on it.
The red camellia.
"I didn't know the lady of Wisteria are being hidden in that dark castle like this! You're coddling your daughter too much, Aether!" The emperor exclaimed which startled me a bit, and was back to being aware of my surrounding.
I hug the bouquet tightly as I blink bowing to the emperor.
"It's an honor, to be able to play for your imperial majesty, the delegates and the dukes." I said timidly, trying to hold myself together, this body, really, it get's tired so easily out of nowhere.
"This humble child, who's your piano instructor? You played such a hard piece that everyone struggles to execute! This small child, the Wisteria has an outstanding heir apparent and lady." the Northern delegates said as I thanked mumbling, I blink and was suddenly pick up as I look as see it's my dad who put me on his left arm.
"It's Grand Duchy's honor, for all of you to favor and look highly of my children. She learned music through reading his brother's books, she wasn't formally trained by anyone." dad said which shock them by the fact that I wasn't thought, as the eastern delegates approach which snap me awake.
"We would like to bestow the lady a this plant from our country, it's red camellia." the queen of the east said in her language, as my father bow while I stare at the plant in awe.
It has so many flowers on it.
"It requires large amount of water, I hope the lady can take care of it well, we heard from the Grand Duke that you like plants, this rarely blooms and takes a decade but it's rewarding taking care of it and watching it bloom again." She said as I bowed which surprise my dad who held my securely, causing them to laugh.
"Thank you, your highness." I answered in her language which made her smile brightly.
I was handed with the various rewards from the delegates, which the Grand Ducal knights help me held it all.
I lean on my father's shoulder and just notice my brother, talking to the crown prince who's back is facing me.
If I didn't make it to try the magic circle tonight, waiting for a decade for the red camellia to bloom again wouldn't be that bad.
I just want to solve my awakening before the Sectre.
Before I get killed defenseless.
"Dad, can I go home now?" I mumbled tiredly as he hummed patting my back gently.
"If you don't mind, I'm sending my daughter back in the grand duchy." father said as the people around him agreed as he excuse himself and I close my eyes, pretending to be asleep, to avoid anymore interaction with other people.
"Get the carriage and send Althea back in the castle first, bring home her rewards and leave it in her room, she might look for it when she wakes up and ready a supper for her, I'm needed to attend the delegates supper with the heir apparent." dad instructed and pull the hood of my cloak over my head, as I was passed to someone which I already know it's Wendy, and someone took my bouquet from my grip.
Wendy and Sir Ulysses along with other few of our knights dismiss themselves and take me out of the boisterous place.
It took a bit while when we took the carriage and I pretended to sleep the whole time while Wendy is inspecting the rewards too as a protocol.
I was send back home and took a short ride till we reach the grand duchy, Wendy woke me up, I blink tiredly, opening my eyes and cling on her as she patted my back gently.
"Let's quickly clean you up and change to more comfortable clothing my lady." she said as I hum and was bough in to the castle, being greeted by Albert and Zola, who looks delighted to see knights entering with the rewards I received.
The knights comfortably tell stories to Albert and Zola till we react my room and Sir Ulysses open the glass door that leads to the glass closed balcony connected to my room, putting the red camellia plant down the breakfast table along the bouquet I receive from the event.
The rest of the knights put the gifts on the coffee table, I was led in the bathroom with Wendy and Daisy coming in and the rest of the people getting out.
"I knew our lady will surely be favored." Daisy said in awe while preparing my bath, Wendy carefully take the ruby pin, my crest, and earrings as she put it on a gold tray.
"Oh Daisy, if you're only there, my lady did well, the sonata sound even more beautiful played in the imperial opera hall, the emperor and dukes are all being envious of the Grand Duke." Wendy said, they continue talking while I yawn as they assist me with taking a bath and drying my hair.
I was dressed in my under clothing and soft white lounge wear with classic lace round collar, bell sleeve long cotton dress.
Wendy put me to bed as she brush my hair still.
'It's making me sleepier, stop it.'
I complain internally and pretend to sleep peacefully, hearing her and Daisy closing the lights and left, closing my door shut.
I shot my eyes open and look at the doorway.
I waited for an hour, making sure everyone is on their busy time, before I sit up and get off my bed quietly, almost everybody is probably busy having a supper at the cafeteria and chatting with Wendy which will keep her busier, and Sir Ulysses outside my door is not allowed to barge in except for emergency, he could only ask and talk to me by the door.
I quietly reach for my bag at the bedside to take out the aura book, the sharp tanzanite stone I stole from my dad's room back in Wisteria days ago, and the bottle of holy water that I got from the temple.
I walk quietly to the balcony and slowly push the curtain, I unlock the glass door with the key hanging on the left side behind the curtain.
I open it so silently, I don't even know if I'm still breathing.
The moon is still up and bright, I don't need a light to see my surrounding at all.
I put the things in my arms down the floor and quickly think of a way how to crush the red camellia easily.
I search around the room and stop on my track to find a purple-ish black labradorite ball with a gold stand.
It can work as a mortar and pestle to me.
I grab it from the bedside and sneak my way to the balcony, taking one flower of red camellia gently.
I sit on the floor, taking the labradorite ball off it's bowl like golden stand and use the it both to grind the red camellia flower in a rush as my heart started to pound harder.
I don't care if this goes all wrong, if I could solve my own issue with mana that no one can solve, I'd rather die trying that be killed by greedy people.
I finally finish grinding the flower which cause a vibrant red ink and grab the bottle of holy water, opening it and pour enough on the cup like holder, I just use my finger in a rush to mix it well, it did appear to be a light pinkish ink.
I immediately grab the book and open it, the letters and illustrations automatically glow and show up as I touch each page.
I found the folded page and pen it carefully, the illustration of the magic circle chowed up along the instruction.
I began drawing the magic circle on the marbled floor at my balcony using the concoction of holy water and the red camellia flower I made.
I made sure to not miss a single detail and accurately draw it, big enough and where the moonlight shines on it fully, till I used up all the ink completely.
I put the book down the table with the labradorite ball on it's stand and grab the sharp tanzanite stone.
I look at my right hand, cutting my palm recklessly which made me wince and hold a cry from the burning pain.
My blood drip down the middle of the circle, what made me almost jump is when the blood spread through the magic circle on it's own and become a white light.
"Lady Althea? Are you still awake?" I heard Sir Ulysses asked but I ignored and lay down quickly in the middle of the magic circle.
He definitely heard me, he's a knight after all, he have good senses and mana enough to feel magic.
The light engulfed me, everything started to hurt, I want to scream but I couldn't,
My mind went blank and completely shut.