It's already the day after the Sectre, the results are immediately finalize and sorted, the list of passers are currently posted at the academy's main gate for the public to see.
Everyone is probably at the academy, while I, on the other hand, is just leisurely playing piano at the main hall at home, while casually lounging in my white square neckline with flounce, middle virago sleeves, empire waist, tiered flounce hemline knee length dress with silk wine colored belt and my white tights and white silk shoes.
Wendy is just sitting next to me while braiding my half of my hair to twisted braids and brushing my hair as she pleases while listening to me play endlessly.
Dad and nana are currently in the palace for their work, I'm currently by myself here since my brother is needed in the academy, he said he'll just return with my test result and I'm more than alright with that since it will be crowded in the academy with everyone's excitement of knowing the results.
It will be broadcasted on the news paper, I'm sure journalists and photographers are outside the academy too.
"It's such a beautiful piece." Wendy sighed as I mindlessly played Schubert's Ave Maria.
I lean against Wendy who stroke my hair and Daisy suddenly approach to put a cart of glasses of cold brewed lady grey iced tea and brownie treats, and distribute the snacks to the servants with Madam Zola and Sir Albert who are gathered at the hall as my audience along Sir Orion and Sir Ulysses.
We don't treat our servants and knights poorly, they're family to us whether it's in Wisteria or here in the Capital.
Every time I would play piano here in the hall they'd gather around to listen like my personal audience.
In this society, attending an opera and broadways for entertainment is one of the privileges only a noblemen can afford, music boxes are expensive but cheaper than watching live shows.
I don't mind them watching me, I love how they appreciate and genuinely enjoy listening to me play with their auras showing shining bright yellow and pink.
They're drinking and eating leisurely while I continue playing piano to my heart's content, playing another musical piece of Tchaikovsky, Rose Adagio.
I was too immersed playing when I sense another presence nearby, once I ended the play, applause and praises were showered on to me as I smile and look at the door way, just as I expected when the knight come running to the entrance, interrupting us and bow down deeply in front of me.
"My lady, there are unexpected visitors outside, they're being held outside the draw bridge, it's Baron and Baroness Birsha with their daughter, we keep on insisting to let them enter without showing any invitation but they're demanding for the entrance saying they're relatives that want's to visit the lady." The knight, Sir Yurin spoke stiffly as I hum leaning away from Wendy while Sir Albert put his glass down.
"Really-" Wendy, Sir Ulysses and Sir Orion all gritted in unison which made me raise my brows in amusement and the three of them sighed flustered and frustrated by the situation.
The Birshas have been forcing me to be close to their daughter, it's getting overboard with their timing, they only stopped about years ago attempting to go without the elders, when dad investigated the people in Wisteria grand duchy to find who's giving them information.
"Report it to the grand duke, start a search and investigate every single person here in this castle, there's someone tipping them information that shouldn't be known easily, deny their entry." I said dismissively which made the people around me tense and worry with their bright yellow aura turning grayish with anxiety, as the knight bowed.
"I'll shall heed your command, my honorable lady." Sir Yurin said brightly as he left and I stand up from my seat.
"Madam Zola, evaluate the servants, every single one, especially the newly hired ones, Sir Albert, get someone trustworthy to report to my father this instant, and gather the knights at the main bailey." I called as the old lady stand up putting her glass down the tray and the maids stand up quickly too.
One maid caught my attention with her fiery orange and murky yellow green aura.
"You three pickup the dishes and line up to the lower bailey, the rest of you follow me." Madam Zola with her aura turning red in anger, lead the anxious servants who all bowed as I nodded and they all start moving and left, while Sir Albert bowed and the knights putting their glasses to the maids.
"Sir Harrison, go report to his grace, the rest of the knights, to the main bailey." Sir Albert appointed and commanded as they all bowed courteously with purple auras and go.
When everyone left me with Wendy, Daisy, Sir Ulysses and Sir Orion, I stand up closing the fall board as I get off the seat with Wendy and Daisy assisting me.
"I'll follow Madam Zola." I mumbled as they nodded and let me lead the way with Sir Ulysses and Sir Orion following us.
We walk our way out of the mansion and headed pass the main bailey where the knights are all lined up neatly.
They're all loyal to the grand duchy as far as I can see, I only let them investigated to make it seem fair to the servants.
We proceed to the lower bailey where all the servants are lined up, there is that one maid freckled red head maid, Sienna, why didn't I notice her sooner?
Younger sister of Malina's exclusive maid, Serin, who were appointed as her servant in grand duchy at Wisteria when Malina was announced as my replacement for the candidacy.
So even in the capital I'm still bound to encounter these imps in disguise of humans.
The servants bowed seeing me as I stand up the platform where Madam Zola is bowing too as I dismiss the old lady who stand dignified.
I stare at the bright orange haired freckled maid intently, her dark brown eyes look up to me anxiously and flinch looking back down the floor.
Her fiery orange and murky yellow green aura turning even more greener and murkier.
"All of the newly hired come forward." I called as 13 presented themselves one by one.
4 new gardener's apprentices, 6 newly hired laundry maid, 2 new errand boys who are twins who both have their light brown hair and blue eyes matches but the other has a short hair while the other one has longer hair, and Sienna standing at the last end on right.
"You have nothing to worry about, please do understand that I only want to remove people with loose tongues in my vicinity who recklessly reveals what's going on inside the grand duchy, especially with my family not around, I'm the only one in charge until my family returns, I want to deal with this issue effectively soon." I said sighing as I sense the worst presences I've ever felt, intensifying to dark murky green by the porticullis.
The new comers introduce themselves one by one, as I nodded and they stand straight, they have a bright purple and pink auras, except for the orange haired girl who's unstable aura reeks.
"Come forward, what's your name?" I asked as she flinch, rushing to go in front and bowing down deeply.
"I-It's an honor to meet the honorable lady, your highness, I'm Sienna, 15, I've only been here for 3 months." she said hesitantly at first, as I hummed trying to control my senses, her aura really reeks badly.
"Where is she assigned?"
"My lady, she's Romina's assistant, Romina is the one in charge at looking after and preparing the cutleries that are designated for the lady, we hired more servants recently since your return to serve you well." Madam Zola said which made shivers run down my spine.
Assigned to look after my cutleries.
And Romina, the poor loyal servant who was falsely accused of treason along Wendy and caused our grand duchy capital's head chef Gregor to suicide, who's wedded to Romina.
Chef Gregor and Romina moved to the Wisteria, after the grand duchy of Wisteria's head chef Javier took a month long vacation when the old man's son got sick and was on a life or death situation, there's no one else to look after his son other than chef Javier himself so dad honor him a month off to the Temple of Hyperion, and took in chef Gregor and his wife Romina.
It wasn't the time yet where I'll be poisoned.
If I let this course be, I can prevent the unpleasant incident happen, yet I'll still be in danger and the culprit will not stop till my people protecting me, get killed, just so they can infiltrate the grand duchy.
"Stand straight, you don't have to bow that low." I muttered, holding her right forearm gently which made her flinch and shot up straight with eyes wide, left fist against her chest.
She suddenly turn pale as I frown hiding my amuse stare, using auramancy, reading her aura that connects to her deep thoughts, she's anxiously planning to escape.
I absorb a quarter of her aura which made her gasp loudly, falling on her knees weakly.
I quickly gasp putting an innocent façade, holding her shoulder while the other maids quickly rush and help, while Sir Orion and Sir Ulysses prepared their swords on their sides defensively.
"You should have told earlier you feel sick! Bring her to your quarters and get the doctor immediately." I ordered with voice full of concern as they bow quickly and knights quickly responded to my orders.
I stand up watching them take Sienna while I turn to the servants with a sigh rubbing my forehead.
I turn around and walk next to Madam Zola who's still waiting for my signal, I lean over her ear since she's bowing down a bit anyways.
"Watch the orange haired girl, restrain her in the servants headquarters along the rest to make her not panic and try to escape, make those two knights who picked the girl up guard her door until my father and grandmother returns." I ordered which made the old lady nodded.
"I heed your command, your highness." Madam Zola said as I go and dismiss myself.
These outsiders trying to infiltrate my home really entertains me in this life.
They're only fooling themselves if they think I can be fooled in this life.
I shouldn't let my guard down, this just shows me I must never not use my aura sight just because I trust that I'm protected.
One manage to slip in because of my recklessness.
Now that I've been awakened and I'm going to take it to my advantage to the extent.
I headed to the library upstairs, going to my usual spot while Sir Ulysses and Sir Orion guard the door, while Wendy and Daisy accompany me in as I lay down the alcove, looking at the side where there's a glass window where I can oversee the garden.
I was too about to fall asleep out of exhaustion, when I sense another presence nearby, I turn and look at the door way, just as I expected when a soft knock interrupted my rest and Wendy get up from sitting on the couch to the door and open it slightly.
"Madame Louisa is asking for an audience, she's outside waiting." I heard a voice of Sir Yurin while Wendy turn to me and I nod.
"Only let the professor enter."
It only take a while as I sit up and take my shoes off hugging my knee, just as my professor come in, running which taken me aback and even Daisy and Wendy scramble to greet her and make way.
"Your highness, oh my God, why aren't you at the Sectre?! Everyone is looking for you!" she gushed handing me the red envelope from her hand which seem a bit crumpled on the sides from her grip, her aura is too bright yellow and blinding.
"What is this?" I asked with a frown, not minding her lack of courtesy but she caught on to it immediately and bowed deeply.
"I-I'm so sorry about my imprudence, I was just too over joyed, it's the final result of your tests-"
I open the envelope and take out a red paper with golden seal of the empire and academy with the final result of yesterdays academic exam and mana test.
I aced both of the tests with the highest scores, I'm at the first rank.