The palace is in a lively atmosphere before the Vacarella set foot on the ground of the Palace. The Duke scoffed at the sight of overdressed women and towards the nobles at each other's throats. Their carriage soon stops and they all looked at them curiously to whoever family is inside.
Astonishment, is the first thing they can see in everyone's eyes when the first one to get out was the Duke, in his suit. A rare thing to see however, the next scene surprised them much than his appearance
"Careful"
They rubbed their eyes to see if it wasn't a hallucination. The Duchess was pregnant, it was the first thing to sink to their minds and the Duke was being gentle with her.
Then the kids goes out from the carriages. Wren on the other hand felt uncomfortable from the gazes she's getting. She can feel their stares behind her back. She dismissed it by thinking of them as potatoes.
Two knights then blocked their path. They must have death wish—thought Wren as he glanced over his brother. He had that thin smile on his face while looking at the knight, enough to make him tremble.
"Why did they block the Duke?"
"Did something happen?"
Lady Mavis glances over her shoulders to see the murmuring crowd. The Duke then asked, "What's the meaning of this?"
the knight trembled on the Duke's question but still answered, "I was o-ordered that..."
"On whose order," it wasn't a question. It's demanding an answer from the knight. A man approaches them with a monocle in his left eye and with a cockish grin he said, "I'm the one who ordered to stop you from entering," The duke clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Elijah Bright, Marquis and an Aide of the Emperor. With his intelligence and gathering information he worked under the Emperor also the Duke's friend
"Marquis if you don't explain what this means I will cut you..." or maybe his enemy. It wasn't clear what their relationship was.
"His Majesty wishes to see the young lady first before entering the hall." Wren looked at Marquis Bright with mouth agape. For Wren this is her first time seeing an outsider talk like this to his father and making him angry. Without a thought she wants to recruit the marquis at her home.
Duke Vacarella eventually looks at her daughter with disgust. How come someone like this to like Elijah?
A very wicked then appeared in his mind and dusted off his shoulders before gently patting Wren, "Very well. I leave her to you."
however Wren did not take it seriously as she was rooted to the ground before her family left her there.
---------------------------------------------------
Brother Caesar was supposed to accompany me. How could he leave me here with a person I haven't met or no. But I do give him credit for talking to my father like that. Anyway, I kind of expected this from the day he sent that letter.
The Marquis then led me to a room, after opening the door I saw a golden hair fluttered freely in the air as he stood up with excitement upon seeing my face.
"Your Majesty, Young Lady Wren of Vacarella has arrived," Marquis Bright said. So that is the emperor. He looks nothing like Zairon at all.
" Wren Vacarella greets his imperial majesty"
he raises his hand, "Rise, Bright you can go out"
Marquis Bright lowered his head then left me in this room. These people sure like to leave people behind without any second thought, then again, the emperor seems friendly by how he looks.
"How are you?"
"I am fine, Your Majesty"
he smiled at me, "I heard that you will be my son's partner," I almost bit my tongue to stop whatever I am going to say.
I can't risk saying that I don't like him to be my partner.
"yes... unfortunately," the last part seemed like a whisper and the emperor seemed to have heard it after all he gave me a warm smile.
"did he do something rude?"
yes, your majesty. He just called me ugly a long time ago. But I have no intention of telling him that.
"No, Your Majesty. He was nice to me."
he then looks at my dress and his smile widens, "you look lovely in your dress"
he's smiling as he complimented me. Hehe, Zairon does not take after his father at all.
Then someone knocked on the door which made the Emperor grin more.
"It looks like he arrived. Come in"
my jaw dropped when he appeared wearing the same color as mine. I see, that is the reason why he complimented my dress. He and the 1st Prince must be in cahoots for this.
The emperor saw that I was glaring at him which made him laugh, "I'm serious about my compliment earlier, Young Lady Wren."
"anyway, the guests might be waiting. Let's go"
He said, standing up. Am I gonna follow these two?
"Hurry up," Zairon said after closing the door behind me.
"for your information, I was forced into this," I pouted and looked straight.
"..."
His silence even more annoys me. The emperor seems to find us entertaining by suppressing his laughter.
We arrive at the venue and there are knights stationed outside.There is a woman with a crown on her head and beside is a young girl. The empress and the only princess of the empire.
"You are almost late"
"Happy Birthday Zairon"
His sister greeted him and he gave a cold shoulder. She's used to this for sure because she's still smiling so wide that it could rip her face. She then turned to me, beaming with expectations.
"Wren Vacarella greets her imperial majesty and her imperial highness,"
"don't be formal we might become a family after all!" I shuddered at what Princess Alissa had said. Really, what a bad joke.
"His Imperial Highness, Her Imperial Highness,..." the loud announcement made everyone in the room to lower their heads and said in synchronize, "We greet the sun and moon and stars of the empire"
I'm shocked when Zairon grabs my wrist and lets it rest in his arm.
"what"
it wasn't a question at all. It sounded more than a threat to make me shut up and go along with it. Alright, he wins only for this time.
Long story short, The emperor gave a short speech about today. In his speech he said that he has some important news that he would share later. I was startled when he looked at my place and winked. That kind of wink is so untrustworthy that my system trembled in horror.
I can also sense many eyes staring behind my back. It is the feeling that someone is talking about you. No wonder that there are many things that they gossip about because not only me entering with the prince and the imperial family is already a gossip. Thankfully there hasn't been a bloodshed. Seeing that my brother is smiling while emitting black aura.
"the Duchess is stunning especially with that dress"
"I wonder where she got that dress"
"I heard she got it from Dina's. It was recommended by the 1st prince"
"oh my, I didn't know that they were close. Maybe what they were saying about the young lady and the prince is true."
stop whispering because we can still hear you guys. Besides I have no interest in dying early.
"Oh, Did you know what happened with Madam Helia?"
"Yes, apparently she insulted a young lady in Vacarella"
"I knew something was bound to happen to that horrible lady"
everyone agrees to what she said. I look behind and to see the three ladies talking and probably acquaintances of her as they spoke about her like they knew her very well. It seems like the countess is not very well-liked in high society.
"because of Madam Helia the count loses all of his business in three days and most of his fortune is transferred to Duke Vacarella. He blames his wife for it"
*If she hadn't insulted a Vacarella she might enjoy being a noblewoman till her last days. I even heard that she and her staff lose their tongues"
how fast the news flies that this is being gossiped on such an important day.
because I am Zairon's partner, I am seated beside him. This is awkward and I hate how i can see everyone staring at me. I looked back and saw how bored Zairon is. I used this chance to leave my seat and go to where Yessenia is.
I arrive where my siblings are. and there is Yessenia grinning while stuffing herself with cupcakes.
"you're back," doesn't sound like you want me here.
"did you greet his highness?"
I frowned and looked around before answering her in a whisper, "no"
her eyes grew wide as she dropped the cupcake on her plate, "you must greet him!"
"It can't help if she doesn't want to," just where did my brother come from?
"I haven't seen the 1st and 2nd prince," Laxus said while roaming his eyes around the room, "They are late" Caesar said and sighs
"our parents?" I asked when I noticed that none of our parents are here.
"They have something to talk about with Countess Holton."
after a while of watching everyone dance for a long time, someone tall stood in front of me.
"your highness...?"
he smiled which made me shiver. I looked around and saw their expression, they were surprised like me.
He looked behind me and said, "Oh, you were here. Good Evening"
"Your Highness, are you feeling fine?" my brother asked but instead he gave us a grin. I take back what I said that he nothing look like the emperor. If he smiles more often everyone will see the resemblance.
"it is your chance to greet his highness," She nudged me and I feel like he heard what Yessenia said. I stared at him while he was talking with my brother. There is something off especially the way he looks at me.
"Let's talk outside my lady"
my lady...?
Caesar instantly declined in my stead which the prince purposely ignored him.
"I will support you cousin," I rolled my eyes towards Yessenia and looked at Zairon. He's walking outside the door.
...
---------------------------------------------------
under the moonlight Prince Zairon's hair gleams as his hair flutters with the soft wind. He did not speak even if they were left alone in the garden. Wren clicked her tongue silently when the prince said, "I apologized for older brother's behavior, my lady"
He said in a calm voice that even Wren flinched. This just proves her hunch as she lowered her head, "Wren Vacarella greets His Imperial highness, 1st Prince, Prince Asterion"
The prince eyes were surprised. Not anticipated that the Young Lady will be the one to uncover his disguise. His first aim was her brother, Caesar. He was trying to see if the Young Lord is a genius as they say but right now he thinks otherwise.
"Ha... I never thought that the young miss would be the first one to notice"
'Sorry if I disappoint you, your highness. But you are the one who gave yourself out'
Wren thought as she calms herself seeing the magic wears off. His blue hair is slowly disappearing, revealing his golden hair. His eyes revert back to golden. Wren is thanking the heavens for having this night because the first prince can't see her reaction.
She was in awe and satisfied upon seeing the first prince and she was even talking to him.
"How did you find out?" Prince Asterion asked her after. Wren jumped slightly with the realization that the Prince was curious about her. She recollected herself and said,
"Prince Zairon is not a fan of troublesome things. Besides..." Wren trailed off thinking about something childlike to add, "he hates me to the point he called me ugly. So, smiling at me is giving it away"
He scratched his head and chuckled, "it seems that I got overexcited that I forgot to mimic even his attitude"
Mimic. An advanced magic spell which allows you to copy someone completely, the only flaw for this magic is that, it will wear off when someone figures your real identity.
"Hahahahaha!" Startled, Wren looked at Prince Asterion with curious gaze and wondered.
"I am now... entirely..." his golden eyes looks at her, "Curious"
Wren is now fidgeting behind her as she weakly smiled. Wren had forgotten the fact that the 1st prince is always curious to whom he finds entertaining per Caesar's description of him.
"Hmm... did you try to use any magic?"
"Huh?" Wren was taken aback with his sudden question
"As you know... Since the foundation of the empire, mana has been discovered..."
It is said that the goddess gave part of her powers to humans to help themself during the war with the demons.
As a result, humans won and peace stabilized at that point. The first mage they knew was from Aurea bloodline. It was said they were graceful and dignified in using magic. For then on, Mages spread and that was the start. Many scholars and geniuses study the magic, forms of it, and that is what we have today.
Why is he telling me so? A short, sharp pain course through her forehead as she stared dazely in front of Prince Asterion who was smiling widely, "Some didn't bless to have mana...."
"Your Highness, my brother might be looking for me, so please be straight to the point..."
despite Wren's warning he did not comply, thus he turned his back.
"You should try using your magic or else you will wear..." he stopped in his sentence, loud and hurried steps from a far then a familiar one shouts, "WREN. WHERE ARE YOU?!"
"Heh," She looked behind to see Prince Asterion grins wide. He turns away, stopping mid-way only to look at Wren, "Practice magic or that talent of yours will be useless"
He then looks at the right part before vanishing into the air, "I hope you like my gift. It is late because it is supposedly to be your birthday gift"
it is suspicious especially for Wren as she had trust issues already because of the Twins.
"Wren!" Caesar pulled me and checked her body. The prince has disappeared completely.
"let's go inside. Everyone is waiting for you because there is something to talk about"
those words terrified Wren as she started to sweat.
*****
"they are still kids, Your Imperial Majesty," The duchess said, brows furrowed as she sighs.
"besides, my daughter did it on a whim. I feel sorry for the prince," the duke seconded as he looks at the boy in front. Queitly sitting while listening to the adults.
The emperor who was listening sat back and listened once more when a loud and clear voice interrupted and said,
"Mah, they are not going to be married right away right? So it will be fine"
Everyone in the room stared at the boy who freely eats a round grape in his mouth. His opinion wasn't liked by the others, specially Zairon.
"Another thing Father. It seems that the young lady does not have any wishes to marry my brother anymore when we talk earlier."
both the duchess and duke jolt at what the prince said, they never thought that their daughter would meet the 1st Prince let alone having a conversation.
but then both of them have a grim expression as they look down upon a possibility on how they met.
'It seems my daughter has been tricked by him'
meanwhile the duke, "then this means that there will be no engagement or whatever"
"this pair will help the empire"
"shut it, bright," the man flinched at the duke and fixed his monocle.
A knock from outside came. Marquis Bright opened it to see two children, especially the boy who seemed to look exactly like Duke Vacarella.
"haaa... why must you look like your father." The Marquis exclaimed and let the children in.
the emperor looks happy as he welcomes Wren, again. This sight feels uncomfortable already for her as she greets both the rulers in front of her.
Then her eyes found Prince Asterion. "he's also here..." she whispered and bowed to greet him.
"what do you think of having my son?"
She coughs at the sudden question, the entire room focuses on her except Zairon. It is clearly showing his uninteresting of the matter.
"a... friend, your imperial majesty"
he then turned to his son who was yawning, "how about you Prince?"
"an annoying kid."
with the answer he gave, even the emperor dropped the matter and chose to ask again in some time in the future.