The king was finally announced by the knights, making the entire hall go silent.
He made his entrance, followed by the queen and his concubines.
Diana saw the difference between the king standing in front of her right now and the one in the magic memory. He aged quite well, not only did his presence not fade but it grew sharper. She was also confused for a moment as she didn't see Amina anywhere.
Perhaps she wouldn't come, she thought. But soon Amina's name was announced.
Everyone turned to see, curious about the appearance of the beautiful woman who made the king fall in love with her at first sight. For them to look in the door's direction with exclaimed expressions.
Amina slowly walked, and the hall grew quiet. Her heels' clacks were the only sounds heard. And each step she took, like a clock, was beating in the hearts of all those attending.
It didn't matter, if they were women or men, they both stared in astonishment. They couldn't even compare her to the beauties who walked before her, as everyone's mind was blank, staring, without thought or sound.
Deep black hair, a pale and dazzling white skin, dressed in a dark blue dress dyed with flowers, exposing her soft and tender neck, a round and sweet throat. She had shining liz eyes, with dark and curled lashes. Ears pierced with ornamented dark flowers as earrings.
She took the breath of everyone standing, most felt weak to their knees.
No one knew what they felt when they saw her as if they all felt the warm embrace of their mothers as a baby.
No one understood.
Everyone bowed, uncaring about reason, the king and his wife included.
They all paved the way by holding their heads down.
She walked towards her son, Cayn, who was the only one who didn't bow.
He put down the glass of wine in his hand and bowed his body respectfully asking for her hand.
She reached for it. He held her delicate hand, placed it on his forehead, then brought it to his lips kissing it gently.
"Escort me to your father," she said. Her gentle yet erotic voice made everyone in the hall swallow their saliva.
Cayn nodded and straightened his back.
She slowly held his arm, with a tenderness that showed even in the slightest gestures.
They walked towards the King, who slowly raised his head as she stood in front of him. Staring at her his eyes widened.
She let go of Cayn, stretching her hand out elegantly.
King Julien hurriedly held it trying his best to be gentle, sweat was seen on his forehead.
It was obvious that even he thought he was unworthy.
He escorted her to her seat, beside his concubines. He looked unwilling to place her there, yet he couldn't speak in her presence.
She sat down, making him go back to his throne.
Cayn stood behind her, like a bodyguard.
The King sat on his throne. Only then could everyone raise their heads.
No one understood what happened. But it was obvious to everyone here. The one sitting on the throne, the one who watched from above tonight in this ball, was Amina, not the King.
The ball was slowly filled with chatter until it became lively once again. Everyone acted like this scene never happened, yet they remembered it deep within their hearts.
Diana got back to chatting with Ella and Yuki, later joined by Sakura and Haru, a ladies' gathering.
Suddenly stood a figure behind them.
The younger prince Elric was standing, he bowed his head slightly down so that it could come off as disrespectful.
He stared at them one by one as he raised his head. Then stopped when he reached the three beauties, Diana, Ella, and Sakura. Staring at them up and down without saying a word, not at all hiding the lust behind his eyes.
The first one to react was Sakura, "I may be unfamiliar with Sylvia's etiquette but I can't help feeling apologetic to the women in your country, your highness," she said coldly with a smile.
He didn't pay attention to her, he kept meeting eyes with Diana's cold stare.
"Why don't you show me around the hall?" He said grinning.
All the ladies clutched their teeth.
"No," answered Diana expressionlessly as if he wasn't worth her attention.
"Oh, I like your type, and I heard you made quite the entrance beautiful," he said approaching.
Ella and Sakura stood in between them.
"Oh my, what is this?" He smiled.
"Step, back." Spoke Ella with a furious yet low voice.
"I didn't think the women here were fiesty, and three at the same time, I should come to visit this country often," he laughed, "well too bad for you ladies that's exactly my type."
The two of them had murderous gazes, while Diana still stood there coldly.
The brothers slowly took notice of Elric approaching the women, especially Diana. But not one spoke a word.
Since Cassis couldn't find Cayn he decided to go himself.
As he walked towards them, he bumped his chest into an arm, Cayn's.
"What are you doing, can't you see he is approaching your woman and sister?" Spoke Cassis in confusion.
"And?" Cayn sipped his wine.
"Are you," he was stupefied, "you should-"
Cayn turned his head, his bloodthirsty eyes staring deep into Cassis' soul, making him tremble.
"None of them need you to worry about then," his bloodlust disappeared, "last time I remember, you don't have the strength to help either way," he said with a smile.
He started walking away, but then stopped.
"And hey," he turned around slowly, "last time you underestimate my woman like that." He looked at Cassis with intense bloodlust. "Oh and Ella too. Anyway, that's two now, next time I will take that personally."
Then he walked back to his mother's side, leaving Cassis with an embarrassing expression.
Rin saw what happened, he also met eyes with Cayn briefly as he made way to his mother, nodded them stopped Ryo from acting rashly and doing the same mistake as Cassis.