Alora was in the reverie of her unforgettable days. Her morning would start with waking up to the peeking sun rays on her skin, listening to her father dotingly calling her name. Her music was low yet pleasant on the ears as if the start day couldn't be more wonderful.
The mist of the morning rose with the blooming blossoms of springs. Happily twirling, watering the plants in their garden, her music filled with the gratefulness for another day to live and feel blessed.
The joy doubled with the colorful blooms dotted everywhere in the forest, tall trees kissing the sky, welcoming her to the untouched and mesmeric world…
Eugenie failed to keep her nonchalance when the music was doing wonders. The glowing hues of the flute changing to bright colors of spring flowers made her smile.
She wished to forget that she was a crown princess who had to be poised. She just wanted to lean to her husband, close her eyes and enjoy her daughter's music and relish in the world full of joy, colors, blooms, clear streams down the mountains, floating fragrance, chipping of birds, fluffy clouds in the bright sky.
Abruptly Eugenie's face paled when she sensed the solitariness in the music. She had forgotten, that Alora was all alone in her world where nobody was there to question her birth, doubt her appearance, or make excuses for her questions. Yet she was happily accepting herself.
Losing in the music of the meadow, everyone was imagining the different world through Alora or spellbound watching Alora.
Suddenly, a scream of horror echoed in the hall. Alora gasped, clutching the flute and jerking her eyes open. The rest snapped out of their haze and turned to the source of the disturbance.
Everyone's eyes widened in horror and screams filled the hall. Orla and Lothar stood up from their chairs, while Eugenie froze.
The hall was on fire. The drapes, table clothes, decor items, and banners were burning in fire. The maids and the ladies screamed, running here and there, making everything more chaotic. Some men started to think of the situation while the rest ran to the center to avoid the fire.
Alora who had seen the finely decorated hall was in shock looking at the fire around. She saw a maid standing under a decor that was on fire. Leaving the flute aside, she ran towards the maid, "Move from there…" She urged the maid.
"Alora…." Zander shouted.
The maid who was below the burning heavy drapes saw Alora and screamed in pure fear, "Ahhh…." She ran into the fire, frightened of Alora.
Alora was staggered. Her body started shaking terribly, and her eyes pooled when she realized the maid ran into the fire because of her, because of how she looked.
Freya was first to reach Alora and held her arms, "Sister Alora, look here… Sister…" She shifted Alora to avoid her from looking at the maid who was frozen into ice due to Lothar.
Alora pointed behind and tried to speak, but her throat was dry and painful to utter even a word. She had to fight her tears because she wasn't allowed, her body tensed in guilt for putting a maid in danger.
Catherine, who was holding her palm over her mouth, pretending to be shocked, snickered behind her hand. Her maids would have gotten caught if the fire was quenched with water without any magical powers on it.
Since Lothar used his power, the traces of evidence were erased. So it was in a perfect state to blame Alora.
"Mother, did you do this?" Helena's low voice was deadly suspicious, interrogating her mother.
Catherine gritted her teeth. She couldn't let Helena completely side with Alora. No, she wouldn't let that happen.
Catherine held Helena's arms and looked at her top to toe in fear, "Helena, are you hurt? I was so scared." Catherine hugged her daughter and started trembling as though she had no idea of all these.
Helena: "…"
A lady among the royals mumbled when the guards and servants entered inside to clear up quickly. "How did the fire start?"
"How could a fire start around the hall at once?" Another one was added.
"M-music!?" A male had his eyes wide, "The hall caught fire due to music."
"She is a w-w-witch!?"
"A witch!!!" They started chanting making the air more tense and fearful.
"W-witch's happiness is our destruction…"
A tear rolled down Alora's cheek. Other than knowing the maid ran into the fire because of her, she knew nothing happening there.
Why were they blaming her for something she doesn't even know? She was just sitting and playing the flute. She didn't voluntarily play the flute but on others' wishes.
Freya was enraged hearing a middle-aged woman. Her lips moved in chants and the brown wines holed up the ground and wrapped around the women's neck. "How dare you!?" She growled.
"Ahhh…." The lady and others around screamed in horror and ran far from them.
"Freya—" Zander disregarded the etiquettes and hugged his elder daughter, sternly looking at Freya. Their every reaction would be used against them… No, they would use them against Alora.
Freya wanted to snap their neck but clenched her teeth and gave into her father's orders.
Orla and Lothar couldn't help but look at Eugenie who becomes a weak, helpless mother whenever something happens to Alora and blames herself.
As a crown princess, Eugenie couldn't even defend her daughter. But consider the overall situation and hear both sides by making her heart stone hard.
Eleanor, who also didn't know about this plan, came out of her shock and demanded a response, pointing her finger at Alora, "Who is this girl? She is not Alora."
"She is definitely not a Roosevelt."
"She is a witch."
"Crown princess, how could you fool the throne?"
"Answer us."
"Princess Alora wasn't able to make it out of critical condition." A lady brought up the fourteen year past.
"Didn't Princess Alora die that day? Who did you bring in her name." The harsh questions were continued, aiming at Alora and Eugenie.
Zander shook Alora's arm, seeing her frozen, without reacting to him or the hurtful words. "Alora… Alora… Look at me… Don't listen to their words. Alora…"
Alora took a shaky breath and looked at her father. Her hoarse voice barely reached his ears, "A-am I a witch?" Because there is no explanation on how she got the atypical red hair and eyes.
"No, Alora. You are my and Eugenie's daughter." Zander could give her the assurance as many times she questions.
Alora nodded, trusting her father and his words even if it was hard. She turned to the crowd that was against her. How hard it might be, she has to stand for herself. Only that way, she could be helpful to her parents.
"A witch!?" Her melodious voice quietened the hall, more like frightened the hall. "Have you seen one before?" Alora asked in a voice that pressured them for a response.
Eugenie felt like a rush of air knocked her lungs hearing her daughter's restrained voice. Alora wasn't crying her eyes out or running away or standing behind somebody. She was pushing herself to stand against so many was truly striking.
Eugenie looked at Orla who nodded to let Alora speak. They can't keep speaking for her as it would increase the attacks on Alora.
The silence enveloped the hall. None of them has seen a witch so how were they going to respond?
Eleanor stammered without daring to meet Alora's eyes, "E-everyone knows it."
Most of the people added their acknowledgment to Eleanor as if they had lost their voice and opinion.
Alora's eyes looked at nobody but Eleanor, "What do YOU know?" Alora stressed the word, trying her best to keep herself strong, without showing her weakness, or without falling weak.
Cuillin, who was feeling awful at the turn of events, looked at Alora in surprise. Alora respects everyone with proper addressing even if it's young or old. He was astonished she was able to hold her ground and read the scene.
Nevertheless, Alora looked so calm that, neither Freya nor Zander could rest at ease. They were so nervous that they could feel their heart beating rapidly. They didn't want Alora to face any of these, instead, they would prefer to keep her protected, away from every evil.
Eleanor felt her heart jump to her throat hearing Alora. If Alora was really a witch, wouldn't she burn her alive? She wanted to leave the banquet, and go away from Alora's sight.
However, her mother would make her live in a hut if she dared to go against her. So she had to gather her courage and respond, "W-witches have r-red hair and r-r-red eyes."
Alora clenched her fist when she felt her hands shaking. She countered Eleanor, solely depending on the books she read, "The Early History of Anka, written by Sage Theodore, page number 311, the great priestess of Witch clan Gretchen had jet black hair and emerald eyes.
King Markell's reign over Anka, written by Ignatius, Section 3, page number 278, the most beautiful artists in the court had golden hair and brown eyes and they were witches.
And there are more. Are you going to call the men and women having black hair a witch? Or are you saying all the people of Crisal are witches?"
Eleanor had read those books too but other than titles and a few names, she remembers nothing. She stared at Alora, unable to believe she could remember it so well.
Freya and Zander looked at each other. They never thought of using something like this. They were amused by how Alora could come up with something so minute details.
The others started looking at each other, especially the men who had black hair. They didn't know how to retort to Alora. So other than looking at each other and probing or waiting for the other one to speak, they couldn't bring themselves to prove her as a witch.
Alora knew she was just silencing the royal household and it wasn't a solution. They would keep questioning her, unfortunately, she didn't have a response. Other than trusting her parents, and accepting that she is different, Alora knew nothing more.
Just when Alora thought it was all over, a scoff sounded in the crowd, "That doesn't prove you are a Roosevelt."
Orla's eyes narrowed at the second Princess of Hamilton, Anne's second elder sister, Nova. She had forgotten another granddaughter wasn't innocent anymore, rather hungry for more than she can chew.