Next week came within a flash.
Each night the saints would go over the plan to make no mistakes. Or until the plan was ingrained in their heads. During this time Arche met the saints once alone and twice with Lucas who flirted with both Oriane and Shulia. Though none of them gave him the reaction he wanted he was still very persistent.
Very, very persistent.
Lucas was also aware of the cult and was openly helping Arche with it.
On the eve of the ball Claudina got ready with the help of the maids sent by Arche. Before the maids arrived she hid the brand of the Ancient power with magic. They may not what it is but nothing is wrong in being cautious.
The dress that was delivered was a floor length red off-the-shoulder ball gown with a form fitting upper body and short sleeves. As it was off the shoulders, the gown exposed her collar bone. The puffy skirt with a slight train had a layered black lace hemline. Gold accents like small silk roses were used to decorate the body while gold thread was used to embroidery the leaves and thorns.
He even sent her a matching pair of red heels with gold rosettes along.
The maids were at first in awe of Claudina's beauty. Even more so when she treated them kindly. 'I am pretending to be a rich merchant's daughter who had a high education. If I were to put on noble airs it would arise some questions.'
After they were properly introduced the maids; Leslie, Jane and Rosie helped with the preparations of getting ready.
First they gave her bath that involved rose petals, essential oils, milk and honey. While they washed her hands, Rosie the youngest with freckles and rich brown hair commented about her muscles and small scars that littered on her arms and legs.
"I have learned swordplay. The scars are from my instructor," she answered. 'It's a half truth though. Those scars are also form demons. But you don't need to know~'
"It's good those aren't noticeable because you never would have imagined they would be under your clothes." Leslie said while pouring warm water. She was the oldest of the maids with a sisterly face and cream colored hair and eyes.
"I am glad for that too." Claudina rubbed off the excess water from her face. 'Though I am containing the muscle density in my body with magic some of them still shows.'
Jane the middle had grey hair, a tanned skin and brown eyes washed Claudina's hair. "Miss your hair feels like silk!" she exclaimed.
"Fufufu~ is that so?"
They finished up bathing. Afterwards they gave her a message to ease her joints. Applying a face mask and cucumber slices on her face they left her to sleep for an hour while they prepared needed makeup and accessories.
Immediately after waking her, they started to preen her.
They repainted her nails in clear polish after filing them down. They helped her put on the bloomers, the chemise, and the corset. Over all that she wore another chemise to conceal the shape of the corset. Initially the gown was meant to wear over the hoop skirt but Claudina refrained from wearing it.
'If a fight broke in my already slow mobility it will be of disadvantage to me. One cannot fight in a dress without getting it ruined can be used against you.'
While pulling on her knee socks she strapped a dagger on the garter belt. Thankfully none of them saw the sheathed dagger while they pulled on the dress. It would be hard to explain why she was taking it where there was maximum security.
Next they did her makeup. Leslie applied a dark red rouge, pink blush, and black eye shadow to compliment her eyes. Meanwhile Jane and Rosie argued which hairstyle would look good on her.
"I know let's just ask the miss. Miss which hairstyle would you like?" Rosie asked.
"Hm?" Her eyes were still closed. "Oh it doesn't matter. As long as it is presentable, it's fine."
"Ehhh~ such fine hair. It feels like spider webs… It will be a loss if it is not gorgeous. Ok we will do what we think will be the best."
She understood where they were coming form. But these days she is not able to have the time to join in the social circles.
Claudina was both a noble and a saintess. And because she was from the esteemed Crowley dukedom peoples' expectations of her was raised even higher. She played both her identities; the noble princess Claudina Von Crowley and the Saintess Claudina, the Saint of Black Rose. Both roles kept her busy.
She participated in the social circles and engaged in battles of sharp tongue and malicious wit while she helped others and fought with demons. Such is her life. And she has come to learn it.
But whether she loves it or not, well, Claudina kept her secrets none was privy to.
Finally they agreed to do a half up do hairstyle with white pearls on her hair. For the finishing touches for her hair, Jane pinned a few red roses behind her hair. Lastly she wore her heels, elbow long black lace gloves, a short black cape held by a ruby brooch with fur on the hem and pale red fan with a gold tassel hanging from it completed her look. On her ears were ruby studs while a ruby pendent graced her neck like blood on fresh snow.
She stood in front of the full length mirror they bought inside the dressing room. While the maids proudly boasted about how beautiful she looked, Claudina silently admired herself in the mirror.
'How long has it been since I last dressed up? I forgot why it was that I actively participate in all those social events. It was so I could dress up to look this ravishing. And so others could see it too.'
She twirled causing her skirt to fan out like a balloon. Even without the hoop skirt, the skirt was still puffed. She touched her face as she inched nearer to touch the reflection on the mirror.
"Truly Claudina no one will ever be as beautiful as you," she muttered quietly. She batted her lashes dreamily as she stared deep into her reflected bottle green eyes.
"Oh dear!" Leslie said suddenly. "Look at the time miss! You mustn't keep the lord waiting! Hurry now!"
With that Leslie hurried Claudina out of the dressing room.
She blinked. One minute she was admiring the most beautiful being and the next minute she was standing by herself out in the hallways.
She grumbled. 'I should have taken a handheld mirror.' She looked both ways of the hallway. It was empty.
Most of the people that stayed in Crows Ring hotel are envoys from foreign kingdoms or nobles here for a holiday. The capital, Roeas, has many tourist attractions.
She decided to wait in the lobby since that is where everyone is meant to come and wait.
As she descended the stairs she held the front of the dress so she didn't trip. From the corners of her eyes she saw people ogling at her.
Puffing up like a wet hen dying in front of a fire, she reached forward to perch on a lone chair on the resting area of the lobby. She folded her hands on her lap.
She lightly tapped her left hand with her right index finger. Instantly the magic erased leaving the brand on her skin. Since it was hidden under the gloves she was no longer worried if someone saw it.
She quietly hummed to herself.
Some people would stop midway to stare at her while others would look from afar but none dared to approach her.
"Wow!"
She looked up.
Sylvester was staring at her with his mouth open. He was dressed in a dark blue tail coat with silver livery with a black shirt underneath and inky black breeches. He carried a pair of kid gloves while draped on his arm was an ash trench coat. His hair was tied up in a high pony tail while his bangs were slicked up to his head making his amber eyes pop out.
Grinning from ear to ear she stood up to greet him.
"Sylvester!"
Her voice broke him from his trance. "Oh! Hello Claudina! Sorry about that. You looked breathtakingly beautiful! I couldn't recognize you."
She giggled before curtsying. "I am honored by your praise! You look quite good too."
He nervously laughed, fiddling with the dark purple cravat tie. "I wonder about that…"
She shook her head. "No you do look handsome. I am envious you might steal the spotlight from me."
"The lime light belongs to you alone," he said smiling down at her. He looked around. "Guess no one else has arrived yet. Were you waiting for us?"
"No. I arrived a little while ago."
"Hm. Let's wait for them together shall we?"
She nodded and followed him to sit on an unoccupied divan.
"I wonder if our punctuality stems from us being saints of time," Claudina said in a low voice. "Even though you are old you came right on time."
He gave a pensive look. "What do you mean I am old? I am just three years older than you."
"That's not the point here. The current dilemma is how is it possible that we as saints of time can help our fellow peers to be on time."
"Screaming at them, scaring them shitless or putting up clocks that will hit on the head for being the slightest bit late?"
"Ohhh~ I like the last one." She grinned evilly. "We can also combine all three of them with magic to create the ultimate clock."
"Then give to Lord Chronos to mass produce," he added with cheer. "If it is mass produced in a low price then even the commoners will buy it!"
"Even better!"
"What is?"
Both of them looked. Looming over them was Shulia flanked on either side by Oriane and Anatole.
Shulia was wearing a gold sleeveless floor length gown with a lacy high neck, a double layered skirt, long gold gloves and ballet flats. Her unruly hair was secured in a bun with a gold barrette and red blush and rouge was in place of her usual purple markings. A chain bracelet hung from her hand that was gripping on to her winter cloak.
Oriane was dressed in her signature white. A high necked gown with loosely fitted sleeves had a layer of glittering sheer fabric while a large bow was attached on her back. Her bob hair was left as it is except for a bejeweled flower clip on the side. Very little and light makeup was done in comparison to Shulia and Claudina. She wrapped her grey shawl tighter around her while loosely holding her fan.
Anatole was dressed in similar fashion to Sylvester except his coat was a deep red with silver livery, a white shirt with gold embroidery and a black tie instead of a cravat, beige breeches and polished black dress shoes. He was already wearing his gloves and winter coat. For the occasion he had his veil replaced with a gleaming silver mask that covered every shred of his face leaving black hallows for his eyes.
"You do know it's not a masquerade ball right?" Claudina asked Anatole.
He grunted. She rolled her eyes.
"Well now don't you look like a princess?" She turned her eyes to Shulia. She smiled warmly back at her.
"Oh but as a duke's daughter I am already called a princess," she replied with a tilt.
She groaned. "You know what I mean."
"Fufufu~ Do I?"
Totally unaware Oriane had sneaked up beside Claudina and suddenly pounced on her. She gave a little scream in surprise.
'What's with this girl and her ghost feet?! I should get a bell for her or something.'
"Claudina's so pretttyyyyy today~" She nuzzled her face underneath her chin. "You are pretty everyday but today you are extra pretty."
"Shulia and Oriane both of you look beautiful," Sylvester said with a smile.
Shulia wanted to ruffle his hair but refrained for doings so.
"Thanks kid!" Then loudly saying, "At least someone here knows to compliment a girl when she dresses up nice for a change."
Anatole flinched and turned his face to the side. "I see no point in it. Hadn't it been for Claudina's idea I would never follow through it. I hate fuss and feathers."
Claudina gasped. "Not a single pleasing word?". To add some more flair she said the next words in a loud surprised tone. "And you call yourself a saint of Eros. Goodness! No wonder you never married in the future. Your wife would have left you in the middle of the first night."
Shulia snickered while Sylvester and Oriane tried to hide their snorts. Anatole growled at their antics.
She laughed too when she noticed all of them were carrying their Holy swords transformed into a normal sword.
"How are you going to sneak in your swords?" she asked "The ball does not allow weapons. They will cheek you for it." 'I should chuck away my dagger too.'
"I was planning on hiding it under my dress but then I realized the sword will tear through it." Shulia took out her ill concealed sword. "I don't know what to do about it"
"Let's put our sword along with your sword Claudina." Anatole said. "If they are inside your Ancient power there won't be any need to conceal them with magic. And you can draw all of them out when we need it."
The others readily agreed. "Oh that's an idea Anatole," Sylvester said.
"Claudina please take good care of our swords." Oriane whispered from under her chin.
"Alrighty! Off with those gloves!"
"What?" she baffled. "Wait. I don't agree with it. Hey if this is about you not having it in you to please a woman in your entire life, I will not not apologize for being honest. However this does not mean you can use my Ancient Power as you see fit."
Anatole turned to Sylvester. "Grab her."
They grabbed her by her arms, lifted her up and dragged her to a empty room as she trashed in their hold.
Ten minutes later, Anatole and the rest walked out of there with smug faces. Anyone passing the room could hear a woman angrily cursing someone.
Claudina glared at the swords that were carefully laid on the table. From the right to the left was Anatole, Shulia, Oriane and Sylvester's swords.
She reached for the Sylvester's Stars' Blessing. It didn't reject her Holy magic. Rather it was almost curious about it with how much Holy magic it took. It didn't reject it either.
'Strange… but then again both me and Sylvester wield the Stars' Blessing.'
A Holy sword was semi sentient with how it reacts with Holy magic of it's current wielder. If another saint would give Holy magic to it, the sword would take but reject it later on. That's way it was important for a saint before they retired to break the mental link or to give an enormous amount of Holy magic then cut off the flow suddenly.
She put it back down to stare at the other swords.
Anatole's sword the 'Celestial Blaze' was a black blade with a dragon hide scabbard. The scabbard's locket had scratches while iridescent scales of red and black speckled the hide. The ashen hilt had blunt ridges while the grip had platinum thorns as cross guard. A single obsidian gem shaded in a spade was shining in the pommel. On the blade itself were words curved: 'Let Thy Burn Evil When Thou Wield The Celestial Blaze.'
She creased it, sliding her finger over the sharpness of the cold steel, careful not to cut herself.
'It didn't reject my Holy magic. Hmm... Well whatever. Must be one of the many secrets of Holy power. Now for the other two…' She glanced at the Shulia and Oriane's swords.
The 'Bestial Purity' belonged to Oriane. It had a certain elegance to it despite the namesake; made entirely out of shiny steel with a slight curve as it went up. The words "Let Thy Purify Evil When Thou Wield The Bestial Purity' glinted under the lamp light. The scabbard was just as graceful as the sword with feathers curved around the silver locket. The guard had gold melded into raindrops while the gold hilt and grip was plain gold with no decorations. The pommel had a bright opal.
Shulia's sword on the other hand was different to the long swords used by the other saints. The 'Crossroads' Forgiveness' was slim and light. The purple blade was chipped with numerous gashes around the edge to rip and tear off demons while the point formed into two sharp peeks. Black steel leaves covered the black hilt from the pommel where two amethysts were inlaid. The sheath of the sword was crafted in a way to fit the sword. A purple silk was woven on the leather of the scabbard. The words 'Let Thy Forgive Evil When Thou Wield The Crossroads' Forgiveness' were curved on the smooth side of the sword.
She creased the two. It didn't reject her Holy magic. She could now place them inside her Ancient Power without injuring herself.
She slowly wrapped her fingers around the hilt of the Stars' Blessing. With a flash of silver light the sword was sucked into her brand in glittering particles. The rest of the swords followed the same way.
Claudina flexed her left hand with the back of her hand facing her.
'No side effects…' She nodded.
She turned to leave when the door suddenly opened.