Elyse's Point of View
It's finally the day — The Grand Ball has come. Biting off my nails as I sat down in the chair, and my heart beating fast, I feel excited to finally meet the Princess of the Chetan Kingdom and her father, King Seth. But what I am worried about now is Louisette. For the last remaining days before the grand ball, Louisette helped us, the investigators to search for the stolen necklace. I know where she put it and as Aniya's Descendant, I know what I should do.
For the remaining days, I kept answering the puzzles and the questions everyone was asking, pretending that I do not know what is happening. There is one thing that I observed about Louisette. She knows that I wasn't in contact with my real descendant Aniya, and although she believes I am her Descendant, she looks at me as if I am weak in her eyes.
Which made me feel insulted.
But it looks like an advantage to me.
I endured her insults and bullying towards me, it's time for me to stop her childish pranks. I put all the cards on my desk, telling the Student Council of Aracnia what I planned, and what is Louisette doing currently. Everyone wasn't surprised but is disappointed. They understand her pain of losing a parent, but blaming others just because of what happened in the past is not good.
The one who is at fault is the Alphas who are our Ancestors but Louisette couldn't understand it. She was blinded by her pride and this is where we are now. I predicted what she was going to do for the past remaining days too and prepared much as possible.
No one knows my plan except The Student Council of Aracnia Academy.
I looked at myself and was surprised to see myself adorned with jewels and expensive silks. This dress was said to be worn by Aniya on her 18th birthday. It was a gold white silk dress with the back half open and a long necklace worn like a chain in the neck adorned with gold and pearls. I also wore a laurel crown and green elegant earrings. The flocks of my hair curled, looking as if it's naturally waved. I also wore a white veil that they say, indicates the Goddess of Wisdom in her younger years before she met the love of her life and so is Aniya.
"Am I... Still Elyse?" I asked myself. I do adore myself, but I'm also worried about the fact that there is a possibility I want to stay here. The people of Rahania, the members of the Student Council, were the only people who treated me with pure kindness and love. I want to stay with them, but I also want to save my family. And after I saved my family, everything will be back to normal.
I will leave them, as I went back to my real path in life. I am scared.
"Elyse?" Chad's voice cut my train of thought and turn around as I look into the door.
"Are you okay? Let's go now, The Emperor and The Empress are waiting for us," Chad spoke behind the doors as I tried to calm myself feeling nervous about what will happen.
I stood up and opens the door. I couldn't see Chad anymore so I went down and saw him at the end of the long staircase. I saw whistling while waiting for me. He looks handsome in his Rahania outfit, the design is almost similar to mine and that's what I realized.
Aniya and Thaddeus were once best of friends before they became lovers. They already knew each other since Aniya is still a child. They were always together, not letting go of each other. As if a flashback entered my mind, I saw Thaddeus and Aniya genuinely smiling and laughing while holding hands — not letting go of each other.
The flashback ended quickly and I gaze down at Chad who was gazing back at me. I slowly walk down the staircase and with each step I could feel Chad's intense stare into mine, and I couldn't help but stare back at him. I couldn't help myself but be mesmerized by his beauty.
"He looks indeed like his Ancestor, Thaddeus..."
"Are you ready to go?" He spoke after I went down the stairs and nodded my head. He offered his hand and I accepted it. We both went behind the doors of the ballroom waiting for our names to be announced.
"Presenting The Descendants of Alpha Aniya and Alpha Thaddeus, Lady Elyse Valentina and Lord Thaddeus Reiki." Finally, our names were announced and the doors slowly opens for us. I felt overwhelmed by the sight of many people in the ballroom waiting for us below. I stopped walking, watching the long spiral staircase beneath me I felt more nervous than I thought. Suddenly, Chad's hands held mine tightly and caress the back of my hand gently. He then put the back of my hand into his soft plump lips and it made my heart flutter. I look up at him and he smiled back at me.
"You're in safe hands, Elyse." He softly spoke and I felt comforted by those words. I smiled and nodded my head. We slowly went downstairs and when we reached the bottom, I suddenly got separated from Chad with many people quickly surrounding him and me. Everyone felt elated to see two descendants who looks like a carbon copies of their Ancestors.
After the introduction of the Guests, finally, The Emperor and the rest of the royal family arrived with grace and beauty. Emperor Cairo stood up from his throne and gets a cup of wine from the servant.
"Today, we celebrate the remaining days of our Grand Festival dedicated to our Goddess of Wisdom and for Alpha Aniya who gave this wonderful festival for our First Emperor, my father. To my beloved half-sister, I hope you're in great hands above, and to the descendant of my half-sister, Elyse — please remain who you are today and never lose hope for the future." Emperor Cairo spoke to me with his soft voice as if he was comforting me. I think he knows what happened to me and I couldn't help but tear up.
"I won't spoil the fun anymore — Let the grand ball begin!" He shouted and everyone clapped their hands while some cheered for the emperor. Everyone starts to dance.
"Elyse —" Chad called me but his words were interrupted when Arbor suddenly appeared right behind him. I smiled brightly.
"Elyse!" He called and I ran towards him with my bright smile. It's great to see him in the ball again since I want a friend to comfort me in these times.
"You look beautiful tonight" he complimented and I chuckled.
"Thank you, you look handsome today too." I take back his compliment by complimenting him and we both laughed.
"Shall we dance?" I froze at his question and felt hesitant to answer.
"O-oh... Uhm." I quickly look at the position where Chad was earlier but he disappeared. I felt disappointed when he left all of the sudden. They said that having your first dance is the most important thing you should experience, and that experience is for someone you like or you cherish the most. That's what Eli told me. And I want Chad to be my first dance too.
"I don't think —"
"Come on, it'll be fun! Also... I have an intel to tell you about Louisette." He whispered but I still feel hesitant to answer.
"Maybe we should talk outside —"
"And make others think you're spending your 'precious' time with me? Elyse, you're Aniya's Descendant and everyone is thrilled to be who you're going to end up with. Also, in Rahania's tradition, spending time alone with some man means you're infatuated with him." I froze.
What?
I gave him a smile, saying that I don't understand a thing of their tradition. I have no other choice but to accept his offer of a dance. When he held my hand, I felt uncomfortable as we swing elegantly under the thousand chandelier lights above us. Everyone stopped dancing and watched how both I and Arbor danced.
"Everyone is looking at you, Elyse." He whispered in my ear and I chuckled. "No, everyone's looking at you, Arbor," I said as I gaze up into his blue eyes. He smiled softly, "Everyone is looking at us." He whispered and I look away. Something feels not right. We danced until the song ended and I ran away from him after we finished dancing. I don't want to dance with anyone again after that incident. I ran towards the garden and to my surprise, I saw Chad's behind looking at something in front of him.
I slowly approach him, "Thaddeus?" I softly called his name but he didn't budge. When I'm in his behind, I held his hand and make him turn to look at me. My eyes widen in shock to see him crying.
Something felt painful in my chest as if it was something like a knife piercing through mine when I saw him cry.
"Why... do you keep doing this to me, Aniya?" He whispered. And held my hand while crying.
"I thought you don't love me, then what is this? Why are you doing this to me? Why do I keep falling in love with you all over again? Why... do I want to still keep you by my side even though you aren't mine?" He cried and suddenly he went to his knees.
What's happening? My heart is breaking watching him like this.
*******
Thaddeus's Point of View
I know I ate my words. I promised myself I will never fall in love with her again or want her by my side. I want to love someone else other than her. But when I saw her in that gown of hers, I remember Aniya.
I am Thaddeus's reincarnation; I held his memories — my once life as Aniya's husband and "Thaddeus" or the Alpha of Messengers. I can still vividly remember the day I first met her when we were still kids. She was sitting behind a wall as she cries her heart out. I was curious about why she was crying that's why I approached her. I feel an attachment towards her and tried to protect her from Duchess Vierra no matter what the cause.
Until we became adults, Duchess Vierra decided to make Aniya and Samuel marry each other for the throne and for power. However, at that time I was already falling in love with Aniya. At that moment, I didn't know what was I thinking — I went to Duchess Vierra's office. My mind isn't working right I only thought that day is I wanted her. I want her even though I know she won't love me. She can use me, control me, whatever she likes. All I want is for her to stay beside me.
"Please wed her to me," I told Duchess Vierra while she was sitting at her desk looking at me with her intense stare. The stares she makes looked exactly like Aniya which made me feel nervous. It's as if, Aniya is talking to me using Duchess Vierra's stare.
"I don't care about your feelings towards her. I want to make my daughter happy for the rest of her life —"
"Aniya won't be happy for mere power and treasures. I know her more than you do." I speak up and Duchess Vierra laughed.
"My daughter won't have any benefit for you and for her — why do you want a wedding?" I smirked at her question.
"That's where you are wrong, Duchess Vierra. I can give you my land and my power as Marquis Reiki." I spoke.
"You barely turned 20, Chad,"
"And that is where you are wrong. Why do you think we're similar to Assassins, Duchess Vierra?" I asked and she went silent.
"Wed her to me, in exchange, I will give you my power and support for your upcoming plans."
And with that deal, I married Aniya. I know she doesn't love me; she is not the type of person who can freely express her emotions, nevertheless, I still love her. But as centuries passed, as we both keep reincarnating, my feelings for her turned painful.
And as I saw her dancing with somebody else in the ballroom, I fell silent. I imagine myself that in the past, that was my position — where Arbor stands. That is where I was supposed to be.
"Why... Do you keep doing this to me, Aniya?" I finally had enough and I went down to my knees.
"Thaddeus? What are you doing —"
"I thought you don't love me, then what is this? Why are you doing this to me? Why do I keep falling in love with you all over again? Why... do I want to still keep you by my side even though you aren't mine?"
"Wait a minute, I didn't get what you're saying —"
"Please stop loving me. Tell me you don't love me; tell me I don't have a chance to you. Please stop giving me mixed signals, it's painful, it's excruciatingly painful to see you with another guy. Please, tell me to stop loving you."
"Thaddeus!" She finally snapped, calling out my name after I spoke to her like that. I was frozen, I couldn't move. I saw her shaking as her tears starts streaming from her eyes as if she was feeling the pain to see me in this state of mine.
"Ah, there's a thing she shouldn't know in order for her to stay happy in this life." I thought.
"I'm sorry, I need to go." She said and quickly ran away from me.
There it goes, I saw her run away from me. Again.
Goddess of Love, why must you do this to me? What kind of things I have done to you in my past lives in order for you to torture me like this? I just want her to love me. For her to stay by my side. That's only a simple request, it's not that hard, isn't it?
*******
Elyse's Point of View
I went up to the corner while I drink champagne in my hand watching the aristocrats dancing with their partners. My mind went black, I couldn't remember what happened earlier as I saw Chad on his knees all of the sudden, as if he was begging for something from me.
I couldn't get what he wanted but it broke my heart to see him cry.
I cried while running with questions running in my head, "why must he wish for me to unlove him?" As if I also knew him from the beginning.
"I have an announcement to make," Louisette went up the stage and get our attention towards her. Her expression looks horrified by something and she keeps glancing at me.
"Go on, my Lady." The Empress permitted her to speak and Louisette gladly nodded her head, still exchanging glances at me as if she was scared.
"As you may have all known, the Legendary Necklace of our Goddess of Wisdom and Alpha Aniya of Wisdom was stolen one night. I finally have a lead to who stole the legendary necklace," She spoke and pointed to me by using her fingers.
"It's been all Lady Elyse Valentina all along! Here! This is the proof of her doings. These are the documents that recorded Elyse's fingerprints and the magical camera on that same night." She said and gave to the crowd the documents, showing the ballroom with paper. A flying cute demon flew through the ballroom and projected the video to where I was seen entering the room, minutes later I left the room with a bag in my hand as I look up into the camera and breaks it.
"See! This is the proof. You can see that Elyse Valentina stole the necklace! Now, I have a question for you Lady Elyse, why did you do it? Everyone knows where you're from a poor family. If you wanted money, we would give it to you. You are part of the Alphas and we would gladly help you." She said with her soft tone and expression as if she was genuinely worried about me.
Bullying me was enough, yet insulting my family is out of the line. Louisette, you've gone too far.
So, this is the warning that Aniya told me about.
I tried to compose myself and slowly walk into the room with the Aristocrats whispering behind my ears insulting me secretly.
"Lady Louisette! What is the meaning of this?" Emperor Cairo asks.
"It is true, your Highness! The proof is already in front of you, why are you still siding with her? Lady Elyse stole your precious half-sister's jewelry, what's more, it is also a legacy of the royal Family!" Louisette spoke back.
The Empress and the Crown Prince were silent all the time, watching as to how everything will go.
"Your Highness, please calm down." I finally spoke and everyone turned to look at me.
"Why are you so calm Elyse? Look! You have already embarrassed the reputation of Aniya! You made her name worse than it was before —"
"No, you made it worst. Louisette, I think you have forgotten the fact that I am also a magician. I have the ability to control things you cannot imagine. For example," I raised my hand and snapped my fingers twice and the videos altered to Louisette's figure. I played the video again with now Louisette's figure going inside and out of the room carrying a bag. Later on, I was seen on the video, running towards the room, and minutes later, I went outside calmly now looking at the camera.
"Insulting me in front of everyone is enough. But insulting my whole family, and my life before I went through these that I don't even want to be entangled with is enough. Louisette Hildegarde, you are under arrest for committing the crime of attempting to steal the necklace of my ancestor." I declared.
"You can't declare it yourself, Lady Elyse Valentina." A member of the Zues House said and I smiled.
"Oh, I can. Who says I can't? The law? I'm sorry your grace but I am the law. I make this world's law with my blood, tears, and from my wisdom. You do not have the right to criticize me for what is wrong and right, as I am the right and wrong itself." I declared.
"If you do not believe me, then let's search Louisette's things, shall we? By, of course, using my abilities to see through what is not there." I said and gave them a temporary insight into Louisette's room, controlling it as I search her room using my 'owl eyes', an ability Aniya gave to me. After minutes of searching, we finally found a familiar box, and inside, it was the legendary necklace.
I cut off the connection and everyone gasps in horror. Of course, watching it with me eats away your energy too much especially if you do not have enough mana in your body.
The Royal Family of the Rahania Empire saw it too and it made Emperor Cairo enraged to see the necklace in Louisette's room.
"LOUISETTE HILDEGARDE! YOU ARE DEMANDED TO NEVER TAKE A FOOTSTEP IN THE LAND OF RAHANIA! YOU HAVE HUMILIATED THE NAME OF MY DEAD HALF SISTER, WHAT'S WORST, YOU ALSO HAVE HUMILIATED THE DESCENDANT OF ANIYA!"
Because of his declaration, Louisette fell to her knees.
"Y-your highness, you've heard Lady Elyse. She said she has the ability to control things everyone can't. There's no proof of what she is doing is right —"
"The Eyes of the Owl is a divine power used by the Goddess of Wisdom herself. It is also used by Aniya and this ability can be used when one's heart is pure and kind. This is why The Eyes of The Owl's ability is known to be honest. Tell me Louisette, knowing this fact, are you implying that the Goddess who used this ability is a liar and manipulative?" I announced and Louisette was left speechless.
The guards dragged her out of the ballroom and the emperor walked away from the party, which indicates the end of the party.
Days passed and rumors about Louisette humiliating me spread all over the continent the Hildegarde House's reputation went down and people start to disrespect them, especially The Rahania citizen and their aristocrats. The necklace came back to its proper place and the emperor ordered me to make the room more double secured.
And finally, Louisette's childish pranks stopped.