We were all awake early in the morning. The Marchioness had woken all three of us up by six in the morning.
Despite all my protesting, screaming and kicking. I was dragged out of bed against my will.
Today was her son's (my cousin's) Coming of Age Ceremony. And everything had to be perfect from the seating arrangement to the decorations. From six in the morning to eight, we were taught the order of events. We practiced our greetings, dance routines and table manners.
Everything had to be perfect according to her. There was a little argument about who would be the birthday boy's first dance.
Victor wanted his first dance to be with his fiancee. While Anastasia insisted that it'd be her.
"I can't dance with you. Everyone will think I'm a little kid who's still clinging to his mother's side"
"Victor how could you" The marchioness asked distraught.
The two of them went forth and back over this issue until the Marchioness conceded and agreed to be his second dance begrudgingly. His younger sister Sera would be his third while I would be the last.
Everything from our walking to our posture was scrutinized and corrected. We were all dressed up and our hair styled impeccable. I was already tired. My dancing was lambasted and insulted.
The worst being "You move like a chicken having a seizure"
After a final practice run I was deemed 'satisfactory'. Although I could sense her barely concealed disapproval she didn't say anymore. We hurriedly changed into our party clothes. Victor and Sera had sown matching dresses for the occasion while I'll make due with a red dress I had brought along with me.
The party was supposed to start by ten o'clock. The time was quarter past nine and guests had already started showing up.
Before nine thirty almost half of the expected guests had arrived.
Maybe it's only me or maybe things are done differently in this world but isn't a person supposed to show up thirty or forty minutes after the designated time.
Noticing my visible confusion. The Marchioness comes to my side.
"I can tell what you're thinking. The time for the party hasn't even come but more than half of the guests are already here. Do they really want to wish us well?, Are that eager to see us? Or perhaps they all made a collective error when reading the invite. Unfortunately it's neither of those options. What you are witnessing my dear nephew is a little something I call 'The Power of Money'. People flock to the wealthy and affluent hoping to benefit from them and maybe obtain their own riches. Or in even worse cases destroy them and their source of wealth. Money is a double edged sword it can protect and obtain and at the same time poison and destroy"
She patted down a few loose strands of hair on my head down before continuing. "Let's go downstairs I want to introduce you to all my friends"
She took my by the hand and lead my down to where most of the guest had converged and where they were exchanging pleasantries and making small talk.
All eyes were on us the second we set foot down in the hall. To be more precise all eyes were on me. Some disinterest in their eyes other brimmed with curiosity and awe.
I felt incredible nervous. I could feel every part of my being being analyzed and judged. Sensing my nervousness the marchioness squeezed my hand gently and gave me a reassuring smile. She then turned to face the guests.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you all for coming here today to celebrate this special occasion with us. Today is a momentous day for my family. We pray for many more years for my son"
After her light speech the small group of nobles clapped and continued on with their conversations. I was once again left alone in the middle of the ballroom. I pondered over my what actions I should take. Should I stand still and ignore everything around me, Do I go up to others and initiate conversation or should I find a secluded corner and attach myself to it. A small tug on my dress distracts me from my thoughts. I look down to see Sophia tugging on my dress.
"What's the matter?" I ask her.
"Come with me I want to show you to my friends" And without another word takes my hand and takes me to the other side of the room towards a table surrounded by other girls her age who are talking and laughing.
"Here she is! My cousin!" Sera announced triumphantly when she reached the group. The flock of once chattering girls is completely silent as they focus all their attention on me. One girl speaks up
"She doesn't look like a demon" They all nod their heads in agreement.
"Yeah, Sera she's right! I thought you said your cousin was a flame demon" Another girl pipes up from behind me.
"My cousin can use magic" she turned to me expectantly "Show them some fire magic"
I immediately started sweating bullets. The real Veronica can use fire magic. And in the magic book I was reading there were no elemental spells. Instead, I was told to go buy another book from the author.
"I'm sorry Sera but I can't I might set the whole building on fire and your mother wouldn't exactly be thrilled if she caught me wielding fire here"
Sophie looks down at the floor downcast. And I start to feel a little bad.
"That doesn't mean I can't do other types of magic"
Her face immediately lights up and all the other girls look at me curiously. I look around for something I can use. On the table is a bouquet of flowers in a vase. Looking at the flowers gives me an idea. I grab the vase and slowly begin to pour my mana into it. The flowers glow and pulsate with light before finally changing form and turning into butterflies. The girls all squeal excitedly at the trick as the butterflies surround them and flap their delicate petal wings.
Concentrating once again I focus my mana and merge all the butterflies to form a bird with multicolored feathers made of petals. The girls stared in awe as the bird soared over their heads and as I was about to do another trick when a servant came up to Sera and I and told us the Marchioness was calling us. I return the bird back to its original form and place the flowers back into the vase. I wave goodbye to the girls and together the two of us take our leave.
"Magic is so cool!" Sera exclaims.
"Right"
The two of us quickly rush back to the Marchioness's side. "There you are! Victor is dancing with Clare. After her is me then Sophie then finally Veronica. The two of you should get ready"I look towards the dance floor where a lone couple danced. My cousin Victor and a girl with long dirty blond hair and hazel eyes moved graciously across the dance floor.
The classical music wafted through the air gently as the two of them elegantly swayed to the music.The Marchioness grumbled under her breath about the song being too long and about them being too close for comfort.
Finally, the song ended and the second dance began. Both mother and son moved effortlessly to the rhythm. The Marchioness looked like she's on cloud nine. While Vincent looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up. When the music ended the marchioness was a bit reluctant to let go. But eventually left the floor muttering something about the music being short. Next was Sera. She quickly headed out and took her brother's hand. I began to feel butterflies in my stomach. I was next after this dance was done. I could feel my legs beginning to jellify before it was even my turn. The marchioness took my hand and gave it a light squeeze. "Don't worry you'll be fine" And just as she said that the song ended and Sera rushed back to us. I cursed under my breath wishing her turn had been longer. I took a big breath and stepped out. I cast all my worries aside as I took his hand and the music once again began to play.
I closed my eyes and let the music carry me. In all my life I have never moved as gracefully as I did during the few minutes the both of us danced. I felt incredible as I let the music slowly take over me. When the song was over, I felt exhilarated as I returned back to the marchioness's side. Before I could even say a word, I was surrounded by other nobles praising my dancing. I was whisked away but other nobles curious about me I hadn't even realized I'd been separated from the marchioness.
I was showered with compliments about my dancing and how amazing it was.
______________________________________
Anastasia watched as her niece laughed and talked with the other nobles. She felt happy, she wished her husband could be here too. She shook her head mentally scolding herself for her greediness. Now was perfect and she wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Time flew by and the party went on till the late evening. With everyone eating, drinking and dancing.
_________________________________________
I heaved a sigh of relief as I leaned against a wall. I had finally managed to escape all those pestering nobles. The moment I mentioned I was one of the Seven Stars I was given even more attention. I had to act fast before the rest of those nobles found me.
I scanned the room quickly and found a corner that was pretty much out of sight to anyone in the ballroom. Not wasting another moment, I 'graciously' dashed over there and hid myself. I waited for a brief moment to see if anyone had followed me, and when I was sure no one had followed me, I relaxed.
From this corner I could observe the entire party without being seen.It was starting to get a bit dark out. Suddenly without warning the lights went off and the entire room was shrouded in darkness. There was some disarray as people tried to find each other bumping into others in the process.
"Well, this isn't good" a voice said from behind me.I leapt away from the wall and spun around quickly to see who was there.
Once my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, I could make out the silhouette of a man.
"How long have you been there" I asked cautiously.
"The entire time" he replied in a monotone voice.
I facepalmed I felt embarrassed for not noticing him. But he was the least of my concerns. I couldn't let this party be ruined because of some lighting issues.
"You wouldn't happen to have a rose on you? Would you" I ask the man.
He disappeared into the darkness and reemerged with something in his hand. It was a vase containing roses.
"Thanks, but I only needed one" I say as I pluck a single rose and feel my surroundings for the wall I had previously detached from.
"What are you going to do" he asked.I felt my hands make contact with the wall.
"Just watch" I place the rose of the wall and I once again concentrated pouring my magic into it. The rose began to glow as other roses began to form from it.
They climbed the walls and the ceiling reaching into the farthest parts of the room. And once I could feel that they were all evenly spread throughout the room. I stopped. The roses that had bloomed provided a beautiful, soft and enchanting light.All the people in the room stopped conversing all looked up to admire the beautiful glowing flowers.
"That's some beautiful magic. I didn't think you were capable of it" I turn to face the man.
The glow of the first rose I had placed on the wall illuminated his face. He was incredibly handsome. Long silver hair and beautiful turquoise eyes and a face befitting of a god. He stared at me almost completely expressionless.
I don't know why but I could feel my cheeks flushing.
"Imp..ress..ive! Right?" I stuttered out. Why was I stammering? Had I suddenly forgotten how to properly articulate my thoughts. He bowed slightly
"Good Evening, Lady Henderson"