Arianna woke up to her mother, Adette, lifting her from the bed. The head maid smiled at her daughter, stroking her emerald curls. "Hello my sweet sleepy daughter." She said with a slight chuckle, her eyes the slightest bit red, but a smile brighter than Arianna remembered from her first life stretched across Adette's cheeks.
Adette was a beautiful woman. She was tall, with an elegance to her instead of an awkwardness. Her skin was the colour of the night sky, with her eyes being the brightest stars. Framed by her yet darker obsidian hair, her sapphire blue eyes were radiant. Arianna had always wished she took more after her mother. Where her mother was made of cool tones made warm by her heart, Arianna was warm tones made cool by the lack of hers. Adette's wiry curls and wiry muscles both bounced as she spun with her daughter.
It was hard not to feel a little shy under a gaze that clearly bore so much joy about your well-being. More than that, Arianna was sorely tempted to wrap her arms around her mom and laugh and cry with her, the two of them finally being free of the curse of Arianna's broken mana.
Yet that would not be in keeping with the appearance of being a child. Six year old Arianna had not understood that there was anything different about her. Oh she knew her mother was different than the Grand Duchess, and she understood that her siblings were the colour of soft fluffy clouds and she was the colour of stone, but she had not thought there was anything wrong with her.
Now she might get to know a life where that was actually true.
She smiled brightly at her mother and giggled as they spun. Arianna assumed it had something to do with how a child's body acted, but she had no issue with the idea that her body was more emotive than it had been as an adult. Even if she were slightly willing to tell her mother and the Grand Duchess, she had no interest in getting Lucia and herself taken for testing or treated for shared delusions. This allowed her to pretend to be a child better. A much smaller benefit was that she maybe did enjoy getting to smile and laugh with her mother again; a very small amount of enjoyment.
After being spun, her mother deposited Arianna gently onto the seat in front of the vanity in the room, and began to gather the pins for her hair. Arianna sat peacefully and quietly as a sleepy young girl might, and let her eyes drift shut to complete the image, as her mother started redoing her hair. Lucia had a specialized personal maid who did hers, but Arianna was the only member of their family with hair that was even slightly more than straight, let alone how truly curly her emerald tresses were. Her mother, who had passed the curly hair down, was the best suited for styling it.
(At least at this point in time. After Arianna was betrothed to the Crown Dirtbag, her father finally gave the order to find someone else who could do her hair properly as it was too shabby for the future Empress to have her hair done by her mother. Arianna vehemently disagreed, but admittedly she did think that her maid had done an incredible job.)
Arianna nearly did fall asleep, having to be caught by her mother as she nearly fell off the stool, and her cheeks warmed. Her mother pressed a kiss to her head and then helped her down. Finally, Adette kneeled down to look at her daughter. "You know I will not be able to come in with you, but the Grand Duchess will be nearby, and you'll walk in with Lucia, so you won't be alone, alright?"
Arianna nodded and impulsively threw her arms around her mother's neck. "Yes, mama. I love you." She said softly, still having to stand on her toes, even though her mother had kneeled.
Adette stroked her daughter's cheek and smiled. "I love you too, my beautiful princess. More than you could know." She said and kissed the other side of her face before taking her arms away and lightly pushing her towards her sister.
Arianna had more of an idea of her mother's love than she ever wished to. She forced herself to push thoughts of bright red blood on skin as black as ink and skin whiter than parchment out of her mind, though she was decidedly not looking at the Grand Duchess then either. She instead focused on taking her sister's hand, the two of them being herded along behind the Grand Duchess.
Finally they reached the entrance to the great hall, the Grand Duchess leaning down to cup both of the girl's cheeks with a smile. "Just stand tall, this party is for you, and everyone will be happy, no matter how you act." She then gave them both air kisses on their heads but refrained from actual contact as she didn't think they'd be happy to walk in wearing her lip stain.
She smiled and entered the room first, being announced to the banquet, before finally the doors were opened for the two birthday girls to walk through.
Arianna squeezed Lucia's hand and walked proudly out to be seen. The Grand Duchess was a stunning beauty and the two of them were nowhere near her level, but that didn't stop the gathered attendees from taking a collective moment to appreciate the loveliness before them.
Lucia was a delicate puff of air, in a soft blue dress that was so pale it almost looked white. Her hair had a similar saturation of colour, being a green that almost no one could read as green from that distance. Combined with her skin as light as fresh fallen snow, it all worked together to make her deep gold eyes that much more notable. Though she was young, she stood with confidence, and it was clear she would be a great beauty like her mother.
Arianna was more of a surprise for the guests. Most of them were aware of her existence, many of them even brought small gifts for her in acknowledgement that it was her birthday as well, but none of them had been expecting her to be there. Certainly not walking hand in hand with the legitimate daughter.
Where Lucia was a cloud of sweetness, Arianna stood out and called attention. Just as Lucia's darker eyes drew focus against her otherwise light features, Arianna's darker self drew focus when compared with the cream skinned legitimate family members. Her skin was warm, lovely, and darker than anyone would have to expected of a Rosales child. Her eyes were a liquid gold with an intensity to them that was undeniable despite her diminutive stature and young age. Her curls were pinned up beautifully, and when her eyelids fluttered, the rich emerald lashes sparkled against her skin like the gemstone that shared their colour. Her gown was golden yellow, combining with her skin and hair to make her a flower in bloom.
Eventually the beat of silence ended and the two of them were welcomed by polite applause for their entrance, and the Grand Duchess led them down to where the guests were, introducing them to several of the more notable attendees, as well as those who had similarly aged children.
Arianna felt almost guilty for how well she was being treated. Though her body was frail, she still had an adult's experience level with court etiquette. Put together and the two things gave her the air of a fragile, beautiful, young girl, who had done all she could to be a good child. Her shaky curtsies came across as more charming because of how obvious a strain it was for her. It made it seem like she had been practicing for weeks in the hopes of being welcome at her own birthday party. Arianna would have been happy to use that sentiment to her favour except for the fact that this was supposed to be Lucia's party, not Arianna's.
When she glanced at Lucia, her sister gave her a look telling her to just shut up and accept it, and Arianna's cheeks warmed as she realized that Lucia must have known this would happen. Likely from the moment she voluntarily gave Arianna the gown that would have been flattering on either of them, instead choosing one that would make her stand out only for a moment before her delicate beauty was overshadowed by her sister.
Internally, Arianna swore that she would be more prepared the next time, not letting her sister throw away all of the public attention. Even if Arianna was quite certain that the spotlight fit her like a glove.
She could admit that she liked being the center of everyone's gazes, she did not see that as a personal flaw.
Though perhaps something she'd have to work on as the herald opened the doors and immediately stole the focus of all guests.
"All bow for their Royal Majesties, Emperor Mikhail, First of his name, Conqueror and Champion of the people, as well as Empress Alessia, Gods' Blessed Daughter, First Princess of Abrua, and Commander of the Second Legion. They are accompanied by his royal highness, Crown Prince Alekai."