The moment I stepped on the grounds, my heart began to race. There were many people, they were wearing suits and gowns of expensive taste. The place shone like a ball of magnetic golden mists: laughter, classical music, and elegant voices mixed above the air.
A chill ran down my spine until I felt a hand holding mine.
"Femy, are you good?" I heard Father ask and I nodded.
I saw Father did the same with a smile.
He asked my mother, "Emy, why don't you look for Femy and Lucas for a while, I will talk to Duke Denver later."
Mother chuckled and held Lucas' hands. After a few seconds, Father nodded and left while Mother held mine with her other hand.
I looked at Father's back until it faded away.
"So you two have to behave, all right? Now follow me as we go to Duchess Lyra," Mother said. We both nodded. I looked at Lucas after a second and he did the same.
I smiled at him. He sighed, put his finger between his lips, and silently shook his shoulders.
I shook my head and just sighed after seeing Lucas' mischievous behavior. I guess he had something stored in his mind tonight.
I just wished I wouldn't get involved in any way.
We went ahead to many people. I saw different faces, some were beautiful ladies wearing shining gowns, and they had fans on their hands while laughing. Some men were standing straight. They have some wine glasses on their hands.
They would nod firmly if they heard something good and narrow their eyes if they misheard something.
I know each meaning of their gestures because I once observed people this way.
Shaking my head, I looked in front and saw the middle of the place. It was circular. I was puzzled why.
At the end of the middle space, were two seats. I saw two old people sitting. The man dressed in expensive clothing, where everything had red and gold color, looked old. He had mighty silver hair shining amid the golden hue around him and a crown on his head.
The woman beside him also wore a heavily crafted gown like the man. She had long brown hair and a crown on top. She had a color of emerald in her eyes.
This was the first time I saw people that looked like that. They were displayed like a dolls in the middle of the place.
"Don't look too focused on them, you might catch their attention and they will never let you go," Lucas came to my side and whispered.
As soon as Mother found the table, we took a seat. Mother began chatting with her friend while my eyes focused on the two people sitting far away from us.
"Why?" I asked.
I don't know why. There's something about the two of them that made me curious.
"They're moving far above us, you, see?" Lucas whispered again.
I sighed.
Was it because they have crowns on their heads and we haven't?
"Let's forget about these people. Later I will show you something I saw on our way here!" Lucas exclaimed.
I can see how the mists around reflected in his eyes.
For the time being, I could only look around.
I took the orange juice on the table, swirled it on my hands, and sipped from it. It was so sweet!
I finished drinking the orange juice and ate some cakes. I even ate some cookies that weren't usually served at our household.
This place must be the imperial household. I could only imagine these things from what I read. It's truly different when it's already by experience.
"Mother, can I excuse myself and sister Femy?" Lucas said.
I stopped munching on my cake and cookies. I looked at Lucas as if I'd seen a ghost.
I heard Mother chuckle.
"Of course my son, just hold your sister's hands since she's always a left foot in every direction," Mother said smiling at us.
"Mom! I know every direction!"
"Oh please darling," Mother dismissed my claims and went to talk to her friends. I heard her friend talking about us.
Lucas grabbed my hands and started tugging me to his side.
He leaned in and whispered to my ears.
"Don't ever let go, all right?" Lucas emphasized every word.
"All right," I said sighing.
I needed to burn the calories that I'd intake earlier by walking.
I looked back, I could still see our table and my sweets!
No, my sweets! I'm still hungry though!
Lucas you meanie! I wanted to shout.
But I can't. I looked at his hands holding mine. I feel his warmth.
I could see his face shining even when we were already in the dimmed hallways.
"Where are we exactly going, Lucas?"
"Shh!"
"What?"
"Here," Lucas said.
We stopped after a few steps away from the exit of the event place. We are currently facing a wall. Above our height was a lamp.
Now, I'm getting a bit curious.
"Lucas, are you going to tell me or not?" I asked.
He looked at me and smiled. Again, he put his finger between his lips. Then a sudden sound echoed.
"What the----"
"Come here!"
Before I knew it, we were already inside an unknown place. I didn't even know how or when.
All I could see was a door closing behind us. The place was dark until a moment ago when the lamp on each side of the brown bricked wall appeared.
"Where are we?"
"Let's just say we were inside a secret passage"
"Secret passage? Lucas, are you insane? If mother and father find out about this we're both---"
"Calm down, Femy. No one will know unless you tell them…" I saw Lucas' face. He narrowed his eyes and his hands holding mine tightened.
"Lucas, are you aware that curiosity kills the cat?"
"But we're not cats, Femy"
"I know but this thing would lead us to danger!"
"But it's also thrilling, right?"
"What do you mean? And how did you even know this place?"
"Let's just say I saw this before we entered the household"
"How?"
"I'll tell you later if you just follow my lead"
"I'm not going to do that if you wouldn't tell me here"
All right, suit yourself!" Lucas said and let go of my hand.
I started to shiver. The cold easily gets into my hands and in a few seconds, I'm already chasing Lucas who had walked three steps in front.
"F-Fine, but just don't leave me here, okay?" I said looking at the ground.
I can't stop biting my lower lips.
I heard Lucas chuckle and gripped my hands tight like he used to.
We walked where the path was leading us. Then we stopped when we were faced with two doors on either side.
Lucas knocked on one door and I did on the other. He was silent for a moment before deciding which door to enter.
"Here," he said.
He points at the door on the right side. He opened it slowly. I came behind him thinking we could land safely but we were indeed thrown into the ground with Lucas below me.
We both exclaimed in such pain.
This secret passage was never even notified of such pain!
"Ouch!"
"Lucas, you!"
"Stop it Femy, you're the one who came behind me and pushed me! So get off will you!"
"Fine but you owe me this time, you owe me two debts!"
"Fine, fine, fine! Geez, if it weren't for Mother asking me to hold your hand I wouldn't---"
"You two, who are you and what are you doing to my house?" A deep and very familiar yet unfamiliar tone invaded the room.
Lucas and I both stopped quarreling and looked at the person who spoke.
He was tall and had fair white skin. he was wearing a suit like any other nobles we saw earlier at the place.
He had silver hair and shining emerald eyes. He gave me a hostile look as if I had done something bad.
"Femy gets off of me first," Lucas spoke.
I looked at him and immediately stood.
"Hello there, I'm Lucas of house Argold," Lucas said after standing and fixing his clothes.
The young man who seemed to be around our age, shook hands with Lucas. I see him nod.
"So what do the Argold siblings have to do here?" the man asked.
He never even let me introduce myself first.
"I'm Femy Argold----"
"Lucas you say?" I heard the man speak. I bit my lower lips and looked at the ground.
Lucas must have seen me so he excused
"Excuse me but isn't it rude not to let my sister introduce herself?" Lucas said and the young man sighed.
"I see, please do so," the young man went to sit where he had and opened a book. He crossed his legs and waited for my introduction.
"So?"
"Wait, are you insulting my sister----" Lucas said but I cut him off.
"Let me handle this," I said holding his chest.
"But---"
"No buts," I said looking at Lucas' eyes.
Lucas took a step behind and leaned his body on the wall. As I stepped closer to the young man, I looked around and we walked from the passage room only to be in a room of a noble.
Or was it the room of a prince?
I don't know, but something about this young man here makes my blood boil.
I stand beside him. Though he never stopped turning some page of his book.
"I don't know what business you have with me, but I don't like your attitude," I said.
I heard him close his book.
I could see him give me his full attention.
"What could an evil lady do in my household, huh?"
"Evil lady? Your household?" I asked
"Don't you know that seeing your face makes me sick?" The young man said.
He did boil my blood because right now, I'm leaning over him with only inches away from our faces.
I slammed the table hard to let him hear my anger.
"Whatever it is, I want to know why you think of me that way," I said.
I saw his eyes widen. It showed my reflection before he blinked them away.
"The rumors," he said not looking at me.
I see, so he must have heard about the rumors. Well, I can't help it since they are rumors and they are true but that was before I overtook this body.
I sighed.
"Come here," I grabbed his hand and let him stand for a while.
"So what rumors did you hear about me?"
"Bad, like your attitude right now"
"Am I bad to you?" I asked him.
He couldn't speak. I felt like he froze before I cornered him into a wall.
"Before you speak, know the facts well. So I've done my introduction. Now please introduce yourself," I spoke and he sighed.
"Before introducing myself, let us have some deal," he said.
I stepped back and gave us some space.
"What kind of deal?" I asked
"At the village of Thelion, meet me there, and let's have some charity work together," he said.
The village of Thelion wasn't far away from the capital. It was near. But I never knew what kind of place it was.
But since I've been challenged why not accept it?
"Fine, the deal would be accepted."
"Only then I will let you know who I am…" he said. For the first time after a while, I saw him smile.
"You look cute when you smile like that, you know?" I said and I saw his ears reddened.
After a while, he showed us the way to the event place. Lucas and I spoke and bantered. In the end, he said sorry.
"Just be careful around that young man, I don't trust him"
"I know," I said messing his hair for a bit before we went back.
***
Arcien's POV
The once quiet place was noisy. But I'm glad I don't have to face that many people for now. I guess, for now, reading some books would ease my mind.
I went ahead to the library and picked some books. After a while, I heard noises again. This time, it came from within the place.
I saw two people, with a very familiar appearance. The lady that I despised. I spied on her household that night using the magic I've learned.
But I never thought she would catch me.
Now I must show her what she is.
But after seeing and talking to her, she doesn't seem as bad as the rumors say.
Some of my noble friends even informed me that the Lady of the House Argold was evil, she would do anything to clean her hands after shaking with people.
But when she slammed the table she never did.
Some said that she had a temper and that if someone managed to anger her, she would destroy everything.
But when I did anger her, she never did.
She only asked me about the things she did wrong. It surprised me to think that the rumors I heard and the lady talking to me now were different.
Aside from that, some rumors say she's madly in love with me. That she's obsessed she's forbidden any ladies approaching me. But looking at her now, she doesn't even know who I am.
On top of that, she even agreed to the deal I asked her which started my amusement on such a person.
She's different from the rest, she's never the same as the rumors but when I felt like she's in love with me but not, why do I feel a little bit upset?
I looked at the siblings while the door closed, back to my hands.
"Her hand was warm…"
***
Third POV
No one knew, even the prince himself doesn't know about his feelings changing. For the first time, he saw a lady different from the rest. That's the reason she picked his interest.
But what if he's not the only one who picked interest in her, what if there's one more looking behind the shadows?
Will Femy be able to live peacefully or now be chained to someone she never expects?
"My heart, it feels like it's exploding," the prince whispered. The breeze danced with the wind, and the prince couldn't help looking at his hand.
Meanwhile, after talking to his sister, Lucas turned around and looked at the door they exited.
Then he thought, 'This was only the start…' but…
After Lucas looked at his adoptive sister, his heart warmed.
"Femy, can you hold my hand this time?"
Femy chuckled at Lucas' words and nodded.
After initiating, Lucas felt like his heart was never the same again. Now, will Femy be able to escape two young men's cage before knowing about them?