Song recommendation for this chapter: https://open.spotify.com/track/6DsS1yonG5BvWHrGskxc5Q?si=d3ed9cdd4baa4e6b
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It all started three years ago with mere whispers and visits in Cassandra's dreams. The more Cassandra indulged in the things the whispers had said, the more form did the black smoke get. She didn't know where it came from and why it had chosen her, but it had arrived when she needed it the most.
The fact was that many years ago, a poor human had lost his family and wanted to get them back. So he searched worldwide until he came across an ancient book with spells, one of which was to awaken the dead.
Unfortunately, he had not woken up his family but an ancient evil spirit that fed on corrupted hearts. He was killed immediately since the spell asked for a sacrifice. The Spirit was not yet free to roam the world as it was bound to the book until the day the girl mentioned in a prophecy was dead.
Constrained, it took the Spirit a long time to find the energy it sought within the Rodean royal family. At that time, Cassandra felt jealous because she had found out about the handmaid Philipp was in love with and was furious - the perfect anchor to get to the actual victim.
To convince Cassandra to help, the Spirit first got rid of the handmaid. After that, whoever crossed Cassandra ended up in a coffin. Not knowing who the girl from the prophecy was, the Spirit started with the queen. Sadly the king was killed along with the queen because he had tried to save his wife.
Not free yet, the Spirit had to continue its quest and eliminate Aurora next. They had planned the assassination for a long while and had been sure it would work. That both Aurora and Amelia managed to survive was extremely surprising and upsetting. The Spirit thought something must have gone wrong when possessing those creatures in Helveda.
"Master, what are we supposed to do? Aurora is still alive and made it out of our reach to Lavia." Cassandra asked the black smoke before her, alone in her bedroom.
"Yes, it seems we have failed in completing this mission. You will have to go to Lavia with Philipp in six months so that we can kill her there." The Spirit was too close to getting what it wanted. After waiting a long time, it would not let this go.
"It will be troublesome to do that in Lavia as I don't know the country and the people there, Master."
"Do not worry about that. I will find the necessary information, and we can complete what we started. Once I am free, nothing will stop me from getting back my initial power and giving you the tools to rule the world together with me."
"Oh, Master, I trust you and will follow you until the world's end." Cassandra kneeled to show her complete surrender.
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The day of the welcoming party had finally arrived. Amelia was in her room getting the final touches done. As promised to Nathaniel, she had chosen a dress in dark purple.
Lucia gave her jewelry to match the dress and taught her some dance steps. For Amelia, this would be the first time to attend a ball like this as a guest. She was very excited. One last look in the mirror confirmed that she was ready and made her way out.
Lucius and Julius were waiting to accompany her to the festivities outside her room, and they would guard her tonight. When she stepped outside her room, they became dumbstruck.
Her deep purple gown made from a rich silk fabric was a nice contrast to her pale skin. It had a low neckline and was adorned with intricate lace detailing. The bodice had a structured boning to create an hourglass silhouette and was further accentuated with a wide satin sash tied into a bow at the waist. The full skirt fell gracefully and was embellished with vertical pleats, creating an elegant and timeless look.
Her curly hair was tied into a messy bun, and her earrings which held a big emerald stone brought out the green color of her eyes. In short, Amelia was glowing and radiating pure beauty.
They couldn't express how amazing she looked, so Lucius only said, "You look wonderful tonight, princess." Both men were smiling at Amelia endearingly while Julius tried to validate what Lucius had said using sign language.
"Thank you, Lucius and Julius." She smiled nervously, not aware of how dazzling she looked.
Amelia lifted the front of her heavy dress and went to the drawing room where the gala was held.
Once she arrived, it took all her courage to enter the room with confidence. Her eyes widened at the scene before her.
The room's walls were adorned with beautiful decorative tiles and richly colored silk carpets, while the ceilings were decorated with intricate wood and stucco carvings. Large arched windows provided a stunning view of the sea. The room had intricately carved inlaid tables, chairs, and richly colored velvet cushions. Finally, a large chandelier hung from the center of the ceiling provided a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Most of the guests had already arrived and were standing around the room, chatting. There weren't any tables set like was it common in Rodea. In Lavia, stands were distributed around the room, with servants offering the guests various foods, fruits, and sweets. There were also some servants going around with beverages.
The setup was different, and the music played was something else. The instruments had a lighter sound to them and played more upbeat music, keeping the mood in the room light and joyous.
When Amelia moved to the center, where the royal family greeted everyone, the room became quiet. All the guests had been waiting to see their future queen.
She suddenly felt very conscious but managed to keep her façade, bow her head and pay her respects. "Good evening, King Charles and Queen Patricia. You have truly outdone yourselves. Thank you for your gracious welcome."