A party…?
Before Crusch had known it, before her senses could comprehend and before she could refuse, she found herself two nights later in her room, Melissa by her left and a maid of brown hair and rich hazel eyes on her right…what was she doing here again?
"M—Melissa…why am I dressed so fancily again?" She stammered as she asked, it felt like only a day ago she'd been elated that she'd qualified to become a Witch and now she was playing dress up in her room.
"The Young Lady's rumors of flimsy memory are far too understating, Lady Ludmilla, tonight's the celebration of your ascendance to a Young Witch" said the Hazel eyed maid, a surprisingly talkative woman.
"Ah, right!....Since when was that a thing!? Did all my other siblings gain things like this!?" Crusch suddenly exclaimed, embarrassed her parents would even go through such lengths.
"Why of course, although some rejected the offer, your older brother Arthur is a great example" Melissa cut in, taking the time to adjust the positioning of Crusch's glasses, "And before you lament your decisioning of not refusing the offer, I must remind you that social gatherings are events of the nobility that you will inevitably have to attend and…as uncomfortable as they may seem it won't be so easy to avoid them soon"
"Did anyone even know I existed till two days ago?" In the span of the few days after her magical Aptitude test and Crusch was made aware of a fact that either this body hadn't known or forgotten but…she was completely and utterly unknown to the world.
It wasn't the type of purposeful and self induced forgetfulness to a person or event but that everyone genuinely believed that at the bottom of their heart, Ludmilla Von Vladalina Ludunhime wasn't real.
"Lies can only last so long" Melissa conveyed, "Sooner or later the truth would've been revealed and the effects…, it's best to ready oneself beforehand"
Crusch's gaze became complicated, the break in between Melissa's sentence was odd but she quickly paid it no mind.
What worried her now was not openly making a fool of herself, questions such as 'what was noble etiquette like?', 'Should I speak in a certain speech pattern?' and 'does everyone address the other party's title and status in every conversation?'
Though she'd seen and read of the nobility in books and drama's, Crusch obviously knew that such knowledge barely scratched the surface of their actual intricacies.
"Will I have to…interact with a lot of people?" She asked tentatively to which the hazel eyes maid responded first.
"Of course, you're today's main attraction however there is no obligation for you to hold things like a conversation" She spoke, now doing Crusch's hair, "So, you could exchange a few greetings with everyone and leave it at that, after this is done we'll make sure to brief you on everyone coming so you can know their names and titles"
"W-Wouldn't that be a bit…rude?"
"Of course not, cold, distant and aloof, hasn't anyone ever told you of the obsession most people have over such characters?"
'ah, she does have a point
'
"By keeping your distance it also places a much needed barrier between you and everyone else invited"
"Why's that?"
The Hazel eyed maid stared for a bit, looking her straight in the eye as if trying to convey this information as the most important and crucial part of the advice she'd given moments earlier.
"No one there is a friend, everyone you think has good intentions doesn't and everyone who speaks to you aren't doing so out of desire for a new acqaintence"
Crusch stared as Melissa cut in.
"So, don't get fooled by anyone"
She slowly nodded, sighing as she noted the maids words and muttered under her breath.
"It's just perfect for me!"
**
The family's home was situated in the coldest regions of the Sorcerer Kingdoms small city of Giad, a forest region amongst the hills and where the Ludunhime family had claimed its territory. The usual path accessible by carriage ride had been buried in heap's of snow and inaccessible from such a form of transportation but it wasn't like anyone had ran out of options, what Crusch had come to witness were vehicles! Cars of different designs, lengths and sizes however the main color for all of them was black. From the design and looks of them, the cars seemed to be coming from the late 1920's to early 30's although whether that was the actual time period of the world or perhaps the rich, even here, had an extravagant taste for the past was unknown to her since she'd never bothered to ask.
'That'd be too much' Melissa had already begun eyeing her with increasing concern due to the gaps in her memories and her own inability to recall recent events that she was sure, sooner or later, she'd make this a huge issue.
This was all something she witnessed from the base of the castle, through the large double doors as everyone filtered inside. It was winter right now, many were wearing fur collared jackets and some slightly extra clothing but the overall style they'd desired to come in wasn't hampered and honestly suited them more.
Crusch did as she'd been told, steeling herself the much needed courage and taking the time to exchange greetings with everyone there. What she noticed quite quickly were a myriad of reactions such as surprise, excitement, disinterest and wandering expectation. Many of the nobility however, seemed to harbor a sense of both surprise and excitement, seemingly due to the revelation that the rumors were in fact true, that her family did in fact harbor a youngest daughter.
In doing so there were quite a few questions she'd been asked while in the drift of greeting everyone there, her age, how long she'd been in the family and good God..whether she was a legitimate daughter!!
'Are these people perhaps a little nuts?'
The questions were so jarringly insulting, purposefully personal and laced with a false pretense of innocent curiosity that it was appalling. Was this how things usually were in these environments? Crusch wondered, she still persevered however, in all likelihood she wouldn't have to meet these people ever again so there wasn't much reason to care.
Coming to her last and perhaps thankfully final guest was a man of deep blonde hair and picturesque blue eyes wearing what was barely anything of extravagized nature, unlike many of the people present he seemed quite out of place and Crusch closed in with much hesitation and a little curiosity. The man, taller now that she was right ahead although she could easily attribute it to the youth of her current body suddenly swivelled his gaze in her direction and smiled. He outstretched a hand which Crusch took, revealing himself as a representative of the Duncan family (not like she'd know who the hell they were).
"I'm most saddened they couldn't be here" the man suddenly added as Crusch smiled.
"It's only a small celebration for my ascension, I'm sure they have better things to do" Who could blame them? If Crusch was in their position, she'd vehemently refuse to come as well.
"Ah! You misunderstand, they harbor no intentions of disrespecting the Young Lady's ascension, this is a tradition we've all done"
'You put your own children through this hell as well!? I've only lasted because of my adult mind, what of a child with barely the mental tenacity!?' she inwardly protested.
"I see, there must be quite the reason then" The man's face seemed to darken at those words which raised an eyebrow from Crusch but before her curiosity could fall her victim into entering a short conversation with someone, a hand fell on her shoulders.
"Lady Ludmilla, look at how much you've grown!"