Rhia believed she was just going to visit a normal friend and be there for support as they celebrated his mother's birthday.
The carriage her father had rented had a simple design, but the wood was top-grade material which was why the price was so expensive and why her father had decided on renting instead of buying.
But Rhia didn't see the need for a fancy carriage, believing the party to be a simple affair, but her mother, father, and even her brother, who hated dressing up, thought differently.
They all sat inside. The cream-colored cushions were soft, and everyone was dressed to the nines.
"Rhia, make sure you are on your best behavior. You too, Adrian!" their mother, Baroness Night, emphasized to them.
The elegant and long pale blue satin dress hugged the curves of her slim body. The sparkling silver details reminded Rhia of ocean waves.
A big pale blue bow was tied at the back as the tails of the ribbon trailed the ground like waves of water.
Rhia had always found her mother attractive, but today she looked like a sought-after noblewoman. A shimmer of blue eyeshadow painted her eyelids.
A touch of blush highlighted her soft cheeks with a natural tone of lipstick that only enhanced her natural beauty.
"My dear, you look stunning! I'll have to watch to ensure you're not stolen away from me."
Rhia noted that her father did not look bad himself. He had this noble air to him that when added to his handsome looks and charming soft smile meant that her mother wouldn't be the only one who would be fighting off suitors.
He wore a pure white suit with blue and silver accents—the perfect image of Prince Charming in a fairytale book.
"Couldn't I have stayed at home or hung out with Ray? These clothes make me feel stuffy!"
Beside him sat her older brother, grumbling at the gray trousers paired with a formal white shirt he was forced into. The sleeves had silver cufflinks, and he wore a powder blue vest with intricate silver designs over it.
Then there was Rhia, staring at the scenery outside the window of the carriage. She began to realize how the skies of the Shadow Kingdom were hardly ever sunny.
Like right now, which was a mixture of orange and purple. The perfect sunset yet there was no sun in sight.
Rhia's mother had her try on at least ten dresses before finally settling on one she liked. A princess-inspired gown with an asymmetrical long-sleeved corset made of floral fabric and embroidered with shiny sequin designs.
The shoulder of the dress was decorated with a luxurious large bow with a cute fluffy skirt that had a plush of blue tulle underneath.
"I think we've arrived!" said her mother, excited and nervous, but Rhia believed they were at the wrong location.
So what if Alex handed them a thick black invitation card decorated with gold designs and fancy gold letters? Or the clothes he wore were always finely tailored like a son of a rich noble lord?
Or sometimes, when he stayed over at the bakery with her a little late, a group of knights in platinum armor plates would be waiting—
"You are really slow. You know that, right?" Lucia, who decided to reveal herself, said to Rhia.
"Shut it! He never said anything! I mean, I kinda knew he came from money, but not this much!"
Rhia's gaze was pointed to the towering gold gates. Knights in platinum armor and red capes were stationed outside as they pushed it open. Decorating the mile-long pathway were gold dragon head statues with rubies for eyes.
The front yard was massive, and the gardener did an excellent job maintaining it.
There were so many rose bushes that Rhia lost count. The more they traveled, the more they passed by huge golden statues of dragons and people she had no recollection of.
"I believe they are the past heirs that have led House Pendragon."
Her father must've seen her puzzled expression and decided to clear up her confusion.
Various large houses were scattered outside, leaving Rhia needing clarification about which was the main house. But would have to wait to find out later as a knight escorted them inside a brightly lit ballroom building with soft classical music playing in the background.
Right when their feet touched the spick and span floors of the ballroom, everyone's eyes were drawn to them, and Rhia hated the attention.
Her ears could pick up the sound of gossip as people wondered who they were.
Rhia saw many demons, all sporting different skin tones, from natural to bizarre colors like pink, green, or red.
Others bore various animal traits with ears or horns. Everyone here was dressed to the nines as if this was some kind of Met Gala.
Those eyes looked at them as if they didn't belong here, and Rhia felt uncomfortable. Shooting a look at her parents, she was surprised at how at ease they seemed to be as if everyone's prying and disapproving eyes weren't bothering them.
"Their eyes are like vultures. Very nerve-wracking," said Lucia, and Rhia was happy to know that she wasn't alone.
"Rhia!"
Rhia heard someone scream out her name, and in the next second, she was glomped into a tight hug. When the person released her, a smile overcame Rhia's face, happy to see a familiar face.
"Naomi!"
"Mimi, what did I tell you about running off without letting me know first?"
Trailing the girl was a woman Rhia had only seen on T.V., but this time, she was in the flesh and walking with a handsome man.
"Honey, be easy on her. She's excited because she saw her friend."
The couple walked with their arms conjoined. Naomi greatly resembled her mother with similar werecat features, except her skin was more of a butterscotch while her mother was a brownish tan.
Then there was their hair as Cocoa Valentine had a head of strawberry pink locks pinned in an intricate hairstyle.
The actress effortlessly gave off an air of allure and sexiness, snugged inside an off-the-shoulder dress made entirely of soft pink tulle. The man beside her emitted a similar aura.
He gave off the impression of a man who was confident in himself, lips upturned into a playful smile, long brown hair worn in a messy low ponytail. His suit matched the same color patterns as Naomi's and her mother's dresses.
Naomi, too, was dressed up in an embellished soft pink tutu dress. Fancy petals shrouded the long sleeves. Her hair was styled into a thick loose braid placed over her shoulder and decorated with pearls.
Naomi always gave the impression of a pampered rich princess with a taste for life's finer things.
"You must be the famous Rhia my Mimi won't stop talking about."
Rhia couldn't believe it. She was face to face with a famous actress who she had only stared at across the room on her T.V.
Today, she stood in the flesh and was twice as beautiful in person. Not knowing how to act, Rhia reached out and squeezed Naomi—confusing the other girl when Rhia suddenly bowed formally in front of the woman.
"I-It's very n-nice to meet you, ma'am!"
Rhia all but shouted.
She gathered a few unsavory eyes in her direction but was ignored in favor of the sound of sweet laughter that came from the actress's mouth.
"What an innocent and refreshing girl. Naomi, your friend is a cutie pie!"
The actress winked at her daughter, who squeezed Rhia's hand and puffed her chest out proudly.
"Of course, Rhia is a cutie pie! She's my destined soulmate after all!"
Naomi loudly proclaimed as Rhia ducked her head in embarrassment, feeling her parents' questioning eyes burning a hole in the back of her head.