Aurelia's pov
"Aurelia! Aurelia! get up. You are going to be late for the festival."
arrgg!!!
Nessa was at it again!! waking me up from my lovely sleep.
I groaned and turned.
"what time is it?"
"Time to wake and get ready for your once in a lifetime showcase." Nessa sassed.
I got up from the bed and walked towards the bath room while Nessa followed behind me.
I dipped into the water mixed with lavender oil and rose flower.
It was also mixed with a special relaxation medicine from Alynthi to help calm my nerves.
Nessa left and soon returned with two other maids. I remembered them, they recently joined my quarter . Kana and Lilli.
They helped me take my bath and then we went to my closet room.
"what dress would you like your highness?"Nessa asked because I was made two dresses for the showcase festival by aryl . Kana held a baby blue dress with pink flowers used as design.
"Not that one."
Then I looked at Lilli and she was holding a white long light dress with gold linings and golden embroidery.
It was the perfect dress.
"That should work." I said and Nessa immediately went to my jewelry box and took out a golden set of necklace and paired earrings.
Then I remembered the golden rose brooch I bought from aryls shop.
"Please bring out the good brooch too ." I told Nessa.
By the next one hour, I didn't recognize myself as I stared at the mirror.
"You look as lovely as ever."Nessa said .
I smiled. Nessa loved singing my praise, she always had always had a way of lifting my spirit.
"Thank you Nessa. You're the best."
She blushed and then gave me one last look before she nodded.
"you are good too go. Let's leave now."
I took a dip breath and said to myself.
"You can do it Aurelia."
*******************************************
I walked along the passage that led to the main palace hall where all important events where held. I was feeling nervous but I still felt a bit calm as nessa kept encouraging me.
As soon as we got to the hall door the guard there immediately announced.
"Her highness the third princess skaesun Aurelia Lathch has arrived."
And the wide door opened.
I came face to face with more than five thousand elves that had their eyes on me.
I kept looking forward as I didn't want to distract myself with their unnecessary whispers but........I still heard them as their whispers weren't really whispers.
"Its the third princess."
"Yeah the mistake."
"What do you think her power would be?"
"Who knows, maybe the power of sleeping?"
"hahaha, don't make fun of her. Though she only knows how to sleep, she might also have the power to seduce men with her face.haha."
"No, she's too dumb."
"Shhhh,she coming this way."
I sighed. These silly elves didn't know I already heard them.
I looked ahead above the staircase that held the most powerful source of zinambra and I saw other students that were assembled in two straight lines in front of the great oak tree. It was the oldest oak tree in the whole of zinambra. It wasn't only great because it was the oldest but because it was the source of our power. It is called Ambra.
There were only forty elves coming of age today and they were divided into twenty on each roll.
But the role on the right was missing one person.
Yeah......the person is me.
Nessa and my two maids walked me to the start of the staircase then they moved back to the lower floor.
I walked up the stairs to the line and stood there .
Just then, the guard announced the arrival of the king, the queens, the two princesses and the prince.
I looked back and saw a tall man who had blue eyes and brown hair with an air of elegance around him walk towards me with a lady who had brown hair and a pair of blue eyes. Behind them was a woman who had grey eyes and brown hair. And then the two identical sisters who had everything in common.
Except for their powers.
long brown hair, blue eyes,toned skin. Everything the same even though they weren't twins. Yavanna was twenty one years old and would be getting married next month to the marquis son Palo, while Beeatrisa was nineteen years old and was engaged to our Generals son Gavin.
Then I looked at the young boy who looked too much like me with honey colored hair and grey eyes. He's sixteen this year and was already very good with his accuracy power.
They are my family. Both step related and blood related.
"Long live His royal majesty, the father of nature and the entire royal lineage. May you live long and prosper."
The hall echoed as everyone knelt and greeted the royal family. While the royals bowed and greeted the king.
"Rise."
Father said and everyone stood up. Then he walked forward and stood directly opposite me.
"Even though you are seen as a disgrace, not that you are not one; try not to shame the name of Lathch today." and he walked towards his sit while queen Zilla walked behind me while smiling wickedly at me.
Mother walked pass me but she did look at me or say a word. I watched as she took her sit behind the queen.
"sis, I'm rooting for you."
my brothers voice made me turn and I saw him smiling at me.
"Why are you rooting for me? don't you think I would 'disgrace' the family.?"
I used the same language the king used and Rohan smiled.
"Sis, no matter what anyone says,you will always make me proud." he said and winked at me while he walked to his sit.
I don't know where he learnt to call me 'sis' but I like it.
"All coming of age elves, please move forward and touch the Ambra to get your number." The priest who is also the oldest elf in zinambra said with a loud voice and we all moved to touch the tree.
I was the last to arrive, so of course I was the last to touch the tree.
When I got to my turn I walked without fear or nervousness to the tree and touched it, but as soon as I did I saw an image of a woman who looked like me crying while sitting in the middle of the ocean. Then all of a sudden she screamed a word.
"Rõakmerve!!!"
I immediately withdrew my hands from the great tree . Then I felt a splitting headache and I fell down.
The king looked like he expected something like this, while mother looked worried though she tried to hide it.
My brother already dashed to my side.
"sister are you okay?"
"Of course she is. I bet she fell asleep even in her own coming of age ceremony." Beeatrisa said in a loud voice while she and her sister giggled.
"Behave,you are princess. Don't laugh at your sister's weakness." Queen Zilla said as though she was reprimanding her daughters but the was laughter in her eyes .
Then there was a loud murmur in the hall.
"what? how can she sleep in her coming of age ceremony?"
"Seems like even the Ambra recognize the mistake."
"Does this means it rejected her?"
"Maybe, she doesn't have magic,how dare she touch the Ambra."
"Not to mention she's a lazy log."
"Silence." The king said and the hall went pin dropped silent.
"What happened to the child priest?." He asked the priest.
(note, he didn't say my child but 'the child.)
"I'm sorry your majesty,but this has never happened before so ....I don't really know."
"sis, are you okay? please get the royal doc-"
My brother was still talking when I interrupted.
"I'm fine, I just felt dizzy when I touched the tree. It's not a big deal."
"Are you sure?"
"yes, I am." I said as I stood up. The he gave me probing look before he went back to his seat.
Then I looked at my hand to see my number and of course it was number forty.
I went back to me position and stood there wondering when this ceremony would be over because everyone of the showcase elves looked excited except me.
"now please sit around the tree and try to feel an energy that feels familiar to you." The priest said and I groaned.
Not again with the 'feel the energy around you' thing.
what if I fall asleep?