Six in the evening. Sharp. The doors to the grand ballroom swung open, the music played louder, and all eyes darted to the grand staircase that Elara insisted on using instead of the regular entrance to the ballroom despite her layers and layers of dress and high heels.
"Her ladyship, Dame Bonna Cranmer." The footman announced and Bon emerged, her chin held high in confidence. She wore a dark green high-neck halter dress with a straight lower half that covered her feet. It's embellished with layers and ruffles and all sort of small crystals that it was too heavy for her to run. She also wore sapphire stud earrings that complimented her light blue eyes. If trouble brewed, she might be better off ripping it all apart than holding it up. But the Bellatrix chose it for her, and the queen can be a little fussy when it came to dresses.
After a little curtsy, she stepped aside to wait for the main attraction--correction, the main character, the most important person, of the night.
"Her royal highness, Princess, Cor Leonis Elara Faey Cozlen de Leonis." The footman sounded again, and the music played even louder that Bon thought a pitch higher, and the chandelier will fall off or some glass somewhere will break.
Elara being Elara, she waived at the sea of people atop the grand staircase.
Donning the daintiest shade of pink, she wore an off-shoulder corset ballgown with cascading ruffles in front held by ribbons with diamond centers on the sides. She was stunning beyond the very definition of stunning. Her crystal-studded tiara glistening under the light. With her hair in a messy bun, the three-layered pearl choker with a diamond in the center and her diamond drop earrings stood out even more.
Everyone was in awe; their mouths gaped and eyes wide as El glided down the stairs--yes, glided. Her perfect poise and confidence made it look like she was descending rather than going down one foot after the other.
Looking side to side as if expecting someone was part of the princess' little dramatics. She told Bon about it earlier and said that it gives her subject a better view of their princess, and maybe someone from the crowd—a man, preferably—will take notice and fall love at first sight. Bon rolled her eyes at the idea but didn't protest. What's her voice compared to the thousand in Elara's mind?
Elara stopped on the last step, saying, "Thank you for coming far and wide to celebrate with me. I hope this celebration will also prove fruitful for all of us." Everyone cheered and greeted her then she was off meeting one person to another. Accepting any company, small or big, to entertain her.
Bon's not required to tail Elara all night as she also has some people she wanted to meet, but every now and then, her eyes would seek for the princess.
The ball is more than just to celebrate El's birthday. It's also a time to socialize, create connections, widen one's network. Everyone here has something in mind, a purpose for coming other than sip wine, laugh, or gossip. Everyone here wants to achieve something by the end of the five-days celebration. Whether that'd be business, pleasure, or marriage, no one knows, but consider everyone a wolf in sheep's clothing.
As the highest-ranking person in the hall, Elara's did her usual rounds. She'd go on engaging in small talks here and there and then rest on the small dais prepared for her where a high-back cushioned chair awaits. This is when Bon's needed to be beside her. Actually, it is Bon's job to take the princess away and let her rest, because if she left El by herself, she'd be too considerate to leave another person hanging.
"Excuse me, but Princess Elara and I have some private matters to discuss." Bon butted in at a group of girls surrounding El.
"Oh, it's time already?" El responded, excusing herself from the bunch, responding to their waves of goodbye.
However, staying at the dais didn't excuse Elara as a line of eligible bachelors--some young, some old, some alright; some too young, then some too old--started to form. Bonna inhaled sharply as she moved closer to the princess. It's not a guarantee that every single one of these men are out to scurry favors from the princess. Though it's almost impossible that someone's out to harm Elara, it's still a small chance Bon won't take.
"Greetings to the heart of the lion, Cor Leonis Elara. My name is Donawue Landar, heir of Duke Landar of Harflek." Landar bowed, his golden locks looking like some unpolished gem. He's tall, but not as tall as Elara wanted. He's a bit scrawny with the only redeeming feature was his charming smile. His eyes were a dull blue, even Bon thought hers were a more mesmerizing hue.
"Hmm..." the princess' eyes narrowed on the small brooch of their family crest he wore on the left side of his suit. "How's Duke Landar? I heard he was in an accident a few weeks ago."
"Ah, yes. Father was hunting and had a slight accident on his way home. He's doing great now after days of rest." He answered and a glint of magic in a form of tiny specks of crystal flashed in Elara's eyes faster than a heartbeat.
"Give my regards to the Duke." Her voice was soft, then she paused. His smile didn't falter even after intently staring down at him for a while. "Thank you for coming but I'd rather you bring your business elsewhere," she continued with a firmer tone, flicking her wrist to shoo away Lanard who didn't have the time to say anything after two knights came out of nowhere and dragged him away.
The same happened with the other remaining gents on the line. They'd greet her, she'd ask a question, nothing grand, just small questions like how they were enjoying the night or who they came here with or how long are they staying in the capital. When she got bored making up questions, she'd ask really obvious things like what color is her dress, something like that—because that's s how her blessing worked.
In no particular order, and regardless of if the prince or princess can use magic or not, someone from the royal family is bound to receive the Blessing of Leonis. This grants whoever is blessed with the ability to read minds, however it has some conditions—the person needs to greet Elara first and he needs to answer her first question. When that is met, she can enter the person's mind and read their thoughts. And by enter a person's mind, it means that, other than reading their thoughts, she can manipulate it, or them. It's a fearsome ability, but it also drains El's mana, and she would need to sleep for a while for her body to recover, so she doesn't use it as much.
Not everyone is open for her to read their thoughts, though. She can't enter the Archmagus's mind because of the strong mana protecting him. Surprisingly, she can't enter Bon's mind too, because believe it or not, if Bon entered the Magic Tower instead of staying by her side, she'd well be called the next Archmagus. That's how fearsome Bonna Cranmer is too.
She also can't read her parent's mind because of Leonis' protection to the royal family.
"Greetings, your highness, Cor Leonis Elara," a slightly tanned, slightly tall, and slightly muscled son of a count—and a knight at that—came forward and bowed as he said his greeting. "My name is Samuel Ravenswood, son of Count Ravenswood of Odren. It is an honor to be invited in your coming-of-age celebration," he went on.
"Have you had some wine, Sir?" the princess asked.
"A little, so as to be rude to others. But personally, I'm not fond of the taste," he laughed awkwardly, his hand on his nape, and for the first time since the line of men started, Elara sat straight and leaned a little forward.
"What is it that you want exactly?" She asked again, because clearly, he's not standing in front of her for her.
Taken aback, the man lowered his head, his ears red, and the princess grinned.
"If you would permit it, your highness," his eyes darted past Elara, "I would like to ask your permission to dance with Lady Cranmer... Of course, if she permits it too." He smiled the most charming smile the princess had seen the entire night. And in his mind, he kept on repeating, 'Please allow me. Please allow me."
"Hmm..." Elara tilted her head, "I'd like to permit you but aside from being a very, very close friend, practically sister, of mine, Bon is off limits." Yes, as of two days ago, on their birthday, Dame Bonna Cranmer is officially betrothed to Archmagus Hubert Gerwig! That blonde-haired magic-wielding person has been courting Bonna since they were twelve when he officiated her being the Cor Leonis. Despite being the most powerful mage in the empire, he's considerably young--only five years older than them. FIVE YEARS!—with a backstory fitting of a male lead in a novel.
But then again, Bon has never shown any interest in marrying Hubert. It's just that, she saw this as an opportunity to get the Magic Tower—which answers to Hubert—closer to the royal family. Bon said it herself that since she was blessed and fortunate enough to have lived closely with the king and queen, marrying Hubert is the least she could do to repay. So, maybe—Elara perked up again, boiling with excitement this time—maybe, if she fell in love with someone like this knight who also happens to be a count's son, then she won't want to marry Hubert! Yes. That's very much possible.
A thin smile drew on the princess face. She has never liked Hubert. Aside from being a nagger during her lessons to control her blessing, he's also like a mother-in-law she often reads about. Under that pretentious smile of his, he nitpicks every single thing he can nitpick on. Bon can't be with that kind of person. She just can't!
"Uhm... Princess?" Elara didn't know that she had ignored the knight in front of her.
"Oh, I apologize. Something came to mind. Where were we? Oh, yes, yes. You are hereby permitted to dance with Lady Cranmer." She said it like a decree before she looked back and smiled at Bon who threw a warning glare at her. "Now run along you two. There might be someone else who'd want to dance with the ladyship. So, only talk of important things." she waved them goodbye, swatting her friends' glares as they left.
Elara sneered. With Hubert busy preparing for the arrival of Vesper and Asterope, he won't be able to step inside the grand hall for another two days. She must introduce Bon to as many would-be suitors as possible.
After Bonna left, there was still quite a bit of line, but none interested the princess—plus she already ran out of questions to ask—until no one dared to ask her for another dance. Though the rest of her night was uneventful, Elara made sure that her dear friend wasn't. Every single one who asked for her hand to dance, the princess agreed. She's gonna hear about it nonstop from Hubert either way, so might as well make it worth her while.
At the wee hours of the morning when all had their fill of food, wine, socializing, and dancing, the hall's light started to dim, and one by one people started leaving. Some with partners, others without; for those without, there's still hope later this evening for the continuation of the celebration.
"You could've just opened a gate to our hallway," Elara complained, walking through lobbies and hallways all the way up to her room.
"If you didn't agree to every single man who wanted to dance with me, I would've had the energy to use magic." Bon answered back. She was walking with her shoes on her left hand and linking arms with Elara on the other. "If Hubert hears about this, both our ears will bleed. You know how that man can be."
"Yes, I know." The princess rolled her eyes. "But do you know how much energy I spent reading each and everyone's mind? I could've paired you with every man that asked for you." El also walked barefooted. They both looked like they just got out from a night of partying—well, that was what happened in the grand hall. "And who is he to even order you around? You're not even married." The princess made a face. It had been four years since he started courting Bon. It won't come as a surprise if he somehow crawled himself like a pesky critter at the corner of her friend's heart.
Bonna was about to answer when they bumped into someone out of nowhere. "Hey!" Bonna yelled after grabbing Elara's arm because she lost her balance. "Show your face and state your name." She ordered but the man only looked back at them before he continued walking away. He was wearing a thick black hooded cloak that the lights in the hallways casted a shadow and hid most of his face.
"Don't mind him. Must be father's guest. I heard someone from Klykos was supposed to arrive this week."
"Hmm..." Bon sounded before returning her attention on the hallway in front of them after the princess pulled her. She kept on looking back at the shadow that disappeared past the floor-to-ceiling windows. She didn't hear any doors opening or any walking. She had set magic circles here and there to alert her of intruders, but none was triggered. She didn't even sense him at all. 'Just who was that?' Bon thought and she wanted to trail after him but El was pulling her as she whined about the floor and her overly puffed dress that she oh-so love earlier.