The server returned with their drinks, handing one to each of them. Aurora and Mary took their glasses, their excitement not waning despite the earlier interruption.
Adrian, still concerned about Aurora's well-being and the direction this evening was taking, sighed but decided to voice his opinion once more. "I really don't think this is a good idea," he said, addressing both Aurora and Mary. "Alcohol can affect people differently, and especially for someone who's never had it before, it's essential to be cautious."
Aurora and Mary exchanged glances. Mary, ignoring Adrian's warning with her enthusiasm undeterred, turned to Aurora. "What do you say, my dear? Are you up for another round?"
Aurora, not one to back down, smiled and replied, "Why not? It's a special occasion, after all."
The two girl clicked their glasses together. "Cheers." They both said and began chugging their drinks down their throats.
Adrian watched Aurora down her drink, he couldn't help but notice the movement of her throat as she swallowed. In that moment, he felt a strange sense of awe and admiration causing a smile curled in the corner of his lips. He had always known Aurora to be a fiercely independent and strong-willed woman, but this was a new side of her that he had never seen before. She seemed confident and self-assured, even as she partook in an activity that could have potentially been very dangerous for her.
He shook his head slightly, trying to clear his thoughts. He wasn't sure why he was feeling this way - it was irrational, after all.
After the girls had finished their drinks, Aurora suddenly became hyper out of the blue. She rose from her seat, swaying slightly, but quickly regained her balance.
"Where are you going?" Adrian asked, his concern evident in the furrowed lines on his forehead, recognizing that the lady wasn't in a fully coherent state of mind.
Aurora used the back of her right hand to wipe her mouth, and the other pointed in the direction of the music band, who hadn't stopped playing since they got there. Adrian's gaze followed her hand in the direction she pointed, which led to a group of men dressed in elegant attire.
The band consisted of four musicians: a violinist, a cellist, a flutist, and a harpsichord player. They played together in perfect harmony, creating a joyful and celebratory atmosphere. The violinist's beautiful melodies were accompanied by the cellist's rich and deep tones. The flutist's delicate melodies danced over the music, and the harpsichord player's harmonies added a beautiful backdrop to the music. The sounds of the instruments filled the atmosphere, and the people gathered there enjoyed the simple pleasures of music and dance.
"What is it?" Adrian asked.
"I know that song." She muttered. She eyes slightly closing as if immersing herself into the music. The song played in her head, a woman's voice echoed in her mind causing her to giggle. She made her way in that direction, however before Adrian could to stop her he heard his sister groan causing him to shift his attention towards her.
She rested her head on the wooden table, her drink only half empty, unlike Aurora, who had already downed two glasses. Another groan escaped my lips. "My head hurts," she complained, seemingly without end.
"I told you that you couldn't handle it," he replied.
"Shut up," Mary retorted with an eye roll before forcing herself to sit up. She wanted anything but to give him the satisfaction of being right, even though at the moment, he was clearly in the right, and her head was throbbing like crazy which only felt worse when she heard him chuckle.
Aurora, still swaying slightly to the music, had reached the band and was now engrossed in their performance. She couldn't help but move to the rhythm and even started singing along quietly. Her eyes sparkled with the joy of the moment.
What started as humming suddenly turned into full-fledged singing as the song reached a crescendo. Aurora closed her eyes and let the music wash over her, and her voice soared along with the melody. She felt as if she was lifted up by the music, carried away on a wave of joy and happiness. She had never felt so free and alive before. The room was hushed, the only sound the echo of her voice. It was as if the air itself had stilled, transfixed by the beauty of her song.
A grin appeared on Cedric's face, he tilted his head to the side, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.
Aurora paused, surrounded by an eerie silence, and slowly opened her eyes, only to find herself the center of attention. Numerous eyes were fixed on her. Startled, she took a step back, but then the violinist nodded in approval and started playing, prompting the others to join in. Aurora's smile returned, and she resumed singing, this time with a quicker pace. The villagers couldn't resist the urge and began to join in, each finding a partner as they twirled beneath the crimson moon.
Aurora's voice was like a siren's call, captivating all who heard it. Her performance was stunning, her passion and emotion evident in every note. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated bliss, and the spell could have lasted forever. But of course, all moments must come to an end. As she sang, the world around her seemed to spin, causing dizziness that nearly made her lose her balance. However, Adrian stood by her side, offering support as he helped her up. She shook her head, finding the experience quite strange.
"What was that?" she inquired, not addressing anyone in particular, but Adrian had overheard.
"That's just one of the consequences of your doings, my dear. You'll see when you wake tomorrow morning," he muttered.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause as Adrian escorted Aurora back to where Mary was seated. "You sounded amazing; I had no idea you could sing," Mary commented, her gaze fixed on Aurora with a tinge of envy, fully aware that Aurora had captured more attention with her impromptu performance.
"Neither did I," Aurora replied, her smile unwavering. The moment she heard those melodies, it felt as though she had been transported to another world, as if she had an undiscovered past life, and the words effortlessly rolled off her tongue.
Adrian couldn't help but feel a little bit in awe of Aurora. He'd known her since forever, but each time he thought he'd figured her out, she would surprise him with a new side of herself. This was the most unexpected twist yet - the Aurora who had sung like an angel was a far cry from the pragmatic, no-nonsense woman he had come to know. As he looked at her, he felt like he was seeing her for the first time.
Aurora staggered slightly once again. Adrian, placed a supportive hand on her shoulder.
"Okay, that's enough for tonight. We should get you home," Adrian suggested, concern in his voice. It was clear that Aurora might need some rest. A lot of it.
"She sings too? How intriguing. Even the way she sings sounds oddly familiar," Cedric mumbled to himself. "Where have I seen you before, Aurora Elboit?" He gritted his teeth, leaning back in his chair with his legs crossed, his unwavering gaze following her as she left with her friends. Suddenly, he heard a faint rustling of leaves behind a tree, a considerable distance away from him. Though as faint as a pin drop, he easily detected the sound. His attention shifted in that direction, leading to a path surrounded by tall trees and bushes. "There is someone there," he remarked.
"It's probably one of the villagers heading back home," Roland said, observing the king as he stared intently, his eyes narrowing in that direction.
Cedric shook his head. "No," he insisted, sure of what he had heard. It wasn't any of the villagers; he couldn't discern any heartbeat, even when paying the utmost attention. A sly grin spread across his face as he rose to his feet, and Roland assumed a defensive stance. "There is someone there," Cedric declared, and he was going to find out who.