A piece of subtle music played by the empire's greatest orchestra filled the air in the ballroom. Tables and chairs covered with silk were lining up on each side of the hall, leaving a huge space in the center—where the red carpet ended—as the dancefloor.
Everyone dressed appropriately for the occasion and even the maids and butlers who served food and drinks were wearing a custom-made uniform specifically designed for the said event. It was the Duke's daughter's engagement party, after all.
"Perfect," Calista mumbled as she laid her eyes downstairs where the guests were waiting. She gestured to Peter who was standing on the side. "I'm ready," Calista mouthed.
Peter bobbed his head and signaled the orchestra to halt as he was going to speak. "Noble ladies and gentlemen, let's give a round of applause to our dearest and prettiest Lady Calista La Forte!"
Everybody clapped their hands while holding their breath as they anticipated Calista's appearance. Most of the attendees, especially among bachelors, still couldn't believe that one of them could be the Duke's son-in-law when chosen by the Lady as her fiancee.
Calista's face exuded confidence as she stepped out. Her sapphire dress hugged her curves perfectly as she walked down the stairs, escorted by her young and handsome knight, Troy Nuversi.
"Smile, Troy. You don't want to ruin this special night, do you?" Her soft yet commanding voice was enough to send shivers down her knight's spine and obey her words in the blink of an eye.
"Yes, My Lady." Troy Nuversi was a veteran of war and he knew that even the enemy's general couldn't go against the Lady.
"Good. Make it look natural and you'll get even better," Calista added, urging her knight to improve. "Everyone is staring at us. Don't make a mistake," she ordered sternly, behind her sweet, alluring smile.
"Do you know what will happen if I can't find a groom tonight?" Calista paused for a second before she continued, "You're going to marry me, Troy. Then you will become both my husband and knight."
Troy tried his best to hide his surprise by clenching his fist and jaws. Fortunately, he succeeded. He knew about the lady's plan of snatching a random guy to marry to prove to all that she could marry anyone she wanted. Of course, nobody would believe it when they already heard about her getting dumped by a mere Count's son.
"Don't make a joke, My Lady." Troy never thought of Calista as a woman. He sure admired her talent in wielding a sword but that was all. "His Grace would kill me if he heard you making a joke like this."
Calista held her knight's arm tightly to warn him. "You know me better than any other men in this hall, Troy. I'm not kidding when it comes to doing this kind of thing," she said as she flashed a sweet smile to everyone.
"Crazy things…Yes, you're right. I should have known you better," Troy replied in total defeat. He regretted not going out with any woman in the Empire when he had a chance. Any minute, he could be Calista's groom and he didn't like the idea a bit.
"Relax. I don't want to marry you either so let's hope there's someone out there who catches my attention tonight." Calista stood like a queen in front of every one of her guests.
"I hope so," Troy mumbled on cold feet. He couldn't imagine himself marrying the Lady.
Calista chuckled when she saw her knight's reaction. She never saw Troy turning pale like he did when she said she might marry him. On the other hand, he was like an elder brother to her the thought of marriage between them grossed her out the next second she had the idea.
Shaking her head, Calista patted Troy's arm. "Forget what I said. It turns out you're not the type I'm looking for," she said, dismissing her statement just a few minutes ago.
Troy felt relieved when the Lady took back her words. He couldn't stop thanking the gods and goddesses he could remember while sighing in relief.
"Behave," Calista whispered when she noticed what her knight was doing. "You look like your execution date has been delayed. If you keep making that face, I'll have you trade places with Peter," she threatened him.
"Why do you always use my brother against me, My Lady?"
Calista shrugged. "Because he's your beloved brother. Otherwise, the threat wouldn't work on you," she explained in a monotone voice. "Here we go, Troy. Let's show everyone how gallant-looking you are in the uniform your brother prepared for you. Maybe you'll also have a chance to date someone after tonight, just like how I am going to find my future husband."
"Here she goes," Troy whispered to himself when he saw Calista's evil grin hidden behind her dainty hands covered in gloves.
"I wish you all the best, My Lady. I hope you don't regret your choices tonight" was all that Troy could say before Calista went on her quest to find her 'groom'.
"Calista!" A silver-haired lady in a pink dress greeted Calista with a skeptical look on her face. "What are you thinking?" Her eyebrows knitted when their eyes met.
Calista stared at the lady from head to toe before slightly nodding her head. "Not bad. You did your homework, Astrid. I would have ignored you if you didn't dress properly tonight," she commented and smiled.
Astrid grunted at the other's remark. She would have pinched Calista's cheek if they were alone. "I know how to dress properly. Come on." Her round eyes widened as she defended her fashion sense.
"You're just too picky. Anyway, what are you even thinking? My soul almost left my body when I received the invitation." Astrid held her chest and looked hurt to enact how she felt at that moment. "Are you out of your mind?"
Calista shook her head. "I'm not. What's wrong with looking for a future husband? We both know that sooner or later, we'll get married to someone as part of our noble responsibility." Calista took a glass of champagne from the tray when one of the servers passed by.
"If I'm going to marry, I want to choose the man. Father could complain all he wants but I'd rather make the choice than leave it to him," Calista continued. She drank from her glass and smiled at her friend. "You know what I hate the most, Astrid. I don't want others to decide for me when I can," she added.
Astrid went silent for a couple of minutes while watching Calista drink her champagne. She had been friends with the latter for years and knowing her personality, Astrid could tell Calista wasn't joking. She was just surprised to learn that her friend, a daughter of a Duke, would decide on her groom only on the day of her engagement.
Calista did cause a lot of trouble when she was younger but never did Astrid think she would pick a husband like this.
"Perhaps, have you already chosen someone beforehand and you're just going to announce it later?" Astrid hoped that was the case, otherwise, she would lose her mind in disbelief. "You see, Francis dressed up handsomely for this party when he read the invitation," she said.
Calista's face turned sour when she heard what the other said. "No. No way, Astrid. I am not going to marry your brother," she said, shaking her head.
Astrid couldn't help but laugh. "Why not? He's talented in swords and has a firm and wide chest. Don't you like that kind of man, hmm?"
Although Calista said 'anyone' would be fine as long as she chose him, Francis De Lux— Astrid's older brother and the heir of De Lux duchy—was not included. She couldn't stand looking at Francis' face, so much more when having him as her husband.
Francis looked exactly like Astrid. He was her male version and Astrid was Calista's friend. She couldn't imagine sleeping with her friend's male doppelganger.
"Wait." Astrid covered her mouth when she remembered something. "If it isn't my brother, are you going for the Pazelle's heir? I didn't know you're into nerdy types, Calista."
Calista groaned. "I admire how your brain works. I suggest you stop using it," she said. "You know that I can't stand smart men, Astrid. Samuel Pazelle is the best example, especially when he's started talking."
Samuel Pazelle, just like Francis De Lux, was an heir to the Pazelle Duchy in the North. He was an uptight man who would always go against Calista. They would end up killing each other if they married, that was for sure.
"I'm not going to marry Samuel Pazelle," Calista mumbled while glaring at her friend.
"Why would you even think I want that?"
The ladies turned their heads to where the voice was coming from and a tall man in his usual navy blue robe stood just a few steps from where they were. His blue and slightly curly hair looked like the sea in a storm.
Calista hated the sight that she had to clench her fists so she wouldn't end up pulling his hair hard to straighten it.
"Lady La Forte," Samuel Pazelle greeted Calista. He held the lady's hand and kissed its back. "You look gorgeous again," he complimented. "But I won't marry you," he added, earning a fake smile from Calista.
"Better. I wouldn't want to kill you." Callista rolled her eyes at Samuel which the latter just ignored.
"These two…Are you still talking like this?" Astrid sighed. She thought they had already forgiven each other for what happened the last time they attended the same party. That was six months ago when Calista 'accidentally' burnt Samuel's research paper after he 'accidentally' poured a river water he summoned on her.
"Everyone knows what happened was an 'accident', so why do you act as if you're holding grudges against each other…Oh my! You still hate each other!" Astrid was slow to the uptake but for some reason, she managed to remain friends with Calista.
"I'm done here, Astrid. I'll better go find my groom now," Calista said and glared at Samuel one last time before turning her heels away. After taking a few steps, she halted and turned her head back to talk to her friend.
"You should find your future husband tonight too, Astrid. Or do you really want the Duke to choose one for you?" She smiled warmly at the latter and continued. "Don't worry. I'll use all my power to stop Duek De Lux if ever he forces you to marry someone you don't like. Now, keep that whale away from me."
"Did she just call me a whale?" Samuel pointed at himself while looking at Astrid. "Why are you even friends with her?"
'Goodness! I didn't come here to meditate on these two!' Astrid screamed in her head.
Meanwhile…
Calista spent an hour observing every man in the party. She hadn't made any announcement yet as she hadn't found the one she was looking for. While she was busy scowling at men who kept trying to get her attention, the Duke and Duchess of La Forte arrived, taking the spotlight the moment they stepped into the hall.
'It's time,' Calista thought and marched toward her parents while eyeing a man in a black suit whose back was facing her. 'It's now or never.'
The young lady of La Forte couldn't find anyone else with a better physique than the man in a black suit. She also found his dark hair charming as there were only light-colored hair men mostly around.
"Everyone," Calista started in a clear and loud voice. Everybody moved their gazes from the La Forte couple to their beautiful daughter. "I appreciate you all coming to this important event in my life," she continued.
A smile crept into Calista's face when she saw how her father frowned at her. She loved her parents, that was something Calista wouldn't deny. She may be causing her father headaches most of the time but she always looked after him from behind the scenes. She just didn't want her old man to choose her lifelong partner and the sudden talk of her marriage without consulting her first pissed her off so much.
"As you all already know, tonight I will be introducing to you my dearest fiance." Calista beamed as she watched how everyone looked at her with anticipation in their eyes. "Everyone, meet my fiance…"
With so much fun and excitement burning within, Calista went ahead with her plan. She proceeded by pulling the man in a black suit to her side. "Honey…"
"Yes?" His deep, rich voice echoed through her head the moment he spoke.
Just like how Calista expected, the man whose back was enough to charm her also had a nice voice and powerful presence. However…
"Do you need anything?" His supposedly chosen fiance asked. The confusion on his face made her knees weak.
If only Calista could take back her words, she would have already turned around and grabbed someone else. Her body did just that but unfortunately, the other men standing close to her were Samuel Pazelle and Francis De Lux. The names of these two were already crossed on her list and the reason they were still invited was because they were sons of the Dukes.
"M-Marry me!" Calista almost choked on her saliva, but with her pride on the line, she wouldn't dare turn her back on the words she said.
The 'chosen man' tilted his head to the side in utter disbelief. A few seconds later, he closed the gaps between their faces and whispered. "Gladly, My Lady."
Everybody gasped as they witnessed the scene. After all, the most beautiful lady on the continent, the Saintess of Khortel Empire, just proposed a marriage to the Duke of West—Damian Crown.
Calista's mind went blank for a second as the memories she buried for years slowly emerged.