In the Riphulon Empire, five houses, excluding the Imperial Family, supported the Empire. They, alongside the Imperial Throne, are great in power and make crucial contributions for the benefit and growth of the Empire.
Belonging to two of the most powerful houses in the Empire, Baroness Orla Auclair and Marchioness Julia Vassellion were at the head because of special circumstances.
The former head of the Vassellion Household fell ill and resigned as Head of the Household. The Five Houses and the Imperial Family advised him to choose a suitable replacement for him, even if it was a distant family member. Still, the Marquess stressed the idea of his daughter being his heir as she was skilled and did not lack any of the successor requirements.
For a significant politically immersed household like Vassellion, they believed Julia was unfit to be the heir; however, she proved them wrong when she settled the dispute between the Rineian Kingdom and Riphulon over the Ocean's Bane, a magical crystal in the Southern Ocean. Both countries were on the brink of war until Julia brokered a Joint Resource Extraction Pact. To enforce the balance of resources, they would form a Joint Council containing representatives of both countries.
After making the other heads of the five houses swallow their words, she was granted the title of Marchioness Vassellion.
As for Baroness Orla Auclair, she became the head of the Famous Commerce Auclair Household after her father passed away, leaving her younger brother and sickly mother to become heirs. Still, they were in no condition to run such a household on their own. Like Julia, they needed Orla to prove her worth, so she traversed the sea for her family.
For almost a year, she traveled by ship to discover new trade routes and or resources to bring value to her name while the Auclair house was temporarily run by a distant family member she trusted.
Thanks to her mapping skills, she revolutionized trade by finding a faster route through the Twilight Reverie. She found that by establishing shipping ports in the area that faced the Twilight Reverie, they could create contracts with more merchants and other countries needing to get to the countries on the other side as soon as possible.
In just a few months, she'd signed contracts with hundreds of merchants and helped refine more beneficial clauses in the contracts between neighboring countries that had already been formed.
Both women rightfully earned their spot in the five pillar households of the Empire but still had to deal with the criticism of their gender and experience.
Emris curtsied and grasped her dress by the pinch of her fingers, lowering her head respectfully, "Greetings, Marchioness Vassellion and Baroness Auclair. It is a pleasure to meet you again." I wasn't sure whether or not to address them by their first names as they do me. More than that, I want to show respect for Emris' friends; that way, my trace of being in her life can vanish just as quickly as it appeared.
"Pfft! Hahaha! Emris, you really…" Bursting into laughter, they clung to each other and laughed to the verge of tears wedged between their sealed eyelids. "Why use such stiff honorifics when you can use our names? Go on, say our names." Julia encouraged Emris, slapping her hand against her handheld fan, smiling as Emris' eyes widened and her groomed eyebrows raised.
Her lips parted, and hesitantly, the words came out, "…Julia…" The Marchioness giggled from how Emris shifted her away from contact and patted her back in a friendly manner unusual to Emris. "See, was that so hard? Always refer to us by our names, alright, Emris?"
"Ooh! My turn! Call me by my name, Emris!" Orla begged, holding onto Emris' hands. Is me saying their names that important to them? Emris, why on earth would you abandon people that love you this much? I wish I could understand.
"Orla." Blushingly, she plastered a faint smile, uttering Orla's name in a mellow yet affectionate tone that made their hollow hole of suspense that left them on edge about meeting Emris throb heavily until it felt like nothing anymore.
It seems that I have managed to fool them into believing me. Good, now I can ask them the questions about the nobles I've placed on the bulletin board. Why does it sound like I'm manipulating them? I swear that's not my intention; I'm only asking for help with the investigation secretly.
Invading her thoughts was the soft grasping of her shoulder done so by Emris' father, who smiled only when with her. "We humbly greet you, Duke Fallow. Thank you for the honor of being in your presence."
"The pleasure is all mine, Marchioness and Baroness." The Duke graciously said. "I trust you'll take care of my daughter in the Capital. I request you purchase a gown that suits my daughter's enchanting charm."
"Yes! You can count on us, Your Grace. As the number one trendsetter of the Empire, I'll make it my duty to find something that will make Emris' radiance everlasting in the eyes of the nobles." Pouring her heart out, Orla boasted her status, confidently promising the Duke.
I'm sorry, Orla, but I'm not trying to glow during the Ball. More accurately, I don't want to stand out at all. Speaking of which, why is Emris's father advocating so strongly for this? Does he want to prod his daughter to the Imperial Throne, but he loves his daughter too dearly? Hmm….something suspicious is definitely going on.
"Well, then, you should be off now before it gets dark." Emris' father released Emris from his grasp. "Here, Sweetheart, buy whatever you like; money is no object." He handed Emris the Platinum Fallow Card, the main card containing a handful of the fortune extracted from the vault in the Fallow Manor.
What the heck?! This thing makes me feel like I'm being dragged down. It's like a handheld burden I don't want to carry! I'm not even buying much, just a plain, elegant dress that will keep me from being noticed.
"F-Father, I can't ac-accept this." Her head drooped, unable to remove her locked, stirred-up gaze from the card.
"Of course you can; this card belongs to our family, so you have every right to use it as you please. Besides, I have nothing else to spend this money on, so why shouldn't I spend it on my darling daughter."
He delicately ushered her out the door with her friends, leaving her speechless. "Come home safely, Sweetheart." Emris looked back, seeing his back moving further away, her throat burning up and her face scrunching up while biting her lips.
"Emris…?" Julia called out to her statue-like self. Emris, keeping her head down, rushed into the carriage, blocking out her face with her flowing hair.
The carriage headed off to the Capital, and Orla kicked her feet inside. "I already have so many ideas for the perfect dress for Emris!" Sitting opposite Orla and Emris, Julia fanned herself, her dark brown reddish-hued hair blowing in the wind. "What do you have in mind? I was thinking of something that shows off a mature dress style."
"What!? No, Emris is debuting in society again for the first time in five years, so it has to be something heavy in jewels and vibrant that accentuates her figure and beauty." Orla argued in detail.
"Let's try both styles; what do you think, Emris?" Julia and Orla glanced her way. Emris lifted her drooped head and falsely smiled, letting her lips curve until she's fooled them. "I think that's a magnificent idea, but I think we should be a bit more open-minded about what we'll be able to prepare, considering the ball is a day away." The Ball is so close, so I imagine everything extravagant would be scarce.
"You are the prized daughter of Duke Fallow; there's nothing they won't prepare you even if they have to work on it all night!" Julia loudly stated, her arms crossed assertively.
This is a luxury. How funny that in this world, I've experienced all the things I craved in mine. With friends and a loving family, I've undergone what those things are supposed to feel like. The only thing being is that I can't fully grasp these feelings because they don't belong to me. It feels like my heart has been chained and tormented by the waving of warmth that it has been deprived of.
I'm nothing but a mere stain on Emris' life that will be cleaned off soon enough, just like I had always been before. I'm trying, I really am; I'm trying to give myself my own life so I no longer have to be wiped away, and I can live wholly as a person.
A while had gone by, and Emris' had been nodding out, but in the corner of her eye, a mischievous smile burned a hole in the side of her face. Emris felt the heat from her stare boil up her skin for at least a minute until Julia finally spoke her mind.
"Aren't you all excited for the Black and White Ball tomorrow night? I hope it's better than last year's Ball." Emris held her breath with those few words, choking on it in her mind. She kept her head down but could hear the Baroness sigh exasperatedly, rolling her eyes. "Yes, Last year's party was a bore, but I hope the emperor has done all he can to improve the Ball this year."
The Baroness smiled as she wrinkled her eyes and nose. Seems like she was also feeling devious along with the Marchioness. "Speaking of the Emperor, we all know the real meaning behind the Black and White Ball." Emris turned pale, clenching her dress tightly.
I felt butterflies in my stomach, but they weren't the good kind. Instead, they were the ones that I would want to die.
"Maybe the Emperor will finally choose his Empress candidates at tomorrow's event." A shadow lingered over her, one with a powerful aura that drove into a corner. It belonged to the Marchioness; Emris could feel her sinister grin stabbing at her like a knife. "Emris, aren't you very fond of the Emperor? I mean, at least that's what you stated last time."
Wait a minute!? Fond of the Emperor!? Emris?! Since when?! Emris' eyes jolted open, her face cringing up at the accusation. "What do you mean…?" She asked painfully, swallowing her deep cringe, hoping the Marchioness was teasing.
"Did you forget, Emris? You were totally head over heels for the Emperor five years ago." Casually, with a smile, Orla said, adding fuel to the blazing fire. Seriously?! You've got to be joking!? Please tell me these two are the only ones who knew.
Breathing inward, Emris calmed down her thoughts and composed herself. "Well, you see, the thing is, I've moved on from the infatuation I had for the Emperor." Much like a noblewoman, she spoke with a soft resonance and gracefully tucked her loose strand of hair behind her ear. This should be enough to stop this teasing session, right?
Orla gasped and stared at her, opening her eyes wide. However, the Marchioness wasn't convinced, so she narrowed her eyes and made eye contact with Emris for dramatic effect.
"Really? What a shame you two would have made a great couple. Can't you picture it, Orla?" Her deceptive smile passed onto Orla; like two novel villains, they toyed with Emris.
"Yes, Emris' beauty could have melted his cold, cold heart…How pitiful that they can't be together because Emris' feelings have changed…" What kind of nonsense are these two uttering? Emris stayed silent, her angering fury hiding behind her broad smile.
"…I agree too; the lady would have suited the Emperor best as his Empress." WHAT!? Who said that? They all suddenly turn their heads toward the carriage's window that oversees the horseman. The horseman rubs his neck and forces a smile, cheerfully agreeing to Orla and Julia's horseplay.
"My apologies. I didn't mean to intervene in your conversation, but I think Lady Fallow and His Majesty complement each other nicely." Julia and Orla giggled like two school girls shipping together their favorite characters. Meanwhile, Emris felt her soul crumble away.
What kind of hell is this!?
Thankfully, the two hours it took to arrive at the Capital had passed. All three of the ladies had passed out in the carriage after their prolonged teasing harassment against Emris. The carriage clunked and rocked through the large city, waking Emris first.
"…Mmmm…!" Emris stretched her contorted body, letting out a short sigh in the process. Her eyes slowly blinked open, and she was met with a glorious city. For a split second, her heart skipped a beat. Birds flew in the pristine blue sky above the bustling city streets, containing the laughter of children and the smiles of its residents.
Emris turned and rested her head on her hand, gazing at the scenery. She became saturated with happiness, calmed by the peaceful wind and breathtaking view.
What a pretty city I read about this place, it's called Aurilin. It is known for its thriving community and exquisite architecture. This is where the Imperial Palace is located; it's the crown jewel of Aurilin because of its magnificent sight for the people. Aurilin is diverse and known for its various markets and shops; I guess that's why they chose to shop for dresses here.
So overtaken by its beauty, Emris failed to realize her friends had also awakened and were staring in her direction. They cautioned in alerting Emris because they couldn't dare wash away the serene smile of their dear friend that warmed their hearts.
The long journey ended in front of a tall building with a sign on its front titled 'Saullard's Boutique.' "This boutique belongs to Madame Saullard; she produces the most unique designs thanks to her creative mind and immersive knowledge of the culture of the Empire. I'm sure she'll have the perfect insight for a dress for you, Emris." By the locked arm, Orla dragged Emris in with Julia.
In the boutique's reserved room, they sat for a while, hearing the recommendations of Madame Saullard over tea and pastries. "This looks good. Can I try this one, please?" Julia pointed out a design she'd liked from the dress catalog. "Yes, I'll bring it right out for you, Marchioness."
Once the dress was brought over, Julia rushed to try it on for Orla and Emris. A few moments passed before her heels clicked in their ears. Julia left an imprinted memory of the flawless perfection that struck their hearts.
The gown's silhouette hugged Julia's curves, accentuating her grace and poise. It clung to every contour, exuding both confidence and mystery. The most outstanding feature of the dress was the bodice adorned with delicate lace embellishments that cascaded down like delicate spiderwebs. She was the prim picture of sophistication.
Emris and Orla clapped and cheered for the dress, while Julia also thought it perfect for her imagined image. "You should definitely choose this dress, Julia. It suits you so well!" Orla sparkled a bit in her sky-blue eyes.
"I agree, it's a gown made for you to wear." Calmly, Emris said, beaming a faint smile. Still, her simple words made Julia grow flustered to hear Emris's sincere words of Emris. "Then I choose this one. Your turn to choose, Orla!"
Orla flipped through the pages, wanting something to match her light sky-blue hair and eyes. Once landing upon it, she gasped and found it to be more perfect than she had expected.
"Ooh! That's a very bold choice. As expected of our magnificent trendsetter." Madame Saullard grinned, her smile lines taking a defined form. Emris attempted to peak at the catalog, but Orla covered her eyes before peaking. "Hold on, Emris! I want to try it on for both of you before you judge."
Orla ran out of the room, leaving Emris and Julia in suspense. Shopping for clothes has never felt this nice. Watching Emris's friends pick and try gowns feels so satisfying for me. The happiness in their reactions makes my heart flutter like fantasy romance novels did.
Unknowingly, Emris let her real emotions seep through, a genuine smile akin to the soft caress of a summer breeze and a twinkle in her aquamarine eyes resembling the shining stars in the night sky.
Orla revealed a dress mixing the purity of white and the allure of black into a beautiful combination. The top half of the dress is adorned with white lace reminiscent of intricate snowflakes. It created a sweetheart neckline that framed Orla's visage with a touch of allure. Around the waist, a satin ribbon cinches, tying it into a thin bow in the back.
Orla spun, letting the bottom of the dress flow around her turns. "Well? What do you think?" To create more suspense, Julia crossed her legs and lifted her hand to make a fist. Then immediately changes to a thumbs up with a sweet smile.
Emris covered her mouth, little spurts of her mouth pushing through her lips until the laughter busted out. "Hahahaha!" Her laughter carried a hint of surprise, a sense of awe in something so delightful, like a melodic tune, it reverberated in their ears—laughter filled with joy and innocence that drew in their gazes, locking them to her.
Phew, I got a little carried away there. Faintly, she giggled a little until her gaze caught the shocked eyes of Orla and Julia. Uh oh, did I do something suspicious? Was I not supposed to laugh? Emris stressed, grasping onto her hands, and then Orla looked up like a begging puppy.
"Please laugh again, Emris…" Huh? My laugh…? "Wait a minute, Orla. As much as I'd loved to hear the heavenly laughter of our Emris, We have to find her a dress now."
"Ah, you're right, Julia! Now, let's begin the experimentation!" Orla sparkled like a creator ready to bring to life their masterpiece. "Madame Saullard, it's possible to have a custom dress finished by tomorrow, right?"
"Um…that might be slightly difficult to be done, Baroness." Madame Saullard sweated until Julia swiped the Platinum card of the Fallow Dukedom from my hand and flashed it in front of her.
"Money won't be a problem, so please do what you can." Julia smiled with her eyes, hypnotizing Madame Saullard with her charm.
"Yes, of course, Marchioness! Leave it to us to make you the most extravagant befitting the Fallow Princess." She'd addressed Emris sweetly in the nickname the people of the Moonhollow commonly call her.
Wow, money really does talk. Emris sighed, feeling nervous about what would be done to her gown.
***
The Duke paced around in his office by the fire, stroking his chin perturbed. "Is something wrong, Your Grace?" Theodore asked, feeling anxious watching the Duke pace.
"Theodore, I've decided…" He paused, glancing seriously at Theodore. "I want you to buy all the jewelry you can find to decorate Emris with tomorrow night. Make sure to choose only the most expensive and enchanting pieces of jewelry. I won't accept any trash that pales in comparison."
Anything for the lovely princess! Theodore thought, motivated to make Emris sparkle out of love and care for her. "Of course, Your Grace. I will find only the finest for our lady!"
I promise, Emris, I won't let your happiness fade. I will make it everlasting no matter what I must do; I will bring you everything you wish for. He expressed his thoughts, grazing his fingertips against a leather journal adorned with drawn-on dainty stars.