Chapter 0.3
"How it happened"
The dance that Lilli and Adder had promised each other never got to happen.
. . .
That day was a blur of color, movement, frivolous dresses and suits. Lilli hardly could think because of the tumultuous rush of the day's preparations and activities, and all its glamor. Lilli's thoughts were spinning as she saw the people go to and fro in the ballroom, making adjustment after adjustment to make everything perfect before the party began. Adder brought her focus to a single point once more.
" This party is more beautiful than anything I've seen in my life! Mother and Father truly did their best," he said with a pleased look on his face.
"Oh, It truly is. But you really do deserve it, Adder."
Adder said nothing, but blushed and quickly looked away.
One of the younger guards, a trusted friend of Adder's, approached the two children, a small package in tow. He bowed deeply before Adder, then to Lilli, though not as low.
" Hello Sir Bennet. Do you have something for Adder?" Lilli nodded at the package.
Sir Bennet grinned. " This is straight from the queen herself! Though she personally was unable to attend, she wanted to commemorate Adder's recovery, and of course, his thirteenth birthday!" The guard seemed positively ecstatic. He had looked up to Adder's parents practically since birth, since his father had been saved from poverty, thanks to the employment His Grace the Duke had offered.
Adder's eyes were glued to the present. He was known to be obsessed with secrets, especially ones kept in boxes. " May I see?" Adder asked, barely keeping his composure.
Lilli noticed his hands trembling with excitement. She chuckled.
"Here you go! I even brought a knife with me so you could open it."
Adder had been slowly reaching into his vest to get his emergency knife, but quickly grabbed the knife Sir Bennet offered. The emergency knife, after all, wasn't meant for opening packages. Adder slid the knife easily through the brown material, then tore it open to reveal a shining object.
Lilli couldn't tell at first what it was, due to Adder's hands obscuring it, but then Adder lifted it and Lilli let out a gasp. It was the most beautiful necklace Lilli had ever seen. The silver chain almost looked like the color of moonlight, and the gem was an even greater sight to behold. It was a large red gemstone, polished to the point where it was completely round, the picture of perfection. Its color was rich and dark, like Dragon's Blood.
"Oh wow…" Lilli couldn't help but say.
Adder was eyeing the necklace with a mixture of awe and confusion. He scrunched his face a bit. " But why give this to me? I'm not exactly interested in necklaces that much. It's more Lilli's thing." He looked at Lilli, and she chuckled.
" Her Majesty the Queen said it was gifted to her by her father-your great-uncle. It's said to have actual dragon blood inside," The guard said, his voice brimming with wonder.
Lilli gasped. Real dragon blood was nearly impossible to come by, because there were only a few dragons that lived in each region. Dragons are territorial by nature, and require huge amounts of land to satisfy them, so there usually is only two or three on a given landmass. Furinhie, the country Lilli currently resided in, had two known dragons; a red one, and a blue one, with fire and water elements, respectively. There supposedly was another dragon that died not too long ago. Lilli wondered if the blood was from the dead or living one.
"So rare… and its magic properties will probably give me some protection. Her Majesty sure is kind…"
Adder put on the necklace, now smiling widely. He held the gem in his hands softly, tenderly. " I must write to the Queen later, to thank her for such a precious gift."
Sir Bennet bowed and excused himself, but not before patting Adder fondly on the head. "I'll see you later!"
"Thank you!"
"Well, I'd better get going too, I've got to get dressed. The party is about to begin," Lilli said, smiling softly, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"Me too," Adder said awkwardly, finally tucking the necklace beneath his collar.
"See you soon."
"I'll be waiting."
. . .
Rosie was lacing up Lilli's pink dress, as Lilli brushed through own hair. The comb moved through her long hair easily, because of the expensive soap she used with her bath. Though she was nobility, such soap and the dress she was wearing was the finest quality for the party. Lilli had never felt so special.
"You really have outdone yourself, Rosie. I will admit I had my doubts that you could tame this monster of a dress," Lilli gestured to the dress with her arms," But you proved me wrong. You removed just the right amount of fluff, while preserving the seamstress's vision…now it's beautiful"
Rosie chuckled. "The seamstress really is the talented one… the pink color, the design, the lace, it was all her. All I did was adjust it a little." Rosie was clearly not a very prideful person.
"Nonsense. You fixed it very well."
"Thanks," Rosie replied shyly. Lilli looked behind her to see Rosie was blushing a little. "So, are you excited for the party? You might not have noticed, but I was in the room the whole time when you and the young master made plans."
"A-ah you heard about our dance…" Lilli avoided Rosies gaze, embarrassed.
"Haha! Of course I did! You weren't even trying to whisper." Rosie could barely keep from bursting into a fit of laughter. She noticed Lilli's ears were bright red. "Well, from one lady to another, good luck!"
The girl Lilli saw in the mirror almost looked like a completely different person. Her hair, done by the royal hairdresser herself, the light makeup that made her face positively glowing, and of course the extravagant light pink dress, large and puffy, with lace and a flower embroidery at the hem, and a large bow tied at the back. The last thing was a small comb with beautiful light blue gems encrusted into its metal. Now everything was in place.
. . .
The sounds of hundreds if not thousands of feet sounded throughout the royal castle. Lilli saw people from all corners of the kingdom, and even some from beyond it. Was this really that big of a deal? As Lilli stepped into the ballroom, it was almost as if time had stopped as her gaze met those of the very handsome Adder.
His black suit with silvery embroidery was stunning, its silver buttons glistening in the moonlight. Lilli could barely see the necklace he had been given under his lacy collar. His perfectly polished black shoes were just adorable. His black hair had been slicked back, though some strands stubbornly flew out, which was just perfect in a different way, Lilli noticed with a chuckle.
Adder rushed over to Lilli quickly. "You're so beautiful," He breathed.
" You too. Let's dance."