Viola wore a white laced dress with capped sleeves and blue ribbons all over the dress. Amy wore a white off-shoulder sundress with a yellow ribbon sash and a thin black choker. Her hair is styled in bunches. The bottom of her skirt is embroidered to include dolphins and waves. Both have matching white closed toed shoes.
"This is a bit much, isn't it?" Amy said looking at Viola. Her dress is a bit formal for a tea party.
"Why not? We already know she's gonna be the future princess consort! We need to congratulate her." She said with a beaming smile.
Amy smiled with amusement. "She's engaged to the prince, not married to him yet." She then help her sister with her hair, giving her the desired look.
Then the maid appeared. "Lady Orlando has arrived."
Viola looks excited and grabbed Amy by the wrist, "Let's go see her." she says before dragging her to the entrance hall.
They watch as the door open and the future princess of Solin appeared. Upon noticing the twins, the girl smiled brightly.
The three young girls went to the garden where she took in the sights.
"Your garden is so colorful." Melissa said with glee. "It is nothing like the Orlando Duchy at all."
"It is in the eastern province, right?" Amy asked. "Is it cold there?"
"It is a bit cold." she admits. "But it is bearable. My uncle has been very busy but thanks to my cousin's help, he manages the territory well."
The Orlando Duchy is the eastern-most part of the kingdom. It is bordered by Getel, most of Damat and a small part of Hekaton. It is also known to have unbearable cold winters which makes it difficult for anyone to try to pass the border. Winter is ironically also the safest season as no one would try to attack. Damat is a mostly desert country, Getel's armies are far too weak and Hekaton's attempts at an invasion would be suicidal.
"I will be staying here with my aunt until spring. Going to the duchy in this season would be terrible." she said.
"I heard that you have been chosen." Viola says with glee.
Melissa sighed. "Yes. Her majesty introduced me to the prince and his friend; Rufus Valerian. He is not at all what I'd expect."
"Is he rude?"
Melissa nodded. "Rude, playful and quite irresponsible but... I am not against it." she said with a smirk.
Uh oh, she has a mischievous side.
"I used to cause trouble back home too. Prince Leon, Rufus and I snuck into parts of the palace. It was fun." she said.
"Is the prince handsome?" Viola asked.
Melissa pulled out a hand held picture of Prince Leon. She looked at it with a great curiosity even Amy peeked at it. That is definitely Leon. That white hair is certainly unique only to him.
"I heard that your engagement will be announced at the Winter ball." Amy said to Melissa.
"Yes. Her Majesty also stated that you two are coming."
"Her Majesty wants us to be your companions as well as one other person." Amy said.
Melissa nodded. "She said that there will be other ability users. We might expect to see them around our age."
Melissa paused for a brief moment before saying, "You might be right, Amaryllis."
The three head to the table where they enjoy tea and snacks.
"Does this mean we'll be at the palace often?" Viola asked.
Melissa shook her head. "Well, we're not exactly going to the palace but the palace annex."
"The annex?" the girl said in unison.
"Yes, Prince Leon prefers to have his own space away from the main palace. But the annex is quite large and luxurious and made for his own personal use."
"Have you seen his power?" Viola asked.
"Actually, I have a chance to see him and Rufus train in person. They both got hurt so I healed him. Rufus told me that Leon has the power to make powerful illusions but he is still working on that."
"Illusions?" Viola wondered and continued asking questions.
No. Amy thought. Leon doesn't have the ability to create illusions. He gives off the impression that is his power but these illusions of his are a facade.
"What about Rufus Valerian?"
Amy broke out of her thoughts upon hearing that question. Melissa paused for a moment before looking unsure. "I'm not quite sure. He says it is actually unpleasant."
Now this one is interesting. Rufus Valerian has the power to control any sentient being. It is different than mind control and brainwashing because it is irreversible. In order to do so, he has to sap a person of their free will and manipulates the soul to control them as he sees fit and it is nearly undetectable and impossible to guess. It is hard to tell whether or not a person is being manipulated by his ability but Aron figured that out later on. So far in his early life, he does this with monsters but in his later life, he does this with humans. He controlled all of Hekaton this way.
"I wonder what his power is?" Viola said.
"I'm not sure but Prince Leon said this." Melissa noted while putting up a finger. "Rufus and I are the strongest."
That sentence rang in Amy's mind. Leon said this line too. Rufus and I are the strongest. It is of no exaggeration either. In combat, both are extremely powerful. Many people who knew them both said that if they were to seriously fight then they would turn their surroundings into a wasteland. Leon and Rufus were thought to have no other equals. Leon is definitely powerful but has no desire to destroy and no one would dare pick a fight nor go to war with him for this reason. On the other hand, Rufus has that desire.
If he is so powerful, why hasn't he destroy the world like he wanted?
That is because he can't. His power takes a toll. By removing a person of their free will and earn their blind faith, it darkens his own soul and affects the mind and psyche. He may erase the will but not the voices which haunts and weakens him. In the manga, he claims that he could hear the begging voices of the souls whose wills he had stolen. One of the reasons that Rufus took advantage of Violet was because he believe that her power is a solution but upon finding out that her purification power is weak made him lose interest in her. To purify himself of all these souls by stealing her power wouldn't work. But Aron, who has the stronger power, is desirable and Rufus wants to steal his ability.
"When are we gonna visit the palace?" Viola asked curiously.
"Good question." Melissa ponders the stares at the two. "If your schedule is free then how about we meet up tomorrow? Their majesties encourage us to visit and train there so you can bring your things and train there too."
Viola uncharacteristically slammed her hand on the table.
"REALLY?!" she yells much to the others shock.
"Yeah, you can."
Viola stared at Amy who was puzzled at this outburst but upon seeing her sister's face, she gave in.
"I'll tell mother."