Honestly, she is not looking forward to the Winter Ball. This month sucks.
Everyone is waiting for the royal family to arrive. Right now, everyone is talking and music hasn't been played yet. The party doesn't start until their hosts arrive.
Amy is dressed in a plain, long-sleeved, white silk dress that covers her neck and legs with dark blue organza silk dress with puffed sleeves worn over it. Her hair is tied in a braid and accessorized with a white butterfly pin close to her ear. She has a white fur cloak to go with the outfit equipped with a gold chain. This cloak is a gift from her grandfather who adored her but she gave it to a palace servant when she walked inside.
It's extremely cold and the ball takes a long time. It isn't normally an event that children attend but as an ability user who is acquainted with both the prince and his future princess, she is required to go and show the world that she will be their friend.
"Amy! Look! I look like a pink snowball." Viola danced around in her dress and has tiny snowballs as her hair accessories.
All of them are at the ballroom where they are surrounded by many grown nobles.
This uneasy feeling, thought Amy who is trying not to stand out. It's overwhelming!
"Are you alright, Amy?" their father asked.
"I am fine, father." she assured him.
Amy felt fortunate that her immediate family and even distant relatives are kind and loving. It is rare for nobles to be this close to their family like commoners. No expectations, no passing on the torch, position or thoughts of necessity for their children to continue their legacy. It is probably because her father is the youngest son with no chance of becoming the successor and she is a product of a love marriage that she got this kind of treatment and care.
But this atmosphere is different.
Amy's body tenses up while keeping up her calm facade.
Nobles with ulterior motives, people read others and looking into any weakness their opponents have, and hide their own objectives are here in this very room.
It's suffocating.
Despite being a ball, she can't dance with anyone and their only role is to be on display to show the adults that they are the future powerful mages with unique abilities. It's like they are mannequins on display for everyone to see.
"Hey! You guys are here!"
The voice broke her out of her thoughts.
The girls look to see Theseus and Nathaniel approach them.
"Hello sir and ma'am," Theseus says and greeted their parents.
"My name is Theseus Corinth." he says.
"And my name is Nathaniel Yistle." Nathaniel says politely.
"We want to ask your daughters if we can have the first dance."
"Ah, you are one of my girls' friends. They told me much about you." Her mother marveled. Her aura is basically dazzling. Truth be told, it is of no surprise. After meeting kids like Leon and Rufus, meeting boys like Theseus and Nathaniel are quite refreshing.
"Really?!" Viola squealed with such delight that Amy can't help but chuckle but if left her puzzled.
The tight grip of her father's hand got her out of it.
"Father," she says and he turn to her.
"After you have your first dance with mother, can I dance with you next?" Amy asked.
He smiled with the same delight that her sister displayed just second ago. "Of course!"
Their mother giggled upon seeing her family. "All right. Have fun but make sure you dance somewhere where we can see you, alright?"
"Yes, mother." the girls replied.
Viola then grabbed Theseus's hand while Amy placed her hands on Nathaniels' as they wait for everyone else.
The children were all led to the front where Leon told them to wait.
"You're here!" Sabina says happily and next to her is Salvador, Rufus and Harry. He has the same appearance as his sister. The statement she made about her and Salvador being mistaken as twins was not exaggerated at all.
He looks like a normal kid, like what he's supposed to be. Amy knows more about Salvador's devotion to Rufus but seeing them together, not like subordinate and master but as normal kids, she felt a bit relieved.
"Presenting Their Majesties King Claude, Queen Helena and Prince Leon!"
The doors opened to reveal the royal family trio. Everyone curtsied or bowed upon their arrival.
Amy took a peek at the King. He is supposed to be a man in his fifties but he looks way older than that and he certainly doesn't look like a man who is a skirt chaser. He is far too weak and tired looking for that.
"Hello, my subjects." The king said. His voice resonates with the crowd. It's like they are hearing his voice in their heads. This isn't done by magic but his power. "I welcome you new and old to this year's Winter ball. Now before we begin our celebrations. We would like to make an announcement."
Here we go. Amy thought.
"My son, Prince Leon is now formally engaged to Melissa Orlando, niece of Duke Orlando."
The crowd started murmuring, some in shock, some in excitement, some in disappointment. But they all started clapping.
"In honor for this announcement, I also invited other ability users around my son's age who will become his personal knights."
That took her off guard. Knights? Amy wanted to face palm herself in realization.
Of course! How could she forget? The Comet Knights! They were ability users who train and go to classes with the prince becoming his loyal companions. Once they grow older, they will be knighted and become his personal and closest subordinates/advisors. They are not gonna stay as actual knights but the title is an honor. They will still go on missions but do it on behalf of him. Of course in Leon's case, that doesn't happen. And Comet knights no longer exist in the story.
Melissa renounced her knighthood to marry him, Nathaniel renounced his knighthood to take over his title and land, Harry was never knighted, Rufus stayed by Leon's side until he was revealed to be a traitor with big goals that would shake the world.
Me? becoming a Comet knight? Amy was really excited, like fangirl excited.
"In honor for the wonderful news, the first dance will go to Prince Leon and Lady Melissa."
Leon and Melissa look professional as they held hands and danced in front of everyone with the music being timely and lovely.
"They look so good together." Viola sighed.
"They do."
She then imagined their adults selves in this very ballroom where they hosted a ball, where they danced together in this very hall, where their children also appeared, where Leon revealed himself to Aron and the others of his true identity, where...
Amy stared at Rufus for a brief moment before staring at the dancing pair in the dance floor.
Rufus is revealed to be the traitor.
Amy felt sad. Even Melissa as absentminded as she appears, did not take the news with a grain of salt at first but is the same as Leon.