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Chapter Three: The Royal Banquet
"Royal banquet?" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. Me, someone who had only just learned about them a few days ago, attending such an event!? How could this be?
"Of course, sister. We are the Greenstones," she replied with a gentle smile, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I didn't know how to respond. To avoid the whole ordeal, I hesitated and said, "I don't have the proper accessories."
For a moment, her expression darkened, and I wondered if I had imagined it. Then, her smile returned. "I'll lend you mine," she said before leaving the room with grace.
What had just happened? My thoughts were swirling. It was my first day here, and I needed to keep my composure. I nodded to myself, trying to shake off the unease. But as I tried to stand up from the bed, I tripped, falling unceremoniously onto the floor.
"Owh..." I muttered to myself, rubbing my sore limbs. Then, something caught my eye—a glimmering object wedged between the gap in the bed frame. It was dazzling. I reached out, my fingers brushing against something smooth. It was a hair clip—beautiful, intricate, and worth more than I could fathom.
"It must be worth billions," I muttered to myself. As I turned the clip over, I noticed something odd—a small, dirty piece of cloth wedged underneath it. Curiosity piqued, I gently unfolded it, revealing a single phrase scrawled in faded ink: "For you, Emerald."
I blinked, utterly shocked. The words left me momentarily speechless. What was this? I gingerly put the hair clip back into the gap and made my way back to bed, my thoughts a whirlwind.
The night passed, and as usual, I woke up before dawn. Sitting on the edge of my bed, I glanced out the window. For over ten years, I had risen at this hour, feeling an overwhelming sense of emptiness. If only I knew that Adrian was nearby, I could sleep soundly. But as I gazed at the first rays of the sun peeking through the curtains, I wondered what he was doing now.
Just as I was about to stand up, a knock on the door startled me. A knock? None of the maids ever knocked. Could it be Mother or Sister?
"The door is open," I said gently, though I couldn't hide the tremor in my voice.
To my surprise, it wasn't either of them who entered, but a noblewoman. She bowed before me with perfect formality.
"Good morning, Lady Emerald," she said, her voice soft and respectful.
Lady...? The word felt foreign coming from her lips, and I immediately felt awkward.
"No, please don't call me Lady. It feels strange," I replied, my face flushed with embarrassment.
She remained silent for a moment, her gaze steady. "Please remember your position," she said, her tone soft yet firm, extinguishing the last remnants of my hesitation.
I fell silent, then nodded in acknowledgment. "You may come in."
She bowed once more, stepping forward with practiced grace. "Duke Greenstone sent me to prepare you for the banquet," she said.
A warm smile spread across my face at the mention of his name. He was so kind to think of me.
"Shall we begin?" she asked, her voice gentle but insistent.
"Wait, I'll take a bath first," I said quickly, still not fully understanding what was expected of me.
She coughed politely, a slight clearing of her throat. "Pardon?"
Only then did the full realization hit me—preparing for the banquet meant more than just getting dressed. It meant a bath, with someone assisting me. A bath. I had never had anyone bathe me before.
"Don't feel shy, it's very normal," she reassured me with a soft smile. She reached out and gently touched my face, her fingers cool against my warm skin. "Have you ever taken a proper bath and cleaned your face well?"
Her question struck me deeply. It was true—my daily routine had never included such care.
"Forgive me," she said hastily, noticing my discomfort. "It's just that you look... too beautiful, even without anything. Forgive me if I've said something wrong."
"Hah...gh...ah? It's okay," I mumbled, unsure of how to respond. Adrian was the only one who had ever said something like that to me. I had thought he said it to make me feel better, but hearing it from someone else felt different, almost surreal.
Once the bath was done, another knock sounded at the door. This time, it was my sister, holding the accessories she had promised me.
"Sister, here are—" She froze mid-sentence as she looked at the noblewoman. "Isn't she the famous designer?"
The noblewoman bowed slightly. "Forgive me, Lady Emily, but I do have accessories for Lady Emerald."
I didn't want to hurt Emily's feelings, so I accepted the gorgeous white ribbon dress and the woman's jewelry without hesitation. Emily seemed pleased, though she left shortly after to prepare herself.
"Do you wear makeup?" the noblewoman asked as she finished arranging my hair.
"I've never worn any," I answered, feeling out of place.
"Better that way," she said with a smile as she expertly styled my hair, pulling half of it up and letting the rest cascade down in gentle waves. She looked at me with approval. "Look at yourself now, Lady. Any adjustments?"
"Nice..." I replied, my voice distant. No matter what, I knew I wasn't beautiful. The compliment was nothing more than a kind comfort.
The noblewoman tilted her head slightly. "Among all the ladies I have worked for, you are the most beautiful."
I couldn't help but smile weakly, though deep inside, I knew it wasn't true.
When I left the room, my mother stood waiting for me. Her eyes roamed over my appearance, and she clicked her tongue in disapproval. "Half up, half down, and a white ribbon on the back of the hair, along with a white ribbon dress and diamond jewelry. Tch... Beautiful," she murmured, though I wasn't sure whether it was meant to be a compliment.
Suddenly, she pulled me into a tight hug. "It's your first banquet. Congratulations. But I'm sorry to say that Emily won't be attending. She's sick."
I smiled gently, "It's okay, Mother. I hope she gets well soon."
She kissed my forehead and sent me off in the grand carriage, a final touch of affection before I embarked on this new chapter of my life.
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