Sirena her maid had just finished adding the last hairpin to her hair when a knock was heard on the door and even before they could respond, the door flew open, and in came her aunt.
"We will run late and I can't -" she gasps loudly. "My dear!" She exclaims hurrying over to where Kidaya stood and caressing her on both sides of the face. Smiling and shaking her head in admiration. "What shall we do? I fear you are about to drown this season with your beauty, Bloom."
"Does that mean I can stay back at home tonight?" Kidaya asks even when she knows what her aunt's answer will be.
"Not happening. Not with you looking this dashing. You own this season, Bloom, it is yours to command." Grabbing her hand. "Come, your cousins are waiting downstairs. No one saw all of your face in the morning because of the veil you had on, but trust me when I say that this evening, most men's life goal will be to see the Diamond's face without the veil on. Brace yourself, Bloom." Lady Agnes says as they step down the stairs.
Behind them, Sirena followed with the train of Kidaya's gown in her hands.
"Many men will ask to dance with you, all if I must be frank with you looking this way. The goal is -
"Not to dance with any of them tonight." Count Tegha cuts in.
"Tegha!" Lady Agnes calls because the Count has said the opposite of what she had in mind. "Not dancing with the men only -
"- makes them hunger for more." Count Tegha says coming forward to wait at the edge of the stairs. Turning to Ralph who stood beside her. "What happens when a man can't get what he wants?"
"It only makes him want it more." Ralph answers.
At Ralph's words, Count Tegha turns to Lady Agnes with a shrug.
"I agree with mother, Kidaya. Do not dance with any of the men today." Ralpha says to her.
"Oh, not you too, Ralph." Lady Agnes complained and her daughters who were waiting try to stifle a laugh. "We need to- "
"She will dance another day, Aunt, just not today." Turning to face Kidaya. "Today, you grace them with your presence, make them see you and acknowledge your presence, make them get drunk over your appearance, then leave them more thirsty for your presence than they were before, by leaving without dancing with any of them. This will only make them want you more and tomorrow, our house will be dripping with callers."
"Which is what we want." Count Tegha cuts in eyes still on Kidaya. "We want them drooling over you. We want them to become more desperate to have you. You are the Diamond of the Season, not just any Diamond, but the rarest and first in three years. Give them something to fight for and always remember."
Kidaya nods, smiling.
Turning to Lady Agnes. "Who is the most eligible bachelor in town this season?" Count Tegha asks.
Smiling. "How do I even begin to count them? This Season is set to be the best there has ever been. From Barons to Lords, to Viscounts, to Counts, the list is just endless. More bachelors are still pouring into town day after day." Lady Agnes says.
"Good. We will announce that Ralph is taking a bride at the Queen's Ball tonight." Count Tegha says.
Everyone exclaims with widened eyes.
"Mother!" Ralph exclaims.
"We talked about it, Ralph. It is the perfect season for you to also take a bride. It should have been five seasons ago."
"But -
"That will be the end of it, Ralph. At least I did not take you unaware by announcing it at the Ball. You have enough time to brace yourself for it."
Smiling. "This Season is set to be more than wonderful! The Lord and owner of Centico is also taking a bride this Season." Lady Erskine eclaims excitedly.
"Stop Aunt."
Letting go of Kidaya and running downstairs. "Do you know how many Mamas will go crazy when they hear that the richest Young Lord in Vianto is taking a bride this Season? It will be pure chaos and competition. Every Mama and Debutantes will throw themselves at you. You better brace yourself for it, Son." Lady Agnes told him.
Behind them, where the two girls stood, Eddna could not hide her joy at the news. Lord Ralph was picking a bride the very same Season she was out in society. This must be luck.
Soon, after much debate and talk, they finally headed outside. As Kidaya was climbing into the carriage that would take her and her Cousins to the Palace, she looked up at the tree twenty feet away and nod her head in a silent approval before finally entering the carriage.
She walks into the Ballroom with Count Tegha holding her right hand, and Ralph holding her left hand. The moment she stepped into the hall, it buzzed as if everyone was waiting for her. Whispers could be heard all around her.
"Look, Kidaya, they all acknowledge your presence." Count Tegha whispers beside her. "They are all talking about you. You are the object of all discussions."
"Go and pay respect to the Queen." Lady Agnes says from where she walked between her two daughters.
Count Tegha and her brother let go of her hand, while she stretches out her left hand and her train was draped over her hand. With a smile on her face, she walks off to where the Queens are seated on her throne, her Cousins walk beside her as they all approach the queen's small throne. Everyone in the hall watched.
"Your Majesty!" They all greet offering a court bow to the First Queen first, then the Second Queen.
Smiling. "My Diamond." The Queen says stretching forward her hand which Kidaya took and placed her own hand under the Queen's own before kissing the back of the hand.
The Queen gets off her throne and takes a step towards Kidaya, placing a kiss on her temple. "You are perfect, just as I knew you would be." Kidaya offered her most pretty smile. "Walk with me, dear." The Queen says offering Kidaya her left hand which Kidaya took and together, they descended into the crowd which parted as they approached. Finally, the Queen stops in the middle of the hall with every eye on them.
Different kinds of eyes stared at the girl who stood beside the Queen in the middle of the second-largest ballroom in Vianto Empire. Some stared with envy while some stared with hatred and jealousy. There were some who also stared with nothing but pure joy and happiness, and this wasn't only her family, others did too.
Margery felt like pulling out her eyes because of the sight in front of her. As if this morning wasn't enough, the Queen was flaunting the nobody in front of everyone as her Diamond. It should have been her. She was sure the title was hers until the stranger appeared and ruined everything. Now instead of her beside the Queen and gaining all the attention, she was standing by the sidelines like every other person and watching while the Queen flaunts another.
"Relax Margery, all is not lost." Her mother whispers beside her.
"I have found my Diamond." The Queen announced with a smile on her face. "And believe me when I say it is the most beautiful of its kind. A Rare Diamond, fit to be a Diamond of the first water this season in all her glory, after three years of not finding a worthy Diamond." A servant brings a tray with a goblet of wine forward and the Queen picks it up. "A toss, to the new Diamond."
All around the hall, everyone raised their glass in a toss.
~
With their feet as light as the wind, they ran on top of the roof of the houses, jumping onto the roof of the mansion next to it. Quietly, evading the men that stood guard, they slipped into the mansion building and jumped down to the floor of the unguarded yard, beginning to run as soon as their feet touched the floor.
The one in charge turns to the rest of them and begins to point in different directions where they all ran to. Finally, after they had circled the entire area, the one in charge nods and the rest all hit the guards close to them on the neck and the guards fall to the ground sleeping. With another nod, they all penetrated the rooms next to where they stood.