The ballroom chandeliers shimmered in the grand hall, casting golden reflections on the crystal chandeliers hanging above the guests. The crystalline laughter of high society echoed, mingling with the soft melody played by an orchestra hidden behind red velvet drapes. Helia twirled on herself, dazzled by the enchanting atmosphere. Her dress, a masterpiece of silver silk embroidered with gold threads, barely brushed the floor as she moved among the guests. Eyes turned toward her, yet she felt light, graceful, in harmony with the celebration.
She spotted a group of young ladies engaged in deep conversation near the buffet and was about to join them when a sharp voice startled her.
"You!"
Helia turned around, perplexed. In front of her stood Lady Amelia, an imposing figure among the court ladies, known for her fiery temperament. Her eyes flashed with rage, her lips pressed into a contemptuous grimace.
"How dare you, you little pretentious thing?" Amelia growled, stepping aggressively toward Helia, her face twisted with anger.
Helia, bewildered, frowned. "I… Excuse me?"
Amelia stomped her heel against the floor and glared at her. "Don't pretend! You dared to spread rumors about me, outrageous lies, and you think you can get away with it?"
Amelia's words echoed in Helia's mind, but she couldn't make sense of them. Rumors? Lies? She had never spoken about Amelia, let alone spread gossip. She opened her mouth to defend herself, but before she could utter a word, Amelia's hand struck her cheek with a force she hadn't anticipated.
The slap resounded throughout the hall, making the guests turn around. Helia staggered backward, tears stinging her eyes—more from shock than pain. Before she could catch her breath, Amelia, in a theatrical and humiliating gesture, seized a glass of wine from a nearby tray and poured it over Helia's head. The red liquid cascaded down her chestnut hair and onto her dress, staining the silver fabric.
The murmurs among the crowd intensified. Some guests turned away, horrified by the public humiliation, while others, less kind, exchanged knowing glances, smirks on their lips. Helia, stunned, desperately searched for a sympathetic gaze among the onlookers.
And then, she saw her. Elysia. Her dear friend, her confidante, the one person she had always trusted blindly. Elysia stood there, at the other end of the hall, impeccably dressed in an emerald-green satin gown. For a brief moment, Helia thought she saw her lips curl into a satisfied smile, a cold glint in her eyes. But almost immediately, the smile vanished, replaced by an expression of distress. Elysia pressed her hand to her mouth as if to stifle a gasp of shock.
Helia felt the ground disappear beneath her. How could Elysia…
— "Hey, Helia!" Elysia's soft, calm voice pierced through the veil of the dream.
Helia blinked, slowly regaining her senses. She was no longer at the ball. The rustling of silks and the mocking laughter had given way to the soothing song of birds. She was in her garden, comfortably seated on a wooden chair, facing a small table where a teapot, two finely decorated porcelain cups, and an assortment of delicately arranged pastries rested on matching plates. The fragrance of the surrounding flowers grounded her back to reality, but her heart still pounded in her chest.
Helia took a deep breath, still shaken by the dream she had just had. Or rather, by the memory of her dream from the previous night. This was the third time this week she had dreamt of similar scenes.
"Helia, are you listening to me?" Elysia repeated, looking at her with a hint of concern. She was sitting just across from her, one hand gently resting on Helia's, her expression filled with kindness.
Helia shook her head, snapping out of her thoughts. "Huh? Oh… Yes, yes, I'm listening."
"You're daydreaming, Helia," Elysia said, taking a sip of tea, her voice piercing through the dark cloud of thoughts enveloping Helia. "Is everything alright?"
She tilted her head slightly to the side, letting her long blonde hair slip over her shoulder like a golden ray of light. Her green eyes, sparkling under the sun, shone with a reassuring softness. With her calm and gentle smile, Elysia looked like an angel descended to earth, almost unreal in the afternoon light. Her tone, so delicate, was soothing, like a caress wiping away all worries.
A shiver ran down Helia's spine, but the feeling vanished as quickly as it came. In front of Elysia, all doubts melted away. The unease gnawing at her gradually faded, overwhelmed by the soothing presence of her friend.
"I… yes, I'm fine," Helia replied, forcing a smile while mentally pushing away the memory of the dream. How could she possibly doubt someone so perfect? "I was just thinking about a bad dream, nothing serious."
Elysia took another sip of her tea before setting the cup down gracefully. "Anyway," she began lightly, "have you heard about the banquet that Count Dante is hosting in a few days?"
Helia nodded, vaguely remembering the invitation she had received. "Yes, my father mentioned it. But I haven't picked out a dress yet…"
"Don't tell me you were actually considering going?" Elysia exclaimed, showing deep concern. She paused, her bright eyes gleaming with alarm. "Honestly, Helia, you shouldn't bother. I've heard this banquet is going to be dreadfully boring. None of the usual guests plan to attend."
Helia blinked, surprised by the statement. "Really? But I thought it was supposed to be an important event."
Elysia gently shrugged, her smile still serene, though her green eyes took on an almost amused glint. "Oh, you know how the Count is… He loves giving long, pointless speeches. And honestly, the food at his banquets is always disappointing." She wrinkled her nose with an exaggeratedly disgusted expression. "It's beneath us."
Helia hesitated, her fingers idly playing with the handle of her tea cup. The banquet hadn't particularly excited her, but she had never considered skipping it since her father had presented it as an important evening. Yet, Elysia's words planted doubts in her mind that she didn't quite know how to handle. After all, why go if it was going to be as dull as she described?
Elysia raised her eyebrows slightly, her expression full of sympathy. "I'm telling you this as a friend, Helia. None of the young ladies in our circle plan to attend. I wouldn't want you to end up stuck there, listening to endless speeches." She let out a dramatic sigh. "Especially when you have much better things to do with your time."
"For my part," she continued with a regretful look, "I have to go. My parents accepted the invitation, and you know how they are… But you, you're lucky to have such an understanding father. He won't force you to attend something so… tedious."
Helia stared at Elysia for a moment, her thoughts intensifying. Something about her friend's speech unsettled her, as if behind the reassuring words and perfect demeanor, another motive was hidden. Yet, facing this friend who had always supported her, such thoughts seemed misplaced. Was she imagining things?
"Well," Helia said, trying to sound assured, "I think I'll go anyway. After all, if it's as bad as you say, at least I'll be there to keep you company."
Elysia pursed her lips slightly, her smile seeming to falter for a brief moment before returning with gentle warmth. She delicately placed her hand on Helia's, her slender, cold fingers pressing against her friend's skin.
"Helia, you're too kind. But honestly, you shouldn't put yourself through this. Trust me, you'd be better off staying here, resting, or working on something useful." She pulled a sympathetic grimace. "I wouldn't want you to end up trapped in an unpleasant situation because of me."
Elysia's words slid into Helia's mind like velvet, and before she could truly think, she heard her own voice murmur, "You must be right… there's no point in going, then."
"A wise decision," Elysia replied with a broad smile, but her sentence was interrupted by the arrival of her maid, who stepped forward discreetly and respectfully.
"Miss, I'm sorry to interrupt, but it is time for you to return home—you need to get ready for dinner. Your parents have insisted that you be on time," the maid announced, her head slightly bowed.
Elysia, visibly annoyed by the interruption, brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear with a weary gesture. "Oh! That dinner with my father's business partners… I had completely forgotten it was today."
Touched by her friend's exasperation, Helia offered her a sympathetic smile. "I sincerely sympathize. Best of luck, then."
Elysia turned to her maid, her tone once again polite but firm. "Very well, give us a few more moments."
The maid stepped away, disappearing among the garden's verdant pathways, leaving Helia and Elysia alone under the gentle afternoon sun. Rising to her feet, Elysia turned to Helia with a sincere smile. "Thank you for this afternoon—the tea was delightful. Let's meet again soon."
"With pleasure, whenever you'd like," Helia replied, her heart lifting at the thought of their next meeting.
Helia watched as Elysia gracefully walked away through the flower-lined pathways of the garden, the hem of her emerald dress floating lightly in the breeze. She still admired her—her natural elegance, the unwavering confidence she exuded, her effortless ability to charm those around her. Since childhood, Elysia had always been the queen of their little world. Helia, on the other hand, had often struggled to blend into high society. She had never truly managed to fit in, but with Elysia by her side, it had never seemed to matter.
Yet, her recent dreams still troubled her. They felt so real, like echoes of another life. But they were just dreams, fleeting nighttime illusions of no significance, she reminded herself once again. Nothing worth taking seriously. Helia shook her head slightly, pushing away the dark thoughts.
After all, Elysia was her best friend. The only friend she had ever had.