Bab 31: 'It must run in the blood'
The last ray of the sun finally set at the northern territory. With the gathering darkness, the music from the grand hall grew louder.
The Duchess was expecting something beautiful like the one she used at her tea party, but compared to the one Madame Camellia made her for the tea party, it was beyond what someone would call beautiful. Beautiful would even be a disservice to the elegance it exuded just by being laid on her bed. Elegance wasn't the correct term, but Amelia couldn't explain it further, too.
It was an off-shoulder wine-red dress with a soft bodice and a beautifully embroidered trim that formed an X in the front and went all the way to the back. The puffed cuffed sleeves were light and see-through, fastened just above Amelia's elbow with the same trimmings and secured with pearl clasps. Several layers of petticoats went under the full pleated skirt, minimally embroidered with roses using gold thread and scattered crystals that shone from different angles, with a short trail.
For her jewelry, she picked asymmetrical pearl drop earrings. It came as a set with the dress sent by her seamstress, so she decided not to change it. Laila then styled Amelia's hair in a soft braid, pinning tiny, red-colored crystals in between. After she was done, the duchess stood up and grabbed a small unopened box that Laila separated from the rest.
"A gift, Christa," she said, smiling.
Confused, the lady took it from the duchess' hand, and as soon as she saw what was inside, her eyes welled. "I… I couldn't possibly accept this, duchess." Christa's voice cracked a little.
Amelia giggled, "But you must," she said, and the others comforted the lady by caressing her back.
The overwhelming feeling of receiving a golden brooch of House Florence's crest rendered Christa unable to move, so the duchess took the brooch from the opened box and pinned it to the lady instead.
"See, it suits you well," Amelia smiled.
Only the duchess' ladies-in-waiting and personal knight have the same golden brooch. Even her advisor has a different one. It's something Amelia had ordered to be custom-made so it wouldn't be forged easily. Though Christa's not her lady-in-waiting, she thought that she could help her with the duchy's internal matters, much like how Laila helps her and Vance from time to time.
"This way, people would know that you're from my House."
"So…" Arabella butted in, "if anyone tries something funny, they'd answer to me."
Christa let out a short giggle and said, "Ladies shouldn't start a fight—but we can surely finish them." She turned to face Amelia. "Thank you, duchess. This… this feels surreal," Christa wiped the corner of her eyes and turned again to compliment Arabella wearing a dark-colored halter dress with a cinched waist and full pleated skirt made of soft fabric. It also has a medium-length slit which showed a little skin whenever she walked. The lady assassin blushed at the kind words but brushed it off, saying that she hated restricting dresses.
For all Amelia knew, she opted for a slit, so it's easier for her to grab the daggers she tied around her thigh. And noting the hairpin on the lady assassin's hair, there's no doubt that it's a hidden dagger too. If only she thought of it too, Amelia could have asked the seamstress to add those features to her next fitting, which would be for her birthday.
By the time a series of knocks sounded at the door, Amelia and her ladies just finished with some last-minute touch-ups. Telling the others to wait for a while, Arabella hurried to the adjoining room to grab the last box Laila brought with them.
It's the Duchess' new cloak with an embroidered crest in the middle of it. It's made to match her gown, but she could definitely wear it again next time on a different occasion.
After fastening both ends of the cloak with ruby-studded rose clasps, Amelia took one more look at herself in the mirror and saw the approving nods of her companions
**********
"Oh my, duchess," Vance beamed as soon as he saw the duchess walk through the door. He examined her at arm's length and tucked some stray hairs behind her ear. The advisor looked so proud that his smile reached his ears.
"Don't I look beautiful, Uncle?" she gave a little twirl.
"Very," was his small but honest reply.
The attendants assigned to them earlier also looked surprised to see the duchess as they weren't allowed in her room while she and the others changed. After a moment, they informed Vance where Ayland and Gregory were waiting.
As the duchess and her companions passed through the hallways overlooking the entrance hall, her eyes made a quick scan of the crowd—some were also looking at them, and Amelia gave a small nod before turning her attention to who's in front of her. Disappointed that she didn't see what she wanted to see, her shoulders visibly slumped.
Entering the small drawing room, Ayland was also equally dumbfounded as soon as the duchess stepped out of Vance's broad back. He opened his arms to the side as he walked towards her, brimming and all. But he stopped halfway, saying that he didn't want to ruin the duchess' look.
They all laughed, and when the Mulford brothers arrived, they all went to the grand hall together.
Walking to the hall, all eyes fell upon her. Not just because of how Amelia looked, but also the people that came with her. On her left, linking her arm with was Ayland; his straight, medium-length, golden locks looked a lot better than the other ladies. His soft green eyes and almost feminine features were the envy of many. If it weren't for his long limbs and slightly toned body from all the hiking that he did, he would've passed as a lady if dressed as one.
Behind them were the Mulford brothers that ladies in Aclador called the 'Triple Trouble' for their seemingly good looks and differing personalities. Though they were years apart, their faces didn't stray far from each other—dark, slightly ruffled hair, light brown charming eyes that they all got from their mother, chiseled jaw, tall, and muscular; even Osmund, who despised training, looked like he could go against a few knights himself.
Like those who came before them, Amelia and the others also waited in line to be announced. And when it was their turn, it made the duchess a little flustered since it was the first grand celebration she attended in years. Thankfully, Ayland was there to comfort her with a reassuring smile and a hand on hers.
As soon as they entered, a thundering exclaim echoed, "Lia!" Everyone made way to let the Duke of House Mulford through.
"Uncle Ver—I mean, Duke Vernon Mulford," Amelia smiled at him and curtsied low, "Greetings from House Florence," she said, and everyone from her House bowed their heads and remained so until she was finished. "We are thankful that you are born, and we hope that you continue to have good health and unending passion for your House and the Empire. Happy Birthday, Duke Vernon Mulford." After the duchess, Ayland also gave his greeting and wishes.
Vernon accepted their greetings and went ahead to give Amelia a big hug. The others were surprised, and so was Christa. It was like a father seeing his daughter after being gone for a long time.
"I know that the duchess stayed in Aclador for some time, but I didn't know they were so close." She whispered to Laila.
"He's like a father to the duchess, and he treated her much like his daughter."
When the excitement of their meeting simmered down, Laila and Christa excused themselves to greet those they knew. Even Arabella and his brother also looked for their father and grandfather, who were also invited.
The Mulford brothers wanted to stay with Amelia, but their father ordered them to entertain the other visitors as he introduced Amelia to other dignitaries coming from wide and far. As for Ayland, he also left not long after to be with his parents, who were announced a few minutes later. Vance also excused himself to meet some people he knew.
Though Amelia was occupied with being acquainted with other people that may be of use to her in the future, her eyes never forgot to scan the room from time to time.
"Are you looking for someone, duchess?" asked one lady who came from a kingdom east of Creador.
"Ah, no. Something just caught my eye." She flashed a curt smile and talked some more before she excused herself as another took her attention. Duke Mulford had some people introduced to him that he had to excuse himself and said that the duchess should consider it her training ground for building rapport with other kingdoms and families.
Before Amelia knew it, missuses surrounded her. They complimented on how beautiful she looked—beautiful was even an understatement, they said. And as someone who's not used to receiving so much compliment in minutes, she awkwardly smiled and grabbed one of the champagne glasses that a manservant was handing out.
"Thank you. I am sure there is still so much I must learn, and I hope that I can come to you for some advice or something similar in the near future." Touched, the missuses looked at each other with a proud look, "I'll invite you all soon to my birthday in a few weeks. I'd definitely love it if you could co—" Amelia stopped, and her perfect smile slowly vanished as everyone's eyes darted to the latecomers who entered the grand hall.
And there he was.
Still, the same black hair as shiny as a raven's feathers, broad shoulders, and a muscular build. His skin was a touch tanner than Amelia remembered it. His white suit simply decorated by a brooch of his House's crest and his striking yellow cloak with a huge eagle embroidered at the back held together with golden clasps was a perfect fit.
Something tickled Amelia on the inside, and her eyes brightened as they followed the duke's movements, but it didn't last long as she noted a lady clinging close to him—her secret fiancé. They were almost even in height and had one of the most desirable features the duchess ever saw.
All of a sudden, Amelia's heart grew heavy. It felt like its being squeezed slowly with the intention of squeezing every last drop. She stared and stared and stared to the point that she wasn't able to hear anyone or anything anymore. And as if her silent calls were heard, their eyes locked at each other, and time stood still.
The musicians kept on playing at a small dais prepared for them. Visitors were chatting with each other; some were just talking while others laughed. It should be a sound-filled hall, but Amelia heard nothing.
Not a single sound.
All she perceived was her own pounding heart that rang in her ears and her slightly ragged breathing. The stature of the man she hadn't seen for months stood there at a short distance, and a rush of emotions welled up inside her; their engagement, that time in the dungeon, that day he left, the letters and the gift he sent—the ring... the kiss.
They haven't seen or communicated for months, and then she'd find him escorting some other maiden to a celebration with practically everyone from the empire and out.
Amelia didn't know how to deal with the stir of emotions she's having. Everything felt too unfamiliar. It was a plethora of questions flooding her mind.
'Maybe this was one way for him to avert the rumor,' she thought. But why bring a lady and have her cling to him so much in an event that he knows she will be attending? Her mind was in contradiction.
And then all of a sudden, there he was, staring back at her. At that moment, it felt like there were only two of them. But as much as Amelia wanted to come over and talk, the lady he was with tugged his arm, forcing him to look the other way.
Everything was in motion again.
"Are you alright, duchess?" one of the missuses worriedly asked her when she returned her gaze to the empty glass in her hand.
"I… Uhm, I'm alright." Amelia forced a small smile. "I'm sorry if I worried you. I was just taken aback by the beauty of the lady the Duke of House Clement was with."
"Oh her? That's his oldest sister, Lady Elise. I heard that she's back for the duke's birthday."
Upon hearing it, Amelia felt as if a weight was lifted from her shoulders as she exhaled discreetly—she felt ridiculous. She scanned the hall again to check where he was, only to see his back. But catching a glimpse of how his sister still closely clung to him made her a little displeased.
"She comes back at least once every year, then she's off again to who knows where." Another said, and the duchess suddenly felt embarrassed.
"Oh, she's just as promiscuous as his brother. It must run in the blood," another whispered, their lips covered by their glasses, and the missuses giggled lightly together.
She knew that Alexander had an older sister who left him to travel; she should've thought of the lady as his family instead of jumping to conclusions first. Amelia inhaled sharply, grabbed a glass of red wine from one of the manservants, and drank almost half of it in one go to save herself from the internal embarrassment.
The night was still young. There were a lot of people who she met. A lot of young ladies her age seemed enthusiastic enough for her to converse with. It was all new to her, but Amelia's enjoying herself more than she thought. And as the atmosphere and the wine loosened her up some more, she found herself almost circling the hall, talking from one person to another.
There were a lot of people with the same interests as her coming from different places, and it thrilled Amelia, especially ones from outside of the empire. There was so much to talk about, and fortunately, she didn't lack someone to converse with.
As she rarely appeared in the public's eye since she was little, everyone looked as if waiting to have a chance to talk to her. Some even came with business proposals and actual proposals—like marriage proposals.
Amelia declined the marriage proposals, saying that her duchy's her current top priority and nothing—no one—else. For those who came bearing their businesses, she told them to send her a formal letter of whatever intention they have, and she would ponder about it.
Time seemed to run fast, and Amelia felt famished. She had just finished her third glass of wine, and when she started to feel a little warm from the inside, she went to one of the long tables where pastries, biscuits, and other refreshments were.
Placing her wine glass on one side of the table, Amelia went ahead to pick from one of the wide selection of bonbons. Nothing beats sweets when trying to keep her sanity from all the wine.
After two bonbons, she moved to grab herself a piece of macaron and was about to step aside when she suddenly bumped into someone. Surprised, Amelia quickly turned around to apologize.
"You seem to be enjoying yourself, duchess." A husky voice rolled out from a pair of luscious, full lips.
"Uh… I… Ah…" Amelia stammered, stunned by the beauty smiling at her. It's Leticia Elise Clement, Alexander's older sister, standing a tad taller than her. She was slightly tanned, but her flawless skin glowed. "I apologize for bumping into you, Lady Elise."
"Leti. Friends call me Leti," Amelia smiled awkwardly as she and her fiancé's sister walked to one corner of the hall.
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