บท 88: To The Beginning
"The night is beautiful today." The sun, almost gone, gave the capital a small golden glow. The brightest stars already shone through, announcing their presence. The absence of light, did nothing to dampen the jolly atmosphere around us. The market did not close as it per usual would and many still frolicked around, hoping to buy wares they usually couldn't at a normal day. The citizens, as if driven by an invisible force turned even livelier, moving to inns or to the plaza. I heard there would be a bonfire—but that had nothing to do with me, as I already made other plans.
"Agnes, let's go," Raya said and pulled me through the gates. The guards gave us a quick glance before they bowed to us.
The letter stamped with the royal seal really was useful. No words needed to be said; the moment we arrived in the big manor and flashed the letter, all the guards respectfully let us in. Some nobles who entered at the same time were rather shocked when they saw that.
"Iᴛ ʜᴀs ʙᴇᴇɴ sᴏ ʟᴏɴɢ sɪɴᴄᴇ I ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ I ғᴇᴇʟ ɴᴏsᴛᴀʟɢɪᴄ," Agnes said.
We walked through the garden, which was more like a maze, with her guiding us from above. This manor was different from the royal manor and the D'Anele mansion. Everything had been designed to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible, thus forgoing the utility value. 'Carefree Manor', was what they called it, Agnes had explained to me. Most parties were held here. The last time Agnes came to this mansion, it was to celebrate her engagement with the third prince. Afterward, she had never been invited and only resided in the royal manor, reading books. Poor girl.
"It is as grand as I remembered," Raya said. Incidentally, the last time she came here was also at Agnes' engagement. Her eyes glimmered more than the stars in the sky. Evidently, she was very excited.
Not many people stood in the garden, but there were still some. For example, Raya and I came across a group of women, all dressed fancily, sitting underneath a gazebo and chatting merrily while sipping on tea.
As I noticed them, they also noticed us, and thus squinted their eyes, trying to break through the darkness. I waved my hand and they replied by doing the same. I could see their confused faces, telling me they did not recognize me. Maybe that was for the better.
After almost 20 minutes, we arrived in front of the big door. The guards greeted us, and the servants helped us open it.
"That reminds me," Raya grabbed my hand, "didn't you say you would become beautiful before we arrived here? But you didn't seem to have changed much."
"You—cough, it has been four days, cut me some slack, will you?"
"I am just saying."
Another servant led us through, and soon, a row of candle flames greeted Raya and I, washing the darkness outside away. I faintly heard music playing, a soothing orchestra, gentle to the mind.
I then said to Raya, "also, I said 'before I got my title', not 'before I arrived'."
She looked at me and rolled her eyes. "What's the difference?"
I wanted to explain, a female maid came to us, saying she would help us with our make-up if we wanted to. Raya gratefully accepted, realizing she hadn't done anything to her face, but I declined. The maid did not pursue, but still guided us into another room for us to prepare and do some last touch-ups, before officially entering the party.
The room was filled with dresses, untidily scattered on the ground. In the middle someone had placed a mirror, bigger than my entire body, reflecting the light. On the sides, many maids stood, ready to help if necessary. Since we arrived quite late, we were the only nobles in the room.
"Why did you refuse," Raya asked me. She then touched her face, probably thinking what a waste it was.
"Don't you trust me, I can do these things for us."
"Have you even touched make up before?"
"Really," I struck my chest out, "have some faith. Do you know how many times I have disguised myself and dressed up as a woman? My make up level has reached the apex."
"I have no idea what you mean."
"Just take a seat," I pressed her down.
I looked around, ascertaining what options I had available: A dark red paste (it smelled like berries), a wooden comb, some rough brushes made out of animal hair, tweezers out of bones, perfume and a dark-brown nut mix. Also, there was a bleaching cream which I was sure was made of Lead or similar—Wasn't that poisonous?
"Oh this will be a tough job." Where was the foundation, the mascara, eyeliner or concealer? How was I supposed to add highlights or blush? I stared at the palette with only five colors and frowned. "All right, let's test on Raya first."
She shrunk back and asked, "hey, can I really trust you?"
I picked up a medium-sized brush. "What is the worst that can happen," I reassured her and told her to close her eyes.
"If you mess this up, I am never talking to you again."
I stopped talking and began working. What I wanted, was to rid her of that gentle face, making it look fiercer. For that, I drew the lines across her eyes especially dark, curving it upwards. I also highlighted her cheekbones and slimmed her nose, just to give ti some definition. Most importantly, I tried to emphasize her beautiful blue eyes. It would be a shame not to showcase them.
I tried the best I could and I imagine that I did well.
"I am done."
She opened her eyes, and immediately, like an extravagant puzzle, everything on her face came together, all features harmonizing. When she faced me with those big eyes, I felt my heart skip a beat. She blinked, her long eyelashes shivering innocently, and if I had not known it was Raya, I might have jumped right into her arms and never let go. I forcefully broke the spell by cocking my head away.
A maid, unable to hide her astonishment, let out an excited scream. They clamored around us, all voicing their praise.
Raya, seeing their reactions, tilted her head in confusion. "What, it can't be that good, right?" She faced the mirror, and when she saw herself, she trembled.
"Hmph," I replied smugly, "what do you think?"
The corner of her mouth twitched, and she squeezed out, "It-it is passable."
I only laughed at her reaction. Paying her no heed, I applied make up on myself.
"How do I look," I asked Raya after I was done. However, she only stared at me without saying anything. "Hello? Raya?"
She pulled her face closer, almost touching me, and I saw her eyes dazedly staring at me. Once more, I got to see her face in detail. This time, it was her who broke the spell by cocking her head. She stared at the roof and smiled awkwardly, "It is passable," she said. "Let's go! We are late already!" We then hurriedly left through the doors.
Hᴇ ᴅᴀsʜᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ, Rᴀʏᴀ ɪɴ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅs, ғᴏʀɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴀғʟᴏᴀᴛ. I ʀᴏʟʟᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇs, ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ, ʏᴇᴛ I ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ ᴀ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴅᴏ.
"They were about to kiss, weren't they," sᴀɪᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴀɪᴅ, ᴡᴀsʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴀᴡᴀʏ.
Tʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀɪᴅs ɴᴏᴅᴅᴇᴅ sɪʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ. Tʜᴇʏ ʙʟᴜsʜᴇᴅ, sᴏᴍᴇ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜɪᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ғᴀᴄᴇs ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs, ʙᴜᴛ ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ғᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴛᴏ ᴘᴏᴋᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ.
I ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ʀᴏʟʟ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇs ᴀɴᴅ sᴡᴏʀᴇ ᴍʏsᴇʟғ ᴛᴏ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ғᴏʀᴄᴇ ɪɴ sᴛᴏᴘᴘɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ғʀᴏᴍ ʀᴏᴀᴍɪɴɢ ғʀᴇᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ.
When we arrived at the door, we slowed down. Raya looked at me, before reluctantly placing her arm around mine. I placed her hand on her hips and without her noticing then smoothly slid down to her butt.
"Oh," my eyes opened wide, "you still aren't wearing any underwear?"
Raya who was nervous about entering, stopped in her tracks and pinched my cheek. "They didn't sell any!" She gritted her teeth.
"That is great. You know, if it was up to me you shouldn't even be wearing a dress." I gave her a light, friendly slap, and her butt shook, absorbing the impact. "In fact, let's just go home and fall asleep in each others arms."
"Don't speak irresponsibly," she scowled and batted my hand away. It immediately returned, though.
"I am joking." I pushed the door open. Finally, I would enter.
As soon as I opened the door, the music turned a lot louder. The room was dimly lit, and big enough for a hundred people. In the corner, a small orchestra played on string instruments, giving everything a calm atmosphere. In the middle, there was a banquet filled to the brim with sweets; most notable was the huge cake and the sculpture made of sugar. Many situated themselves in the middle, dancing slowly, but there were just as many standing by the sides, enjoying a cup of tea while having a lighthearted chatter. No matter at whom I looked, they all wore fancy clothing, adorned with many gems and jewels, with their hair done just as extravagant.
Raya pulled at her leather collar I had gifted her. "We do look a little under-dressed, compared to them." She kept shifting it around, hoping to find a comfortable position, but no matter how much she moved, she still felt uncomfortable.
"Sᴏ ᴛʜɪs ɪs ʜᴏᴡ ᴀ ʀᴏʏᴀʟ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ," Agnes muttered, overwhelmed by what she saw. Her eyes were hazy and she instinctively lowered her floating height. "Hᴏᴡ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪғᴜʟ."
I stared at the mesmerized Agnes, and could do nothing but sigh. It was only a month ago, where she couldn't even dream of entering this place, and it was the same for me. For her, she could only watch behind the gates, the bright windows, while she herself resided in darkness; and maybe she would just bury her head further in books. For me, well, I wouldn't even have dreamed of such a situation. However, no matter the reasons, we both had entered this palace, our goal now one. Fate really was a mischievous woman.
"I hope you remember this sight," I muttered, "for I shall give you many more of these."
As it was usual, the moment we entered, everyone gave us a quick glance, ascertaining who we were. At first, they couldn't tell, but I was rather infamous and it did not take long for them to realize. I smiled at them, and without an exception, their eyes opened wide in shock.
"Agnes!" Someone called out.
Like a ripple, one after another, called my name out. Soon, they moved on to my titles, such as 'Bastard Child', 'Broken Demoness', and more. Their chatter overshadowed the gentle music, and soon, the people further in the distance had their attention roused too.
"Why is she here? Also, who is that woman next to her?"
"I've seen her before. Her name's Raya Josephine D'Anele. She's another one from the family."
"I did not know that ancient family still attended such events," one person scoffed, "they did well choosing the worst representatives."
Raya, hearing their voices, gripped my arm tightly.
I shrugged my shoulders. "Why is it the same everywhere? The crowds in this world gossip too much." Even for someone with a high tolerance like me, their voices irked me, as it was rather tiring to hear the same thing all the time. That just went to show how great Agnes' reputation was.
I ɢʟᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ ɪɴ ᴀɴɢᴇʀ. Hᴀᴅ ʜᴇ ғᴏʀɢᴏᴛᴛᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ sʜᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪɴᴅs? Iᴛ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴇᴇᴍ sᴏ, ᴀs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ʜɪs ʟᴏᴏsᴇ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ, ᴠɪʟᴇ sʟᴀɴᴅᴇʀ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ sᴘʀɪɴɢɪɴɢ ғᴏʀᴛʜ. I ᴜɴᴅᴇʀsᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴡᴇʟʟ, ʜɪs ɢʟɪʙ ᴛᴏɴɢᴜᴇ ᴡᴀs ʜɪs ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡᴇᴀᴘᴏɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜɪs ᴡᴀs ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ!
"Sorry."
"Hᴍᴘғʜ."
"Anyway, it looks like the main act still hasn't begun yet," I said and stared at the empty throne, "so let us go have some fun." I then stared at the crowd, my eyes combing through the people, as if it was a scope. "Found you," I exclaimed and licked my lips.
I didn't realize when, but a cute grin had appeared on my face.
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