Chapter 21

「See, you looked beautiful, milady!」

(F-Finally, its over!)

At last, the day of the evening party has come. At the House of Porta, the top designer of the Maison Balladur took over Aurora’s wardrobe along with some staffs of the Maison Balladur and the Duchess maids. They specialized at skin and hair care, hair tying, make up and many other things along with Luna Mare’s exclusive servants.

(I expect no less from the Duchess, Lady Luna Mare’s maid servants!)[1]

So, this was the Duchess maid servants? The high society’s fashion icon isn’t something to be scoffed at.

「Hey, you looked beautiful, Rora. The make-up did its wonder.」

A low voice came from the direction of the door made her turn her head from the mirror.

「Brother.」

「I was worried about leaving you to attend the evening party hosted by the House of Loomis. After all, you’ve been picking up troubles from everywhere these passing days. Do you remember how I was surprised after knowing you were engaged to Lord Clavis?」

「I know, even your fever went high.」

「Seriously, I was thinking that I might be hallucinating.」

Luminox leaned against the door post and chuckled as he looked at his little sister.

Black embroidery on a white clothing was an enchanting dress that brings out the charms of young ladies, even though it’s a bit unusual from the usual dress worn at evening parties. Her hair was so beautifully decorated that it did not seem to be the same as the creamy hair that flows down her back in a usual curl. There was no hair to cover her neck nor her ears than it usually has been, that looking at her now was a bit awkward.

And then, Aurora tilted her head and glanced at Luminox.

「By the way, brother, what are you doing here? Don’t tell me you’re here to look at my dress?」

「How rude, your brother is here just to get a glimpse of his dear sister… well, that’s not all. Your long-awaited coach has arrived to pick you up.」

「So fast!」

The sky is blue and there is yet any signs of the sun setting. Evening parties are literally held at night. Evening parties starts much later because of the current season, especially during the beginning of the summer where the sky is brighter and gets darker only until much later. Aurora was supposed to be escorted in the evening but this was a little bit early for the evening party.

「I heard that there was something he wanted to give to me.」

「Something to give to you? What is it, I wonder? He hasn’t said anything when you were together the day before yesterday…」

「You’re here just in time! Though we are thoroughly prepared, I’m still nervous!」

「Prepared?」

Those who breathed out in relief were Miss Pluei and the other ladies, while Aurora blinked for a few times, perhaps due to her lack of experience on attending evening parties. Luminox smiled and turned around to his back.

「Please, do come in.」

「Excuse me. 」

(My eyes! Its ruining my eyes! He’s so dazzling!)

The evening lights that reflects on his long silver hair that was tied with an green ribbon sparkled and looked like a shiny silk. His bangs which were carefully styled made the young man looked more cooler than usual but his purplish eyes that narrowed down captured his fiancee. Moreover, he was not wearing the suit for the evening party but clothed in his supple body was the formal uniform of the Imperial Knights. The uniform which looked very dignified and austere is what all the maidens in the Wellbum Kingdom longed for. The synergy within Felix who’s more dazzling than his usual 50% made her dizzy.

(… That’s right, this man is really beautiful. He has this amazing amount of beauty in him. I almost forgot about that fact…)[2]

For Aurora, he was indeed breathtaking.

He is one of the ranked knights in the Wellbum Kingdom. Therefore, he is required to wear the formal uniform of the knight in accordance to their rank. Although the 1st Squad wears a golden and white uniform, the other knights commonly wear a blue and silver uniform. The uniform’s collar is silver, the shoulders and the buttons are also of the same color. Silver and black silk ornaments, white sash, white gloves, and black sword-belt. The short white coat is customized with a few more colors. The one who is wearing it is also of an extraordinary beauty and a cool kind of man so it looked as if the uniform was designed for him. Ms. Pluei, the staffs and the maids could not move as they got drowned in such kind of atmosphere.

(It really looks so good on him, as expected of the Imperial Knights uniform—the embroidery on the sleeves, the embroidery on the collar—Imperial Knights uniforms are excellent! For the first time in my life, I could now understand why so many ladies are screaming. I thought I would never have any interest in their uniforms but isn’t this one really good?)

I want to look at it forever.

And then, across Aurora was Felix who stood still and motionless and have his mouth opening and closing without uttering a single word.

「Ahh… Umm… I arrived quite early, you must be surprised.」

「I-I’m sorry for the trouble. I received a letter in advance, so you just arrived.」

「It’s because I needed time to get dressed up…」

Her elder brother and butler might have known about it, however, ladies aren’t allowed to be dressed by men. Perhaps, her maid conveyed this to her on the way as they will be dressing up for hours. For her to wear the dress, they must begin with polishing the whole body with more care and attention than she usually has. He looked at Aurora who have a faint smile who was also looking at him from the top of his head to the bottom of his feet then to the rose in his chest. Felix blushes a bit and narrowed his eyes.

「Y-You l-look good. Your roses are wonderful. Great work.」

「Lord Clavis looked great as well.」

(What’s with this, this is so awkward…)

With Felix who smiled out of reflex, Aurora awkwardly averted her line of sight.

「This is my first time seeing up close the formal uniform of the Imperial Knights. Are you not going to wear your decorations?」[3]

「There are rules for when one must wear decorations. The only times that we are required to wear all of the decorations are during state affairs and wedding. Well, if one were to wear a silver branch and a cloak, everyone will immediately recognize you as a magic knight so you don’t have to worry about anything else in particular.」[4]

「A silver branch?」

To Aurora who tilted her head, Felix pointed with his hand that is wrapped with white gloves the left side of his chest. There, was a tree branch shaped brooch adorned with a small purple stone.

「The branches were made to look like an army of magicians. In case of emergency, it can be used as a substitute for a staff and the cloak is a sign of a magician that in essence can replace the robe. On some ceremonies, I can even wear a longer cloak.」

「Do you wear any other clothes on your formal uniform?」

「I will have to wear all my medals. I will also have to wear a grand cordon and a hat. In all honesty, it would be hard to move in so I disliked it that much.」[5]

But then again, he will have to dress up later for the evening party. Felix looked down and Aurora laughs at him.

「Then, may I know what you wanted to give me?」

「Ah… You see, it kept me thinking that there was something missing.」

Felix turned to summon his butler who then reappeared with a box in his hand. Aurora gazed at the velvet box and as the butler opens it, her mouth widened and gasped. It was a flower motif that glitters like a starry sky on a black velvet, sitting in were lush blue gems, and delicate diamonds.

It was beautiful Parure.

(I have forgotten about the accessories, but this…)

Aurora felt dizzy as something out of her league appeared on her sight.

First, the necklace. On the collarbones, a series of blue gems larger than her clear shining eyes and a few shining gems glimmer on the other sides. The blue gems were perhaps chosen while basing on Felix’s eyes because of the shades of purple. Each were surrounded by clear and colorless sparkling precious gems in the shape of petals and from each side the same blue gems hung like drops of tears connect by the shimmering diamond. Next was the hair ornaments. It was made exactly of the same stone as the necklace, which was thinner and longer than the usual tiara that it could wrap the base of the forelock to the tied-up hair behind. The clasps are comb-shaped covered with metal resembling rose leaves. The gems were like drops of rain when she moves her temples. And the earrings. Gems that are smaller than the gems on the necklace but bigger than Aurora’s thumb nail, each were diamonds surrounded by small diamonds to resemble flowers and each one has a drop shaped blue gem.

Everything was glistening under the moonlight, as if it was showered with dew.

「This is…」

「It may look like a blue gem but they are magic stones. It has a lot of functions. Your… Though, this isn’t nowhere as good as your embroidery of roses, I would like you to wear this because it can protect you.」

Felix cleared his throat, bringing Aurora to reality.

A gem that is a magical stone are rarely found in nature. It can possibly help in training with magic, it is stable than any magic tools and anyone can use it as long as they have magical powers. Therefore, even if it’s something like a rolling stone, it can still be expensive and ordinary people can’t afford it unless there’s a festive occasion. A gem that’s also a magic stone is much more expensive than a regular gem. There were imitations in the recent years but seeing the gems shining like this, there was no doubt that it’s not an imitation.

(Isn’t this all outrageous! Even the smaller ones at a level of a national treasure?!)

A set of this accessories might even allow nobles to play all they want for a year. Aurora looked up in heaven.

「I don’t know any designs, so my sister and mother choose the design but I decided on the color of the gems… Do you like?」

「This… This is out of my…」

「It was invested without tax revenue, so you don’t have to worry. Are you having problems on wearing them?」

Felix asked the maids, including Ms. Pluei who are stupor behind Aurora. They shook their heads vertically as he raised up the necklace. A hand reached out to the back of her neck and approached her body. The silver eyelashes that moves before Aurora was stunning. Her body and face that is closer to him than when they dance, made her shoulders trembled.

(So close! His beautiful face is so close! And he smells good! I’m supposed to be wearing perfume but I’m losing this!)

「I’m not allowed to bring any weapons to the evening party. So, I thought that I would need a magic stone to protect you. This necklace has a charm. When someone touches you with malice, it is conditioned to take action.」

(Like I said, you’re so close!)

She was sure he had never fastened a lady’s necklace before. Felix who passed behind Aurora undo the clasp and began to speak some words behind her neck. He was breathing next to her neck, making Aurora gasp and turn frigid.

「The earring.」

(You’ll also fasten the earring?!)

He reaches towards her ears as if it was the most natural thing for him to do while Aurora was still and could not move even after hearing the earring click.

「This is connected to my ear cuffs and I can deliver my voice through magic power in here. Distance wouldn’t be a problem. Just contact me as soon as possible.」

(D-D-D-DON’T TALK TO MY EARS!!!!!!!)

Felix pointed at her ears while Aurora desperately nodded. He looked at her beautiful ears adorned with silver and green gem, but to be honest, there is something more important than that.

「I can’t put any magic to the hair ornament… Since you got the necklace which has the magic that can protect you. Have the maid put it for you.」

(Why are you stroking your forehead? Isn’t the amount of distance between us strange today?)

Felix’s expression softened as the hairdresser put Aurora’s hair ornament.

「As I thought, it certainly suits you.」

Felix’s current behavior was so unusual to the point where one would suspect him as a drunk. Aurora then looked at him with eyes half closed.

「You seemed to be in good spirit.」

「Is that so?」

「Yes, indeed. You were more talkative today than usual.」

「Oh, maybe its because I couldn’t sleep well yesterday. I think I’m a bit excited.」

(So you’re sleepy?! That’s the reason?!)

Aurora also have sleepless nights of remembering things until the dawn. Her whole body was burning and her head was light. While Felix were all smiles, Aurora was feeling chilly.

「Oh, and by my sister’s suggestion, will you call me by my name? This is to show that we are intimate.」

「That would be fine by me… but, please call me also by my name. I don’t mind if it’s my nickname.」

「Then, I shall call you Lady Aurora.」

「Yes, Lord Clavis.」

Aurora averted her gaze from Felix who is nodding in satisfaction. No matter how much she looked at him, she has this doubtful feeling that he is the real thing. Nevertheless, if he is this so talkative, then maybe he can socialize in the middle of the evening party. Thinking that they have found a solution, she felt that she has found a sliver of hope.

T/L: New chapter! I got really, really busy with real life. Not to mention that FBCBTR has a freaking 15k words per chapter unlike the Prophet novel. I think I will try to post 1 chapter of FBCBTR each month while the Prophet novel is still uncertain. I’ll try to find a good moment to start the 2nd chapter of the series so stay tuned! (Also, how do you find my frustrated editing? ʕ ˵• ₒ •˵ ʔ

That part of Sasuga, Luna Mare-sama

美景 (Bikei) – I always use handsome for this term but the right translation all this time is ‘beauty or beautiful

Decoration is the act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring. Specifically, it is any mark of honor to be worn upon the person, as a medal, cross, or ribbon of an order of knighthood, bestowed for services in war, great achievements in literature, art, etc.—In this case, Aurora and Felix were talking about the medals since the raw specifically mentions medals and awards, etc.

銀枝 (Gin Eda) – Silver branch is an Irish Mythology and has various literary explanations but the main feature is that the silver branch can be used to enter the Celtic Otherworld Irish Tír na nÓg. Though it might not be related to the story at all, just adding this one here. If you’re interested for more (like me) read the story here.

Grand Cordon – is the highest class in many orders, and manifested in its insignia with Grand Cordon exceptionally the highest class (look how strong Felix boi is)