Chapter 72 - The Task in the Capital (Part 1)

The night progressed into an elegant finish. Faustina ate in accordance with noble standards; devouring a piece of art rather than a delicious meal. She met several nobles along the way—those who had the audacity to inquire, greet, or even dare to approach the Feuerlons.

She easily forgot their names.

They went for posthaste prattles, asking them in regards to their well-being, mainly Lucas, and the Duke and some mentions of the Duchess as well as Bethrion. And then...

"Who might this be?"

"Oh. This is my little sister, Faustina."

"Little sister?" Says one. "So the rumors are real? O-oh! Pardon me."

And among many other variations with comparable responses. Some had sweet simpers as they glanced over Faustina; some with perplexion; the others with taunt and coldness.

The dinner lasted for an hour or two with sideways filled with conversational affairs with the aristocracy. As usual, they murmured to themselves about Faustina's birth, or "who" she was. And it was evident how the magic took its effect—at least for Faustina. The magic made the people in sight of Faustina knew at least her background, promoting a new pathway of memory in their mind with the vague description of "Faustina" "sick" "Adalia's hidden daughter" "Feuerlon".

Faustina just doesn't understand how they connoted it with an affiliation to a 'bastard'.

She knew that the duke had a second wife, as said by Sheila. Though 'wife' was not the proper word, given that he was just married to Adalia Feuerlon. Rose is a peasant woman, a lady of inferior birth. They say she was born at the capital and had mediocre graces with no elegance—however, she was beautiful. The duke loved her and bore a daughter with her—who perished shortly even before birth.

And Faustina thought to herself, why would she be considered a bastard if she had a resemblance to Adalia? Were people confused?

It seemed like the girl who approached her earlier was a woman of a high ranking noble, the daughter of the nobles rising in power, the youngest among the daughters of a Marquess, Lilliane Desfiegro. The Desfiegros are nobles of Feuersturm that are the frequent visitors of the capital. It is said that the Desfiegros have the highest chance to be the queen candidate, mainly the younger daughter who is the only one unwed, Lilliane.

The boy with her was Ezekiel Johann Unsterblich. They have a newly-found friendship due to the partnership of Desfiegro Inc. to the academy, establishing a good relationship between both households. Ezekiel Johann, according to what Faustina had heard from Maddie, was a man admired by the noble ladies and magicians of the academy. Marrying him would mean being wed to the next Schoolmaster, a position of its own justice.

The boy was at her age. Faustina noticed the increase in people among her age coming to the capital, perchance with the same purpose—to enroll in the academy. Among the other things she encountered for the night, she remembered an item she ought to deliver; a task she must fulfill.

The necklace.

Owen Lopez.