I took a deep breath as I stepped into the grand ballroom, Irene's hand clasped tightly in mine. The room was buzzed with activity, the sound of lively chatter and piano music filling the air. I could feel the weird excitement building inside, as I took in the scene before me.
I and Irene were accompanied by the two servants whom I trusted, who followed us closely as we made our way through the sea of people. I could see that Irene was just as thrilled as I was, her eyes were wide with wonder as she took in the splendor of the room.
As we moved further into the crowd, I felt how my heart racing as we approached the centre of the room, where the dance floor was located. The music swelled around us and I could see the couples twirling and spinning in time with the rhythm.
I turned to Irene and gave her a reassuring smile, feeling a sense of pride in her as I saw her eyes light up with excitement. She loved these types of things, so no wonder. Irene was really popular inside the mansion with servants and outside with nobility and people, she was liked by everyone.
"Excuse me," a voice spoke quietly next to me, "may I have this dance?"
The man standing next to me was a handsome young nobleman wearing an elegant black suit, he had his hands behind his back as he bowed politely towards Irene.
I didn't understand why, but for some weird reason I wanted to push the man away and tell him that he had no chance with her, but would that be overprotective? The feelings I had towards Irene were none other than simple ones...
I wasn't romantically interested in her because she was my sister in this life, so that would be like a what the fuck moment, but it did make me feel some type of way to see other men trying to get her attention, "is this how brothers act?" I muttered to myself and looked at her to see what she was doing.
Without hesitation, she accepted the man's hand and walked off with him towards the dance floor. I watched them both disappear from sight as I thought about Nari, "where is she?" I whispered to myself, moving my head left and right, trying to find her whereabouts.
"Why didn't you answer my letters?!" A woman's voice shouted angrily next to me, I turned towards the direction the voice came from and found a fragile woman standing there, glaring at me.
ραпdα nᴏνa| сom Her face was full of wrinkles which crinkled up whenever she frowned, her hair was long and golden-like sun-bleached colour, as well as her skin tone, was paler than most people's. Her eyes were like the sky, bright blue with red-rimmed around the edges, and they seemed to pierce into me.
She was probably around my age, "letters? Who are you?" I frowned as I flinched back a little.
"Who am I???" This woman here raised her voice, it made her sound like a lunatic.
I wondered if she was doing this to get more attention or if she was just crazy.
"I'm your fiance!" She pointed an accusing finger at me and I widened my eyes as I shook my head vigorously.
No way, this couldn't be true, I never proposed to anyone, 'no wait, I did!'
"Lady Aurora?" My voice rose up when I realised who she was.
"How long does it take for you to remember me?" She smiled, wickedly.
The way she was talking to me, and her weird loud behaviour were enough for me to understand that this woman here was trouble, and I needed to avoid that for now.
"I will reply to your letters tomorrow, now please leave me alone," I fixed my gaze on her and then started walking away.
"Nooooo, not yet! Come to me!" She called out to me, "I'm going to ask you one last time before I cut you down."
"Cut me down?" This woman was crazy, I stopped and looked at her, "so cut me, please," I answered without thinking much. I needed to find where Nari was, I forgot to give her the instructions.
It was a bit weird that Serenu and Nari were nowhere to be found, but I trusted Serenu, I knew he wouldn't scheme, but where was Nari?
"You know, I have so many guys lining up, asking for my hand!" She raised her voice and it made me turn back to her again.
She was lying, or even if she wasn't, I didn't care. That would just make my life easier, "well, I'm happy for you," I replied, slowly, giving her a small bow.
"Don't you care about that? I'm soon to be your wife!" She furrowed her eyebrows as I saw her lip twitch.
Was she angry or just trying her best to get my attention, that didn't matter right now, I was here on a mission, "you don't have any offers, and we both know that, lady Aurora...." I decided to reply to her strange statement, "you're saying this to show me that you have options, and make me feel jealous, but I'm telling you, it won't work on me." I lifted the right corner of my lips, gently smiling back at her pale and emotionless face.
Her loud and ignorant attitude of hers was gone now, she no longer seemed to care to cause a ruckus, "now I will go," I gave her a small bow, hoping that it was the right etiquette.
Her face stiffened, but I had no more time to waste.
I knew that sooner or later, I would have to take care of this engagement matter and maybe giving her a cold shoulder would open her eyes a little bit.
"Now, Nari, where are you?"
Her sudden disappearance made me wonder if she was given some special instructions by Hector... I couldn't allow myself to lose or be humiliated in front of half of the kingdom, I was here to make my name known.