The tiger and the lion may be more powerful but the wolf does not perform in the circus
~ author unknown
The trip to the capitol wasn't nothing short of a travel. As soon as they would arrive to the capitol dunethards port. They would have to immediately get ready for the welcoming ball of Duke Abarca and the Crown prince Shimon.
They had been gone for five years making trade negotiations with a foreign kingdom. This was an excuse however for the emperor to gain more power over Duke Abarca and his own son whose backing was very strong and he was a very paranoid man who was afraid that his son would do the very thing that he did to his father.
Shimon's likeness was that of the royal family and the previous emperor. His hair was silver and his eyes grey. However the current emperor took after his mother the empress dowager. Black hair and green eyes.
From his backing from his mothers side of the family and his likeness of the previous emperor everything about Shimon seemed to spite the Emperor Bastian. As for Duke Agustin Abarca this was a feud that didn't Involve the young but his late father whom the previous Emperor cherished as a son.
And Agustin was a spitting image of the previous Duke both in looks,skills, and somewhat personality. Bastian sent Agustin and Shimon to negotiate trades and whatever other business that the emperor had that he knew would not work if he did it.
Looking for mines,lands,discovering new things that the emperor could claim with his own two hands so not long after they became of age the emperor sent them on different quests. Hoping they would die each time he sent them away and yet they prevailed each time.
And this time he sent them away to make trade negotiations or make a deal or some type of relationship with the Qiaiar kingdom. A kingdom that was known to isolate themselves from other kingdoms.
This was a way of Bastian saying your banished without saying your banished. In this too the Crown prince and Duke succeeded. And now it was up to the Marquee and others who were on Bastian's side to solve it.
They soon arrived at the Whitewood townhouse. Everyone going to their respective rooms and getting ready for the welcoming Ball which was going to be the first ball of the social season.
"And no corset my lady". A maid asked Canary as they got her dress. She shook her head no as they rubbed her body with scent oils that smelled of honey and vanilla. Putting on this flowy green and white dress and barely had any gold on it. Her earring were gold although.
Her hair was braided and put into a ponytail and had these puff things in them. They finished it off with a beaded hair snood and her makeup was simple.
"How beautiful". The maids said giving each other a high five as if what they did was so stressful. "The dress really compliments your figure". A maid rudely said making even some of the other maids give her a side eye.
"If you took the time to get information about me you would know most of my dresses are like this". Canary said, smacking away the rude maid's hand.
"You speak very boldly". Canary looked at herself in the mirror and sighed. "Saying that my dress compliments my figure as if I'm some fat man".
Canary wasn't fat at all in her standard. At least she,her brother, and Relina didn't think so. She was simply curvier than other girls and when living in a time like this people weren't used to nor were the designers.
Which was another reason she wasn't much liked by her father and mother having to spend much money to cater to a designer who would design dresses for her body type was a nuisance to them.
Although Canary and everyone knew that if it was Amara who would ask of this they would gladly oblige. But it was Canary who was the black sheep of the family.
"Why green"? She wondered. They usually dressed her in pink or blue or some other color. She would soon realize why later on.
She joined her family who were shrouded in gold and white. Except for Relina but Relina didn't really count because she always wore her house colors and some type of gold mixed into her dress.
She rode in the gold and white carriage with her brother and Relina. She was quiet while Relina and Nolan chatted away. It was mostly this way with Canary simply enjoying their company.
Though it was a celebration banquet and not the debutant banquet Amara was still able to go. She and her family knew all eyes would be on Amara who was renowned for her beauty even back home.
They arrived at the palace. Unlike anything any foreigner had seen, this palace was of black. Its gold lights illuminated the grand palace. Towers and fountains stood tall against the humans who walked among it. Rising their heads up to look at the crafted masterpiece.
The palace was a beauty and yet danger lurked at every corner as a poisonous flower. This was Canary's second time being at the palace and yet she still looked in awe at everything.
Her huge round eyes staring up at the crafted design that stood above the door they entered. They made their way quickly to the ball room. A butler announcing their entry.
She nor her family were surprised at all the eyes being on Amara. Many ladies and gentlemen coming up to her. The gentlemen's parents coming up to her parents. And Canary could feel herself slipping into the background. Slowly disappearing into the black walls of the palace ballroom.
She watched as everyone danced. Amara rejecting each gentleman that came her way as if she was some royal princess. If her friends were here Canary would not be stuck on some wall she would be with her friends.
But her friends were not here and wouldn't be here until the social scene began and that wasn't until a week later. If she could drink she could but Canary hated the taste of wine. So she stood watching everyone have fun. Occasionally smiling at Relina and Nolan having their fun.
Tapping her aching foot on the ground. Then the ballroom went quiet. The doors of the ballroom opened and trumpets blew. "Annoucing his and her Majesty the emperor and empress Bastain and Anlecia"! The butler shouted.
"Also his highness the Crown prince Shimon and Duke Abarca"! Canary tried to squeeze through the crowd but she was too short and she only saw the top of their heads passing by. She sighed and gave up after she only saw Duke Abarca's green cape.