'What the, is this like Hogwarts!?'
The room is filled with different colored auras, colored dots trailing behind each of them.
"You see those auras, my lady?"
Kel steps beside me, her voice calm.
"Those are elements."
She gestures lightly toward the room.
"Most of the people under the Rosethorne possess an abilities, my lady. You can trust all of them that no harm will follow you."
I stare at the drifting lights again.
"Then what are those shining sparkles twinkling beside them?"
Kel looks at me, dumbfounded, tilting her head slightly with a small smile.
"Ah... Nevermind."
'She doesn't see it?'
"What element, do you have?"
"I possess the earth element, my lady."
Suddenly a shine releases out Kel's hand, and again another sparkle light beside her this time pops out.
"My ability allows me to repair broken jewelry, I make raw materials shine, that's why your gems always sparkles."
"Ohh!!" I clap my hands.
A sudden shine escapes from Kel's hand, then a tiny sparkle appears beside her.
'Weird. Those tiny sparkles I've been seeing, are those fairies?'
Kel stops, and her aura fades. The tiny sparkle beside her disappears as well.
'I'll think about it later.'
"What's Erisa's power?"
"She's a water element, my lady."
"Her ability can control the water, for that she's able to wash and dry your clothes instantly! That's why they even smell like flowers."
"She has quite an impressive ability."
'Woah… so she's basically like human dryer + washing machine.'
I clap for Erisa's power as well.
'Now that got me thinking, what about the butler?'
"How about Cyril."
Kel stares at me confusingly, tilting her head slightly.
"Who's that my lady?"
"Ah nothing, I would like some drink though."
"Will do, my lady." Kel leaves.
I rest my chin on my hand, lost in thought.
'So no one knows who Cyril is?'
I look at my surrounding once again, everyone has their own personal tasks that fits their abilities for.
'I just notice that almost everyone has their own roles based on their abilities.'
A maid passes by, a faint blue glow trailing from her fingertips as droplets of water lift from the floor, cleaning it in seconds before vanishing into the air.
Another snaps her fingers, warm red light flickers, and the candles along the hall ignite one by one on top of the chandelier.
By the curtains, a butler adjusts the decorations, guides the fabric without even touching it, a light blue breeze shaping it perfectly into place.
'…They're literally running the entire place with their abilities. It makes the whole place colorful and—'
"Pretty."
—Few minutes later—
"My lady we must return to your room now."
"You have to get ready."
'Already?'
'Aren't they not done yet?'
As I turn around almost everything is done.
'Holy, they're fast.'
"Allow me to guide you, my lady."
—Velora's room—
Both Erisa and Kel start to comb my hair and fix me up, getting me ready to wear my dress.
—knock, knock, knock—
"Who is it?" Kel shouts and gets closer to the door.
"Lady Velora, Lady Elie sent another letter and a gift."
"Sigh... How many?""3 letters my lady."
Kel hands me the letters.
'Almost everyday, Lady Elie sents me a letter but at most it isn't just one but 2 or more.'
'It's always about how she's doing, how she misses me, or what I'm doing.'
I sigh softly.
'I usually don't read her letters and its starting to pile up.'
'I wonder what she'll be saying this time?'
'I can't lie, I do miss her, since she's close to as my older sister at this point.'
As I open the letter, I'm greeted by suprise.
'So she's not coming even at the ball I see, seems like she lives far away if I based it on the address.'
'Elie now lives on a different city so I understand the hassle.'
While reading the letter I softly smile.
'I can hear her voice from the letter.'
'From Elie Amerist? Isn't she Elie Helianth?'
"Huh is this from Elie? Why is it Amerist?"
"Ah they got married already, lady Velora with Duke Drek Amerist."
"Ha? The old bastard?"
"Ah!!! Lady Velora." Kel panics.
"Pfft..." Erisa giggles, holding her laughter.
'That was fast, why did she tell me? She must've not want me to worry.'
'I look for her other letter.'
'Oh never mind she did say here she's married now...'
My mood drop.
The paper is stained with tears. I run my fingers as I trace the marks over it gently.
'She cried while writing this, didn't she…'
'She still tries her best to keep each letter cheerful.'
"She's stupid..." I mumbled looking at the paper close to bursting in tears.
'Can't she just run away?' I grip my hand.
'Little by little, I'll have to meet more nobles.'
'I can't stay stuck here forever.'
'One step at a time.'
"I want to write a letter."
'Don't worry Elie, I'll help you, please wait for me. It might take years.'
"Where's the gift Elie mentioned?"
"Ah its in the storage room, my lady."
"Storage room?"
"We'll lead you here later once the event ends."
'Storage room? Not like I'll receive much gifts.'
—Few minutes later—
The dress settles around me in soft layers of white and gold.
Light fabric drapes smoothly, catching the glow of the room, while delicate flowers—crafted from gold and thin red threads, bloom across the bodice and sleeves. Each one glints faintly, like it was stitched to be noticed.
My earrings sway as I move in deep red, sharp against the gold.
A matching necklace rests against my collarbone, the gem at its center catching the light with every small movement.
A white headpiece sits gently in my hair.
Tiny flowers shaped from gold frame it, each one holding small, scattered gems of different colors, shimmer when the light hits just right.
I glance at my reflection.
'Heck yeah I'm beautiful.'
I stand firm and proud.
'Anyway they said I should wait.'
'For now, I need a plan.'
'Based on what Lu said, I'll be meeting people around my age… so it should be limited to those under eighteen, right?'
'I won't run into Caelrion… right?'
'Because every time I meet him, it feels like I'm getting pulled closer to the villainess route and straight to my death.'
'It feels like Young lord Caelrion wants to kill me.'
—Velora's mind—
—stab, stab, stab—
—poof—
'Wait didn't Duke Lu given me the noble list before?'
I reach beneath the table and pull out the list of nobles.
Wasn't Caelrion's last name Viremont?
"Viremont… Vir… Vire… Virem…"
"Ah!"
"He's not here"
I feel a sense of relief, almost put myself into tears.
—Outside the Grand Ballroom—
"Lady Velora."
I inhale slowly.
'I'm quite nervous, this is my first time with the nobles.'
The doors swing wide.
Light floods in.
Music swells.
Voices hush.
All eyes turn toward me.
I step forward.
An announcement echoes across the vast Grand Ballroom.
"Announcing the arrival of her Ladyship, Velora Rosethorne."
"Happy birthday to the young lady of Rosethorne."
Applause and cheers echoes the room.
—Few minutes later—
'I'm tired... Everyone been talking to me..'
"Happy birthday Lady Velora, I'm ..."
'Crap I don't remember his name already.'
I smile happily and bow.
"Thank you."
—Few minutes later, Outside the Building—
I take a seat at the side, Ethan standing beside me on guard.
'Yep. I'm dead.'
'I feel my soul leaving me already.'
"Are you okay now, my lady?"
Ethan reaches out a handkerchief.
"I bump onto Erisa and said you left your handkerchief in your room."
"Thank you."
I lean forward in my seat, legs apart, hands clasped together, head lowered in quiet defeat.
I let out a depressing sigh.
"Haaaahhhh..."
Ethan suddenly panics.
"L-Lady Velora… Erisa also asked me to remain on guard and remind you of your etiquette. She wants you to act refined lady not like a man..."
'What!?' I shoot Ethan a death glare.
Ethan closes his eyes in fright.
I scratch my head.
'I didn't realize.'
"Fine let's go inside."
—Inside the Ballroom—
As I walk in, suddenly multiple nobles came at me.
'AAAAAAAAA'
"Lady Velora!"
A familiar voice echoes.
A yellow haired girl waves her hand around on the crowd.
'Is that Marigold.'
"Stop."
Everyone freezes.
'Ack I didn't mean to sound bad, either way it works.'
I step forward and greeted Marigold.
"Count's daughter. I'm glad you came Lady Marigold Edelweiss."
She happily bow.
"Happy birthday Lady Velora!"
"I'm so happy, you remember me." Marigold beams brightly.
'Of course you're the FL best friend.'
I smile happily.
"I'm thankful you still invited me. but don't you worry I gave them a scolding when you left."
"I sincerely apologize… I did not handle that day well, especially as the hostess of the gathering in our duchy."
"So! I prepared a gift for you! you'll see it later. But I also wanted to give you something else."
"It came from our garden… I pick it out myself."
—slap—