The music ends once again, both of us bow down to each other.
'Still holding hands...'
'Ethan is not letting go...'
"Ethan.. your hand."
"Ah!" Ethan blushes.
I pull my hands back, holding them together as my body tremble slightly now that the dance is over.
'Did I really just blush earlier…?''I really should maintain my dignity.'
"I'm sorry, my lady. For you to dance with a mere knight like me is such an honor."
"It's fine to dance, right? Since you're my personal knight?"
'I remember reading it to the book.'
—Few days ago, lecture room—
"For you to understand the rules of whom to dance with, my lady."
"You first dance with your lover or your family members. Then, if you wish to partake in another, you may dance with someone you choose."
As I ruffle through the book, flipping its pages, my eyes widen and I raise my hand.
"Does this mean as long as it's a personal knight or someone of high rank, I can dance with them?"
"Yes, my lady. Personal knights and personal maids are, after all, children of noble families."
"As long as! They're properly dress."
—Present—
I put my hand against my chin, my thumb and index finger framing my face.
'Ohohoho, I'm smart.'
'I always have another plan even if I don't remember much of the context of the FAF book, at least studying more helps me.'
Young Lord Caelrion steps in.
'Speaking of the devil.'
"Ethan, you may go now."
Ethan bows and leaves.
"How unfortunate of me, being unable to dance with Lady Velora."
"There's always next time, Young Lord Caelrion."
Young Lord Caelrion smiles.
"Do not be so wary of me, Lady Velora. You may call me Caelrion at ease."
'What in the world is he planning?'
"Since you're a friend of my oldest brother, I shall call you Caelrion as you suggested since you're like a brother to me."
I smile, standing tall and composed.
'You think I'll back down.'
"My lady seems to have changed. It makes me wonder what more there is to be."
"I heard my lady requested no flowers, which piqued my interest. May I ask why?"
'I don't even know whether this ML is a friend or foe… makes me wonder what Velora liked about this guy.'
"Flowers are, after all, food for fairies. My fairies might get hungry knowing there are none inside."
I sweat nervously.
'I almost forgot about that… or rather I really forgot about it at all! since I've never encountered one. But I do remember from FAF that fairies can eat flowers in pastries and I did pick some desserts out of curiosity because the FL liked them.'
—Velora's room choosing desserts—
'Ooo, aren't these the pastries the FL tasted? I kinda like this one too… oh, this should be delicious!'
—poof—
"Don't worry, Caelrion. Your fairies, as well as everyone else's, can still enjoy the party without flowers, since the flowers are actually inside the desserts. Your fairies wouldn't mind a sweet treat, would they?"
I lead Caelrion to the dessert table and pick out a plate for him.
"Here eat it with your fairy."
Suddenly, a small speck of light drifts down onto the pastry.
'What the…?'
Caelrion's expression softens.
"I never knew pastries will work with it, Lady Velora seems to be very thoughtful."
'Huh? Isn't he supposed to be with the FL?'
A lingering thought clicks into place.
'Crap! I forgot they haven't met yet since I'm way before the actual timeline.'
I cover my mouth with one hand.
'Don't tell me I just stole a scene from the FL.'
"Have you form a contract with a fairy yourself? Lady Velora?"
'If I say no… wouldn't he question where I got that knowledge? But lying would be too much…'
"I have always thought of fairies as a royal treasure, so I place great importance on respecting them. Providing alternatives is one way to make their lives a little more enjoyable."
Caelrion smiles and chuckles.
"Hearing that, my lady... makes my little fairy form a contract with you."
'Really!?' My ears perk up like a cat.
'But that's nearly impossible… fairies only serve one person until their host dies that's the only time the contract breaks.'
"Iam flattered."
Nobles starts to rush in.
"Eh is it true?"
They suddenly start grabbing a plate themselves, everyone starts to be happy and shock.
"Eh? Is it true?""Oh my, my fairy loves it!""Lady Velora, are there more they can eat?""Wow, Lady Velora, I didn't know you were that smart!""How did you know, Lady Velora?"
Flustered, I simply smile, hands clasped gently.
"Ahahahaha…"
I don't notice Duke Lucien watching me from afar.
As the event gets close to it's end.
'I'm not needed inside anymore… I should go out.'
I take a stroll, hoping to be alone but... I forgot Ethan is my personal knight.
"Ethan, you don't have to follow me everywhere."
"I am aware, my lady, but a noble like you being alone is—… I am your personal knight, my lady."
Ethan bows his head.
"I see..."
'So you're telling me I can't shake you off huh.'
"Ethan! Look!"
"What is it, my lady!?"
Ethan turns around, as soon as he turns back I'm gone.
"My lady?"
—Few minutes later—
'Seems like playing tag with Lady Elie was worth it.''Since I can now run in heels.'
I look up at the sky.
'It feels like I'm really living… the sky is this beautiful. I'm used to seeing it drowned in city lights.'
I inhale deeply as the wind rustles through.
'Wait a minute...'
I thought came in mind.
'This is my first time alone!'
I stretch my arms and smile happily.
'I feel free.'
"Freedom!!!"
I run then suddenly stop at a large wall.
'Oh. so this is the end of it.'
—Few minutes later—
'This is my first time being alone for a long time.'
"Hmm…"I close my eyes and think deeply.
'How do I get fairies? There's nothing about it… maybe there is…'
I sit in a corner, beside a tree, and close my eyes."Fairies, fairies, fairies."
I wiggle my hands, hoping it somehow works."Come at me, fairies."
'Maybe I should ask about dark fairies.'
"Dark fairies, I'm a dark element! where are you?"
There's no knowledge of how or when a fairy appears to make a contract. It could take days, even years.
"Dark fairies, I'm here!"
'Maybe a summoning paper?'I draw a circle with an X in the middle.
"Dark fairies, hummmm… I'm here… humm…"I clasp my hands, praying like I'm calling spirits.
'Knowing Velora is fairy-less in the original… I just hope I can get one myself, since I'm not her…'
I move closer to a flower.
"Dark fairies, look—a flower!"I point at it with both hands.
"Isn't the flower delicious? Why not take some?"
"Take, take, take!"
"Pfft."
A chuckle scatters through the wind and from that sound, I already know who it is.
'What the—'
'Cassien… the leaf guy.'
"Why're you here?"
"Well, your brother asked for my help after your personal knight announced your disappearance."
Cassien crosses his arms, leaning casually against the wall.
Cassien is wearing a very dark blue, thick cloak, even though it's the middle of spring. Underneath, lighter clothes, almost like sleepwear, peek through. His eyes are covered with a strip of white linen, and he wears his leaf crown.
"How did you find me?"I cross my arms and stare at him suspiciously.
"Well, I can see everything where the light shines."
Cassien straightens slightly, lifting his chin, as a soft breeze passes. The cloth over his eyes shifts just enough his pale white eyes reflecting the stars and the moonlight.
My eyes widen.
'He's…'
'He's.....'
'a creep.'
I look at him in disgust, hugging myself as I remain crouch beside the flower bed.
Cassien smiles lightly and turns his head to his right side.
"They're coming."
I look through my left, shock they saw me from that far?
Velora was a building away from the venue, literally like 4-5 streets in real life.
'What the? How did they know I was here?'
Velora is still crouching beside the flower bed.
Rey rushes over, immediately scolding me along with Rosethorne servants.
As I glance back to look for Cassien.
Cassien stands there, smiling with his eyes closed.
'This bastard is a braggart.'I glare at him.
But the strange part is. No one seems to acknowledges him. No one mentions him as if he doesn't exist.
'How were they able to find me then?'
Earlier, Velora's back shines, her bright hair vibrants under the moonlight. Reflecting it to be seen from afar, a few speck of white dust appears around her.
—Next Day, Velora's storage room—
I wake up in the afternoon, having slept like a log.
'I know I said a few gifts but…'
"Why are there so many?!"
I pick up some of the presents.
'I don't even remember who these people are… why are they giving me gifts?'
Confusion hits me at the overwhelming amount of gifts to go through.