Explanations from Carol with the Diminishing Patience

Carol was a wealth of information. Despite her initial reluctance, she told me everything she knew about "Lady Analïse." It wasn't really much, but it covered quite a bit, in my opinion.

Lady Analïse, or Analïse Lily Valen, was the only daughter of Duke Harris Gilbert Valen and Duchess Anastasia Rose Valen. She was 15 years old. She had two brothers: an older one and a younger one. The older brother, Heir Alexander Justin Valen, was the one who visited and yelled at her earlier. He was three years older than Analïse at 18. Analïse' younger brother, Adelbert Korinth Valen, was 11 years younger than her at 4 years old. Apparently, Analïse did not have a good relationship with her brothers.

Analïse was called "Lady" because the title of Duchess had been passed down to her. In other words, her mother was dead, and so Analïse was also called "Young Duchess." In this world, there was no discrimination between men and women. Titles passed down the female line as well as the male line.

And another thing: the Presentation.

I swallowed as Carol tightened the corset behind my back. I felt lightheaded, but I doubted that it was because of the corset.

The Presentation. For girls and boys of noble birth, the invited members of the ton would gather in the Presentee's home and have a ceremony to determine the element one would be gifted with.

Yes, element. This world was Avatar 2.0 on steroids.

There were 7 elements. From most common to the rarest: Light, Water, Earth, Air, Darkness, Lightning—and the rarest of all: Fire.

I don't know why Fire is the rarest element. I thought for sure it would either be Light or Darkness, but no—Fire was not only the rarest element, it was the most powerful one, too. Those blessed with the Fire element were called Starborn, for it is said that the stars themselves have favored the child.

As Carol explained it to me, Starborn were so rare, less than five were born in every generation. In this one, there were three: the King, a Duke from the southern lands, and my Mother. So, really, only two, now, since Analïse' mother was dead.

"You have the chance of being Starborn, too, My Lady," said Carol as she combed my hair, putting it up in an intricate hairdo, "Fire is generally passed down through the matriarchal line, and since your mother was Starborn, you might be one, too."

I was silent throughout all of this. Truthfully, it was all very fascinating. I could feel myself being drawn into this world and being invested in it. But I shook my head. No matter how interesting this all is, this was still not my world. I was not in my body. I was not Analïse.

But for the moment, as long as I'm here, I'll try my best not to screw up the life of the person whose body I'm inhabiting. As much as I'd like to run around and play in this world, I didn't belong here. I have a life back home. Family. A loving boyfriend of four years. I was finally graduating University and being able to start my real adult life. I need to go back.

As nice as it is to be younger, more beautiful, and in a world full of fantasy, the sense of wrongness is just too strong.

"How does the Presentation work? What do I need to do?" I asked Carol. Her expression once again showed extreme dubiousness as I asked her. No doubt she was tired of pandering to my questions. She must think I'm fooling around with her by saying "I'm not Analïse," and then asking all these questions about the owner of this body. But I really do need to know.

Carol, I'm not fooling around, and I'm not mad (I think).

After a moment of silence, Carol answered, "All I know about the Presentation is that nobles who have been invited by the Duke are to witness the event. Even His Highness, the Prince, will be there."

Shit. Royalty. The lightheadedness I was feeling seemed to double at this. My reflection in the mirror paled.

"My Lady?" asked Carol, "Are you sure you're all right?"

"No," I say, "I'm extremely nervous about the Presentation."

Carol blinked at my reflection and then smiled. She seemed both relieved and reassuring. "So you were just nervous. It was just nerves," she mumbled to herself.

I resisted the urge to sigh. No, Carol. I am not just nervous. I am also not the owner of this body, who has been trained since birth about what to do.

"Cheer up, Lady Analïse," said Carol, "The Presentation will go smoothly, and at least the Prince will be there. You always did like it when you two meet."

I do? "What do you mean by that?"

Carol looked troubled again, "Well, it's just that you really like the Prince, don't you?"

Oh, crap. What? Why would this body like someone like the Prince of an entire nation?! Doesn't she know the freaking responsibilities of a Princess? And what if he ascends the throne?! Being Queen or Empress is worse!

"Uhm, Carol," I say in trepidation, "Tell me about the Prince."

Carol, who was probably 10 years or so older than me, furrowed her brows at me, as if asking 'We're still playing this game?' But eventually she answered, "The Prince, His Royal Highness Caius Lichten Von Beirut, is next in line for the throne. He is only a year older than you, My Lady, and he Presented as a Lightning elemental last year. You were there for his Presentation," Carol said with a pointed look at my reflection, "Rumors say that you were most enthusiastic in congratulating him."

I was?

"Just erm—just how enthusiastic was I, Carol? Humor me. Just remind me?" I trail off weakly in the face of Carol's glare.

"I heard that you ran to him, yelling for his attention, and tripped near his feet as you tried to congratulate him. And that was the tamest version of the rumors."

Wait. A foreboding feeling started to rise in my gut, "How erm—how "enthusiastic" am I when dealing with the Prince?"

Behind me, I heard something break.

"Whoops," said Carol, "I broke your brush, My Lady. My, my, such a delicate thing must really not be handled by hands as strong as mine."

Her face was contorted in rage. I paled. Uhhhh. Carol?

"Really, My Lady, you must cease in this game of yours. Forgive this one for overstepping, but your Presentation is in but a few hours. I know this might seem fun to you, but one's Presentation is a signal of adulthood. It is the time for one to shed childish things. Playing around like this is really—really—"

"I'm not playing around with you, Carol," I said, seriously.

I know that the easiest course of action would have been to lie and grin and bear it. But that has never been me. Even at great cost to myself, I always told the truth, because I know that the truth is always better in the long run.

Honesty over comfort. Honesty over reputation. Because in the end, the truth will set you free.

"I wasn't lying earlier when I said I wasn't Analïse. I am not her. I woke up this morning, expecting to be in the place I used to be, in the bed I'm used to sleeping on, around the people I'm used to, but I'm not. I am not Analïse Lily Valen. I swear to you. Don't I seem different to you? Am I acting like the Analïse that you know?"

Throughout my confession, Carol's face cycled through different expressions before it settled on doubt.

"If you cannot believe me," I said seriously, "Then at least humor me. I'm your boss aren't I? Then answer my questions, at least."

After a few moments, Carol nodded.

"Now, enough about the Prince. I suppose I will meet him later. Tell me about my Presentation."

Obediently, Carol did.

As she continued to prepare me, Carol told me what little she knew about Presentations. There were some similarities to the Debuts I attended in my world, but only very small ones.

First, Analïse was to have an escort. That escort was her brother, Heir Alexander Justin Valen, or Alex as Analïse calls him. This surprised me, because I thought Analïse and Alex had some sort of beef between them. Next, there was to be a ceremony conducted by a presiding Elemental Master. Seven instruments would be set up, magical spheres that would react depending on what element Analïse will have. After the element is discovered, family and friends, and the invited nobles will bless Analïse with Words of Blessing (apparently, there is a difference between Words and words—Words are invocations, cants and chants that have power behind them). After that, the guests mingled, ate, and danced. Finally, around midnight, the Elemental Master will bring around an instrument that will gauge the Potential of the element. Then a final Blessing from the Head of the family is to be given to Analïse before the guests all head off.

I sighed internally. The Presentation started at 6. From 6 PM 'till Midnight? Really?

Apparently, as Carol explained after I asked her, it was because the apparatus for gauging one's Potential could only be used at midnight.

I asked Carol more details about the Presentation as we got ready. It was like I was going to get married. My hair was done beautifully, makeup was put on my face, and my dress took several minutes for me to put on. But finally, I was done.

Carol stared at me, and then at my reflection in the mirror, before nodding to herself in satisfaction.

"You look beautiful, My Lady."

I stared at myself in the mirror. What stared back at me was a breathtakingly beautiful girl with large, wide blue eyes. Her burgundy hair was in a beautiful updo, and her face was painted with perfect makeup. Not a speckle of a freckle could be seen. The dress she wore mirrored her brother's decorated, military-like uniform, except it had a skirt that flared outwards at the hip and ended around her knees in a much girlish shape.

"Thank you, Carol," I said, smiling at her. Carol looked shocked at my simple thanks, and I wondered at it. The next words out of my mouth wiped the expression clean off her face, "And don't tell anyone about what we just discussed, please."

Carol frowned before she eventually nodded.

Then, three knocks echoed in the room.

"Analïse? I'm coming in," said Heir Valen. He poked his head through the door and then came inside.

"I see that you're ready," he said. He perused me in my attire, his eyes softening a bit, "You look just like mother," he said softly.

I smiled unsteadily at him, but felt guilty. This was supposed to be a proud moment between family, yet here I am in the front row seat.

Snapping out of it, Heir Valen went back to his stern expression, "Since you're ready, come, there are some last-minute things we must do before your Presentation."

I gulped. I can only hope I don't screw this up.