Odd One Out

"I present to you, His Majesty Cain Sirius IV, and his wife Valeria Cassia Sirius. Bow now to greet the king and queen of this country."

A sudden hush fell over the ballroom as everyone immediately stopped their chatter to bow to the monarch couple. Yerenica felt relief course through her at their timing, and she quickly curtsied and stepped away from Count Willow. For a moment, she was afraid he would turn his attention back to her, but Yerenica was forgotten as he rushed forward along with a dozen other people to personally greet the king and queen.

"Ah, thank god." Yerenica muttered, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Whatever words she would have uttered as a retribution in her moment of anger would have caused her trouble down the road. It would not do to make an enemy out of a powerful man.

She looked at Count Willow, who was amongst a large group of nobles surrounding the king and queen, all desperate to make a good impression to the rulers of the country. Unlike with Yerenica, Count Willow was wise enough to keep his distance from them. Nobody stood within two feet of them, as it was preferred by the king. It was a widely known fact that he disliked people getting too close to him.

Even from where she stood far away from the couple at the entrance, Yerenica could easily tell that the crowd around Cain bothered him. His handsome face was twisted into a slight frown as he listened to whatever they were saying with an inattentive expression. His blonde hair was smoothed back, but strands of it still fell over his eyes. They were a beautiful shade of deep blue that matched with his blue tunic which depicted the Sirius Family's emblem in perfectly threaded gold. With a face so devastatingly handsome even when sullen, Yerenica could understand why Minerva had fallen for him.

Next to him stood the queen, who was just as gorgeous as her husband. She was dressed in a gold gown that was tight around her stomach, showing off the small bump. Her soft lilac hair was combed into an elegant up-do which Yerenica knew every woman in the kingdom from the stylish ladies to the little girls running through the streets would be wearing tomorrow.

Unlike Cain who looked as if he would rather be anywhere else at the moment, Valeria's sapphire eyes were full of laughter and mirth as she greeted the crowd around them with an amiable air. She did not as much as glance his way when Cain detached himself from her arm and walked away, his two knights in gold armor and a few men Yerenica recognized to be from his council trailing after him.

[How graceful. Is this the professionalism of a true queen?] Yerenica wondered in admiration as she watched Valeria with interest. Every move she made, from the way she brushed back her tendrils to the way she laughed softly while listening to whatever they were saying all showed how much class she had.

On the other hand, there was Cain, nodding and greeting his guests curtly as he made his way along the room. Yerenica wondered if he was always like this at functions. He looked to be in a bad mood, and had no problem whatsoever with making it apparent. Though Yerenica wasn't completely sure, if she had to guess a reason for his irritable temper, she would say that it had something to do with the Duke of Wisteria.

"My lady." Kirin's voice snapped her attention to him, and Yerenica turned around to see him making his way towards her, a glass of blood red wine in his hand.

"You took longer than I expected." Yerenica said, feeling a bit upset that he hadn't arrived earlier while she was at Count Willow's mercy.

"My apologies. It took me a while to search for a drink that would suit your taste." Kirin handed her the glass.

Her vexation dissipated the moment she took a sip of the cold, sweet wine. Making a face at the familiar taste, she turned to Kirin.

"This is the one from Magnolia… La Lune De Miel."

"Yes, my lady. The palace chef was unable to get a hold of the usual one."

"The usual one being…?"

"La Dame En Rouge."

"Whoever that bought over the vintner must be monarchs from another country if even the royal chefs were unable to get their hands on it."

"I believe so as well. The chefs made quite a fuss about it since it was one of Her Majesty's favorite wines. The vintner refused to supply any despite the bribes and threats."

"One of the queen's favorites…" Yerenica repeated as she glanced at Valeria who was now sharing pleasantries with a few noblewomen whom she was personally acquainted with.

Seeing her smiling amongst the crowd of women made up of her ladies-in-waiting and those that she had become friendly with on a somewhat personal level through years of being queen, Yerenica once again wondered why she had been given an invitation to the ball. It was evident that everyone present here was in some way or other closer to the monarch couple than most. Yerenica was the stark exception.

Even when Minerva and Cain had been seeing each other back in the day, not once had she met and conversed with him, having preferred books over brunches back then. And as for Valeria, this was actually Yerenica's first time seeing her up close. The few times she had previously seen her was always at a far distance.

[I am acquainted with neither the king nor the queen. So what purpose does she have for inviting me?] Yerenica thought, biting her lip.

For a moment, she wondered whether it was possible that her reason for being here was somehow related to Minerva, but she brushed the thought aside as soon as it crept into her mind. She doubted that Her Majesty would invite her with such a petty concept in mind. From what she had seen of her so far, it was obvious that Valeria was a woman of dignity. Such an unseemly act was not something that she would do.

[But then… why?] Yerenica frowned in curiosity, mulling over the question for a few seconds before sighing in decision. She would never know if she just stood around. There was no other option but to ask her.

"Kirin," Yerenica handed him the glass of wine and smoothed down the skirt of her gown, "Excuse me for a moment while I go and greet Her Majesty."

"As you wish."

Despite holding her head high as she made her way to the tightly knit group of women, Yerenica felt anxiety strum through her heart with every step she took. She was not particularly good at socializing to begin with, but when it came to approaching the women she knew was responsible for more than half of the degrading rumors spreading around about Minerva, she felt even more uneasy than usual.

Exhaling slightly to get a better grip on herself, Yerenica cleared her throat to get their attention as she came up to them. All four women surrounding the queen, two she recognized as Valeria's court ladies and the other two as personal friends of the queen, turned to face her.

Their expressions turned sour the minute they saw her, eyes squinting in disgust and lips tightening in contempt. Yerenica felt her heart pounding, and her hands turn cold in apprehension.

[I will never get used to these hostile looks.] Yerenica swallowed as she ignored their judgmental gazes and faced the queen. Valeria's expression, unlike the others, remained unchanged. Perhaps it was because she had been trained in controlling her facial expressions, but Valeria's smile did not as much as falter with Yerenica's arrival.

"My name is Yerenica Achernar." Yerenica curtsied as she spoke, thankful that her voice remained clear despite her racing heart, "I would like to thank Your Majesty for extending your invitation for me to attend this lovely ball, as well as congratulate you on your pregnancy."

The glares from the women surrounding her, if possible, turned ever harsher with her words. They looked appalled that Yerenica had dared to even speak, and for a moment, she wondered if it was a smart idea to greet the queen.

"Thank you, Lady Achernar." Valeria's eyes shifted briefly over her face as she spoke, as if studying her features. Yerenica felt a prickle of unease as their eyes met. Despite the tranquil smile still on her lips, her sapphire eyes had turned dull.

[Ah… I should not have come.] Yerenica shifted on her feet, uncomfortable with the way the women were staring at her. She did not have to be a mind reader to know the amount of profanities going through their heads at the moment. She was about to excuse herself and step away, desperate to get as far as possible from them when the first attack came.

"The rumors are true after all." A woman Yerenica recognized as Countess Eva, one of the queen's court ladies, spoke acidly, "The Achernar women possess a beauty second to none." Despite the compliment, her words were laced with foul intent.

[Looks like her patience ran thin first. What is she planning?]

"You're right, the Achernar women are truly beautiful beyond compare. Such a blessing, don't you think? You can sway just about anyone into your clutches so easily." Countess Teodora added, voice cold and demeaning.

"I just hope," Countess Eva continued smoothly, brown eyes filled with contempt as she looked down on Yerenica, "You don't seduce the wrong person."

Yerenica's face flushed in anger and embarrassment as the noblewomen sneered and held up a hand to their mouth to hide their laughs. She felt shame course through her at allowing herself to be insulted so easily, and for understanding the double meaning hidden in her words.

[Your sister seduced the king and became his lover. It is clear that you will walk down a similar path.]

"Ladies." Valeria said dryly. The smile on her face had disappeared and she looked at the four women with a critical expression that made their laughter cease immediately. She turned to face Yerenica, and for a second she wondered if Valeria was going to apologize for her court ladies' rudeness. However, she only gazed at her for a moment before turning away.

"Show me the way to the private resting rooms. I wish to sit down for a minute."

Yerenica felt taken aback as they walked away with the queen. Countess Eva glanced over her shoulder as they left, sending Yerenica a smug smile. Biting the inside of her cheeks to avoid frowning, Yerenica stared speechlessly after them.

[Queen Valeria... She wasn't outright hostile towards me, but she wasn't friendly either.] Yerenica thought as she turned and made her way back to her butler. [But in all honesty, I shouldn't be shocked at my treatment.]

It was obvious to everyone what kind of position she held in Valeria's eyes. She was the younger sister of her husband's concubine who was rumored to be more precious to him than his own wife. It certainly did not paint Yerenica in a favorable light.

[Yes, I suppose it would be stranger if she had been nicer to me.]

Yerenica took a swig of wine once she came back to Kirin's side. He looked at her questioningly, surprised with the almost empty glass Yerenica now held in one hand. Seeing his expression of curiosity, Yerenica shook her head in deject.

"It went as well as you can guess." Yerenica frowned, "The queen left before I could even ask her why she sent me an invitation, but now I'm glad I didn't get a chance. I feel like I would have offended her if I did."

"I see. Do you wish to greet His Majesty?"

Yerenica flinched at his words. Speaking to Valeria had proved to be a challenge. She couldn't even begin to imagine the silent chaos that would induce if she stepped within five feet of Cain.

[This is exhausting. Dealing with high-strung clients is a task far easier than socializing with judgmental nobles.]

"I wish to go home."

"I understand, but it would be rude if you left without greeting him. His Majesty is already aware that you are here."

"He is?" Yerenica asked in surprise.

"Yes, he saw you speaking to the queen."

"Then I suppose I have no choice but to go and greet him." Yerenica sighed, "And I still have yet to see-"

"I present to you," The royal announcer's voice rang out through the room, interrupting her for a second time that night, "The Duke of Wisteria and his entourage."