Twenty Three

In a dark hallway, a man with black beared wearing a black and white suit, and an eyeglass holding a letter in his both hands walking to head inside the room of Duchess Brianna Brimrock, the current head of the Brimrock family to personally gave it to the Duchess.

He knocked on the door three times before slowly touching the doorknob and opening it after hearing the Duchess' voice grant him permission. She noticed the elderly woman wearing her favorite dark green gown adorned with expensive emeralds from a foreign land and braiding her snow-white hair with a black hair tie. She was checking the unfinished documents under the moonlight when she sensed the man's presence behind her and turned around to face him.

"Is it important for you to go here personally this late at night, Driz?" she asks as Driz, the Brimrocks head butler bowed his head as a sign of respect with his master.

"Your Grace, this message is from the lady herself. Duke Darcus' first daughter from the late Duchess. Her maid told me that it is very important for you to read this as it will be related to the Hesthburg's family," Driz replied making Duchess Brianna's eyes to widen. She immediately take the letter out of Driz's hands and open the letter.

As she read the letter, her eyes began to darken after reading the letter. She gently close it and speaks. "Tell the Crane Family that the Brimrock will attend the celebration," Duchess Brianna replied. Driz bowed his head before walking away from her.

Historia was peacefully eating cookies and drinking tea in her room, delivered by Roxia herself. Roxia stared at Typhis, who was leaning against the wall and closing his eyes. Every time she looked at Typhis, she felt fear run down her spine; it was as if Typhis could kill her at any time, whereas Historia can be trusted that she would not kill her. She only needs to maintain her loyalty and faithfulness to the lady.

When Roxia noticed Typhis slowly opening his eyes, she turned away and looked at the lady who was serious about her tea. It seemed like she was thinking about something. Later, someone knocked on the door, and she saw Sally enter the room. When their eyes locked, Sally stared at her intently, causing her to bow her head out of shyness.

"My Lady, I received a message; the Brimrock Family will attend the celebration." Historia smiled broadly and sipped her tea, smirking. "It seems you really took their interest, My Lady. This is very unusual. This will be rumored all over the empire once they finally be seen at the Celebration," Sally commented.

"It doesn't matter; this will draw the Hesthburg's attention to me; this will serve as a warning to them; I will scare them as hell and bomb them with my future plans," Historia responded, crunching her cookies.

.

It was finally the day of the celebration, and Historia was dressed and ready with the help of Sally and Roxia. Roxia told Lady Vivian that her position as a maid ascend when the Duke wanted another maid for the lady, and that the head maid chose Roxia to be one of the Lady's personal maids. Fortunately, Lady Vivian believed what she was saying. She was initially confused and skeptical of her statement, but eventually accepted it and believed her.

"My Lady! You loob so extravagant! I really can't take my eyes off you. I wanted you to be the spotlight of the celebration, but you can't take all of the center stage because this celebration is mainly for the Duchess," Sally said pouting while fixing her hair and putting some pink flowers.

"Even if I don't dress like this, I can still outshine that old hag, especially her daughter, who is always babied by her," Historia said, rolling her eyes. She then looks at Typhis, who is sleeping soundly in her animal form on his own bed. "I guess Typhis doesn't want to go out to the party," she said, rising up.

She was now walking outside to open the door. She noticed Sigmis wearing his knight's uniform and holding his wooden sword at his hip shortly after she finished opening the door. She raises her brown eyes to look at him. It has been a while since she has seen her stepbrother. "What?" Sigmis asks, irritated.

"Nothing, it's been a while since I saw you here inside the mansion," Historia replied, closing the doors behind her with her two maids. Xyan was not with her, but at the ball, he would spy on her and look at her from a distance.

"It is none of your business," Sigmis replied in a serious tone before leaving her behind, causing Historia's mouth to hang open as she looked at Sigmis' back and walked away from her until she couldn't see him with her naked eyes.

"That guy, he is the opposite of Admarine," Historia said, looking up at the ceiling. "I wonder what he did to be lost at the mansion for days, or is it just because I have been too preoccupied with other things in my life?" she asks, and the two maids simply shrug their shoulders in response.

She was now waiting backstage for the Crane family to be called on by the host. She noticed Admarine wearing a sky blue dress with her dark blue hair down. She cannot deny that Admarine was so close to perfection. She had everything but was terrible at making decisions. She doesn't make good decisions and is very dumb. Dumber than her.

After calling everyone's names during the celebration, Historia's eyes widened when she heard the emperor's name, which meant Trim Zandravel, the crown prince, was present. She did not expect the emperor to pay a visit to the celebration.

"It is very unusual, I didn't believe the emperor would attend the celebration!" Duchess Quinn exclaimed, taking a peek to see the emperor, who is still handsome and so healthy that he can still train himself with swords despite being in his 80s. He appears to still be in his forties. It is due to his elements that he appears twice as young and healthy as the average person.

Historia just rolled her eyes, especially when she saw the crown prince and Lady Vivian, who drew everyone's attention. Historia looked down the stairs and saw Zion sitting in a chair sipping wine, which made her smile and blush.

'It's been a while since I've seen or talked to him. We did not communicate after that scene, so I am not sure if he will accept it. But what I should be concerned about is how I will be able to stand in front of him and talk to him as if nothing happened after that night?' Historia thought to herself, still staring at Zion as the Duke sipped his red wine.