Chapter 4

✧ Ball Preparations ✧

If there was a word to describe Flavia's condition during the preparations for the ball, it would be: starstruck. The exquisite dresses, imported jewelry, mesmerizing accessories and extraordinary shapeless shoes left the simple minded Flavia, absolutely speechless. Never had she witnessed such a variety of closet luxuries or even believed that such things even existed. The girl was far too much of a simpleton in her previous life to explore these pleasantries, but now when all of this was presented to her, it felt like she had just discovered the gateway to a new mindset.

"Oh- Oh my gosh! Are these even real, Jane?? So…so much beauty in one place, it hurts my eyes!" Flavia grasped her other hand firmly, as she eyed the alluring dresses that were being brought into her chamber one by one.

"Of course they are real Milady. You're acting as if these weren't bought by you yourself and rather someone else…" The eldest maid pulled out a notebook and checked something on it.

"Ah…yes…these were brought by Flavia..I- I mean me!.."

"Mhm, now would Milady be so kind enough to point out a dress that she wishes to wear at the ball tonight? If you can't make a decision, the maids and I are always present here to assist you"

"O-Oh yes, assistance… I'll need it…a lot of it actually. All these dresses are so…ravishing! It would be impossible for me to possibly pick ONE…"

"As you wish Milady…" The woman turned her head towards the other maids and signaled them to approach her with the gowns.

Flavia very earnestly observed the maids and the old woman, while trying her best to conceal her overflowing excitement. She wished dearly that Amy could see her living the fairytale life that they always had read about in novels. How would she react? Flavia often wondered, but she knew that Amy would be beyond exuberant for her. As the female drifted into her train of thoughts, someone had entered the room. It was none other than the infamous handsome devil of the De Luca household, Devitt De Luca.

"My dear sister, are you still not finished with the preparations? I informed the maids already that we had to depart early to greet the crown prince personally. At least before those wretched members of the Gentileschi house…" The young man quickly ran his fingers through his hair, looking mildly stressed over the preparations that were being made.

Flavia who was too busy being captivated by his beauty once again, didn't hear a word he said at all. She still couldn't get used to the fact that the men in this world looked completely divine, along with the ladies too. Luckily, a maid quickly brought her back to reality by repeatedly calling out her name.

"H-Huh? Oh greetings brother! What brings you here..?"

"Flavia, were you listening to what I was saying not too while ago?"

"Ah- Pardon me brother, I seemed to have lost focus amongst your words…care to explain again?.." The guilty girl rubbed her arm in an awkward manner and wished that her brother wouldn't find her behavior odd.

"Never mind. You seem to have a lot on your mind especially concerning the ball tonight. I don't blame you, dear sister. Anyone would be phased out on an occasion such as this…" The stressed male could barely contain his anxiety for his sister and so he let out a sigh.

"Y-Yes…that's right…I was totally phased out by the ball…(not by his handsome looks obviously)" A sigh escaped Flavia's lips as well, but it was a sigh of relief unlike her brother's.

"I just hope that woman who is like a venomous wench doesn't arrive before us and starts buttering up to his majesty along with the crown prince…"

"P-Pardon…who?"

"Who else? Lady Rosalia Gentileschi…that lady is one dangerous snake…"

"Rosalia…o-oh! You mean lady Eliana's mother…"

The brother responded with a curt nod to his sister's words, and bore a disgusted countenance. Even Flavia could witness his anger radiating through him just by hearing the woman's name. It turns out these families despised each other more than Flavia thought. In the prequel, not many details were given about their relationship except for the fact that they contained bad blood amongst each other. Even uttering one of the family member's names could cause a commotion at the households. The girl felt pitiful for her poor brother who was so anxious over a mere departure. It seemed to her that he desperately wanted to reach before the Gentileschis.

"A-Alright…Jane…! Please fetch a suitable dress available for me. I want to get readied up as soon as possible…we already wasted so much time…"

Deviit snapped out of his tension filled thoughts and took a notice of all the maids hurrying here and there. He performed a low obeisance and was ready to take his leave from the chamber.

"I'll meet you downstairs with the carriage, dear Flavia"

Flavia bowed politely at his words and watched him leave the room before she got distracted again by the prepossessing ornaments placed before her. While one maid styled her hair, the other was trying on various types of shoes on her feet. Some were doing her nails, makeup, and jewelry. The girl had never felt like this in her entire life, or had ever experienced being pampered so severely before. Is this…what celebrity's feel like every day?

"This…this is the life….~"

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Meanwhile, at the royal palace, the staff members were working endlessly on the decorative elements of the ball since Duke Cistonia himself had requested some specific changes to be made.

"Ah yes, Lafayette…have you made the arrangements I asked for?..." The Duke scratched his beard with his scrawny fingers as he surveyed through the ballroom that was getting a makeover.

"Oui oui! Every single thing, I say! Not a thing left incomplete!..." Lafayette, the royal interior designer, who was a trusted favorite of the Queen, appeared loud and proud over his arrangements.

"Splendid…I can't have those two families even near each other…or god knows what racket will take place if they do…"

"Ah! Worry not, Your Grace. Those two households won't even be drinking the same wine! No no! It will be as if they are on two different corners of the world!"

"That's a relief… now if you'd excuse me I-"

"FATHER!!" A young woman, with fiery orange hair and bloodshot fierce red eyes, came running down the grand staircase. Her hair whipped behind her in layers as she hurriedly made her way towards the Duke and the designer. The Duke could only sigh upon such a sight, since he knew what must've caused such a furor from her.

"Yes, my dear Julia? What seems to be the matter?..."

"Princesse Julia!~" Lafayette happily called out to the young woman. "What a sight to sore eyes! Oho! I'll take my leave from here now, Your Grace. Adieu la Princesse Julia!" The designer skipped his way out of the grand ballroom in extreme jolly spirits.

"Adieu la Monsieur Lafayette.. Father! You informed me just yesterday that I will be the one to announce the ball today! You said, that I'd be allowed to stand up there! And announce the night to begin! If you promised me all of this…why is Kieran the one boasting about it since this morning??"

"Julia…my lovely Princess. I know, that you want to be the grand host of today's ball, but your brother is the main reason why we're having it in the first place. It is to congratulate his return from the dreadful War after 5 years…and you must be aware of the fact that he is the special guest of tonight's event. So, your grandmother, the Queen, decided it would be the best decision for him to lead the evening"

"But he is a wee little fetus compared to me! Why does he get to announce a ball and I don't? Not to mention he'll get to do it before me when I am older than him!"

"I have no say in this Julia. If you want to complain go ahead and complain in front of your Grandmother, Queen Magnolia-"

"Yes? I heard my name..?"

The Duke could feel a militia of chills travel down his spine, and his fingers began to shiver uncontrollably as soon as he heard the voice enter his ears. She approached him and his daughter, assertively and took the young lady in her arms. If there was a word to describe her presence in the Duke's eyes, it would be: Deadly.

"Y-Your M-Majesty! Hah… what brings you h-here?.."

"I came to check upon the preparations but then heard my name…say…why my Julia looks so distressed. You know, my love, looking so troubled will form wrinkles on your lovely face…"

"It's all because of father! He promised me that I will get to lead the ball tonight but turns out I don't get to! He made fake promises to me!"

The Duke panicked immediately and rushed to defend his honor that was being terribly shattered by his own daughter. "I-That is not true at all! It's just that, Your Majesty informed me about Kieran leading the ball later when I had already-"

"Oh? So this is my fault?" The Queen raised an eyebrow, eyeing the Duke in an observant way. She fully expected him to give a response at her service immediately.

"Well…not really..- " The Duke lowered his head, possibly intimidated by her eyebrow raise.

"Exactly. So quit blaming others for your own mistakes and learn to be held accountable for your actions, like a man. Come Julia, let's discuss this matter somewhere else and leave your father to reflect upon his actions.." The Queen grasped the female's shoulders gently and walked away with the her in her arms.

"But your Majesty…!" Upon noticing that she was being ignorant to his responses as usual, the poor Duke let out a sigh and let his head droop downwards dejectedly as he watched them leave. "Hhhh…women…"