《Against the Gods》20. Off to the Imperial Palace
Advertisement
^^ Eve ten years old
Two months flew by, and before I knew it today is my debut into society. Every respectable noble in the Amaria empire and even some from other nations will be coming to it.
Due to the high standing the Callisto family has, my debut is being held in the Royal Palace, which meant we had to travel a three day journey to the capital for it. My wonderful family and I have been staying in a mansion I didn't even know we owned near the royal palace.
When I first came to this world, I was mesmerized by the extravagance of the lavish parties held by the nobility. However, now they make me sick.
They're all for people to attack you through rumors and words with double meanings. Basically a bunch of cowards that wouldn't have the guts to face me in a fight.
Plus, all the fun things at parties aren't allowed since it's deemed improper. You can't eat the delicious food that the chefs spent hours to prepare, and you can't even dance how you want. Instead, you have to do these boring ballroom dances that I'm horrible at.
My three maids burst into the room. Luckily, I was able to bring Layla, Mila, and Sadie with me.
"Today is the big day!" cries out Layla.
"I can't believe you've already grown up so fast! It's your debut already!" says Mila, shedding a few tears, "Nevertheless we will get you looking beautiful for your big day!"
"One of these days you've got to tell me what you guys are drinking in the morning to be this excited so early," I reply. They laugh, and continue chattering about how they've been waiting for this moment their whole lives.
Thank god they don't know I'm already betrothed. As they decide which jewelry best matches the dress I'm wearing today, I can't help but get lost in my thoughts. I wonder if my betrothal to Hal was enough to change the original plot of the story.
Advertisement
Most likely not since there is still plenty of reason to kill the whole Callisto family for rebelling. Not to mention it's not a real engagement since Hal isn't the prince of the Menda Empire. I still can't let my guard down.
What's worse, I'm almost positive that I'll be meeting some of the capture targets today.
"Ahem," says Sadie. I snap back to attention. "We've decided on either the sapphire jewelry or the ruby one. The red of the ruby would bring out your eyes, but the blue sapphires would match the dress more. We're in quite the predicament!"
They end up choosing the a mix of the sapphire and ruby set. After I bathe, and they do my hair and makeup, I'm finally ready.
I look at myself in the mirror, and am taken aback at how good a job the maids have done.
"Thank you so much! It looks amazing!" I exclaim.
"Your praise makes it all worth it my lady!" answers Sadie.
"Now go out and have a wonderful debut!" cries out Mila.
I plaster on a smile and wave goodbye, exiting the room. My heart thumps in my chest. I don't think I'm ready to go out and meet the male leads that will probably be there. This event wasn't described in the game but I know that it was Eve and the crown prince's first meeting which didn't go well.
I leave the room to find Nyx and Finn waiting in the lobby. Nyx is wearing a crisp black suit with a vest that has gold patterns embroidered on it. I can't help but wonder how he isn't a male lead with such good looks.
Finn has on a light blue suit that compliments his eyes, while giving him a sort of innocent look. It sort of matches my outfit too, and I wonder if he did that intentionally since I've noticed he seems to be oddly more attached to me recently.
Advertisement
"You look even more beautiful than normal. Everything will go fine today, it'll be like all the other parties we've been too," Nyx reassures me.
"Thanks," I reply. He always seems to see through my masks to know how I'm really feeling. I sigh, "Alright, let's do this thing. We all look amazing I'm sure there's no way we can fail this!"
We walk to the carriages outside the mansion. My father, mother, and brother are already in one of the carriages looking extra moody today for some reason.
Luckily Finn, Nyx, and I have a separate carriage. I'm also thankful that they were allowed to come at all. My father loves to show off "my people" as he likes to call them at any opportunity. He always likes to flaunt that I've formed a demon contract and have a magical genius as a "disciple" since he thinks it shows the power of the Callisto family.
It's far from the truth, and the whole disciple thing was just a rouse to convince my father to let them stay. In reality, we've only known each other for a few months and I haven't done anything that would make them follow me. If anything I'm more like "their people" since I'd be willing to sacrifice things for them surprisingly.
A servant opens the door to the carriage for me, and Nyx tries to offer to help me up. However, I know Finn will probably need help getting into the carriage since he's a little clumsy sometimes (although always very dexterous in fights?).
Finn places his hands on my shoulders, and I lift him by the waist into the carriage.
Nyx rolls his eyes, "I'm pretty sure he can do that himself," he remarks.
"Well, the carriage is so high, I need Evee to help me," replies Finn beaming, revealing dimples on his cheeks. I hop into the carriage, and pinch his cute rosy cheeks.
"Don't worry Evee will always be here for you," I tell him. Nyx gets in the carriage, and sits across from us.
The carriage starts and we ride for about an hour. At one point Finn falls asleep using my lap as a pillow. Rays of sunlight fall on him from the window of carriage, basking him in a golden light and illuminating his pink hair.
Finally we arrive at the imperial palace. One of the servants opens the carriage door, and I wake Finn up from his nap. Nyx jumps out of the carriage and the rest of us follow his lead.
Nyx offers his arm to me, "If you'd do me the honor of letting me escort you," he says.
"Ooo, so formal. The honor is mine," I answer, taking his arm.
"And me too my lady," says Finn, also offering his arm.
"This might look a little weird but alright," I say, and also take his arm. I can't reject either of them or their feelings will be hurt. They probably are feeling awkward since they aren't friends with anyone at the party and want to stick with me.
I'll have to explain to them later that people might misinterpret them escorting me though.
We walk into the imperial palace, and a servant announces our names.
"Lady Eve Callisto is entering with Lord Nyx and Lord Finn, sponsored by the Callisto dukedom!" announces a servant.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertisement
- In Serial11 Chapters
Beyond Death’s Boundary
When Calvin finds a knife walking home he is engrossed with its tempting powers and learns of its means of bringing back a loved one—at the cost of killing a human. He kills his brother, Nathan, in order to ressurrect his life’s love, Yui. However, complications arise when his brother rises from the grave as a flesh-eating monster bent on gaining untold power. And what’s worse is Yui seems to have memories of when she was dead—a mystery that could have bigger implications than humanity could understand.
8 196 - In Serial43 Chapters
Fate (Niall Horan - Completed)
She's used to staying at home, studying, reading and writing.He's used to being on tour, girls screaming his name and singing number one hits.The day they meet, they will never forget. From then on she's constantly in his head. She thought that they would never meet each other again, but she thought wrong.They see each other again. Maybe it was a coincident, maybe it was fate that brought him to her.Her 13 year old self would call him distraction but her 18 year old self calls him Niall.Enjoy reading, vote and comment.It would mean a lot.All the love. C xx
8 150 - In Serial76 Chapters
Darker Than Sin
When good girl highschooler Ellie falls in love with an ex-convict, old family secrets come back to haunt them and keep them apart. *****Living up to her "good girl" reputation had never been an issue for Ellie Browning, a small town Australian highschooler. That is until she meets Haze. Handsome, tattooed, and with a criminal past, he is everything she was taught to avoid. Unable to control their feelings, the two form an unbreakable bond that unearths family secrets and emotional turmoil for Ellie and everyone she has ever loved. With all odds against them, Ellie and Haze must ultimately choose between their love and familial obligations.[[word count: 150,000-200,000 words]]
8 154 - In Serial27 Chapters
Ugly Bones || p.jm
❝What is the use of a pretty face if you're ugly on the inside. Ugly all the way to your bones.❞Jimin Park is a writer who is disappointed by the rejections thrown his way by publishing houses and Kazimir Lee, a pretty shopkeeper who tries to scam him into buying bread by double the price, just happens to be the only one with the right words to set his writing soaring up to the sky. But where Jimin is awed by her writing, Kazimir is too busy wringing metaphors right out of her bones to fill the voids inside her before inking them down on paper. They cross paths enough times for Jimin to become a secondary character in the book of her life right where the plot twist is supposed to be. But Jimin is too caught up in the words that slip from her fingertips unto the keyboard to notice he picked up a book with a trigger warning about an illness typed in invisible ink just beneath the beautiful cover and the captivating writing style. Will he be able to take her out of the dark abyss she had started to call 'family' or will he too, be pushed down among all the people that merely walked her pages but never managed to understand the extent of pain one may suffer on the hands of a merciless fate engraved on her bones long before she was born and even more so, the unnamed consequences of bearing the burdens of a well-favored face. Ugly Bones - storefront ©2020, a dark-themed slow burn romance.(First Draft.)>Winter Flower Awards First Place Winner!
8 147 - In Serial29 Chapters
The Autumnal Awards 2022
Welcome to The Autumnal Awards (2022) where stories and creativity thrive!Open {🍂} Judging {🍂} Closed {}Judging has begun, but participant and judging spots are still available- apply while they're open, first come first serve! :)
8 213 - In Serial28 Chapters
How Far the World Will Bend
After having her fortune told by a gypsy, Meg Armstrong moves through a mirror from 1920s England to 1850 Milton--and finds out she has stepped into the shoes of Margaret Hale. She has been sent back in time with a mission to fulfill--to save John Thornton's life. But will she be able to fulfill her mission without losing her heart?
8 71

