Aurora Heroux

11 | The Ball

AURORA'S POV

"I heard about what happened, no casualty I hope?" Daddy said when he took my hands as I was walking down the stairs. "Don't worry. No casualty. The culprit is in our custody. Please don't mention that in here." He let go of my hand.

"I'm sorry .... my lady." Ugh! Can he just stop with the mockery! Honestly! He's an adult.

"Glen! Everyone is watching you. Don't embarrass her!" Mommy said when I stood next to her.

Maya was trying hard to covering her mouth from laughing with Aura and Harriet. "Seriously, you all just bunch of looney." Octavius joined the gang.

"You must be Maya. I am Octavius, that woman's twin brother. I really don't like to be compared with the so-called queen of Monarch if you ask me." Even my brother trying to embarrass me.

What did I do to deserve this? Tell me, God! "Enough! Let's greet them all." Mommy stated before pulling Daddy by the arm.

"Hezner, please try to stay awake. You look awful." Mommy said when Hezner was about to pass out.

Aura made her way towards Hezner and smirked. "Wake up brother, let's find you a nice future wife shall we. Harriet, Gordon, HELP US!" Both Harriet and her husband Gordon gave them a thumbs up. "What? NO!" Hezner was driven to madness by my sisters.

Octavius made his way towards his friends and that leave Maya and me alone.

I lead the way towards one of person who's been acquainted with my family for years now.

"I would like to introduce to you my soeur, Maya Clementine." Maya curtsy in front of the nobleman. "Lady Aurora, yes, my daughter did mention about your soeur to me. She's a commoner, isn't it?"

I really hate it when they literally look down on Maya like this.

"Honestly Aurora, even if you try to put her in such a lavish dress like that, it still was written all over her forehead that she's a commoner that shouldn't even be allowed to be in the royal palace." I sighed mentally.

"Sorry if I'm being rude." He showed me his 'sincere' smile.

I turned to Maya. She smile when our eyes made contact. "If you ask me, your the one who doesn't belong in the royal palace," I said without hesitation.

"My Uncle, King August should ban you from coming here and took your title away too. I mean, this country doesn't need trash like you and your family. No offense of course." His face turned red.

"Before judging somebody for their background, you should check yourself up, the immigrant. Sorry if I'm being rude." I mocked and didn't smile at him when I turned my heels.

Maya curtsy before we both walked towards the other guest. Thank God not one of them even try to comment on me or my soeur after what I said to that scum.

"Having fun there my dear? You look amazing in that dress." Thea said when she suddenly appeared.

"Where were you! I was dying when Maya and I have to meet all those judgemental people." Thea pointed at the buffet. "Mama gotta eat." Sometimes I think she loves that food more than me.

"Heads up. She's here." Stella announced. All of us turned to the stairs and watched her walking down.

She's the only princess I know who hate to wear a gown to any official ball or gathering. "She fully armed? Honestly, Malia's uniform looks so much badass than Esnaria's."

Stella stated the obvious. My uncle is so old-fashioned even his sense of fashion is dull. I mean come on, what's the harm in asking Aunt Marleen, the queen to take care of the uniform design?

"Shoot! She's coming this way!" Luna stated.

To my surprise, Thea didn't look like she's as nervous as before. She took a glance at me with a smile on her face before standing beside me.

"Aurora Heroux, what a lovely scene. And of course, her stooges and guard dog. How are you, Thea?" Braylin mouth is as sharp as ever.

"I'm great, slut princess." Thea curtsy in front of the princess. "Such loyal dog you have Aurora." Braylin froze when she saw Maya standing my other side.

"And who is this lovely maiden?" Ah, her eyes for beauty never seize to amaze me. "This is my soeur, Maya Clementine." She gasped. "THE Maya Clementine?"

She laughed. "I never would've guessed a commoner would be so beautiful... Beautiful indeed." Braylin took Maya's hand.

Braylin Malia, princess of the Malia Kingdom." She even took the liberty to kiss her hand. Everyone around us gawking at the sight of a princess kissing a commoner's hand.

"Maya, your highness." Maya introduced herself.

"I don't think it's appropriate for a royal to kiss such vile hands like mine." Maya was being humble. "Vile? Oh no my maiden, your not vile at all. For me, you shine as bright as the sun.... or if you prefer the shockwave of exploding bombs, poof." Ah, the cheesiest pickup line ever.

Why can't Thea be this good with her mouth? I pout while looking at her. "What?" She innocently asked. "Nothing. It's nothing at all." I puffed my cheeks. "What is it? Something wrong?" Thea was beginning to feel nervous.

I will never get tired of hearing her frantic voice whenever I'm pouting at her.

"Ahh Thea, still insensitive like always. I wonder why Aurora even chooses you over me." Not this again. I thought we ended his petty thing when we're in Vegas the last time.

"You should be aware of the reason why Aurora chooses me over you. I'm a better woman for her than you will ever be, slut princess." They face each other.

"You want to deal with me now, Thea? I could always go for a duel anytime, any place." Braylin smirked while touching the handle of her official royal rapier.

"You know I have a high tolerance for pain when it comes to stabbing. That tactic of yours is old, slut princess". Thea replied while balling both of her fists.

"You should stop this before it gets out of hand," Luna whispered into my ear.

She's right, I need to stop this. I sighed but before I could stop them, Maya stood in between them, sighing. "Move aside Maya, this slut needs to be taught a thing or two about the real pain," Thea said.

Before they could shove Maya away she uses her hands to grab both of their ears and twist it in front of everyone. "Say 'I'm sorry Lady Aurora' and you two toddlers shall be good. You act like kids, I treat you both like kids. Understand?" Maya actually glared at both of them who look down on their feet.

"I'm sorry lady Aurora." They both said in unison.

Even a princess followed what she said.

Maya finally released her hands and was shocked when Braylin's parents looking at her with their eyes widen. "You actually made her say sorry to someone! Who are you?" Braylin's mother finally said something rather than staring at Maya.

"I'm Maya Clementine, your highnesses." Maya curtsy. I'm pretty sure she's embarrassed by what she just did back then. She probably cursing herself for doing such things to a princess.

"You need to teach me how to control that daughter of mine." The queen even patted Maya's shoulder.

"Come here. You don't mind I'm borrowing your soeur for a little bit, right?" Braylin didn't let me say anything when she literally pulled my soeur to the middle of the dance floor.

"What's her problem?" Thea acted as if she didn't about to cause a fight. I crossed my hands before glaring at her. "No, what's your problem. I thought you said you're going to be a good girl. No rewards for you tonight."

I laughed on the inside when she lost of words.

"But I was being good! She started it! Aurora!" I ignore her while walking towards Ophelia. "More problems coming your way right now, Lady Aurora," Ophelia emphasized the Lady Aurora part when Hector showed himself to me.

"Lady Aurora, I'm so glad I met you. Will you dance with me?" He was being courteous enough. I sighed mentally and took his hand. A lady should never turn down a dance. That's rule 101 on being a lady. I can feel Thea's eyes shooting dagger at me and Hector.

"How's life?" Hector asked me while dancing.

"Good. So far. You?" He turned his attention from and to the person behind me.

When he turned me around, my parents were smiling as wide as ever. "I am not your fiancée," I said rather harshly. "That's what you think." Somehow I can feel the different tone in his voice.

When he looked at me, I was almost surprised when I saw the coldness of his eyes.

"You see, Lady Aurora, whatever I want, I will get them. That's how I live my life since I was born. For now, I want you to be my future wife." His tone... it's almost sinister-like. He even looks down on me.

"What if I say no?" I asked when he dips me.

"I will have to use force. Don't think that your the only one that has power in this country, Lady Aurora. I have my own influence as well." This is almost as sad as it sounds.

"Force? You think I'm afraid of a little force?" I didn't show any type of weakness at all.

"Marry me, bare my children and of course, with me entering your family, I am as close as it gets to the royal family." Finally, his true color is showing. After all that, all he cares about is status.

"If you disagree, your soeur will get it." Maya? He's using Maya to threaten me?! How low can he go?

"You listen to me, little man. I am not some bimbo you can slave around. If you want to play with fire that much, I give you fire. But if you want more than that, I'll give you death. Your choice. Choose wisely. And if you even touch my soeur, I will not hesitate to protect her. Even if that's mean you have to die."

We bow to each other when the music stop.

"And ..." he stopped walking. "If you even think of getting back at me, my girlfriend will kill you. It's hard to reason with her when she's in killing mode. Remember that, Sir Hector. If you think you can handle it, by all mean, please do try. I would love to watch you try." I smiled when he continued to walked away.

"I sense something evil coming from him. Did he showed his true colors to you?" Thea took my hand and we both dance.

"He did. His mistake for being too brave. He doesn't know who he's messing with." Thea dip me down while brushed his face on my breast. Doesn't she know self-control?

Probably now the whole guest looking at us.

"Are you trying to make my parents as your enemy?" I asked her. She didn't say anything but smiling at me. "This is a ball. It doesn't matter the gender, I can do whatever I want to my dance partner." Thea whispered while pulled my body even closer.

When she turned us both I noticed my parents looking at us wide eyes. Mommy smile but Daddy, he's sighing. I chuckled. "Seems like they accepted you." I can feel Thea's hold on my back tightened. "What's wrong?" I asked.

"Braylin, She .... bow her head to Maya. A sign of acknowledgment from a royal family. That's mean she's ..." Thea can't find the words to finish her sentences.

If Braylin bows her head to a commoner, meaning she's ... "She just made Maya one of the noble, did she?" Thea nodded. We parted ways and bow to each other when the music stop.

"Maya," I called for my soeur. She curtsy before excusing herself from Braylin. "Did Aura told you about the royal acknowledgment act?" I asked. She shakes her head.

"Royal acknowledgment act is something Braylin just did to you. That's mean, a member of the royal family of Malia just gave you some sort of acknowledgment, a title to be exact." Maya seems confused by my explanation.

"What Aurora trying to say is that you're a noble now. And with the king of Esnaria and Malia present, it's official." Thea sum up the explanation.

"What?! That's not possible. I'm a commoner." Maya denied the fact. She can't run from it now. It's all too late.

The lack of knowledge was the cause of this. If she just denied the acknowledgment before Braylin looks up to her after she bows, she will not in this mess.

"What kind of tradition does the royal family have? Doesn't they need my approval of this?" She seems angry for some reason.

"Oh God! Now I'm a walking target for that kind of people." Was she referring to the judgemental human beings huh? Well, can't blame her.

Braylin came back with a symbol from the Malia Kingdom. "I'm sorry for what I had done. But, I need to make sure you will not run away from me." She presents the... PURPLE ROSE?!

"This is the symbol of your new title from my family, the purple rose." I can't believe she gave the purple rose to Maya on her first time meeting her! Maya was reluctant but I nodded my head. If she declines it now, Malia Kingdom reputation will be tarnish.

I looked around the ballroom for their reaction. They were as shocked as I am. Why did the princess decided to give the purple rose, the highest title a royal family could give to anyone they desire. Why?

"Do you know what this means? In other words, purple rose mean she's bound with Braylin. Are you going to let that princess took your soeur away?" Thea added more worried into my head. "That is not important. The most important is how Lady Harmony will feel about this." Stella suddenly appeared beside me.

Stella is right. I, myself not sure if Lady Harmony is ready to live her life as a noble again. I decided to present myself in front of Braylin. "If you have some time, meet me at the balcony. I have something to ask." I didn't wait for her to reply when I walked towards the balcony.

"Alone," I said to Thea when she's about to follow me. "As you wish." Thea let me go.

"What are you planning to do?" I asked when I heard the door that leads to the balcony closed behind me. "What do you mean?" Braylin stood beside me while looking at the night view from the Esnaria Palace.

"You know what I mean, princess. Why do you acknowledge her like that in public? In a ball! You even gave her the purple rose, the highest ranking nobility rank a royal family could present. Are you planning to embarrass my soeur?" She suddenly laughing at the matter at hands.

"No, I will never do that to my future bride." What?! Bride.

"Don't make me laugh. You just met her today!" She stopped laughing. "No, you're wrong. We met before. I confirmed it when we dance earlier. You know me better than anyone else Aurora. I will never make a rash decision without thinking about the consequences."

I face the princess. "Explain it to me." The princess turned her body to me.

"We've met before when we were just a child. Do you remember the assassination of Lord Abel's family?" I nodded. I mean who doesn't, their own servant plotting on killing that noble family. It was believed they were no survivor and the servants were nowhere to be found.

Some say they kill themselves, but I believe they live among us, pretending like they didn't destroy a family that was famous for their sincerity.

"Maya is the sole survivor." Huh?

"There's no survivor Braylin. Stop living in the fantasy world. They all died. All 10 of Lord Abel's children, they all died." I shake the princess's body.

"No Aurora, listen to me! Maya is the sole survivor. Maya, or shall I called her by her given name, Charlotte. She's Charlotte, our childhood friend." I let go of her shoulder and stared into her orbs.

That's a lie. 13 years ago, Charlotte, she died alongside her family.

"Aurora believe me! She's Charlotte! She was 4 years old when her family was assassinated and she told me her new family found her when she was 4! Is that a coincidence? No!" I sighed.

"That doesn't make it enough evidence for Maya to be Charlotte." She smirked.

"That's what I thought so I took the liberty to check for the scar at the back of her head. Do you remember the scar you gave her when we were playing at your mansion? Guess what, it was there! She's Charlotte." Braylin placed her hands on my shoulder.

"Aurora, my fiancée, she's alive!" This is the first time I witness Braylin is genuinely happy.

"I thought that engagement was just a make-believe between two kids?" I said while smiling at her. "Listen Braylin, What you did today was a rash decision in my point of view."

"I can't help it. The moment I saw her, Charlotte's face was on my mind the entire time. I know it's her, believe me, Aurora." It's not that I don't want to believe her, it's just that... I did investigate about her past, there's nothing I could find. She's a mystery alright.

But, is she really Charlotte, the sole survivor? If so, who helped her escape her faith? Who's the person responsible for her safety at that time?

"Braylin listen to me. You need to keep this to yourself. I want you to enroll in Monarch. After what you did, you need to be there." Braylin smirked.

"I am enrolling in Monarch." That's good news.

"Don't tell anyone about Maya or Charlotte. I need to make sure about this little information." Braylin nodded.

I took a deep breath before leaving Braylin alone on the balcony. When I walked back inside the ballroom, my brother Hezner was talking to Maya and Stella.

"Luna.." I stood beside Luna.

"I need you to do something for me when we're back in Monarch." Luna took a sip of her drink. "What is it?" She asked. "I need every single detail of Lord Abel's assassination. From the police reports, everything. If possible, the crime scene photos. Can you do that for me?" Luna was looking at me.

"If that's the Scion's wish for, that's what she will get. I'll do my best. But, you need to know this. This case happened 13 years ago. There's probably a lot of undocumented proof and information regarding this. I need time to dig it all out." I smiled.

"You have all the time you need. Just keep this between us. Okay?" Luna nodded.

"Your wish is my command, Lady Aurora."