PHEMOLRIA

7. PIANO

I gulped when I saw my whole body, wearing simple jewelry that highlighted my outfit and, of course, a ball gown. This is simpler than what Elona wears, but right now, my knees are getting weak... reminiscing about what happened in the past few years, the last time that I wore a ball gown.

This feeling is making me want to retreat from her plan.

Never in my entire life have I attended proms and acquaintance parties, except if it is not required to wear a ball gown since I became a high school student. They require everyone to attend the events. They should have suspended me at that time, but my older brother Jhysua did something about it. I know him for dealing with everything using his money. He never runs out of money.

He's a good businessman anyway. Why am I still confused?

I breathe out deeply. I also bit my lip as I traced the details of the bracelet I was wearing.

Elona forced me to wear it. It's not that I don't like its style, but I am just uncomfortable wearing it.

And thankfully, I got the chance to escape from Leo earlier because of her. She came and borrowed me, and told the prince that she needed me. The prince didn't disagree, instead, he held back his emotions just right after he cried. Like nothing happened.

I can even sense that he's covering up Guimea and the guy she's with, that she kissed. He wouldn't let Elona peek through the left hallway.

And seeing him in that state makes me wonder. He's a Prince. He can do whatever he wants, right? Why not just confront Guimea and that guy? Why didn't he just warn that guy to stay away from his girl?

"Good." Elona looked at me from head to foot, she dressed me all by herself because she didn't trust the other maids here. She told me that almost all of the maids in the palace are hungry for trust and loyalty to their King and Queen, who are Elona's Mom and Dad.

I wonder what they look like?

I haven't seen the two of them since I got here.

I laughed in my mind, maybe they were on their thrones.

And maybe I'll acknowledge for now that Princess Elona of Phemolria just dressed me up, knowing that she should be treated delicately.

"You should enter through the grand staircase at the back so they do not figure out that you came from the castle. Understand?"

I nodded, wearing a dark green hooded cape, and bowed in respect to the Princess before leaving.

I kept my eyes on the ground while walking. I feel much safer at that level, that they won't see my face. The maids who already knew me were just around, preparing because the party was soon to begin.

Now I am walking in the wide hallway through the backdoor.

"How stupid of you! Look what you have done, rat! How are you going to fix that?!"

I stopped walking after hearing that yell, and I already knew whose voice that was.

The headmistress.

She's scolding Belinda, who looks messy right now. Her tears wouldn't stop falling from her cheeks, but the headmistress didn't stop there. She grabbed Belinda's hair and I can say that it was really painful. Right after that, the headmistress started to point her fingers at Belinda's forehead repeatedly in a harsh way.

Belinda couldn't even protect herself but looked at the broken plates scattered on the floor.

I sighed. My blood is starting to boil because of the malpractice I am witnessing.

I was about to step up for her when I heard a baritone voice behind me.

"Who are you?" he asked.

I froze upon realizing who was the owner of that voice. My lips are shivering, and I am feeling cold all of a sudden, close to losing my balance. I don't know where to go because he is blocking my way.

"Answer me, Lady. Who are you? Why are you inside the palace?"

I counted the pairs of shoes in front of me; one pair for the prince and a familiar pair of shoes.

It's the knights that the prince was with when we first met!

How the hell can I escape from here?

Surely the knight would run after me and slit my throat as soon as I did that.

This prince always causes me problems! Popping out like a mushroom in an already difficult scenario, just like what's happening right now!

"A-ah..." I blinked.

I don't know what to say!

I held the skirt of my gown and bowed to him instead.

I can feel them peeking at my face, hidden under the hood of the green cloak that I am wearing.

"With all respect, please, lady, answer Your Majesty," the knight said.

I am nervous.

No, that was an understatement because I am beyond nervous right now.

What will I say?!

Elona didn't teach me how I'd introduce myself, just in case, and...

I immediately step backward as soon as the knight steps forward to get closer to me. He was about to pull down the cloak I was wearing when the prince stopped him by blocking the knight's hand with his body to face me.

I don't even know if I should feel relieved right now.

But my heartbeat worsened when he grabbed my arm, gripping it tightly so that I wanted to take my arm back, but it was impossible. He's much stronger than me.

"Are you an intruder?" he suspected.

It's Elona's fault for not teaching me anything to say about the role I am playing right now.

"I am Princess Elona's... friend. Natascha from another kingdom, Your Majesty..."

The silence embraced us for a while.

"In what kingdom are you from?" It was followed by the question from the knight.

What the... I don't even know the names of kingdoms here!

"Antoncia, Kodrodia, Lesteria or... Entarlia?" The prince still looks at me like he's still suspecting me.

"Entarlia, Your Majesty!" I answered as fast as I could. I even chose the most memorable and easiest kingdom to pronounce!

"The furthest among the five kingdoms in the land of sincerity to our kingdom, Your Majesty." The knight told him, but it seemed like he already knew it.

Alright, I didn't know that was the furthest!

Because the hood of the cloak that I am wearing is just on the level of his chest, that's the only thing that I can see.

I felt like a rubber band after he released me.

"We are very sorry for our wrong act, Lady Natascha of Entarlia." The knight bowed at me and, of course, I didn't expect the Prince to also bow at me, 'cause I know he will never will and I am right! "Intruders are common in important events such as this. We are just tightening our security. Again, we are sorry."

"I understand..." I confidently said, well I tried my very best. "I will go now if you won't mind."

No one answered, so I took that as a yes. I passed through them, almost close to getting away when... before I could even do that, someone already pulled down my cloak.

He's getting on my nerves... that Prince!

Luckily enough, I was fast to wear my masquerade mask before turning my back to see them.

I saw how Leo's smirks vanished.

"I didn't know that the second prince of Phemolria was 'ill-mannered'," I emphasized the word.

But it seemed like he wasn't even affected by that, instead, he threw the robe back to me.

"I didn't mean to step on it, but isn't it too long for a short girl like you?"

I gritted my teeth as I caught Elona's robe. It's Elona's and she said that she has never worn it. Leo won't know, right?

"I didn't even notice that I got shorter." I swiftly wore it back. "I do think that you have poor eyesight, Prince Leo. Why don't you wear glasses? Maybe it could help these things not happen again." I sarcastically said before I turned my back.

I heard his sarcastic chuckles.

"Someone might mistake you as an uneducated person, Lady Natascha. Why don't you wear good behavior also to cover it up?"

His harsh words penetrated my mind. Instead of throwing words, I chose to ignore them and proceed. Because of the quiet hallway, the sound of the shoes that I was wearing echoed in space. Even Belinda and the headmistress became as quiet as the plants after watching them.

Then there I was, sitting alone at a table with sophisticatedly designed tables and chairs. Wandering my eyes around noble and royal people enjoying the party, talking and dancing in the wide space along with the music of the orchestra filling their ears.

In a snap, a set of chaotic memories flashed through my mind.

"Happy birthday, Thrysia!"

A little girl wearing a flashy pink ball gown.

"Blow your candle!"

A little girl wearing a golden crown.

"Can I dance with my Princess?"

A little girl dancing with a man who was dressed like a king.

"To my Queen, my prince, and my lovely birthday princess!"

A little girl smiling... like there's no sadness after happiness...

"Mommy!"

A little girl who's scared and weary... crying out loud.

"There's no such thing as happy endings."

I looked at the bottle of wine, lifeless. The sound of the clicking wine glasses dominates the sound of the orchestra.

Until I come back to my senses.

"Thrysia!" Someone whispered behind my back.

"P-princess.."

"What the hell are you still doing here?!" She pulled me up and motioned her head to the parallel side. "Look at this stunt that my brother was pulling."

My lips parted after I saw what happened. The guy who's Guimea with the last time took her away from Leo to dance with her, leaving Leo without a partner. I have already seen his big picture frame hanging from the wall in the wide hallways.

It's Prince Neo. The guy I saw with Guimea, who was near kissing each other.

If someone is clueless about the story behind this chaos, they might view this as a normal thing. But the way Leo's eyes followed the two... I know that he doesn't want to give Guimea to him... and he's hurting.

"Hey!" Before I could even protest, Elona already pushed me towards him!

That brat!

I successfully snatched his attention.

"I... got tripped! I'm very sorry, Your Majesty!" I tried to escape through the crowd dancing around us when he pulled my waist... leaving me no words to say.

I am lost as I look at his hawk-like eyes.

"Just dance with me, Lady Natascha of Entarlia." He smirked as if nothing had just happened.

Am I... hallucinating?

Dance to classical music... dressed as a fairytale character.

"Can I dance with my Princess?"

And I am hearing it all over again.

I balled my fist that was leaning on his chest.

I slowly looked at him again.

His eyes softened like he could see my fear.

"Mommy!" That echoed through my ears.

That scream.

His tight grip around my waist loosened. Confusion was written all over his face, but I heard nothing from him.

I was about to run... to escape.

But as I saw Guimea and Neo behind him staring at each other like they were so in love, it made me bounce back to him. I put my hands on his shoulder.

The confusion in his eyes doubled.

I put his hands back on my waist again.

I am still hearing those things but still tried to dance with him.

His eyes just stayed on me, reading me. It was really hard to hold back all the tears but I managed. These things I do just to... ease my boredom. Just because... I wanted to experience a thrill in my life once in a while.

And because... I wanted to find the answer to the questions that I can't answer in my real world but here. Only here.

I swayed through the music, ignoring his reaction.

But just right after half a second, he removed my hand from his shoulders and pushed me lightly. Looking at me with no longer confusion but something like he...

"Who are you?"

Figured out something.

I froze once again.

Damn it. Does he recognize me?

I panicked, finding myself running away from him.

But upon running, I stumbled upon someone.

No...

"How dare you?! Look what you have done to my dress!" She pointed at her dress with stains of red wine. A satin baby blue ball gown. "Are you blind?!"

"What's happening here, Hemelia?"

The annoying sisters!

"This stupid lady did this to me!" She wined like a kid to her sister. "She is running!"

Did I mean to do that?!

"Running?" She looked at me from head to foot, just like the last time. "Why are you running, anyway? Are you somewhat of an... intruder? A thief!"

"What?!" Is she crazy? Me, a thief?! They are good at suspecting someone!

The classical music played by the orchestra stopped.

The guests circled us, exchanging their thoughts and opinions.

They are criticizing the hell out of me!

"Why? Doesn't a thief only just run, when in this place you should just be enjoying yourself? What did you steal?!" Amylia got closer to me, and searched for my body! Her nails are scratching my skin. "Where is it?!"

"Amylia!" That voice echoed through the hall. It's Elona. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Sorry for the commotion, Princess. But this thief right here just stole something-" Before Amylia could finish her sentence, Elona already slapped her.

"What is happening here?" And there are the kings and the officials on the upper veranda sitting, interrupted by the sudden commotion.

Whoa... so that's what the prince looks like?

The officials went down to the dance floor, while the King remained on his throne. Watching quietly after, someone from the officials spoke, leading the officials in their direction.

Weird. The king doesn't even look surprised that his daughter, a princess, just slapped someone in front of these people.

That official went to Amylia's side.

"Father!" Amylia called.

"Amylia..." the official looked at the princess.

Right, I remember when I was at the top of the tree, and when they were searching for me, the prince mentioned that the twins were daughters of an official in the palace.

Elona pulled back her hand from the maid, who was worried, and tried to check on it.

"Have you taught your daughter how to think first before suspecting someone?" I admire the authority in her voice.

"Elona." Prince Neo and Guimea came out from the crowd. "What is this?"

While he's just standing from afar, just watching. Wearing his famous blank stare.

"This lady here just accused my friend without any strong evidence. She's a noble girl-"

"Oh?" Everyone was surprised when Hemelia cut her. "Noble?"

"How dare you cut me while I am speaking? Do you want me to remind you of your place?" After Elona looked at Hemelia, her gaze turned to Amylia and the official.

But Hemelia didn't even flinch. "Noble... I can't even see a thing that can prove that she's from a noble family."

I hid my hands after Hemelia looked at me arrogantly.

And I couldn't even defend myself from these brats.

"How dare you!"

"Are you pissed that I am disrespecting your noble friend or is it just because of something, Princess?"

"What are you talking about?"

I know right now, the fire is starting to build up.

"Seems like our orchestra feels tired. Why don't you play the piano for us, Lady? I am sure a noble girl like you knows how to play an instrument. You're maybe even good at it." She smirked at me with victory.

How the hell did it end up like this? I hate proving myself. Playing the piano... Why of all things... why does it have to be a piano?

"Slowly, Thrysia walked through the orchestra as the crowd gave way. She took her fingers on the white and black keys and ran the game."