PHEMOLRIA

8. BRACELET

My eyes halted on the piano. The keys... the black and white keys seem like an optical illusion in my sight. It makes me feel dizzy and makes me want to throw up. I motioned my hands back to my lap after an attempt to put them on the keys.

The crowd seemed like a calm sea, quiet, waiting for me to start playing, but I couldn't.

"What now, Lady? You are claiming that you are a noble lady from Entarlia, yet, you couldn't even play a simple piece?" She put her hands on her mouth and tried to suppress her laughter, treating me like I was worth her mocking.

And right after she said that the murmurs of the people on the stage started.

The officials on the right look at me with dismay. Even Elona looked at the ground, feeling hopeless, before looking back at the twins with glares.

When I looked at Leo's place... he was now turning his back on us, walking away.

Have I also disappointed him? But how? He doesn't even know the character I am playing right now, and I admit that by seeing him walk away I am seeing myself as nothing worthy, an embarrassment, and pitiful.

"Every noble person knows how to play the piano, an instrument," Hemelia added. "Shame on both of you. Shame on you..." She looked at Elona who was still glaring at them. "And shame on you, Princess Elona."

"Just tell us the truth, confess that you are an intruder!" Amylia said.

I was sweating by that time. I just wanted to vanish. Can whoever just bring me back out of this book?

"If you really couldn't prove it by playing a piece for us, why don't you just take off your mask? Show your face," Hemelia said. "Someone in here must recognize you. All of the noble people in the Land of Sincerity are here. Let them prove your identity."

"I am already the proof, Hemelia." Princess Elona stepped foot.

"We don't trust you-"

"Amylia." This time the twin's father, who is the official, the count, stopped Amylia. "I am very sorry for that, Princess Elona."

Oddly, I couldn't even feel his sincerity, after looking at Princess Elona to the King who remained on his throne on the balcony.

I was surprised to see someone coming on the way back to the King's throne. There were five maids on her left as she walked to the throne beside the King.

I saw her kiss the king on the cheeks and gracefully whispered to him, "I am sorry, I had an urgent matter earlier," that's what I understood just by reading her lips.

I automatically avoided my gaze when her eyes met mine after she took her throne; the Queen.

Even just with that, she already made me feel nervous.

I am thinking of what might happen to me once they find out that I am an intruder, that I was supposed to be in the kitchen, that I fooled them... including the royals.

I could see Elona's nervousness after I stood up on my chair and faced the crowd of noble people for the second time after I went on the stage.

"I'm... sorry." I bowed at them.

I heard how the steps of the only person walking away from the scenario stopped.

Everything that's happening is giving me headaches!

"Capture that Lady! She is an intruder!"

Before the palace guards could catch me after Hemelia's order, I had already got the violin from the old musician at my side.

"Halt!" The guards automatically stopped after his order, after Leo raised his right hand.

My mind turned blank after realizing that he had given me time to start playing.

While Elona's face lightened, even though the nervousness and worries were still there. She looks at me with half of her hope. I know it's hard for her to believe that I attempted to hold a violin. I, a maid that she knew in this kingdom.

I closed my eyes after placing my chin on the violin's chin rest. I gasp for air before I stroke the strings with their bow. I started to play calmly after the nervousness on my first stroke showed that I lost the tempo, but now it seemed so right, so perfect as I felt every note that I made.

And when I finally opened my eyes, our eyes met.

I wish he could feel what I wanted to say through this piece.

I want him to hear me out.

Elona looked at the twins proudly, both of them looked embarrassed right now. Amylia massaged her shoulders, while Hemelia still managed to look mad at Elona and me as their father looked at them with disappointment as he walked out to the balcony, followed by the officials.

And also saw Guimea looking at Leo and me with confusion.

I noticed how handsome he was when we danced because my mind was occupied by something, but now I admire how handsome he looks with that hairstyle, with the way he stands, and the way what he wears suits him and fits him well. Even when at a distant distance, his eyes can still successfully get me, those brown eyes that I will never get tired of looking at.

I immediately avoided my gaze at him, after realizing that Elona was now looking at me with malice after seeing where I was looking at.

And when I finished playing, the crowd of noble people applauded. The twins still look embarrassed, smiling at those people beside them who are looking at them, shaking their heads in dismay.

"I have never heard that piece before," says the owner of the violin when I returned it after bowing to the crowd.

"I did that, mister." I smiled and bowed gracefully to him.

The musicians who heard what I said looked at me with amusement, looked at one another, and nodded their heads.

"How come a lady who's at that age could already make a masterpiece? You are a genius, Lady!"

I remember playing that in our music class and my teacher's remarks weren't good. She told me that it was boring, but I was treated the opposite here. Weird indeed.

Thankfully, Elona had already pulled me down the stage, away from the crowd, when I didn't know what to say anymore.

"You can play an instrument! I didn't know?" she said as we walked.

"You didn't ask, Your Majesty." I tried not to sound sarcastic.

"Nevermind. The case is solved and those brats have already tasted their own medicine. Now, go," said the other brat like her.

My face lit up. "Go? I can finally go home?"

She looked at me like I was saying something stupid.

"We are not yet done here, pretty lady. What I meant to say is go and find my brother. He is probably alone right now." And the smile she gave me was creepy.

She pushed me again lightly.

"Enjoy, the both of you." She waved her hands at me.

And I have no choice, again, but to follow her.

I didn't even know where to look for him.

But a place stuck in my head.

And I go there.

I am right. He is here.

The mini garden is quite hidden and private.

"You are maybe lost." I was not even completely close to him when he spoke.

I rolled my eyes, I was confident that he wouldn't see me since he was sitting on the gold bench backward.

"Maybe I am, maybe not." I sat beside him.

"You are not allowed here. The party's inside."

I looked at him. I was already beside him, yet he still did not waste time looking at me. When I figured out where he was looking... my lips parted in confusion.

The pink star is still here? How come?

I thought I was the only one who could see it... since it was also from the outside world, outside this book.

Wait... I also have seen that before I went up when the twins ran before me, mistaking me for a harlot.

I acted like I was thinking about something. "You are right, Your Majesty. The party is inside, and everyone is partying yet you are here."

Now he has finally turned his head to me as he smirks.

"My sister doesn't have any friends." But he chose to ignore my sentence. "Who are you?"

And he questioned me again.

And I was left not knowing how to respond to that. Elona didn't tell me that she was an introvert!

"Well, she has someone now and that is me-"

He didn't even let me finish my sentence when she grabbed my hands. When I realized that he was looking at the bracelet that Elona lent me.

I hid my hands on my back and he looked at me sharply but still wasn't saying anything.

"I just came here to tell you that you deserve better." I stood up and tried to run away.

"Halt!" I could sense that he stood up after seeing me run away.

I did. I did halt, but it didn't keep me from continuing to run away.

I did my best to be as fast as I could before he could come after me.

"Let's go!"

I was surprised that Elona appeared on the way to the palace and led me to a secret door to the kitchen.

"Why are you running away?!" It's funny to think that she doesn't know the reason why I ran away, but still helped me as soon as she saw me running.

"She saw your bracelet, Your Majesty!" I said.

We both groaned, having a hard time running while talking.

"What bracelet?!"

"Your bracelet! Damn it!" I cursed.

Finally, we both reached her room before someone saw us.

"Take off my clothes!"

I immediately took off her clothes and wore mine that I left earlier.

"Go right into the kitchen as soon as possible!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

I was about to leave when she called me again.

"Your hair!" she said.

Alright, I didn't even realize that my hair would be noticeable so I tied it in a bun with the help of the princess.

"Now, go! Go!"

I rushed out of her room to the kitchen, but before I could go in I was automatically grabbed by Belinda. She's holding a tray of food in her hands.

"Where have you been?" She said. "The headmistress is in the kitchen, looking for you!"

I felt the nervousness worsen.

"She's scolding Ald now!"

I closed my eyes in frustration before heading to the kitchen.

As soon as I arrived, I saw the surprised faces of the maids watching nervously and the headmistress, whose face transformed into anger after being surprised at how I popped out.

I looked guiltily at Ald, who was now bowing his head to the headmistress. I saw how she scolded Belinda. I am afraid that she also hurt Ald through words or physically.

Of course, I am concerned!

"See? Now here she is! Acting like she doesn't have a responsibility in this place and you let her in here!"

She was about to slap Ald when I blocked him. I received the slap that was supposed to be his.

I bit my lip. That was hard.

"Thrysia..." Ald whispered.

I looked at him, like telling him to let me handle this.

Now I am darting my eyes at the headmistress.

"Fix your stares, you little wench!"

"Princess Elona asked Prince Leo, she borrowed me. Now, how can you take back all the bruises that you gave Ald!"

"Thrysia, stop." Ald tried to stop me.

But I didn't listen.

The headmistress laughed sarcastically. "And do you think that would do anything? You are both nothing compares to me!"

I grab the hand that she used to point at me and Ald.

"Maybe you are right, this would do nothing. But the fact that you know through yourself that you made a mistake, is already enough for your conscience to say that you are stupid. And I hope it'll remind you every day."

The silence embraced the kitchen for a while.

When the headmistress regained her energy, she pointed out the door of the kitchen for the second time.

"Get the hell out of here, rags!"

And all of that just happened in a day.

I could feel that Ald, who was walking behind me was thinking about something.

"Just spill it," I said.

I heard him sigh.

"Did the princess ask for you?"

I arched my eyebrows. "Yes?"

"I see... Did she lend you that bracelet?"

My jaw dropped after realizing what he said.

I looked at my wrist. I am still wearing the bracelet! Of all the things that I forgot, why does it have to take off this bracelet?

"Thrysia, the girl who doesn't believe in fairytales, is still wearing the bracelet of the princess. She didn't even think that a simple object could already cause an explosion. Especially when the prince is searching for her... he will continue searching for her until he finds her."