All bow
1144 Words
Mother experienced a moment of shock. But why was she acting surprised that the child she raised? I quickly gestured to my attendant to fix my necklace, and as I headed towards the door, my mum whispered, “Thank you. “You are welcome,” I almost chuckled. Yeah, she is thanking me for not picking a fight with her child on such a grand occasion and not raising dust. You are welcome, Mother. I smiled, bowed my head, and acknowledged her. I walked with my head held high as a noble princess of Aether. The moment I walked in, the Great Hall of Aether, which always overwhelmed me, it was filled with Serpents of every rank, standing in human form as nobles, clan heads, visiting dignitaries, and court attendants. Just like before, but this time my eyes rested on a tall man in his forties whose presence commanded submission, and then I spotted Declan, just like before. I remembered him. Murmurs erupted. “She is indeed beautiful,” one woman mentioned.” She really showed up," one said. A man nearby leaned toward another and muttered, “Then why is she still titled princess?” The other replied, “Careful. She can hear you.” “I heard she is ordinary without a core nor bloodline,” another chimed in. “If I were you,” a voice cut in, “I would mind my utterances.” Both women seemed to be taken by surprise, and each hurriedly left in different directions. The court official’s voice rose above the murmur of the hall. “Presenting Her Royal Highness, First Daughter of Aether—” I walked down the snake white curved stairs in my black, shimmering gown and a dark expression. I would find those who gossiped about me later. The moment my heels touched the polished marble floor, hundreds of eyes followed me. I to take my seat when a woman’s voice shouted.” The First Daughter of Aether, the one who represented strength and might." The hall went quiet for a minute. Another joined. "She whose presence protects our young ones." Then another. And another. The praise spread through the crowd like a wave. These praises didn’t get to me, I just focused on getting comfortable and adjusting my thoughts. My father looked at me differently. I formed a thought. Wondering what he was up to. Regardless, I was dressed nicely. My grandma laughed and said to my father, “You said she has no bloodline, but she walks better than Vivian.” My father’s face flushed. But his expression remained still. “Mother, don’t start again now,” he said almost grudgingly. She waved her hands to silence him. She stopped. And looked around the hall. “Kent,” she called him. “Yes, mother,” visibly irritated, “what do you want now?” She glared at him. And said, “Where is your wife?” One question. And my father shifted uncomfortably. He felt embarrassed. My father tried to talk things out, lowering his voice, “Mother, this is not the time.” He tried to use the snake core vibrator to communicate. With her through the mind link, and got more frustrated. She had cut him off. What a firm woman she is, busy keeping her daughter grounded. The satisfaction on the matriarch’s face is visible now. “She doesn’t respect you anymore,” Kent faced her squarely. “Mother!” But she refused to back down “On such a glorious occasion when she is supposed to be welcoming our guests.” “Kent.” She called out again. “Maybe you should find a partner now to replace her for this occasion,” she said it so casually. He calculated what she had said and breathed out “Is it when you kill me that you would stop controlling my affairs?” Grandma didn’t reply She hissed Gesture to the maid to help her up. My eye still found the tall, imposing figure. He stood among the Uertha delegation. A demon. Audrey still found her way to the palace hall dressed in such a manner I had seen her earlier. A noblewoman whispered, “Is she supposed to be someone important?” Another replied, “I don’t even know why her.” Audrey froze slightly. She forced a smile and walked forward. No one praised her nor acknowledged her. This might have been her source of resentment towards me, after all, I am a serpent without a core. Last time I didn’t notice any of this. My father began addressing these people and welcomed his visitor who would soon be his in-law. I sighted the family matriarch of Uertha Clan, a beautiful demon in her late sixties. I was not going to approach her. She is not of any use to me. Truly, I was behaving strangely, and I’m now so full of myself. That tall man was all I could think of right now. ”Audrey asked that I deliver this to you," a soft voice spoke, addressing me. I turned slowly to face her. My breath caught. My fingers tightened slightly. The maid that served me drink last time that got me killed. Why was this event repeating itself again? I asked myself. "My lady," she called out once again in a small, desperate tune. I should have noticed it last time. I smiled at her and took the drink. "Thank you," I said to her. She hesitated a bit unsure of what to do. "Tell her… I will thank you." I paused for a moment. And I smiled almost innocently. "You may go," I told her. The smile must have eased her nerves, and she smiled back. She fled. I stared at the liquid. Purple. Sweet smelling. Harmless. Exactly like before. This drink must be laced with something, and I was going to give them a show. I found a new maid and handed her the drink with little tips. “You know what to do.” “Yes, my lady,” she bowed briefly. The girl nodded nervously before disappearing into the crowd. Now all I had to do was wait. I finally spotted the man of my dreams again and followed him slowly down the stairs. Like a predator hunting its prey. My heart refused to calm down. I don’t know between the two of us who will be the prey and the hunter. My inner heart kept calling out to him when I felt a tap on my shoulders. It was him. I flinched.
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