Her Trail

8.

Every day was exciting and I slowly learn a lot of things in this world, I was able to catch Papa and my older brother's hearts. We were like a true family now, and I serve as a bridge to bring us closer. After a few months, Papa goes outside the White Dragon House an emergency, and I was left alone with few knights who didn't come with him. I was also forbidden to visit my older brother to his academy because according to Sir Adalius, Sir Betram, and Papa, it is dangerous for me to go outside knowing I am the daughter of the wealthiest Duke in the whole empire of Vanzelion.

But I was able to adapt to changes when they both leave the house. Older brother is coming home every holiday, and Papa is also coming home after the important things he does in the Emperor's palace.

It all goes well for another year.

And two years later, when my fourteenth birthday came, my brother is now seventeen years old. It is the first time that I am going to celebrate with the presence of few trusted people that were invited by Father Duke.

"Oh my goodness gracious, you are so beautiful, my lady!" Bella exclaimed while looking at me in the mirror.

She styled my hair like always and they let me wear a very beautiful white and light pink gown.

"You look like a princess!"

"She is, Shane! She is the princess of the White Dragons House."

I stand up. Bella and Shane joyfully run in a circle around me as they admire the beauty of their final product. I am standing in front of the large mirror and even I was amazed and starstruck because of Elora's beauty— my beauty.

This body is only fourteen years old yet the features already looked mature, and my face became more defined through the years that came.

"Let's go outside now, your father and brother are waiting outside the door."

Oh gosh! I am nervous! My heart is beating so fast in both excitement and fear. Fear that I will make a mess in front of people and excitement because it's been so long since I'm with a crowd.

Shane and Bella opened the door and it revealed Papa and older brother standing at the door, they are not facing me but when they turn as they heard the door opened, their eyes immediately met mine.

I gave them genuine shy smiles and older brother equals it with his eyebrow raising and the one side of his lips is lifted. Father looks serious but I can see amusement in his eyes.

"You look more human now, rabbit," said older brother, it made me frown.

I roll my eyes at him as I walk towards both of them. They are both fighting who will be my escort for this day for about a week, and now it was decided that they will walk with me both in my entrance. Older brother will be my first dance because he loses at the chess game, and my father will be my last dance they both wanted, but since Papa won, he will dance with me lastly.

"Let's go?" I asked, smiling.

They both nodded. I wanted to laugh because they look like towers beside me. Older brother is only seventeen but he is already near Papa's height. While I am stuck here, still short, from what I remember, my mother is short so maybe I inherited that just like my eyes.

We all walk towards the entrance, the knights opened the large double door in the venue, Sir Adalius and Betram are behind us, and as the door opens, I saw a bright light from the elegant chandeliers, and the long red carpet on the floor, ready for our feet to step on.

Everyone's attention went to us as I walk with the tall guys beside me. They were all quiet at first, looking at my face because this is the first time I was seen. I went out few times when I was with my mother but I was inside the chariot and our destination is to our private lands so no one really knew what I look like. I hope my face didn't disappoint them, but well, I am confident with this beauty.

After a few moments of silence, they all clap their hands for our entrance. The orchestra also started playing a song.

As we reach the front we walk up the stairs, when we reach the chair on the top, I sat down there with my brother and Papa on my both side.

Sir Adalius gave Papa and older brother wines, and father lifts them up for the toast for everyone. I heard the clicking up here and seeing everyone smile while holding their wine glass in my direction mesmerized me, the view here is beautiful, this world really works in elegance and grace.

"For the treasured daughter of White Dragon's House, let's cheers."

Still, even though Papa's voice is quite cold, I can still feel butterflies in my stomach. He called me treasured!

"For my sister's birthday," my brother added.

After that, the orchestra played again and everyone started dancing. The visitors are few but at least I have them. Sir Adalius said that I can only have a huge ball when my coming of age ceremony came, that is when I became eighteen years old, gosh, I still need to wait for another four years, but oh well, maybe I can go out now since my age isn't as young as before.

"Let's dance?" brother whispered near my ear.

I nodded and I accepted the hand he is offering. We go downstairs to mingle with the people who are dancing at the center.

At the very mid of the place, we danced gracefully following the elegance of the music the whole orchestra is playing. It was soft yet calming, everyone is silent and only the clicking of the girl's and women's heels are heard along with the music dancing in the air, circulating around the whole venue.

Brother is looking directly into my eyes, his red eyes are shining yet his expression remains straight. I am already immune to this, they will never change, both he and father share the same straight face, still cold and distant, but expressive when it comes to me. They say whatever is running in their mind and they are very protective, they are still sleeping in my room when they have a chance, I don't know when will they stop, but I am enjoying spending time with them so I don't really make a fuss about them. I longed for a family's warmth for my whole life back then, and now that I have this, I can never ask for more.

"Your expressions are changing, what are you thinking?" my brother asked when he saw me preoccupied.

I pout my lips a bit before answering, "Thinking about you and Papa, and why are you two are always comparing me to an animal when we almost have the same face."

He smirked.

"Because you are a bunny. White hair, green eyes, your cheeks even resembles the animal," he elaborated it even more, and it made my brows furrowed while I'm frowning.

"I hate your face!"

He chuckled as his eyes shining while looking at me.

"But I'm handsome, don't you agree? They were a lot of girls roaming around me even after knowing I already have a fiancée, they even wanted to be one of my concubines."

Ew! Who wants to be someone's option? Are they nuts? If my future husbands keep a girl beside me I will really divorce him! But is that really a thing here? I highly doubt it.

"Will you keep concubines like Father?"

"If needed, it's for connections. But father didn't have one when he marries my mom, but when she died he started going around with a lot of women, it became his hobby, that freak was so in love to the point that he almost ruins himself when she died."

That was... sad.

Papa never talks about her— brother's mother. I saw paintings of her in Papa's office, inside the drawer, I also saw her paintings and portraits inside the secret room of his room. He is very smitten, obviously, and perhaps, until now, he is still hurting for his loss of someone.

"I wonder if you will love like Papa."

His eyebrow went up, "I doubt, Elora, I doubt."

It's my turn to smirk, "You haven't met your fiancee yet, am I right? What if you ended up loving her and she has already someone in her heart?"

His dance became a little faster.

"She can't have someone in the heart when she's tied with me."

"You sound possessive," I teased.

"No, that's proper manner."

Oh well, he got me there.

When the music stopped, my brother kissed my forehead, and he handed me to Sir Betram who is asking for the second dance. I dance with him, he is also like Papa and brother, cold, really cold.

"Sir Betram, how do I look?" I smile widely.

"You look beautiful, my lady."

"Really? Am I the most beautiful person in your eyes right now?"

"Yes."

Gosh, why is he like this?

I tried to talk to him a little more, "Even prettier than mother?"

"Yes."

I pouted when I receive another single-word reply.

"Prettier than your girlfriend? or wife? or fiancee?"

"I don't have those."

Oh. He is single? That face? That handsome face? What is wrong with this world? Back in my past life, a face as handsome as this, many women will flock at him and he will immediately be tied to the most gorgeous one and will divorce a few years later, and he will find another one again.

"Why?" I asked curiously.

"I'm busy, my lady."

"But for sure many wanted to be married to you."

"Not interested."

Wow. I really wish he meets someone with the same outlook in life so he will really know how hard it is to deal with someone like him. But I'm kidding! It's weird to see Sir Betram chasing someone.

I dance with Sir Adalius after that, he welcomed me with a smile and it is very refreshing. Finally! A normal one.

"Hi, Sir Adalius! It's great having this moment with you."

"I am also honored to dance with this lovely lady, you are so beautiful tonight! Not that you aren't beautiful the normal days, you are just extra gorgeous for this day."

Oh gosh, this is the normal conversation I want. We talk a lot more, of course not about studies but he teases me about the young boys around who wanted to dance with me.

If he only knew, these guys are way younger than me, well, not physically but mentally. I mean, hey, for sure they aren't matured yet so it's really kind of a turn-off. I wanted to talk to mature people, but it doesn't mean I will reject a conversation with him.

I am dancing with the guy from the crowd, it is the seventh dance or eighth? I don't know.

But after that, I sat down on one of the nearest chairs because my feet are already hurting a bit.

"Can I have this dance?"

I lift my head up right away when someone asks for a dance. But my eyes widened when I saw a familiar face of the young version of Donovan in front of me offering his hand. My lips quiver as I look at him, not finding the voice to answer.

"The crown prince is asking her!"

"Wow, what a lovely sight from the young ones."

I blink few times after hearing some talk among the crowd, probably looking in our direction.

I held his hand, for sure it is cold, I can't even force myself to smile at him.

We walk towards the middle, and we dance slowly following the rhythm of the song the orchestra is playing.

He is looking directly into my eyes, his straight and smooth-looking black hair falls on his forehead, his body is too near that I find it hard to breathe.

"I haven't introduced myself first, I am Donovan Gaige Elias," his voice his low and it was similar to how it is in my past life.

My knees wobble as I recall the dark memories I had with him.

"Are you fine? The last time we face each other you are also pale, are you ill, young lady of the White Dragon House?"

I shake my head, still not finding my voice to answer him.

"Are you... perhaps, afraid of me? I noticed you are only like this in my presence."

I shake my head once again.

"You confuse me..." that was a whisper.

I revert my eyes away but he struggles to let our eyes meet. I sighed and I close my eyes because I'm afraid he will read the emotions I am showing there.

"I'm sorry..." all that I can say because it seems like he is worried about me and he is confused about my actions.

I wish Papa will come at me for a rescue, I don't wanna be with him. I can't bring myself to forget all the bad memories, I just can't.

"It seems like I did something wrong but we only met for the second time, Lady Elora."

I tried to answer him, "I'm just tired, Crown Prince Donovan, sorry for worrying you."

"Then, let me lead you towards your seat, too bad I asked for dance when you were the most tired."

Right.

And I am also tired of recalling all the memories whenever I remember your face, or whenever I see your face.