Where there are nobles, there are sure to be balls. During the social season, salons and tea parties never run out and keeps the schedules packed for the month. However, the graduation event was one of the biggest highlights of the season and required strict preparations.
These events vary in different cities. In Marina Gate and the Never Isles, the patriarchs were responsible for hosting the events while their spouses assist them with other parts of the planning. In Pentamerone, the job almost always falls under the responsibility of whoever had the highest rank in the venue.
The event was held in Rouge City, Pentamerone. As the highest ranking noble of the city, Duchess dela Rouge was obliged to host the ball.
There were many things to prepare. The venue, the catering, the sponsors and the paperwork… But of course, it wasn't the Duchess doing the work personally. Her ladies-in-waiting, as lower nobles, were the ones doing the legwork. She only needed to ensure things went smoothly.
"Red isn't so tacky for a color, is it? All the fine younglings will be dressed in bright colors, making sure they'll be the highlight of the event…"
In the courtyard of the dela Rouge manor was a single oak tree. It was special, for roses would grow from the branches instead of fruit. Underneath the oak tree was a bed of sheets, fairy lights, and flowers—a woman with the lower body of a deer laying comfortably next to a small table of wine glasses and fruit.
Duchess dela Rouge was a cervitaur, a close relative of the centaurs that had the body of a deer instead of a horse. Her fur coat was a beautiful shade of brown, white petal-shaped dots specked as if to mimic the coat of a young deer. Small antlers adorned her head, poking out of the locks of curly black hair. Little flowers sprouted from them, almost resembling a flower crown.
Her upper human body was dressed in a simple but elegant gown befitting her status. Some people would question why such a tame-looking beastling held the highest rank in Rouge City. However, it was the patron city of the Beast Princess herself. In the city of beasts, it's only fitting that a beast would also hold a title.
"Forgive me, Your Grace, but red is…too bold. It may not sit well with the nobles of the other cities. May I suggest we choose a lighter shade?" Janina, one of the Duchess' ladies-in-waiting, suggested politely.
"Heh. Why must we prioritize the opinions of the nobles visiting?" the Duchess smiled lightly, "They are the ones who proposed to hold the event in our city and have the new Talekeepers under my territory. It is our jurisdiction, therefore our rules must be upheld, no?"
"Yes, Your Grace. Forgive me," Janina bowed her head. "Hm… If they dislike the idea, they are free to not attend. Nobles cannot possibly run out of wealth. They can hold their own events," Duchess dela Rouge yawned. She was just doing her job. No need to go the extra mile.
"I shall inform the Viscountess, then," Janina said. "Yes. Make everything red," the Duchess smiled.
"Your Grace!"
A voice called as a young satyr woman galloped into the courtyard. "Hm?" the Duchess turned a sleepy gaze at the newcomer, "Juniper…what is the rush?"
"Announce yourself properly next time, will you? It's not right to just barge in," Janina scolded the other lady-in-waiting. The satyr blushed embarrassingly.
"Sorry! I-It's just… There's a letter from House Vincenzo. They'd like to add an additional person to the VIP list," she reported.
"From the Vincenzos, you say?" the Duchess said curiously, her deer legs adjusting so she could sit up, "But the invitation is only for the members of the main family. Are they sponsoring someone?"
"And preparations are nearly finished. Why come this late? We'll have to adjust everything if we're adding another one," Janina asked worryingly. "They're not sponsoring, Your Grace. It says in the letter that they wish for their daughter to join them now that she's come of age," Juniper said.
"A daughter?! B-But they never had a child…did they?" Janina asked. "Isabella only had one daughter, but it's been years since anyone saw her," the Duchess said, barely surprised.
Maybe it was a decade ago, but the Duchess recalls sending a gift for the birthday party of Isabella's child. But later as time passed, barely anyone saw the girl and gave birth to tasteless rumors. Some said the child died, some said it was kidnapping. But some of the more threatening rumors say that the child was wedded to a warlord overseas or that the child began studying a special variation of dream magic like her father.
Call her paranoid, but the latter rumors made sense to the Duchess. Even as a daughter, the child was the only heiress to the Vincenzo name. If she opened a path to power, there's no telling what House Vincenzo could achieve in the future. That would also explain why the Lord and Lady Vincenzo were reluctant to speak about the child's sudden disappearance.
"Hm… Send the invitation to House Vincenzo and make the proper adjustments to the ball," the Duchess said as she got up. "B-But… Yes, Your Grace," Janina bowed nervously when the Duchess glanced at her silently.
"Hm…" she said and picked a piece of fruit, "House Vincenzo has always behaved well. They never made a fuss like the rest so there's no harm granting their request. I'd also like to see how much their daughter has grown."
The Duchess munched her fruit gracefully, "Anyone would be curious about a girl that's been gone for years and suddenly comes back."
"Achoo!"
CK promptly covered her nose and mouth with her lace gloved hands. She made a small sniff, "Those fumes were something else."
"Were you experimenting again earlier, my sweet?" Flavio asked as he assisted Isabella into the carriage. "Yes, papa. Although it's nothing harmful, the fumes were quite irritable in a literal sense," CK sniffed again, "Should've worn a gas mask…"
"Yes. Do so next time," Flavio said. "Well, let's hope you won't get sick while we're at the event," Isabella sighed as she moved a hair strand away from CK's eyes, "Why must you do your experiments right before the event?"
"Apologies, mama. It's been a habit," CK smiled apologetically. "Looks like everyone is ready," Joaquin said as he checked inside the carriage.
"We're leaving now. Take over duties while we're away, Joaquin," Flavio said. "Yes, milord. Have fun at the event, everyone," Joaquin grinned.
"We'll back in a while," Isabella smiled. Joaquin bowed his head and closed the carriage doors, gesturing at the amphipteres. They released a small cry before taking off to the skies, easily gaining speed mid-air.
"I heard nobles from other cities and factions will be attending the ball. It might be crowded today," Flavio said. "There's only a handful of Talekeepers that graduated this year. Of course, they'll be curious to see who managed to get out," Isabella replied.
"A handful? I thought there were plenty of Talekeepers graduating yearly," CK said. "The academy has changed its curriculum while you were away, dear. Since then, the number of Talekeepers that graduated had been decreasing. Last year, there was a dozen. Now, you can count them within your fingers," Isabella said wryly.
"Must be the new curriculum," CK said thoughtfully. "Likely so. I'm not privy to the affairs of the academy, but word is that the curriculum was implemented by the newest member of the Marchen, which might be why the curriculum has been demanding," Flavio stated.
"There's a new addition to the Marchen?" CK asked, surprised. "Some things happened while you were away. There's only been one person who joined the ranks of the Marchen in the past four years," Flavio said mysteriously, "Since then, things have been…interesting."
"Huh," CK said and leaned back on the cushions. "But I can't imagine the academy being as difficult as the interstellar affairs of the Nonaphrontistery. It must be nice to graduate from there, isn't it?" Isabella asked with a smile.
"Haha! I didn't graduate from the place, mama," CK giggled. "What do you mean?" Isabella asked confusingly.
"Some things happened, and I decided to drop out the last minute," CK looked out the window as she answered evasively. Her parents merely shared glances before looking at CK.
They said nothing and CK didn't elaborate. CK decided to tell them about it when there was time. But right now, there was an event they had to attend.