Inside the hall, Francheska took a quick snack and made her way to a group of ladies.
Francheska was warmly greeted by them and got to tell each other made-up aliases. The young lass was grateful for this event, to freely talk to one another without minding one another's boundaries is the best.
One of the ladies mentioned a couple who romantically untied a ribbon, and upon hearing it, Francheska blushed from embarrassment from the realization of their action– she did not expect people would interpret it ‘romantically’ that way. Francheska was still not used to how such small gestures would have a great impact.
Aside from the other ‘romantic’ happenings in the party, the topic of the conversation shifted. Francheska also heard their thoughts about the handsome men of the empire. It was obvious of course, the well-known men: the crown prince Gerald Jon Asopher, the son of the count lord William Dante Cosimo, and the knight Sir Liam Salvia. They also mentioned some men of the empire, but ladies gushed more at these three, they had the people’s attention, especially the– ladies.
“Ah, just to have a chance to dance with the crown prince would make my lifetime longer– I envy the crown princess so much… to be betrothed to a man like that…” a lady spoke openly of her daydream that the majority of the ladies sighed in agreement.
“Hey–! I just had some information,” another lady interrupted, “the unknown lady in the crown princess’s debut who danced longer with his Highness is a commoner!” Everyone then gasped from shock at the news.
“oh my– how dare she!” The ladies fussed about the female lead's existence.
‘Huh, I did not know the ladies felt this way…’ Francheska thought to herself.
“Isn't she from a noble family?” Francheska with her curiosity asks the ladies for a confirmation.
“Yes, a ‘former’ commoner– the Galkien household adopted her… and to be frank, how dare the Galkiens show their faces of what they did to her highness! So shameless, No etiquette and decency!” The same lady said as she gave additional information to them, that the majority of them nodded in agreement, expressing their disdain for the family.
“That aside, her Highness's debut was magical, even better than what the party the crown prince had! I do not want to put shame, but the Hartpinjer on that night was the one who made a historical moment!” One of the ladies gushed happily, even fanning herself faster out of excitement.
The ladies happily synchronized with each other, that they were envious of that party, revealing that they also sent letters to the crown princess to try to communicate and invite her to parties. Although they doubt about the parties for they think they could not surpass nor grab the attention of her highness.
Francheska was there with them gossiping and laughing about what the ladies thought of her.
This certainly lifts Francheska’s spirits. For a very long time– she was able to be normal for once. Being cooped up for many years in their mansion, and releasing tension from her shoulders made her hope for life.
Standing up from her seat, she informed the ladies of her departure.
As expected Sir Salvia was still on his spot, presumably keeping a watchful eye on her. When he noticed her, they both walked side by side in the hallway.
“Sir Salvia, can you find out which noble family they are from?” Francheska then stopped in the distance, pointing to three ladies in the same spot where she had just left.
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Upon Her Highness’s request, the knight silently nodded and memorized the appearance of the three ladies she pointed out as they continued their way for the exit.
The knight helped Francheska to the carriage, he too then went to his horse and made his way back home.
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That morning, Francheska decided to eat her breakfast in their garden gazebo. Servants never question her highness’s ideas but her knight sure was puzzled enough to ask– rather his lack of understanding of the atmosphere was one of the reasons.
“Your Highness, you dislike eating together with ‘them’ do you?”
Eyes like knives glared in the knight’s direction, that somehow the knight was so taken aback by the servants' hostility towards him that they forgot his status.
But before Sir Salvia could apologize, Her Highness let out a laugh that got everyone’s attention from the knight to Her Highness, whose eyes softened with concern. Francheska raised her gloved hand to stop them– rather to give herself some time to finish her laugh and catch a breath.
“It is alright Sir Salvia, you’re the first to ask. No one wants me to indulge in such questions– I understand of course. Anyway! Yes, I very much dislike dining with them. If my mind remembers…” Francheska recalled by counting with her fingers, “Four times…?” Francheska shrugged her shoulders, “It is enough for me, it is awkward to have a table conversation with them. I’d rather have them once or twice a year.” Francheska honestly said, grabbing her cup to freshen her throat and continuing to devour her breakfast.
For the next half hour, Francheska read the information her knight gave to her about the ladies she asked for. Francheska learned a lot, especially about the three ladies' names: Edith Rowell, Cecilia Lorynd, and Mabel Polvie. These ladies did not offend her or anything, rather they were so skilled with gossip that they could be valuable allies to her in navigating high society and in court. Surprisingly, it seemed that for Francheska these ladies would be the greatest card that she had picked.
Francheska ordered one of her servants to throw away the papers discreetly, she then stood up from her seat and had a trek around the perimeter. Unconsciously Francheska’s feet got her to the place where she usually escapes to town. Before she had the servants behind her realize, she stood frozen and found an excuse to be alone, with her knight four feet away from her.
Walking up to their large single tree on a hill, Francheska sat on the grass and leaned her back to the tree as she watched the beautiful view of the morning sun shining brightly above the meadow. Closing her eyes to feel the breeze, these were the moments where Francheska was happy to be mindless, not overthinking.
“Don’t just stand there under the sun, come to the shade!” Francheska shouted to Sir Salvia.
Liam hesitated for a bit, and later moved to the opposite bark of the tree from Francheska, maintaining a respectful distance.
“One of the reasons I don’t eat with ‘them’ is because I never really belonged here.” Francheska paused if it was right to continue but it was best to tell him– her knight who could hardly relate to her woes and would not understand, “I was born ‘here’, ate delicious food, wear dresses from best boutiques and designers– everything really that anyone in the empire envies… I know I have the best life boo hoo~” Francheska mocked herself like a kid.
“...everyone only sees the shell of me, not the real me– maybe that is too much to ask. It is probably best for them to not know anything… I’m boring after all– unseasoned, the drama I hear and read on papers of me had much personality than the actual me hahaha” Another mocking laugh from her, sighing again, Francheska eyed one of the flowers and dazed with her heavy eyelids with a sense of longing.
“I wish my life was peaceful like this…”
“Then you should have run away with that farm boy!” Liam’s stern voice was out of the blue.
“I’m just an observer but I understand now what position you are in your highness.” Liam walked to Francheska’s view and put one knee before her, so they could see each other eye level.
“My sworn duty is to protect you, and you only. I know, hearing from me is doubtful to Your Highness for I also serve your house, under their name and care. You still have the time to shorten the distance now–”
“I’m grateful for your honesty Sir, but with a life like mine, there is no retreating for a haven. I was taught many things that I cannot let go of, and have experiences that honed my skill– Everything handed to me for they see the potential in me, I will not let anyone take away what was given to me– even if it drives me crazy, I will take it back no matter what.” Francheska with confidence in her voice cut his thoughts to tell her knight.
Francheska was taken aback by what Liam told her, grateful for his servitude to their house– what she was seeing now, Liam staring back at her in the aftermath of her debut. It seemed seeing the female lead got him to realize his position.
They already had this talk, the potential they possessed that could benefit the empire– the people, that sacrificing one’s desire is the best course of action.
Francheska wants to apologize for her reply, but she already made a choice. It was one of her lists of choices, and being selfish has the absolute victory in surviving.
She stood up from where she sat while the knight too, she gave him a curtsy and made her way. Francheska called out to her trusted maid from a distance for her to return to her room.
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“Here, give these letters to their proper owner.” The servant then bowed to Her Highness, receiving the three letters on hand.
Standing up from her chair to her window sill to look at the same view since she was little, it is still a pretty and wonderful view– just as expected in a fictional world, very otherworldly, the best medicine for healing her heart.
The colors of the sky were the same when she bid farewell to her first love, but even so, she never hated it. Rather it made her think of what is beyond the colors of the sky could reach, besides the cage of her home, a fictional world that is too big enough to be wasted not to be explored.
Smiling to herself, excitement rises to her senses for what she might hear from the three ladies when they finally meet.