Rise of Winter, Week 4, Day 4

The Nemo estate, a sprawling sight, was bustling with activity. Carriages and horses formed a line, dropping off the attendees. Some would stay in the stables or a nearby field designated for carriages, while others would leave and return in the morning. A few would not return at all, choosing to walk home or hitch a ride in another’s carriage.

Most of the attendees had arrived by the two-hour mark, many of which were nobles, or merchants, or knights. Some were wealthy commoners, last name or no. Most of the adult attendees had brought their eldest child —if they did not have an Awakened child close enough in age to Lady Fredericka to be believable as a friend.

They were all gathered and escorted as families from the main entrance to the Grand Ballroom, a separate wing of the manor that was familiar to most of the attendees, as it was where most festivals began and ended in Hernel. Some, who were new to their wealth or station, looked on in awe. This was most common with the freshly Awakened children, noble or otherwise.

For Lady Fredericka’s Affirmation, many nobles had been notified weeks in advance should they decide to travel to the Capital of the North, thus, it was busier than an average ball. Some of the farther nobles, the ones on the outskirts, had already been in town prior to Lady Fredericka’s Awakening in anticipation of her Affirmation and accompanying celebration. Thus, they were eager for the ball to commence.

It was with that anticipation that the grand staircase at the far end of the grand ballroom was circled, the attendees hoping to be in the vicinity when the lord rulers of Nemo decided to descend.

At the two-hour fifteen-minute mark, two footmen appeared, one on each side of the ornate black doors at the top of the grand staircase.

“Now presenting Lord Bridian Nemo and Lady Aster Nemo, the Marquis and Marchioness of Hernel, Rulers of the Moors.”

The oversized doors opened, revealing a beautiful pink-haired woman with intricate braids creating a crown atop her head with delicate curls that cascaded over her shoulders and an overly tall man with blonde hair and shining orange eyes. They were each in silver with black stars adorning their outfits.

The doors swung closed with a heavy thud behind them. The couple was smiling gently at one another before stepping down the stairs arm in arm.

A slow descent later found the couple taking their seats atop a stage set up with four seats. Two oversized chairs, one slightly smaller and more delicate than the other, and two plush chairs roughly half the size of the smallest of the other two chairs. The smaller set was to the left, and the larger set to the right, all equidistant from each other. Lord Bridian and Lady Aster took the smaller seats.

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With a loud clearing of his throat, one of the footmen stepped forward from the door with a silver staff with a star adorning the top of it.

“Now presenting the Lord Regent of Nemo, Descendant of Gregror Nemo, Overseer of Nemo as proclaimed by the First Queen of Maeve, Priya, Holder of the Dark, Lord of the Great Avoidance, Duke Frederick Nemo.”

As the great doors opened, men bowed, and women curtsied. Children mimicked their parents, or they looked on in awe as the Duke of Nemo entered alone. These children, who couldn't help but stare, were the only ones to see a head of pink hair appear at the edge of the door, a smile on the girl’s face as she surveyed the room. Then she disappeared as quickly as she’d appeared, and all the children looked around as if to convince themselves it was real.

The Duke was presented with the silver staff with the four-pointed star that often was used to represent Nemo and looked around the room with a smile. He caught the eye of one of the staring children and winked. Then he was descending the stairs. In his prime, the Duke was a handsome man, and in his age, he grew even more so. His silver hair was slicked back, and he was in a pitch-black suit with silver accents. Around his shoulders was a silver cloak that billowed as he walked.

The hall was silent as he made his way to the stage. Once he was standing before the oversized seat, he spoke.

“Stand, and behold the Heir to Nemo.”

Then he took his seat and looked at the closed doors. No one had noticed them slam shut behind the man, not when his aura alone kept the attendees standing, empowering them to maintain their bows and curtsies. With his words, though, everyone in the room stood and looked up at the grand staircase once more.

“Now presenting the Heir to the Dukedom of Nemo, Descendant of Gregor Nemo, the Future Overseer of Nemo as proclaimed by the First Queen of Maeve, Priya, Holder of Blazing Light, Lady Fredericka Nemo.”

As the black doors opened, a small girl appeared. She was dressed in brown, tapered slacks and a billowing multi-colored top that ranged from orange to red that cinched at her waist. She was a stark contrast to the blacks and silvers of her family. Even the way her hair hung loose around her shoulders showed her nonchalance.

As Lady Fredericka entered, two feelings persisted. One of awe swept over the room, and the other of warmth. The awe was simple to explain, for this was the next Heir to Nemo. Their future ruler. The warmth was a subtle thing, though, and it eased many of the attendees' nerves —especially those of the children. The two conflicting auras made her seem both more and less.

It was almost enough for the merchants and nobles to ignore the pink metal accents, which had the unique shine of opulence and matched Lady Fredericka’s hair.

As Lady Fredericka approached the railing of the top of the staircase, a grin formed on her face and she waved down at the room.

And then she was atop the banister and jumping from the top of the staircase to the floor.

No.

Not the floor.

Everyone had the same realization at once.

Lady Fredericka had not descended the left or right side of the stairs. Instead, she had made her own set of fiery steps.