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3. A Beautiful Gala

Ester

How Sirius was conceived was a story that a lot of the citizens of Nightveil didn't like telling.

King Chester was engaged to a member of a high-powered family. They were married by the time they were thirteen and pushed into having an heir.

Melinda Lavendale died in childbirth, leaving Chester Lavendale to become a widower with a child at 15 years old.

The entire event caused the entire kingdom to scream in outrage. Why should something like child marriages still exist in this day and age? It was bad enough that the children didn't have a choice, and now one had died doing something they weren't ready for. This pressured the previous ruler into changing the laws and raising the age that one could get legally married to 20 years old.

This was how King Chester became the father of a full grown adult while only being 37 himself. I replayed this information in my head while on the way to the gala. The sun had long started to set, creating a beautiful reddish orange hue in the sky.

"Sit up straight, Miss," Claire said. "Your mother and father wouldn't be happy to see you not maintaining posture."

There has never been a day when I've witnessed them be happy. "So, I'm guessing she won't be coming today, will she?"

Claire visibly swallowed and avoided my gaze.

"You know how dedicated your mother is to maintaining the house. She's far too busy to attend things like galas."

I frowned but kept my thoughts to myself. The fact that she wasn't coming, meant that her husband didn't allow her to.

I placed my hand out the car window and felt the breeze. Maybe if I was his real daughter, he would like me more. But ever since he brought me in to replace the real Ester, he despised me. Even if I was his wife's first child.

However, I put those thoughts behind me a long time ago. I shouldn't waste my second chance at life on them.

"Please be careful, what if something ripped the sleeve of your dress? It cost your parents a pretty penny."

I ignored her and continued to feel the breeze. "Isn't life beautiful, Claire?" I said. "Don't you think we sometimes take it for granted?"

Claire sighed and started tapping on her tablet. She was most likely giving an update to my parents.

"I would say, for you it is. You have two parents who love you and have doted on you since birth. Your family is among the most respected in the country. Not to mention that you hold the crown prince's heart. You have every reason to see life as beautiful. And it's not like you're ugly either."

"Hm. I see where you're coming from, but those things don't matter when you're dead."

She glanced at me sideways, but didn't say anything. Maybe in her mind I was simply an ungrateful brat that had it all.

Yet, it wasn't like that when my step-father approached me as I sat by my grandmother's dying body. I thought I was being accepted into a new family, that me and my mother would be reunited.

Boy, was I wrong.

As I got out of the car, I was once again reminded of the role I played in my family.

Cameras belonging to reporters and paparazzi nearly blinded me with their flashes. Regardless, I still gave them my smile. Just as instructed I posed so that everyone present could get a good view of my floor length blue dress that had a ruffled split that stopped at my mid-thigh.

"Miss Ester Hermonia, who made your dress?" Someone shouted.

Striding closer to the line that separated them from the walkway, I answered, "Regina Carpenter is the designer. She did an amazing job and I'm beyond amazed by how it turned out."

Another tried to push their microphone in my face. My bodyguard stepped forward, but I patted him on the arm to let him know that it was okay.

"Do you think that Prince Sirius will propose to you tonight?" The reporter said. "There have been rumors that you two are planning to tie the knot. Is there any truth to that?"

I laughed. "Those are just ridiculous rumors. Both of us are too preoccupied with our ambitions to think about marriage. But the night is still young, so who knows what will happen before the night is over?"

That response caused more reporters to bombard me with question after question. Claire took the initiative and led me away and up the steps to the palace doors. The security didn't have to check my identity before letting us inside.

As soon as the doors closed behind me, my nerves skyrocketed. No amount of flawless makeup or pinned-up hair could hide.

I needed to be here. This was the only way to get closer to King Chester and gather evidence against Sirius.

All I needed to do was behave exactly as I did in my past life.

"I'm going to look for something to drink," I whispered to Claire. Claire shook her head but didn't try to hold me back. "Fine, but don't be gone for too long."

"I'm only going to the other side of the ballroom, Claire. It'll only take a minute."

Before she could change her mind I started walking away. Never have I felt so unsettled being in the palace. I once saw this place as my escape, my happy ending. Now it echoed my sins right back at me.

"Ow!" I bumped into someone, causing both of us to stumble. "Be careful and watch where you walk!"

"I'm so sorry." Helping her steady herself, I sighed in relief when I saw that none of the juice spilled in her hand. My smile was hard to maintain, however, when I noticed who I bumped into.

"Oh, wait, I know you," Melissa stated. She placed the glass on the table and folded her arms over her yellow dress. "We've met before, haven't we? You're Sirius' little girlfriend."

Little? She never said that the first time she met me. In the past, it was Sirius who introduced us after we got engaged. She was polite back then.

I should keep in mind that there is a side to Melissa that I have never seen before.

I smiled. "Um, I don't think we've met. May I know your name?"

Her eyes stripped away my clothes, trying to find any insecurities they could exploit hidden deep within my skin. Suddenly, she smiled.

"That's alright. I'm Melissa. Sirius talks about you all the time, so I could recognize you from a glance. Seriously, tell him to tone it down."

Melissa giggled and I did as well.

She reached out and picked up one of the glasses. "May I offer you a toast?"

I shrugged and accepted the glass. She wouldn't do anything to me here. Plus, she had no reason to. "I don't see why not. What should we toast to?"

Melissa's long fingernails tapped on her chin. "How about our future? There are so many things to look forward to."

You have no idea. The polite smile remained on my face as our glasses clicked. "To our futures."

We took turns taking a sip of our drink.

A trumpet sounded. Even in this life, they were still annoying.

"Announcing the arrival of Crown Prince Sirius Hubert Malcom Alterstein Lavendale," the announcer said. "Kindly pay the proper respects."

He stepped to the side. At the top of the stairs stood the same young man I fell in love with, all dressed in formal royal gear. I placed my glass on the table and curtsied, but my eyes never left his face. The golden handle of his trusty sword glimmered in the light. His bright eyes observed the crowd with a gentle gaze. My hands unconsciously formed into fists.

"Greetings, your Royal Highness," everyone said in unison.

"Good evening to you all," Sirius said. He strode down the steps with a sense of eagerness to his movements. My heart beat in my ears and he made his way closer and closer to where I stood.

My instincts were telling me to position myself in a defensive stance in preparation for when he swung his sword at me. I had to keep telling myself that those events would only play out five years later. Yet, I still didn't feel safe.

The man who willingly drove a sword through me and framed me for the uprising now stood before me with the sweetest expression on his face.

"Sorry, my love," he said. He pecked my cheek. "I didn't make you wait long, did I?"

His kiss felt like boiling tar.

I could take him out right now and go to jail for it, my intrusive thoughts reasoned.

Hm. Better not.

I'll keep that stacked for Plan B.

"Not at all, Sirius." Even saying his name felt hard to do. "But if I said that you did, would you bring me something to drink? My throat is parched."

"You didn't even have to ask." Sirius kissed me again, on the lips this time, and it took everything I had not to scowl.

He hurried to get what I requested. I looked around. Claire normally backed off when I was near Sirius, so she didn't see when I slipped through the crowd and escaped through a servant's door. As soon as it closed behind me, I leaned against it, trying to catch my breath.

My hands were shaking uncontrollably. Why? I didn't need this right now.

This door led to a hallway that would eventually lead me to the stairs going up to the second floor. I hid myself from any servants or guards who walked by. The lighting was dim, however I made it to my goal without any issues.

At the end of a deserted hallway on the second floor, there was a balcony.

I turned the handle, and was immediately hit with a gust of wind and flying white curtains.

The moon shone like it was the main female lead in an Eastern drama.

My legs carried me to the banister where I rested my arms. There was no view of the capital city from here, but I could enjoy a view of the landscape. The rolling hills, long valleys, and plateaus that made up our kingdom. All of it was basked in the soft glow of the moon's light.

Such a tranquil scene did wonders in calming my nerves. I clasped my palms together.

"Oh King of Gods, Scepter, you know me and are aware that I shouldn't be alive right now. Please show me a sign that I'm doing the right thing and that at the end of the day, this will all be worth it. If not, I'll stop what I'm doing right now, steal money from my parents, and vanish from the kingdom before the sun rises."

Everything around me remained still. Then, a single moving shadow defied the light of the moon.

It glided across the mountains leaving a gust of wind following its wake. It didn't stop even as it got closer and closer to the palace. Soon, I was able to make out that the shadow had wings. And the person who owned it had reached their final destination.

I wasn't able to make out the color of the dragon as the wind created by its large wings was too powerful. I closed my eyes to keep the dust out.

But I knew where it was headed.

As soon as the breeze passed, I looked up. There were footsteps coming from the balcony on the floor above me. Could it be, Anna?

Anna hadn't awakened yet, and everyone thought she never would. That image of Anna bursting through the dungeon in the form of a white dragon kept playing over and over again in my mind. What if it really was her and she had awakened earlier than I thought?

Only one way to find out.

There was a thick vine that spiraled all the way to the roof. I hiked my skirt up until it wasn't in the way anymore. Even with a split, it would be difficult to climb up.

I stood at the top of the banister and jumped.

My fingers wrapped around the vine that looked the strongest. Once they had a firm grip, I pulled myself up. I could have used my abilities to get there, but I could handle this much.

I continued to climb until my silver heels could touch the wooden banister of the new balcony.

After I established a good footing, a breath of relief left my mouth and I released my hold. That was a mistake.

I should have lowered myself onto the balcony before letting go. My shoes weren't meant for sneaking up palace walls. All it took was a slight bending of the knee for my foot to slip.

My heart skipped a beat. Quickly! I had to apply strength to my limbs so that they wouldn't be broken by the fall!

I could feel gravity pulling me. Just when I was about to tap into my power, someone grabbed me by the arm and the waist. They successfully stopped my fall.

Chester Lavendale's burning gaze took me in like a puzzled archaeologist trying to figure out a newly discovered artifact. Moonlight reflected off his raven black hair.

"I don't think falling from 60 feet is suitable for a woman of your caliber," he said with the faint hint of a smile.

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