Two days had passed by since the meeting with the King.
Adelheid's parents had not been pleased to leave the palace without so much as exchanging pleasantries with His Majesty.
Their pride already bubbled at the thought of boasting to other lords and ladies once they returned—"Our daughter, betrothed to His Majesty himself." But Adelheid didn't feel the same way.
If anything, she was relieved the King hadn't met them.
She could already imagine the whirlwind that would follow once the engagement became official - the flood of congratulations from some, envy from others. For someone who had always lingered in the background, the prospect of such attention felt suffocating.
Her chest tightened at the image of standing before those prying eyes.
She had told her parents the proposal was genuine, though she kept the full truth to herself.
She claimed that the King had not offered much explanation, merely said he had "taken an interest" in her - a phrase so often used by men of power it had lost any real meaning. Her parents accepted it without protest.
Why wouldn't they? Love was rarely a factor in unions. To them, this was nothing short of a miracle.
Her mother had, unsurprisingly, erupted in excitement, already spinning plans for the grand announcement and the upcoming Roulette Tournament the King had invited them to.
The event was exclusive - invitation only, reserved for the crème de la crème of the society.
It would be their first time among such companies.
"This will make your skin glow!" Lady Evelyn gripped Adelheid's arm tightly with one arm, an oil-lotion bottle in the other. She began to massage the sticky liquid into her daughter's skin. The lotion stung slightly, but Adelheid said nothing.
"Of course, Mother."
Her mother rattled off its benefits: how it would banish every blemish, every trace of fatigue and worry, and bring a radiance that would blind everyone.
Adelheid's eyes quietly wandered the latter's face as she worked.
Her mother was in her fifties, the years weighed heavily on her. Fine lines etched around her mouth and eyes, brows perpetually furrowed. Her hair was tightly pulled back, strands of gray weaving through dark hair, all swept into a knot.
"Mother.." Adelheid started, but her voice was cut off sharply.
"I'm done." Lady Evelyn announced, stepping back. "Don't be late for the Whittmore's house. And remember your manners."
Adelheid watched her mother swipe her hands with a pristine handkerchief before walking away.
There was no longer room for sentiment. Her mother hadn't been like this. But after marrying her stepfather, something changed.
Climbing the social ladder had only seemed to harden her, and Adelheid, who learned to weather this, often bore the brunt of her mother's frustration.
Yilda was gone, Russell was sent off to some academy, an arrangement forced by her stepfather. And Adelheid was the only child left.
Yilda.
The name made her heart ache. She wondered if her mother knew of the love Yilda and the King had once shared. Likely not, if she did, she'd probably use it as leverage somehow.
Before she could dwell any longer, Beatrice entered the room, arms full with a gown that shimmered like soft purple twilight.
Today, Adelheid was to attend her friend's, Sorae's, small gathering - tea party in name, but formally titled "Elysian Afternoon Soirée.
Beatrice helped her dress, adjusting a stray lock of hair, and then, with a soft squeeze of her hand, escorted her out.
As Adelheid descended the manor's stairs, her eyes caught movement near the study. The door was slightly ajar, revealing her stepfather in conversation with a man whose back faced her.
He was slim, with long dark hair. It reminded her of the other night, when she found her father talking to a strange man in the living area.
Her father meanwhile caught her sight from where she stood, and she quickly averted her gaze, flustered she'd been caught.
From the corner of her eyes, she saw her father signal at his secretary, and the door was shut at once.
Adelheid paused, her gaze lingered on the door for a while, before she averted it, and stepped outside.
She didn't take the carriage. Sorae's house was close enough, and walking helped erase her thoughts.
People stared as she passed through the town's square. The gossip about her family's financial problems - most likely already spread throughout by the Langstons.
Lord Gerald Langston was known to be a dangerous man, known for his fury more than his intellect - but very profitable when it came to business.
Thus, the reason behind her stepfather's risky step to establish a business with him, which expectedly, backfired.
Though she wondered why they hadn't come to demand their collateral.
As she arrived at The Whitmore's residence, the gates opened and Sorae came bounding toward her with a bright smile and a hug that nearly suffocated Adelheid to death.
"Oh Adel, It's been too long!"
Sorae had been away for the past four months in the neighboring kingdom, attending to diplomatic matters with her father. Unlike Adelheid, Sorae had no brothers.
As the eldest child, she'd been raised to take part in state affairs from age twelve. Adelheid admired her for it, and perhaps, envied her too.
"How was Rosevald?" Adelheid asked and Sorae linked hands with her, waving the other in the air.
"Oh, please. I won't bore you with dull politics. What I do want to know, is why you've been ignoring my letters!"
Adelheid offered a faint smile. "I've been.. distracted."
She wondered how Sorae would react hearing about her alliance with the King. A man none of them had ever dreamt they'd be able to meet.
Sorae opened her mouth to reply, but another voice interrupted.
"Children come this way!" Lady Mireille Whitmore called from her white garden chair, waving them over.
Lady Mireille was a woman carved from elegance - high cheekbones, icy blue eyes and silver streaked ash-dark hair.
Unlike Adelheid's own mother, Mireille treated her as one of her own. There had been a time, years ago, when things were unbearably difficult. That day, Lady Mireille had looked at her with a gentleness she'd never seen, squeezed her hands and whispered;
If you ever need a new family, this door is always open.
Adelheid had thanked her, but politely declined. Her family - complicated as they were - were still her blood. And Russell.. she could never abandon him.
The thought of her brother tightened something in her chest. It had been a while since she'd written to him.
"How have you been?" Lady Mireille asked, her gaze gentle.
Adelheid smiled faintly, nodding. "I've been fine."
The older woman studied her for a long moment, as though she could see through the smile, before she nodded with understanding.
"Lady Whitmore." A deep voice cut in. "Let the young ladies enjoy their time. She came to have fun with Rae."
Lord Sebastian Whitmore approached, his presence commanding yet kind.
Lady Mireille huffed playfully at her husband's interruption, and Sorae, her daughter - looped her arm around Adelheid's.
"Come, Adel." Sorae teased. "If you stay here, Mom will bore you to death."
The two women exchanged playful glares before Adelheid chuckled softly at their antics.
Sorae tugged Adelheid toward the far end of the courtyard.
Where neatly trimmed flowers formed a border around the large gathering space.
The Whitmores were comfortably wealthy, with Lord Sebastian holding the prestigious title; Royal Comptroller, a position Adelheid's stepfather eyes enviously.
Suddenly, a small figure - no older than five or six, raced towards them and threw tiny arms around Adelheid's skirt.
"Adel!"
Adelheid crouched down, catching the little hands in hers and pressing a soft kiss to them.
"Hello, Lina."
Lina was Sorae's little sister. Ever since Adelheid had sat the girl through a terrible fever - holding her hand until sleep came. Lina, a total sweetness, had adored her since. Always clinging to her anytime she came around.
Sorae sighed dramatically.
"Go play with your dolls, Lina. Everyone here wants to steal Adel away from me."
The little girl stuck out her tongue before scurrying off, and Adelheid gave Sorae a look.
"You bully your sister too much. She just wants to stay with us."
Arm in arm, the two girls wandered further into the courtyard, where the other young nobles, all neatly dressed for the Elysian Afternoon Soiree, waited.
Soraea squeezed Adelheid's hand and whispered. "Trust me, that girl over there? Devil in disguise. Just waiting for the right moment to show her claws."
Adelheid shook her head at her friend's exaggeration.
"Oh, and by the way.." Sorae added, eyes sparkling. "I met someone, Adel."
Surprise washed over Adelheid's face. Sorae had never shown much interest in anyone, so the sudden confession caught her off guard.
Sorae pouted. "Don't look at me like that! I am capable of affections."
Adelheid laughed. "It's not like that. You court men, then court other men behind their backs—"
Sorae's hand shot up, quickly clamping over Adelheid's mouth. "Shhh! Someone might hear!"
Adelheid, genuinely concerned, darted her eyes.
If anyone heard her rebellious friend courting men, talk less of being with other men during her courtships, a scandal would erupt.
Fortunately, no one was within where they stood.
Adelheid's eyes dropped to the palm still clasped tightly around her mouth. "It's okay now, no one's here." She whispered.
Sorae only heard muffled up words. "Huh?"
Adelheid bit down on Sorae's palm, making her squeal, finally pulling her hand back with a yell.
"I said it was okay now."
Sorae huffed, rubbing her hand.
"Why do you have to bite? Sometimes I wonder if you sharpen your teeth on knives!"
Adelheid chuckled. "There's only one way to find out."
Sorae mock-shrieked and shot her hand forward dramatically, "Don't come near me, you–"
Their banter was cut off by a voice from behind.
"Ladies, are you meant to be on this side of the manor? The courtyard isn't far."
Adelheid and Sorae both turned, and frowned simultaneously.