5. Coming of age ceremony.

After dining with the Valtoria family, I realized they weren't so terrible after all. They genuinely care for Meredia, even if Kirill's attitude was a bit questionable, he was probably still upset about her attempt to end her life.

After breakfast, I headed straight to the library, where I spent the rest of the day. With every book I opened, I felt a little more prepared for the role I needed to play to avoid Meredia's grim fate.

In the evening, I stood up after eight hours of intense reading. My back ached like I was an eighty-year-old woman, and my eyes were watery from the dim, non-electric lighting.

Feeling hungry, I opened the library's door and was greeted once again by Fenric and Kael. Fenric, older and with Oliver green hair and brown eyes probably around 24 or 25, stood tall and stoic. Kael, younger and closer to my age, with peachy hair and peachy eyes around 17 or 18, bounced with excitement.

In the real world, I would be 18 in a month. My impending birthday and my untimely death made me sad, but Kael's eager voice snapped me out of it.

“Lady, what did you study about?” he asked, practically vibrating with curiosity.

“Ah, I studied Valkathra's history and magic.”

Kael gasped dramatically. “Magic! It’s prohibited for common people here. What’s the use of studying about it?”

Oh, right. Magic had a dark history in this world. Once permitted, it was now banned for non-prominent people due to its misuse for nefarious purposes. The Temple had outlawed it, and anyone caught practicing magic without aetherbind was sentenced to death.

As my stomach growled loudly, Kael laughed, making me feel embarrassed.

“Lady, you should go to the kitchen to grab some food,” he suggested, still chuckling.

I sighed, “Yeah, right. I’ll do that.”

Fenric chimed in with a smile, “We’ll escort you, Lady. Wouldn’t want you getting lost on your way to the kitchen now, would we?”

I grinned, “With bodyguards like you, how could I?”

Fenric said, "You're mistaking us for guards, Lady. We are actually knights."

Huh? What? Knights? I thought they were palace guards.

Kael puffed out his chest. "Lady, I'm a new knight, and I will diligently protect you. With my life if necessary!"

I raised an eyebrow, "Really? Are you sure you’re not just the guy who makes sure the library books don’t get lonely?"

Kael looked wounded. "Hey! I'll have you know I'm a very serious knight. Just last week, I fought off a rogue squirrel in the garden."

I chuckled, "I trust you. Especially with squirrel-related emergencies."

...____________________________...

I was sprawled across Meredia's opulent bed, trying on a glittering necklace I found behind that Golden Door, which turned out to be her royal wardrobe. The necklace seemed to weigh more than my entire future.

The room was bursting with enough dresses, jewels, and shoes to make any fashion magazine editor weep with joy, or send a fashion disaster running for the hills in sheer panic.

Suddenly, a burst of panic hit me.

Oh no! IAMGOINGTODIEANDIHAVENOPLAN!WKDWIWKSK!!

I mean, seriously, what am I supposed to do? How do I escape this marriage with the prince? It’s like trying to dodge a royal carriage on a unicycle!

When did Meredia even meet this prince? Did she accidentally bump into him while trying on the world's most elaborate pair of shoes? How am I supposed to avoid a marriage when I didn't even know when it was happening?

Desperately, I flopped onto the bed, clutching a sequined gown. “Maybe if I hide under this gown long enough, they’ll forget I’m here!”

Just as I was about to try on a particularly extravagant hat, because obviously, that was the answer to all my problems, the door knocked again. The butler's voice came through, sounding as if he had memorized every door in the palace.

“Lady Meredia, the Duchess is calling for you.”

I groaned and sat up, juggling a pile of jewelry that seemed to have a personal vendetta against me. “For the love of velvet gowns, what now?”

As I wobbled towards the door, clutching a ridiculous feathered hat on my head, I could almost hear the butler’s sigh of relief on the other side. He probably thought I’d gotten lost in a sea of fabric and sequins and was about to send a search party to rescue me.

I called out, “Tell her I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’m just trying to decide whether this hat screams ‘princess’ or ‘fashion disaster’.”

There was a brief pause before the butler’s voice returned, sounding as if he was suppressing a chuckle. “Very well, Lady Meredia. I’ll relay your message.”

As I closed the door, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Here I was, trying to avoid a royal engagement by fussing over hats and jewels. Maybe this whole princess gig wasn’t as glamorous as it seemed.

I knocked on the Duchess' door and, after a few moments, was greeted by her lady-in-waiting.

“Lady Meredia,” she said with a curtsy, “Lady Duchess will see you now.”

I stepped inside and stood near the door, feeling a bit out of place in the opulent room. Duchess was seated at her dressing table, brushing her hair in front of a grand mirror.

“Mother?” I called out.

She glanced at me through the reflection and smiled. “Sit, Meredia.”

I eased onto the chaise across from her, trying to look calm despite the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. She turned and took a seat in front of me, her expression tender.

“Mery,” she began.

Mery. The nickname felt like a warm hug from the past, even though I hadn’t lived those memories. It was a strange comfort.

“Mery, you’re turning 18 in a few days, and your coming-of-age ceremony will be held. Are you excited about it?”

I froze for a moment. Oh my goodness, I’d completely forgotten! It was Meredia’s birthday, too, what a twist of fate. The thought that my birthday would be celebrated so grandly made my heart swell with warmth and a touch of relief.

Seeing the smile spread across my face, my mother’s expression softened. “I see you’re excited,” she placed her hands gently on mine. “Given everything that’s happened, we thought we might need to postpone the ceremony. But seeing you maturing so quickly and getting better, I think we can proceed with it as planned.”

I tried to stay composed, but inside, I was bubbling with both excitement and a dash of panic. A grand celebration, perfect for hiding a little royal drama.

..._______________________...

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