III. What's in a Ball

“A marriage proposal has arrived, Cassey.”

“A marriage proposal? Who? And to whom?”

Mother ignored my questions and proceed to father's room.

"Morga, please assist them," I commanded Morga, my mother's lady-in-waiting.

"And Morga, prepare tea for us afterwards. It's been so long since we had tea together."

"As you wished, milady."

The living room in the master’s bedroom is spacious, with enormous paintings of red roses that my mother loved so dearly. In the middle of all these roses is the biggest painting in the estate – a family portrait. Mother and the Count looked so young back then, since it was painted on their wedding day. Ashanti looks pretty even as a young child. Her silver, wavy hair, those attractive blue eyes, and her naturally crimson lips stood out the most in the painting. She’s so unlike me, who’s born pale and timid.

“I guess I told you countless times that you look dumb when you’re spacing out,” I sneered at the sudden remark of my mother.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a good look of this painting. It wasn’t just... spacing out. You should at least make things favorable for your daughter.” Mother’s black eyes were furious, looking straight to my soul. I never hated those eyes but somehow they scare me.

“You don’t wanna be the ungrateful daughter, right? Then you should be careful with your words, especially when it’s against the Timmerhaus.” My fingers pressed against the table I’m leaning into. Mother was playing with the red feather in her pen.

“Mother, I’d rather hear you explain the thing about that marriage proposal than hurt my ears with the redundant reprimands.” I stopped her as I sensed the detour she made to avoid the issue she raised herself. However, like a psycho who glued herself in the middle of the road, she’s standing in front of the car who might be me, waiting for me to hit her and take responsibility for her ignorance. 

The gentle knocks on the door interrupted our tranquil staring contest. It’s as if it rained magically on us, and the psycho was unglued from her position. I caressed the rose she handed to me as she moved away.

“Stop spacing out, idiot.” My fists balled as I looked at the terrible face mother is making.

“So when are you going to satisfy me with a convincing answer?” I asked her while sipping the tea Morga has prepared.

“Your wrong choice of words is... hahay... When will you be responsible?”, I kept gulping and swallowing the saliva and lumps I feel. Morga was looking sideways, but she’s smiling slyly. Our gazes met and she gleamed brighter. I smiled back, and stared back at mother.

“Sorry. I can’t help but think why would mother delay explaining the situation, when she’s actually the one who brought it up. Did you actually forgot what to say?” Her expressions dimmed and she spread her velvety fan.

“Noble women of all ages use this to hide their mouth. For a long time, social tea parties served as a venue of all those wars, and it had caused many wars too. The one with a humbler family is usually the one who crawls back to the dust.”

“This is a matter of status and influence. Don’t we had enough?” Mother put down her fan slowly. She stood up and reached my cheeks, caressed it softly.

“Marriage is a woman’s strong hold. It bounds the husband and wife to a definite time both of them can decide. Eventually, they’d spend steamy nights for the sake of the heir. Finally, when things are settled and given to their right places, a child’s success becomes the blessing of a mother...” she paused and looked at me. “But a child’s mistake is a mother’s deathbed.”

“I... I am not satisfied with your answer. But, I’ll leave it be. I’ll let the secrets unfold by themselves.” I uttered and placed my tea gently on the glass table. The infuriating sound of the teacup touching the table torments me, as the silence of the room enhances the echo of that sound. The last thing I did was a walkout.

-

Several days have passed and things got back to normal. Mother has maintained her reputation, so as Ashanti. The count, however, made himself into news headlines as he was seen recently with the several ladies he held in the past. That caused a heavier burden on me, as mother focused on clearing the rumors and the liquidation of the expenses for the proclamation ball I never enjoyed.

 “Come in.”

Morga came holding an esteemed invitation. An esteemed invitation is an invitation from a fellow noble clan. It’s empowered by the emperial consent to hold a banquet- whether it’s a grandiose or a humble one.

“From whose family was it, Morga?” She handed the invitation to me.

“See it for yourself, that’s what ‘she’ said.”

 “I wonder whose family took interest in a black- haired girl.”

“I shall leave now, Lady.”

As soon as Morga left, I prepared myself for a dine. The count was away to support his nephew’s knight entrance ceremony, and Ashanti attended a tea party. If I’m lucky enough, I may not run into anyone in this family.

That’s what I thought but...

“It’s nice to see my daughter dressed up for a meal. I guess the ball later won’t be too hard for you, am I right, Lady Cassey?” Mother fetched the roasted turkey for me.

“Although I am initially uninterested, Mother’s remarks on my approach today is pleasing and alluring. It made me think if Ashanti has heard the same for the past years. It must have been nice being praised for barely breathing.” Mother loudly placed the plate in front of me.

“It must have been sad for my daughter to hear her mother praise her student before her.”

-

Cassey’s smirk faded eventually. Her mother lifted her buttocks off the chair.

“I’m hopeful that your image for the ball will suit the Timmerhaus, just like my dearest Ashanti.”

Cassey was teary eyed, but she never stopped eating. Before she could even swallow her favorite turkey wings, the tears fell down.

“What a shame. Now this food will be spoiled, pfft...” She laughed at the thought of her misery.

The sun has set before one could notice. There was an infuriating traffic ahead of the Timmerhaus carriage caused by the sudden inspection.

“The imperial family may think they are amazing by doing this, but little do they know, they’re gently slapped by massive amount of despise.” The countess of Timmerhaus blew a gasket as soon as she became aware of the situation.

“Since it’s a decree, we have no right to refuse it. Mother knows that best.”

“It’s because of you! How could you be so clueless about fashion trends? Didn’t you read those in novels? How, why, even in the smallest things, you still fail?”

Cassey kept up with a straight face as she answers in a mild tone, “The dress I picked earlier is decent and it gives off a sense of modesty and elegance that reminds of the Timmerhaus- Shut it!” although flinching, Cassey smiled at her mother’s pissed visage, since she knew she couldn’t be angry of her mother even if her very words haunt her.

“If it wasn’t for me, you would look like trash in the ballroom. You are my daughter so have some shame.”

Cassey chose to smile brightfully and humor the countess throughout the whole ride.

“Countess Corsant Liracynthia Timmerhaus enters!”

“Lady Cassey Timmerhaus enters!”

The two gracefully bowed as to present themselves. The countess was ushered by a random esteemed gentleman, while Cassey ushered herself. The eyes that fixated on her made her feel uncomfortable, but she hid those behind a firm smile. Her jaws may lock from smiling, but to her, it doesn’t matter. She needs to find a potential marriage partner before the main character arrives. Just in case no one approaches her, she also prepared a backup plan at the back of her mind.

“How have you been, mother?” and the plan starts with a question.

Her mother was confused at first, but seeing how her child unexpectedly carried such dignified look, she starts smiling and gets closed to her. “I was wondering where you have been. But seeing how you were still composed, I guess you have found pleasure in this occasion.”

“I am truly pleased to have such privilege. I hope you are pleased too, Mother.”

“Who might this girl be?” A man probably in his fifties asked. He was the one who ushered mother earlier, too. Might he be-

“She is my daughter, Duke Morelli. Lady Cassey Timmerhaus, please greet him.”

“Greetings Duke Laudicus Morelli. It’s my pleasure to be here at your grandiose ball.” Looking surprised, the duke replied, “Greetings to the little miss of Timmerhaus. I was worried this old face may be unrecognizable, but hearing you greet me formally makes me feel undoubtedly excellent.”

“Please don’t bother yourself Duke Morelli. I really admire your swordsmanship and if the world allows, I shall do everything to be your disciple.”

“Hoho, I never knew milady is interested in swordsmanship. When that time comes, I would be glad to be of help to milady.” He bowed first and so did Cassey. Although she used a different approach, it was still a show- off. Nobles would think she learned an elder’s favor by crook if she never did that. Since the lady targeted the duke’s passion, they would naturally build a professional bond, something that would nullify all malicious attacks.

Their soft conversation was slowly masked by rumors being spread throughout the ballroom. The main subject of those rumors are the men from the Febrez household. The duke gracefully ushered the Cassey to them, and the young lady smile as she felt the luck spoiling her.

Out of all fourteen men in the Febrez household, three are exactly on the same age as Cassey.

“Young men of Febrez, I present to you, her ladyship Cassey Timmerhaus.” Cassey bowed gracefully and gives them a sunshine smile.

“Greetings to the Lady of Timmerhaus! I am Colosas Montalvo Febrez and right beside me is my fiancée, Cazila Silverius.” The young lady beside Colosas sneered at Cassey. But Cassey’s firm smile wasn’t even shaken a bit. She extended her best wishes to the couple and greeted the other members of the Febrez.

“Don’t this lady think she’s forgetting someone?” the audacious tone of the voice caught the attention of the modest Cassey. She gave him a professional smile.

“How could I forget such enticing eyes, Markus Silverius Febrez? A gentleman like you should be written in history books, don’t you think so?” the crowd laughed at Cassey’s sarcastic remarks. Most ladies who attended the banquet hall held grudges for Markus as he was a known womanizer in the empire.

Enraged, Markus moved closer and whispered to Cassey’s ears, “You’ll miss me soon.” Cassey trembled at his disgusting threat. Markus left her side and grabbed a flower from the hall’s vases.

“Esteemed Daughter Lady Ashanti Kaia Timmerhaus arrives!”

“Now the main character has arrived.”

Cassey just stood as the other guests rapidly gathered around Ashanti. She grabbed a drink and a plate and headed to the balcony. She took a bite of the vanilla macaroons and chewed leisurely.

“This food really tastes good. I wonder if I did well earlier.” She roamed her eyes on the garden below and saw her mother happily chatting.

She sighed, and tears escaped from her eyes. From her peripheral view, she could see Ashanti smirking and mocking her in front of the nobles.