Oblivion Of The Heart

Chapter 6 - Imperial Banquet (3)

Chapter 6 - Imperial Banquet (3)

Esperanza let the cool breeze dry off her tears. She must stay prepared. She must not fall for the skillfully designed trap. She hissed when she felt the terrible aching pain in her leg again- like burning acid. As per she knew, a needle shouldn't feel like acid. Only if there was something else in the needle. Then again, who would want to harm her? She hasn't even made her official appearance yet.

Of course, if it is someone from the other party.

Suddenly, she heard a hiccup. She turned around and faced a girl whose height was smaller than her. The girl's raven hair danced along with the wind, her lavender eyes sparkling with happiness. The face held the brightness of young innocence, and Esperanza was bewildered. Because it was the first time she saw such innocence. 

The girl covered her mouth with her hand to cover the sound of a hiccup. But that didn't work. The sound of hiccups came going by, and the girl's face flushed red. She hadn't wished to make such an embarrassing entrance in front of the noble miss in front of her.

"Who are you?" Esperanza asked. The girl was startled by the cold tone. In reply, a hiccup came and the girl's face turned even redder. She ran away from the balcony, leaving behind a stupefied noble miss.

Esperanza tilted her head from confusion and wondered whether she was that scary. Sighing, she decided to forget that matter and headed to the hall. But what waited for her was expected, yet horrifying.

"My lady, would you give me the honor of dancing with you?" The young duke Letale reached out his hand with his head bowed. Even though Esperanza had prepared her for this, she couldn't stop herself from feeling empty. Because what she saw  was cunningness and cruelty in his eyes, the one she never saw in him. She inhaled a deep breath and the young duke's cruel reputation and deeds flashed back in her head. There was no coldness within her. Because she knew nothing would change. Her love for him, and his cruelty for her. She cannot mistake him for the one she lost. Never.

"Sure." She let accepted his hand, since declining the first dance had been considered to be rude in etiquette.

While dancing with him, she glanced at his citrine eyes, the ones she used to love the most. Used to. Now, the circumstances won't allow her. When they finished the dance, they bowed their head to each other and he cast her an amiable smile, which stopped her heartbeat. But she didn't dare look away. That would make it seem that she had fallen for him, in his eyes.

When she was away from him and ready to reach out for a drink to console herself, someone grabbed her head. She turned and saw the raven-haired girl again, who this time wasn't hiccupping. The girl hastily let go of her hand when she met her stare and performed the form of curtesy. (Refer to chapter 3, when Esperanza greeted her father.)

"Lapine Fortiter greets Lady Esperanza Ilamas Distruzione!" She squeaked out of extreme nervousness.

"It's young lady, not lady." Esperanza corrected her.

"Ah, sorry!" The girl squeaked again and bowed her head so low, that Esperanza had trouble seeing her face. Esperanza sighed.

"Lift your head, let me have a proper look at you." She said. Lapine slowly lifted her head, and now Esperanza understood why the girl's appearance was familiar - because her face resembled her mother, the duchess.

Fortiter, was it? My mother's family. She is the daughter of my aunt- that makes her my cousin.

"So, you're the daughter of my aunt?" Esperanza asked, though certain of the answer.

"Yes..." Lapine responded timidly. Esperanza stared into the girl's deep lavender eyes. What amazed her wasn't its glossy color, but the pureness, the true innocence, and purity in it. Unknowingly, she chuckled. Lapine was startled by the sudden chuckle because she never saw her cousin laugh. This reaction made Lapine happy from the inside.

"Lapine, hmm? Alright, my cousin, I hope you visit me in the duchy often. It's an invitation." Esperanza said with a smile. Lapine couldn't believe her ears. She was blooming with joy.

"Yes, I certainly will!" She bowed her head happily and gratefully again. "Thank you so much!"

The day she had been waiting for so long had finally appeared. A chance to befriend the one she couldn't help but admire, what could be more joyful than this?

"Lapine." A sharp, deep voice said from behind. Lapine turned around and ran into the arms of her father, Nolan Fortiter.

"Father!" She beamed, " Is the work over?"

"Yes." Nolan smiled and caressed her head. His gaze became cold when his eyes met Esperanza's. Esperanza very well knew the reason behind the coldness in his eyes. Being the famous cursed child, how could anyone not be wary of her? He placed his arm on the left side of his chest and bowed his head as he greeted formally, "Nolan Fortiter greets the young lady of Ilamas Duchy. I wonder...." His eyes traveled to the clueless Lapine and then to Esperanza, "What made you invite my daughter?"

So he heard the conversation.

"Nothing special. I just wished to get to know my cousin better. Or does marquis not agree to it?" Esperanza responded and bluntly yawned. Not minding covering her mouth she said, "Ah, the conversation seems to be going to long. I believe marquis has some further work to do. Then, I bid farewell to you."

Nolan was startled seeing that the young lad willingly ended with conversation. But that was more of an opportunity to him. Taking the chance, he bowed his head and took his reluctant daughter with him. Meanwhile, Esperanza's eyes couldn't help but glance at the young duke once again when the marquis left. Once again, she was enchanted by the figure- they almost looked too similar, as if he was standing in front of her, wearing some stupid cosplay clothes to lift her spirits up. But when she met his eyes, she saw the reality and drank the drink in a gulp.

Follow where fate leads me. Don't let myself drown in the darkness again. That's the only way.