Though The Heavens May Fall [hs]

Chapter Nine

Charles had suggested a celebration of sorts. As royals, anything considered even remotely monumental was followed very shortly by a formal ball; parties filled with music, dancing, drinking, and gambling. It genuinely astounded me how quickly tonight's events seemed to get thrown together. Word had been spread rapidly to the other surrounding kingdoms of my brother's long-awaited return and the celebration to follow that evening in our castle.

After our joy-filled reuniting, my brother was quickly whisked away by the advisors and Charles to discuss everything that had transpired during the week. I was sure they wouldn't forget to leave out the grisly details of Dubrawn's savage attack on our parents. My brother's return meant that the position of the throne was now in limbo, and I couldn't be happier about that. It felt like a weight being lifted off my chest.

One step at a time. Manage the wedding, then the throne will be decided.

Before my brother's disappearance, he was next in line. The moment he vanished, I was pushed to that position. Now with his timely appearance, I knew there would be upcoming discussions on if he was returned that status. Now was not the time to worry about such a matter.

Ada had been helping me into my corset and dress for the evening. She tightly laced up the back of the corset while I held firmly to the wardrobe to keep my body from swaying too much with every hardened motion.

"Ada," I spoke up and she hummed in response. "I wanted to apologize for Adrien being so harsh with you earlier." I felt she stopped knotting the corset. "No one should ever speak to you like that, even in a moment of haste."

"Do not apologize for his actions," She began tying the corset again. "I'm afraid I'm used to that sort of tone from his kind."

I furrowed my eyebrows at her words.

"What is his kind?" I asked. I felt she had finished the corset and turned to face her.

"He looks down upon me with great disgust," She said as she grabbed my long ivory dress from its hanger. "Nothing I can't handle." She gave me a weak smile and held the dress up.

"Come now, let's get this blasted thing on you."

I chuckled and nodded my head. I stepped into the billowing white fabric adorned with golden and silver details. She tied the dress up as she hummed along to a tune in her head. Thinking of Adrien's cruel ways of treating those considered below royals made me sick to my stomach. People like Ada did nothing but the kindest getures for us, and imagining myself treating them as he did made me bitter.

As she finished up, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" I called, as Edward stepped into the room. He bowed his head to me.

"May I have a word?"

Ada nodded her head to him and hurriedly made her way out of the room, making sure to close the door behind her.

"You look beautiful, Celey." He smiled to me, the same twinkle in his brown eyes I had always remembered. I curtsied to him, making him laugh.

"And you cleaned up well tonight," I responded. He had been changed out of his riding attire in which he entered the study earlier, and was now dressed in a fashionable black suit.

"I certainly was not expecting a ball of such proportions upon my arrival," He chuckled. "But I made do."

The sun was in the process of setting just beyond the skyline of Galadia, leaving a remarkable golden glow on the walls of my room. Edward sat on the stool of my vanity, looking around the corners of the massive walls that surrounded us.