Chapter 67: MOON LIGHT BALL 2
Lumina stepped out of her chamber, the heavy door closing softly behind her.
Ero waited by the doorway, his head bowed in silence until she spoke.
"If Ashen returns before I do, tell him I have gone to the Moonlight Ball," she said. Her tone was calm, but her fingers brushed lightly against the folds of her gown, betraying her unease. "Tell him not to trouble himself, I will be back before he knows it."
Ero’s gaze lifted. "Do you sense danger, my lady?"
Her lips curved faintly. "I cannot say. But if I am mistaken, no harm will come of it. And if I am not..." her voice softened, "then let the shame fall where it belongs."
Without another word, she began strolling down the long corridor and Stella followed close behind.
They reached the tall doors of the grand hall. A servant stepped forward, bowing low before raising his voice to announce her name.
"Princess Lumina of the Celestial Realm, future wife of Prince Ashen of Drakonia."
A few heads turned the moment they heard the announcement.
The music had slowed down for a moment, as if her name had caused it.
The murmur of voices washed over her the moment she stepped into the hall.
She could feel eyes turning toward her, the hush that followed her steps.
At the far end, Rhynera’s voice rose, warm and bright seeing that Lumian had come.
"Dearest sister," she called, her tone sweet enough to sting.
Lumina lifted her chin and let a small smile touch her lips. She could not see the expression Rhynera wore, but she did not need to.
The sweetness was a mask, she had heard enough false kindness in her life to recognize it.
She walked forward with calm steps with the help of Stella, her hands steady at her sides.
Rhynera drew near, her skirts brushing against the floor, her arms opening as though for an embrace.
"I am so glad you came," she said softly, though there was triumph beneath the words. "I feared you would be too weary after the fittings of the dress."
"I was," Lumina answered, her voice calm, "but how could I miss something so important?"
A ripple of laughter stirred from Rhynera one could feel how fake it was.
"Let’s greet the Queen," Rhynera announced and Lumina nodded as she calmly strutted toward where the Queen was seated with Stella’s help.
She bowed slightly and Queen Sephora responded, "You are welcome... I am pleased you have honored my invitation."
"It’s my utmost pleasure, Your Highness." Just then Lumina felt the familiar presence behind her.
"Princess Lumina," Freya said, her tone flat. "You look... radiant."
Lumina turned her face slightly toward her and offered a polite smile.
"Thank you, Lady Freya. I try to keep the part expected of me especially when I know how closely I am being watched."
The silence that followed told her enough. Freya’s pride had been stung and Stella snickered at this but leaned closer to Lumina.
"The dresses are different and also... There are men present... She lied to you." Rhynera noticed this and grabbed Lumina’s hands but Lumina wasn’t letting it slide.
"You told me this was a women-only gathering," Lumina said softly.
"I thought so too," Rhyenera replied with an innocent shrug. "Perhaps there was a change."
Lumina knew she was lying, this was her sister she had lived with for ten years. She knows when she is about to play games and Lumina was ready to see the end of it.
Before Lumina could respond, Lady Freya stepped forward again and clapped her hands once.
"Princess Lumina, would you be so kind as to read that scroll before everyone? As a gift from the Queen."
Stella’s brow raised in confusion, why do they want Lumina to be the one to read when there are several people present?
"The ball is an important ball, yet you never invited me and now you want me to read a scroll as a gift when the crown princess is present?" Lumina fired at Freya.
"Hey... sister... Lady Freya only wants you to feel included, that’s her reason for asking you to read that." Rhynera let out in her pitiful voice and Lumina smirked at this.
"Really?"
Queen Sephora’s lips twitched in a smile. "Of course... You received a sacred blessing scroll and it is also easy for you to go through since you can feel it, did you not? Read it, dear. We would all be honored."
"She’s blind."
"She can’t read...how would she...?" Stella clutched her sleeve gently. "Don’t," she whispered.
Lumina raised her hand slowly and unrolled the scroll. She allowed her fingers to glide over the markings.
Her heart beat faster the moment she understood what they were doing.
They wanted her to enchant the room, so she would be accused of witchcraft and stripped of her title, her marriage.
She smiled faintly at this not getting phased a bit, "Then let’s watch it happen"
She inclined her head and allowed Stella to guide her hand toward the scroll.
Her fingertips brushed the parchment and instantly, the markings beneath her touch seemed to come alive, glowing faintly.
A soft hum rose in the air and she felt it immediately. She then whispered so low that only Stella could hear her.
"The dress...it has magic in it." Stella’s eyes widened, "What..." She stopped reading and instantly threw the scroll away.
Everyone gasped again, and Queen Sephora quickly stood from her chair.
"How dare you!"
"Your Highness!" Lumina fell to the ground immediately bowing, "The scroll contains magic.."
Everyone gasped and instantly they shifted back. Queen Sephora was shocked that Lumina was playing back their game against them.
"Wh.. What?"
"My dress... it contains magic... someone is trying to frame me for using magic."
Instantly a sudden gust of wind swept across the hall and torches flickered. Several noblewomen shrieked and clutched their pearls in fear.
Freya’s eyes met the queen’s and she quickly fell to her knees, "What are you talking about? No one is accusing you...You are the one using magic!" Freya tried to blame Lumina.
"Seize her at once." Queen Sephora announced instantly.
The guards stepped forward, but Lumina lifted her chin, with a calm voice.
"Your highness... I am the princess of the Celestial realm and I have lived there all my life. Everyone knows I don’t have powers... even my sister."
Lumina tilted her head toward Rhynera whose eyes met with the queen and she turned mute.
Rhynera confused fell to the ground beside Lumina shaking her head... "Your highness.." but Lumina grabbed her hands, interrupting her in a very low whisper.
"Tell them a lie about me now and trust me I will let everyone know you gave me the dress... remember I have eye witnesses and can turn this blame towards you."
Rhynera’s eyes bulged in shock knowing this would cause her trouble if she didn’t do what Lumina had just said.
"Your Highness... my sister has no powers." she stuttered in fear.
Queen Sephora glared at Rhynera, "What are you saying?" she asked and Rhynera shot a pleading look at the queen.
Just then Stella smirked and moved closer to Lumina pulling her finger,
"My lady... the ink on your fingers is from the scroll Lady Freya had just given to you," Stella announced and rushed toward the scroll.
She picked it up and touched the ink with a sly grin on her face, she then raised her finger and started reading the same thing in the scroll immediately her hands shone and and everyone shifted back in shock.
"The magic is in this scroll!"
Eyes swung to Freya now shooting her an irritating look. "No..no! This is false! She is lying to Your Highness...she bewitched the scroll before I.." Freya tried to defend herself.
But before she could finish, the scroll flared again moving from Stella’s hands and standing midair.
The markings twisted violently, pulling the energy back to its source.
The glow leapt from Lumina’s gown also having its marking. Together they arched across the air toward Freya.
Freya looked up in shock... "No.. No! This isn’t me... I don’t have powers! I don’t use magic.!" She screamed, her hands covered her face as the marking moved toward her.
"No!" she screamed from the top of her lungs and immediately everything stopped for some seconds everyone was shocked.
And in the next seconds, things came crashing down in Freya’s direction.