Two Sisters
Roxus was wearing a dress. It was a light purple dress. The light purple dress made Roxus' skin look paler than usual, made her body look much slimmer around her waist. Roxus has lips that are plump and seductive. She has calm shaded eyes that look boring, but after a second glance, one can see that her eyes can show so much expression and enthusiasm.
As Princess Cecilia's closest friend, Duke Ariaster's ex-fiancee, and a most unique looking young woman in Bertia, Roxus received a lot of attention. Her reputation, full of shocking notes from the past, was their reminder. A woman difficult to approach and a clever woman who protect the honour and dignity of her family. A woman who feared by the young aristocracy but also respected by the older nobility.
Roxus isn't pretty. She also doesn't like to socialize or make friends with girls her age. Yet, she respects everyone who respects her and her family. The raised standard of modesty in the aristocratic social circle was due to her attitude and character, which naturally made her an example for other girls. She never comes to a tea party without a single gift, and all the organizers of the party she goes to are those with good connection with her family or have good intentions.
That's why, today, when she entered Cecilia's birthday party room, everyone would have at least two or three glances at her. And later, glanced for the fourth and fifth time.
Roxus is the perfect noble girl. She remembers the names of every noble in the banquet hall and all their public jobs and hobbies. Instead of addressing them by their titles, she addressed them with reverence, using Lord or Madam followed by their names.
Roxus never ran out of topics of conversation. She is fair to everyone and talks to them only about what they can follow. She will not let anyone feel left out, and her demeanour is so calm and gentle.
She walked towards Cecilia while greeting some of the nobles she passed. As soon as she got to the platform where Cecilia was sitting, she gave her a small laugh.
Roxus's expression looked so happy, with curved dainty eyes and plump lips that trembled as her smile grew. "Cece... happy birthday," she said in a voice that was so gentle and bright.
"Oh, Bebe..." Cecilia spread her arms out. Roxus knelt and embraced the bent Cecilia. The two of them look like two close sisters.
People say that there are no two girlfriends equally beautiful. In the past, between Roxus and Cecilia, Roxus was considered a friend who looked ordinary or even considered not beautiful. Meanwhile, Cecilia may not be the most beautiful woman in this world, but not only does she inherit the beauty of her mother, who was once the Queen of the Social Circle, but she also looks much prettier.
The only thing that makes men not interested in her is that she doesn't look like she has the support of the King and hated by the Crown Prince. She also has a weak body and a pair of paralyzed legs. Today, they saw the contrast between Cecilia and Roxus, but then they looked back at how charming the two young girls were, making the nobles consider they should rethink their impressions of the two.
Even though Cecilia didn't have the Royal Family's support, Cecilia had a family from her mother's side who was very strong in the aristocratic circle. Marquis Sorose's family. Cecilia's mother was born in the Knight Family. And it was Marquis Sorose's family who had protected Cecilia all this time. And Roxus Croix, it's true that she wasn't beautiful, but she still is the most charming person they knew.
"Cece, this is a gift I prepared for you," said Roxus. Cecilia suddenly found a small box in her hand.
Roxus was still kneeling before her and smiled sweetly. "Open the box," Roxus said in a voice full of enthusiasm.
Cecilia opened the box in her hand and saw a gold ring. "Oh..." Cecilia looked amazed at the beauty of the ring. The ring was thin, made of gold thread, and decorated with green gems that were the same colour as Cecilia's eyes. "Only Cecilia, the person in this world, can wear this ring because I made it especially for you. Cece can take it off whenever she wants, and if Cece loses this ring, she can call this ring, and it will return to Cece's fingers immediately," said Roxus.
"Roxie... could it be, is this a magic device?!" Cecilia asked loudly.
Everyone in the party hall hears it. Roxus knew Cecilia was on purpose, but she also knew Cecilia was surprised.
"Right. I made it with my own hands, so don't worry. If there is a danger that attacks Cece, this ring will come and protect Cece too," Roxus continued.
"Roxie...! I know you are an Archmage, but making a ring like this, just for me… " Cecilia gasped.
All of the nobles immediately whispered, and some spoke in a slightly louder voice as well. They all heard Cecilia and Roxus' words, wondering if they were true.
"But that's not the only function of this ring, Cece," Roxus said, gently standing up. Cecilia stuck her ring on her finger, and it started to glow. The door to the party hall opened. A young man who some know as the Honorable Knight of the Croix County, Lady Roxus Croix's closest bodyguard, appears carrying an object one meter high and one and a half meters long.
The object was elongated, covered in red cloth, and looked like a small statue. Lucifer put it on the carpeted floor and tugged off the cover. A winged horse made of gold appeared in the centre of the room. On the horse's forehead, an emerald green gem was imprinted on it.
"Cece, raise your hand and order him to come," Roxus said then. Cecilia was even more confused. He? She expected Roxus to give her a gift to protect her, but a horse statue?
But Cecilia obeyed Roxus, raised her hand that wore the ring that her best friend had given her, and began to call out. "Come to me."
The noises stopped. Everyone fell silent, especially when the statue in the middle of the room started to shake. It swelled up slowly and rapidly, tearing off the platinum golden lining that covered it and growing into a mature white horse with broad wings and golden hair, sending the audience back in astonishment.
Gracefully, the horse stepped towards Cecilia, who was as stunned as everyone else in the room. As soon as he reached the stairs leading to the platform, it bows its head and bent one of its forelegs as if it were kneeling before Cecilia.
"Cece, this is an Artificial Spirit I created for you. He will respond to your call when you wear the ring wherever you are, and when you no longer need him, you can order him back into a statue like the first you saw earlier," Roxus explained.
Cecilia couldn't clench her jaw like everyone else in the room. The gift Roxus gave Cecilia was something that had never been seen in history before. The ring is the equivalent of a national treasure—no—a world treasure!
"Cece," Roxus held out her hand to Cecilia. The Princess saw her best friend, who smiled softly. Her best friend's outstretched hand seemed to give her an incentive to take action forward. Cecilia got blown away. Without realizing it, she had already grabbed Roxus' hand, and once again, the nobles made to hold their breath full of shock.
Cecilia stood up.