Front page fashion

The doors to the banquet hall look huge. Frederick is standing on the side with a small smile of encouragement, and my parents had just entered the hall. The dress feels heavy on my body.

Small breaths.

It was like a galaxy. There were small stars painted onto it, and it looked the worth of at least two mansions in this empire.

The court announcer speaks up. "May I now present the lady of the night, Lady Crystalia Villarreal!"

The doors to the hall open slowly and I walk in.

The spiral staircase looks daunting, but I still walk down the stairs in elegance. The whispers in the hall are suffocating, but I don't pay mind to them. It was normal to gossip about a new girl in high society. Once my father takes my hand on the final step down, my dress transforms into the Villarreal uniform. A crowd of gasps follow.

The outfit is a dark blue with golden highlights. Each button is a golden sun, and the brooch on my chest had transformed into a sun inside a moon. My uniform's surgeon cuff is gold with moonstone and the duchy's ring is on my finger. A pretty golden sun made of sunstone.

I stand next to my parents with a smile on my face and my father speaks up.

"Fellow noblemen, noblewomen, may I present to you my only daughter of the Villarreal family. She is to inherit the title of Duchess Villarreal of the empire and to carry on the family legacy. I hope you all have a wonderful time getting to know her," My father smiles. In the corner of my eye, I see my uncle and grandmother whisper amongst themselves. Old woman's getting a bit bold for her age.

An unamused look drops onto my face once my father finishes having the first dance with me. Albert reaches for my hand and I dance with him. I wink at Felix to let him know I'm joining him next, and he chuckles.

The dance is slow, and I barely stare at Albert. I knew what he looked like anyway. The dance finishes and I try to head over to Felix. He's by the food, I am a glutton, it's a win-win.

"Lady Crystalia!" It's Marquioness Misty. Misty I love you but my precious food!!!

"She's Junior Duke Crystalia now," Marquioness Astaria sighs. "My apologies,"

"No worries," I smile. "We are still friends, do not worry too much about honorifics,"

"It would be rude," Astaria shakes her head.

"Ohohoho," Speak of the devil. "My darling granddaughter!"

"We greet the previous duchess of Villarreal," The two marquionesses bow.

"Grandmother," I smile and nod lightly. "How have you been?"

"Your father announcing that you would be heir... was a distraction from what he was actually intending to do right?"

"No," I smile. "I have been named junior duke. I shall become duchess once my father steps down."

"Darling... do you really think that you'll be able to manage it properly?"

"I don't see how you have qualifications to talk about that when you handed the duchy over to your husband to rule," I smile.

"You ungrateful-!"

"Don't waste your energy on her grandma," My cousin stops her. "She's going to fail the duchy sooner or later,"

"Keep being jealous~" I wave the two goodbye and smile.

"How awful," Misty sighs. "Speaking of which, where's Bria?"

"Is she not here yet-?" The doors open and Bria walks in. With a gorgeous silver dress. Her body is outlined perfectly, and she almost looks like the star of the show.

"Bria!"

"Crystalia!" Bria hugs me with a smile. "I'm so sorry I'm late!"

No you're not- "No worries! You look gorgeous today!"

"Thank you!" Bria smiles. "But you're the star of the show today."

"Duchess Crystalia," Felix walks up to me. "May I speak to you?"

"Of course," I smile. "Please excuse me."

"GO GET THAT MAN CRYSTA!!" Misty cheers.

"Misty!" Astaria hisses.

"How does it feel in high society?" Felix hands me a drink once we reach the table and I sigh.

"Entertaining." I hum amusedly. "Did you hear that choir of offended gasps when I changed into the duke's uniform? I'm going to be the talk of high society for a while."

"Even more since you're going to be wedded to the famous fifth prince of the empire," Felix hums. "Does he treat you well?"

"I wouldn't know," I shrug. "I wasn't looking at him while dancing."

A man approaches me while I munch down on the food, and I stare at him. The crown prince of the other empire. "The junior duke greets the crown prince William of Phoenicia."

The prince's smile falters when he sees that I only place my hand over my chest and bow slightly. Being honest? I did not want to be involved with him. He was going to be with Solaire anyway, why waste the effort?

"Junior Duke Crystalia..." He raises a brow at my hair "Are you a blessed of the moon...?"

"You could say that your highness." I really don't want to call him that- "Was there something your highness needed from me?"

"I just came to congratulate the junior duke," he smiles. "I hope we are able to meet more in the future,"

"Thank you, your highness," I smile. "It's a given since I'm going to be wed to a prince,"

"Then I shall leave you to it," he places a kiss on my hand and walks off.

Without me knowing, I had caught the prince's interest.

In the book, Crystalia would've swooned over the crown prince. He had golden hair and orange eyes. He looked like the reincarnation of the sun itself. Too bad he looked just like one of the previous emperors that were based off of another friend of mine. Haha what a nice life.

"Is that the junior duke?"

"I think that is!"

"Hey-"

"Excuse me Junior Duke Crystalia," A male's voice speaks up from behind me. Oh god who was it this time-

"How can I help you?" I turn to face the male.

"You are to be wedded to my younger brother... correct?"

"Ah, my apologies!" I gasp and rush to bow. "The junior duke Crystalia greets the second prince Prince Paris,"

"No worries. You will be family soon," The prince smiles. "I was just curious as to... you are marrying my brother... right?"

"If the royal family agrees," I smile.

"What do you intend to do for Albie?"

I physically stop myself from snorting. "That's a secret. Though I will tell you that I will make him one of the most influential princes in the empire."

"Ah..." Paris eyes me suspiciously before I speak up.

"I heard that you have been petitioning for a magic tower at Fantasia. How has that been?"

"It has been well-"

"Paris!!!" A girl runs towards him and I pull him back so that he moves out of the way.

"Forgive me your highness" I apologize and lower my voice. "Cough twice for me if she's unwanted here."

Paris coughs twice before I scan the girl. "You are Lady Lucille Magellan right?"

"Yes," Lucille bows lightly and smiles. "I greet the junior duke Crystalia."

I nod. I lower my voice just enough so that no one else but her can hear and I smile. "Unfortunately I don't remember sending an invite for the lady... I believe it was addressed to your mother and older sister... no?"

The girl flushes red and I back up before anyone else can notice. "Ah, Lady Magellan are you alright? Shall I escort you to the balcony?"

The girl shakes her head and rushes off. Her older sister eyes me menacingly and I smile.

"So? Prince Paris? Is that enough of a yes?" I smile.

"More than enough. Please do not worry if any of the other imperial family approach you." Paris smiles. "Goodbye Junior Duke,"

"Goodbye Prince Paris," I bow.

"Woah," Felix whistles. "He's lowkey kind of attractive,"

I snicker. "He's already married though,"

"I know," Felix smiles. "But I have a feeling he would make a wonderful friend."

"Mm," I nod.

"I'm going off for the night," Felix sighs. "I'm dead exhausted."

"Even though you only ate and drank??"

"Tired." Felix stares behind me and rushes off.

"Bye bestie!" I grab another macaron to have before I hear footsteps approaching.

"Lady Crystalia," I turn to face the voice.

I pause at the sight of the emperor and empress. "The Junior Duke Crystalia greets the moon and stars of the empire,"

"Get up child, you will be family soon," The empress smiles. "I heard that you would be getting wed to the fifth prince."

"Yes your royal highness," I smile. In the corner of my eyes, I spot the royals gathered together behind them.

"You are aware that Albert is the favorite of the royals... right?"

"I am aware," I nod.

"What good do you get by marrying him?"

I smile. Same questions as always. "By marrying the fifth prince, first, I can establish my position as a good wife and high society will start to gossip. Then, with the assets of the Villarreal duchy, I can help him gain actual power as a duke. As of right now, Albert is only a prince in name, and the land he is set to become duke of is barren. Perhaps the royal family has heard this before, but the fifth prince is the weakest in standing right now. If he is to fight for the title of emperor one day, I don't believe he would win just purely by being the favorite."

The emperor nods and one of the princesses speak up.

"Then how do you suppose we can help make it easier for Albert?"

"I don't think it is something out of the fifth prince's capacity," I hum. "If you were to clear the path of rocks, then the person will never grow."

"How dare you-!" the princess speaks.

"She's not wrong," The emperor smiles. "Albert is already past his debutante. I am glad that you will be wed to him. You seem very capable junior duke."

"I thank the royal emperor," I curtsey.

"Then please enjoy your night." The empress smiles. "We shall tell your parents that the wedding is to proceed as planned."

"Please enjoy the rest of the night your highness," I smile as they walk off. Please let me go to bed (╥﹏╥)

The ball's end comes agonizingly slow and when everyone's gone, I'm finally allowed to crash into my bed.

The end of the day draws its curtains and my debutante is finally complete. I could finally sleep in that bed of mine without having to stress over the nobles haah... I really miss my home back on earth...