P.O.V.(s)1
Lord Willaim von Thornburg, the first son of the Thornburg Dukedom. (POV)
'There has been this girl I knew since my childhood who I despised... her name was Bellrose...' She was a thick-headed, arrogant girl who had this unknown pride around her. She was the daughter of the Crest Dukedom. Our families weren't necessarily on good terms with each other- but we were used to going to Social Event gatherings and exchanging our good wills with each other.
To be honest, I didn't like her. I didn't hate her either. She was weird and was the most prideful girl I have ever meet. I did not like her attitude. She acted on her free will without logic, and that made me always want to lash out on her. She was an idiot, at least from what I have met ever since my childhood. Which was only by far- 6 encounters.
Quite an impression on only a few encounters, huh? Her personality was poor.
But there were times where I have seen her act like a lovesick fool. She is an idiot... her thoughts were always on her face. I didn't like it. I thought of her as some nuisance.
Time passed, about five or six years or so... and then I heard about a few rumors going around that Bellrose met an accident of "near-death experience." I was surprised... but actually I was greedily thinking:
"Ah... good for her,"
I knew it was bad for me to think like this about her. But... from the bottom of my heart, I could never find myself guilty for thinking so. I heard from other rumors that she has been growing quite arrogant and I thought this "near-death experience" was a better karma.
Then something came. It was the Crowning Consort Ceremony.
My best friend, Ares and I were not happy when the Emperor made this impromptu decision without Ares's consent. Seeing my friend's face turning into a gloom over his placid poker face was kind of surprising, you know?
So both Ares and I decided that I would substitute for the Tea Party Ceremony. At first I was thinking, 'sigh- annoying girls,' but who knows? This is for my best friend after all. Ares hated two-faced and greedy people. And from my experience, noble girls were the perfect description of his hatred.
I was already used to getting engagement requests from other houses and families, and by far I had no interest in any of them either. And being flattered by flocks of girls- I had already experienced that. I hate prideful and idiot people you know?
Handling girls was never my personality. But when it came to this situation, I had to act proper. So in the end, I did end up becoming the Prince's substitute for the Tea Party.
When I arrived there- flocks of girls were already surprised by my entrance and then quickly stood up to do a greetings. As much as I suspected, there was one person who didn't even bother to even stand up- Lady Bellrose.
I was surprised to see this girl- who in my eyes was of course a little nuisance- sitting so calm and composed, drinking her cup of tea elegantly, without the care of the world.
I heard that she was looking forward to this Crown Princess Consort Ceremony very much~ now who is this composed person in front of me? But... that didn't change the fact that she was pridefully drinking tea without even much of a greeting. Was this the pride I hated?
Yes.
I clenched my teeth and thought of a way to get back at her. I wanted to test her. People can change much in 5 years. I wonder how much this girl changed. Was she that idiot? And for much less... why do I care?
"Ah~ it seems like our princess has already became Empress right?" I calmly said, with a snicker on my voice. Unlike what I was expecting... the girls who were polite around me started snickering and started talking about her. So Bellrose hasn't changed, right?
"..." She didn't say anything. I was so surprised... she used to be shy or could even retort back to these comments without thinking so. She really did change.
But why... does she think I am of no value because I am from the Thornburg family? True that the Thornburg family was slightly inferior to that of the Crest family- but seriously? Was this pride? I hated this treatment. I hate prideful people.
What happened to Emperizia's motto of equality? The Crest Dukedom seriously chose to trample those underneath them.
"Lady Crest, have you forgotten your manners? Or do you want to be disqualified from this competition?" I called her out, calmly, without showing my emotions.
But Bellrose barely had given me any glance and continued to calmly drink her tea. She didn't have any hint of annoyance from my words whatsoever. She ignored it as if she didn't hear anything at all!
"Lady Crest, I am warning you. Just because my status is lower than yours, I am still the Prince's substitute..." I told her off, "If you chose to not respect me, you will be disrespecting the Crown Prince,"
If the Crest Family wanted, the Thornburg family can go head to toe with them.
"..." Again, Bellrose looked up from her cup of tea and gave me a look and softly smiled as if to say: 'Hmm, what should I do with you?'
She really did change. I searched for answers in her eyes. There was nothing except for hatred and sadness. She seems like she wanted to hide her feelings. But I am Willaim Thornburg. The master of emotion and mind reading. And by far, Bellrose was doing a great job hiding her thoughts.
"Okay then, we shall leave you out from this Tea Party..." I told her off.
"..." she didn't say anything. After a while, after we all settled down, I was quite bothered. I knew I should keep my nose out of this... but this change made me want to challenge this new Bellrose. How did this nuisance illogical brat go off to?
"Our Princess~ are you upset that your prince did not come to visit you?"I said.
"Which my prince?" She finally said as she looked up at my face.
"Ah... Prince Ares, the Crown Prince of the Empire. The sole and the only heir of this Kingdom." I say.
"Oh... when did he become my Prince? I don't remember making him my prince... isn't he the Empire's Prince?" She said as her eyebrows furrowed. She frowned but quickly changed her expression. So she doesn't like Ares?
"But you belong to this Empire right?" I ask her.
"Doesn't everyone else in the tea party belong in this Empire?"
"Of course..."
"Naturally, he is your prince as well."
"Yes?" I was confused about what she had to say.
"So? What? I was only disappointed that he made us wait for hours. It isn't good manners when a gentleman keeps the ladies waiting. Shouldn't it be the other way around?" "Not only that, even you came thirty minutes late...Ah... because of you coming late... I had my skin tan." she complained. My eyebrows furrowed. What?
"What are you trying to prove?" I ask her.
"... how should I put this... the Crown Prince... isn't worthy of being called a Gentleman," "Same goes for you as well,"
"Bellrose? Are you challenging the Prince's authority?" I say darkly. She doesn't seem to have a favorable opinion of my best friend.
"Of course not... why should I? He is the future heir of the Empire. But I have to brazenly comment that if he arrives late on Tea Parties for Ladies... he will never find the right Maiden..."
"Of course... he will find the right one who is willing to wait for him for hours... unlike you-"
"Hmmm... but I doubt that many people would be happy with Royal Discipline... but who am I talk? I am just a mere subject..." she calls me out.
"Look at you... it seems like you got prickled at us," I say.
"However you wish to put it," she says as she regains her calm demeanor.
"Lady Bellrose Crest... are you sure that you want to challenge the Royal Prince's authority?" I ask her furrowing my eyebrows.
"Challenging? Lord Thornburg, what makes you think that accusing a Gentleman for some simple disciplinary manners would mean to challenge his authority? Do you think it's fit for anyone of a Higher status to misbehave? I am just concerned..." "Besides, you seem to have been growing a pestering loud mouth..."
"Don't challenge the Crown Prince..." I say.
"And what makes you think that you are a fitting substitute for the Prince? Your filthy mouth already tells a lot about your sponsored."
"..." I really had nothing to say back. She won.
"Lord Thornburg. Never overstep your boundaries~"
She did change. Lady Bellrose changed.
***
The next time I saw her... my eyes went wide. What I saw was not a calm refined lady, but a girl wearing a torn ragged cloak. How?? I looked into her eyes. She seemed bewildered and surprised when she saw me.
There was no such confidence that I had experienced in the Tea Party.
Was this the same girl? Or was she putting on an act?
"...Hehe... how can I- know the great Lord Thornburg? I am just a mere commoner-" she said with a restrained smile.
Who are you Bellrose?