Trouble’s coming Elizebeth edition (4)

The carriage ceased the movement a little by little. The ducal family was ready to exit. Once it stopped completely, the door was opened from outside. The sons came outside first before all of them jolted by the view. Without saying anything, they awkwardly bowed to the people not far from them and moved aside to let their parents and sister come out. 

"Tch. What are you doing here?" Duke clicked his tongue as soon as his feet touched the ground. 

"We are planning to enter the place together, of course." The familiar voice answered him cheerfully. 

The king and his family. Elizebeth twitched. Obviously, they would grab this opportunity to declare their bond with the ducal family in this debutante. What a slick king. 

Duke extended his hand back inside. Elizebeth took a deep breath then she turned at her mother. She let her mother pass by her first per agreement inside the carriage just now. To respect her debutante day, her family decided to let her act like a princess. The usual arrangement was the mother supposed to be the last person to exit the carriage but for tonight and for the next two days, she had the privilege to be the last person to make an appearance.

"You look beautiful my Duchess." She heard the voice of the queen Haley in a haughty manner. She did such whenever she was excited

"Elizebeth." Demien extended his hand inside for her. Elizebeth took a deep breath then she rose as well. There was a fairly high gap between the carriage and the ground but there were simple stairs to ease the gap. 

Elizebeth held her breath as she took his hand, walked down from the carriage. 

"Are you nervous?" 

She exhaled her breath steadily. "Not really." 

Demien stretched a smile. 

"Well, you are beautiful." Alec's face was so proud. 

"Prince Alec." Elizebeth bowed to him. He was a handsome man with his royal outfit. His gold hair was gelled to the back, exposing his clean forehead. He looked radiant than usual. This is the power of royal descendants. 

"People with higher status than you barely passed ten fingers. You are good." Callisto reassured her. He moved to her and caressed her cheek with the tips of his fingers. "Regardless, you are so gorgeous, my daughter." 

My daughter. The king asked her and her whole family to drop the formality. Right now, they were merely her supporting character.

"My queen mother is so beautiful as well." She smiled sweetly at Haley who just stared at her with pride. 

"Our daughter is so beautiful. She's like a nymph." Commented Haley while laughing dignifiedly. 

"Indeed. The blood is running too deep." The duchess agreed. 

The secret of their ancestors was not a secret anymore. Elizabeth compromised two secrets and had to reveal them to both family members for fairness. The king was a half-nymph while the duchess was a nymph. She revealed the fact to both of her families to throw away any doubt from each family. 

And she did it to protect them from the future. The rumors in the future would affect the whole magic forest resident. So she needed every support she could possibly get. The trust of both families was highly needed to prepare for the future. 

"Let's enter the hall now." Urged Callisto as he stood at her left side. 

"Yes." Duke took her right side while both of her mothers walked in front of her and all of her brothers leading the group. 

Duke's family was the last family to arrive. With the privilege they had, they proceeded smoothly to the hall and stopped at the entrance. The soft music fainted to the ears. They waited for their names to be called behind the closed door. 

"The arrival of the princess Elizebeth with her royal family and high esteemed duke's family." 

The music dramatically was cut off and the hall was cleared. The nobles impatiently looked at the closed door at the entrance.

"You're ready?" Both of her fathers whispered the same words in low voices. 

Elizebeth put on a graceful smile. "Not really."

They both hummed as they walked hand in hand together to the hall. 

As soon as they entered the hall, Elizebeth felt dozens and hundreds of gazes fly towards and stay on her. The eyes are full of curiosity and envious. Contrary to her previous statement, she squeezed the duke's hand tighter and the duke gave the same strength to her without looking. 

She glanced at her father. His big hand gave her support. She was not alone. They were here to shield her. She didn't have to be afraid. After a few moments of silence, the crowd stirred and gradually grew louder. A few whispered around her while watching her every movement like she was a threat. 

"Should we let you make a friend with the peers or should we accompany you till the end?" Callisto was surprisingly the one who raised the issue when it was normally the duke's job but again, the king had the same possessive traits as the duke. 

"I'm staying." 

"Okay." Callisto respected her wish. Everyone was aware of her dislike of her peers. They didn't exactly understand why but they respected her view. 

"Papa, you can go meet other delegations and aristocrats. This is the time to expand your influence." She whispered to Callisto. 

Callisto scoffed without looking at the hungry eyes. "I've met them this morning. What's good to meet them for a second time? It's not that we are lovers."

Elizebeth burst a laugh. Her laughter sounded angelic to both Duke and King's ears. They smiled happily to see their daughter comfortable in the midst of the uncomfortable stare of other nobles.

They moved towards the corner of the hall to not attract attention. Because of their status, they easily obtained a place for themselves. The family acted as normal nobles and minded their business. As requested by Elizebeth, they shielded her from any hyenas' advancement. The sons attentively served their parents and their sister. 

Not long after, the sudden fast music attracted the siblings from the chat. Duke saw the opportunity and grabbed it. 

"Elizebeth, would you give the honor for your father to have the first dance with you?" 

"Duke! Father!" The sudden request made by Duke grabbed their attention. 

"Well why not," she took the hand and followed his lead. 

"I will be her next." Callisto gritted his teeth. 

"It will be me after the king." Demien declared. 

"Hey! I'm the prince." Alec glared at Demien. 

"You're late," Demien shoved his empty glass to Alec's chest.

"Don't fight! Both of you." The Duchess and the Queen told them off that both went quiet out of respect. Put distance between each other. 

"I'll be next, after both of you." Kyle sipped his drink. 

"Well, I don't mind to be the last one." Indulf shrugged. He didn't care much because he was the real winner. He could dance longer as the last dance partner. It's a fault play but who cares.

Elizebeth laughed. It was a silly fight like this levitated her mood. She wasn't particularly active in society before this. She spent her time at the inn like a commoner while practicing the air of the noble at the same time. 

She studied both commoners and nobles behavior for her better understanding. She was aware of both nobles and commoners problems. The conflicts may differ but it was necessary to create a balance between the two classes. 

"Are you having fun?" Duke asked while dancing with her. 

"I'm indeed having fun, father." She chuckled. Followed her father's lead very well. 

"Don't you wish to meet other peers?" 

She glimpsed around here, "not really. I'm content with my current status." 

Duke stretched his lips, "I don't mind if you are happy." 

"I am. To be with you is my happiness." She was ready to be raised up. 

Duke held her waist and raised her while turned around following the rhythm of the music. "You are light. Are you going through an unreasonable diet program?" 

Un- unreasonable diet program. How dare he… "No." Yet she denied. "I was too busy with my life. I don't have enough time to diet, let alone to eat comfortably." 

Duke rubbed his back finger at her cheek, frowning. "The first condition to travel?" 

"The first condition to travel? Da- Dada means to not skip even a meal?" She gulped. It was the first rule her father laid down after the approval months ago. 

"And you-" 

"I'm not skipping. I swear." She quickly added, "lessening the portion?" 

"Huh~" Duke sighed. "Increase the portion." 

"Okay," she beamed.

Callisto stopped them and stood in between them. "It's my turn, my daughter." He offered his hand to Elizebeth once the music ended. 

The loud declaration from the king raised a small commotion around them though none of them paid any heed. 

"Yes, thank you for the honor," she bowed to the duke and took the king's hand. 

"Enjoy." Duke kissed her forehead and walked away. 

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Callisto asked the same question. 

Deja vu? She for sure heard the same question before. "Yes, I am, papa." 

"Don't you wish to play with your peers?" 

Again deja vu. It's the same following question again. Was every father would ask the same question to all her daughters or what?

"I'm not exactly comfortable with my peers. After all, I'm hiding from society all this time. I don't think my sudden appearance to others would be appreciated. Also, I��m quite busy with my own things." 

Callisto hummed. "Indeed. The mysterious princess making a contribution. Why not. What a sight to see." Callisto thought. "Return with a lot of achievement, my daughter." He grinned. 

"Papa. I can see your intention." She raised her brow. The king obviously tried to find a way to brag about her. 

"Silly girl. I'm making you my daughter for the sake of bragging." He bobbed her nose, smug. 

Elizebeth giggled, twirling around with the king. "As you wish. I hope you will love my future achievement." 

"I hope." Callisto encouraged her. "Compared to my affection towards you, I'm really strict about the contribution even for my daughter." 

Elizebeth chuckled.