Chapter 6
Mystic and her father, the archduke, left their mansion, to visit the Palace for the conformation ceremony. Mystic sat by her father in the carriage. They made small talk that did nothing to stanch the nervous butterflies in her stomach, but it did give her comfort to know that she wouldn't be going through this alone.
"We're here Mystic." Her father said to her and squeezed her hand to give her a small amount of comfort.
"Ready as I'll ever be," she said to him and followed him out of the carriage with his assistance.
Mystic and the Archduke made their way up a grand staircase, towards two doors made up of solid gold, Mystic was in awe of how beautiful the Palace was. Gold, silver, and gems of every color glittered from the walls as they approached the main doors. A guard was posted on each side, both roughly about six foot tall and both had swords at their hips.
"Archduke Midnight and Lady Mystic Midnight," her father told the guards.
One of the guards opened a door and the other one went in to inform them. A few seconds later, the guard reappeared and motioned them to follow him. The other guard shut the door after they entered. As they entered the Palace, Mystic was in awe of how beautiful the wide entrance was. Gold pillars lined the hallway, silver floors, walls that looked like beautiful sapphires and emeralds lined the gold and silver walls. Pictures lined the walls in different spots and small tables with vases were about five feet apart.
"Announcing, Archduke Midnight and Lady Mystic Midnight!" The guard hollered through the opened silver doors.
"They may enter," came a loud booming voice from inside the throne room.
Upon entering the throne room with her father at her side, Mystic seen a room that contained rubies and diamonds. The King sat upon a gold throne and was roughly six and a half feet tall, with dark black hair that was short like the prince's and black eyes. The Queen sat on a silver chair and was about five and a half feet tall with blond hair and emerald eyes that also reminded her of the prince. Another man, the Prime Minister, she assumed, stood at almost seven feet tall, with grey hair that went to his waist and a matching beard. He also had gold eyes.
"Greetings your Majesties." She and her father said at the same time as they both bowed low in respect.
"Rise," said the King as he stood up and helped the Queen to stand.
"King Morphius the fifth and Queen Malia, I have come to present to you, my daughter, Mystic Midnight." Her father said as he stood and looked at the King and Queen.
"I see that she indeed looks just like you, but the vial test must be completed, Archduke Midnight." The King said with a grin. The Prime Minister came forward with a vial that held a small amount of liquid just like the ones her brother had a few days ago.
"Lady Mystic, your hand please?" The Prime Minister asked her.
Mystic held out her hand and the Queen handed her a dagger to make the cut. Mystic made a small incision in the palm of her hand and then she held it over the vial. Taking the dagger back, the Queen cleaned it and handed it to Mystic's father. He did the same and the vial turned white. The Prime Minister held it up for the King to see the results and everyone started to clap in joy.
"She will be added to the Midnight family register!" The King boomed and the Prime Minister laughed. The Queen smiled at Mystic and her father.
"Congratulations on finally having a daughter, Archduke Midnight." Queen Malia said with a soft smile. Her soft features bloomed like a flower in spring.
"Thanks to all of you," her father said as he beamed with pride. Looking at Mystic, he held out his hand, taking her hand into his. "It is a blessing that I never knew that I wanted."
"Thank you, father." Mystic said as she smiles at everyone. They made small talk as the Queen pulled Mystic aside and got to know her.
"Your father has told us about your upbringing. An assassin's guild, learning about high society, among other things." The Queen said as she talked with Mystic.
"Yes, your Majesty." Mystic replied.
"Please just call me Malia," The Queen said as she held Mystics hand into her own.
"Queen Malia, not to show any discourtesy, but I feel awkward calling you by your first name. If we got to know each other better, then maybe I would feel less awkward about calling you by your name," Mystic said with a slight bow of her head.
"Well for starters, I am a light, water, and air mage. The King is a dark, fire, and earth mage. We fell in love twenty-five years ago, got married and then had our son, Morphius the six, was born, and then our daughter, Libby, was born. Libby is eighteen like you, and Morphius is twenty-four. My family, the Lighthart's, don't come around since Mor and I married." Queen Malia told her.
"I turned eighteen two weeks ago, received an assignment after training, met my father and brothers in a dungeon, took the vial test, past that, slept and ate, met my other two brothers, met my sister-in-law and two soon-to-be sisters-in-law, met with my new teachers, and then we came here," Mystic said as she sat on a bench next to the Queen.
"Oh my. No real time to process anything." The Queen sighed on her behalf. "Mystic, don't forget to take time to process this, otherwise you will be no good in your studies."
"Yes, my Queen," Mystic replied.
The Queen and Mystic spent a little longer getting to know each other while the King spoke with her father. Upon completion of his conversation, he motioned for Mystic to join him. Mystic and the Queen stood up and said their goodbyes as Mystic also said goodbye to the King and the Prime Minister.
"That was fun," Mystic said to her father as they boarded the carriage. The carriage was deep purple with silver and gold trim and emblems. The coach and foot men were our butler's brothers, Brad, Kevin, and Lucus. Their family has served the Midnights from the beginning.
"Yes, and painless too," he said as he sat up straighter. "I spoke with the King and the Prime Minister about your light magic, and he told me that the prince can help you with it. So, we will set out one day of the week for you to come to the Palace to learn from him what you don't know."
Mystic was nervous to be close to the Prince after her last encounter with him. He seemed nice and was handsome, so he would have a lot of choices for a wife later in life, if he chose to. Being an ex-assassin wouldn't mix with that of royal blood. Mystic worried her lower lip as she continued to worry about the current situation.
"You will be fine, my daughter." Mystic's father said and grabbed her hand. "When we get home, I will talk with your teachers and figure out a day that they don't mind teaching you so you can go to the Palace."
"Sounds good, father," Mystic replied with some minor worry lacing her words.
When they returned home, Mystic and her father went their separate ways. Mystic headed toward her room and her father went to his office. She looked around and felt that she should take a few to herself, but at the top of the staircase were two of her brothers, Morrison and Mason.
"So, you really are our sister." Mason said with a small smile.
"I guess I really am." Mystic answered the statement.
"Well, at least I'm not the youngest anymore," Morrison laughed in delight.
"How are you guys taking this?" Mystic asked once she reached the top of the staircase.
"About as well as you are, I guess." Mason replied.
"I'm happy that we have a female in the family we can spoil, even though she is eighteen now." Morrison replied with a sly grin.
"Guys, I'm happy with just having a real family." Mystic said honestly as she looked back and forth between her two newfound brothers.
"Well, welcome to the family, little sister." Mason said as he walked over and patted the top of her head.
"Well, Mason, you are so nice now that we know for real that she is our sister." Morrison said as came up and hugged me from behind, dislodging Mason's hand from the top of her head.
"We'll see you at dinner, Mystic," Mason said as he and Morrison headed down the stairs and left her view.