CHAPTER 41: 38: ARIA VAELTHORN. [2]

The tidal wave of noise washed through her.

After letting the silence bloom once more, she gave the room a curt nod, a sign for them to continue on with their business.

The buzz of human activity took over the room once more, and the music started again with a renewed vigour.

She exhaled.

Even though she didn’t let it show, Aria was feeling a little uneasy under all the attention.

It had been a long while since she had last made a public appearance. Because of how intense her training and studies were, she really didn’t have a choice really. Being thrust into such a large group of people right after such a long seclusion was a little disorienting.

So she need a moment to get used to it.

She wasn’t worried too much though, Aria knew herself better than anyone else, she was going to be just fine.

She took a moment to take in the ball room.

Then she remembered something important.

She turned around towards Edward.

He was staring at her with wide eyes, his mouth still left agape in static terror.

The poor guy looked like someone had told him that he was adopted.

Aria subdued the smile tugging at her lips and waved him along.

"Come on, show me where Lady Verdigris is."

Navigating the labyrinth of human activity had taken some time for them. Especially so because Aria was being stopped every few steps by nobles wanting to greet her and strike a conversation.

Skilfully evading all the flowery greetings thrown at her, she wiggled through the maze of human activity with Edward by her side, finally reaching the dining area where he said that Selene was at.

It took her a moment to spot her in the sea of tables.

After a moment of scanning the place, her gaze finally landed on a familiar face.

Selene was also looking at her, her expression perked up with subdued excitement.

"Selene!"

"Greetings your highness. " She stood up and gave her a deep bow.

Aria rolled her eyes.

"Enough with that, How have you been?"

***

They talked for a long time. Long enough that before they knew, the king and queen was about to make their appearances.

But that was not what Aria was focusing on.

"So you’re telling me that he doesn’t remember anything?" She asked Selene, looking at Edward.

She just nodded her head.

Aria took a moment to study Edward.

He looked a little uneasy under her gaze, but there was nothing she could do about it now.

She had practically just got to know that her childhood friend had his memory wiped by some unknown power.

She didn’t really know what to feel.

Pushing down the emotions that was threatening to cloud her judgement, she simply just gave Edward a warm smile. Trying her best to not show her emotions on her face.

"I see..."

Edward returned her smile rather nervously.

"I’m sorry, your highness... I... " He fumbled for words.

Aria just shook her head.

"Don’t worry about it." She shifted a little in her seat, and took a sip from her cup. "It’s not like everything ceased to exist just because you have amnesia, I’m sure the palace archive will have something... probably."

She was trying to sound strong to the best of her abilities.

She still couldn’t shake the faint tremor in her voice though.

Aria exhaled, shaking her head.

"Enough with that." She looked back at Edward. "How have you been holding up?"

He hesitated for a moment.

"I’ve been doing well enough. Father has been doing his best to support me along the way." He fiddled with his cup as he spoke. "And everyone has been super kind to me so far, so there’s that too."

She nodded.

That’s relieving.

She was a little worried for Edward. Considering the kind of person he was.

Aria could still remember all the time they had spent playing around. Edward had always been a timid boy #since the beginning. Unlike the hooligans she had to spend time with, he never had any goals like becoming a famous knight or be strong. He was a rather eccentric boy, but a likeable one nonetheless.

He had just... wanted to be himself.

And now that had been taken away from him.

It would have been a lie if Aria said that she didn’t feel sad for her friend.

She didn’t get any time to soak in the feeling though, because right as they were about to move onto another topic, trumpets flared from all around them. And a loud voice, amplified by magic spoke.

"His majesty, Maximillian Vaelthorn The Second have arrived."

The air in the room instantly shifted, and everyone, including those who were seated, immediately went silent and faced the door.

Tense silence hung in the air for a moment as everyone anticipated the arrival of the king.

Then, like a crack in the dam of tension, the doors to the room slowly creaked open.

Her father, with her mother by his side, walked in, his steps deliberate and slow as he headed towards the podium in the room.

And behind them, another person walked in too, an ordinary looking man with bright auburn hair and a relaxed expression on his face.

The man stood with the people as the king and the queen ascended the podium.

"Greetings, My loyal subjects." The king’s voice permeated the room without any resistance, his deep, gravelly voice clear enough that it felt like he was talking right into their ears.

"I extend my gratitude to all those who have joined me in this occasion today."

A moment of deliberate silence.

"I hope that all you have been enjoying your stay in the royal palace so far." He swept his gaze across the crowd. "The ball shall here-by commence."

The moment the words left his mouth, majestic music descended into the room, and the dam of tension that had been slowly cracking finally burst open.

A wave of cheer, noble and poised, erupted across the chamber.

"All hail his majesty, Maximillian Vaelthorn!"