(Maxine's PoV)
"Kath, still not finish?" I asked Kath as she continuously styled my hair.
I could saw her from the vanity mirror infront of us. She smiled and chuckled to my hurry.
"Oh, Milady. Just wait for few minutes." she replied. I pouted and looked at my self-reflection in the mirror. Maxineirah's younger face was really cute.
This was the day I had secondly waited for, patiently. My very second step to change our fate.
Of course, it was my second because I already achieved my first goal and that is to be close with my family. I thought it would be hard to achieve but contrary to what I expected, we tatally became too close in a short time at that.
This made me think that maybe, in the past, it was really me who was avoiding them. I always felt like I was being a burden to them so I kept my distance, I kept my problems from them and tried to raise by myself in ranks.
I wonder how would things would work out. It was like I was stuck between two paths to walk on -the path first path I already know what would be the end, full of sadness, grief and anger. And the second path was the unknown path, might be safe but also have the posibility to be risky and more dangerous than the first one.
But out of the two paths, I already decided what path I was going to take. Instead of making the same mistake choosing the path I already know how would my life ends, I turned around and faced the unknown path waiting for me even I was not sure what and how would the end turns like.
I already sacrificed a lot of times, should I not deserve to be happy now? Hoping, this path take me in a paradise.
I glared at my reflection on the mirror as I clenched my hands on the top of the vanity table. I could not wait to finally grasp it.
I want to crush the first Prince's neck under my own hands. His throbbing neck under my possession as he was having a hard time breathing heavily around my delicate fingers.
"Milady, it is finally done!" Kath said happily as she looked at me in the mirror. That was when I cut out my imaginations.
She styled my hair really well, I was amazed. Its like Kath was what I call super maid because she could do almost everything so well. A perfection to her job.
Ah. If its that so... She could be the next Head Maid if ever. And that... was what I am worried about. If she ever suddenly becomes the Head Maid, she would not be attending me anymore and she would be my father's almost personal maid.
Head Maid's one of the most important duties wass to prioritize the Head of the House, first things first. That would mean, I could not talk to Kath freely again if that happens.
I jolted when a hand touched my shoulder.
"Milady, you look pale. Are you okay?" she asked, worried visible to her face. I forced a smile.
What am I overthinking again?
"I am fine Kath. I am just thinking if I will do well in the party." I told her what was the other that had been bugging me.
Her possibility of being the Head Maid was high but I am sure that it would take time before she rose up to rank. I should not get myself ahead of me.
There were still possibilities that might happen and I am sure Dad would not take Kath away from me since she was my personal maid since birth.
"Oho? You need not to worry, Milady. They will not be focused to you because everyone will have their eyes set for the Viscount's fourth son and I am sure that our talented Miss will do the best." she calmed me down with a gentle smile.
Ah. That smile and comfortable words from her. It was really soothing.I expect that everything she says would always have this kind of warmth.
Would my mother be like her if she was still alive?
Maybe, she would be greater than any mother.
W arrived infront of Ystradgynlais' Residence. The Mansion looks a little smaller than our's but its not the issue here. I would be able to see him again!
I was nervous. What would it feels like this time that Maxillary was now nice to me? Far from my past. I wonder what would happen. Would this event turn up good or the other way around?
I took a glance up to my Brother Maxwell who was just standing beside me. He caught me staring at him and flashed a smile, with his wide grin. I smiled back to him before we proceed in the announcing room.
Right from here, I could already hear the mild music from the other side of the room, the loud chatterings and gleeful voices.
Dad was infront of us, behind him were were Brother Millian and Brother Amo, Brother Lein and Maxillary and in the end of line were Maxwell and I, holding our hands. Uh. I almost really think that we were twins. Was Maxillary not jealous of me?
The celebrant was a child coming of age so everyone's children close to his age were also invited in the banquet together with their guardians.
"Your Exellency, the Duke of Zachrono and his Children are now entering!" the person in charge on the side of the door said out loud before the guy on the side opened the grand door of the room.
The banquet room began to brighten the dark hallway from the inside of the banquet hall. I reached my chest and closed my eyes tightly before heaving a sigh that my family immediately noticed.
"You okay, Maxine?" Maxlein asked, glancing over his shoulde and I just noticed that they were all looking at me. I felt Maxwell tightened his grip in our intertwined hands, assuring me.
"I am fine, brothers." I replied awkwardly and almost stuttered because of the look they were giving me.
Dad was also looking at me and when I realized that he was still not making a move to enter, I suddenly got embarrassed for him.
Graces! The doors were already wide open and the other guests could see him perfectly and yet he had not made any movements to enter the hall!
'This is embarrassing!' I groaned on my mind.
I was the one who was embarrassed for him because he did not look like he was interested at all, same for my brother.
Am I the only one suffering from this?
"Dad!" I yelled, almost a whisper like. He tilted his head.
"What? Do you want to go home now?" he asked plainly as if it was just nothing. I know that he really did not want to attend this banquet but was not he being too hopeful for me to agree with his ludicrous idea?
My brothers nodded at me, sending their agreement to our father's ridiculous idea.
My insides immediately panicked on what he said and to my brother's reaction.
My subconscious was screaming!
"No! Just enter already, Dad." I replied ashamed, covering the upper part of my face with my other hand. Oh my Graces... Just what was happening to them? Have they already lost it?
"Very well." Dad muttered and that made me a little calmer.
He cleared his throat before looking at the person who announced our arrival as if he was being told something out of the noble's etiquette. Well, it really was.
"U-uh..." the announcer did not know what to do. I did not also know what Dad did to the announcer but he repeated his introduction about us, with the doors already opened.
Was that still not against the rules? I did not know because it was the first time this ever happened.
Would Dad be in a National History tomorrow?
I would not doubt if he did.
'Oh Dad, just what should I do with you?'
If I just gotten bigger, maybe I could have protested right away but a child must only act as a child and remain silent.
And my brothers were another problem.
As we entered the hall, I suddenly felt odd about the atmosphere. It changed.
The hostile and awkward glances we often received were all better now. What just happened? I glanced around out of curiousity. Hmm.
There were a lot of teens who have not made to their coming-of-age or debutante yet here. I also saw someone in my age but they could be count on my fingers. Those kids.
They were all looking at me.
I did not know what was happening but the atmosphere was far different from the past.
Instead of low whispers, they now dare to talk with each other loudly about us in our presence, not in a negative way though because I could hear lots of praises and compliments from them.
When we finally stood on the side, we were quickly brushed off by the other nobles and some aristocrats who attended the party and crowded for our father. Mostly, women from high-standing families.
"Oh my, what a surprise Duke Zachrono. You are looking more younger and younger whenever I see you." one of the parents who approached father told him when they got near.
She almost bumped me without care. It was as if we did not exists in their eyes.
Good thing, Brother Maximo carried me on his arms and turned to the side before the woman really bump me.
I blinked my eyes as I saw Dad in the middle. He looked stoic, cold and dignified as he looked down to them. For the mean time, I thought he forgot about us but that idea quickly disregarded when he looked at us and signaled something.
I saw how Brother Amo and Brother Millian nodded at him. What was that signal? Hmm.
"How dare all of you to ignore my children and almost trample them and then, coming to me with those pretentious smiles?"