That day finally arrived.

Ophilia’s Coming of Age Ceremony. The entire estate had woken up earlier than usual.

The atmosphere that was normally calm was now filled with the movement and footsteps of busy servants, yet still controlled... as if every step had to be taken with full discipline.

But for Olivia...

None of it really caught her attention.

Because she knew the moment her feet stepped out of her room, she had already felt it....

Something had changed. Olivia stopped for a moment in the middle of that wide corridor. Her eyes as usual... fell toward her wrist.

The fine thread tied around her wrist trembled... followed by a slow pulse. But this time stronger.

"...here we go again...."

she whispered quietly. The atmosphere that morning felt too calm. As if the whole world was holding its own breath, waiting for something unknown to happen. And in that strange quiet, Olivia only stood still.

Her eyes grew sharper...

"....this isn’t a coincidence.." she said quietly.

"...just a moment.."

she said quietly then walked toward Ophilia’s room. The closer she got to that room the stronger the busyness she could hear inside.

Olivia drew in a slow breath. Her feet were already right in front of Ophilia’s room door. Her hand immediately reached for the door knob.

That door swung open wide. Many maids could be seen carrying all of Ophilia’s accessories.

"Woah... so many people.." a voice was heard from behind Olivia. She turned her head.

"Oh... Celine.." she said then turned her head back toward Ophilia who had just finished having her makeup done by the head maid. Madam Irene.

"Let’s go Celine..."

said Olivia. Celine nodded then both of them stepped toward Ophilia. They prepared Ophilia’s outfit that had already been chosen.

The maids and Madam Irene who had finished bringing in the accessories and had finished doing Ophilia’s makeup stood to the side waiting for them to finish.

"My Lady... there’s no time, let me do your hairstyle"

Olivia called out loudly as Ophilia was just standing staring at the gown in front of her. She quickly moved toward the mirror then sat down. Ophilia moved her hands as if doing a stretch.

"Let’s begin!!"

she said. Her hands quickly and gently held Ophilia’s hair and fixed it. Olivia’s fingers moved slowly, combing through Ophilia’s long hair that fell like silk.

She took a few strands from the sides of that girl’s face, then began braiding carefully, not too tight, letting a few fine strands escape to soften the look.

That braid was then pulled to the back, meeting in the middle before being twisted into a small elegant knot.

The rest of the hair was left loose, softly waving down her back.

Carefully, Olivia pinned small gold pins between the braids, fine pearls glimmering each time they caught the light.

"Don’t move...my lady.."

she whispered quietly to Ophilia. Then, one last touch.

"Done!!"

she said. Then Ophilia looked at her face that had already been tidied and done up. As if amazed at herself.

But Olivia noticed... Ophilia’s gaze in that mirror seemed empty... but she set aside that feeling.

After that, the dressmaker brought out the gown that Ophilia was going to wear. That purple coloured gown, decorated with gold coloured gems. Flower embroidery on every corner of the gown.

The gown made from heavy layered fabric shimmered under the light. Ophilia stood.

Other maids helped put on the gown.

The corset was tightened slowly.

"Draw in a breath... hold it..."

Olivia stood close.

Her hand gripped the skirt fabric. Dressing that gown onto Ophilia’s body gently. When the corset was tightened once more...

Olivia felt something strange. Ophilia showed absolutely no reaction. Not pain... not tension... not even a sharp breath.

Olivia slowly looked at her face in the mirror.

And this time Ophilia’s eyes... for just a moment... looked empty.... Not calm but empty.

Olivia tried to approach Ophilia.

"My Lady, are you okay??"

she said quietly. Ophilia only smiled and nodded slowly. Even though she looked normal, Olivia could feel something wasn’t right with Ophilia.

"Could she be feeling scared or nervous?" Olivia whispered quietly. Then she gently rubbed Ophilia’s back. Just to ease some of the worry in Ophilia’s heart. Ophilia went quiet.

Then Olivia excused herself for a moment to change her clothes.

Ophilia nodded and told Celine and Olivia to go change. In a few minutes they came back wearing the gowns they had all three chosen...

The outfit worn by Olivia had been specially chosen by Ophilia and Celine... a soft ivory full gown, layered with mist blue chiffon fabric that flowed beautifully with every step she took.

It looked simple but enough to bring out Olivia’s elegance.

Meanwhile, Celine wore a faded rose coloured gown, elegant enough to look at, as if radiating the charm of a noble.

Celine looked in the mirror while adjusting the softly flowing fabric of her faded rose gown. She who usually looked casual,

suddenly looked very elegant as if the charm of a noble had seeped into her.

"Doesn’t even feel like me..."

Celine murmured while smiling shyly. Olivia who was watching could only wink... proud seeing her friend looking so stunning tonight.

Ophilia who was watching the two of them smiled in relief.

"There’s something missing....."

said Ophilia quietly while tapping her chin slowly. Then quickly she pointed toward the two of them.

"Madam Irene.....can you please do their makeup...."

said Ophilia softly. Madam Irene smiled and nodded slowly. Olivia furrowed her brow.

"Ehh?.. My Lady I don’t need all that.."

said Olivia. Her hand waved a few times. Madam Irene looked directly into Olivia’s eyes.

"Do you want other nobles to say.... that the Aethelgard estate has no class? And sooo poor?"

said Madam Irene. Ophilia nodded.

"True..." she chimed in. Olivia went quiet then slowly dropped her shoulders...

"Haih.... alright Madam..."

said Olivia quietly. Barely audible.

Arghhh.....

She whispered in her heart. Her hand was pulled by Madam Irene quickly then in the blink of an eye... Madam Irene touched her face and...

"Done!!"

Before Olivia could even breathe, Madam Irene was already finished. Then she moved toward Celine who was also shocked seeing that speed. And did her makeup gently but quickly.

Wow..

Then she slowly looked in the mirror. Then held her own face...

"So it turns out I’m this pretty....."

Olivia said quietly then looked toward Celine who had just finished having her makeup done. Ophilia laughed quietly. Meanwhile Celine only pouted hearing it then laughed quietly.

"Well... all three of us are pretty la" said Olivia while hugging the two of them. She looked at the two of them... as if proud seeing both her friends looking beautiful.

They nodded slowly. Olivia’s loose fine hair was touched by Ophilia’s hand. Ophilia went quiet then slowly pulled Olivia’s hand to a seat. In the midst of the confusion everyone in the room was surprised. Ophilia’s soft hand slowly touched Olivia’s hair....

"Done"

she said. When looked at, her hair was already neatly tied. Half of her hair was let down. Then Ophilia thought of something.

"Ah... one more thing"

she said then walked toward where her accessories were. Then,

"Okay done!!"

she said... Olivia looked at Ophilia who was smiling then told her to look toward the mirror.

At the back of her hair, a crescent moon shaped brooch had been pinned. Olivia turned. Then,

"My Lady, I don’t deserve to wear this"

she said then her hand wanted to reach for that pin but Celine stopped her.

"My Lady is sincere you know..."

said Celine quietly. Then Olivia’s eyes looked toward Ophilia who looked slightly disappointed.

"Arh... no I just feel like I don’t deserve it"

said Olivia quietly. Ophilia shook her head.

"No... you are my friend so I consider you the same as me"

she said then turned toward Celine and pinned a hairpin in her hair. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Meanwhile, the sound of a bell from far away could be heard. The head maid began clapping her hands twice.

"Everyone to your positions! The ceremony is about to begin!"

Everyone moved quickly and in an orderly manner. Ophilia who was standing in the middle of them.

Looked perfect, beautiful as if without a single flaw. Olivia quickly stood behind her. Followed by Celine.

Her heart was beating fast.... her eyes slowly fell toward her wrist that was now clasped in front. Pulsing slowly.

That bell sound wasn’t just a sign that the event was starting, but for Olivia, it was a warning bell. She knew behind the doors of that ballroom, Duke Herold was already waiting with his ’loving father’ mask on.

Olivia adjusted the position of the moon pin in her hair. She drew in a long breath, trying to calm the pulse at her wrist that was growing wilder.

She needed to focus... not just to look after Ophilia’s gown, but to make sure nobody got hurt in the big ’performance’ of the Aethelgard family tonight.

She went quiet... while waiting for Ophilia to step forward. She didn’t know why, but one thing she was certain of....

something might happen...

and this time...

she wasn’t sure whether she was capable of stopping it.