Blinding Light (BLS Book 1)

Finding Karen near the room of the clavi cembalo col piano e forte. I scramble around the corner to seem as if I came from another direction.

“Mademoiselle! There you are. I thought I saw you walking this way. But alas, I was far, and you were nowhere to be seen when I reached there,” she blabs.

I stand up straighter, possibly making it more evident that I’m hiding something. I shake my head slightly and clear my throat,

“I was around the garden—only heard you calling when I came inside. Disregarding that, please be careful, Karen; I don’t want you to get in trouble because of a foolish thing that I did. And if you did, I don’t know what I’d do except…”

I raise my head high and point at the air, “Ye shall not be in trouble by the order none other than the noble Mademoiselle Hayes.”

Karen giggles at that, shaking her head. Then she grabs my hand, half drag, half pulls me to my room.

***

“Mademoiselle, we must get you ready for the ceremony. It’s bound to start very soon!” Karen calls.

I emerge from the bathroom and groan out loud. I didn’t want to get ready for the ceremony of the Alliance Tour for Sargon.

It’s the first time the castle is opening itself to the outside world after the prince’s brother’s death. Everyone says suicide, but I believe it was an assassination. But alas, suicide is how the word had spread.

The ceremony itself is an event for the prince—known as the Suitor’s Campaign. It’s designed to be an extremely secure event for the prince to choose his future queen.

It sounds like that Cinderella story written just a century ago, only adding the fact that there’s an alliance’s relationship at stake. Nevertheless, it’s funny how every noble house is invited exactly like the story itself.

Let me rephrase, every noble house that has contributed to the kingdom in some way is invited. I’m here only of my mother’s contributions—her advanced medicine that cured the queen. And I’m here for the money.

Call me a selfish bastard, but the Blagrove house has been suffering for years under my stepfather’s rule, who couldn’t give a damn about the place. And my divorced, adoptive mother was with me until her passing two years ago when I was sent to my horrid stepfather’s house—I still live there now, just not while I’m a part of this ceremony I’m dreading.

My sister and I were the only ones that kept House Blagrove alive—until she got engaged overseas. My part contributing to this house is to get the money offered for joining this event in support of the kingdom. I traveled with Karen, my overly excited and most loyal maid.

…

“Oh dear, we must fix this,” Karen glances down at my gown for the fifth’s time.

“It’s the first ceremony!” I groan, rolling my eyes. “One week of nonstop travels from Paris to Honfleur is tiring Karen. I barely got to settle down! And this is the only suitable dress I brought!”

She hushes me and pushes me toward my closet. She looks through the clothes and pulls out a vast, puffy bluebell-colored gown; I’m surprised they provided them. Or maybe Iwera is so rich that they don’t even bother and provide them.

“That’s why Mademoiselle, we improvise,” she says while pulling the dress over my head.

“I can’t breathe,” I choke.

“No need for that,” she moves to fix my hair as I scowl. Straightening and brushing out the knots, she pulls at my hair and wraps it up into a tight crown braid. I’m surprised that I can keep that much hair on my head securely. I shake my head in discomfort.

“You look absolutely stunning, Mademoiselle. Smile!”

I smile at her and choke out, “Merci (Thanks) Karen.”

She laughs, “We must hurry now. It’s almost time for the introduction! It’s the first time everyone sees the prince in like—forever!” She squeals and a devilish smile warms her face before she pushes me out the door.

…

I walk down the brightly lit hall. People are chattering everywhere—nobles who King Leopold invites.

“Bonjour Mademoiselle, how are you?” A young girl asks in greeting, her blonde hair radiating on her head.

“Good, merci (Thanks). You dear?” I smile at her.

“Good good.”

Her group of friends impatiently shouts at her, “Ameryn, viens (come on)!”

“Euh…enchanté (nice to meet you), ciao!” I wave to her as she joins the rest of her group. I’m positive that I’ve seen her around the courtyard before, but I didn’t put much thought into that.

The halls are full of portraits of past rulers. My eyes linger on one with hazel eyes. He is middle-aged but stood confidently. He looks somewhat familiar, the way his eyes are stern yet powerful. A shiver travels down my spine as I turn away—almost like I’m being watched, and not in a good way.

A pair of chattering, giggling girls passes by me, taking me away from my thoughts. I brush off the feeling and head towards the line forming outside the entrance of the ballroom.

I stand behind a young woman. She wears a bright red dress, and her dark brown hair that shines under the candlelight—pulled into a braided ponytail. The contrast is stunning. She’s also admiring the artwork of the hall. When she sees me, she jumps and flings her arms around my shoulders.

“Mila! I missed you so much!” She squeezes even tighter. It takes me a second but I gasp when my eyes settle on her face,

“Raven? I haven’t seen you in a biennial!” I squeeze her back tightly, kissing her on both cheeks.

“Look who I found after a month!” She exclaims, her loud voice echoes a little in the hallway. I stare at her in disbelief. She laughs and pats my cheek.

“Seriously Mila, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you ever since I got back.”

“Me?” I scoff. “I’ve been here the whole time!”

“Shhh!”

Our country’s head minister Monsieur Quinn scowls at us, with his crooked nose and slumped back. Although I’ve seen him before, I thought he looks different and younger in a way. His features contrast against his hazel yet fierce eyes and his wrinkles don’t seem…natural.

Raven and I look at each other—thinking the same thing,

Where did he come from?

“Alright, but you explain after,” Raven says, lowering her voice. I smile back at her.

“Are you excited?” She chirps.

“Of course, we get to see the prince for the first time… I’m as excited as I can be,” I chuckle. “Whatever happened to your engagement? However were you able to come back?”

She grimaces.

“Too soon?” I ask, panicking a little.

“No,” she sighs. “Shortly after I got there, that foul man was having an affair. I couldn’t do anything. It was truly miserable,” she pauses, furrowing her brows. “Of course I hated him at first sight. I loved Elijah. You remember how devastated I was when I received the arranged engagement letter that Father had set for me. Of course, he sold me right away, as he had planned it; Mother always went against it…”

Rave takes a deep breath and bites her bottom lip, “I miss her so much, Mila.”

I hug her once more, squeezing her shoulders. I feel her relax under my touch and smile.

“She’ll always be with us, you know.” I wipe the tear away on her face with my thumb, “Don’t ruin all your hard work now.”

“I only wished I could’ve seen her one more time…” she lets out a shaky breath.

“It’s okay, Rave. She would be proud of you now, getting yourself a job, I think?”

“It’s not technically a job. It’s just a temporary pay machine.” I chuckle at her sarcasm.

“I’m here as a sponsor for Mademoiselle Aldine. I have yet to find out who that is,” she raises her eyebrows. “And I thought you said explain later.”

“Oui, I suppose I have. But continue anyways.” I give her a smug smile.

“Fine!” Raven throws her hands up in surrender. “I was able to bribe a sailor to take me back home. I got—stole the money from that man…I was no less of a concubine, living there—no love, no status.”

Raven lets out a deep breath and clears her throat. “I was able to return early. The first thing I did was to look for you and Elijah. I couldn’t find you. Then I found out that Elijah had moved shortly after I had left. I only found out about Mother later…” Her head droops for just a second, then she flashes me a big smile, “But that’s all in the past now. No time to mourn, let’s party!”

“Yes…In the past…All in the…past…” I turn abruptly, but I saw nothing.

I jerk back to reality when she pulls on my dress. “And I assume you were able to gain some currency?”

“Oui, only from the castle’s hostility though. Nowhere near how much you’ve done for a house that’s not even yours.”

“What nonsense. A house of Mother’s is a house of mine. And it’s not like you haven’t contributed,” she shoulder-bumps me.

I sigh, “Mother would be so proud of you Rave. You came back with your wits and smarts. And now, when I need you, you’re back. She would be so happy.”

“She would be proud of you too, Mila, for keeping the Blagrove name alive for two whole years by yourself. I assume it must’ve been like a rabbit’s winter.”

“It was. I had to take on four jobs.”

“Exactly, you also contributed.” She makes a good point.

“Where have you been this past month, I have to ask?”

“Ah…that’s a story for another time. As you said, I would also like to enjoy tonight,” Raven says. “But no worries, what’s better is that I’ve finally found you, Mila! I missed you so much!”

“As did I, truly.”

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Thanks, with lots of smiles

☆•Yiona•☆