Chapter 21 – The Celebration (The Man in the Black Masquerade Mask)
Ashleigh’s POV
“Come here Ash, Do you want to come with me?” Stheno asked me.
“Hmm, Sure? Where?” I asked her with a smile.
“In our castle.” she said and then smiled.
“Y-Your c-castle?” I stammered as my eyes widened.
“Yep… ahh if you like though.” she said as she put her things in her bag.
“Thanks, Stheno but, I’ll just come with Shreya and we’ll just wait for you at the venue.” I said.
“Okay… let’s just meet at the venue.” said Stheno before leaving our dorm.
“So what? Are we going to start getting dressed? Or later? We will leave before 6 and I also want to… wear my beautiful masquerade mask. ” said Shreya while holding the yellow masquerade mask hers.
“Hmm, You should dress up first. I’ll be out in a moment.” I said and then the door was about to open when she suddenly spoke.
“Hurry up okay?” she says.
I just raised my thumb and smiled at her when I came out that there were only a few students who are not yet dressed for the party.
Shreya’s parents wanted her to go home, but she did not want to go home. while Elgin and his older brother wanted to stay so that Shreya and I would have someone with us when we went to the venue. The sisters Lizzy and Ember decided to return to their palace first before going to Prince Demian’s castle.
“This place is too quiet jeez… there aren’t many students around here.” I whispered to myself.
I looked around until I could get down to the lobby.
I peeked outside and saw other students gathering in a well near the entrance gate of the Magica Academy. I approached and looked at what they were doing.
“A-Ahh… Miss what’s going on here?” astonished I asked a female student.
It turned and stared at me.
“We are gathering here at the wishing well to wish before we went to parties.” explanation of the woman.
I dig deep into my pocket if I have a coin and good things I have a single coin in my pocket. I held it tightly and closed my eyes to wish and then I immediately dropped it into the wishing well. I sighed before going back inside.
‘I just hope my wish comes true.’
Third Person’s POV
When Stheno and her cousin arrived at Lunaria, they were immediately greeted by the king and queen.
“Stheno! Diasspro!” the couple said at the same time.
“Mom, Dad.” Diasspro said without emotion.
“You go inside. The food is ready.” smiling said the queen.
When the queen said that, she and her king entered at the same time. Their niece immediately followed. While Princess Diasspro sighed before following inside.
“I really don’t want to go home here.” Diasspro whispered to herself as she frowned.
Her cousin heard that but she ignored her and just walked away.
When they arrived at the dining room, Stheno was immediately hugged by her parents.
“Stheno!” at the same time her father and mother said.
“Mom, Dad! I miss you so much.” said Stheno.
Diasspro was quietly staring at them while Diasspro’s parents were staring at her.
“Diasspro is distancing herself from us.” said Felicia to her husband as she held her arm.
“Do you want us to talk to her?” smiling suggests her husband.
“Certainly.” Felicia replied and nodded.
The couple approached their daughter and held her by the shoulder.
“Sweetie, can you follow your daddy and me to the garden.” Felicia said in seriousness and walked first followed by her husband.
Diasspro holds her arm before following her parents.
She wondered why her parents wanted to talk to her. Has she done anything wrong? Did she do something they did not like? that’s what she thinks as she walks inside their garden.
Her grew eyes widened at the look of their garden. She did not expect it to be better than the last time she saw it.
“Sweetie, come here. Come with us.” Felicia calls her daughter.
Diasspro immediately approached and looked down when they were in front of her.
“We are happy that… You are getting better in your class we are proud of you sweetie even though sometimes we are lacking time with you.” said Ashton and held Diasspro by the shoulder.
“We’re so sorry that sometimes… we don’t have time for you I hope you understand why your father and I do that. We love you so much sweetie so I hope you understand that.” Felicia explained and held their daughter’s hand.
Diasspro looked away and hugged them both.
“I understand mommy, daddy… and I love you two too.” said Diasspro as she hugged them.
Unbeknownst to them, Stheno was smiling while watching them on the balcony.
Stheno smiled when she saw her cousin and her parents.
“I’m happy that the three of them get along now.” Stheno whispered to herself and went inside.
She was walking in when her mother called her.
“Stheno.”
“Yes, mom?” Stheno asked.
“I have something to tell you.” her mother said seriously.
“About what Mom?” Stheno asked again.
“About the heiress.” said Matilda with a serious face.
Stheno’s reaction suddenly changed and she immediately nodded.
What would her mother say about the heiress? Is it about another sign of the heiress?
The cousin is ready to leave for Prince Demian’s palace. They are wearing fancy jewelry and dress.
“Wait for us there. We will also attend the celebration.” said King Ashton then smiled at them.
“Will do, uncle.” said Stheno
“We’re leaving now mom, dad, uncle, and aunt.” said Diasspro.
“See you at the ball!” Stheno and Diasspro said at the same time.
Their parents just nodded and waited for them to get into the carriage. they waved completely until they could enter. Both cousins almost held their breath when they saw who was inside.
“Hey guys!” it said to the two of them.
“UGH! Trison! Are you going to kill us in shock?” Diasspro asked annoyed and hit her cousin Trison.
“HAHAHA! Sorry… sorry I didn’t mean to.” laughed Trison.
Diasspro first slapped Trison on the arm before sitting down. The carriage started running until it entered the portal to Prince Demian’s palace.
When they arrived at the palace, they immediately put on their masquerade masks. Diasspro was immediately greeted by her friend Princess Madison.
“Frienny!”
“Maddie!”
The three of them went down first before entering Trison while Diasspro and Madison seemed to have not seen you for a year. Stheno just sighed and went inside.
She looked around to find her friends’ place. She sighed again because she could not see them. Everyone wears masquerade masks. Before finally entering, she put on her blue masquerade mask. Stheno was surprised by those who pulled her. She would have shouted when someone covered her mouth.
“Shh! Don’t shout! Everyone might think you are crazy.” whispered the woman in the yellow masquerade mask.
“It’s us Stheno.” whispered a woman wearing a purple masquerade mask.
“Shreya? Ashleigh? Why did the two of you pull me out of nowhere? You look like kidnappers of what you two are doing!” Stheno scolded his friends angrily.
“Sorry, you might not believe it when we just came suddenly hahaha.” Shreya explained while laughing.
“Come on, we’ve been waiting for you for a while.” said Ashleigh.
Stheno just smiled and went with his friends. As they sat down a waiter handed them wines and water at their table.
Stheno took Ashleigh’s hand and immediately looked at her.
“Don’t you part away from us, is that clear?” Stheno said seriously.
“W-Why?” Ashleigh asked her confused.Content provided by NôvelDrama.Org.
“You might get lost in this palace. You still have a lot of strangers you don’t know here yet.” Stheno explained.
“O-Okay…” Ashleigh stammered while nodding.
In Ashleigh’s mind. Stheno has a point. She has no other acquaintances here besides them. In fact, everything Stheno said was correct. So she might even be punished if she got lost and was found by the soldiers of this palace.
“By the way, where are Jax and Elgin?” Stheno asked the two of them.
“They are with their teammates, but they will come back to our table later.” Ashleigh explained.
“How about Ember and Lizette?” Stheno asked again.
“Hmm, they are with the other members of the Council.” Shreya replied.
Stheno just nodded and smiled.
Ashleigh turned to her left. She could see the moonlight coming from outside. She stood up and said goodbye then they just had a peek.
Stheno did not want to allow her but she said she would return immediately so instead of debating, Stheno allowed her.
Ashleigh smiled at Stheno before walking to the balcony. Even before she arrived, someone bumped into her, causing her to almost fall down but good thing the man caught her before she totally fall.
“Glad that I caught you.” said the man with an angelic voice.
Ashleigh was stunned by the man who caught her. The man is wearing a black masquerade mask that matches his tuxedo.
Unbeknownst to them, Calux looked at the two of them. Calux is wearing a dark blue masquerade mask. Calux is with Diasspro, Madison, and Fred.
On the other hand, The man helped Ashleigh stand up straight. Ashleigh still did not speak. She is still quiet because she is ashamed of the man who caught her. Ashamed, Ashleigh still thanked him.
While Calux, on the other hand, did not lose sight of the two of them.
-The Heiress Mage