Moonlight Ball - Chapter 101

Vivian was 29 years old this year, one year older than Iris. Growing up in the Magic Tower, she saw Iris a few times. Iris had anthrophobia, and because her teacher Elaine taught her himself, she didn’t attend any official classes. Vivian only knew her from the hearsays; she was said to be the ‘princess of the Magic Tower.

Vivian remembered the first time she met Iris Elaine. Iris was walking down the hall as fast as she could, most probably to avoid people, and Vivian had turned to look at her as she passed by. She was surprised at such overwhelming magic power.

That moment, Iris didn’t know how to hold down her magic power, so it was leaking. Vivian thought that Iris was like a walking volcano. Her magic power was hot and scary like lava.

But Iris was now 28. Also, she was pretending to be Rosemary, so she was suppressing her magic power properly. Most people wouldn’t have felt Rosemary’s magic power, but Vivian was part of Magic Tower and an elite. She faintly felt Rosemary’s magic power.

It was a power I haven’t felt from the Queen before, she thought, but it seems familiar.

Vivian paused in the hallway and tilted her head. It felt like she was missing something, but she didn’t know what it was. Vivian moaned and tried to think for a while. Eventually, her head was full of questions even when she was heading back to the doctor’s office.

Certainly, certainly, I felt that magic power before. But where?

But no matter how much she racked her brain, she couldn’t remember.

***

Later that day, Margaret’s cheek was reddened by a ferocious slap, which prolonged for a while.

“I gave you a few chances thinking you’ve done well, how could you disappoint me like this?” Elena said in what seemed to be an angry face.

Margaret covered her swelling cheeks and looked at the Duchess. She was looking down at Margaret with such coldness and spite. At that moment, Elena seemed like the Goddess of Law.

“I, I didn’t do anything!” Margaret pleaded.

“You dare to stand in front of the Queen? Ignoring Countess Mutarion? Then you made her bleed. This is a crime!”

“N, n, no. I didn’t!”

Margaret desperately denied. She couldn’t stop here. She finally got to stand in front of the Queen. This couldn’t be the end! If she was kicked out now, Margaret could no longer be a part of the noble society. She would have to go back to her home and her father wouldn’t even treat her as a person. Last time, she was told to marry a merchant, but this time, she didn’t know who she’d have to marry.

“Is that so? Then your existence itself is evil. I can’t let someone be so damned in the palace. Anyone there!”

The Duchess yelled. Margaret found out just now what kind of person the Duchess was. She would order the servants to drag Margaret. Then Margaret would be locked in her place. Then she would have no chance to remedy her mistake.

“D, Duchess!” Margaret kneeled on the floor and hung onto the ham of the Duchess’s dress. It was so humiliating that her entire body trembled, but she couldn’t afford to be dragged out from here. “I, I’ll do anything you tell me. Just, give me another chance!”

“What chance! The Queen felt uncomfortable just seeing you to begin with! How can I keep someone who makes the Queen uncomfortable! Get lost!”

“Ma’am, please! Just one more! I’ll do anything! Spare me, ma’am! Please, please!”

Margaret kept on hanging onto the hem of the Duchess’s dress while she quivered in fear and desperation. The Duchess kicked her a few times but she still couldn’t let go. Ma’am! Margaret asked to be spared while screaming.

But Elena was smiling inside. She had been waiting for this moment. She had been planting her seeds and now it was time to harvest. She kicked Margaret one more time and she fell on the floor, helpless.

“Hmph,” Elena scoffed loudly. But she waved the servants off.

Margaret’s eyes moved anxiously. She didn’t know whether Elena wanted to spare her or kill her.

Elena elegantly sat on a chair, then glanced at Margaret. Margaret understood that glance so she crawled on her knees and obediently bowed to Elena.

“Ma’am, I’ll really do better. I, I really didn’t do anything, and I’ve never met the Queen, and….”

“You do have your flaws, Miss Surah.” Elena said. Margaret lifted her head at her tone. Her true intention, whether it be kicking her out or help her one more time, was about to be said. Her heart thumped loudly.

“But since you have so many flaws, you’ll have to prove your worth, isn’t that right?”

“O, of course. I’ll do anything you tell me to!”

“Really?”

Elena squinted her eyes in feign disbelief, and Margaret nodded fervently.

“Really. I’ll do anything you ask me to do! So please, don’t kick me out from the maid position. Please, ma’am. I didn’t do anything, and, I…”

Interrupting Margaret’s rambling, Elena lifted her chin with a fan.

“Then prove your usefulness.”