The remaining two days had gone by quickly, and before she knew it, Ariadne was already getting dressed by Arissa for the party. She had specifically requested a new gown for this banquet from her father. This deep blue gown was adorned with translucent crystals that caught the light, causing it to shimmer and glisten.

 

Arissa smiled. As she stared at her reflection, Ariadne couldn’t help but compare how she looked in her previous lifetime. The features of her face were soft and plump in some areas. Very child-like, she thought.

 

She moved her head and let the light refract from the sapphire pins attached to her hair. The color suited her bright blue eyes.

 

The maid told her to wait as she turned back and presented a box to her, inside she saw a pair of white gloves. “When I see the gown you wish to wear, I ask Lord Astram to buy you this. I think it would really suit you, my lady.”

 

Ariadne stared at it for a long time before she praised the maid. 

 

“It’s beautiful.”

 

“My lady is kind, “Arissa said to her and reached for the gloves.

 

She glanced at the maid, and the way she bowed at her reminded her of something Osriel had told her once. The two stood on the palace balcony, watching the soldiers march with their conical helms gleaming against the afternoon light. 

 

Osriel’s hand was clasped behind his back as he said, “loyalty is gained rather than given. But gaining someone’s loyalty does not mean that they would commit themselves to you perpetually. Every loyalty, whatever its form is, has a price to maintain.”

 

Back then, she could not comprehend what Osriel wanted to say. Ariadne doesn’t need her people’s loyalty; what she had to do was to prove to them she had more power over them. Complete Subjugation is better than a frail connection like loyalty. But as she looked at the maid, she somehow realized the meaning behind his words he said that afternoon. 

 

“I must reward you for being thoughtful,” she said.

 

Arissa completely froze from where she stood, “I…”

 

“Tell, do you want anything in return?”

 

Arissa’s eyes widen. “I don’t, my lady. I only do what a servant like me must do for her master. Don’t feel indebted to someone like me!” 

 

“Still, I think I must do something for you. If you want something, tell me. If you want nothing, I can just give you anything I see fit to compensate for your service.”

 

Arissa stayed silent this time. 

 

She wanted something, but she wasn’t sure if I had the power to give it to her. After all, in everyone’s eyes, I’m nothing but a ten-year-old girl.

 

The maid didn’t talk anymore. She rechecked her hair, but Ariadne could still see that Arissa’s mind was not there, despite her evident focus on what she was doing. She was thinking about her offer. Soon, she left to call Astram.

 

As she waited for Astram, Ariadne thought of what Arissa might want as a reward. No sooner than she thought about it did she realize how barely she knew the girl. She didn’t even pay much attention to her in the past. When she died in the Spiderbane Plague, Ariadne only stood silently as they lowered her body to the ground. There was no one left from Arissa’s family at that time to claim her remains. Astram took the task of giving the maid a proper burial. Ariadne didn’t shed a tear as she covered her body with snow.

 

When she realized her action, Ariadne felt angry at herself and bad for Arissa.

 

Astram opened the door moments later; her father had specially dressed nicely for this banquet. He took her appearance without a word; a nameless expression appeared in his eyes. It was as if she was seeing her as someone else.

 

They strolled towards the Great Hall in silence, but just when they were about to reach the entrance, Astram spoke.

 

“You reminded me of her.”

 

Ariadne didn’t have anymore explanation as to know whom her father was talking to. She smiled as paintings of her mother in a white dress surged back to her memory. It made something inside her soften, almost threatening her tears to fall. She held her skirt in both hands, smiled, and strolled beside him as the large double door opened before them.

 

For a moment, the intensity of light had almost blinded her. As she trudged forward, she slowly took in the hall's condition. There was a piece of soothing music playing somewhere in the hall. At the center of the Great Hall, ladies and gentlemen danced in pairs to the beat of the music.

 

They descended the stairs of the room. Ariadne looked up and felt insignificant in how high the ceiling was. Eight large chandeliers hung above against the fresco of a forgotten legend that showed a gigantic tree with red leaves and white barks. The chandeliers were powered by lightcrystals, an artificial stone made to siphon Stardust around it for it to glow.

 

The two made their way toward the location of Duke Ellisar, but since the place was crowded, they had to stop occasionally. On their way there, Ariadne had received many curious looks from other ladies and lords. 

 

When they finally reached the Duke of Atolia, they both greeted him. Osriel stood beside his father. He was wearing a white coat with gold aiguilette and tassels, resembling a look of a small military uniform. He gave her a nervous smile when his eyes found her.

 

Ariadne had to stand there for the next ten minutes of her life before the duke glanced at the two kids and told them to socialize with children of their age. She was gladder to heed what he had said. 

 

When they were already far from the duke and his father, she sighed and said, “this is why I don’t like parties that much.”

 

In her mind, she scolded herself for being a hypocrite. She enjoyed attending social gatherings in her previous life more than anyone else!

 

“Do you want to eat?” Osriel said. “This contest is making me nervous. What if all the things we reviewed aren’t there?!”

 

Osriel was more agitated than what she thought; his hand kept smoothing down his already creaseless coat.

 

“My lord, you just have to trust in your own ability. We have done everything we can for the last five days. I’m sure you and I will do good,” she assured him.

 

But his words weren’t enough to calm Osriel down. The boy nodded at her, but it was clear as day that he could hear nothing from what he had said. She hoped that when the Wisdom Contest started, his worries would fade.

 

A few moments later, Astram found them sitting in the corner as they threw questions at one another. 

 

“Your Grace, your father was looking for you.”

 

The boy abruptly stood and waved goodbye to her before he left.

 

“Have you eaten already?” his father asked.

 

She shook her head, feeling the hunger she hadn’t felt when he talked with Osriel.

 

The two ate together. Ariadne enjoyed the dishes prepared for the party, particularly the white cake topped with fresh strawberries. In anyone’s eyes, it would appear simple and dull; it made most nobles averted the desert on purpose. But Ariadne realized from attending parties in her previous life that most plain-looking food would taste the best. Most foods served here taste insane because of too many spices and ingredients; if not careful, it might end in diarrhea. Ariadne would rather not experience that while in the middle of the party. As she returned for the cake for the third time, someone spoke beside her.

 

“It seems what my lady is eating is delicious. It is now your third slice,” he said as he sliced a piece for himself.

 

She turned around, only to get annoyed at the person beside her. 

 

“Lord Lewis,” she said, feigning shock. Ariadne faked a bow. “And it seems your lordship had no better thing to do than to spy on someone’s business.”

 

Lewis suppressed a burst of laughter as he said, “is that how my lady sees it? But I just happen to see you in the crowd… because how could I not?”

 

“You’re flattering me,” she said. “But please, I hope you stop following me around.”

 

She could tell from how his eyes glinted that Lewis found this encounter amusing. But Ariadne felt nothing from this conversation rather than being annoyed.

 

What is this bastard thinking for following me?

 

When it seemed Lewis had no better to say rather than subtly provoke her, Ariadne strolled away with her cake. She knew how disrespectful to do it in front of a man, and if he wanted, he could tell all stories to destroy her in the high society. She calculated the risk; disrespecting him had more benefits than staying there and talking to a psycho like him.

 

She sat rashly in her chair. Astram across her couldn’t help but stare at her with a questioning gaze. He was about to say something but was cut off when the duke took the podium. He smiled and greeted everyone in the Great Hall. The Duke then proceeded to speak about the importance of this event to the South, especially to the Atolians.

 

“It is really unfortunate that His Imperial Majesty could not join us here, but he sent to us His Imperial Secretary as his representative.”

 

The Imperial Secretary was a thin man in his forties, with graying red hair and bright green eyes. Below his right eye, there was a noticeable mole that Ariadne couldn’t help but to stared at. 

 

“Good evening, I am here to represent His Imperial Majesty. Our Emperor had really wanted to attend this night because it had been so long since he attended one himself. But sadly, some important duties had arisen, and he had to attend to them. Our Emperor…”

 

He has a unique way in his voice, calm and soothing. As if this man doesn’t tell a lie.

 

Throughout his speech, the people around the hall kept nodding at what he had said, as if they were all charmed by his voice.

 

The party continued right after that; the band played many songs until the host for tonight’s Wisdom Contest arrived at the podium. Surprisingly, it was Lewis’s father. He immediately called every participant for the game.

 

Ariadne walked to the front when her name was called; as she stood before everyone, she couldn’t help but notice how they all stared at them, and for some reason, this ordeal had made her sick as it reminded her of many unpleasant memories. At that time, they were looking at my me for a different reason.

 

There were a total of twenty participants who joined the Wisdom Contest. The last to be called was Osriel; six people were between them. I must defeat every obstacle in the game to solidify the duke’s success.

 

For the first round of the Wisdom Contest, all points had a value of one point. There were a total number of fifteen questions for this round. 

 

“But a Negative Question will appear at some point during this round. These questions can give you an advantage over other contestants. If someone could answer it correctly, they will may give a one-point deduction to any contestant they want.” The host stopped and looked over them. “The player with the lowest score can no longer proceed in the second round.”

 

Ariadne positioned her hand on her chest per what the host had said and waited silently for the first question. But no sooner than she put it on her chest, she raised it again abruptly as she realized the answer to the first question.