Finally Free!

A Bird In A Cage

"We will have a ball tomorrow with all the Azure nobles as well as the newly introduced ones," Kris says kindly as he leads me to a room in the Azure Duke's home, "but, today, you are free to do as you please as people will be arriving throughout the day from the surrounding nobles as well as the Duke of Gamboge and the Baron of Aureolin." I nod as I continue walking nervously through the home.

He continues, "Duke of Gamboge arrived two days ago and the Baron of Aureolin as well so it is just the other nobles of Azure that will be arriving today as they live a maximum of a day or two to an hour away."

I nod, "Thanks, I just do not feel like I am good enough." "Stop it," Kris says seriously, "just do your best and stop worrying about everything else." I nod and sigh deeply.

"Your Highness," Duchess Lotus calls out and I walk towards her, "it is so nice to see you again." I smile and nod, "Same to you. I am wondering who else has arrived."

"Oh, the ones who will be introduced are not allowed out by most parents even though it is not a rule," she says kindly and I nod, "have the other nobles arrived yet?" "Yes," she says politely, "everyone is here but settling in, mostly."

Soon, she is called to some important matter and I am left with my entourage following me.

I look to Kris, "What about the other nobles?" "They will all be at Sable by the end of the season," Kris says kindly, "these are more of the part that helps the newcomers meet people they have never met and the Azure family is the one to start this year but in the next years, it will change." "Are you sure this is tradition or is this just for me?" I ask and I notice him smiling, "so, just for me." He just smiles. I sigh.

"Not everything is for you," he says with a laugh, "it is truly because of the tradition and so it is not overwhelming for the newcomers." I smile and nod.

The day goes by fast and I notice the King of Freesia as well as the Prince arriving.

The next day arrives and, as the night falls later that day, the ball begins.

Once everyone is there, I notice two young boys standing by each other.

"Duke Lantana of Gamboge and Baron Tobin of Aureolin," a man announces loudly.

The ball begins and I look around at the other nobles. I try to find someone to make conversation with so I can get to know them.

Soon, I find a man and woman standing alone at a small table. I make my way over and notice them watching me.

"Your Highness," they say, bowing and curtsying. "It is nice to meet you," I say kindly, "and you are?" "I am the Marchioness of Azure and this is my husband," she says kindly. I smile and nod, "Do you live nearby or far away?" "We live twelve hours away," the Marchioness says politely, "I must take my leave now as there are many to talk to and many events to celebrate." I nod as they leave me alone, once again.

I notice the young thirteen-year-old boys in a similar position as me and I laugh a little inside but do not make my way over so as to make their nerves less.

"Your Highness," a, not too old, man says kindly, "I am the Count of Azure and I would like you to meet my child. He is around the same age as you." I smile politely, "Oh for sure." I follow him through the crowd as he makes his way to his child.

"This is my firstborn Count Chester 21," he says kindly. I notice that he cannot possibly be 21 so that must be his intelligence.

"It is nice to meet you," I say politely, "and how old are you?" "I am fifteen, Your Highness." I nod and smile as a young boy makes his way over.

"Your Highness," the young boy says kindly, "I am Viscount Amell 15." "It is an honor to meet you," I say politely as the boy looks at me with awe.

"So you are how old?" I ask him kindly. "I am sixteen, Your Highness," he says politely.

"Are these all the children of the Azure house?" I ask curiously and they nod. "There are not many noble children anymore as alot get stolen," Count Chester says seriously, "I worry about my sister every time we leave her at home with a babysitter." "Oh wow," I say nervously, "that must be tough." "Yes," Viscount Amell says kindly, "it seems that the poor will soon get the nobility as there will not be much of us left. The Marchioness lost all their children to theft and if you ever heard the Ponceau family story..." "No," I say seriously, "I have not." "It is a tragedy," Count Chester says honestly, "anyways, you must meet the Baroness."

I make my way to the last noble of the house of Azure and see her to be quite young looking.

"Hello," I say politely, "you must be the Baroness of Azure?" "What gave it away?" she asks kindly, "yes I am." "It is nice to meet you," I say kindly. "Likewise," she says politely, "my husband is at home, sickly. I wish he would not die otherwise I must marry someone of an appropriate age and gain children just to lose them. Then I must hope I am as lucky as your parents."

"I have heard that many lose their children here," I say kindly, "has that happened to you?" She shakes her head, "It happened to my parents. My twin sister went missing. It was supposed to be me because they figured out our intelligence and all they want is to control the helpless."

I sigh and nod, "It is true." She smiles sadly, "But she is definitely dead." I sigh, "I am sorry for your loss." She smiles and thanks me then she leaves me alone.

I notice people dancing a style I was taught recently as every family has their own style of dance but I do not want to join them at all.

All I know about Azure is that they love hunting and their lovely lake as well as any activities related to these two areas.

Soon, dinner ensues and then the night comes to a close for the first day of a long week.