The Unread Message (Part II)

6] Maybe the first time will always be a bad one

"Okay, fine, I'll come with you.." 

He gives a serious look at me. "It's almost night time, and I have to be there early and meet my VIP guests so I'll have May will have to escort you to the ball. You can come find me after." 

"How am I supposed to come find yo-" He doesn't let me finish as he exits my room and leaves me all alone.

It seems like minutes before night time comes when suddenly there's a knocking on my door. Getting up from my bed from my leisure makeup of forty minutes ahead, I open the door and sure enough, May is standing right there, smiling at me. She looks slightly nervous.

"Are you ready to go, madam?" Apparently May calls me madam. A more mature way of Sue's calling of 'my lady'. 

"Yes. I'm.. wearing the same dress from before." I look down at my dark red dress as I dust my thighs from a non-existent dust. To brush off my nervousness. My heart is beating so fast right now it's insane. "W-where's Sue?" 

"Oh, she has duties for your preparation for the coronation. She's preparing the materials in the cabin."

"Oh, all right."

She nods. "Let's go." She steps aside to allow me to pass through. 

We go together, walking alongside each other and the silence isn't that bad at all. What's having me worried is that Ereina hasn't called me in forever---a five hour record of not calling my cell and it has me worried sick.

Until we reach the ballroom where tons of guests are roaming--- my heart almost sinks to my stomach. She glances at me, "Are you okay, madam?"

"I- I'm fine. Thanks, May." I take a big gulp.

The guests seem to have arrived long before me, I guess and there are so many people that I have to take a second to register. Most of the ladies are wearing glittered, bright colored dresses, chattering with their partners as I roam my eyes trying to find Barrbattos for my own comfort. I have to find him in this sea of strangers?

I'm also distracted by the humongous chandelier at the center of the ballroom. I gulp. It seems to be staring at me. It reminds me of the first time I've ever attended a ball. This time it's a dark silver chandelier with its natural chandelier lighting---it has glitters all over the chandelier and I have to take a moment observing it. Squinting.

I gulp as women more mature and more beautiful than me walks past me with their hair done, straightened and curled pass by me with their big ballgown dresses. And to think that what I am wearing isn't half bad from the guests who arrive, mine feels plain. I don't wear a puffy ballgown.

"Don't worry. Dressing up takes time to adjust. People already understand the customs." May consoles me. I feel alright, but my heart doesn't. My heart is beating too loudly and I'm a nervous wreck that I really just want to go back to my apartment. I'm really homesick. And don't even tell me to phone that bogus father of mine for selling me off to a demon. 

They just have bigger ballgowns and... look prettier than me.. I try to chant in my mind over and over.

"Where do these guests arrive from?" I quietly ask May. Too bad Sue isn't here at all.

"Most of these guests come from far away land to congratulate the king. It will be that way as well for the commemorating ball ceremony."

"Oh." I whisper. She hears as she smiles in response.

"Would you like some desserts, my lady? I can get them for you. You must be famished."

"I'm okay. I- I think I have to find Barrbattos first." People look my way--a newcomer-- and I'm feeling my heart race from the attention of that one second before They continue their own deeds of business. They look really wealthy.