Cora looked at me, acknowledging our sound, but didn’t do it back. She seemed in shock at what my grandmother was capable of.
“Claudia, you have outdone yourself,” Cora breathed, admiring her work. “I had no idea that you had such abilities as this!” Cora exclaimed.
I could see her face sadden as she took in Cora’s compliments. “Unfortunately, I am unable to use it anywhere else. I would be killed.” I knew exactly how she felt.
“It’s cruel to not only ban magic, but to sentence those with the gifts to death,” Cora added.
“Yes, it is. Many use it for horrible things. It’s not the magic that makes someone evil. It’s what you do with the power that defines who you are.”
Chapter eleven
AURELIA
Irealized the sacrifice that my grandmother was making for me. She allowed me to leave when it was her responsibility to ensure I was safe in the tower. However, the kingdom's safety rested on her shoulders and on mine with our shared knowledge.
Cora was wearing an inked face mask with small light feathers bordering her face. She would be recognized as the king’s ward, and my grandmother said I would be unrecognizable until midnight. Even Cora said she had to strain her mind to remember that it was me and not a stranger.
The plan was to let everyone know that I was from the Zodac village and helping Cora with her studies for the week.
I held my gold shoes in my hand, holding the ends of my dress up with the other, as Cora and I exited my tower, stepping past the normally lit area with the purple veil holding me captive. The moon was above me, glimmering in the sky. We made our way to the gardens of the kingdom, where I had to stop to bury my feet in the dirt.
“What are you doing?” Cora scuffed.
“You would do the same thing if you were locked in a tower all day, every day,” I shot back.
“Weirdo,” she whispered under her breath and let me have a few moments to myself as I buried my feet in, feeling the cool, earthy dirt. Remaining there for a few moments, I loved every grainy piece getting stuck in between my toes.
Even though I could leave and go inside the castle for most dinners, knowing I didn’t have to return to my tower tonight felt different. There was a different sense of freedom. I felt like I was escaping, and being free felt so good.
Once I was ready, I washed my feet in the large water fountain in the middle of the garden without anyone seeing me, and Cora rolled her eyes the entire time.
Walking along the outskirts of the castle, we made our way to the front, standing in line with everyone else.
I forgot what the front of the castle looked like. Towering and silver, it reached for the Celestials above. The brick boasted an intricate crisscross design running the length of its imposing structure. At the foot of the steps, massive metal doors stood ajar, with guards on both sides taking watch. As guests streamed through, they checked names off in ink on the rolls of parchment gripped in their hands.
I knew there would only be royals and other trusted city council members, but I never realized that so many people would come. People gathered along the front, waiting past the doors and down the palace steps.
Everyone was adorned with gems, glitter, and other gowns of stature, wearing their optimal garments to see the king and to celebrate with the new heir.
We headed to the end of the line when a guard came by and gently grazed Cora’s shoulder. “Coraline! Is that you?” Turning, there was a knight wearing a fancy tunic standing near us. Hishair was slicked back, an intense forest green, his fuzzy eyebrows matching the tint, barely visible over his brown leather mask. Despite the mask concealing most of his features, I was struck by his chiseled jaw and sharp nose, tawny freckles dotting his face like the Celestials dotted the sky.
“Oh, Sir Monley. You scared me! Yes, it’s me,” Cora blurted.
He bowed toward her and kissed her hand as she held it out. “And who is this?” he said as he nodded my way.
“This is a friend. She is here with me to help with my studies.” Smooth.
“Nice to meet you,” he said as he paused, noticing where we were headed. “What do you think you are doing going to the back? You are basically the king’s daughter! Come with me, and I will escort you to the front.” He started to make the way to the front, and Cora gave me an apologetic look. I wondered if she felt bad that she was seen as the king’s daughter and almost no one knew I was alive.
We followed Sir Monley as we approached the front, where he met the gaze of the other two guards by the large metal doors. They wore matching purple, silver, and gold uniforms with white pants, complemented with black boots. He leaned close to the other two guards and whispered something into their ears. They nodded and motioned to the other people waiting to move back.
The people standing by looked at us in disgust as we passed them and made our way through the gates. As we entered, a scribe was standing near the apex of the stairs, overlooking the descent of the ballroom. His attire blended with the stark contrast of his checkered suit. A crisp collared ruffle peaked out, the sleeves matching. A feathered pen found itself secured in his hand. His hair was a sea foam blue, wisping into a perfect wave formation at the top of his head, with pearls embellished into his coarse hair.
Servants wearing simple black, blending in the shadows, carried trays of tarts, fruits, and other assortments of cheeses and crackers in one hand while the other was held out with fine white decorated napkins. The servants I had never seen before were probably the same ones that had worked here their entire lives.
The main ballroom was grand with style. Velvet curtains draped the expansive windows, the color of purple pomegranates, the luxurious folds of the material cascading to the marble parquet floor. The air was bathed with the warm glow of the chandeliers above, golden with small crystals flowing down. Large flags of a deep violet color hung from the ceiling, draping the sky to the dance floor and siding the curtains. In the corners, candelabras stood sentinel, mirroring the same golden hue throughout the large room, the regality of it close to breathtaking.
I remembered coming here once for my birthday as a little girl. My father picked me up and danced around the ballroom floor, making me feel like the princess I should’ve been.