Eternal Solar Eclipse

Introduction | The Debutante

"—Jennette de Alger Obelia."

The crowd began to quiet themselves, eager to hear more from the silvery Duke's lips. De Alger Obelia , he said?

For the first time in years, perhaps even for the first time at all, the quiet and gloomy princess of the Ruby Palace began to feel the impending weight of the various eyes of the ballroom.

But that social pressure held no candle to the dread in her chest from the maiden who had appeared in front of her—in front of them all.

A glittering baby blue gown, its skirt surely made from the softest yet lightweight of fabrics made for comfort as well as drawing its appeal. It looked so bright, so fresh in comparison to the dull and heavy fabric she wore to the same ball.

The smaller details did not bring too much attention to distract from the maiden, yet did not disappoint one's eyes. A white underdress, neatly waved and stitched to utmost perfection to allow grace and movement whilst remaining still. Folds and lace, deep blue adornments of fabric roses as well as just the slightest addition of pink ribbons to ease one's eyes.

Her gently waved hair was caramel brown under the golden light pouring down from the chandeliers. It was like sunlight kissing the crown of her head (in which white and blue roses also decorated), her soft layer of straightly cut bangs just shyly hiding the tops of her short and delicate lashes.

But what struck the horror within the drab princess' chest the most, was what laid beneath those butterfly lashes, which bashfully fluttered open.

Jeweled, aquamarine crystals that reflected the sky and the sea. Eyes, identical if not the same as hers .

With a shaky breath, the Ruby Palace's princess clutches pieces of her dress within her fists as her face becomes pale. Wide and blank, her jeweled eyes dulled as her breath caught in her throat, a shadow cast over her face as she forced her eyes away.

However she too, couldn't help but return her gaze to the scene. A glittering and shining scene, a magical reunion that her nanny had shown her in fairytale picture books. Like the light she remembered when she was nine, when she first saw him .

But the spotlight was never on her. Like the rest of the crowd, she stood, as she always did. In the background, watching the actors on stage play out the fairytale. A part of her accepted that she'd never be in that spotlight, that it would always be on him . She had been fine with that, deep inside as bitter and selfish as it was, as long as he stood there in the sun alone . The sun of Obelia, the emperor, had always shone alone. And she would always watch and worship that sun's light for as long as it lived even if she burned in its gaze.

Now there were two spotlights, yet she was not either of them.

...

The spotlight was heavy and impending, like the gazes of the nobles around. As it was her first time experiencing it, she had concluded she did not like it as much as she thought she would. Perhaps it was just her nerves, her nervously beating heart in her chest so loud she swears the whole world could hear. Her eyelids were closed, but she could feel their gazes all the same. The vulturish old men, the viper-like women, the innocuous yet curious gazes of her newly debuted comrades. Expectations, they placed, and she had to uphold them all.

She thought back to a picture book she had sneakily read in Ijekiel's study once when she was younger. It was a rabbit standing alone in a cave, surrounded by lions. Although she knew her beloved partner and her dear benefactor stood next to her, she felt just like that. A bunny who had walked straight into a lions' den, and she couldn't help but want to hold her precious stuffed rabbit for comfort.

Reluctantly, she fluttered her gem-like eyes open and looked up toward the sun. The sun that stared down at those who surrounded and worshiped him, the blinding sun. She had finished her curtsy, and carefully placed and folded her hands in front of her.

Woefully, almost enchanted, she looked up to that boldly shining sun. Its light beamed on every place the eye could see. Like a god, he judged the world beneath him.

The smallest amused smile crept its way onto his lips.

"Interesting," the emperor murmured, before turning his heel and disappearing into the doors behind him, a red headed knight shortly followed.

'Father', she had thought, with a glow within her chest. 'That man is my father.'

Hair like spun gold, eyes like precious diamonds. A treasure trove, a priceless deity one could never dare to afford nor offend.

A daughter was a father's blessed gift. A god's gracious gift.

'Sister,' she remembered. 'Where's my little sister?'

With small blinks, she tried to scan the room whilst remaining still. No marigolds in sight.

"Jennette." The maiden inhaled sharply in surprise, turning slightly to face her guardian. "The night is still young, and many are wanting to greet the new princess. I advise you to hurry."

There's another princess whom I want to meet , she wanted to say. However her lips remained shut as she was whisked away, for she knew from long ago that any sort of needless thought or protest was useless.

Just as she turned, her eye caught the glitter of gold under the chandelier light. It wasn't quite the same gold. Warm, and bright, brighter than the sun itself. Yet, the light was not as vivid and strong as the sun's burn, but comforting and felt like home. Like the sunlight on your skin on a nice spring day as a light breeze passes by.

Similarly, the girl wore a simpler ball gown with blue and white accents. The maiden had taken a liking to that color, that blue that seemed gentler than her own dress. It wasn't sparkly with too many accessories (how elegant the small touches of lace around her sleeves and gloves were), and it adorned the princess' figure quite nicely without drawing away from her natural features. She much preferred simplicity and comfort. The one she wore was a bit overdone, but she had little choice in the matter. After all, her benefactor chose it for her.

Yet, the maiden very much preferred the look of the gown her sister wore. Simple, yet not plain. A bit on the heavier side fabric wise, but comfortable and airy enough to move around in. It appeared to be a dress that didn't need nor require intense preparation for, a dress for convenience... a dress she chose for herself.

The maiden tripped a bit over her steps, wanting to stop, to reach out a hand to her and meet the girl for the first time.

But as she looked up to meet the girl's gaze, there was no brilliant glittering diamond the sun's light had refracted and reflected in. No, for the gem was dull and dark, no shine or shimmer in sight with her head cast downwards.

The hand the maiden had ever so slightly extended had fallen as she was tugged further away into the crashing of high society's waves.

As she watched the Ruby Palace's princess slowly retreat more into the familiarity of the shadows, the lovely princess could only feel pity.

...

Three days later, the Alpheus Estate received an official invitation from the palace inviting the young princess to tea.

...

I was
upset
and spiteful
so I used that negative energy and fueled it to write and draw and
I managed to complete this 'introduction' the day I finished the cover image (which can be seen on Wattpad)
So I got the idea from tumblr
There was a post along the lines of "I want to see an evil Jen fic written by someone who actually likes her" and another post about LP!Jen (that I will not mention as it basically spoils the direction of the plot).
Though I suppose she technically wouldn't be evil, in this case. I have a good idea of how I'm going to write her.
So here, take my stress fueled hardly put together intro :)))