the kiah

chapter 1: the debut ceremony [part 1]

Ailith ione zosia the daughter of the only grand duke of the empire was having her debut ceremony today at the royal palace.
The girls in the kingdom debut at the age of 13 while boys have theirs at 14 when they have their puberty. The ceremony for the individual expresses many things but for royals and nobles, it becomes their time to enter the social circle and set foot in the political fight.
As the grand duke's only daughter ailith was considered a potential candidate for the crown princess hence her debut meant more than just a new candidate in politics.
Her debut ceremony was lavish, all high and low-ranking nobles arrived with gifts and eagerness to meet the candidate for the crown princess.
But the main star was going through the ceremony rituals.
Now that ailith have turned 13 her mother was supposed to give her a bath made with rose petals, herbal oils, and a special herbal cream soap at sunrise. The bath indicates the new beginning in life, the life of adulthood.
Following the bath, they were to wear a white dress to show their innocence and then they are supposed to pay respects to their ancestors, the emperor, and the gods they worship. Reciting the scriptures, and cooking an offering for the family to indicate that they were ready to set foot in adulthood.
Then they were to go to the palace to greet the royal family who they would serve as a noble and then be introduced to the whole nobility through a banquet.
As for boys, their father would give them a bath, and similarly to the girls they were to wear a white shirt and pants paying respects to their ancestors, royals, and god. Then they would go to the training grounds where the boy would be tested for their knowledge and skills. In the end, they would meet the royal family and nobility at the banquet.
The world was a masochist world, girls were respected but were considered weak, they were supposed to stay protected, do household chores, and learn to take care of the children while the males were supposed to study and learn how to fight.
In this world, ailith was having her debut ceremony which the whole empire was paying attention to.
It was a happy day, a whole day filled with spiritual activities but ailith wasn't happy. How could she when her mother wasn't alive to give her a bath?
Ailith lost her mother one day when she was 8 years old. She was killed by an assasin who tortured the lady in front of the little ailith before killing her. That day had been imprinted in both ailith and her father's minds, but the real culprit who wanted her mother to die wasn't found out or captured.
Instead ailith's father, the grand duke ralan zosia was forced by the nobility to take another wife for the sake of little ailith and himself being in his late twenties and without an heir afterall girls cant inherit the titles. After being forced for a year he did but not to the lady everyone thought to. Instead, ralan found a lower noble lady in her late twenties who was a widow with a 10 year old son.
The stepmother wasn't abusive or jealous, she wasn't sweet either. Her stepmother only wanted limited things from her and that was a decent family without any conflict, a proper lady, and a good future.
Ailith didnt have any problems but she still missed her mother dearly.
She changed after the day her mother was killed, but no one could blame her for it. She was just a kid and witnessing that sight was haunting enough.
But her real change was something no one was aware of, not even her father knew it completely, but soon the world would know.
"Remember to stay humble and understanding, we ladies are to be elegant and smart. We always have to be beautiful and regal. Stay within limits but do not allow anyone to look down on you"
Her stepmother spoke after giving her the ceremonial bath along with the maids reciting the scriptures by the side.
Ailith stood up from the bath, her long white blonde hair was wet sticking to her body till her hips, her bluish grey eyes sharp and focused. Her small pointed nose and soft rosy lips made her sharp facial features more intricate as if an artwork. Her body was grown healthily, with the right curves in the right places despite her being so young. Her posture screamed elegance and nobility while her aura demanded respect and loyalty.
The maids helped her dry up and wear a white ceremonial dress Along with making her hair and makeup, in the end, her stepmother nodded satisfied.
Ailith was the most favorable candidate to become the crown princess, she was favored by the royal family since young and was also loved by all.
Once she was ready and was reminded to behave like a proper lady by her stepmother ailith was led to the ancestry hall where her father met her.
Her father, the grand duke ralan zosia was still young. Being in his mid thirties he still stood proudly in his prime. The grand duke was famous for his knowledge and skills, while. Ailith had acquired both his and her biological mothers good looks and skillset.
Ralan's eyes took in his daughter's elegant profile with a hint of pride welling up in his chest. If girls were able to inherit the title then ailith would be his only heir, and he wouldnt have to find another boy to take in as his, not that he was dissatisfied or disappointed with his adoptive son but he would rather have his own blood as an heir. But his wishful thinking was just that and if his daughter became the crown princess her children would be royals, probably the next heir to the throne.
"this child pays respects to the grand duke, father" ailith spoke in a proper melodious voice while curtsying.
Her posture was proper, her voice soft yet commanding, and her eyes unreadable. The grand duke felt a slight pang in his heart at the similarity between his daughter and late wife, the only difference between them was that his wife was soft while his daughter was cold.
"you have grown beautifully, brightly ailith." the grand duke patted her head lightly. Thought to himself 'children grow really fast'
"lets go greet the ancestors and read the holy scriptures" the grand duke led ailith to the ancestry chamber.