Divine Ascension (Wattys 2024)

Chapter 24 - The Spring Ball

The upcoming marriage between Melinda Bellerose and George Maguire was certain to be a grand event, the excitement of which echoed throughout not only Obscuria and Eade respectively, but also all the kingdoms of the world. He wasn't considered worthy of the world's attention, but she was.

Ever since her first days as the noble warrior Melinda Grey, history had its eyes on her, as she was constantly accomplishing incredible things. However, not all the interest in her was so pure.

From the day of the fire onward, disaster upon disaster struck her, and, like a trainwreck, it was morbidly fascinating to watch. The murder of Jeffrey, the murder of her first husband... What would happen to her second? Little did they know all the dark secrets that lay underneath.

On the ides of March, a few days after Melinda had made love to Malcolm, the Spring Ball was hosted within the Obscurian royal palace, with the wedding scheduled right afterwards, and everyone was ecstatic to see how the graceful hostess Melinda Bellerose would host her first grand ball. 

The results were marvellous to see. The royal court, which shone with a golden splendour accentuated by several grand marble pillars, was full of pink and white ribbons and balloons and rose bouquets that made the room glisten with greenery, for there weren't that many plants in the corner. Delicate rose petals were sprinkled all over the floor, a subtle and neat reminder of matrimony. A trio of violinists in sharp black tuxedos were seated in a corner of the room, playing their gentle music sweetly and passionately like the winds of spring. 

Holding their glasses of champagne, the noblemen and noblewomen in their elegant suits and dresses laughed and talked among each other with an air of posh disaffection, trying their best to ignore their boredom as they waited for the hostess and her suitor to arrive, commencing the ball. 

A few minutes later, they arrived hand in hand, making everyone's eyes turn in their direction. Everyone from the court was there, even Cecilia, for no one could miss such an important event - Alexander's fate would be decided after the wedding.

Melinda waved and smiled at the people of the court, nudging George in the shoulder after he had initially forgotten to do so, and some people were already sceptical of the whole event, mostly because of George, but also because they didn't trust Melinda. However, she knew she would be able to cast away all doubts, and so she marched forward in this effort to bring forth a new age.

"Good evening, everyone," she spoke shortly after, stepping onto the podium with a confident yet humble stance, like a true Queen. "Welcome to the twenty-fourth Spring Ball, the esteemed Eadean ball in which the ruler of Eade marries another, the first one to be held on the territory of today's Obscuria since the splitting of Xar into Obscuria and Eade, which happened before I was even born. Sometimes it's hard to believe!"

She laughed painfully, remembering all the wonderful tales her parents and Olivia and even random strangers told her about how Xar used to be a glorious country before the civil war broke out and dark magic ruined everything. It didn't dissuade her from using it persistently, it merely made her resent all the corruptible weaklings who tore the country apart, swearing to never be like them. With a heavy sigh, she continued her speech, reminding herself what her task was:

"Still, despite all that happened, despite our complicated history, we must not focus on the sins of the father and make peace with the fact that both parties are guilty, having forgiveness in our hearts not only for ourselves, but also for others. Hate must not fester within our hearts if we are to write a prosperous new future, and it's not just for the sake of our own benefit.

We must bring hope to the new generation and teach them kindness and compassion in a culture where they shall strive for nothing. It starts tonight, with the promise of unity contained within the marriage between me and George Maguire, the current Prince of Eade. Now, with all that talk out of the way, let the fun begin at last!"