Road of the Heavenly Light

21: Graduation

Laura couldn't help but frown a little as she looked in the mirror at the crimson dress with gold accents she was wearing. Something about it seemed not quite right.
"Are you sure this isn't too risqué? Maybe I should be wearing gloves," she remarked.
"Is that your definition of risqué? With gloves, you would look like you're attending a service of the Divinian Church, not a ball," Elizabeth responded with a chuckle.
Anna couldn't resist giggling, while Astrid looked less amused and tried to change the topic.
"I do wish I could keep the ladies' maid we have here. She's done such a wonderful job with my hair," she said, holding up a hand mirror.

"By the way, Anna, did you manage to find an appropriate outfit for Reeve?" Elizabeth asked, "this isn't a black tie event like the Autumn Ball was, and you know how judgmental people at white tie events can get when someone isn't dressed right."
Anna nodded.
"I managed to get a suit for him. It was in a perfect state, so he should be fine."
"That's good. He'll be able to match with Glen; he chose a suit too," Astrid chimed in.
"Levi went with something more regal, and I'm glad he did. It looks great on him," Elizabeth added.
"What will Felix do, Laura?" Anna then asked.
Laura didn't know how to answer for a moment, taking the time to think.
"He didn't say. I suppose he'll go with a suit, as that's simpler and less elaborate."

Astrid stood up from her seat after that, urging the others to stand too.
"Enough about that. I do believe it's time for a tiara reveal. How about I start?"
She didn't wait for an answer and walked behind a dressing screen. When she reemerged, she was wearing a silver fringe tiara adorned with small diamonds.
"That looks wonderful," Laura complimented.
"It's the Paradise Gateway Tiara. My mother wore it on her wedding day," Astrid explained.

Anna went after her, disappearing behind the dressing screen before emerging with the Imperial Floral Tiara, which had, as the name implied, a floral design with gemstones of various colors. Elizabeth followed with the Symphony Diadem, which had been made for her mother at her coronation and had been given to Elizabeth to show her status of unofficial queen. Finally, it was Laura's turn, and she grabbed the Ruby Peacock Tiara. She would have preferred a more simple tiara to use as her first one, as per tradition, but her mother had insisted she use this one, as a debutante ball was such a formal event. At least it seemed to match well enough with her dress.

The tiara show was cut short by the sound of knocking on the door. A maid entered and bowed before them.
"Your escorts are waiting for you in the amber drawing room, Your Highnesses," she announced before turning to leave again.
Laura and the others left the room, making sure they had everything with them, before making their way to the amber drawing room, where the boys were already waiting. Glen, Levi, and Felix were all seated together, with Reeve more off to the side, clearly feeling out of place. Laura could only hope Anna wasn't placing him in too much discomfort with this.

Laura's eyes widened when she saw the attire Felix was wearing. Unlike what she had expected, he wasn't wearing a simple suit but instead something much more regal and... befitting of a Crown Prince. The very thought made her blush. As the guys rose from their seats, the girls approached their respective partners for the night, and Laura smiled as Felix took her hand into his own and walked with her towards the ballroom.

"I was surprised by your choice of attire," Laura whispered.
He chuckled softly.
"I had a feeling you wouldn't hold back when it came to the formality of your attire, so it felt only natural to do the same so we could match."
Laura looked fondly at her boyfriend.
"I really do love you very much, you know that, right?"
Felix softly squeezed her hand in response as they entered the ballroom, being announced as Crown Princess Laura and Lord Felix Gaspard. The two of them traversed the still somewhat empty room towards a quiet corner, where they watched as everyone else slowly dripped in.