**
"Maximilian?"
I blink at her silently. She just called my name. By my name. Instead of feeling repulsed and detested by that sound I instead can't feel anything anymore. All I can see is her.
My breath stops for a moment again. Just like back i...
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Today was Elizabeth's birthday.
By the time she woke up, the entire place was in a hurry to finish everything by the evening party. There were so many things that needed to be done. And most of all, she had to look the most beautiful on her special day.
The maids worked from dusk to dawn to get her ready, brushing her hair, bathing her in the finest scents, picking accessories. The most important was picking a dress. The maids had outdone themselves this time. They chose a pearly blue dress that went perfect with her blue eyes, complimenting them.
The entire time, Elizabeth wished it wasn't her birthday. It was the day she dreaded the most. There will be so many people and so many of them will be watching her every second. If she slips up, it's over for her. First she will have a dance with her brother, then a dance with anyone she chooses. And then after all that, the extravagant cake will be cut. So many things.
Her personal maid was fixing her makeup one last time before being escorted to the party in the main hall of the estate. Elizabeth's heart raced with each more second, it pounded inside her like a clock of doom. "Princess, don't fear. It will go well tonight, you are the most beautiful girl in all of Kaizenark." Her maid said, having noticed the fear clearly written across her face.
She gazes at her with a look of proudness, sparkling with tenderness. Her heart stopped hammering against her chest, and she took short shallow breaths. Maybe all will be well. She just needed to be calm.
"Is there any word of father? Is he back yet from his trip?" Elizabeth asked, with a tone of hopefulness. She hoped that he would be back, at least for her birthday. The Maid's once sparkling gaze turned dim after the question, she couldn't answer. But Elizabeth knew the answer to it instantly.
"I understand." Is all she says.
Elizabeth stands up, but right before she goes, the maid calls out to her one more time. "Princess, please make sure that no one discovers your back. It's almost healed, but we can't risk anyone seeing it. The Duke will be very angry if anyone notices." She almost forgot the scars on her back. They were mostly gone because of the strong ointment she's been using, but not yet.
"It's fine, I'll take a shawl just in case and pretend that I'm cold." Elizabeth says, and the maid without wasting any time, brings her a shawl that would match her outfit. Elizabeth looked at herself in the mirror meanwhile, and yes, she did look beautiful. Her eyes were probably the most lovely feature. Just like her mother's eyes. So blue like the entire ocean itself was in them. That's how she remembered her mother.
Albrecht was waiting outside to escort her to the main hall. He was decked in a black royal outfit, with golden patterns along the lines. When the door opened, he smiled gently as she walked towards him. "Sister, you look very beautiful tonight. You look just like mother." He looks proud to see his sister.
The two siblings had grown up so quickly, they never noticed how time passed. Albrecht had also grown so fast, he used to be tiny and just a baby. "Well aren't you going to escort me? Or are you just going to stand there gawking?" Elizabeth asks in a laugh.
