Air Kingdom

Chapter 49-Help

The cold water soaked my hands and fell into the polished sink. I turned off the tap and grabbed the soft paper towel beside me. My heels clicked against the spotless floor when I shifted a bit. I rechecked my makeup in the mirror and threw away the now wet paper towel. Two teenagers who looked just a bit younger than I did, came in. They were giggling when they walked in but curtsied at the sight of me. I greeted them and they happily responded. I had a feeling they would be telling all their friends about this.

I left the washroom after that, hearing small exclamations of amazement behind me. I smiled at their awe and rolled my eyes playfully. I made my way back to the ballroom slowly, taking my time to savor the small moment of peace. A guard opened the door for me and I made my way back into the buzzing party.

Despite the failed proposal and rejection, the night continued on smoothly. It was just like a ball at home. There was no telling when this party would end. Couples danced until their feet were sore, guests drunk booze until they collapsed, and the volume never went down. On one side of the room, my ears caught faint yells being made. My curiosity got the better of me and

"Chug! Chug! Chug!" The audience cheered on Ellia as she gulped down another shot of some clear liquid. Based on the smell and Ellia's drowsy face, it wasn't water for sure. She downed the alcohol in one go, and slammed her fists in the air, making the crowd go crazy.

The attention suddenly turned to Emily, who was holding a tiny glass herself. She also drank all of it at once, but unlike Ellia, she didn't look tipsy at all. Instead, the young fifteen-year-old looked bored.

I tried to make my way towards them, receiving some nasty looks from some people, despite my rank. I managed to squeeze my way to Serena, who was happily smiling on the sidelines. "Hey Emma, back from 'powdering your nose?'"

"Yes I did," I cooly said. "Why are they drinking?"

She broke out into a grin. "It was a dare from Ellia. Emily didn't want to back out from it."

"But aren't they under-age?"

She shrugged. "That's not stopping them. Besides, Emily's tolerance is about the same as someone who's thirty years older than her. Maybe even higher."

"What about you? Shouldn't you be getting in on a little action as well?"

She wrinkled her nose. "I'm not into hard drinking. Just a few sips of wine is strong enough for me."

Serena caught my anxious gaze at Ellia and Emily. "Don't worry, they'll be fine. You're acting like you're a forty-year-old mom again. Wait until you have kids and catch them breaking into your liquor vault."

"Still, there's a reason why under-age drinking isn't allowed," I argued, frowning as Ellia drank another shot.

Serena slapped my arm harder than a friendly slap. "Don't be such a worry-wart. Lighten up before you become a control freak."

The conversation ended from there, but I couldn't help worrying over Ellia and Emily. Dealing with a drunk person was not an ideal way to end the night. I especially didn't want any vomit on my dress.

Ellia abruptly dropped her tiny glass, admitting her defeat. The cup smashed into a million, sharp shards, and guests quickly moved back to avoid the damage. Ellia slumped on the floor, gripping the table for support. Emily, on the other hand, seemed to be fine and it almost looked like she wasn't in an intoxicated state. Guests groaned while others cheered but they began to clear out to mingle or compete as well. Serena and I made our way over to them.

Ellia had rested one of her hands on the floor where the glass was. A small puddle formed, but she made no effort to move. She groaned, but I couldn't tell if it was from all the drinks she had or the pain from the glass.