The Midnight Ball

1

Note: Ismie
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Her whole life, princess Ismeralda Theodora Rambrant has heard countless whispers about the midnight ball event. She knew every century there was one, but the night when that event started, is determined by the shower of shooting stars

She never expected to be chosen for it

And yet.. At least her sisters would be spared, Serena and Isabella were just too young

When the royal families recieved the news of the immenent star shower by the astronomers, they had to choose their offerings, for offerings they were. One of them was never coming back

They would have ignored the summons, except, doing so always had dire consequences in the past. There was no use tempting fate

On the bright side, Ismie thought, she'd probably never be chosen. After all, the records say almost every time, the most accomplished or special princess would disappear, and she was none of those things. She was pretty ordinary, for a princess. She didn't even handle diplomacy well..  Maybe that was the reason her family looked calm while saying good-bye. They were expecting her back

There was one consolation to the participating princesses, princes from all the kingdoms would gather at castle Noir, where the event will take place, and court the remaining princesses

Ismie didn't get her hopes up in that regard, but she hoped everything would turn out well, and that whomever gets chosen, will have a kind fate

This was what ocuppied her mind on her trip to the castle

Castle Noir was somewhere in the middle of the kingdoms, it didn't follow the jurisdiction of any of them, but was a neutral place, used occasionally to solve disputes and sign truces and whatnot

She had seen likenesses painted into books, but this did not prepare her for the full effect

It was perhaps the largest castle she'd ever seen. It wasn't just grand, it was both beautiful and imposing. The stone walls had an aged look to them, the towers hugging the skies. And the clearist crystal blue lake was just in front of the magestic building

The bridge was dropped, the carraige entered, and a servant helped her out of it

The castle was watched over for as long as anyone could remember, by the line of Pembrough. She couldn't remember what nationality the original care taker was, but she thought he was originally from Arcadia

A lady came out to greet her, followed by a handful of servants, she curtsied prettily and after Ismie returned it with a slightly shallower one, she clasped her hands

The lady was most likely Elinore Lavinia Pembrough, the new wife of Lord Pembrough's heir. She was a few years older than Ismie, had kind amber eyes, with a hint of mischief to them and a calming effect on the nervous Ismie

Elinore: Welcome, princess Ismeralda

Ismie smiled at her: Lady Elinore

Elinore: Forgive me for being so casual, but I can just tell you don't mind

Ismie smiled at her again

Elinore: Let's get you inside to rest. You've come a long way, and then to meet the other princesses, and princes. They've all arrived already