Lily and Hark were called over to help with the workload in Wales.
"Make sure that everyone is satisfied with the food and clean the common area every two days, also wash the dishes and collect the restocking amount from every flat"
Lily emphasized for the fourth time.
"Of course aunt"
Aqua said as she grabbed her bag to head to school. She greeted them and left. They were heading straight to the main office in the capital after finishing a few chores, they would be gone by the time Aqua returned from the academy.
The preparations for the midterm ball was in full swing. The school hall was being decorated with satin and lace while in the cafeteria sweets and soufflés were being decorated with cream and fruit. Girls were psyched abt their tentative partners for the ball and were wondering who the partner of the crown prince would be. Boys too were discussing who potential choices could be for them, not daring to ask the girls straight up to their faces. Aqua was helping with cutting tape and giving it to the decorators. Acrys who had come back as if nothing had happened was putting up the laces to the top of the pillars using levitation, Ellen and Christie were rolling and cutting the satin and lace and handing it to Acrys. They made a harmonious team. Alex was helping with the seating arrangements. Vincent however was talking with Shizuka, telling her about the tradition of the academy and etiquette. Shizuka didn't know abt noble life he said when Alex asked him the reason for his distraction.
Then the headmaster came and announced that the emperor is also attending the ball this time. There was silence for 1 whole minute, then there was an uproar of panic. Acrys who was levitating fell to the floor and Christie and Ellen broke the lace in panic. Aqua calmed them down. The expectations had risen so no wonder everyone is panicked, she thought. But what she didn't expect was that even Alex and Vincent had gone pale and each began to be even more vigorous in their tasks. Apparently, it looked like Vincent would take Shizuka as his partner, that would explain his insistence in explaining to her the etiquette of balls. Aqua thought for a moment if she should even go to the ball in the first place. Her thoughts were interrupted by Acrys who abruptly asked her if he can be her escort. Aqua was dumbstruck and Ellen and Christie chuckled. Acrys laughed as well and casually asked if she hated him that much. She dismissed that comment and said that if he wanted he could be.
"I'll take that as a yes"
he said and continued hanging the satin.
Aqua arrived home and immediately asked Coral if they found out the preperators of the chaos day before yesterday. Coral replied in negative. She walked to her room as she talked to her but felt that she was being watched.
"We do have suspects"
she said.
"It has to be someone from amidst the empire as our defenses are rather good".
"So we think it can be from amongst the nobles from Ghana"
Coral said with cautious confusion. Aqua pondered upon the revelation,
"It is highly likely, they already have a weird grudge on me"
Aqua said half heartedly.
"Right"
Coral said. There was silence for a moment,
"by the way, who is your escort?"
Coral asked as if it was some juicy secret which she could not wait to spread.
"Acrys, maybe"
Aqua replied casually.
"He asked you?"
Coral asked enthusiastically. Aqua nodded not matching her enthusiasm in the least .
"The tidalnet is going to explode with this news!"
She said teasingly .
"I will tell this to everyone I see"
she said cheerfully. Aqua was embarrassed and feeling hot with shyness, she cut the call and gazed at the view through the balcony and played another of her favorite recitations as she walked the treadmill.
Only to get another call from Coral
"Ahem, I forgot an important detail,
How in the how is there a rumor going around that the fourth princess is in Ghana?"
Coral asked pensively.
"I have no clue"
Aqua said.
"Of course, you don't"
Coral said slightly annoyed.
The next morning, Aqua got ready
With the help of Coral's instructions and her mother's scolding. She went down where she had to endure the compliments of all the tenants as they came down to start their day.
Similarly, Axel too came down. He stared at Aqua for a whole one minute, thinking that this was a dream, only to be scolded by a flustered Aqua.
After that encounter, Acrys came to pick her up, a Mercedes parked up as the young man called out to her, making her turn. A flowy dark blue gown with puff cuff long sleeves and cut shoulders, paired with her ideal black boots and a silver chain tying up a charming rough around the edges look. Her hair was up in a loose and cutely messy ponytail, chain decor shown occasionally.
"Okay wow! I didn't expect this"
Acrys said with a smirk and took her to the academy.
They reached the venue in minutes and Aqua was escorted inside. There was a crowd and Aqua wasn't surprised to see Shizuka at the center. Aqua went to the corner of the room and took a refreshing drink and sipped it bit by bit as she surveyed her surroundings. To her surprise Acrys remained by her side.
"Aren't you gonna mingle with the people?"
Aqua asked. He looked disappointed for a moment and left when a girl called for him. Aqua got to know that the girl was his cousin in the second grade and wanted to talk to him. Aqua stood in the corner, enjoying the solitary moment when she just looks at the chaos from far away. Up until now she was always the part of the chaos so this change in pace was warmly welcomed. She felt her guard lowering and sat down on a side sofa, relaxed and comfortable. When the emperor and empress entered the scene, every one stopped what they were doing, no one noticed Aqua still seated enjoying in peace. Then the emperor addressed the people and after a few formalities said the most crazy words Aqua ever heard in her long life of 15 years.
"I hereby announce that Alex Ghana will be engaged to Miss Ice of the west".
For a moment there was silence, everyone wondered who Miss Ice was as for Aqua, she completely forgot her school alias. To her sheer surprise, the emperor pointed to her and asked her to join Alex in the first dance. All eyes turned to the figure sitting on the side sofa holding a glass of softdrink. Aqua placed the glass done on a table and walked towards the dance floor, screaming internally at the wild situation. She turned to emperor once she was in a clearing and asked him
"Your highness, do you have the permission of my father"
The people were shocked at her gall to ask something like that. Immediately whispers spread,
"who does she think she is?" ,
"the emperor's decree is final, whether her father agrees on it or not".
Vincent had requested an engagement with shizuka but father said he would consider and now he was announcing Alex's engagement, he thought. Shizuka trembled in Vincent's arms.
"Are you alright?"
he asked with concern.
"Sh-she is here, oh my God!"
She stammered.
"Who is here?"
Vincent asked getting more worried now.
"Astella's cousin"
she mumbled.
"Who now?"
Vincent asked as he ran his hand through his hair. He took her to a private room and consoled her. Tears flowing down her eyes
"she will make miserable now"
she choked.
"Who, Ice?Aqua?"
Vincent asked gently.
"Yes"
she said sobbing.
"Tell me the whole story after you calm down"
Vincent said but Shizuka fell asleep in his arms. This one girl from Wales seemed to be the cause of so many misfortunes in his life, he thought as scribbled a note and went to the hall again.
The emperor laughed heartily,
"I will talk to him, don't worry"
he said to everyone's surprise. Alex was disgusted at the thought of a self-centered woman being his fiancee. However, he didn't make it apparent and vowed to ask his father what he was doing. He took Aqua's hand and led her to the center of the floor and began the official waltz. The Duffs sounded like the hooves of horses and the two people dancing felt like they were in the middle of a war with each other. Outwardly, it looked like they had hit off right away but inwardly each felt the situation was as unnatural as it can ever be. Finally when the dance ended, others also joined in. Acrys asked for a dance now. This being a bit more natural, toned down Aqua's agitation.
Acrys hadn't heard the announcement, so was wondering why the emperor was glaring daggers at him as he danced with Aqua. Alex also danced a waltz with shizuka after the crown prince danced with her.
"Why are your eyes red?"
Alex asked.
"There is something I need to tell you, meet me on Monday, 7:00 behind the school at the club meeting room"
she replied seriously as she left to find the crown prince. Alex wondered what it was that she wanted from him. Alex then saw Aqua with acrys, Aqua's elegance was brought out even more by Acrys by her side, he felt weird, he wanted Aqua to pull away from the man and his wish actually came true, she bid Acrys farewell and walked towards miss zehrok.
After the dance, Acrys offered to take Aqua home. She replied that she had to speak with the emperor about something . After Acrys left, she met up with Coral who was with her fiance, she beckoned for him to leave and accompanied Aqua to the guest room.
"I heard you got engaged"
Coral said perplexed as they waited.
"Yes, something unexpected"
Aqua said with a sigh. The emperor came with the empress and lady Alice who apologized for her behavior and gave Aqua a gift to congratulate her engagement. Lady Alice left and a conference screen appeared from behind a curtain.
"Now, about my daughter's engagement which i had no one inform me about"
Arskan said with sarcasm, commencing the discussion.
The final decision was to let the engagement proceed.
"Why doesn't anyone understand!? I don't want to get to know how kind Wales Is or how perfect thier princess is, wht use is her perfection when she looks down on people!"
Alex shouted about to leave. Aqua stopped him,
"You can cancel the engagement, no problem but who told you I look down on people, you fool as if you know anything about me, jumping to conclusions like that, absolute fool"
Aqua yelled bitterly, her eyes welling up with the pent up emotions.
"I didn't know you had such a side"
Theodore said with a soft chuckle, receiving a glare from everyone.
"Alex get to know the real Aqua Oceans in one year and even then if you don't come to like her, then we cancel the engagement"
he said.
"What about us?"
Luka asked pensively.
"What do you mean what about us"
Vincent asked, slightly annoyed.
"Your prince gets to have his way with our princess for one year and leaves her, what about our princess?"
Luka explained.
Vincent was enraged but Alex held him back,
"what do you want?"
He asked. Everyone turned to Aqua,
She thought for a while, and replied
"I want land"
she said.
"An acre of land in the west of Ghana, near the coastal town of Hydra"
she said. The words left her mouth and immediately the emperor of Ghana called for papers and had the wish documented. A strategic location for her, only 5km away from the academy and a mile on sea away from Wales. The marriage registration was also made ready.
"We still need to hold a council about this"
Arskan said with a sigh as the youth left the room.