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Rionach clapped her hands, before reaching out to Arwin once again. The general handed her the scabbard to carry the heavy sword.

Still amazed by her gift, Valda sheathed the sword and tied it around her waist. Her warrior ensemble seemed complete.

“Today, on your twenty-fifth birthday, you, Valda, take possession of the Heaven Sword. The amulet passed from generations through generations. The wielder of the sword must always use it to protect the kingdom from inside and outside forces, putting the Sky Kingdom’s wellbeing before anything else. Do you Valda Aither, take the Heaven Sword as your weapon, command its power for good and peace?”

Valda took a deep breath, her chest expanding, her shoulders squaring. She gripped the sword’s hilt and nodded her answer before saying, “I swear upon my life to use the powers of the sword for good and peace.”

Another surge of cheers inundated the throne room as the princess and the queen hugged. Rionach squeezed Valda’s face and patted her arms before instructing her to go back to the party.

Valda couldn’t believe that she was now the owner of her father’s weapon. Lost in her inspection of the sword’s hilt, she didn’t notice a young woman standing before her. Her blue aqua hair pulled her from the buzzing sounds around her, and for a moment, everything slowed down.

“Hurry up with the drinks!” Melvian said, as she cleaned an empty tray while Maris struggled to open a bottle of wine.

“I am trying!”

“Well, if you were not sticking your head out every once in a while to have a look at the princess, maybe you would’ve opened a couple of more bottles.” Melvian’s tone was annoying, and although Maris loved her, sometimes she could be bossy.

“I wasn’t staring.”

“Never said you were. Thank you for confirming it.” Melvian sighed as she placed the glasses filled with wine on her tray. “Keep them coming.”

On the back of the throne room, inside the antechamber that led to the kitchen, the chaos of keeping up with the party was overwhelming. Maris was trying, but reloading the empty trays with filled glasses, and opening up bottles of wine was growing tiresome. She would rather be out there serving than doing all the work.

If she was out there, she could at least try to get closer to Arwin, maybe she could get him alone and talk to him when no one was looking. But going out there meant she would have to also maybe bump into the princes, which she didn’t mind.

She frowned at her own thoughts as she popped another bottle of bubbling wine. She quickly emptied its content inside smaller, dainty looking glass.

Melvian had come and gone, and Maris decided it was a good time to take a breather.

Tiptoeing to make sure no one was watching her, she peeked her head through the curtains to the throne room. She searched amongst the hundreds of guests. There were many people wearing so many different outfits from different kingdoms. As her eyes roamed about, she noticed the queen sitting on the throne and next to her, Arwin.

The general’s eyes were fixated somewhere other than on the queen. His hand slipped to his pocket, pulling out what appeared to be a golden sphere.

Narrowing her eyes, Maris took a step further out, trying to make out what he was holding. It wasn’t until he pressed the object to his lips that she managed to see what it was.

A golden apple.

Why did he have that and why was he kissing it reverently?

A maid walked past her, making Maris take a few steps back to avoid bumping into her. When she turned back, Arwin was gone. Maris cursed under her breath, as she searched for him within the crowd. That’s when she saw her.

There she was. Princess Valda, standing before… another Sealian?

Maris frowned; she had never interacted with another Sealian in her life. The woman talking to the princess was beautiful. Dark skin, light blue hair, and a smile that would dazzle anyone.

Her chest constricted, and she wanted nothing more than to go over to that woman and push her away from Valda’s undivided attention.

A sudden slap to her behind shook her out of her daydream. Letting out a yelp, Maris turned to Melvian, who looked at her with an annoyed scowl. “I am sorry, did you say something?”

“Yes! I need you to take these out,” Melvian gave Maris a tray of different sized glasses, all filled to the brim.

Maris’s stomach turned. “You want me to go out there?” There were way to many people out there, and although she was used to serving in a tavern, serving at a royal party was something completely different. Her parents always kept her away from large groups of people such as the one in the throne room. She couldn’t help growing nervous.

“I guessed you could do a better job handing out the drinks rather than filling the glasses.” Melvian sighed as she took a tray herself. “Don’t you dare trip or run into someone. That is instant termination of your job,” Melvian warned, slipping more drinks into Maris’s tray. “Keep your eyes on their hands. Check if they are empty. Smile.” Melvian gave Maris a fake grin. “Like this.”

“Oh, I know how to fake a smile. I did it plenty at my old job,”Maris said, trying to hide the fact that she was on the verge of hyperventilating.

“Then you know that if you are not paying attention you are doomed.”