As the announcer finished his speech, everyone clapped and started to move from their spots.

I looked back towards Eira and she looked very happy. I started to walk away. If she's happy after I gave her the gift, I can leave now and go somewhere else, right?

"Wait, eldest sister."

I stopped walking and turned back. Eira called back for me.

"Yes, Eira?"

"Please enjoy yourself tonight..."

I smiled back at Eira and said, "Yes, I will. You should enjoy yourself as well. It is your coming-of-age ceremony after all."

"Yes, I will!" 

"Oh, wait! Before you go off, where is the second prince?"

"Ah, right! My younger brother didn't feel like coming down to attend tonight. Don't worry about him though, we're going to celebrate later, with just the two of us."

"I see. Well then, you should get going," I said. "I spot some nobles lingering around... You shouldn't keep them waiting."

"Oh, dear!" 

Princess Eira turns to look at the nobles who are waiting. 

"Yes, I shall take my leave now."

"Goodbye, Princess Eira."

Princess Eira returned my smile and went off. It seems that a few nobles [that seemed to be around Eira's age] were waiting for her. Once Eira went over to them, a tall guy threw his arm around her shoulder. Eira blushed and shrunk away in embarrassment. Afterwards, Eira and her acquaintances started to laugh alongside each other. Perhaps they were Eira's friends? Who knows. 

After seeing that wholesome scene, I couldn't help but feel a little bit envious of Eira. She has a lot of friends who are waiting for her [I hope]. While Priscilla, doesn't really have anybody to wait for... On the other hand, I felt bad for Eira too. In the novel, she was supposed to sustain a major injury... (But, I don't remember what it was.) It made Eira her unfit to do any other tasks for the kingdom and she lost her status and many of her friends within the world of nobility... It was quite a tragic scene within the novel. After sustaining that injury, she was sent away (by the king) to live out the rest of her years within the country side.

Anyways, we should move on from that melancholy moment. Let's go eat some food! 

I walked around the banquet hall in search of the food station. After a few laps, I saw the food station. I went over and gasped. There's... So many wonderful treats (desserts) and appetizers! I walked over to the end of the table and grabbed a plate. I selected the appetizers and treats that appealed to me. Once I finished, I walked up the stairs (on the northern side of the hall) and towards the nearest balcony.

I opened the door and stepped outside. The cool air hit my face and the breeze slightly tousled my hair. I set my plate down on the stone balcony's railing. I leaned on the railing, took an appetizer, and popped it into my mouth. I chewed it for a bit and then spit it out on to the ground below. 

"Tastes like sh*t," I muttered to myself.

I took another appetizer. The appetizer was a circular rye cracker with a slice of raw fish with (what seemed to be) caviar on top. I held it up and took off the toppings and put them onto the plate. I bit into the rye cracker and spit it out on to the ground below (again.) 

"This is definitely stale. How could they serve something so horrid?!"

I just set the rye cracker back down on the plate and reached for a small dessert cookie instead. I ate that and swallowed the cookie.

"Well, at least the desserts seem okay."

I just ate the desserts off my plate. After I finished eating the desserts, I set the plate side, planning to take it back in later. I admired the night sky; it felt so tranquil and calm. I felt a twinge of nostalgia. Back when I was in San Francisco, I had always looked out into the night sky, like this. After a few moments, I was beginning to space out. While I was doing so, someone walked on to the balcony behind me.

"I greet the first Princess of the Empire."

I became startled and snapped out of my "trance". Their voice was oddly calm and soothing. Who was this person? I turned around and saw the person who had snuck up behind me. It is Yuan Seislin, Priscilla's supposed "rival".

"Ah, are you busy right now, Princess Priscilla?"

I blinked and just said, "No, Lady Yuan. I am not doing anything in this particular moment right now. Do you need some assistance in an important matter?"

"Oh, well, no. I just..."

"Well?"

"I came here to apologize for my actions. I have stolen your lover away from you. Please, find it in your heart to forgive me..."

I feel my fists clench unconsciously. Have Priscilla's past feelings still lingered? I unclenched my fists and breathed in and out. I must calm down before Priscilla's feelings take over and make this situation worse.

"No, Lady Yuan, I must apologize to you. It was petty jealousy that led me to commit those rather fowl actions against you... I hope you also find it in your heart to forgive me..."

"Oh, no, Princess Priscilla... I am unworthy of your forgiveness."

"Lady Yuan, it is fine. I must learn to let go of lingering attachments to Gray because he does not love me anymore."

Yuan smiles at me and said, "You have changed."

Yuan looks behind her and then pulls out an object from her skirt pocket. She walks over to me.

"Please hold out your hands, Princess Priscilla."

I held out my hands and Yuan presses the object into them.

"This is a gift, from me, to you. Please look at it when you get the chance, in private."

Yuan encloses my hand on the object and steps away.

"Ah, Yuan! This is where you are."

I look over to the entrance of the balcony and say Gray is standing right there.

"Oh, and hello to you, Princess Priscilla."

"Yes, hello to you too, Gray."

Gray simply just bows towards me and then grabs Yuan by the arm. Gray shoots me a look of contempt and I flinched (a bit). 

"Let's go, Yuan."

"... Okay..."

Gray stops and says to me, "If you dare lay your hand across Yuan's face or dare screw her over..."

"Gray, please stop it," Yuan said.

Gray just huffs and said, "Yuan, I don't get why you would want to talk with the very person who screwed you over. Did you even forget about what Priscilla did to you?"

"Yes, Gray, I get it... Let's just leave." 

Yuan shoot one more glance towards me and leaves with Gray.

"That's odd. Yuan seems very uncomfortable with Gray."

So much for Gray and his "kindness". The interaction with Gray felt very vile... Heck, even evil. Was Gray possessed by something? No... It can't be. That would just be ridiculous.

I look toward the object in my hand and clenched it. Perhaps, whatever Yuan gave me, it will give me answers.

I take out my handkerchief from the folds of my skirt. (There was a section within the skirt that seemed like a pocket.) I wrap the object within the handkerchief. I place it back in the folds of my skirt. I went back over to where I left my plate and went back inside. I think I will just head back into my room for the night. After all, I don't have anyone in particular to interact with.

I walked back inside the banquet hall. I shut the doors of the balcony and walked back downstairs. Once I finished going down the stairs, I went to the food station and placed my dirty plate in a tub of water (filled with other dirty dishes). I brushed off my hands afterwards and started to walk away, towards the southern end (to where the hallway I entered from is located) of the banquet hall. 

While I was walking, I bumped into someone's shoulder.

"Oh, my, pardon me," I said. "My apologies."

Once I looked up to see who it was I had just bumped into, I let out a tiny gasp. I had bumped into Arjose's shoulder.

"Oh, no. It is not of any worry, Priscilla. No major injuries done."

"Ah, that is a relief. But, allow me to apologize again, eldest brother."

"There is no need. Anyhow, are you leaving so soon?" Arjose asked, quite calmly. 

"It's only been about..." 

Arjose pulls out his pocket watch, opens it and checks the time, then puts it pack into the designated spot for his pocket watch.

"Only 30 minutes have passed during Eira's coming-of-age ceremony."

"I don't mean any disrespect towards Eira or eldest brother, but I have no acquaintances to talk to."

"I could bring over someone, if you'd like me to?"

"Eldest brother, with all due respect," I said. "My reputation within high society is dismal. I don't think anyone would even enjoy my company."

"I see. Then, suit yourself."

"Alright, well then, I bid you goodnight."

I curtsied toward Arjose and headed off. As I was walking away, he started to say something under his breath. It made me stop.

"To be honest, I want to leave this party too... It's too noisy and there's too many people..." Arjose started to mutter, sounding drained out. "But if I leave, then Father will scold me... I want to leave casually like Priscilla can..." 

I overheard Arjose say that and turned around. Once I did, a tall, blonde haired man with a rat's tail type hair style [and was very well dressed] approached Prince Arjose. The blonde haired man bowed to Arjose and the two started to talk. It seemed like Arjose put up a face for the man, because he seemed much more cheerful while the two are talking with each other. It really did seem like those two are on friendly terms with each other. The two talked for a bit and the blonde haired man decided to go off.

But, just when I thought the blonde haired man was going to leave Arjose, he suddenly turned around and told Arjose something. Arjose seemed like he is contemplating some, and then gave a reluctant nod. As Arjose is going with the blondie, he turns around a notices me staring at him. I flinch a bit. Arjose shoots me a desperate face that really said, "please help me", and turns back around.

"Pffft-" 

I let out a little laugh. I notice a few people look towards my way.

"Sorry."

They just turn away and go back to what they were doing. When I was trying to leave, a person bumped into me. I looked towards the person and it was a noble man who looked very intoxicated.

"S-Sorry, missy," The man slurred. "Would you *hic* care to hold my drink for me?"

"Huh?"

The man hands me the drink and bows towards me.

"Thanks, missy! *hic*"

The intoxicated man rushes off with his partner. I can hear his partner scold the man.

"Leave that up to the servants, not another noble, honey!"

"S-Sorry, sweetie. I'm too *hic* drunk. Hehehehee~!"

I just sighed and looked at the glass. There is [what seems to be] a tall, "skinny" wine glass full of white wine. It was half empty.

"My lady, may I take that out of your hands?"

"Ack-!"

I swiftly turned behind me, almost spilling the wine on my dress and dropping the wine glass on to the floor. Tanya suddenly appeared behind me, with a black, circular tray in hand (that is full of empty wine glasses).

"Oh, it's just you, Tanya. You scared me there."

"My apologies, my lady."

"No harm done, Tanya."

I set the wine glass on top the circular tray Tanya is holding.

"Are you planning to leave the coming-of-age ceremony, my lady?"

"Yes. There's nothing for me to do, I'm afraid."

Tanya and I sighed simultaneously.

"Well, that is a pity. I will try to come by to your room as soon as I can. I'm afraid that us maids are very busy tonight."

"I see. Well, I will see you later, Tanya."

"Yes, see you later, my lady."

Tanya and I parted ways and I walk towards the southern end (to where the hallway I entered from is located) of the banquet hall. I arrived at the grand doors and a guard at the door pushed it open for me. I thanked him and left the banquet hall.

As I left the banquet hall, I hear the shouts and squeals of delight from the people dancing within the hall. I reflected on tonight. Why was Yuan so uncomfortable with Gray? They always seemed so lovey-dovey within the light novel. Was Yuan forced into a relationship with Gray, or had been done unspeakable things to (before Priscilla was introduced into the scenario)? Why had Yuan handed me that object earlier? This must be due to the butterfly effect, right?! 

"My lady."

"Argh-!"

Tanya suddenly popped up behind me again.

"Tanya, please don't do that~! You frightened me."

"Well, you should pay more attention to your surroundings."

"*Sigh* I guess you're right, Tanya. Anyhow, aren't you supposed to be busy tonight?"

"I got permission from the king to take an early leave. I have to come back though."

"...Okay, but why did you do that?"

"I figured you needed to have someone help you get ready before you go to sleep."

Well, I guess I'll get my answers later. 

"Tanya, lead the way to my room!"

Tanya just sighed and said, "Seriously, my lady? Did you even forget the directions of your room? Geeeez."

I started to laugh.

"Maybe you should start giving me memory supplements, Tanya."

"Supper...Laments...? What is that?"

"Oh, something to help with a certain body part's function."

"Ah, I see. I'll ask around the palace to see if anyone has these 'supperlaments' for you, my lady."

I was just screwing around with Tanya.

"Thank you, Tanya!"

"Mmhmm. It's no problem, my lady."

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Here's what I imagine Priscilla to look like (extras):