"The first one will be a singing competition. The second and final one will be an embroidery competition! Though I allow it if anyone chooses not to participate." Elizabeth smiled and clapped her hands. This will be quite show...

She always loved watching as others fought, as she will be looking down on them.

"..." Alistair let out a sigh. At least she didn't do anything to terrible...

"Now let us begin! The ladies who chooses to participate in the singing competition will be lead to another room, to prepare." Elizabeth pointed at a certain servant.

The male servant nodded and bowed to her.

"Lina will you participate?" Rienne asked.

"No. Singing is not at all my specialty..." Angelina smiled and mocked herself. Then she turned to Rienne and asked her the same question.

"Me singing? No I can't. When I sing I sound like a dying donkey..." Rienne laughed.

"Do you think Alice or Arianna will participate?" Angelina smiled.

"Alice... Perhaps. But I'm not too sure about lady Arianna... She's not the type of person to wish to stand out and attract attention." Rienne pondered. She smirked and added, "believe it or not, lady Arianna is actually secretly quite insecure..."

"Really?" Angelina exclaimed, surprised. Arianna always looked to be a confident and dignified young woman... She would never expect her to have such a weakness...

As they were speaking, they both saw Alice and Evelina join the crowd that was lead by the male servant.

"Oh no... I'm not ready to have my ears destroyed..." Rienne glared at Evelina with disgust.

************

After they were lead to somewhere else, the male servant asked all the ladies, who were participating, which song they chose to sing.

Surprising everyone, Eveline chose quite a difficult one.

"Lady Evelina, can you really sing 'blooming petals?' " one asked, admiringly.

"Yes... It's a song enjoy listening to and I've memorized it. But I'm not sure if I'll do well..." Evelina blushed and made a flustered expression.

"Don't worry m'lady, I'm sure you'll do wonderful!"

"Yes indeed. Lady Evelina is the best!"

"Blooming petals is such a difficult song... I've tried it before and always failed. Lady Evelina truly is special!"

"I've heard of lady Evelina's singing talents before! They all said she has a wonderful voice!"

The compliments were never ending. As Evelina heard the never ending praises, her smile grew wider and wider.

***********

Angelina stood alone once Rienne left her. Glass full of grape juice in hand, Angelina dived into thought. She was even too distracted to catch the person approaching her from behind.

"Lady Angelina? Lady Angelina?" They continued to call out to her. She eventually noticed and turned to face them.

"....oh... Young master Chase. What brings you here to me?" She asked. Though her expression was straight, her eyes contained many emotions difficult to discern.

"Why didn't you join the singing competition?" He asked as he flashed her his usual warm smile.

"Singing is not suitable for me...." Angelina thought back to a memory and frowned.

"I think lady Angelina would sing beautifully..." He said. His tone as warm as his smile. His eyes full of apology and the need to please her.

"Haha young master has never even heard me sing...." Angelina forced a chuckle.

I'm her past life, she wrote a song for him. Everything was ready, it was supposed to be his birthday gift. When she watched the Casspan carriage approach, her eyes brightened. But as she saw a servant step out, her eyes dimmed immediately.

The servant informed her that Chase had other plans. Those plans were to spend his birthday, not with his fiancee, but with that other woman...

Angelina sighed. It was probably best that he didn't come after all. When she thought about it, her singing was quite dreadful to hear...

Just as Chase was about to comfort her, as he saw her gloomy eyes, he felt a hand roughly grab his shoulders.

He flinched before turning his head to see who it is. What he saw frightened him to he core of his heart.

A menacing glare met his eyes.

How could he not be frightened? This was the man who crippled him in the battlefield....

"Get out..." Charles muttered. He was obviously restraining himself.

"You..." Chase widened his amethyst eyes.

"Your majesty?" Angelina called to him.

"Am I not allowed to see you, Lily?" Charles smiled and shoved Chase away with great strength.

"...."

"Lily doesn't participate in the competition?" Charles asked her as he wiped his hand with a handkerchief.

"I don't have a good singing ability..." Angelina sighed. Why must people keep asking her this?

"Oh..." Charles's eyes dimmed. Angelina noticed this.

"Why must your majesty look so disappointed?" Angelina raised her brows.

"Hehe... How could I not? Lily has the most beautiful voice I've heard... Lily used to sing me lullabies in the past. Though Lily must not remember..." He spoke softly. His tone possessed a ting of sadness.

"D-did I!?" Angelina panicked.

"Mhm..." He clenched his fist.

*************

The royal family sat on their grand throne that stood on top of a higher platform. Allowing them to look down on the sea of nobles.

"This sounds boring..." The second prince, Leon yawned. "Why did you choose this out of all of things?"

"Well I'm sorry for not being interested making my guards catch bugs for me and kill the bugs right in front of my own sister's face!" Elizabeth mocked.

"H-hey! I was young! I've grown out of that!" Leon's face flushed red.

"Shh! This is a gathering not a place to fool around!" Alistair scolded his two younger siblings.

"Our apologies mother..." the two younger royals said in unison. Causing their older brother's face to change.

"Leon. Lizzie." Alistair glared.

"Mm...! Sorry royal older brother!" Leon shrinker his shoulders and wanted to bury a hole for himself, so he could avoid his brother's gaze.

"Look!" Elizabeth ignored her older brother. Instead she paid attention to the crowd of musicians coming out and setting up.

*************

"Oh. I'll need to go Lily. The Emperor has prepared a special spot for me." He flashed her a smile and waved her goodbye.

Angelina smiled and heard the voice of the Emperor.

"Let the competition begin! The winner of the singing competition will be awarded the Empress's jade broach!" The Emperor announced with a loud laugh.

The nobles immediately went into a discussion. Such an honor to be given one of the Empress's own jewelery...

The first lady to sing was a baron's daughter. Her singing was alright, but it was too bland and boring.

The next was a count's daughter, she was a litter better but nothing special.

A few more ladies took their turns before Alice finally came out. Her voice was sweet and calming, matching perfectly with the song she chose. Everyone applauded her.

"That was actually...quite good..." Elizabeth expressed her approval. Until now, everything else was boring to her. But Alice's voice brought pleasure to her ears, none of the other ladies could. The princess could tell her singing came from the heart.

"Th-this one thanks... y-your highness's for your highness's praise." Alice shyly bowed and thanked the royal princess sitting above her.

Finally, it was Evelina's turn.

The blonde haired young lady walked out with the aura of a bright and delicate flower. Her appearence struck the crowd of men's hearts. She was really too beautiful.

Her deep blue eyes shimmered under the bright light. Her wavy blonde laid loose and passed her shoulders, ending on the slim waist.

She bowed and her eyes fluttered like the wings of a butterfly. It made her look both confident and nervous.

Once she began to sing, everyone was enchanted instantly. It caused their hearts to ease. Her admirers couldn't help but let her seductive voice tickle their hearts.

But then... The music changed suddenly. It clashed with the voice of the beauty performing. What was going on?

Evelina felt her body shook. She continued singing and tried to save some face for herself. Her eyes moved elsewhere. It ended up landing on a certain beauty in the crowd.

She maintained her elegance and dignified stand. But her golden eyes shone brighter with amusement. Her sneer was open for anyone to see, but no one paid any attention to it.

What... What did she do!?

Evelina couldn't rap her head around it. It was clearly her! But...how? Why did the musicians suddenly changed songs in the middle of her song!?

Elizabeth's face changed. What kind of song is this? At first... The young lady's singing was impressive. But now... It just sounded odd...

Why was she singing the wrong song...?

But even so... Elizabeth still couldn't help but laugh at Evelina's humility. She knew there was going to be an amusing show!

Hearing his sister's laughter, Alistair covered his head. How was this rebellious girl born in the royal family?

Evelina still managed to reach the end of her song with dignity. Even though the musicians were playing a different one...

The crowd was slightly disappointed but clapped anyways.

And Angelina? She sneered at Evelina's humility.

When Evelina returned to the crowd, she was greeted with a concerned lady.

"Lady Evelina!... Are you alright...? How could those musicians perform the wrong song... They must be trying to humiliate you!" Lady Sonia approched frantically.

"Lady Evelina don't be sad... I'm sure m'lady will still be able to win..." Harper comforted Evelina with a kind smile. But it only made Evelina feel worse.

' I don't need a commoner's pity!' Evelina gritted her teeth.

After a few more ladies sung, it was finally time to announce the winners.

Elizabeth stood up and said, "those were quite the amusing performances. This princess enjoyed it very much. Thank you for all who performed. Though you all sang beautifully, this princess simply cannot award you all. Now for the winners...."

The results were quite unexpected.

A certain lady landed in third place. Evelina held second place, and Alice was in first place...

Hearing the results, Evelina's face darkened. 2nd place...? 2nd place!? She actually lost to the daughter of low standing family....

Alice, who won, widened her eyes with joy. She actually won? She couldn't believe it....

"Lady Alice from the Illiya family step forward to receive your prize!" Elizabeth energetically shouted.

Alice meekly walked to the front and bowed in the presence of the royal family.

"Th-this one is honored..."

The empress calmly took off her jade broach and handed it to a servant. The said servant carefully accepted it and presented it to Alice.

Alice's hand trembled while holding it. She felt as if she was about to collapse from being too nervous. She has never been the center of attention till today... It was quite frightening.

"Congratulations lady Alice and the Illiya family!" The Emperor smiled.

************

Before the embroidery competition, the ladies were given the choice to rest.

Angelina, as usual, decided to walk out to the royal garden and smell the scent of flowers. She recently enjoyed such a lonely and quiet atmosphere...

"Lily..." A figure immerged from the darkness.

Due to the way the man called her, Angelina instantly reconized him.

The two sat down on a stone seat and admired the beautiful scenery in front of them.

They chatted peacefully but then Charles remembered something.

He turned to look at the lady beside him and hesitated.

Seeing her obviously in a good mood, he felt reluctant to crush her spirit by telling her this secret that he knew she would be too scared to face.

But he has to tell her one day...