Aderi and her father stepped inside the ballroom, and everyone clapped as she and her father walked down the stairs.

"Good evening Lady Callista and, happy birthday!" one of the people in the crowd said greeting Aderi. the others followed as each person started greeting her.

the gifts they gave to Aderi were taken by the butler who will be carrying them to the carriage.

°

°

after the unknown nobles finally finished greeting her, a familiar girl walked towards her.

"Greetings Lady Aderi! Congratulations on your debutante and happy birthday!" Ari said smiling happily as she held out a box to Aderi.

"thank you very much, Lady Ari!" Aderi said with a wide smile receiving the box.

"Lady Aderi? Lady Ari" her father asked confused looking at both girls.

"ah father, this is Lady Ari Duncan, daughter of baron Duncan, she is a very good friend of mine," Aderi said introducing Ari to her father.

"Greetings, Duke Callista" Ari said greeting the duke while doing a curtsy.

"is that so...it's nice meeting the friend of my daughter, thank you for keeping her company, ," Thomas said smiling at Ari.

"a-ah duke, please don't call me 'Lady' I'm a mere daughter of a baron," Ari said nervously since he might be mistaken her for a high-ranking noble.

", Lady Ari...but considering you are a good friend of my daughter you are worthy of being called a 'Lady' my daughter is indeed correct that those who deserve it shall be addressed with respect even without a high rank," Thomas said explaining himself.

"I-i see, thank you so much, duke!" Ari said bowing.

"I should be the one thanking you for being such a good friend to my daughter," the duke said, Ari smiled.

"Lady Aderi is also a very good friend to me, I appreciate everything she has done for me," Ari said smiling.

"haha...no need to flatter me," Aderi said to Ari shyly.

"I'm just merely telling the truth," Ari responded to Aderi confused.

"you're making me shy in front of my father," Aderi said as her face started heating up.

"If you want you can go with your friend, I won't stop you, it's your day today after all...enjoy yourself," his father said with a soft smile to Aderi.

"a-ah...thank you father, then we shall go," Aderi said smiling, Thomas nodded with a smile.

"we're going now father" Aderi said excusing herself and Ari.

"farewell Duke Callista" Ari also excused herself.

"Please don't say something like that again...you're making me shy," Aderi said to Ari as she linked her arms with Ari. Ari giggled.

"you look cute when you're flustered, Lady Aderi" Ari teased.

"ah!!! please stop" Aderi said as she bowed her head getting shy. Ari giggled even more.

"I'll stop now," Ari said while giggling.

while they were walking they were stopped.

"Greetings, Lady Callista" a man's voice can be heard, Aderi looked up and saw a handsome guy with

"Greetings, and who am I have the honor of speaking to?" Aderi asked the man. he bowed as he started introducing himself.

"My name is , the prince of Bisoplain, I heard many good things about you Lady Callista, it's a pleasure to finally meet you" The man who introduced himself stood up straight after introducing himself.

"The pleasure is all mine, your highness" Aderi said as she did a curtsy.

"Thank you for allowing my family's presence here, it's a pleasure to be invited" Oscar smiled happily, Aderi smiled back and nodded.

"I hope you enjoy your stay here, your highness" Aderi said with a smile.

"Indeed, my present is already taken to your carriage, I hope my gift is to your liking," Oscar said excitedly.

"I'm sure it is" Aderi replied.

"excuse me, your highness and Lady Callista for interrupting your conversation, but, your highness, your father needs you" One of the butlers of bisoplain who came with them said.

"Well, if you'll excuse me Lady Callista I have to get going, I'll see you later," Oscar said excusing himself, Aderi nodded in reply. Oscar and his butler started walking away.

"Lady Ari-" Aderi said calling for Ari as she turned around but she wasn't there.

"Lady Ari?" Aderi called again as she scanned her surroundings, but she was nowhere to be seen.

Aderi started walking around looking for Ari.

when Aderi reached the corner of the room, someone was there alone, leaning on the wall, holding a glass filled with red wine.

upon hearing Aderi's footsteps, that person looked up, her eyes were met with blue eyes.

"Greetings, Lady Callista" Caelias greeted as he pushed himself off the wall.

"Greetings, your highness" Aderi greeted back as she did a curtsy.

"what brings you here at the end of the wall?" Caelias asked smiling as he walked closer to Aderi.

"I was looking for Lady Ari...she suddenly left me while I was talking to the prince of Bisoplain" Aderi explained, Caelias smiled.

he put down the glass of wine in his hands on the table near him.

"Could I borrow you for a minute, Lady Aderi?" Caelias whispered.

"what for?" Aderi asked confused.

"Just please, follow me...Uhm, may I hold your hand?" Caelias asked as he looked down at Aderi's hands.

"uh...sure?" Aderi replied unsure since the request was out of the blue, Caelias nodded.

"then, if you don't mind," Caelias said as she held Aderi's hands.

in that same very wall was a door, and that door leads to the side where Caelias stays.

"where are we going, your highness?" Aderi asked as they walked in the long hallway of the castle.

"We are the only ones here, Aderi...so why are you calling me that?" Caelias asked as they walk.

"as...sorry, It's just a habit...Caelias" Aderi apologized after remembering the deal they have.

"ah, before I forget...thank you, thank you for helping me, now my father is back to normal" Aderi said thanking Caelias.

"It's nothing" Caelias smiled.

"Did Mr. Jake tell you what I said?" Aderi asked as they continued walking.

"Which part?" Caelias asked back.

"That if you need help I'll try my best to also help you" Aderi replied, Caelias smiled, but Aderi cannot see it since Caelias was in front of her.

"Indeed, I appreciate the offer, I'll use it wisely!" Caelias replied with a big smile on his face. Aderi nodded in reply which Caelias didn't see.

"Probably establishing a good relationship with Caelias is a good idea...since I think avoiding him would increase the chance of me getting on his bad side" Aderi thought as she looked at Caelias who was facing his back on her while they walked.

°

°

They arrived at their destination, at the very end of the hall, there was a big door. behind it was a private balcony. The view was beautiful on that balcony.

"Waw, the castle has so many secret good views," Aderi said complementing the scenery.

"Really? Like where?" Caelias asked.

"The garden, here and your garden" Aderi replied with a smile. Caelias smiled seeing how happy Aderi was watching the view.

"Before I forget...why did you take me here...Caelias?" Aderi asked looking at Caelias.

"I want to give my gift to you in person" Caelias smiled.

"Hmm? You could do it in the ballroom" Aderi replied with mixed confusion in her voice.

Caelias took something put from the inner pouch of his coat.

"Happy birthday, Aderi" Caelias said giving the small box to Aderi.

Aderi looked at Caelias for a moment before she hesitantly took the small dark blue box.

"Open it" Cpaelias replied smiling. Aderi nodded and opened the box.

Inside was a beautiful white gem necklace that has a pearl chain, if you moved around the gem you can see the rainbow.

"Wow...it's beautiful," Aderi said looking at the necklace. She then looked up at Caelias.

"Thank you very much!" Aderi said thanking Caelias.

"You're very welcome!" Caelias replied smiling happily.

There was a short moment of silence, only the wind of the night can be heard. They were looking at each other before Caelias looked away.

"I have something that I have been meaning to tell you," Caelias said almost whispering it.

"And...what is that?" Aderi asked curiously about what he was about to say.

"Aderi..I-" Caelias said but he was cut off when someone yelled Aderi's name.

"LADY CALLISTA!" Someone yelled, they were calling for Aderi non-stop.

"Ah! I think that was one of my maids!" Aderi said to Caelias.

"I have to go Caelias... I'll look for you later so you can tell me! I have to go" Aderi said as she hurriedly went out of the secret balcony.

After the door closed a sigh can be heard from Caelias.

"Didn't go well as planned huh?" Jake asked as he landed on the railing of the balcony.

"I knew someone was watching us," Caelias said glaring at Jake.

"Attempt failed..." Jake teased.

"Oh please... I'll tell her later," Caelias said as he leaned on the railing.

"You better..." Jake said as he took off his cloak.

"Hey...would you like to be a noble?" Caelias suddenly asked.

"And why would you think that?" Jake asked Caelias.

"You have a lot of money now...and if I talk to my father he'll give you a rank, especially if I recommend you to him personally" Caelias suggested.

"I'd rather be a knight" Jake replied.

"How about this...you become my knight?" Caelias asked.

"Aren't I, your knight already?" Jake asked raising his eyebrows.

"Not officially, what I mean is like I can show you off to the public kind of knight..." Caelias replied.

"Only those who have a status can guard a royal" Jake replied.

"That's why I'm offering you a position..." Caelias said.

"Why did you even think about this?" Jake asked confused.

"For that Lady..." Caelias replied.

"E-eh? What about her?" Jake asked shocked.

"The way you talked about her is different...that's why, I thought you can become a Nobel and become my knight, so you can be closer to her" Caelias said finally saying his true motive.

"You don't have to choose right away...give it some thought, just tell me if you made up your mind," Caelias said as he smiled at Jake.

°

°

°

"Were you looking for me?" Aderi asked the maid.

"Ah! M'lady! Where have you been?! Your father was so worried" the maid said as she finally saw Aderi.

"Why was my father worried?" Aderi asked confused.

"You suddenly disappeared in the crowd and he couldn't find you, the daughter of baron Duncan was also worried about you!" The maid replied.

"Ah, my apologies...I was just taking a walk for some fresh air" Aderi apologized.

"It's okay m'lady, now let's go," the maid said, Aderi nodded and followed the maid back.

°

°

°

"Aderi!" Thomas said as he finally saw his daughter again.

"Lady Aderi!" Ari said when she saw Aderi. The two were next to each other with anxious faces before they saw Aderi.

"Are you okay?" Ari asked Aderi as she and the duke ran to Aderi.

"Where have you been?" Thomas asked worriedly. His face has a worried look plastered on his face.

"Yes, I'm fine...I went out to get some fresh air since...big crowds aren't my forte" Aderi said with an awkward smile.

"I can kick the others if you like" Thomas suggested.

"Please don't father!" Aderi replied.

"I thought I lost you! I'm sorry if I left you, my father asked for me and I didn't want to bother your conversation with the prince of bisoplain...I'm sorry Lady Aderi!!" Ari said with almost a tear escaping her eyes.

"She looks so scared...I hope my father wasn't the one who made her this scared" Aderi thought as she held Ari's hand.

"Please notify me in the future..." Thomas said to Aderi. Aderi nodded.

"Will do father" Aderi said smiling.

"Because of this...I won't know what Caelias was trying to say to me... I'll find him later" Aderi thought as she remembered Caelias.