Grand Entrance

Titania overlooked the ballroom in her mansion as her banquet began in full swing. The event had started at 5 pm and people had begun arriving in large groups, and her brothers and parents were already in the midst of things, making sure guests were organized and things would flow smoothly. As she scanned the crowd, her gaze kept searching for one figure, the most impressive male bachelor in the imperial capital: Richard Carrington. Although their last in-person meeting had ended on a sour note, the fact that he had accepted her invitation to her banquet when he usually didn't and had possibly bought her an amazing gift from her favorite jewelry brand filled her with the hope that he was finally coming around.

"Tania, I've just done a sweep of the floor and there's no sign of Richard yet and it's almost time for your grand entrance. What are you going to do?" Rebecca Molina said with concern. She was a tall, raven-haired beauty who had been best friends with Titania since they were children. She was one of the people who knew the full extent of the obsession Titania had for Richard Carrington.

"Well, I refuse to go down until he arrives." Titania sulked even though she knew it was futile.

As she expected, Rebecca sighed before wrapping her arm around Titania's waist and leading her back to the dressing room.

"Auntie and Uncle will be sad if you delay, and this is a day to celebrate you. The man you like should see you at the peak of your power and beauty so let's change so that your stunning figure being the center of attention is what he'll see when he arrives okay? Besides, didn't he get you your favorite jewelry? You have to be ready to accept it"

"You're right. You know just what to say to coax me Becks." Titania carefully leaned her head into Rebecca.

"Listen, over 25 years of friendship is no joke. You know I am always on your side you little baby." Rebecca responded with a laugh.

With Rebecca's help, Titania carefully changed into her custom-made blue dress. It was in a ball gown style with a lacy beaded top that flared out to a chiffon bottom. Her makeup was tastefully done, and her hair was already in an updo with pearls clipping it away from her face. On her neck was a large sapphire necklace and she wore matching earrings. Although it wasn't as delicate or as impactful as the Sapphire Droplet Collection, it was still a unique piece that she could guarantee nobody would have.

"Beautiful as always" Rebecca commented. The two women stared at each other in the mirror, one in blue and one in red, two beautiful flowers in full bloom. Raven with her jet-black hair and black eyes looked seductive in her body hugging bright red dress and lipstick. Titania gave off a glamorous aura with her golden blond hair and bright blue eyes.

"Ready?" Rebecca asked.

"Always." Titania firmly responded.

She arranged her posture; back straight, chin tilted up, arms relaxed, and walked to the ballroom while Rebecca followed slightly behind her. It was time to make her entrance.

As Richard drove them in her favorite sports car, Celeste curiously looked out the window. They had arrived at the Girardi estate and were waiting for the cars in front of them to be removed by the valet.

Entering the main entrance were fabulously dressed people that she recognized from her research of the aristocratic circle.

That woman over there owned a significant electric appliance company.

The couple over there owned one of the top art galleries in the country.

Her head continued to swivel back and forth as she examined the people.

"Nervous?" Richard suddenly asked.

She turned to look at him and shook her head before saying, "No way! I'm just putting faces to the names I know in my head. I'm very excited actually."

It was suddenly their turn at the valet and a staff member opened her door.

Before she could step out, Richard was already on her side and holding his arm out for her.

"Thank you, babe," Celeste murmured with a smile. She elegantly stepped out using his arm, arranged her dress, and began walking forward alongside Richard.

As they walked up the stairs to the main entrance, Celeste felt several people glance at her and do a double-take while pointing and speaking. She kept her gaze forward with a soft smile on her face as they walked forward.

At the door, a server wearing the standard black and white uniform respectfully opened the door.

Celeste turned to Richard and leaned her head into him and whispered, "They don't check invitations?"

"Security is very thorough and this is an invite-only event." He responded briefly.

The two walked hand in arm into the ballroom and people parted in front of them leaving an unobstructed path. As they walked, Celeste seemed to hear a woman's voice talking and there was a light round of applause. As people started to disperse, Richard continued to lead them to the center of the room and suddenly, it was clear of people!

In front of them, as the center of attention was a woman dressed completely in blue. Her glamorous jeweled dress and shining blond hair caught the light and made it hard to look away.

Celeste caught the moment when the woman caught sight of Richard and glanced at her before recoiling in anger. Recognizing the woman as Titania Girardi, Celeste smiled wider and clung to Richard's arm even more.

Titania narrowed her eyes at Celeste and elegantly walked over to the two of them with a faultless smile on her face. Although she had noticed the man and woman dressed in similar colors in front of her and the hand of the woman wrapped around Richard's arm, she decided to ignore it for now and play nice.

"Rich, it's nice to see you again so soon. I'm so glad you could make it. Thank you for coming out to celebrate with me. I didn't realize you were bringing a…guest." Titania warmly spoke to Richard before she glanced snidely at Celeste, her words full of hidden shots.

"Babe, why don't you introduce us? I've never seen this lady before." Celeste smiled back innocently while leaning her head on Richard's arm.

"Celeste this is Titania Girardi, our gracious host for the evening." Richard calmly said, "Miss Girardi, this is Celeste Valentine."

Hearing the words 'babe' and seeing that Richard responded to it with no issue, Titania almost lost her smile, but she persevered; After all, she was somebody who worked in the business world. She wouldn't be fazed by small issues like this.

"Miss Celeste, I don't recall inviting you and I don't believe we've met. I've met your parents and siblings, especially your beautiful and charming sisters, and I've never heard of you before. Are you sure you're not an imposter? You look nothing like your family." Titania threw a right hook with a bright smile.

Titania was insinuating that Celeste showed up uninvited and was an illegitimate child who looked like the rest of the Valentine family.

Celeste smiled gently and threw her own left hook.

"Miss Girardi, it's a pleasure to meet you. You're absolutely correct. My babe said I absolutely had to come along with him so here I am. As for why you haven't met with me, I've been performing filial piety for my grandfather who was ill until recently which is why we've never met. As for why I don't look like my family, I have a genetic disorder that causes me to lack pigment as you can tell from my skin, hair, and eyes. I'm sorry that you can't look past the surface-level physical differences I cannot control to see our familial relationship."

You dared to say she was uninvited? Richard Carrington begged her to come. As for why you've never met her, she had been taking care of her sick grandfather until recently. Oh, you think I don't look like my family. I have a genetic disorder that you're blaming me for, your eyes must be blind since they can't see past physical traits.

Titania smiled coldly as she heard the cold words. It seemed that the girl had some brains after all. She looked her up and down, noticing that apart from their hair color and eye color, she and Celeste were dressed in similar shades of blue. Her eye caught on the earrings and necklace that Celeste was wearing, and her eyes narrowed in surprise then in anger.

It was the Sapphire Droplet Collection! Either Celeste had purchased it using the Carrington name or Richard Carrington had purchased it for her! Both options were completely unacceptable to Titania!

"That is some interesting jewelry, Miss Celeste. Where did you get it?"

Seeing Titania's gaze on her necklace, Celeste smiled and touched it gently.

"Do you like it, Miss Girardi? I was looking for some jewelry to wear and my babe said that when he saw the set, he knew it would be perfect on me, so he bought it. I wasn't a fan of sapphires before since is thought they were a little tacky but this one is decent. Ah, not to say your jewelry is tacky. I think it looks not bad. Very sturdy construction."

Seeing Celeste call jewelry that was close to 2 million dollars decent, Titania wanted to walk over and rip the necklace and earrings from her body! And although the jewelry she wore could not be compared to the Sapphire Droplet Collection, it was still better than what others were wearing. It was simply insulting to be called 'not bad'.

Watching Celeste smile innocently at her, Titania secretly gritted her teeth before smiling once again. There was a crowd of people gathering around them and she couldn't lose her composure. Besides the night was still long.

"Well, I should go and speak with other guests lest they think I am rude. I'll see you later at the women's gathering tonight right Miss Celeste?"

"Naturally. It was a pleasure speaking to you Miss Girardi. I'll see you later"

Celeste watched as Titania turned away, and like a fish in water join another conversation seamlessly. Soon she had joined another group of people smiling and laughing.

She turned and smiled at Richard while beckoning for him to tilt his head down. When he did so, she whispered, "Didn't I do a good job? She completely forgot about you."

Seeing the girls' eyes twinkling while begging for praise for a job well done, Richard felt his lips curve up in a slight smile.

"Good job." Richard praised her honestly. He was impressed at the flurry of polite exchanges that hid thorns that had just occurred between Titania and Celeste. He had never seen Titania frustrated or at a loss before, so it was very pleasing to watch her lose her cool. During the whole exchange, her gaze had never once landed on him, she was completely focused on Celeste. Although he knew Celeste was sharp, he was more used to her roguish ditzy behavior rather than the proper poised one she now presented.

Richard looked down and saw that Celeste was staring at him with a dazed expression and looked as if she would begin drooling as she whispered, 'Too handsome'. Staring at her blank face, he felt his smile disappear and the vein in the back of his head start throbbing.

Never mind! It was his fault for daring to take this woman seriously!