The night, prepared by the students, had been extravagant than expected, considering they were only given a week to prepare.
The chandeliers twinkled, the music was harmonic, and people were in their best formal attires. The principal, Larrie, were proud of his students, this event has gone beyond his expectation.
Larrie toured around, with champagne on his hand, to check every detail of the reception. All he did was nod to his approval.
Long after he toured around, he was greeted by Bastien and other fellow members of the student government.
"Finest men in Dalqueer!" Larrie laughed, after being greeted by them. "This was beyond my expectation." He continued.
Bastien chuckled. "It was all prepared by Miss Ferlin, we only followed her instructions."
"Indeed, she is Dalqueer's pride I must say." Another man praised her.
"Is she here already?" Larrie asked, he still smiled but the genuine of it faded.
"I haven't seen her yet." Bastien answered.
The conversation continued on, it was about school, politics, and what would they do after graduation. The chuckles of these men reflected on the success of the banquet; they wouldn't had chuckled like that if it weren't for Milena.
Milena had reached the event, she looked around her hardwork that had been accomplished. She sighed in awe—she had never been proud of herself like this.
One of the men, who had been standing around Larrie, had caught a glimpse of Milena, but none of them realized it was her.
"Oh! Look, that's Milena I suppose." One said.
She had been never elegant like this, many men in her university had admired her beauty as it is. But her look for tonight made more attracted to her.
Beauty as the sun, stunning as the stars, glowing as the moonlight.
This was best described to her in the minds of these men.
Once Milena saw them together, she approached them. She greeted their principal first, Larrie, who was stunned to see her rare look.
"Ah, Miss Milena!" He greeted him finally.
"Principal…" She let out a soft chuckle.
"How beautiful you are!"
"Thank you."
They brought each other smiles, and before Larrie lay a word on Milena, he looked at the students who were behind her.
"I'd like a word with Miss Ferlin. Alone." Larrie nods.
The men scattered on their ways and what Principal Bolgerwen said made Milena wondered what it would be. She prepared for the upcoming negative words in regards of the preparation.
"A word you say, Principal Bolgerwen?" She said, waiting for the news.
"Yes…"
Larrie considered his words, whether or not, if it was appropriate to give her this favor.
"First of all, congratulations, Ferlin. I am really proud of you preparing this extravagance."
Milena sighed out of relief. "Thank you principal!" She beamed.
"And secondly…"
Milena's celebration faded quickly. She looked at Larrie's eyes waiting for the next words, as her heart slowly rises.
"Someone wants to meet you." He finally said.
"Who?" She asked, intrigued.
It could be someone with influence, or maybe someone who likes her, or someone that would want to marry her; she assumed.
"The duke..." He cleared his throat. "The duke wants to meet you."
"The duke? Why!?"
Milena couldn't think of other reasons why the duke wants to meet her. It could be the coffee incident? Or it could be the letter in regards of the Ferlin farm?
She thought of the two choices carefully. It couldn't be the letter! She didn't even address her name on it, it was only the provisioning company that did.
No, it can't be. But possibly and definitely! It was about the coffee. The duke might want a proper apology regards to that. How did he even knew that she attends Dalqueer?!
"I don't know. He just happened to look at the photographs that was displayed by the hall."
The answer made Milena go back to the present.
"Oh." She chuckled. "Whatever he might saw in those photographs." She smiled, hiding her real emotions on the news.
"Behave properly once you two meet Milena. I can say that the duke is a bit intimidating."
Before the principal left, Milena nodded to his word.
Intimidating.
She remembered what Gilbert had said earlier. So it was true that the duke is really intimidating. there was no doubt that he is, the duke's cousin was the one who said so. But whatever that could happen between them, she is ready to face him—ready to face the duke.
After that news she felt drowsy by it, she wanted to go home and escape the duke. But she couldn't leave, the principal would be disappointed if ever she did.
Later on that night, the sponsors had arrived, including Duke De Venstein. On his arrival, Milena tried her best to hide from him, from his view. She hid behind her friends in nursing, that were accompanying her for the night. She can't let the duke know she's around, but more or less, he was expecting to see her, it was no use of hiding at all.
Duke Laurus didn't wander around the reception, he only sat on his table, drinking sparkling champagne from a thin wine glass. He pretended not to look for that girl, but he discreeted to look for her—that no one noticed his mind were somewhere else. It was almost—as if he was bored comming here.
Larrie went to greet his cousin, they shook hands and exchanged good words to each other. But Laurus was itching to ask him.
"So, where is she?" He asked.
Larrie wasn't fast to comprehend who he meant, only then he realized who.
"Oh." He chuckled. "I have told her already that she ought to meet you."
"Good."
The duke approved, but his expression didn't show any hint of excitement or any other emotion that could express to match with his words. Larrie couldn't read him, he was curious why—why the duke wanted to meet this girl.
After exchanging each other's words the Principal of Dalqueer were to oblige to give a speech for the guests. He mentioned the hardships that Dalqueer university had faced for the past year, yet he was proud what it made his students become—genuinely he was definitely proud. Later on, he expressed his appreciation for the sponsors, especially Duke De Venstein, who played a huge role to their province and to their school.
Near end speech, he expressed his gratitude to the student government, especially the president, Milena Ferlin, Larrie mentioned proudly to his audience.
The eyes turned to Milena when she was mentioned, and Laurus followed everyone's gaze to look where she is.
And there he found her.
Seating gracefully on her table alongside with other nursing students who was hyping her. Laughing and flustered that she was credited.
Laurus grinned to himself before turning his head back to the stage, where Larrie is now at the end paragraph of his speech. He sipped his champagne and felt his adrenaline rushed to his neck after looking at her.
She was beautiful.
He thought but tried to deny, he avoided to look at her again, because he despised how it coiled his stomach. He didn't know why, he just hated it.
But something—something clicked in him. He remembered in Larrie's speech that he had mentioned. Milena Ferlin! Laurus remembered. But he was trying to recall where he heard Ferlin before. The name Ferlin kept repeating on his head.
Ferlin, Ferlin, Ferlin. And it clicked!
That's right… The provisioning company, the supplier of their estate, the company that is currently facing crisis to their crops. He now remembers.
He chuckled to himself with that thought as he had another sip on his wine, now a smirk is formed.
Laurus whispered to his assistant, Pilmer, who is just beside him.
"I'd like to meet her. Now."