Chapter 65
Aurora reached the final step of the grand staircase.
Turner, who had been waiting patiently at the bottom, looked up—and froze.
For a moment, he forgot how to breathe.
She was... breathtaking.
The flowing ivory gown shimmered beneath the countless lanterns, the delicate silver embroidery catching the soft evening light with every graceful step. The skirts floated around her like drifting clouds, making her look almost ethereal.
His heart skipped a beat.
How did I never notice how beautiful she was? he wondered.
Was it because she had changed so much... or because I had only just begun to truly see her?
His blue eyes never left her.
Aurora noticed his stunned expression and smiled softly.
"Turner?"
He blinked several times before clearing his throat.
"My... My Lady... you look absolutely beautiful."
A faint blush spread across Aurora's cheeks.
"Thank you."
Before Turner could say another word, Owen approached his daughter.
For a long moment, he simply stared.
His little girl...
When had she grown into such a remarkable young woman? Now she is sixteen, the age, woman would be meeting their life partner and leaving their home.
He smiled proudly before holding out his arm.
"You look stunning, Princess."
Aurora's smile brightened, "Thank you, Daddy."
Owen chuckled.
The first time she had called him "Daddy," he had nearly fallen off his chair in shock. Even now, Aurora occasionally used strange words and expressions that made absolutely no sense to anyone else.
But somehow...
He had grown rather fond of them.
Tonight was his princess's coming-of-age banquet.
And nothing would ruin it.
Aurora had insisted on holding the banquet in the gardens.
At first Eleanor had strongly objected.
"It will be too dark," she had complained. "The ladies will trip over their gowns."
"Then we add more lanterns"
After nearly an hour of playful negotiations...
Aurora won.
Now thousands of lanterns hung from the trees like tiny stars, their warm golden light reflecting across the flowers, fountains, and marble pathways. The entire garden looked as though it belonged in a fairy tale.
Owen proudly offered Aurora his arm.
Father and daughter paused at the top of the staircase.
As they descended together...The orchestra began to play.
Conversation slowly faded.
One by one...Heads turned.
Then...Silence.
Every noble in attendance stared.
Some gasped openly.
Others simply forgot how to speak.
The shimmering layers of Aurora's gown glowed beneath the lanterns, making her appear almost otherworldly.
Jealousy flashed across the faces of several young ladies.
Admiration filled the eyes of many gentlemen.
Even the older nobles nodded in approval.
She had arrived not as a lovesick young noblewoman...
...but as the future Duchess of Emberforge.
Aurora approached the group of noble ladies gathered around her mother.
Only then did Eleanor truly see her daughter in the completed gown.
Her eyes widened. She looked absolutely, radiant. More than anything...Eleanor felt overwhelming pride.
As Aurora descended the staircase, she had heard the whispers surrounding them.
Not cruel whispers. Not mocking whispers.
Only admiration and it filled her mother's heart with joy.
Aurora curtsied gracefully, "Good evening, Mother."
She then greeted the ladies.
"Good evening, Your Majesty."
The Queen smiled warmly before taking both of Aurora's hands.
"My dear..."
She looked Aurora up and down before smiling proudly, "You look like a goddess."
Aurora laughed softly, "You always exaggerate, Your Majesty."
"I most certainly do not."
The older ladies immediately agreed.
The younger ladies...
Not quite.
Their smiles remained polite, but envy flickered behind their eyes.
Soft whispers spread through the gathering.
"She looks like a fairy queen."
"That gown must have cost a fortune."
"Mother, tell Father to find that designer immediately. I don't care what it costs—I want a dress just like hers."
"I heard her engagement was broken off..."
"Perhaps I should introduce her to my son."
"If she's half as capable as they say, she'd make an excellent daughter-in-law."
Standing quietly among the young ladies...
Bella's smile slowly stiffened.
Inside...
She was seething.
She watched Lucian.
She watched Aurora.
She listened to every compliment.
Every whisper praising Aurora felt like another thorn piercing her heart.
Worse still...
She had learned that Lucian had sent Aurora flowers for two days in a row.
Flowers.
With handwritten letters.
Something he had never done before.
Bella slowly tightened her grip on her fan.
No...
I cannot lose him.
I won't.
On the opposite side of the gardens, a group of young dukes stood enjoying fine whiskey while discussing politics.
The moment Aurora appeared...
Their conversation died instantly.
Lucian stared without blinking.
The voices around him faded into silence.
He saw only Aurora.
She looked...Magnificent. Almost unreal.
Without realizing it, he whispered, "She's... gorgeous."
Charles let out a low whistle, "I hate to admit it... but she's absolutely stunning."
He folded his arms with a grin, "If I weren't already committed, I might have tried courting Lady Aurora."
Every head snapped toward him.
Isaac nearly dropped his glass, "You're committed?"
"Since when?" Brian asked in disbelief.
Charles nodded seriously, "Since birth."
Everyone leaned forward.
"Her name..."
He placed a dramatic hand over his heart.
"...is Hazelwood."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Brian blinked.
Isaac frowned.
Anton looked utterly confused.
Then realization struck.
Brian groaned loudly, "I actually want to kick you. I thought you were talking about a woman!"
Charles looked offended.
"I am."
"My duchy."
The men burst into laughter.
Charles continued with a perfectly straight face.
"She's expensive to maintain...She demands all of my time...She empties my treasury...And if I neglect her for even a week..."
He sighed dramatically, "...everything starts falling apart."
The laughter grew louder.
Isaac wiped tears from his eyes, "You know..."
He raised his glass, "He's actually right."
Anton chuckled, "Running a duchy is almost exactly like trying to keep a woman happy."
The men clinked their glasses together, "To our impossible ladies."
"And our even more impossible duchies."
Even Lucian smiled faintly...
Though his eyes never once left Aurora.
The gardens of Emberforge Manor glowed like something from a fairy tale.
Hundreds of crystal lanterns hung from ancient oak trees, their warm light dancing among the branches like captured stars.
Glass orbs floated upon the lake, reflecting the moonlight, while pathways lined with candles guided guests through blooming rose gardens.
Musicians played softly beneath a marble pavilion as servants moved gracefully between the guests carrying silver trays of wine and delicate hors d'oeuvres.
Whispers spread through the gathering.
"I've never seen anything like this."
"It's beautiful."
"A banquet... at night?"
"The Duchess has outdone herself."
Aurora stood among her guests, exchanging polite conversation with several noble ladies.
Lady Eleanor smiled warmly.
"Lady Aurora, this is simply enchanting."
"I must agree," Lady Beatrice said as she admired the lanterns. "I've attended countless banquets, but never one beneath the stars."
Aurora smiled.
"I wanted everyone to experience something different."
Before another lady could respond, Bella Palsen's gentle laughter drifted across the group.
"Different indeed."
The conversation quieted.
Bella glanced around the gardens with a pleasant smile that failed to reach her eyes.
"I suppose when one doesn't possess a grand enough ballroom to host so many distinguished guests, holding the banquet outside becomes the only option."
Several ladies exchanged uncomfortable glances.
The insult was carefully disguised.
But everyone understood it.
Emily frowned.
How petty.
All eyes turned toward Aurora.
The old Aurora would have flushed with embarrassment.
She would have stumbled over an apology.
The woman standing before them merely smiled.
"I did consider holding it inside."
She glanced toward the illuminated manor.
"Then I realized something."
She lifted her gaze toward the countless lanterns suspended above them.
"No ballroom ceiling could ever compete with the night sky."
Several ladies instinctively looked upward.
The stars sparkled above the glowing lanterns.
It truly was breathtaking.
Aurora continued calmly.
"A ballroom is beautiful..."
She smiled softly.
"...but after several hours, it becomes rather warm."
A few ladies nodded knowingly.
"And, if I'm being honest..."
A playful glimmer appeared in her eyes.
"I find the fresh evening air far more pleasant than spending an entire night in a room filled with stale air..."
She paused just long enough.
"...or listening to unladylike gossip."
For a heartbeat...
Silence.
Then Lady Eleanor laughed.
"Oh, that is wonderfully said."
Several ladies couldn't help smiling.
Lady Beatrice nodded in agreement.
"She's quite right."
"I much prefer this."
"The breeze is delightful."
"And we're not confined to one room."
An older marchioness looked around thoughtfully.
"This may well become the new fashion."
"I was just thinking the same," another lady agreed.
"It feels far more elegant."
"And considerably more memorable."
Bella's smile stiffened.
Aurora hadn't defended herself.
She hadn't insulted Bella.
Yet somehow...
Everyone had agreed with her instead.
Aurora took a sip of tea before speaking again.
"My father taught me that traditions deserve respect."
She looked around the gardens.
"But every tradition began because someone was willing to try something new."
Her smile remained warm.
"If this evening succeeds, I hope other noble families will create traditions of their own."
Lady Eleanor looked genuinely impressed.
"Your Grace..."
She smiled.
"You may have just introduced the kingdom's first night garden banquet."
A murmur of agreement spread through the gathering.
"I certainly hope this becomes an annual tradition."
"My estate has a lake—it would be perfect."
"We've been hosting the same indoor banquets for decades."
"This is far more charming."
"I've never enjoyed a banquet quite this much."
Nearby, Lucian had witnessed the entire exchange.
He had expected Aurora to shrink beneath Bella's criticism.
Instead...
She had transformed an insult into admiration.
Without raising her voice.
Without embarrassing anyone.
Lord Ashcombe watched Aurora thoughtfully.
"The young Duchess has remarkable composure."
Lord Pembroke nodded.
"She possesses something she lacked before."
"Wisdom."
"And confidence."
"She didn't defend herself," another noble observed.
"She defended her vision."
Lucian's eyes remained fixed on Aurora.
She wasn't trying to impress anyone.
She wasn't seeking his approval.
She simply believed in what she had created.
And somehow...
That made her impossible to look away from.
For the first time, Lucian understood why people naturally gravitated toward her.
It wasn't because she demanded attention.
It was because she made everyone around her feel as though they were part of something extraordinary.
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