AN - hope this is quick enough for Yami Evee, I uploaded it just as a got
their review!!!
A few hours later Yami stood in his room, looking at his reflection in a long looking glass. Seto stood behind him, straightening Yami's cloak. Yami was wearing a white silk robe with his finest gold belt, neckpiece and crown. On his feet he wore his most expensive sandals and from his shoulders hung his best red velvet cloak. He surveyed his appearance critically before turning to Seto, who was wearing a purple robe. Shoulder to shoulder the two of them left Yami's chambers and made the short walk to the grand reception room, where all the guests would be meeting before making their way to the large ballroom, where the festivities would be held.
In another room Mai was busy preening herself in front of a huge mirror. She was wearing a long gold dress, slit up to her thigh in a most revealing manner and the top was very low cut. She wore her hair loose with strings of diamonds running through it. She wore extensive jewellery and carried a fan made of ivory and gold silk. Lady Lamella entered the room. She was dressed more conservatively, in a long royal blue dress. As ever she looked sophisticated and regal.
"Do you think I am overdressed?" Asked Mai.
"No dear." Commented Lavenia sweetly. "I don't think that over dressing is a problem for you."
"Good, because I want Yami to notice me tonight."
"I don't feel that he could miss you easily." Murmured Lavenia, a slight tone of disapproval in her voice. "But anyway, we shall leave in twenty minutes. I want to be slightly early."
Meanwhile in Galena's room, Galena stood back to admire her handiwork. It had taken quite a bit of washing, tidying and sewing but finally she had finished Lara's transformation. Now she held back tears from her eyes as she said, "Your mother wore that dress to Yami's christening, almost eighteen years ago. You look so much like she did, only younger."
"That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Said Lara, smiling.
"You do though! You look so much like your mother it is uncanny."
Lara looked down at herself. She was wearing her mother's dress. It was a simple pink dress that fell from her shoulders to the floor and was gathered in elegant folds at the top. Galena had piled Lara's long hair on top of her head and let a few fronds fall down in soft curls. A pretty pink rose was visible in Lara's hair. Lara wore some neat sandals on her feet and draped over her shoulders for slight warmth was a thin white silk shawl with beading at the edges.
"Just one more finishing touch!" Said Galena. Reaching under her bed she pulled out a tiny box and held it out to Lara. "You father gave this to your mother when they were married. He couldn't afford a ring." She explained as Lara opened the box and saw a delicate necklace inside. A diamond carved in the shape of a miniscule rose hung on a little silver chain. With tears in her eyes she put the necklace on.
"Don't cry!" Exclaimed Galena, tears falling freely down her own cheeks. "You will smudge your makeup!"
Lara looked at Galena once more and hugged her tightly. "Thank you so much!"
"Don't worry! Just don't forget me. Now you should go!"
"Oh my goodness, I'm going to be late, it takes ages to walk to the palace and I can't run there in this dress!"
"Who said anything about walking?" Asked Galena, opening the door to her quarters and showing Lara outside. A few metres from the door stood a little white carriage, with two pure white horses pulling it. "When you work at the stables only the best will do." She explained.
Lara was speechless but she nodded her thanks to Jens, the driver of the carriage, as he helped her in.
"Hope it is to your liking m'lady!" He winked as he sat in the driver's seat in front of her. She smiled as the carriage drove off towards the palace and other servants came out and waved as they watched her leave. Lara was liked by all the servants, and had no enemies among them. They were all ecstatic to finally see her having a reward for her kind ways.
Lara felt butterflies in her stomach as they drew up outside the palace. It looked as if she was one of the last to arrive. She could hear laughter coming from inside as she climbed out of the carriage, thanked Jens, and made her way up the steps to the palace entrance. She had never been to the palace before and she marvelled at each little thing that she passed. The guards smiled and winked at her, word had already spread of her heroism that day.
Inside the reception room Yami was standing near the entrance with Seto, greeting his guests. Like a true host he knew the names of most of his guests anyway, however Seto was there to prompt him should he forget and Tristan, one of Yami's advisers, was standing by the large doors to announce people as they came in.
"Lady Lavenia Lamella and Lady Mai Valentine!" He announced as the two entered.
With remarkable grace Lady Lamella descended the flight of stairs to join Yami and Seto.
"Seto." She greeted, curtseying slightly as Seto bowed. "Pharaoh." She turned to Yami who accepted her curtsey and smiled at her.
"You look very refined Lavenia." He commented. With a gracious nod Lavenia turned away from them to mingle with the other guests.
"Mr Kaiba." Greeted Mai.
"Miss Valentine." Said Seto, trying to keep his eyes raised, specifically towards her face.
"And Yami." Mai faced the King who did not reprimand her for such an intimate greeting at a formal evening.
"Lady Valentine." He said, also trying not to laugh at her attire.
"I trust that there will be dancing tonight." She prompted.
"Yes." He answered curtly, knowing what was coming next.
"I am not spoken for for the first dance. Just so you know!" She said, winking as she walked off towards a group of staring men.
"We shall bear that in mind." Yami assured her as she walked off. "And give it a miss." He whispered to Seto quietly.
"It is quite a turnout sir." Commented Seto as they viewed the packed room.
Before Yami could answer Tristan's voice boomed around them.
"Miss Lara Chaste."
Lara stood nervously at the top of the stairs, looking at the scene below her. She felt extremely out of place. Everyone there was rich, a nobleman or of a higher status than her. Even the maids serving food and the butlers serving drinks were more important than her here. With some relief she spotted Yami at the foot of the stairs and her heart gave a slight flutter as she saw how handsome he looked. Swallowing uncertainly she began to walk slowly down the stairs, being careful not to trip.
"There she is Seto." Whispered Yami out of the corner of his mouth.
" I see her Yami." Seto replied. "I think that I will go and talk with the guest. It seems that your.friend is the last to arrive."
Yami nodded to Seto who left without fuss. He looked back to Lara and smiled warmly, extending a hand to help her down the last of the stairs.
"Sire." She said, curtseying elegantly.
"Welcome Lara." Yami said, kissing her hand in way of greeting. She blushed slightly at this. "You look lovely."
"Thank you." She replied. "And you."
"Yami!" Came a shrill call from the other side of the room. They both look over, brought suddenly back to reality as Mai rushed across the room. "Yami, we are about to go into the ballroom, I insist that you take me through and point everything out to me."
She held out her arm for Yami to take and then pretended to notice Lara for the first time, as Yami still had hold of her hand. "And who is this lovely wallflower?" She asked, cannily giving an insult without seeming insulting.
"This is Lara." Yami replied, not noticing or ignoring the affront. "She is a guest tonight."
"As we all are!" Sighed Mai melodramatically taking Yami's arm forcefully. Yami looked back at Lara uncertainly who nodded for him to leave.
"I'll see you later!" He mouthed as Mai led him towards the large doors at the end of the room that led to the ballroom. Guests parted for them to pass, leaving Lara alone. She sighed and began to follow the crowd flocking into the larger room when she felt a presence by her side.
"May I escort you in Miss?" Asked a little man by her side.
Lara looked down to see Yugi standing there. "Thank you." She said, gratefully taking his arm.
"Don't worry about Miss Valentine, Miss." Yugi said as they began to walk. "She has been after Yami for ages. Fancies herself as his bride. He has no interest in her. I'm Yugi by the way."
"My name is Lara." She said.
"Oh I know that. I know all about what happened today as well. And please do not worry, Yami will return to your side as soon as he can shake Mai off!" Yugi reassured her as they entered the grand ballroom. Lara was so enthralled by the intricate carvings, complicated hieroglyphics and majestic statues that she didn't hear Yugi say, "Mai is just jealous."
They took their seats at the large dining table. Lara found herself sitting between Yugi and a pretty girl with long, reddish brown hair called Serenity. A man with pure white hair and another with blonde hair sat opposite her. About five or six seats away from her sat Yami, at the head of the table. Lavenia sat on his left, politely talking to Seto who was also next to her. To Yami's right sat Mai, who was still drooling openly over Yami. Yami caught Lara's eyes and smiled quickly, before turning his attention back to his main guest, Lady Lamella.
As the feast began Lara began to relax. She had enough manners to know what she should and should not do in such high-class company and she made educated answers to any questions asked of her. It seemed that Yugi had appointed himself as her watcher until she settled in. However the evening had only just begun, and much more was to happen yet.
AN - Read and Review please
A few hours later Yami stood in his room, looking at his reflection in a long looking glass. Seto stood behind him, straightening Yami's cloak. Yami was wearing a white silk robe with his finest gold belt, neckpiece and crown. On his feet he wore his most expensive sandals and from his shoulders hung his best red velvet cloak. He surveyed his appearance critically before turning to Seto, who was wearing a purple robe. Shoulder to shoulder the two of them left Yami's chambers and made the short walk to the grand reception room, where all the guests would be meeting before making their way to the large ballroom, where the festivities would be held.
In another room Mai was busy preening herself in front of a huge mirror. She was wearing a long gold dress, slit up to her thigh in a most revealing manner and the top was very low cut. She wore her hair loose with strings of diamonds running through it. She wore extensive jewellery and carried a fan made of ivory and gold silk. Lady Lamella entered the room. She was dressed more conservatively, in a long royal blue dress. As ever she looked sophisticated and regal.
"Do you think I am overdressed?" Asked Mai.
"No dear." Commented Lavenia sweetly. "I don't think that over dressing is a problem for you."
"Good, because I want Yami to notice me tonight."
"I don't feel that he could miss you easily." Murmured Lavenia, a slight tone of disapproval in her voice. "But anyway, we shall leave in twenty minutes. I want to be slightly early."
Meanwhile in Galena's room, Galena stood back to admire her handiwork. It had taken quite a bit of washing, tidying and sewing but finally she had finished Lara's transformation. Now she held back tears from her eyes as she said, "Your mother wore that dress to Yami's christening, almost eighteen years ago. You look so much like she did, only younger."
"That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Said Lara, smiling.
"You do though! You look so much like your mother it is uncanny."
Lara looked down at herself. She was wearing her mother's dress. It was a simple pink dress that fell from her shoulders to the floor and was gathered in elegant folds at the top. Galena had piled Lara's long hair on top of her head and let a few fronds fall down in soft curls. A pretty pink rose was visible in Lara's hair. Lara wore some neat sandals on her feet and draped over her shoulders for slight warmth was a thin white silk shawl with beading at the edges.
"Just one more finishing touch!" Said Galena. Reaching under her bed she pulled out a tiny box and held it out to Lara. "You father gave this to your mother when they were married. He couldn't afford a ring." She explained as Lara opened the box and saw a delicate necklace inside. A diamond carved in the shape of a miniscule rose hung on a little silver chain. With tears in her eyes she put the necklace on.
"Don't cry!" Exclaimed Galena, tears falling freely down her own cheeks. "You will smudge your makeup!"
Lara looked at Galena once more and hugged her tightly. "Thank you so much!"
"Don't worry! Just don't forget me. Now you should go!"
"Oh my goodness, I'm going to be late, it takes ages to walk to the palace and I can't run there in this dress!"
"Who said anything about walking?" Asked Galena, opening the door to her quarters and showing Lara outside. A few metres from the door stood a little white carriage, with two pure white horses pulling it. "When you work at the stables only the best will do." She explained.
Lara was speechless but she nodded her thanks to Jens, the driver of the carriage, as he helped her in.
"Hope it is to your liking m'lady!" He winked as he sat in the driver's seat in front of her. She smiled as the carriage drove off towards the palace and other servants came out and waved as they watched her leave. Lara was liked by all the servants, and had no enemies among them. They were all ecstatic to finally see her having a reward for her kind ways.
Lara felt butterflies in her stomach as they drew up outside the palace. It looked as if she was one of the last to arrive. She could hear laughter coming from inside as she climbed out of the carriage, thanked Jens, and made her way up the steps to the palace entrance. She had never been to the palace before and she marvelled at each little thing that she passed. The guards smiled and winked at her, word had already spread of her heroism that day.
Inside the reception room Yami was standing near the entrance with Seto, greeting his guests. Like a true host he knew the names of most of his guests anyway, however Seto was there to prompt him should he forget and Tristan, one of Yami's advisers, was standing by the large doors to announce people as they came in.
"Lady Lavenia Lamella and Lady Mai Valentine!" He announced as the two entered.
With remarkable grace Lady Lamella descended the flight of stairs to join Yami and Seto.
"Seto." She greeted, curtseying slightly as Seto bowed. "Pharaoh." She turned to Yami who accepted her curtsey and smiled at her.
"You look very refined Lavenia." He commented. With a gracious nod Lavenia turned away from them to mingle with the other guests.
"Mr Kaiba." Greeted Mai.
"Miss Valentine." Said Seto, trying to keep his eyes raised, specifically towards her face.
"And Yami." Mai faced the King who did not reprimand her for such an intimate greeting at a formal evening.
"Lady Valentine." He said, also trying not to laugh at her attire.
"I trust that there will be dancing tonight." She prompted.
"Yes." He answered curtly, knowing what was coming next.
"I am not spoken for for the first dance. Just so you know!" She said, winking as she walked off towards a group of staring men.
"We shall bear that in mind." Yami assured her as she walked off. "And give it a miss." He whispered to Seto quietly.
"It is quite a turnout sir." Commented Seto as they viewed the packed room.
Before Yami could answer Tristan's voice boomed around them.
"Miss Lara Chaste."
Lara stood nervously at the top of the stairs, looking at the scene below her. She felt extremely out of place. Everyone there was rich, a nobleman or of a higher status than her. Even the maids serving food and the butlers serving drinks were more important than her here. With some relief she spotted Yami at the foot of the stairs and her heart gave a slight flutter as she saw how handsome he looked. Swallowing uncertainly she began to walk slowly down the stairs, being careful not to trip.
"There she is Seto." Whispered Yami out of the corner of his mouth.
" I see her Yami." Seto replied. "I think that I will go and talk with the guest. It seems that your.friend is the last to arrive."
Yami nodded to Seto who left without fuss. He looked back to Lara and smiled warmly, extending a hand to help her down the last of the stairs.
"Sire." She said, curtseying elegantly.
"Welcome Lara." Yami said, kissing her hand in way of greeting. She blushed slightly at this. "You look lovely."
"Thank you." She replied. "And you."
"Yami!" Came a shrill call from the other side of the room. They both look over, brought suddenly back to reality as Mai rushed across the room. "Yami, we are about to go into the ballroom, I insist that you take me through and point everything out to me."
She held out her arm for Yami to take and then pretended to notice Lara for the first time, as Yami still had hold of her hand. "And who is this lovely wallflower?" She asked, cannily giving an insult without seeming insulting.
"This is Lara." Yami replied, not noticing or ignoring the affront. "She is a guest tonight."
"As we all are!" Sighed Mai melodramatically taking Yami's arm forcefully. Yami looked back at Lara uncertainly who nodded for him to leave.
"I'll see you later!" He mouthed as Mai led him towards the large doors at the end of the room that led to the ballroom. Guests parted for them to pass, leaving Lara alone. She sighed and began to follow the crowd flocking into the larger room when she felt a presence by her side.
"May I escort you in Miss?" Asked a little man by her side.
Lara looked down to see Yugi standing there. "Thank you." She said, gratefully taking his arm.
"Don't worry about Miss Valentine, Miss." Yugi said as they began to walk. "She has been after Yami for ages. Fancies herself as his bride. He has no interest in her. I'm Yugi by the way."
"My name is Lara." She said.
"Oh I know that. I know all about what happened today as well. And please do not worry, Yami will return to your side as soon as he can shake Mai off!" Yugi reassured her as they entered the grand ballroom. Lara was so enthralled by the intricate carvings, complicated hieroglyphics and majestic statues that she didn't hear Yugi say, "Mai is just jealous."
They took their seats at the large dining table. Lara found herself sitting between Yugi and a pretty girl with long, reddish brown hair called Serenity. A man with pure white hair and another with blonde hair sat opposite her. About five or six seats away from her sat Yami, at the head of the table. Lavenia sat on his left, politely talking to Seto who was also next to her. To Yami's right sat Mai, who was still drooling openly over Yami. Yami caught Lara's eyes and smiled quickly, before turning his attention back to his main guest, Lady Lamella.
As the feast began Lara began to relax. She had enough manners to know what she should and should not do in such high-class company and she made educated answers to any questions asked of her. It seemed that Yugi had appointed himself as her watcher until she settled in. However the evening had only just begun, and much more was to happen yet.
AN - Read and Review please