Chapter 487: The Grand First-Year Combat Festival: The Clash of the Flower and Non-Flower

"Princess Stella Aethelmont, you are so beautiful."

"Princess Stella Aethelmont, you are as beautiful as the first flower of Britannia."

"I’m sure during your first coming-of-age ceremony, the Queen and the past Flowers will give you their title of Flowers."

"You will surely be amongst the next Flowers."

"Princess, I’m sure you are the finest Lady of Britannia."

The servants and Royal friends of Stella said one after another as the little Princess walked toward the Royal Ball House of the kingdom.

Their voices followed her along the polished corridor, mixing with the soft sounds of footsteps and the quiet movement of servants who moved out of her way whenever she passed.

Stella listened to each compliment with a polite smile.

"Thank you all."

She replied in a polite tone, smiling elegantly at the people following at her side and behind her.

Like they all have said...

I’m truly a beauty who can compare to my elder sister Brenda.

She thought to herself, proudly smiling.

Her small steps continued forward, but her mind had already drifted somewhere else.

Stella pictured her face and the ball gown she would wear for her first coming-of-age ceremony, imagining herself standing before the great gathering through the reflection of the mirror in her royal room.

The ceremony was something every child of the great noble families knew about.

The five-year coming-of-age ceremony for all children from Duke Houses, Count Houses, Viscount Houses and High-Ember Houses.

Also, the Low-Ember Houses, and Baron Houses could also be attended, but they had to possess a certain level of authority to be there.

It wasn’t simply a celebration.

For many noble families, the ceremony was one of the moments when the children of Britannia were first placed beneath the eyes of the kingdom’s highest figures.

And in this ceremony...

The complete seven Flowers of Britannia will be announced for the Nobles and few Non-Nobles present in the Royal Ball hall to witness.

Stella knew about this.

She also knew that in this particular ceremony... amongst all the daughters of the High Powers of Britannia, she would be the best-looking as well as the most talented.

That was her sense of always wanting to be the best.

Beauty.

Possible talent in Alchemy.

Social skills.

Normal talents.

High intelligence.

I have it all.

Stella thought to herself.

There was a confidence in that thought that had been built over years of hearing the same praise from the people around her.

There is no way I wouldn’t become the best Flower of this kingdom.

And when I grow up...

I will be even better than Brenda, and Mother.

Yes...

She nodded her little head with a pleased smile.

The thought made her chest feel warm.

That was everything Stella had been made to believe through the number of praises she commonly received from everyone who saw her, especially those meeting her for the first time.

Stella was no joke.

She was the talented one amongst her young brothers, the Fourth and Fifth Princes, Charles Aethelmont and Tristin Aethelmont.

She was even compared to having the same level of talent as Brenda and Aldric, who were the most talented amongst the Royal siblings.

And both of them always stood out amongst the crowd because of their beauty and handsome qualities.

Stella had grown up hearing those comparisons.

Whenever someone praised Brenda, Stella would hear that she possessed the same potential.

Whenever someone praised Aldric, someone else would point toward Stella and mention that she was just as talented.

So, Stella believed those praises.

I should be number one.

Stella said to herself in her mind with clear confidence.

She had no reason to doubt it.

Not yet.

But...

The thought of becoming one of the Flowers of Britannia wasn’t something she had kept to herself.

Everyone around her seemed to expect it too.

"Naming the new Flowers of Britannia to complete the Seven Flowers..."

The Royal announcer said while holding the Royal Scroll that the Queen and former Flowers of Britannia had written the new names of the girls who would become the new Flowers of Britannia.

The large Royal Ball House had become quiet.

The many conversations that had filled the hall gradually disappeared as people turned their attention toward the main stage.

"The already named Flowers should please step out before I commence the calling of the new Flowers."

He said calmly.

All the present Dukes, Duchesses, Counts, Countesses, Viscounts, Viscountesses, High-Embers, High-Emberesses, Low-Embers, Low-Emberesses, Barons, Baronesses, Elders of the Duke, Count, Viscount, and High-Ember Households, Royal Alchemists, Royal Ministers, and many other important figures of the kingdom turned their attention toward the main stage.

The atmosphere changed.

The ceremony had reached the part everyone had been waiting for.

They all turned toward the main stage and began applauding as Brenda Aethelmont and Eleanor Tempest walked calmly onto the stage.

Their footsteps were steady.

Neither of them appeared bothered by the number of eyes watching them.

They reached the arranged chairs and took their seats.

The chairs had been decorated with roses, lilies, and other beautiful flowers, with flower petals carefully placed across them.

The decorations surrounded the seats without covering them completely, allowing the girls sitting there to remain the focus of the ceremony.

Both Brenda and Eleanor wore specially designed gowns with colors matching their respective flowers.

The flowers were neatly placed in their hair, around their wrists as bands, and around their necks like necklaces.

The whole design followed the same theme.

Flowers weren’t simply decorations here.

They represented their titles.

The two really looked stunning as they walked onto the stage and took their seats.

Stella couldn’t take her eyes off them.

She watched her elder sister Brenda with particular attention.

For a moment, she imagined herself sitting beside her.

The thought made her smile more proudly.

Soon, she would be called as one of the Flowers too.

At least, that was what she believed.

And the friends around her made it clearer that she was definitely going to be called, with their constant discussion about her beauty and elegance.

They whispered among themselves, occasionally looking toward Stella and smiling as though her position among the Flowers had already been decided.

The applause gradually settled down.

The Royal announcer continued.

"The first new Flower."

The Royal announcer said calmly.

"Please welcome Miss Diane Bergwyn."

He called the first name.

Applause rose calmly throughout the hall.

Diane walked out from her family’s side.

Once she stepped out, many people already knew she was, without a doubt, a Flower indeed.

There was little surprise on the faces of the nobles.

Diane had immediately attracted mass attention through her natural appearance, and status that her inclusion seemed natural to many of them.

Diane stopped for a moment and looked back toward her family.

The Duchess of Bergwyn, her mother, pointed forward.

Diane understood.

She turned back and began walking toward the Flower chairs.

She also wore the same outfit as Brenda and Eleanor, but her flower color matched her hair and gown, with the flower appearing as an accessory across her appearance.

Voices of admiration and acceptance echoed softly as the applause settled.

"The second new Flower..."

The Royal announcer continued.

"Miss Sasha Burnwick."

He called the next name.

Applause rose again.

Sasha walked onto the stage, also dressed with a flower matching the color of her hair and gown, with the flower appearing as an accessory around her.

She calmly took her place among the others.

The ceremony continued.

"The third Flower..."

The Royal announcer called the next name.

"Miss Willow Derlis."

Applause rose softly again.

Willow, dressed in the same outfit as the other Flowers, walked onto the stage.

She didn’t rush.

She simply moved forward with a calmness of a five-year old which was strange, but it made her look even more majestic as she took her seat with the other flowers.

Stella watched her in silence.

Another name.

Another Flower.

"The fourth Flower..."

The next new Flower was called out.

"Miss Selena Galehart."

Applause rose again as Selena walked toward the stage and took her seat.

By this time, Stella became immensely anxious.

Her fingers tightened slightly.

She kept her expression together because people were still watching her, but the confidence she had carried earlier was beginning to crack.

Four new Flowers had already been called, and there was only one name left.

The friends around her noticed her expression and quickly encouraged her by telling her that she was going to be the last person they mentioned.

They told her that being the last new Flower to be called held more power than the others who had been called before her.

Stella listened.

She just smiled, pleased.

At least, that was what everyone around her could see.

Inside her mind and heart...

She didn’t feel alright in the slightest.

She could feel the tension building inside her chest.

What if they are wrong?

What if name doesn’t get called?

She tried to push the thought away.

No.

It can’t be.

Everyone already tells me the same thing.

I’m beautiful.

I’m talented.

I’m also a Princess of this kingdom.

I’m also the one who is been compared to Brenda and Aldric.

I have everything need to be a Flower of Britannia.

There is no one else who can be a Flower of Britannia if not me.

"The last new Flower of Britannia."

The Royal announcer said calmly.

Stella’s eyes immediately moved toward him.

The hall seemed quieter than before.

"Welcoming, Miss Vera Ashenlocke."

He called the last name.

For a moment, Stella didn’t react.

Applause rose gently as Vera Ashenlocke walked out.

The sound wasn’t as loud as the cheers given to someone entering a battlefield, but there was a certain acceptance in it.

And just like all the other girls called before her, everyone knew she was born to be a Flower of Britannia.

Vera wore the same outfit as the other Flowers.

The flowers placed as accessories on her gown were a mixture of white and mainly black, matching the pitch-black color of her hair and gown.

The contrast immediately made her stand apart from the others.

Vera walked calmly onto the stage.

She didn’t appear nervous.

She didn’t look around to see who was watching her.

She simply walked forward and took her seat.

Stella looked completely quiet at the sight of the Flowers of Britannia.

Her eyes moved across the girls sitting on the stage.

Brenda Aethelmont.

Eleanor Tempest.

Diane Bergwyn.

Sasha Burnwick.

Willow Derlis.

Selena Galehart.

And now Vera Ashenlocke.

Seven Flowers.

The title she had been so sure would belong to her was already complete.

And the thing that hurt the most was knowing, from the moment she saw the girls who had been called, that she was in no way a match to compete with them.

The confidence that had filled Stella only moments earlier had nowhere to stand anymore.

She had believed she would become the best Flower of Britannia.

She had believed she would one day surpass Brenda Aethelmont and even her mother... The Queen.

But standing there and looking at the seven girls on the stage, Stella could only remain silent.

For the first time, the praises she had grown up hearing felt far away.

And she had to come with the terms of always leaving her life as the beautiful Princess, who isn’t a Flower of Britannia.

A Non-Flower Indeed.