It took me and my sister two weeks to organize everything perfectly, before the birthday date. We were rushing around, calling to maids and cooks, me discussing the food with Deia, the head cook; with Quentin, the gardener; and not to mention that I had to squeeze in training, classes, and writting the three hundred letters. Ceci had to discuss the decorations, the dresses we were going to wear, etc.

We both decided that the ball was going to happen at midnight, when the stars shine the brightest.

I invited Scarlet, my friend, Princess of Eswän. She's going to come with her older brother Luca; Kyle, the gardener's son; Christine, my maid and best friend. Ceci invited General Corin; Hector, her bodyguard; Milly, the seamstress that's going to make our dresses; Beatrice, Princess of Aquilon, and a bunch of others.

Training wasn't getting easier. Even if I was gifted for archery and sword fighting, the level of difficulty keeps rising, and each time our daily sessions were over, I was bathed in sweat and snowflakes.

❈❈❈

The day was finally here. Ceci was devastatingly beautiful in her red and orange dress, a reference to the Sun. A deep red gown, puffy orange sleeves, and pale yellow lace gloves. She wore the ruby necklace Mother had given her as a birthday present, and Milly added deep red lipstick and a red phoenix feather clip in her hair. With her black hair that she curled for the occasion, she looked like the Sun Goddess Rbíma herself.

I choose the stars, despite my sister and her friend Milly urging me to take the Moon. I refused. I was now clad in a rich silver white gown, with a not to low neckline, pearls and diamond on my neck and on my wrists. Shiny silver-white sparkles was sprinkled in my hair, and Milly said the silver eyeliner made my icy blue eyes look more visible. With my naturally rosy cheeks, Ceci said I looked like the brightest winter star in the night sky, Galimatí.

I was going with no one, because I didn't like to have one. Ceci finally decided she was going with Vyren, her friend Beatrice's handsome brother. She lost all interest in Corin. I laughed each time at how quick she could change her feelings from boy to boy. Such a flirty twin.

The ballroom linked to the veranda was transformed. White roses, bluebells, red roses, and thym were bunched together in bouquets, tied with deep red or white ribbons, hung on the walls of the ballroom. Ceci squealed when she saw all the elegant food on the buffet tables.

"Really, Amy, the food looks exquisite, you've outdone yourself!"

I shrugged, my cheeks even more rosy.

"The decoration is also marvelous, Ceci. Its wonderful."

Cecilia smiled and took my hand.

"Come on," she said softly. "The ball is about to begin."

All the guests were on the veranda, laughing and talking. When my sister entered, everyone stopped talking and gasped. She looked so regal, so beautiful. She immediately joined Beatrice and Vyren. Then I entered, suddenly self-conscious. The guests looked at me with awe and wonder. I wanted to disappear in the crowd. Scarlet saved me from embarrassment.

"Amy, you look absolutely stunning tonight," Scarlet said, her golden brown dress flowing after her. Jupiter. "And those natural rosy cheeks! She pinched my cheeks, her small smile on her lips.

Ceci found me and dragged me to the front of the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming," she said loudly.

"The ball begins now!" I added, a tiny smile of joy blooming on my pink lips.

❈❈❈

Music played, and the dancers took position in the middle of the ballroom. Ceci and Vyren danced marvelously together, both of them laughing. I sat on one of the two thrones for me and my sister, on the dais. I looked at all the dancers, smiling.

Scarlet walked towards me, her blond hair flowing behind her.

"Aren't you gonna come dancing?" She asked, holding the hand of Deomae, her girlfriend. Deo smiled at me, her neptune dress suiting her perfectly.

I laughed.

"With whom then?"

Scarlet mused.

"With....my brother?" She suggested.

"Nah. He's already dancing with Princess Jude."

"Oh. Right." She shrugged and smirked. "Then I really don't know."

She left, and went dancing with Deomae. I watched them, and I watched my sister too. I was contemplating them when Corin came on the dais, standing by my throne.

"Um...do you wanna..." he nodded towards the floor. He looked nervous.

I blinked, taken aback. The butterflies came to my stomach.

"Ookay."

I took his extended hand and we went, my heart beating fast. I took his hand in mine and I put my other hand on his shoulder. He positioned his hand on my waist, and his cheeks flushed.

I almost laughed.

"Relax, General. I'm not going to eat you."

"I know. Its just...training is much more easier than dancing," he muttered.

I snickered. Then burst out laughing. He laughed too, and soon we were dancing, without any uneasiness.

Drunk by the music, I felt it seeping into my very bones, and I danced and danced, my whole body moving to the sound of the music. I twirled and glided across the floor. Corin followed my steps, a bit awkwardly, but he kept pace with my passionate dance. Only when the music stopped did I realize that everyone was gawking at us, at me. Even the musicians were looking at me, their eyes wide open and their mouth dangling open.

Cecilia came up with Vyren, her eyes bright, her cheeks flushed with elderberry wine.

"You danced so well," she breathed. "Amy."

I blushed and I laughed nervously.

"Yeeeaaah, thanks sis. Haha..."

Ceci noticed my awkwardness and declared to everyone.

"You all know that my twin sister Princess Amelia is a wonderful dancer. We name her the 'Mythic Muse'. She's good at music, healing, singing and dancing. And mostly studying. With archery. She could be Apollo's daughter! You should all know that by now." She stopped and looked sweetly and the musicians. "Music! And carry on!"

The musicians resumed their playing, the silence broke, the chatter and laughter continued.

I was petrified, standing there among the dancers, unable to move. If Corin wasn't holding me, I think I would have crumbled from embarrassment. Ceci led me away from the dance floor and towards the dais. She let me sink into my throne, and she sat next to me, on hers. Vyren stood beside her, concern showing on his face. Corin was standing at the bottom of the dais, as his ranking was lower.

Ceci looked at me, her nose scrunched and her eyes narrowed with worry.

"I need to go entertain our guests, but you can sit her if you want. Corin will sit beside you."

"But your throne―" I began.

"Damn my throne! The ranking isn't important. Its just a very elegant chair!" Ceci scolded. "Corin, could you come up and talk to her? She needs you."

"I do not!" I hissed, glaring at her. "I'm fine."

Corin hesitated.

"The ranking say―" he started.

Ceci glared at him.

"What was that, young man?" She demanded.

"Nothing," he muttered and came up the dais, looking nervous and embarrassed.

"Don't be embarrassed, General." Vyren clapped him on the back. "Imagine yourself as a prince. Its fine."

I muttered something about sisters and their boyfriends being annoying pricks, Ceci and Vyren practically dragged poor Corin next to them, and pushed him onto the throne next to me. Cecilia and Vyren went back down and started waltzing. Corin and I stayed silent for a long time, ignoring the stares of some people on Corin, sitting on the throne atop the dais. The awkward silence stretched until I broke the silence.

"I am sincerely sorry that my sister is behaving rudely to you," I began. "She means well, but can be pushy and just too much to bear sometimes."

"Its okay," Corin replied, relieved. "Its just I've respected the rankings all my life, and breaking it over that incident makes me all nervous and jittery. I hope the Princess can forgive me about that."

"Please, just Amelia will do." I smiled at him. "We are friends now, are we?"

His eyes widened. Then he broke into a boyish grin, that set my heart fluttering.

"Yes, I suppose," he answered, smirking.

I laughed.

"And when I thought the night couldn't get any worse," I joked.

He pretended to look hurt.

"Being friends with me makes the night worse?" He clutched his heart. "Oh Princess, please forgive me!"

I bit my lip to restrain myself from laughing. I tried, I really did. But I burst out laughing anyways. He snickered and joined in, and soon, we were talking like two old friends.

I now realized that from that moment, whether there was anyone staring at us, it didn't matter.

I kept gazing into his blue eyes and drowning in them. They were so mysterious yet bright.

Like a winter star in the night sky.

Like Galimatí itself.