Edward Easton has been in the venue since 9 in the morning. He wanted to be hands-on as it was his first time to host an event filled with noble personages. The phonograph was his first personal business venture and it proved to be a tremendous success.
Although his family was filthy rich, it still gave him a different feeling of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment to have his own achievement.
After much consideration, he chose the Langham hotel located in the middle of the capital for it was the most luxurious hotel in the capital that was befitting to cater the personages in his guest list. Although it was not gated, the area had tight security.
By 11, he left for an early lunch. Upon his return, although the registration was supposed to start at 1 in the afternoon, there were already people dressed to the nines lining up.
He checked his watch. It was just noon. Nevertheless, he instructed his men to open the registration. It was also good this way. At least it won't get too crowded later.
After a few minutes, carriages started lining up by the entrance and people entered the lobby of the hotel. He did not recognize some of those that arrived, but they seemed to be really excited for the event.
It was strange. He knew that most of those attending should be from the older generation, but the people he was seeing were teenagers, though they were obviously nobles, so he let them be.
He stepped out of the hotel to see how long the line was, and well, it was pretty long enough that he couldn't see where it ended. He also saw some people stopping to stare at the long line but decided to ignore it.
Anyway, it was normal to have some curious on-lookers whenever there are certain events.
He went back inside the hotel to talk with the guests who arrived early.
"Ah, Mr. Easton!" Duke Ligeti greeted.
"Good afternoon Maestro, I see that you're here early."
"Yes! Of course! By the way, all of my children were very jealous, they said how could you forget to invite them? But don't fret, I understand that there's a limit for events like this. Though I hope you don't mind, some of my grandchildren are at the hotel's lobby with some of their friends. They wanted to see Serena and Charlton in person."
"Please extend my apologies, I thought that since they already met Charlton and Serena before, they would not be as enthusiastic to come." He said. After some more chit-chat, he decided to excuse himself.
Walking out of the ballroom again, he saw that there were more people in the lobby. It was almost scary. But at least now he knew where those children and young adults were from. They should be the children of those attending the event. It was troubling, but as consolation, he told himself that that these noble children knew how to act within their bounds and would not cause any problem.
--
When Duke Simoun and Duchess Celine was able to enter the venue, it was already 1:35. The travel to the hotel only took them 25 minutes, but the long line of carriages only let them step inside the hotel after 30 minutes or so.
While waiting inside the carriage, Celine looked through the window and saw by the entrance of the hotel were a few young teenagers that she assumed must be from the nobility because of their clothes. It was really strange as they were carrying copies of their daughter's discs.
Inside the hotel, the lobby was a little full and all the seats were occupied. Anyway, the ballroom was at the end part so perhaps it was just a busy day for the hotel.
The atmosphere was a little strange though. It was as if the people there were waiting for someone and they kept turning their heads when there were new people entering the hotel.
"don't you think that those youngsters were acting strange?" Celine asked Simoun.
Simoun just shook his head. "Children and young adults these days are like that. Just ignore them." He thought nothing of them as there was a generation gap.
Anyway, when they lined up for the registration a lot of people started recognizing them, they kept on congratulating them for raising such a fine daughter.
Of course, they were proud parents. With all of the people talking to them, they felt like the registration did not take long at all.
Edward seeing them immediately came over, introduced himself, and personally guided them to the VIP seats. They did not talk for long though as there were more nobles wishing to speak to the couple and that as the host, Edward was very busy.
Edward looked at the time, it was 1:50, and almost all the people in the guest list has arrived.
--
Serena was sitting inside the carriage with Leonard. It was not a very long journey from school to the hotel but after he wished her luck and told her that he was proud of her, they had no more conversation and just settled with a comfortable silence.
When they were near enough to see the entrance of the hotel, Serena looked through the window and was surprised with what she saw. Though there were not a lot, she saw some young teenagers dressed luxuriously waiting outside the hotel carrying the cover of the discs of her songs.
Were her fans welcoming her? She thought. Anyway, it was already 1:55 and all those who were part of the guest list was already inside the hotel.
When she went down the carriage with the help of Leonard, the young teenagers, she estimated aged 15-17 started screaming her name.
"LADY SERENA!!!!! You're actually here!!!!! WAAAHHHHH I CAN DIE NOW!!!!" a girl screamed.
"LADY SERENAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! PLEASE PLEASE SIGN THIS FOR ME!!! I'm so sorry I was not able to be part of the event, but I tried!!!!!" another screamed.
--
TBC