Chapter 29: Royal Tea Party and Devilish Count
"Oh my lovely how shall I live without you....."
"Wait for me my love for when I return, I shall make you my bride..."
End
I squealed, gushing and rolling around on my bed like a high school girl receiving chocolate from her crush on Valentine's day.
"Oh man, such a wonderful story about a Duke and a commoner, forbidden hearts is simply amazing! I never get tired of reading it..." I gushed
Just then Oliver walked in my room.
"lady shiori- huh? Your still reading that same romance novel again?" He queried.
"Yep, I don't understand why such a glorious masterpiece is considered low brow reading in high society..."
I was obsessed with manga and anime from my previous world so frankly I was thirsty for a good story..
oh how I wish I could buy more of these or better yet, make copies of manga from my favorite series in my mind library...
Oh how I wish I could fangirl this book with someone
"So what do you want, today is a day off so there are no lessons today..." I said taping my chin curiously
"Um, apparently you've got a letter lady shiori..." He said as he held an envelope with an elven kingdom crest on it....
"Oh really" I took the letter from his hand, opened it and read...
[Dear lady shiori]
Greetings, It is I prince Nathaniel from the kingdom of Amberia. I've missed you terribly..
How do your health and well-being at the beasts human nation, I hope Christopher isn't making things difficult for you.
As for my reason for writing, my family is hosting a Royal retreat/ tea party to celebrate the peace treaty between all major nation and I would be pleased if you would grace us with your presence, not only as the queen of the mystical ethereal city but as my fiancee.
I hope to see you soon...
[Loved Nathaniel]
Oh so Nate's having a party, a lavish one at that, I bet a lot of different species would be there.
Then it hit me.
That's it! In an event like that I'm sure to find someone rich who simps for novels!
[Meanwhile at the Amberia palace]
Servants were getting everything ready for tomorrow's event, Silverware and beautiful flowers decorated the garden.
"This is awfully elaborate" queen Emily walked into the garden as Nate snapped out of his thoughts as turned to her.
"Well a lot of important people would be coming, everything needs to be perfect" he replied.
"Oh please, you just want to impress a certain someone..." She teased as his face turned bright red.
"That's not it at all mother!" He shrugged.
"Oh?, i saw you visiting those flower shop yesterday as well as the jewelry shop, are you planning something daring? Hmm?" She smirked
"It's not what you think! I was just trying to know what flowers she likes and as for the jewelry store, I was just thinking of a present to give her on our engagement ceremony...." He explained calmly
"I've never seen you so interested and invested in something in a long time... It's nice" she smiled
"Yeah, she sure is unique...." He sighed staring at a lotus flower growing nearby
"Oh have you informed your sister about it yet?" She queried
"Yes I have, she was over the moon about it, I just hope she behaves herself when they finally meet" he laughed
...
Somwwhetr else, A carriage rode as the passengers, a man and a lady with silk black hair, looking in their teenage years seemed bothered.
"It will be ok" the guy said as he held the lady's hand softly
"I know you mean well but you always say that brother..." She tensed
[A few days later]
Shiori's pov
I arrived at Amberia palace along with Chris and Oliver who were dress in tuxedos as I was dressed in a purple strapless gown.
Honestly I much rather perfer wearing my usual light clothes but Oliver insisted that I look presentable.
It is a good thing I learnt that pain nullification spell, these heels are killing me😮💨
as soon as we were inside, I went to the food table for a snack, Chris and Oliver casually following behind as Oliver held mochi for me.
"You just got here and your already stuffing your face?" Chris stared with a knowing sigh.
"So?, I couldn't care less about greetings or small talk. When I see food, I go there " I waved my fork dismissively.
"This party is as elaborate as I expected " Oliver smiled looking around
"It's elven territory, what were you expecting.." Chris rolled his eyes. A pair of running footsteps approached us as someone hugged my legs.
Looking down I smiled
"Hey Issac..."
"Big sister!" He grin as the beast human boys stared both confused and surprised
"Sorry, dad wanted to meet you too but he and mommy are too busy greeting guests" Issac explained
I can only imagine king Steven's disappointed pouting face...
"Oh and brother told me to give you this!" He handed me a note attached to a white rose
[Meet me at the private garden]
Sounds more like a trap, he probably wants to do some fancy ass romantic gesture. Although he is my fiance and many would kill to be in my place, I much rather enjoy today stuffing my face with sweets.
I read a bit more
[P.S. I've got sweets]
I sighed Well played Nathaniel van Milford, well played.
"Excuse me guys but I have to go meet up with my fiance" I said causally walking away
"You're what?!" The two were dumbstruck.
....
Those snacks better be good, wait a minute where even is the private garden? I never asked Issac for directions.
I looked left and right before leaping onto a tall tree branch, carful scanning the area.
Looking ahead I noticed a lady getting ridiculed by some other nobles. I leapt from branch to branch silently to get closer and listen in their conversation.
"You have some nerve showing up at a party like this!" A brat with a beauty mark near her chin said
"Yeah since your cause" another spoke with a mocking tone.
Talk about immature, well it's none of my business so I'll just leave them be for now...
"Leave! Your ruining the party"
On second thought🙂
I leapt down from tree so quickly, that it was like everything was in slow motion...
Glaring friecely ahead at the bunch, my lips twisted into an intimidating frown.
"Kindly Leave now, or you'll be sorry..." I said in a dangerously low tone.
They nobles scattered like headless chicken as they ran for their lives.
"Excuse me..." I turned to the lady in question, my jaw dropped in awe. She had long black hair and golden eyes .
She's absolutely gorgeous! Wait I feel like I'm forgetting something...
"Ah Nate's meeting!" I yelled at my carelessness.
"What?" The lady was confused
"Gotta go, take care of yourself!" And with that I dashed out of there and ran a bee line to the garden!
"What a strange lady?" The lady muttered...
I ran to the location, it was a gazebo decorated with purple and white flowers as a small table of snacks were already there.
My mouth watered, all this running around had made me hungry. Just then, A pair of arms wrapped around my waist from behind as my back met a strong chest.
A soothing voice whispered in my ear.
"You came..." My face flushed as his breath fanned my ear.
Holy XD
"Nate?!" I turned around to meet the eyes of the elven prince
"Indeed, I've missed you terribly" he hugged me, nuzzling his face in the crook of my neck.
I turned bright red at his gesture before gently pushing him away.
"Too much, my darling?"
I nodded shyly.
I haven't had any romantic experience before... naturally I was just a shut-in otaku who loved manga
He squeezed my hand lovingly before leading me to the table, we sat as he began talking.
"So how's your job going?" He asked
"Good, their really putting their all" I said as I giggerly sipped my tea cup.
"I see, those two such are unique especially Chris" he chuckled
"Do you know him specially?" I queried
"He's been my friend since we were kids, though we mostly saw each other during special events..." He explained
"I see, but I'm curious, have you ever met their mother, I haven't met her yet .."
"Oh, your not aware, the king actually married two wives, Chris's mother went on a trip to a neighboring nation however Oliver's mother who was a servant had passed away " he explained
I was shocked, Oliver said he and Chris were twins, but I guess it's a more better lie than admitting your mom was a maid....
"And how do you know this?"
"Chris had told" he answered
"I see..." I clenched my cup.
No one's pov
In another area of the party a handsome male walked about as if searching for someone. His chest felt heavy as panic crept in, his jet black hair swayed as his golden eyes searched around
"Where could she have gone?" The male asked himself in worry.
Everyone stared at him like he was an angel, most ladies were ogling at his delicate yet devilish features
"It's a shame he had to suffer on account of his sister" a noble commented.
"It must be so difficult to hear such gossip about her, the poor thing" another spoke .
Whispers and gossiping filled the air as the male's fist clenched by his side in anger.
If only they knew....
Shiori's pov
After our little chat, Nathaniel had to greet some high ranking nobles, which meant freedom at last.
I was still a mess from his gestures, his basically the sadistic character in an otume game...
I stood by a snack table lost in thought, hearing about Oliver's past made me lose my appetite.
"Um excuse me" I looked up to see a familiar face, it was that raven haired girl again.
Damn she's super cute, she looks like she could be a character in the forbidden hearts.
"Um about what had happened before" she spoke in a soft voice but I was too dazed remembering a paragraphs from the novel to listen ..
"Oh my your eyes shine like the sun, and your hair is smooth as silk, may I touch it, just for a moment..." I blurted out loud
"Huh?" She was speechless
Oh crap she must think I'm creep!
"Oh that was just a slip of the tongue!" I blurted out in panic
"Just Like the cold hearted duke" she awed
"Yeah just like the- woah! woah! woah! Are you telling me that you've actually read that novel?!" I grabbed her shoulders in disbelief, hurriedly shaking her back and forth as I bubbled up with excitement
"I'm sorry but...." She squeaked as I let her go.
"Oh right where are my manners, hello my name is shiori koromi, queen of the ethereal city embassy..." I curtsied
"Really?! My name is jasmine Azuko, princess of the draco nation" she curtsied
A demon princess! Jackpot!!!
"Lady jasmine I would love to have a nice long chat with you if you're free!" I said with puppy dog eyes.
Someone coughed, gaining our attention, it was the Gaciar princes
"Lady shiori, sorry to ruin your fun but it's time to go home now " Oliver said
"Aw man really, but we were just about to have a passionate conversation, another time perhaps, I would love for you to invite me to your palace" I beamed
"Um uh..." She stuttered
"Ok it's a date! See ya!" I waved, Chris had had enough and dragged me out of the elven palace...
...
Jasmine stared in confusion, just then the raven haired male approached her.
"Jasmine there you are, where have you been?" He asked standing next to her.
"That girl my age, she...she invited me to her home..." Jasmine said Im disbelief
.
A few days later
I had asked the king to grant me a one week leave so as to see jasmine.
I kept staring at my closet, trying to find the right outfit, I wanted to make a good impression.
I decided something simple yet classy would do so I put on a grey sundress with a shawl
Knock! knock! knock!
Eliot knocked on my door
"Shiori, we've got visitors..." He said.
I ran past him and made a bee line to the waiting room. Slamming the doors open, inside waiting, sitted on the sofa, were to raven haired individuals.
One of them being jasmine, however I didn't recognize the other one.
Who is this man of imperial beauty?!
"Excuse me and thankyou for having us, I'm Jasmine's older brother, my name is felix Azuko..." He introduced himself
"I'm Shiori komori.." I curtsied
We spent the rest of the day just reading novels of different genres all while Felix watched us like a hawk...
Knock knock knock
Eliot entered "excuse me Azuko-sans your rides here" he announced
"Aww already?" I whined
'Already? Is almost nightfall' Elliot thought with a sweatdrop
"I guess till next time then" she said standing up, the evening sun shone on her black locks, she truly was beautiful....
"hey your a draco type species right?, so does that mean you have the affinity for dark magic? " I queried
They both froze for a moment before jasmine turned to me with a surprise stare
"That's right, however I'm the only one in my family who has such." She confessed, feeling bothered as she stared at the ground
"So cool!" I beamed catching them by surprise
"You mean you don't?" She stared at me with hope in her eyes
"Lady shiori, are you saying your not bothered by the news at all" she asked with a serious tone
"What do you mean?" I rose a brow
"Dark magic is forbidden as well as very rare, most people believe it causes misfortune, calling me a cursed child...." She explained
"What!" I was surprised as well as pitiful towards her
"It's slander, those who are jealous of our family's wealth and achievements result to spreading insults about us..." Felix said, gritting his teeth in anger
"What, That's wrong...."
"It is but that doesn't change the fact that I could be dangerous..." Jasmine frowned
"That not true!" They stared at me.
"It not like you asked to be born with dark magic. whatever magic that your given doesn't define you but how use it..."
I took her hands mine
"Listen, I know we don't know each other very well, but I'd really love it if you became my friend " I smiled
Her eyes watered as tears ran down her cheeks, she smiled warmly
"Very well!" She said
No one's pov
As the carriage rode away from the kingdom, jasmine couldn't stop smiling .
"It is just like you said brother ." She smiled
Flashback
A little jasmine was crying in her room as filex tried consoling her.
"Don't worry, one day you'll find a wonderful friend, someone who would understand you, just be patient" he said stroking her hair
Flashback ends....
"I can't believe it I thought people like that only existed in books" she said, a joyful expression evident on her face.
Felix's even widened at her words before having a small but noticable smile
"I'm happy for you..."