As they took a seat from the dining table, their eyes gleamed from what laid in front of them. Anasthasia batted her lashes several times; she pondered, 'This isn't normal dinner at all.'—Blake wasn't stingy; this was no different from a grand celebration.
If she would take into account their reactions, then it would have been Freidmirth, not surprisingly, to say the least, who ogled and drooled towards the honey glazed turkey. Levi gulped audibly, more than once, as he stared at the vegetable salad, and Liam's eyes shut, but the meat and tender aroma never spared his nose from sniffing.
Lucy never said a word, but her eyes darted every dish therein, rattling, and she couldn't help but squint her eyes from such sheen. Anasthasia grinned at her, whichever she reacted from the food or the gold trimmings of the table and silveresque of its surface.
Lips of Blake twitched as he glanced. "Please help yourselves and enjoy the food prepared." Blake gestured his arms.
All of them, armed with noble etiquette, had their utensils dance. Anasthasia ate solemnly; as always, she took her time, but it didn't respond well with Blake, which made him ask.
"Is it not up to your liking, Miss Ana?"
Her head shot up and took a glimpse of his visage: concerned. She placed the utensils and wiped her mouth with a napkin.
"I'm more than pleased to savor these exquisite dishes, Blake."
"I guess I was worried for the wrong reasons."
"Indubitably, however." Her eyes darted around the corner; several maids and butlers peeked their heads with their gazes at her. "They seemed to be so curious about my presence."
"Please pardon their insolence." He sighed.
But Anasthasia words dropped like a bomb, at least it was what made up from the faces of Michael and the rest. Their nibble movements stopped as no soft clinks heard.
"Would it be alright to ask if they come and join us for this sumptuous feast?" She sipped the tea.
The meat Freidmirth almost fell out of his gobbles. His eyes flashed, and as soon as she saw it, she knew that kind of face; but she could care less about how it seemed a crazy idea.
"I know you would say that. Consider it done! Everyone, please do what had planned!" he clapped his hand, and a series of clacks and thuds resounded in the dining chamber.
Thinking no one could topple the idea, their heads shifted to Blake, and it was a face crack of the century. No time for recovery as they all surged inside, with portable chairs and tables carried, assembling in a swift move. They were followed closely by an abundance of dishes. They all stood from their seats, wonders in their eyes shimmered as it transformed the quiet dinner into a bustling fiesta.
It was a party: their peals of laughter and light conversations garnered her hearty giggles. It was a lively atmosphere. She glanced at Blake, who stood from his seat and gave everyone a heartfelt gesture to fill their stomachs.
Anasthasia beamed a warm smile as her eyes lit up towards Blake. "You knew I would want it that way, right?"
"It mentioned that you feel a lot better when you are dining naturally with your constituents, of different status, rather than strict, formulaic gatherings." Blake averted his gaze, resisting his urge to grin. But his eyes darted back and prattled on, "Not that leaned free, and it's uncivilized or without any manners, you… There's leeway and relief of your—"
"I get what you mean."
"That's what I also noticed, sister Ana. Even if you gave off such a regal aura, you could also choose not to act one—no different from an ordinary citizen. If I never found out, you're one."
"Lucy, I was once a commoner who lived my whole life happy and satisfied with simple things."
"Had not they visited that day, we wouldn't have known." Her hand was found patting Freidmirth's head.
The feast ended with a good wrap, and everyone left with good spirits and filled stomachs. Anasthasia excused herself for a while, and before she strutted for good, Freidmirth whined, like a toddler reaching out for her despite Lucy's embrace.
Lucy smiled. With Freidmirth, she then left the area.
As she leaned by the window, adoring the bright moonlight. She broke free from the night allures as Freidmirth, who was now in her arms, nudged her.
Here she thought Freidmirth would be haughty, more often than not, after meals. Anasthasia wondered how he's meek and all.
"You seem to have deep thoughts, as well. Am I that infectious?"
"You're crazy." His nostrils flared from her remark. "Anyway, I'm careful when I'm around Lucy."
"I assume you know so much by now."
Freidmirth bobbed his head. "...As much as she knows me... This silly symbol." He turned around and revealed the same symbol Lucy had, located near the back of his neck. "I want to hide it."
She rolled her eyes. "If you want to hide it, then place it on your armpit."
"You!"
"Alright, I know you have better things to talk about. Go ahead." Seeing how he huffed out a smoke, she gave up her further attempts.
"I'm incredibly worried about Lucy… What's with that teary look? It looks so fake!"
"The self-proclaimed, almighty dragon, Freidmirth, empathized the likes of Lucy? What has the world turned into?" She then laughed as soon as he threw tantrums on his way.
"Watch out when I transform back! You'll taste the consequences!"
"Hit me if you can." She stuck out a tongue.
Their charades continued until he gave on, and his eyes glistened with worry. His snout crinkled and leered at the silent night.
"I'm sorry. You can say it if you want to."
"She tries her best to stay positive and happy the whole time. But she's incredibly…" Freidmirth met her deep gaze then lowered his neck.
"She's emotionally scarred for life, right?"
"With all her traumas, she's carrying those in her entire life," he mumbled, and amber orbs ablaze in retrospect. "Who was that man again? That… Archduke?! He better not appear in front of me, or I'll burn him to crisps!"
"Foolish dragon!" Anasthasia flicked her head, and he winced, but her hand clamped her snout. "I've seen him; I may not know everything as both of you are transparent with each other with that symbol you have there. But do you think I don't know the gist of it? Do you think I don't have the same intentions as you?"
"But Anasthasia, those humans—!"
"He disgusts me, Fried. But it won't change one fact he's an important asset of the kingdom. What do you think will happen in the aftermath… Lucy, lest something happens to him, that's directly related to one of us?"
Freidmirth shuddered, growling, "They dare to do that!"
"It's possible."
"What should we do then?!" he retorted.
"For Lucy, she's trying her best. She's brilliant, but her mishaps boiled down to her emotions and the control of her powers. She's walking on a thin sheet of ice." She heaved a sigh.
Freidmirth growled and scratched his neck from aggravating circumstances. "Now that you mentioned it, she practices with her powers whenever she can find the time! I no longer see her lurking in the Couture Atelier Room that often."
"I think she wanted to improve herself, regardless of her circumstances. She wants to be someone in the future that can protect the people around her. I know, and I can feel it: She's the cursed child no more or those measly titles."
"Useless gossip! It's more of a risk she's undertaking. She better stays at home, living her life peacefully." He crossed his arms. "She's courting death with her erratic powers. There's no way—That hurt! Stop pinching me!"
'What could have turned out to be if I impulsively killed his brothers from the first meeting?' she contemplated.
"Back then, she only had her brothers. Those twins find their time for her; despite their busy schedule. They are the only ones she had, Fried. Now, there's me, and here you are. So I hope you'll be her pillar of strength someday."
Anasthasia beamed a warm smile, her thoughts she wanted to convey finally pushed through and, odds were in her favor; he took it wholeheartedly but still harrumphed from genuine compliments.
"Support her; that's all she needs. Her potential can contend with Brenov's or possibly Blake's power, and it won't be long enough that her weakness, those very emotions she has, will be her greatest tool someday: the best thing she'd ever had."
Both of them shared sentiments and admired the presence of the nighttime. In the darkness loomed the clusters of faint and bold speckled, which their gazes immersed most fantastically.
Anasthasia turned as soon as she noticed heavy thuds gradually abuzz. Liam came out from the other side of the way and called.
"Master is ready."