Silla woke up and rubbed her tired eyes only a day had passed and soon Declan would announce their engagement to the entire city. He rather seemed to be rushing into everything much to her displeasure. He even planned everything in secret, so they could surprise their family and friends; which neither of us had much of so Declan invited basically anyone of importance in the city to their engagement party.
The dress she wore was really beautiful. It was pure white with small diamonds encrusted on it and fell past her feet onto the floor. It was cut off the shoulder, with frilly lace covered the neckline, and was made of pure silk that swaddled her head to toe. With the dress went a small diamond necklace, white lace gloves that went above her elbow, and long dangling earnings. As extravagant as it was it remained simple and dainty.
However, the maids did have a difficult time finding a dress slim enough for her waist as she was quite fragile, petite, and tiny. Three hard things to find in a dress. At least she didn't have any trouble filling it as she was blessed with an abundant chest and backside. "Oh madam you're so beautiful! You look like a lily of the valley!" A maid sang.
Turing to the mirror Silla saw her silky, long, black locks run all the way to her waist to shape her face. Long lashes creating a shadow on her rosy cheeks as the maids delicately placed pearl strings and small white flowers in her hair. They had decided against her wearing any makeup as they didn't want to take away from her natural beauty which she was perfectly fine with.
Around seven staff members came into the room carrying copious amounts of small and large expensively wrapped boxes. "What's all this?" She asked one of the staff.
"Your engagement gifts miss, we were ordered to set inside this room."
The abundance of gifts ranged in all sizes. Most of them wrapped in white or silver and she had a feeling that there were going to be some very expensive things hidden away in the large pile. Nervously Silla was lead to the garden where she was met with white flower petals scatter all over. Looking around she saw many people she didn't recognize but Zelan, Katya, and Cain caught her eye in the crowd, they were sitting by George who smiled and stood up with the other guests when they saw her approach.
A choir of harps and cellos were playing in the background as she looked ahead and watched Declan's entire face drop a bit in shock soon being replaced with an even brighter smile. She walked toward him and went under the arced gazebo covered in flowers. "Presenting Madame Silla and his excellency Banehallow!" Said one of the staff as both of them got into position under the flowers.
"Z'ank you for all coming here today for z'is grand celebration! Some of you may be v'ondering v'hy v'e are here today... It is because I am announcing my engagement to z'e v'oman next to me." Declan's voice boomed causing an array gasps which was soon followed by clapping all except her friends stood in horror, Cain most of all. Apparently engagement and wedding ceremonies were very popular in the Upper Ring and caused quite the uproar.
Once their rings were gracefully exchanged and proudly shown to the crowd Declan lent down and whispered into her ear, "I v'ill love you forever, until you become annoyed v'ith me. So stay by my side like z'e good girl I know you are." Soon afterwards, she and Declan headed to their gorgeous venue farther into the gardens. It was a large platform filled with Greek columns connected to thousands of fairy lights that twinkled from above, rows of intricately styled long tables were fitted around a huge glass dance floor.
In the crowd Silla briefly saw familiar long black hair much like her own however it was only for a split second until the person was gone and she never was able to see their face. In the end Silla brushed it off as nothing of importance.
An hour after siting and opening gifts in a private tent the first dance started and Declan stood up and ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "May I have z'is dance Miss Silla?"
"Umm... S-Sure." She blushed entwining hands with him and headed towards the glass platform, the guests gathering to watch them as the mini band started to play romantic music. Her hands were reaching up and resting on his large shoulders as he spun her around and left small kisses at the nape of her neck when the music finally stopped and held her in place. He tangled his hands in her smooth ebony locks and smashed his lips onto her own much to Silla's own shock as a round of applause and wolf whistles rang in the air courtesy of their guests. Declan once again snaked his hands around her waist and pulled her even closer, still kissing her as the guests made their way to the food that was prepared.
Upon parting guests came to them in droves. It was tiring, especially because apparently, her fiancé was the most popular guy in the world and even though she had just announced she was getting hitched men still seemed to stare and drool at her like dogs. The majority of the guests were high ranking men and their wives with them. This wasn't a competition to get to know her as one of the most powerful mans lover, but it sure felt like it. Every powerful family was looking to get to know her now.
In particular an older woman whom was one of Declan's well known associates wife. "Oh my dear you dance so beautifully!" She complimented making the girls cheeks turn red. She wasn't just doing this because she liked Declan or wanted more influence either. Respectfully, she gave Silla a knowing look recognizing how tired she was.
"You truly are a fitting partner for him. There's no need to be shy~" The redheaded woman giggled. Much to her awkwardness Declan seemed rather pleased that all the other wives of high society quite enjoyed her presence. Well all the wives except one. A fifty year old woman. Mrs. White. An annoying old hag or even better; witch. Most of the other ladies didn't like her either the ones who did only tolerating her presence out of fear.
Though to her credit she was quite beautiful. Even as a woman Silla couldn't stop staring at her breasts. Of course they were fake but she was sure men felt the same way, of course, they couldn't stare openly as she was the wife of a powerful man. However, she being the fiancé of Declan and a woman. She could enjoy the gorgeous cleavage if she wanted to.
To this Mrs. White must have assumed she was envious because she straightened, causing her breasts to jiggle. Silla really was impressed. They looked great. As she thought money really could get the best.
The much older woman suddenly whispered to the younger girl, "Could you give me a brief moment of your time? I would like to chat with you." She winked.
"Chat? About, what, Mrs. White?" She looked at Silla with her light colored eyes as if she was studying her in particular her hair. Maybe because of the natural blue undertones, it had; it wasn't just straight up black and under the light it looked bluer.
After a brief silence, she said something unexpected rude, "You really... Have an usual hair color. It's not like the other people with dark skin color from the north. I guess Banehallows' mistress was from somewhere far away."
"...!"
People around looked shocked and upset.
Silla already knew there was a rumor that she was a gold digging mistress who tricked Declan into marrying her, however Mrs. White was the first person who ever said it to her face so shamelessly. It was a truly funny irony. If anything she was the one who was tricked. Her fiancé Declan being the one most eager for the marriage. Though only his close associates knew this simple fact.
The younger girl had an urge to throw her champagne at her face, but she was more rational than her fiancé. She wouldn't let a silly girl win. While she wistfully wondered how to respond, Mrs. White continued confidently, "Isn't it true? Then the rumor must be true. I heard you were a mistress to your previous husband and then he got tired of you and sent you to be Banehallows whore." She smiled innocently at her. She was disgusting.
How could someone say something so awful?
Everyone knew Declan favored his soon to be wife. This meant no one dared to talk openly about these rumors. This woman must have believed her status and beauty would protect her.
However, Silla would not let her off that easy. She smiled and was about to say something when she was so rudely interrupted.
A familiar voice from behind the girl spoke with sarcasm and an unusually high pitch voice as if they were imitating another person, "Oh, no!" Along with a false exclamation, something flew towards Mrs. White liquid splashing all over her dress.
"Kyaa!" She screamed, and Silla looked at her hand in shock. Did she throw her drink at Mrs. White without realizing it?
Thankfully she didn't. The golden colored champagne in her crystal glass still remained in her hand, and the drink thrown at the woman was red. Silla wasn't drinking red wine.
Who did it then?
When she turned around in shock, she saw a familiar face.
"Declan!"
It was her fiancée.
Now, his red wine ruined Mrs. White's pearl colored dress. Some of it also splashed on her brown hair, making it look dirty.
"Oh no! Oh no! No-No-No!" She tried to clean up with her tiny handkerchief, but it was useless. An entire glass of wine was thrown at her.
When she realized her dress was ruined, she started to cry, "H-How could you!"
The crowd gathered around them in excitement.
Glad at least someone was enjoying this.
Mrs. White's eldest son came running quickly and after seeing what had happened, glared angrily.
"How dare...! Who did this?!"
After looking around he stopped at Silla. He started to accuse her.
"Was it you?! How dare you do this to the White family! I know you have Vitallis' favor, but you can't do this! Are you trying to start a territory war!"
When Silla was about to defend herself, a large hand gripped onto her shoulder and pulled her towards them. When she looked back up at Declan accusingly, he looked back down at her with a smirk. He soon spoke to the eldest son Lethe, "I z'ink you are mistaken."
"Your excellency! Even if she is your favorite, you cannot allow her to behave this way! How could she insult the second head of the White family just because of her jealousy!?"
Declan gave Lethe his signature annoying smile and replied, "I am not jealous of Mrs. V'hite."
"... E-Excuse me?" Lethe was obviously confused but it was understandable. He wasn't here when it happened, so he didn't see what really took place. Since, Silla was standing in front of his mother, who was covered in wine, he just made an obvious but wrong assumption. The scene did look like the result of a woman's jealousy, but this would cost him.
Declan showed him his wine glass with a few drops of red wine left. "I 'accidentally' spilled my fucking v'ine over her, so I don't understand v'hy the fuck you z'ink any jealousy was involved. V'hy would I be jealous of your mother?" He blatantly spoke back.
"What?!" He frowned and turned towards his mother questioningly. Mrs. White couldn't answer because she was crying, but she didn't deny anything. Her silence said it all.
Lethe asked in confusion, "Did you say... Accidentally?!"
"As retribution you should pay us back for this." He argued.
"I refuse." Declan told him nonchalantly enjoying the situation a little too much as Silla gaped at him in shock.
This infuriating man?!
What the hell was wrong with him?
"Y-You! Do you want a war!" Lethe screeched.
Declan emptied his wine glass and put it down on the table with elegance.
"Why not."
"Y-Your excellency you c-can't do that!" Portio whispered to the insane green eyed man.
"Just apologize!" Silla whispered to him urgently. After this incident she would never hear the end of it from the other wives.
Declan continued to smile and nodded. "Yes, I am so very sorry my hand slipped. I v'as v'alking by v'hen I heard your mother taking to my fiancé in such an extraordinarily rude manner z'at I became shocked and made a mistake."
Wow...
Could he throw any more shade?
Damn...
Declan even has the house wives of Atlanta beat. All he has to do is snap his fingers and shake his head and he would be a movie star.
It was only a matter of seconds and Lethe was already scrunching up like a turtle would back into its shell. He remained quiet and left knowing he had been beat. Meanwhile, Silla glared at her fiancé, who followed her around the rest of the time. Noticing his loves stare he shrugged and asked, "V'hat?" Like he didn't just do what he did,
"What the hell were you thinking? I get you got angry but they're not the kind of people you want to piss off."
He chuckled annoyingly and nodded, "Z'at's true."
"So why did you do it?!"
He gave me a chilling smile. "Because z'ey needed to be reminded of z'eir place."
When she gaped at him in shock, he kissed her forehead once again.
Once the crowd parted and things went back to normal a man from the gathering suddenly came up to them. At first she assumed to congratulate Declan because sh surely didn't know him. "Raymond White." The man next to her let out a growl at the sight of him. He was the husband of the said witch from earlier and father of Lethe.
The man had blonde hair and black eyes with an obvious sly smirk on his face that she wanted nothing more than to smack off. He was a much older man old enough to be her own father. "V'hy are you here you v'eren't invited," Declan dangerously glared.
Ignoring him, the man turned to her. "Miss Elianna congratulations on your engagement. Here is a gift from me to you," He said with a hint of a Russian accent all the while opening a purple box to reveal a golden bracelet adorn with several different yet precious gems.
"Thank you," She spoke with a trembling fake smile as he looked down at her with evil intentions. She didn't know what this man was getting at or wanted but it was sure to be bad.
"There is another gift which I believe will surprise you." He added.
"Oh? Is there," She blankly questioned.
"But that gift may only be opened at my manor," he spoke.
"...That makes me curious... Ss to what this so called present could be," She exclaimed her suspicion shocking him a bit. Raymond did not expect this; she was not dummy.
"I can assure you that it is a gift you will be very pleased with, and so I hope you will visit my house very soon as a guest," Raymond replied to which Declan protectively placed his fiancé behind him.
"If you do not collect this gift, I'm sure you'll regret it..." Raymond continued with a rather uncomplimentary undertone.
"Are you threatening us you bastard?" Declan gritted his teeth.
"I wouldn't dare to! What I meant was the present is very important." Raymond said with an obviously fake smile not even hiding it anymore.
Silla was sure Declan had many enemies and because of their new union they would soon come after her too. Raymond being one of them.
Why did she agree to this? Or ever think this was a good idea?
"You sure like to joke," Silla added with a slight smile.
"What can I say I'm a very earnest man," Raymond bowed.
"That's odd then..."
"Seeing as you obviously want something from us," Silla finally broke the ice making the older man in front of her pale and become nervous.
"Uh... Very well, looks like I have over stayed my welcome... I'll just take my leave then..."
Just as he passed her, he bent down and whispered in her ear, "You really shouldn't trust Declan too much." He spoke walking out the grounds leaving her to her own thoughts.
To Be Continued...