Chapter 48 - Gathering (I)

"Your ready, miss," Rhyia said after she finishes fixing my hair.

I observed myself in the mirror. I am wearing a stylish dress that flows from top to bottom and has a round neckline, which graciously reveals the modest dress worn below it. The color of the dress was light blue and white.

The delectable, loosely tied fabric of the dress covers my stomach where the continuous flow is broken up by a wide ribbon worn quite high around my waist.

Below the ribbon, the dress opens up to the left and reveals the dress below. The front of the top dress is longer than the bottom dress and curves outwards. The back continues to flow a long length behind and ends in a narrow tip.

The sleeves are the length of my arms and a loose fit, their flow is broken up well below the shoulder where they change color and where they're divided by long, decorative bands, these are the same fabric and color used to outline the bottom and neckline of the dress. It was paired with blue flat crystal shoes.

For my accessory, I am wearing a diamond with a round cut and the size of lime is in premium condition. These gems are fairly popular, but they're a quite rare gemstone species.

It's said these gems contain emotional properties which make for a great offensive spell focus.

This was given to me by Uncle Allaster for my protection.

"Knock, knock." I turned around and saw Skylur enter.

His fairly long-sleeved, silky jacket covers him to his waist and is loosely tied with string at the top left side. The sleeves of his jacket are a comfortable fit and reach down to well above his wrists, they're decorated with several thread linings from top to bottom.

The jacket has a narrow v-neck which reveals part of the relatively simple shirt worn below it and is worn with a small rope belt, which is held together by an ornate pin. The rope belt is slightly decorative, but mostly there to hang things from.

His pants are simple and a little wide and reach down to his hide shoes. The shoes are made from a pretty unusual hide but are otherwise quite simple.

My brother looks so handsome! Even though the clothes he's wearing look so simple, the way he carries himself makes the clothes elegant. I observed from the clothes that my brother always wears that he likes simple designs.

Well, with my brother's face, even if he wears a rag, he still looks dashing.

"Brother, you're so handsome. Hehehe." I smiled at him.

"You too, little Evie. Whatever you wear, you always look cute."

"Thank you, brother."

"Are you ready? We still have to welcome the guests."

Brother then offered his hand. I got down from my chair and accepted his hand.

"Let's go, brother."

"By the way, where's Shemer? I thought he would come with us?"

"Did mother already tell you about Shemer?"

"Yes. I laughed so hard after hearing that you want him to be your little brother."

"Why would you laugh at me, brother? I really want him to be my little brother."

"It will be so funny that a thousand-year-old sword would call you big sister, right?" Skylur then smiled.

"Whatever. Maybe I could ask a little brother from mother and father?" I innocently ask him.

My brother's eyes suddenly went round. And questioned me immediately, "Who taught you that little sister?"

"I read it from a book. It is said that if I ask mother and father, I will have a little brother the next day."

Of course, I was just bluffing. I really want to tease Skylur by the look on his face. He has the face that if he ever knew the person that taught me, he will surely erase him or her.

"What book is it? Is it in our library? Tell brother, and I will burn that book. Or maybe I could tell mother that we should check the kind of books you are reading?" He was so shocked that he just keep blurting his words.

My stomach hurts from restraining myself from laughing at him.

"Brother, why would you burn a book? Did I read something bad? I only just saw it was once. I will not ask father and mother about it. Just don't burn a book! Many children don't even have a book to read." I naively said.

"Ok, brother will not burn it, just tell me what's the title. Brother also wants to read it."

"I already forgot the name." I scratched my head and look at him.

Skylur's face looks like he ate something bad.

"Ok, brother will not ask you anymore about it. But don't tell mother and father about it. Understand?"

"Sure."

Little did I know that Skylur then stayed at the library for a month reading all the books to check if where is the book that I am talking about.

After our little discussion, we arrive at the garden where the gathering will take place. This garden is a place that our mother loves to spend her time.

Mother is the one that designed this garden. As guests would enter, they will be welcomed with a lush patch of grass is accompanied by intertwining hedges and climbing plants.

A handful of broad trees stand to the right, their bark and branches reach for the sky, ever trying to reach higher and higher. The smaller flower bushes are well looked after, but still allowed plenty of space to grow; they're forever trying to expand.

The hedges and climbing plants reach 1m/3ft high but don't usually grow this tall. A couple of messages carved on stones are spread around the garden, leading people through the garden, and making sure all the best spots are marked.

Plants, grass, and roots have already begun to crawl their way over and around the garden, eager to claim all pieces of land.

The trees, cherry blossom trees, have stood there for countless years and can be admired even from afar, as they tower above all other elements within this garden. It was said that these trees were planted by the first duke of Evernight for his duchess.

The flower beds have no hard time getting their share of the attention, and the hedges and bushes certainly attract attention too, but you just can't compete with the cherry blossom trees.