"Look, Aaron!"
Eve heard Maddy say and for once since they got to the ballroom, her attention was caught. She looked around searching desperately for the familiar face that accompanied her in her childhood days.
A young man stepped into her line of sight, as he walked closer, many young werewolf ladies fawned on him and they cupped their face, stylishly blushing into their handkerchiefs. Eve was dumbstruck while Maddy could hardly lift her gaze from the young man until he was standing before them.
He was cleanly dressed like any other young man in the ballroom wearing a black waistcoat over a high white shirt that had an outstanding collar with a black bow tie. His face was a perfectly shaped work of art. He was taller and two years older than the girls and even finer.
"Gosh, such a noble presence! Aaron, you have changed so much!" Maddy was the first to snap out of her daze, her eyes racked the young man from head to toe, scrutinizing him intentionally. Despite her surprise, she was conscious of where they are and only spoke in gentle whispers.
Aaron laughed calmly and opened his mouth, "not so much, Maddy, I am still the same" he uttered humbly.
"Look at this coat, I can tell the gem in your necktie is not an ordinary one, might even cost two gold coins!" Maddy expressed, she reached out her hand but was mindful not to touch him, she feared that she might get him 'dirty'.
"Two gold coins!" Eve finally spoke with a tiny gasp, her eyes trailing on the man in awe. She began counting her fingers and talking calculatingly, "If I have two gold coins, I can exchange them for twenty silver coins, I can exchange twenty silver for fifty copper coins, I can buy one soft roll of bread for two copper, I can eat a full chicken for five copper coins, I can—"
"Dear me, Eve!" Maddy cried out interrupting Eve. She shot her a scolding gaze and shook her head. Eve eventually blinked innocently as though she finally realized her mistakes.
"Hello, Aaron, you look good!" Eve parted her lips and verbalized with a smile. Just as soon as she spoke, she felt a tiny tug on her cloth and she glanced down. Maddy seems to be saying something to her but she did not understand so she looked back at the young man and flashed a brighter smile. Maddy facepalmed inwardly. Her best friend was behaving even more naughty in public. Just now, she was telling her to speak gently.
"You look not bad yourself, Lady Eve" Aaron playfully said. Not minding the gazes people threw in their direction, Aaron readily indulged Eve.
"Indeed!" Eve proudly agreed. If it were not for the restraint in her skirts, she could have done a beautiful swirl for him to see how beautiful she was even in the old pale green dress.
Aaron laughed heartily, "you are just as funny as you used to be" he praised and she bobbed her head.
"Aaron, that is not right, you have seen the world and know how a lady should act. If you keep praising her, I fear my dear Eve, will not survive in this social class world!" Maddy complained and shook her head in disapproval.
"Maddy, you still worry like an old nun. Leave Eve be, she is pleasant just the way she is and would do just fine. You would not even bear to restrict her just like I would never!" Aaron calmly responded.
Maddy sighed and her eyes fall on Eve who smiled sweetly at her. Eve raised her hand and before Maddy could react, she patted her head. "Fret not, love" Eve uttered.
Maddy gasped, not for the words Eve said but because the latter was patting her head in public. She hurriedly whacked Eve's hand off her head and glared at her. "You dare rough my plait! Madame would kill me if I return with a rough hair!"
"It is not rough at all" Eve said to her and Aaron jointly nodded, only then did Maddy calm down.
"Say, how do you enjoy being with the Viscount and Viscountess?" Maddy turned to Aaron and began chatting with him. Beside them, Eve yawned out of boredom.
"Nothing much, the Viscount and his wife had been really good to me, they do see me as their own child, and if only you both had come with me then... you would not still be here..." Aaron mumbled, his voice dropped at the latter part of his words and his eyes sadden.
"You know Eve, she was not willing to leave the slave home and I could not just leave her on her own. But, we are all happy now ain't we?" Maddy offered a smile as she replied.
"Indeed" he nodded. "How about now, you girls are not planning to leave? I could speak with the Viscount to help clear your papers" Aaron offered.
Maddy shot him a grateful gaze and laughed, "even if we are willing to leave, Madame Gertrude would not allow us, not even the Viscount can change her mind so there is no need to bother"
"Maddy, you and Eve are..."
"Like sisters to you, I know" Maddy voiced. Maddy met Aaron first as a slave after she was sold by a stranger, it was said that her parents left her on the street but no one knew the exact story. Eve eventually joined them two years later and the three ended up watching over each other in the slave cells.
Aaron was an orphan who was sold to Madame Gertrude by his greedy uncle who first adopted him after his parent died. The uncle at first thought that Aaron would inherit a strong wolf like his parents who were generals but after the boy was five, there was no appearance of his wolf then the man sold him.
Afterward, he was bought by the Viscount and his wife who had no children. As though much was on his side, when he was ten, his wolf made an appearance for the first time. The Viscount and his wife were pleased so they officially made him their son and bestowed their surname on him. Even after this, he had never forgotten his first friends.
"I was wondering if you and Eve would hate me for leaving you..." he muttered beneath his breath and sighed.
"Silly!" Maddy scolded.
"What are you two discussing? I feel so tired and hungry! Aaron, do you have some food to offer?" Eve voiced in a disgruntled tone and pursed her lips.
Maddy exchanged looks with Aaron whose expression seemed to be both shocked and disbelief. Maddy also shook her as though she was saying to him, "Yes, she had not changed".
"Stop messing around, you two! Find me some food! Maddy, you told me there would be food here, I haven't seen any" she grunted.
"Ah—" Maddy was speechless, she guiltily looked away and felt the people dancing were more interesting.
"Don't cause a scene, you two wait here, I will get some food first. Remember to remain here, Maddy, you watch over Eve and match sure she did not wander away. The palace is more dangerous than the city for you especially when there are a lot of people gathered like this. You know these people, they are easily triggered, one must be careful " Aaron warned.
"Mm, okay" Maddy obediently bobbed her head and fixed her gaze on Eve who also nodded reluctantly.
Only when the girls had agreed did he leave. Before disappearing into the bodies of people, he glance back to ensure that they were safe. Even grumbled and Maddy shot her a look to behave.