As I settled down in Leora's office, surrounded by the stacks of papers, books, and the faint scent of old parchment, I mentally prepared myself for the day's work.
Leora, for all her wisdom and charm, tended to get easily sidetracked from anything that didn't interest her.
But today, I was determined to keep us focused on tasks there were ledgers to update, letters to send, and documents that needed organizing. All the usual office routines.
Just as I picked up the first file and readied myself to discuss it, Leora leaned back in her chair, her purple eyes sparkling with an air of mischief that never boded well for my productivity.
"So, Aeliana," she began casually, fingers tapping thoughtfully on the edge of her desk, "have you and Ciara given any thought to how many children you want?"
I nearly choked on the air I was breathing. "Leora!" I stammered, cheeks instantly heating up. "That's… um, that's not something we've exactly discussed yet."
She smirked, entirely unbothered by my reaction. "Oh, come now, dear. It's a perfectly valid question. After all, you're practically family now! And I've been dreaming of bouncing little demon-grandchildren on my knee for ages."
I felt my blush intensify as I fumbled with the papers in my lap. "We've only just gotten engaged," I mumbled, glancing down at my hands. "We're focusing on… one thing at a time."
She laughed, the rich, hearty sound echoing through the office. "Oh, please. You're going to be married to Ciara, who's as much a planner as she is stubborn. You'll need to be prepared for these things."
I shook my head, attempting to redirect us to the paperwork. "I think we should focus on today's agenda, Leora. There's quite a bit to get through."
But she simply waved her hand, as if dismissing the entire stack of documents as trivial. "Agendas, shmagendas. There will always be work. But weddings! Now those are something to think about."
She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Tell me, what kind of flowers are you thinking for the wedding? Roses? Lilies? Perhaps something a bit more exotic?"
I was, once again, left utterly speechless. "I—uh, hadn't really thought about that either." I gave a nervous laugh. "Actually, Ciara and I haven't talked much about the wedding details yet."
Leora raised a perfectly manicured brow, as though appalled at the very idea. "You haven't thought about the flowers? Aeliana, dear, the flowers are essential! They set the entire mood of the ceremony. And as someone who's already started making plans in her head," she said with a wink, "I'm all too eager to make sure it's perfect."
Knowing that Leora wouldn't relent, I resigned myself to indulging her questions. "I suppose… lilies would be nice," I offered hesitantly, my mind struggling to envision the hypothetical floral arrangements. "They're elegant and simple."
Leora clapped her hands, clearly delighted. "Oh, lilies would be wonderful! They're timeless and lovely, much like you." She winked again, making me feel as if I'd just been complimented by my mischievous fairy godmother.
Feeling a little overwhelmed, I attempted to steer the conversation back on track, lifting one of the documents as a subtle reminder. "So, about those financial reports…"
"Oh, the reports can wait," she said breezily, brushing them off with a flick of her wrist. "Tell me more about your dream wedding dress. Are you envisioning something classic or maybe something more daring?"
I stared at her, half-amused and half-bewildered. "Leora, I haven't even thought about a dress yet. Honestly, I still can't believe I'm getting married."
Leora leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a playful smirk. "That's precisely why we need to talk about these things now! You'll blink, and it'll be time to walk down the aisle. Better to be prepared, don't you think?"
I couldn't help but laugh a little, realizing that there was no chance of focusing on work today. "Fine, fine. I suppose I'd go for something classic. Nothing too flashy, just… something beautiful and simple."
"Beautiful and simple," she repeated, as if committing it to memory. "I can see it now. You and Ciara, standing there together… How wonderful!" She placed a hand over her heart, looking as if she were about to cry happy tears right there in the office.
Watching her, I felt a rush of warmth. Despite all her joking and incessant questions, I could tell Leora genuinely cared. She wasn't just my boss; she was family in every way that mattered.
Suddenly, Leora snapped out of her daydreaming and grinned at me with a sly look. "Alright, enough wedding talk," she announced, though I had my doubts it was the end of it.
"Back to the serious business… How's my favorite assistant handling all the love and attention from my dear Ciara? I'm not too rough on her, am I?"
"Leora!" I exclaimed, trying to hide my embarrassment. "I'm handling it just fine, thank you very much." But the mischievous sparkle in her eyes told me she knew exactly how flustered she was making me.
"Oh, I'm just teasing you," she said with a laugh, reaching over to pat my shoulder. "But I must say, seeing the two of you together warms my old heart. You're good for each other, you know that?"
I nodded, feeling my heart swell with emotion. "Thank you, Leora. That really means a lot."
She gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze, her usual playful demeanor softened by a rare moment of sincerity. "Anything for you, Aeliana. Now, let's get back to those boring old reports, shall we?"
Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, hoping we could finally tackle the work in front of us, she added, "But seriously, think about those lilies."
After finally managing to get Leora focused on the work, we sorted through the papers and filed the necessary documents.
Our conversation flowed easily, shifting between mundane work details and the occasional playful banter, until Leora brought up a topic that I hadn't thought about in a while.
Leora leaned back in her chair, stretching with a sigh. "You know, it's a shame Nathaniel isn't around. Have you noticed he's been nowhere to be found lately?"
The name caught me off guard. Nathaniel… I hadn't thought about him in weeks.
He was the captain of the demon soldiers, and there was a time when his easy smile and confident charm had definitely drawn my attention.
But now, the memory seemed distant, overshadowed by my feelings for Ciara.
"Oh, you're right," I murmured, feigning a casual interest. "He has been… missing lately, hasn't he?"
Leora gave me a knowing look, one eyebrow arched. "Well, I thought you might've noticed. You used to blush every time he was in the room."
I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help the faint blush creeping up my cheeks. "I suppose… but that was before."
"Before a certain someone put a ring on your finger," she finished with a smirk. "Good thing, too. Nathaniel is a bit too slippery for my taste."
"Leora!" I laughed, shaking my head. "I'm sure he's around somewhere."
Leora scoffed, brushing a stack of papers aside. "Oh, if he is, he's not where he should be. There are missions he's left unassigned, paperwork untouched, and he's neglected his responsibilities. It's like he's vanished into thin air!"
I tilted my head, a hint of curiosity sparking. "That doesn't sound like him. He's usually diligent with his duties."
"That's what I thought!" Leora crossed her arms, her purple eyes narrowing. "And it's not just paperwork either. Training sessions have been abandoned, and the soldiers are complaining that they're lacking the guidance they need."
She sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "It's created a mess, really. I'll have to assign someone else to take on his duties if he doesn't show up soon."
Her frustration was clear, and I could understand why. Nathaniel's absence was more than a mere inconvenience it was affecting the entire organization.
The demon soldiers needed a captain to lead them, especially given the rigorous training they were expected to maintain. Without him, there was an unmistakable gap in their ranks.
Leora waved a hand dismissively. "If he thinks he can just up and disappear without consequences, he's sorely mistaken. I'll make sure he's held accountable once he finally reappears."
"Well, maybe he'll turn up soon," I offered, trying to lighten the mood. "And when he does, you'll have plenty of work waiting for him."
Leora smirked, her eyes glinting with a hint of mischief. "Oh, believe me, I have a whole stack of assignments waiting for him. He won't get off that easily."
I stifled a laugh, picturing Nathaniel's reaction when he returned to the workload that Leora had prepared. There was no escaping her wrath, and I knew that when she set her mind on something, there was no way around it.
"Besides," Leora continued, her tone softening, "I suppose it's a blessing in disguise. With Nathaniel out of the picture, it gives you the chance to focus on Ciara without… unnecessary distractions."
I felt a warmth spread through me at the mention of Ciara. "That's true. Honestly, I'm grateful for it. I've never been happier."
Leora smiled, nodding approvingly. "Good. And while Nathaniel might have been charming, he could never offer you the kind of love that Ciara does."
I couldn't agree more. Whatever fleeting crush I might have had on Nathaniel paled in comparison to the depth of my feelings for Ciara.