*Hidi*
Maybe he forgot I was even here? It wasn't long before the charm of Nicoli's disinterest fell off. And Hidi wanted to do something else. Anything more than just standing by, watching carriages and little girls come up.
"Nicoli," Hidi started, turning to touch his shoulder.
"Huh?" Nicoli peered up, his blue eyes wide and confused. They were so blue and beautiful when they finally looked up at her, finally noticed her, that Hidi felt slightly stunned, and lost in them.
"You…"Hidi had to take a moment to regain her composure, slightly amused at her loss of thought. "You are quite small, Prince Nicoli," Hidi went on, blurting the first thing to come to mind. "But you are cute…For a human."
"No, I'm not." Nicoli retorted, shuffling his shoulder from her hand. "I'm normal size. It's you. You're just insanely big."
"Is that…all you heard?" Hidi mused, noting he overlooked the cute part. If on purpose or not, it made her laugh. The intentional, or not, obliviousness, seemed to only add to his charm.
"Well," Hidi lifted her head and stood straight up, towering over him. "I am, aren't I." She went with a giant's pride. "And I'm only going to get bigger." Hidi went on, seeing him just raise a brow at her, but again, it was short-lived.
Nicoli was again distracted, turning back to catch the next carriage. Hidi saw him turn with a frown before looking past him.
There are more? Another line of girls in pretty dresses was making their way to them. Hidi could see a shared expression on all their faces. Excited to meet the prince.
Too bad it's one-sided. Hidi thought, going back to catch Nicoli only pouting after the newest carriage. However, distracted as he was, Hidi could see Nicoli was raised well enough to keep up some kind of etiquette.
"Thank you for coming." Nicoli would turn, in time to smile when they came up to bow. His smile was bright and warm, making their cheeks blush. Hidi would soon follow after. But, unlike Nicoli, the girls did not seem to respond as warmly.
Rather, they seemed more confused or intimidated. Only a tiny few seemed to recognize her. Which made the exchange a little funnier. But, again, the humor soon dried thanks to another look over.
Nicoli was again back at the carriages. But he seemed to be growing frustrated the more were wrong. Whoever this person was, they seemed to be taking their time.
"This person..you are expecting." Hidi prompted, to get Nicoli to look back at her, again with surprise, as if forgetting about her again.
Hidi didn't like that very much at all but managed a smile.
"They are…someone significant, Ja?"
"Yes," Nicoli spoke and instantly softened. "My sister," He explained.
"Sister?" Hidi felt her heart quicken to see his tender expression, but just as quickly grew confused. A sister?
"Oh," It dawned on her finally. He meant THAT, sister.
"Empress of Nochten is coming?" Hidi couldn't help but be a bit surprised. I would have thought Queen Belinda still hold a grudge. Considering what her mother told her, what had happened, and her mother certainly did.
Good thing she is at home, then. It was lucky she hadn't told her mother anything and simply went to the party. It was better she didn't know, actually.
Less this party turn into a massacre. Hidi thought on.
"I invited her," Nicoli spoke again but seemed to pull into himself right after."I hope she'll come."
"You hope?" Hidi questioned, noting Nicoli's smile shift down a bit more. Nicoli still greeted his guests, but he struggled a little to stay cheery.
"It does…grow late," Hidi confessed, considering the darker sky. Was that why Nicoli was doubtful? But this just spurred Hidi to want to know more, and not just for Nicoli now.
"Empress Anastasia," Hidi spoke the name, and Nicoli looked up at her.
"Do you see her?" Nicoli blinked before turning to look around. "Where? Where did you…?"
"No," Hidi shook her head. "I was just saying her name." Hidi went, looking back to the carriages." But, say, tell me about her. What is she like?"
"Oh, Ana is wonderful." Nicoli didn't miss a beat, blurting it out with pride. "She's smart and really fun." A smile immediately was on his face again, a bright and big one.
"Is she?" Hidi took note. When he smiled, he looked gorgeous. His face was made to smile. And Hidi had to hide a quick blush on her cheeks before going on. "You…must care for her much."
"I do!" Nicoli exclaimed, with no hesitation, and tossed another look over to the carriages. "She's my most valued person in the world."
"Most, you say?" Hidi looked over. She saw the line building up again. More girls were coming up with clear expectations. And here was Nicoli, wanting nothing to do with any of them. Just focused on this sister of his.
Was she so important to have such sway over him? It seemed important for Hidi to gauge her for herself. To see if she was that good.
"Then, I must meet her." Hidi smiled at the girls in line. How little they seemed to her, like dolls. "We'll become friends."
"Oh, of course, you will!" Nicoli was quick to agree. "Ana is amazing."
"Ana?" Hidi repeated the nickname, taking it in. "What does… her Empress look like?" Hidi ventured. "Is… she pretty? For a vampire, that is?"
"Of course, she's pretty." Nicoli laughed. "Very pretty. She has silver hair and big ruby-red eyes." Nicoli shaped his hands around his eyes like glasses to emphasize the size. "Like this."
"Ah, I see. I see." Hidi nodded, mimicking the gesture. "Big eyes."
At that moment, another carriage was pulling up. Now both were turning to watch the door open for a brunette. Indeed not the silver-haired-beauty, that they were now, looking for.
"Truthfully," Nicoli went on softer, after a moment. "I'm not sure how she looks now." Nicoli moved to touch a slight bulge in his pocket. He didn't take it out but touching it seemed to calm him. "It's been… a long time since we last met."
"Ah," Hidi nodded but expected this to be the part where he explained. But he didn't. Whatever the reason, it was not something he wanted to air out. Making Hidi more curious.
I'll ask Mama later. Or maybe Queen Belinda? Hidi thought, tucking the question to the side. For now, she wanted to focus on something else. Anything to keep the conversation going, and she seemed to know one thing that would.
"I'm sure you'll know her as soon as she steps out." Hidi smiled with certainty. "especially the hair." Hidi made a note to point to her hair.
"Ah, right!" Nicoli had to laugh. "Yeah, no one has hair like hers."
"Indeed," Hidi felt her heart skip at the sound. It felt so good to hear him laugh like this. Nicoli made her feel so light. And it was a feeling Hidi didn't want to stop.
Perhaps… it doesn't have to? Hidi looked to Nicoli with a more severe eye, now really measuring him.
Hidi was older, but the age difference wasn't terrible. And, Nicoli would mature with time. So would his height. However, he'd never be as tall as a giant.
But if he takes after his father… Hidi considered before smiling.
"Nicoli," Hidi moved to touch his shoulder, again.
"Hm?" Nicoli perked up, so quick to give her attention now. Just as she wanted, and Hidi couldn't help but gush. She liked it, very very much. But now, she wanted more. She needed more.
"If her Empress is too pretty," Hidi went on, "I'm afraid I might just take her back with me."
"Don't joke." Nicoli immediately frowned. "Why would you do that."
Never mind, I think his frown is cute too. Hidi only smiled wickedly.
"I can make her my bride." Hidi went on.
"No." Nicoli shifted her hand off. "Stop. That's not funny."
"Oh?" Hidi fluttered her lashes."Why not? I want to meet her." And she pouted. "I want to see my pretty bride."
"That's not funny…no…you…you!" Nicoli struggled to find words, growing flabbergasted. And only makes Hidi want to provoke more.
"But I want to meet her." Hidi sweetened her voice. "I want to marry her and take her far away from you."
"No!" Nicoli jumped back, stomping his feet and crossing his arms at her."No, that's it. I'm warning you."
"You better say goodbye." Hidi stepped toward him. "I'm taking her away." Hidi sang again, growing giddy from laughing.
"Stay away from my sister!" Nicoli tried to kick, but she dodged him. "Get back here, you!" Nicoli charged again, determined to get in one blow.
"Oh-haha!" Hidi dodged him, again, laughing, but not before both noted another carriage pull up. Each paused, watching the door open, only to reveal it wasn't her.
Not this one. Hidi thought but looked over. She could see the line of carriages slowly pulling up. There were so many. And any could be her's. The idea both thrilled and unsettled her.
But now I must meet her. Hidi was determined. If not today, then, in the future.
It's only proper, after all. Hidi thought on with a smile back to Nicoli, looking over him with approval. Yes, it was only proper they would meet, of course.
Since she's going to be my future sister-in-law.