Banquet (6) Meeting

Adam's gave Edith the medicine after waking her up. Her complexion gradually changes and her reddened cheek regains it snowy color. He was watching her quietly from the side, occasionally stroked her silky hair. He waited around one hour before his little sister wakes up.

The first time she saw was the ceiling, a lavish room that had constantly made her wonder where she was, and then her older brother Adam who was sitting right next to her. She realizes that the hand which was stroking her occasionally belong to her big brother. Although they aren't a real sibling, maybe... just maybe Adam's always cherishing her all the time. Edith gets up from the sofa she slept on, Adam who felt her movement immediately hold her shoulder. He sought to help her seated on the sofa.

"How are your feelings ?" he asks out of concern.

"Better, I guess I lost consciousness because the liquor I drank was so strong. I was knocked out immediately, brother." I smiled at him, then she tried to pay attention to her surroundings. She couldn't find the man who helped her before but instead her eyes caught a sight of a medicine, a glass of water, and a plate full of macaroons on the table. She looks at her brother side, he was concerned.

'Cute, Adam must be the one who brings it.', She thinks, Edith could feel her mouth salivating on the food. She picked the macaroons and eating it happily.

"Do you know who brought you into the room?" Adam's questioned her. Edith staring him blankly while munching her macaroons.

"Sir Isaac?" She stated almost immediately, then a memory of his handsome face popped into her head. "Why?" she continued.

"He did nothing wrong, right?" he asks, but to his surprise Edith momentarily froze because she remembered that the man and herself kissing passionately, including sucking and soothing each other tongue fully rendered inside her brain. Unbeknownst to her, her ears turned red along with the embarrassment from the previous incident.

'I am screwing myself!' Edith shrieked in his heart.

"NO!!!" she dodged, raising her voice "Why would he do anything wrong, right?.... Now lets us go back to the hall!..... I haven't greeted our family relations. Let's go, brother."

Edith urged Adam to return to the dance hall with her. She took the stranger's outer suit and dragged him out of the room. Adam allowed himself to be pulled by her, 'I can't force her to reveal it all now.' He thought, his gray eyes staring straight at her, trying to figure out what had happened earlier.

Especially because she was dazzlingly beautiful tonight, and most importantly she was happy. He didn't want to be the ones who ruined it.

They went straight to the ballroom and noticing the weird atmosphere around the nobles. The nobles are whispering among each other, Adam and Edith approaching another guest which was located near the dance floor. He was the first son from The Ducal Harrison Household 'Jade Harrison' one of the most prominent family.

He was a merchant's son, a family that involved in the trade route and came in third after the Duke's Orthos household at the second place and Grand Dukedom Salvatore family at the first place. The original Edith was obviously didn't know that far, she didn't care much about other man besides the crown prince.

Adam's greeting him along with the surrounding noble, there are several noblemen's and woman such as Gennady family, Rugard, and Colster. Edith addressed the nobles together with Adam and tried to blend in into their conversation, when suddenly a noble Lady throwing an abrupt remark.

She was Lady Ronella Maisie, one of Beatrice underlings.

"Earlier before, I just had a conversation with the crown prince, and he is absolutely nice to me, unlike to a certain someone." She's clapping both of her hand together "and if I'm not mistaken Lady Edith has not greeted the crown prince, right~?... are you sure that he didn't avoiding you ?" She said in front of Edith's face while fanning her fan. She was plainly picking a fight with her.

Adam almost got choked while another noble man using their facade to looks indifferent towards that matter. In fact, they knew very well that Count Geneivre daughter's had been chasing the crown prince for a long time.

Edith can't stand their gaze and hated it. Because for f*ck sake, she didn't give a damn about him. Recalling his past actions towards the real Edith annoys her. She knew well that Edith shares an equal blame on this matter. Thus, she planned to stop, remembering the recent event that transpired exactly like the romance novel first encounter just became the perfect reasons for her to stay away.

She didn't want to entangle herself more than it should be.

"Lady Ronella, if you look at me closely, you could see me didn't care." Edith flashes a sweet smile to her,

"W-wha?" Ronella was taken aback by her response.

"Still, I'll take your suggestion to greet his highness crown prince. Thank you, Lady Ronella." She said as Edith made some eye sign to her older brother. Hinted him to go along with her.

Adam's got along with her and leaving the noble companion, looking for the crown prince. Luckily, they spotted them right away near the balcony. They look like arguing over something when Edith sees them.

"Still, you shouldn't slap her in the first place." Added the crown prince. He sounds tired, even when he stand still facing Beatrice.

On the other hand, Beatrice looks displeased. Her pose and facial expression sour at his reply.

"So she smites you. Be careful your highness, I'll remind you that you need me for the throne." She chided, "Don't do anything that will ruin our engagement, Ferael !" Beatrice holding her anger down, she knows that Ferael didn't love her, but she still believes that she could make it mutual between them.

"Yes, I'll be careful." he answered weakly, moving his sight into the night sky.

Beatrice could only sigh, watching him and tried to look inside the ball. She wants to do the last dance song tonight with him but spotting another pest moving at their directions.

"Geneivre daughter coming at our directions." Beatrice told him weakly, but Ferael distorted expression strongly showing his disgust. Ferael turned around while Beatrice promptly placed his hand on her hand.

When they arrived, Beatrice and Ferael already smilling. Ferael turned around while Beatrice promptly placed his hand on her grip. Edith looked directly at Ferael, although he was beaming kindly at her. Edith could see his look of distaste towards her.

Adam and Edith addressing the couple.

"Greeting to your highness crown prince Ferael von Cassius and his fiancée Lady Beatrice Orthos, I am Adam Geneivre and my little sister Edith Geneivre from the house of Geneivre pleased to meet your acquaintance." Adam greeted them smoothly.

'Damn!! My older brother was lit!' Edith sounds excited inside her head. I greeted them along with my brother. However, the crown prince did not hesitate to show his indignation to her by blantantly ignoring her presence.

"Nice to meet you Sir Adam, how's the Count geneivre well-being? I heard his business is doing well."

"Yes, its all thanks to Duke Harrison grace that our business expanding more from before." Adam's answered.

"I know that Sir Adam is certainly capable at what he does. Unlike certain someone who could defame the household name at anytime." The crown prince blatantly insulting Edith.

"I wonder who she was." Said Beatrice, pouring another spice.

Adam's was greatly displeased hearing that, especially after Edith apologized to him. He believes that she could change for the better, and yet the crown prince vaguely insulting his little sister. Unconciously he clenched his hand.

'I feel bad for brother Adam. I myself, won't be suffered by his insult.' She thinks.

Edith gently tapping his brother's hand while smiling brightly to the crown prince and Beatrice. The crown prince actually taken aback by her response.

"I wonder who..." Edith added, "Because I surely know someone had dancing with another lady in front of his fiancée. How moving..."

Beatrice face hardened, while the crown prince didn't smile at all. Edith herself couldn't see it happened but she knows that event from the novel meanwhile her brother Adam clearly not knowing anything.

"Who ?" He shamelessly asking Edith.

"Ferael~, I want to dance with you." Beatrice interrupted Adam's words, along with the sound of the fourth piece of the song's began to be heard in the hall.

"Its my pleasure, Beatrice." The crown prince hold beatrice hand and lead her into the dance floor. "Please excuse us." The crown prince added before he left Adam and Edith behind.

￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣

"The crown prince." Edith answering her older brother after Ferael and Beatrice left them. Both of his eyes widened in disbelief on her remarks.

"How did you know?" he asks

"By listening well?" Edith answered him playfully. Her eyes gleaming under the lamp, seductively charming him.