Dinner

Dinner was eventful to say the least. Bonnie and Dixie's brains were fried from so much reading that their only focus was to scarf down their meals and go to bed.

Unfortunately, table etiquette demanded they eat at a slower pace and engage with every stupid question that came their way. 

The food was very tasty and variant, so the ladies weren't too upset about being made to eat amidst these disgusting people. It had been years since they were able to enjoy such a sumptuous feast! They didn't have to worry about budget right now because they weren't in their cramped studio apartment struggling to pay bills. 

The kitchen staff really outdid themselves. Or maybe this was the norm everyday, hence only the newly arrived souls were impressed.

Scooping more rice and spiced corn onto her plate, Dixie ate religiously. She had to put on weight fast. The sooner her face stopped looking gaunt, the better!

Though Tyren and Helena are vexed by Felicia's presence, they're glad she's no longer hogging Alex to herself. Unfortunately, he barely looked at them and only answered their questions with sounds or one word answers.

The Duke watched Felicia eat without stopping and wondered if what she said about being starved was true. Upon closer inspection, she did look too skinny. How had he not noticed before? His hatred for her was once again warring against his paternal instincts.

Tyren clears her throat and tries to engage with Alex again. "I hear you were busy with Felicia in the Emerald Room all day. What were you two doing?"

"Reading, Lady Tyren." Bonnie watched her sister eat with amusement. "We were going through our mother's library to get a better understanding of what her interests were. We found books on just about everything; she was obviously a woman hungry for knowledge."

Tyren's lips pressed into a thin line. She didn't like him talking about his birth mother so amicably. She thought she had already replaced Moniqua in his heart. Why the sudden interest with the dead?

Is this your doing, wench? First, you take Alex's attention off of Helena and now you're trying to diminish my place as his mother by making him think about his dead one?

Helena remained silent, even though her body was burning with indignation. Alex was treating her like air!

Sensing the awkward and unusual atmosphere, the Duke spoke up. "Indeed, your late mother was hungry for knowledge. She loved to read and travel more than than anything. After she became pregnant, she would sit in our main library and read for hours. Until, the sun went down. She took her favorite books and created her own private collection. Nobody was allowed to touch it or remove a book from there. She wouldn't even let the maids near to dust it."

The Duke smiled, feeling nostalgic. "She would read one of her books to you every night, Alex. This was before Felica was born, do you remember?"

Bonnie smiled. "I remember. Sometimes she would let me choose which book she read. I couldn't really make sense of the reading material back then, I only know that her was voice was beautiful and lulled me to sleep."

The Duke's smile became pained. He would give anything to be able to hear her voice again.

"Most of mother's books are written in." Dixie finally contributed to the conversation, hoping to thaw some of the Duke's ice towards her.

"Yes, she like to write down her ideas and interpretations whenever she read something she deemed amusing or important." The Duke's tone was tender as he spoke. The longing was noticeable.

Tyren panicked seeing the three so harmonious as they discussed Moniqua. "Helena, tell your father what you've been reading!" 

"Oh, yes!" Helena snapped out of her thoughts. "I've been reading about the lives of the previous Saintesses, father. And the history of the holy church! I've also been practicing more mathematics! I hope to get a higher score on the next test my instructor gives me."

"Keep up the good work, Helena." The Duke commended her with a smile.

Tyren's heart felt uneasy, but she hid it well enough to smile. She had to ensure that no more discussions of Moniqua ever took place again.