84: Ambitious assumptions

Ambitious assumptions

3The engagement ceremony had arrived, but the preceding days were far from ordinary.

With the Archduchess noticeably absent, Adela found herself shouldering the burden of all the preparations alone. Typically, it would have been the Archduchess's delight to immerse herself in the task of adorning Larissa with grandeur. However, this time was different.

Grace and Kaiser had inexplicably disappeared during the day only to come back late at night, leaving the girls grounded within the confines of the manor. Unable to venture outside and search for their missing parents.

Adela's worry grew with each passing moment.

"Where are you..." she mumbled surveying the meticulously arranged celebration hall, her eyes scanned for any sign of her mother's presence, but she was nowhere to be found. 

"Shall we place flowers on the small tables, My Lady?" a servant asked.

Adela's eyes sparkled; her mind focused on the local florists who were struggling to sustain their businesses in Lanark.

"Absolutely," she replied with enthusiasm. "Let's use only fresh flowers and make sure the arrangements showcase the colors of House de Lanark. I want to set a trend that spreads throughout Lanark and Emoria,"

The servant bowed with renewed purpose before hurrying off, almost colliding with the flustered majordomo who had just arrived.

"Lady Adelaide," the majordomo began, his voice filled with concern, "the piano room is rapidly filling up with presents, and we have just received four carriages sent by His Majesty."

Adela took a moment to process the information and tried hard not to let herself panic.

"...Bernard, those gifts are of utmost importance. Please open up some of the guest rooms and carefully arrange the presents according to their size. Lady Larissa will attend to them with great care after the celebration concludes."

Bernard bowed respectfully, his earlier worry now alleviated as he swiftly moved to carry out Adela's precise instructions.

She turned her attention to Baroness Freida who had been unusually quiet throughout the morning. Sensing something on her mind, Adela approached her with a gentle smile.

"Baroness, I entrust the remaining tasks to you," she said, subtly complementing the Baroness's capabilities.

Frieda hesitated, "Lady Adelaide... My son... He may have a quick temper, but deep down, he has a heart of gold."

He has finally decided to use his mother against me...

"I am aware of that," Adela smiled.

The Baroness's eyes lit up with gratitude, "Do you forgive him then?"

Adela took her hand, "Anything for you, Baroness. I will be in Larissa's room overseeing the final preparations,"

With that, she bid farewell to the Baroness and made her way to Larissa's room. As she walked through the house, Adela took in every detail, relishing in the vibrant atmosphere that filled her father's lively manor. The contrast to the coldness of the King's palace was stark, and it filled her with a sense of joy.

Just as she was about to knock on Larissa's door, it swung open, revealing her sister standing there. Larissa grabbed Adela's hand and pulled her inside, shutting the door behind them.

"Breathe, Lari!" Adela exclaimed.

"Adela... Am I making the right decision?" 

Adela understood her sister's question, but she herself grappled with the same uncertainties. The impending union between a human and a creature of an unknown race was uncharted territory, and it was Larissa's unwavering conviction that bolstered Adela's own resolve.

"Your dress and makeup have been carefully chosen," she feigned ignorance, trying to divert Larissa's thoughts at the same time. "But let's try something different with your hair one last time."

Adela sat her sister by the window and began working on her hair, skillfully taming the wild flames into an elegant braid.

"...He surely won't come, right? And neither will Claude?" Larissa asked ambiguously, her words hinting at a deeper meaning.

Emanuel de Lanark's absence from his niece's engagement ceremony was not a coincidence. The Archduke had carefully timed the event to align with an annual meeting between the three kingdoms. 

"Do not be too disappointed," she said, knowing that Larissa did not mind the royals' absence at all, she was gently braiding her hair when Larissa abruptly stood up and pushed Adela into the chair, giggling mischievously.

"What!" Adela exclaimed, caught off guard by her sister's sudden action.

"I like my hair the way we decided on. Now, let's do something with your makeup and hair!" 

Adela protested, "What are you talking about? They're fine the way they are!"

A relentless Larissa was already applying a second layer of makeup. "No arguing with the bride, unless you want me to change the subject back to what you distracted me from," she teased.

Adela sealed her lips shut, her sister had an overbearing side that rarely surfaced, but when it did, it reminded Adela of the formidable Archduke.

"Let's put your hair up tonight, everyone would want to dazzle their eyes with the brooch that Egon will give you," she winked at Adela.

It was a customary Emorian practice. A bachelor representative from the groom's family would present a brooch to the unmarried sister of the bride as many noble families preferred to arrange marriages among their single members as a way to solidify alliances, especially in the absence of children from the primary union.

"...They grew up far away, and they're merchants. They probably aren't familiar with these customs."

Larissa smiled knowingly; her eyes filled with a secret understanding. "Well, that may be true, but we will put your hair up regardless."

Adela's mind wandered to Egon who she hadn't seen since their last encounter. The thought of his large, gloved hands placing a brooch over her chest sent a flush of anticipation up her neck and face.

"Adela, he has already bought one. Egon will surely place it for you... So don't worry too much about it, alright?" 

"Mhm," Adela murmured, her worry deepening now that she knew for certain that the moment was approaching.

"Ask me what color it is!"

Adela narrowed her eyes suspiciously at her sister's eagerness. "Larissa, did you happen to help him choose?"

Larissa's smile briefly faltered, but then it stretched wide, brightening her entire face. "Nothing escapes you, does it? Well, you'll be thanking me later when you see how closely it matches the shade of green in your beautiful eyes."

Larissa's secret wish was for Egon and Adela to celebrate their union soon.

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