25 My Superhero

JOYCE

'This is a very weird night out. But I love it,' Joyce smiled from ear to ear as she took a breather from chatting with the Edinians who appeared her age.

After their intermission, her new friends invited her over to their table. She was about to invite Evie, too, but she seemed to be having a serious talk with the King. So she went ahead.

They were polite and fun to be with, so she didn't have a hard time blending in, making her forget her disappointments in their world and here.

"Have you tasted this wine, Lady Joyce? This is the most distinguished wine in all Elysian Kingdoms. Just one sip would make you forget your name," one of the young lords offered to her in a friendly manner.

He was sitting beside her while pointing to a bottle in front of them.

"Sure! I would love to try that!" Joyce immediately responded, getting a piece of empty glass and extending her hand to him just like one of their steps, making the others at the table laugh with her.

Even though Joyce was known as a party girl, she has little tolerance for alcohol. She never let herself get wasted unless she was provoked, just like this time.

She wanted to let them know that she can be one of them, too. Even though she was not a legitimate Edinian.

The young Lord's eyes widened as if it surprised him that she immediately accepted the offer. At the speed of light, he poured the wine into her glass as he said, "You will surely forget all your miseries."

Hearing him say that made Joyce want to drink it all the more. As soon as he filled her glass, she immediately took a sip, making her cough up.

The people at their table laugh at her innocence. But they guided her on how to take it. "You have to hold your breath so you can take it in."

Joyce immediately obeyed them and drew in a lungful of air exaggeratedly before getting her glass and taking a sip again.

"Whoa, that's ridiculously tasty for a wine!" Joyce exclaimed, even though deep inside she wanted to spit it out. It tasted like bitter watermelon masked with honey that her mother used to give to her whenever she has a cold.

A corner of the young Lord's lips lifted as he replied, "I told you so," before pouring out another one to her.

"It indeed is the best-tasting wine I have ever tasted," Joyce giggled while clapping her hands, appearing excited about having another sip of it.

However, as she gazed at them, they seemed to be like swaying from side to side. She didn't know if that was because of the wine, or if they were really doing it.

"You don't have to accept it, my lady, if you don't wish to," one of the young ladies interrupted them.

But Joyce immediately waved her hand, "It's fine. I can handle it. By the way, why are you always wearing mascots? Is it part of the Edinian tradition?"

Joyce wasn't supposed to ask that. But she didn't know why it just came out of her mouth.

"What mascots? Are you referring to this one?" the young Lord who offered her the drink wiggled his long ears, making Joyce rub her eyes.

"It's authentic. Do you want to feel it?" he put Joyce's hand over it, before he wiggles it again, making Joyce jump from her chair. The others at the table laugh with him.

"Stop it, Lord Xenelis," the young lady who had interrupted them earlier on said in a stern voice, surprising Joyce.

"It's fine, my lady," Joyce slurred as she touched the ear again.

"See? I'm just showing them who we really are," Lord Xenelis commented in feigned concern. "Seeing creatures that are superior to you is only one chance in a lifetime."

Joyce didn't understand what he was saying. But she responded just as the young lady who kept on cutting him off stood up and put her hands on the table in an irritated manner.

"It's okay, my lady. He is right. I am humbled to be with you guys," Joyce smiled before she leaned back in the chair as she felt like she was going to pass out.

But the lady stood up and walked away.

Lord Xenelis waved his hand in the air. "Don't mind her. Are you all right? Do you want to take a rest? I have a lot more supernatural things to show you in my chamber if you like."

He was about to put his arms behind her neck when Sefro suddenly appeared in front of them. "Take your hands off her," he seethed through clenched teeth.

The young lady who kept on rebuking Lord Xenelis was beside him.

All the lords and ladies at the table stood up and bowed down before him, "Your grace."

"Hello, Sefro!" Joyce waved her groggily.

"Sefro? She called the duke by his name!" the young lords and ladies whispered to one another in fear, which Joyce overheard.

"Oops, I'm sorry. I promised I would not call you by your first name in public again." Joyce covered her mouth with her palm and giggled just as Sefro came to her side and assisted her up.

"I am taking her with me," Sefro announced to everyone present at the table, making them bow down their heads immediately.

Joyce clung her hands around one of Sefro's arms as she cupped her mouth, intending to whisper. But it came out loud enough for everyone at the table to hear. "You are my savior, you know."

Sefro didn't seem to mind as he walked away and brought her to one of the terraces in the Palace.

The evening air seemed to cool down her warm temperature that seemed to be brought upon by the wine.

"Drink this," he ordered.

"What is that? Is that the same as that bitter melon wine?" she pointed back to the door towards the Great Hall muzzily.

"No. It's an antidote to that. Only those with powerful energies can take that wine, my lady. Please be careful next time and say no if you don't want to get involved with anything," Sefro said in a worried and concerned tone.

Joyce's face immediately lifted and brightened up as her hand shot up and cupped his face, surprising him.

Even with the heavy feeling that she was experiencing, she knew that he genuinely cared for her safety.

She knew she could have said no. But her desire to be accepted by the crowd always overpower her. Like it did now.

She always wishes that someone would come and save her. There were some who came, but not all of them stayed. Some even took advantage of her.

But she still couldn't help pleasing people. She felt like if she didn't, they would leave her, too.

"So you save me again, my superhero." She was about to lean forward and kiss him. But Sefro immediately put the small bottle in between them and said, "Drink this, my lady."

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You have to learn to say no without feeling guilty. Setting boundaries is healthy. You need to learn to respect and take care of yourself.