A sudden banquet (1)

"Sia, what took you so long?" Siu complained to his sister, who is getting ready for the King's banquet tonight. It was suddenly held and all the nobles are invited.

"I know! I can't wait to see brother Nate, it's been a while." She said while picking dresses to wear. "Brother Siu, pick one for me." It's been an hour and she can't pick between the pink dress or the blue one.

"Pink suits you better, Sia."

"Okay, then please wear me the pink." The maids quickly unzipped the dress and assist her to it.

"Aren't you nervous? what if the King announced your engagement ceremony with the prince? I heard rumors that the king is planning to pass the crown to him at such an early age."

The smile on Anastasia wears off, if King Oscar was planning about it then the engagement ceremony will be held and so is the wedding. In short, she will be the Queen too!

"B-brother, no! I don't want to."

"Why so?"

She closed her eyes and is thinking of a reason that she can use to prevent the wedding. She has to because she still feels awkward about the thought of marrying her cousin!

"Sia? Okay, I don't like you marrying another guy. You should just marry me instead." With this, Anastasia wanted to vomit even more. She stopped the thought thinking that Siu is still a child and doesn't have the right mind about such things.

"It's because I like someone, brother."

"WHAT? WHO IS THAT, HUH? LEMME AT HIM-"

"Brother Siu, calm down!"

Even Anastasius acts like that, but more maturely. They are protective of her and surely treats her like their own, well she is.

"Oh, uhm. I don't know him, I just happened to saw him on the town and I promised to myself that once I see him again, I will marry him!" It was all made up. Knowing her brother, it will surely reach his ears and maybe their engagement can stop...for at least a month.

"Describe his face! I will surely gonna kill that guy." Athanasius' jaw clenched, he will tell his elder brother about this when they see each other later.

Anastasia doesn't know how to describe someone, she can describe her previous crush on her past life but it would be obvious. Luckily, she already knows someones who she can use for a fake description.

"He has silver-blonde hair and his crystal blue eyes are captivating! He's like a little older than me but I tell you, he's handsome!" The one she's describing is Wolfy. It doesn't matter because wolfy is an animal, it's not like they will know about it.

Athanasius walked away and is planning to get ready because he wants to let his brother know about the love interest of Sia.

"I hope they stopped making a ruckus about such things," Anastasia said and went to the balcony to see the arrangements for the departing time later.

"Do you miss the young master, milady?" The butler asked, he serves the late viscount and he is on the verge of retirement. This will be his remaining weeks staying at the manor.

"Well, I will be lying if I deny, aren't I?"

"You speak as if you're an adult, milady. How so? I can't help but be amused by your abilities. No six-year-old can do that."

It made her stopped for a while, she doesn't know how to respond! She can't just say that she's already a grown-up. That would be so absurd!

"Excuse me, but I believe my mother wants to see me." She says, as an excuse to get out of the question that the butler is asking.

"Mother! Father!"

She hugged her mother, Mielle, who is having tea with his father on their balcony. They are already dressed and just waiting for the time to depart.

"Oh my! you are so beautiful, my Sia!" Both of her parents stood up and hugged her. She smiled because it feels warm.

"Am I? of course, I am mother and father's daughter!" She proudly said.

Owen chuckled, "Now, now. I want you to go inside the carriage with your mother. We will be departing for a few more minutes."

"Eeeh? okay.. we will wait for you, father!"

Mielle, Anastasia, and her brother went inside the carriage to wait for her father. After waiting, they set out to go to the palace.

* * *

"But, Lady Seraphim-"

"Just shut up! I will attend it whether they like it or not!" Seraphim shouted at her maid. Her father disagreed to let her go at the palace, knowing that she'll make a scene again.

"Go and get Eulalia here at once!"

Her little sister, Eulalia, went inside her room and is trembling. Seraphim likes to bully her every day because her father favors her.

"Do not attend the banquet, tell mother and father that you don't feel well, and let me join in your stead, understand?!"

"Y-y-yes, sister."

"Good, now get out of my sight."

Seraphim picked a yellow dress that was sent to her by Prince Theodosius last year during her birthday. It still fits her.

"Go and get me to dress up, Joan."

She will use the potion at Anastasia that's why she needs to attend the banquet at all cost! There are a lot of rumors that the prince and Anastasia are gotten more closer. Marquess Wolfe's second son is the ugliest boy in the kingdom, he has no friends that's why Seraphim will set them up together and use the love potion to make Anastasia fall in love with that boy.

This was all thanks to Baroness Aldreda's teachings! She taught her a love potion but the Baroness didn't know that she will use it at Anastasia. Why would she use it for? they are both girls, is what Baroness Aldreda thinks.

Too bad, Seraphim outsmarted her.

"I guess I have no choice but to let you join, Seraphim." His father said, trying his best to fake his smile at the seven-year-old kid.

She will do her best to be not left behind, Anastasia is an ant that she will crush.

Eulalia was alone in her room, watching her sister go to the banquet. The invitation was initially sent for three, the count doesn't want to invite his eldest daughter.

"Count and Countess of Silva have arrived together with their eldest daughter."

As they entered, all eyes were on them. The troublemaker of the kingdom, Seraphim, frowned. Her eyes quickly moved to find Anastasia in the crowd.

"Found you."

She was spotted talking with her two brothers and a silver-blonde-haired guy. Her parents are talking with other nobles but her father caught her hand and ordered her to stay with them. He's afraid that his daughter may cause trouble

"Father, don't worry! Lady Anastasia is my new friend. I came here to see her."

"But-"

"Dear, let your daughter do it. Mielle and I are like that before." Countess Enia stopped his husband. Leaving him no choice, he let go of Seraphim's hand and watched her walked away to go and see Anastasia.

"How have you been, Lady Anastasia?" She gracefully greeted them, her hard work has finally paid off! She's a slow learner but she pushed herself just to catch up the pace between Anastasia and her.

"Lady Seraphim, it was so nice to see you." She greeted back. Seraphim turned to see the silver-haired guy, he was a new face to her.

"Oh, that's Cassian-"

"Her lover," Athanasius said in a tone like he's about to throw off. The eldest brother, Anastasius is in a bad mood.

"Pardon?" Seraphim asked, who is confused about the happenings.

Before everything happened, Cassian is sticking with Anastasius. The moment the four of them met, Athanasius shouted because the one that his sister is describing is none other than Cassian.

"I need to rest, I shall have my leave first," Anastasius said, who can't do anything because his little sister already someone that she likes.

Anastasia didn't even deny it, in which Anastasius started to misunderstand it more. He can't do anything if his sister likes Cassian.

"Brother Nate, I have to tell you something! Wait for me!" Siu said in a hurry, trying to catch with his brother. The two brothers tried their best to not ruin the banquet held by their uncle Oscar, the king.

"Marquess Wolfe's second son had ordered me to send this to you and he said to meet you up at the balcony," Seraphim said in a cute tone. But deep inside, she's laughing like a witch.

Cassian walked away and went to the opposite side. He didn't want to hear more about the conversation about the two young girls. All in his head is to just go outside and chill at the roof.

"Why would he do that?"

"He's a fan, you know. Come on, he made that potion for weeks! Don't worry, it's safe. Once you smell the potion it will give you peace of mind and it's good for mana control."

Mana's control is the one she needs to learn. It wouldn't hurt to try it, right?

"Thank you, Lady Seraphim!"

"I told you to call by my nickname, didn't I, Sia?"

Anastasia giggled, "I beg for your pardon, Seraphim. Now, it's time for me to go and check about this potion." She said and went her way towards the balcony.

Seraphim ordered the guy to wait for the balcony, that's his only task. When Anastasia opened the door to the balcony, A chubby man with a brushed back, brown hair with some strands spun and sticking upwards is trembling while waiting for her.

He was wearing a double-breasted and long-sleeved shirt with a high collar and red trimmings on the edges. The collar also has a chain connecting both ends of the collar as an ornament and a pair of black boots.

"S-smell the potion, Lady Anastasia." He said, still trembling. He is scared of what may happen to Anastasia and at the same time, he's afraid of Seraphim.

"Huh? yeah, sure but is it effective?"

The chubby man nodded, "Just smell it, it w-wouldn't hurt y-y-you." He tries his best to act normal because if Anastasia went suspicious, his mission given by Seraphim will be over.

"Fine. I wish it would work." She says while opening the lid of the bottle.

Cassian, who is eavesdropping on the conversation realized that it was a potion. He jumped from the roof to the balcony and tried to snatch the potion from her.

Seraphim is quietly watching behind the walls beneath it.

"J-just so you know, I didn't save you, o-okay? Don't jump to conclusions." Cassian said while snatching the opened potion away from Anastasia who is just staring blankly at the sky.

"Anastasia..?"

Anastasia slowly smiled and hugged Cassian. He fell on top of her in which he was shocked because of the way Anastasia act.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?"

Cassian was late for saving her. She already smelled it and the first one she saw was Cassian.

"Marry me, Cassian."

Seraphim's eye widened and she felt the frustration. She planned this all along and everything she planned didn't happen exactly the way she wanted.

The chubby guy excused himself and ran as fast as he can. Seraphim left him alone because he's no longer useful to her.

"Calm down, Seraphim. It doesn't matter as long as the potion works. How well can you last? Your engagement with Prince Theodosius can be canceled if you keep that up." Seraphim whispered to herself.