[32.3] Just Another Saturday Night

After making several purchases and being dragged all through town for my mother's strange idea of necessaries for a girl's night, we headed back. Hazel happily accepted the invitation to stay the night and returned with us.

My mother went to the Headmaster's office and threw open the door. Behind the door was Belle pointing at a map while the Headmaster studied it carefully. My mother cleared her throat so the two of them would stop and look at her. She smiled happily, "Darling, I packed a bag for you."

He blinked in confusion, "Um… Why?"

She grabbed him without explanation and started dragging him out of the room. We all watched as he was helplessly brought to the front door. The Headmaster stared at all of us, "Why do I need to leave? What are you all doing?"

My mother grinned, "We are having a girl's night. That means you have to leave."

His expression hardened, "Leave? But what will I do?"

She shrugged, "Don't know, don't care."

As my Mother pushed the Headmaster out of the door, he looked at her in a panic, "But what about Zephyr?! He's a boy!"

My mother stopped with a scoff. She turned to Zephyr and pulled out the ribbons from her hair. In one swift motion, she put his hair into two ponytails. She looked back at the Headmaster with cold eyes, "There. Now he's a girl."

The Headmaster's face tightened, "How does that count?"

She shoved him out of the door, "I don't care! I told you that you have to leave for the night, so now you have to leave!"

Belle tried to sneak out with the Headmaster but was promptly caught by my mother.

Her eyes curled in an ominous grin, "Belle, dear. It's a girl's night. You're required to stay."

Belle's mouth fell open, "Unhand me you beast! M-Master! Help me!"

The Headmaster ignored Belle and looked back at my mother in desperation, "But where will I stay!?"

My mother tossed out a suitcase with a cold look in her eyes, "Go stay with your brother… Or sleep in your office since your work is so much more important than us."

The Headmaster looked at her in shock, "Wait! Della, let me explain-"

She slammed the door in his face and turned to us with a bright smile, "Now that the boys are gone, let's start our girl's night!"

We all followed after her as Zephyr frowned to himself, "...Aren't I still a boy?"

I called after him, "Zephyr! Stop standing there with your mouth open! Belle might fly in!"

Belle shrieked, "OI! THIS IS EXACTLY WHY I'VE BEEN STAYING AWAY!"

I frowned at her, "And why have you been hiding? I forgot you even existed."

She clicked her tongue, "For your information, I've been investigating why fairies are disappearing for my Master."

Oh, that's news to me.

"Fairies are going missing? Why?"

She shrugged, "I have no idea. Although it's not that strange to me."

"It's not?"

She shook her head, "It happens whenever there's an abundance of chaos."

"...Chaos?"

She nodded, "Surely you've heard of the sudden increase in demonic attacks lately. Demons are born from chaos. Although fairies are born from holy light and can easily defeat Demons, we detest chaos. So we just abandon the land until it solves itself."

I laughed, "So basically you all are just too lazy to do anything about it?"

She glared at me, "It's not our job to clean up your messes."

"...That's valid."

I tapped my chin as I thought.

How come the demon attacks suddenly started up again? Especially after so many years of silence…

"Reika!" My mother shouted, shaking me from my thoughts, "Come get your pajamas on!"

I walked over to her and saw all three of them in matching pajamas. She handed me a pair which I took, "We are all matching?"

She nodded, "Yup! Now hurry and get changed so we can start snacking!"

I licked my lips, "Right away!"

I rushed to get changed and came back to see my mother putting down pillows and blankets on the middle of the floor. We all laid down on our stomachs around the various snacks and enjoyed them graciously.

I popped another cookie into my mouth, "So other than snacking and wearing pajamas, what should we do?"

Hazel grinned mischievously, "Boy talk!"

I raised an eyebrow, "Boy talk?"

My mother laughed, "Oh! I know this. That's when you share who you have a crush on, right?"

Belle snickered, "Fairies don't have crushes. Unlike humans and demons, we don't mate. We have no desire for that love nonsense."

We all looked at her with pity.

Her face twitched, "What?"

My mother spoke, "I will go first! I have a crush on a rather dashing man. He's tall, strong, loyal, and an excellent father. He may be a man of a few words, but he makes up for that in other ways~"

I stuck out my tongue in disgust, "Mummy! Seriously?! That's gross!"

She laughed as she taunted me, "What's wrong? You have a problem with your mother kissing your fath-"

I covered my ears, "LAH LAH LAH! I'M NOT LISTENING!"

She laughed at my suffering, "Okay, I will stop."

Hazel let out a sigh, "You two are such a lovely and perfect couple, Miss Della."

"Thank you, dear." My mother's expression turned deadly, "It's such a shame that he's an idiot who prioritizes work over his family. What's the worse that could happen if you take two measly weeks off? Why would I care about a King's orders!?"

Seeing her deadly look, we all shivered in fear.

She immediately smiled peacefully again and looked at Hazel, "What about you, Miss Hazel? Has anyone caught your interest?"

She blushed, "O-Oh… I suppose I have been interested in a certain someone for what feels like centuries."

My mother snickered, "Oh?"

"Yes. Whenever I'm with him, I feel like I've spent many lifetimes admiring him. And how couldn't I? Everything about him is perfect." Hazel looked over at Zephyr slyly, "You could say he's one fox of a man."

I pinched the bridge of my brow.

Can she be any more obvious?

Hazel batted her eyes, "And you, Zephyr?"

Zephyr frowned as he thought hard, "I don't think I have any boy I'm interested in."

I slapped my forehead.

I can't tell if he's just innocent or stupid.

My mother laughed then looked at me mischievously, "Reika. What about you? Do you have anyone you are interested in?"

I popped another sweet into my mouth, "Nope."

The room grew silent.

Hazel nudged me, "You can tell us. We won't tell anyone."

My mother nodded quickly, "Anything that's said in this room, stays in this room."

Zephyr muttered under his breath, "Speak for yourself."

I looked at their expectant gazes in exasperation, "I really don't have anyone I'm interested in."

My mother was shocked, "Really? No one at all?"

"...No? Should there be?"

My mother prodded again, "Surely you have someone you're interested in?!"

Hazel nodded, "That's right! Like a Prince!"

I raised my eyebrow, "No?"

Hazel's face dropped, "Please don't tell me you're interested in Felix."

I shook my head, "No. I'm not."

She let out a sigh of relief, "Oh thank the Gods."

Zephyr snickered, "Maybe you're interested in someone from your past life."

I jabbed his side, "Shut up!"

"OW OW OW! Stop it, you trashy girl!"

My mother stared at me in disbelief, "You really don't have a crush on anyone!?"

I shook my head, "I honestly don't."

She sat up, "No no no! That won't do! Reika! You must give love a chance!"

"Haah?!"

She looked at me in determination, "You HAVE to go on a date! You must!"

"Why must I?"

She let out a sigh, "You're going to have your coming-of-age ceremony soon. If you don't have any suitors, the high-class society will turn you into a joke."

I raised an eyebrow, "Why do I care what those snobs think?"

My mother frowned, "I don't want to give those people any excuse to laugh at my precious daughter."

Hazel nodded, "I agree with your mother. Also, wouldn't it give others an excuse to bad-mouth Prince Cyrus? You do represent him after all. Surely you wouldn't want him to have a hard time."

I pursed my lips.

I didn't even think about how my reputation would affect Goldilocks. I'm his personal magician so my reputation is his reputation…

As dumb as that is.

Hazel looked at my mother as I was deep in thought, "What should we do now?"

"I don't think there's anything else we can say… So…" My mother thought for a moment before grinning, "Makeover time?"