A Birthday To Talk About

The night passed like the blink of an eye, along with Isaac's training. Each time he couldn't stay with her, Nyx was responsible. She hadn't seen her mother in two weeks, but she finally had the opportunity to do so as her first sister was holding her birthday celebration.

She wondered how the Duke could afford so many birthday parties a year, but he was the infamous Duke Argyris. All the wives and children, besides the second wife and fourth daughter under house arrest, would be attending the party. She had barely learned anything other about her other siblings, other than Nyx complaining about them, but she did come to understand the first daughter was extremely proud and a show off.

She'd act elegant and polite, but her words could sometimes cut deeper than a life as she'd smile condescendingly at you. Her birthday party was the biggest event compared to all the other siblings not only because she was the oldest, but because she was a socialite of the Argyris family.

Many kids and adults feared the Argyris name, but she managed to make herself well known at tea parties. Getting on her good side basically meant success, but it also meant risking your pride and honor as a human. Even her close friends were more so treated like dogs with benefits on some days. The benefit of living a good life outweighed their prides, she supposed.

She would of figured it'd be Penelope, considering her later description in the novel, but it sounded like kids currently hated her for being an insane bully, once again, she agreed with that claim as her brother was still wearing an eyepatch.

"Aren't you adorable, darling?" Her mother gushed as she held her in her arms, in front of the mirror again as she was dressed up, snapping her out of her daze. She knew it was only two weeks, but she barely grew, if any, but Nyx had grown nearly an inch.

A white and navy blue dress, with a ruffled bottom and a few red ribbons, including one on her head in navy blue. She wondered who would make such extravagant designs for babies, but this is a fantasy world.

Her mother too, looked elegant as ever with a long white gold gown and transparent shawl, if she weren't stuck in this family she could of married any guy she wanted with her looks. "You look pretty, Lady Cyrille." Next commented, reminding her of his presence.

Both Nyx and Isaac were there, ready to escort them. "Thank you, Nyxie. Are you really sure it's alright to escort me?" She asked again, still unsure. Nodding his head, he merely grinned.

"My mom's going to be fine, there's a reason I have a younger brother," He joked, Isaac saying nothing as he grabbed his mother's free arm and begun walking, tugging her slightly. "No need to be so angry your mom likes me more than you." Nyx huffed.

The two boys bantered between her mother, all the way up until they made their way to the reception, a large room in the estate she had no clue existed! It only existed to hold tea parties, or gatherings for parties so it was understandable she'd never heard of it, no one around her really liked parties.

People stared as they entered, Isaac and Nyx looking like guard dogs and glaring at onlookers. Walking up to them was a young girl in a large ball gown fit for a grown up, with auburn red hair and silver eyes.

"Brother Isaac, Brother Nyx!" She called out, opening her fan and bringing it up to hide her lower face. Behind her followed quite a few girls, perhaps eight, which seemed her age, bowing politely at them. "I received your gifts this morning to my door, I found them extremely beautiful, thank you." She said, shutting her hand.

On her neck was a filigree necklace, one in pure silver and hints of gold, the gemstone in the design resembled a pink topaz. Raising her sleeves subtly, you could see a matching bracelet pair that she wore. "It was so troublesome finding earrings and a dressed that matched these, but they were just so beautiful." She tucked her hair behind her ear, touching it for slightly longer than one normally would to show them off.

"Lady Rosalyn, you look as beautiful as ever, I'm delighted you appreciate my son's gift, happy birthday." Her mother greeted, bowing her head. She realized how Isaac got away with being unnoticed for so long! Instead of him and Nyx talking, her mother did all of it, in the most polite and nicest manner.

"I appreciate that compliment, Lady Cyrille. Unfortunately I'm by no means near your level yet," The first daughter responded, her string of girls followed suit by complimenting her about how she looks amazing and so grown up, even more so than her mother. "You flatter me, so kindhearted at such a young age, as kindhearted as you are pretty." Her mother responded, smiling.

That seemed to be the end of it as Rosalyn shot Nyx a look and covered her face with her fan, before leaving, and Nyx moved over and excused him soon after. "I'll be back in a second, I'm dying on thirst." He said, Isaac getting the memo and proceeding to pick her up. She was left completely out of the loop and looked at him and wondered why everyone left so abruptly.

"Mother, why don't you join the other wives? I'll fetch you something to eat." Her mother thanked him and excused herself, eyes lingering onto her briefly, but left her with her brother.

Instead of heading near the food, Isaac instead chose to stand near the exit, while she saw what seemed to by Nyx across the room talking to some men, grabbing a cup of whatever they were drinking, only for one of the men to fall onto the floor, gasping for air and begin to violently shake. Suddenly, she heard yelling from Nyx and another boy.

"Close off the exits! Do not let anyone leave regardless of status, and call a doctor, the Marquis of Myron has fallen!"