Chapter 49 - A Deal
Easton wore a grimace of a smile upon his kind features. He turned to his older brother with a disappointed glaze in his eyes. "Must you be so mean to her? She's just a young woman."
"And what about you?" Weston bit out. "Why are you so nice to a stranger? You act as if you know her."
Easton raised his brows. "What are you talking about? I'm kind to everyone!"
Weston rolled his eyes. "That's why you're so damn creepy."
Easton forced a blunt laughter. "I'd rather be creepy than a jerk."
Weston didn't respond. He shifted his attention back to the crowd. He watched with pure disbelief as His Majesty grabbed a platter of lemon cookies. They were beautifully stacked in a star shape. For some reason, Lydia Claymore was also near the long table of pastries.
His eyes narrowed upon her hair. They were an interesting shade of blond, ranging from lightened brown, like Autumn leaves, only for it to look bright yellow like chrysanthemum flowers. But her eyes were the most curious things. At times, it was dark green like dirty swamp water, but under the light, it was a shade of lively moss.
To say he was intrigued was a mere understatement.
"She's pretty as well, don't you think so?" Easton instantly said upon realizing where his brother was looking at.
Lydia Claymore was a wild and arrogant woman, yet there was something to admire. Her beliefs were clear and she didn't hesitate to argue for them. She was blunt and truthful. People loved those traits of her, or so he was told.
Easton had seen the powerful and influential people flock to her, even though she was a human girl. Whether it was her rank as Duke Claymore's daughter or future heiress of Claymore Conglomerate, people generally enjoyed her presence.
"It's so interesting, you know," Easton said. "Lots of women were invited, including Lady Claymore. However, her name was suddenly removed from the list on the third day."
"His Majesty probably had something to do with it," Weston said. "I wouldn't want a crazy woman like her at my ball."
Easton's lips twitched. He felt like there was more than one reason. He hid his hands behind his back and continued observing Lydia Claymore. Disp.l.e.a.s.u.r.e was written all over her face as she eyed the plate of cookies in His Majesty's hand. She was holding an entire plate of lemon meringue pie.
"Or maybe, she can be the Golden Rose," Easton slowly said.
There were many blonds invited today, but none shined brighter than Adeline Rose and Lydia Claymore. Their physical features resembled each other, and they were easily mistaken for sisters—if it weren't for their conflicting personalities.
"If she is, I'd rather be marked a traitor and leave Wraith than serve a Queen like her," Weston retorted.
Adeline was weak, but Lydia was too strong. He'd take the former over the latter.
"Hmm, when was Lydia Claymore's birthday again?" Easton tilted his head.
Easton pulled out his phone and began to search for her name. Lydia was well known on the internet and obtaining her information was quite easy.
Easton's eyes went wide. "Lady Claymore's birthday is the day before Halloween? Wow, what a coincidence! That means she's only one day older than the Princess."
Weston's brows tugged together. "That part of the prophecy for the tenth month of the year is always vague. The part we always focus on is the tenth month of the year, but we always forget the most crucial part that Matriarch Dorothy told us recently."
Weston couldn't believe she told her such an important piece of information so late. She claimed it was because the Gods had withheld the information from her.
"Matriarch Dorothy said the prophecy mentions the promised rose blooms on the day where the line between life and death is blurred."
"That's Halloween," Easton said.
Easton tilted his head. "Wouldn't that mean Lydia Claymore isn't the Golden Rose? Because she's born the day before Halloween?"
Weston slowly nodded. Though, something felt amiss. There was a pressing feeling in his gut that told him something was not right. Everything was too suspicious.
Lydia Claymore was born the day before Halloween, and Adeline Rose was born the day of Halloween. It's less than a day apart.
It was bizarre that two girls with similar appearances and close birthdays were such good friends. They were born under great circ.u.mstances too, with both of their parents being immensely wealthy, and great friends as well.
Coincidences can happen so many times before it's called "meddling."
"Something is weird," Weston finally said. "I can feel it, but I don't know what it is."
Easton's brows tugged together. "Now that you mention it… I find it confusing and peculiar. How can there be so many coincidences between them?"
Weston pressed his lips together. "Look into the hospital that Lydia and Adeline were born in. Maybe we can speak to the doctor or something."
Easton perked up. "Oh, smart!"
Easton instantly began to search on the internet as well. To his disbelief, nothing popped up. There were only news articles that mentioned how grand Lydia Claymore's birthday party yesterday was, how much President Claymore splurged on his daughter, the designer of her dresses, and so on.
Wait a minute… if yesterday was Lydia Claymore's birthday, then wouldn't it mean today was Halloween?!
"Isn't it Princess Rose's birthday today?!" Easton blurted out, his eyes going wide.
"Why do you think His Majesty tortured that famous designer to finish the dress that he spent an entire year perfecting to be shown on a runway in Paris and was supposed to be his masterpiece?" Weston bit out. "It was so Adeline could get her dress."
"And why else do you think today's desserts are all lemon themed?" Weston growled. "I heard he harassed the patisserie from morning to night, about lemon cookies, cakes, pies, and so on!"
Easton hesitatingly smiled. He didn't realize that. No wonder Vampires were staying away from the pastry table. Lemons were one of the things that repelled them, though the effect had worn off as the fruit became genetically modified. Still, it was protocol to avoid the fruit at all costs.
"And why else do you think that Lady Claymore is stealing the entire pie from the table? What an uneducated, unethical woman!" Weston hissed.
Easton didn't understand why his brother abhorred the poor woman so much. Weston was short-tempered and easily irritated, but it wasn't without a good reason. He rarely despised people, for he believed in building a good relationship with everyone. That way, Weston's networks were broadened, and he'd have more people at his disposal.
"Cut her some black, Wes," Easton murmured. "She just wants to give her good friend a birthday gift."
"Enough with this talk about Lydia," Weston seethed. "Remember what I said about Adeline's birthday time being 11:58 PM the day of Halloween? The doctor and nurse suddenly retired and supposedly disappeared."
Easton nodded. "It's suspicious, I agree."
Weston held back a sigh. "We need to investigate this further, and find the doctor and nurse who helped give birth to Princess Adeline."
Easton tilted his head. "But the Roses wouldn't have an incentive to lie about Adeline's birthday because the new prophecy bit given by Matriarch Dorothy came out a few months ago. Matriarch Dorothy only His Majesty and the council about the new prophecy information."
Weston narrowed his eyes. "I don't care. Something is not adding up between Claymore and Rose. We need to get to the bottom of this."
Easton reluctantly nodded again. "You're right. We should double check the birthdays and do a security measure."
Weston smiled a bit. "Finally you're smart enough to agree with me."
Easton rolled his eyes in response.
"No matter what, I have a good feeling one of them is the Golden Rose. The coincidence is simply too much."
Easton crossed his arms and continued watching the crowd. His Majesty and Princess Adeline were nowhere to be seen. He wasn't surprised.
"I'm certain it's Princess Adeline. If not, why else would His Majesty show an interest towards her?" Easton murmured.
Weston narrowed his eyes. The thoughts of that little girl with blond hair and a mouth of sass did not leave his mind. "Oh, I'm sure His Majesty has a reason."
"What kind of reason?"
"A stupid one," Weston growled.
"Just tell me," Easton laughed.
"I have a feeling His Majesty made a deal with Kaline and Addison Rose."
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