Chapter 118: 118-Need to dress up
"Urgh!"
Sseraphis groaned dramatically for the umpteenth time. He banged his head on the bed pole in frustration.
"That’s the fifth robes you’ve rejected. At this rate, I don’t think that you are going to get dressed in time to enjoy even the last bit of the party."
Sseraphis glared at Aenyra. He was already having a hard time settling on an outfit that felt just right. The last thing he needed in his head was her negative voice.
He picked up the next available outfit and checked it thoroughly. "Not having the right outfit that makes me stand out is my excuse for delaying attendance, but you... are already dressed, and you look gorgeous so... what’s yours?"
"Maybe I can’t wait to hear what scheme you pulled back in Ocov. Why don’t you tell me?" Aenyra quickly covered.
Sseraphis dropped the robes with disgust written in his face. "The only reason I haven’t told anyone yet is because you ruined my plans to do it during the journey to this place."
Aenyra lowered her head and avoided his eyes. That was a topic she didn’t want to engage in. Just thinking about it already had her heart twisting uncomfortably.
"Why isn’t there a single outfit that’s tight fitting and... what’s the word?" He couldn’t put the words the look he was going for.
"It’s a Zhen family party. When have you ever spotted a tightly fitting outfit worn at such parties?"
Aenyra stated the obvious. Her royal family was fond of tradition and marvelled in outdated methods of doing things.
They cared about appearance, reparation, and cultural preservation. So even though fashion has changed a lot, the parties hosted at her home always took guests back in time in themed clothes, decorations, and music played.
"Your family is lovely, Aenyie. However, I could use an outfit that makes me the star of the party. I want to stand out!" He discarded the next outfit with more disappointment than he had for the last.
"Why do you care about what you wear?" Aenyra grew curious. "You are aware that ninety eight percent of the guests, with the exception of our family members at the party, would give an arm and a leg to bite your head off, right? They hate you."
"Which is why I need to dress up. How else am I supposed to make them swallow razor blades in fury when they see me?" Sseraphis asked like it was obvious.
He wanted his enemies to choke on their hatred and wallow, knowing they couldn’t touch him. It was precisely because most of the beasts at the party couldn’t stand him that he was putting in the extra effort.
The party was a perfect first public appearance for him. It was a chance to glance at the dragon clan and feel absolutely thrilled at the raw and untamed hatred they had for him.
"You get crazier every day. It’s scary," Aenyra feigned a shiver.
"But it’s good to have me back, right?" Sseraphis dangled his eyebrows up and down in a playful way.
Aenyra chuckled. Yes, it was good to have Sseraphis back to his old self. He was the only beast who was ever truly on her side without judgement or expectation. She could win or fail, and he’d still be by her side.
"Don’t be so full of yourself," she playfully threw one of the robes Sseraphis had dismissed in his face. "Now pick an outfit and get dressed."
Sseraphis removed the robes from his face and threw it carelessly onto the bed. "Do you think I can ramage Madam Zhen closet for an outfit?" He thought he’s always liked they way she dresses.
Aenyra’s face contorted. "Would it even fit?"
Her aunt was younger than all I’d then combined. Birth had given her the headstart of being their aunt, but she was still a child.
Even though she had amazing taste in dresses and had the freedom to wear whatever she wanted, her dresses barely fit anyone else in the family.
"I bet I could alter it to fit me," his eyes shone brightly. He was lured by the idea, and at it, every other thought escaped his mind.
"Sseraphis, don’t be crazy. She’ll kil..."
"She can most certainly try," he said, grabbed Aenyra’s hand and dragged out.
"Wh...what’s the plan here?" She stammered, her voice trembling. How could it not? Sseraphis was dragging her to break into her aunt’s room.
Aninma Zhen was one of the reasons she was stalling behind with Sseraphis instead of going to the party even though the celebration had already started. She hadn’t thought of the best way to break the news of her relationship with Sheana to her elders.
She kept her distance from her elders because they had the ability to spot secrets and draw them out, and she wasn’t ready to face the music of her actions. And now, on top of the secret she carried in her heart, Sseraphis wanted to add, breaking and stealing to her crimes.
"Ssese, maybe you should recon..."
"When and where did you lose your spine?" Sseraphis inquired from her, "Just let me know, and I’ll go fetch it for you," he added without missing a step.
He had made up his mind to rob Madam Zhen’s closet, and so he was going to do it regardless of her opposition.
The servants, the lowest ranking dragons that either couldnt form their or were too weak to hold out among other dragons, that they passed along the way stopped, bowed to show their respects and didn’t raise their heads until they were no longer in sight.
There was limited movement in every courtyard as most servants had been assigned to the main hall to attend to the guest and the party. The family members were either getting ready or already at the party.
"I just..."
Sseraphis heaved and stopped walking. He pulled her into a hidden spot under a cotton rose tree. He let go of her hand and casually started plucking flowers in bloom.
"Who are you most afraid of?" He asked, bringing up the topic he knew she had been avoiding.
"Huh?" Aenyra reacted, acting as though she hadn’t heard him. Meanwhile, her fingers found the third flare of her two-piece dress and starter twirling the fabric nervously.
"Your mother?"
Aenyra blinked. Her heart was in her throat at the mention of her mother. She hadn’t even seen the dragoness beyond the greeting they all presented upon arrival. She made certain their paths didn’t cross.
Ignoring the panic in her body, Sseraphis tucked one flower to her hair by her ear and stepped back to admire it. Under the moonlight, the beautiful pinkish flower looked exceptional paired with her icy beauty.
"Beautiful," he smiled. Aenyra felt her panic ease. Sseraphis’ smile was contagious as she found herself smiling too. "Is it Madan Zhen?"
The mention of her aunt brought back that panic in doubled amount. She gritted her teeth and nervously looked around.
Her aunt’s courtyard was quiet. Not a soul in sight and even in the darkness, with only the moonlight illuminating the area, it still held its silent and cultured beauty in the most traditional way possible.
Even though her aunt was younger than her, she was born to a role that held so much expectations from her that even as a child, she feels like an old soul that has lived for centuries.
Aenyra was present the day she was born and saw her grow, and she could say positively that she’s never seen her aunt be a child even for a day.
"Or is it those old grannies?"
"All of them," she confessed, finally.
Sseraphis held her, Aenyra’s eyes stopped wondering and settled on him. "I am here. I’ll protect you from their wrath."
She blinked. One, two... "How?"
"By stealing your aunt’s dress. I’m sure that should pull most of their focus and anger on me, and while the pot is still hot, you can breeze the truth to them... that way, their anger towards you won’t be a lethal," he said.
Aenyra facepalmed. "It’s all about the dress, isn’t it?"
"Of course, it is. Aren’t i the best partner in crime?" Sseraphis patted her back. "Wait for me here," he whispered and quickly disappeared into the building.
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