Chapter 329 : Dinner
Since my fight with the swordsman who had followed the crowd to call me a cheat—and his colleague who had unfortunately been roped into the mess; since my beheading of two men in the contest, I have been feared by the citizens of the Lycan’s region.
There were no more whispers, well not ones I could hear—neither were there lewd comments made whenever I passed by with Isla, maybe going around, scouting, or just going to buy fruits in the market even though the daily supply of food and its essentials to our quarters was yet to cease.
I have also won my last seven fights, which included races and whatever the Lycan Kings deemed worthy of shedding blood. There was even a drinking contest—not exactly official, just a night at the bar which had turned into a betting of some sort.
The much-needed crowd was absent, the kings too, but I put down my foot and won, because I knew the news would spread; a woman winning a drinking contest. From the looks and whispers that had gone around the bar two nights ago, it had been worth it.
Yet how could I not win that—what would be said of me if I didn’t really? I had been in a position where a cup of wine had numbed my senses, my magic, El.
So, in addition to the lessons I had taken at Freda’s school, I had also followed Duke to every drinking party to get lost in alcohol until I built a tolerance to it, coupled with the simmering magic I constantly let afloat in my stomach—one that hindered me from getting drunk.
But they didn’t need to know that. I didn’t even think they knew that magic could be used for such simple things. They had rather hailed me, and I had made some striking connections with the barmen—well fickle ones, since they would soon be meat for the vampire.
“Sage… are you done?”
“I think so,” I replied Isla, turning to the side in the long-standing mirror.
After my last win, which secured me a spot in the finals, I had been invited to dine with the royal family. It was customary, as Rachel had briefed me on that too, when she had cited why it was vital for me to actually win the competition, adding to the Queen’s instructions.
I didn’t know why it was customary though. Was the dining to familiarise with the fighter—to recruit him or her in the pack’s security—or to brief him of the year’s rewards, choices and all?
Not that I was complaining. Every move forward was a good step to accomplishing the real purpose of my return.
“I’m coming in.”
I said nothing to that threat because it wouldn’t be stopping the butt-head. And right on cue, she opened the door and peeked in. We both laughed at the same time when we glimpsed our clothes.
Dining with the royals meant dressing to the nines, if the dresses being delivered to our doorstep were any indication, but to make myself more mysterious, more enthralling—because then these kings would be piqued enough to get to know me, to get into my traps—I had both left the dresses on the sofas in the living room and gone to my room to make better of my wardrobe.
It was fulfilling to see that Isla had come to the same conclusion.
We were both wearing light summer dresses. Mine had spaghetti straps holding the fabric in place, a dress which was almost to my ankles but having enough slit to entice the general public. My smooth skin was on display—and that was what I wanted—attention. Isla’s had fluffy sleeves and rested just below her knee.
Both of us were wearing sandals too, our recently trimmed and polished nails gleaming enough for the job. My hair, which had been washed and perfumed with rose oil, hung in soft curls over my shoulders, a few strands pinned loosely behind with golden clips. Isla’s was braided into a thick crown, a few loose tendrils framing her face in a way that softened her sharper features.
We both carried small purses—mine a dark velvet embroidered with faint silver threads that shimmered under light, Isla’s a plain brown leather that matched her dress. Around my wrists were thin gold bangles that jingled softly with every movement, and a single ruby ring that caught the faintest spark whenever I turned.
“What do you think they will do when they see us like this?” Isla questioned, coming to stand beside me, looking at the mirror.
I shrugged. “I doubt they will really make a fuss. It’s just dinner.”
We chuckled at the same time. It wasn’t just dinner. We would be flouting their wants to their faces.
“Well, I like it. Let’s go. The chauffeur is already waiting outside.”
We were just about to leave when a shimmering light started right in the middle of the room. Isla looked at me in confusion, informing me that I was the only one that the Queen appeared to—but that wasn’t surprising. She was just an object of delusion.
But what was surprising was that this wasn’t the usual time for our meetings. The Queen usually waited till some minutes before midnight.
“Sage… Isla…”
We greeted her, tilting our heads just enough to resemble a bow.
“It seems you both are going somewhere…”
I pursed my lips, remembering that I hadn’t informed the Queen about this step in the plan.
“We were invited to dinner.”
She cocked an incredulous eye at me.
I shrugged. “Skipped my mind.”
“I see…” the apparition muttered. “And I take it that you will handle yourself properly…”
“As I always do.”
Isla shifted on her feet, and I wasn’t sure if it was because she was tossed out as more conversation was made between the Queen and me—or because she thought her presence was limiting the main reason why the Queen had called on me so abruptly.
It could be both. I would have sent her away the next second of the haphazard, unnecessary conversation I had with the Queen, but the Queen said her goodbyes and vanished before I could say “joe.”
“I figured you would be meeting with the Queen someway, reporting some happenings, but I didn’t guess the apparition…” Isla said, blinking as if the light of the Queen’s presence still lingered in her eyes.
“Yeah… you should have waited outside though. Your presence was hindering her from speaking about why she had called on me earlier than usual.”
A pause, where I scanned her slightly annoyed face.
“What? Didn’t you notice it? Don’t make me think you are dumb again.”