Chapter 374: A tad unfortunate
Arabella’s voice carried through the music room, bouncing against its walls after reaching their destination which was no other than Ada’s and Abigail’s ears.
"The book staying on your head as you walk is a sign of near perfect if not perfect balance," her hands rose to readjust the hard covered book that rested upon Abigail’s head, "If to the human eyes, these things are barely noticeable, to a vampire, it does stick out. The more control over your body you have, the more impressive it is to them, especially since you are a woman,"
"That is most interesting," her eyes soldered up on the book on top of her head, Abigail spoke slowly, very careful not to disrupt the already fragile balance the system of her body displayed.
"You’ll get the hang of it," Ada chirped from her seat, "It took me a few days to walk without dropping it,"
One step after the other, Abigail seemed so tense, so stiff with every inch she crossed under Arabella’s gaze.
The young woman sat next to Ada while her eyes still followed the trainee before them.
"How are you feeling?" Ada caught her attention, "You seem a little fatigued,"
Arabella’s cheeks tingled as images from the previous night flashed behind her eyes, "Oh... Well, it was a bit of a long night,"
"Oh!" Ada’s eyes widened upon grasping the matter, "I am sorry. I only asked because I thought it had to do with what’s coming tomorrow,"
"No need to apologize, Ada. You asked a reasonable question out of concern. That is what friends do after all," Arabella’s irises traveled back to Abigail who bent a little out of shape in order to keep the book from falling yet another time.
"True that!" Ada nodded and followed her gaze, but most likely seeing as Arabella made no mention of the topic she tried to seamlessly broach, she pressed on, "Still, are you ready for tomorrow?"
Even though Abigail was the one being put on trial, Arabella’s jaws tensed just as much as her student’s figure.
The mention of the tributes’ arrival alone had such an effect on her that she wished Ada would just forget about it.
But that wish was too good to ever become true. Indeed, when Arabella took a little too long to answer, Ada’s eyes returned to her, round and glistening expectantly.
"I am not sure, but why wouldn’t I be?" she spoke a tad too fast, "All I will have to do tomorrow is stand by Silas’ side to greet the tributes. I won’t have to say a word,"
"I know," it came as a murmur from Ada, "I do remember the first time I came face to face with a tribute after they arrived. My limbs trembled more than theirs," she pushed a bitter chuckle out, "I was supposed to help lessen their fears, but instead I did just the opposite. The look of horror on my face did not help with that either,"
Arabella’s lips opened then closed without uttering a thing at first, but then some courage found its way back to her, "Could you tell me a little more about it?" she grimaced an apologetic look, "If you don’t mind it, of course!" she added quickly.
"I don’t mind," Ada offered her a feeble smile and shook her head, "But I am afraid there isn’t much more to say other than I wasn’t ready back then. I can’t even describe the feeling in proper terms,"
"If we could turn back time and make it so that you didn’t have to meet them that specific day, do you think it would have changed a thing?"
"No. I would still have never gotten ready to see them for the first time," that time around, Ada’s chuckle sounded lighter.
"Am I doing it correctly, my Lady?" Abigail’s voice rang them back into reality.
"Oh! Yes! You are! Just follow the rhythm I showed you. You are doing great!" Arabella straightened her posture, "And no more with the honorifics! It makes me feel old!" her shoulders slumped as she crumpled back into her chair.
"Speaking of age, when will your next birthday be? You’ve never told me!" Ada perked up.
"It never came up before and you are not helping me right now, Ada," Arabella folded on herself further.
"Oh come now, please! I love birthdays!"
"I will turn twenty seven on this twenty fourth of Beltane," she plopped her cheek into her palm.
"Oh dear...," the energy and all of the enthusiasm that lived in Ada evaporated all of the sudden, "So, your birthday will be on...," she trailed off.
"Yes! It will be on the day of the auction," with her index finger, the young woman drew invisible circles on the arm of her chair as she pouted.
"That is a tad... Unfortunate," Ada bit at her bottom lip.
"You don’t say!"
Arabella kept on sulking until a fourth voice blared in the room.
Mr Carlon had cleared his throat in order to get their attention first, "I am sorry to have to disturb your lesson, but we have received a message straight from the royal abode of Lustris. It’s been approved by the Umbrarian syndicate, of course,"
Arabella stood to her feet at once, "Is it from the king?"
"I am afraid I do not know the content of the letter, my Lady," he bowed respectfully.
"Right, my apologies," she walked fast and took the envelope out of his hand.
The seal on top had already been broken. A clear indicator that Silas had already read the message.
Much like the previous time, she assumed he wanted her to deal with the response.
Trusting her with a response to the Lustrisian royal family was a bold move on his part, but a much needed one.
Ada hovered as Arabella’s trembling hands plucked the letter out of the envelope.
Almost immediately, it had become evident that the king had no part in writing that letter.
Even with no familiarity or closeness between them, the prince’s insufferable attitude was smeared all over that piece of paper.