Chapter 345 Plans for the closing ceremony?
Lumiere & Lucretia Arc.
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(POV: Lumiere)
Evening.
Now, winter had massively reduced. It was almost nonexistent.
The ti for the closing ceremony had arrived.
Regrets about the sexy note lingered, but it wasn't worth complaining about now.
I slipped into my exquisite attire for the evening.
This ti, Stellaria was surprisingly being helpful. Sothing I found occasionally hard to believe.
When I was depressed, I didn't see her once. So, seeing her being so helpful now did feel a little off. In the end, I didn't have a problem with it either way.
She floated gracefully behind .
Her delicate hands deftly intertwined my long locks into a braid, but sothing in her expression hinted at hesitation.
I couldn't directly see her face seeing as she was behind , but the mirror I was standing in front of made it easier.
"Wouldn't it be better to leave your hair flowing freely?" Stellaria suggested softly— her voice always sounded like a gentle breeze, simply because she barely put any effort into speaking. "It looks so much prettier that way."
Glancing at my reflection in the ornate mirror, I adjusted my garnts and contemplated her suggestion. "I honestly get what you're saying, but if I don't braid it, it won't be as visually appealing," I replied, assessing the ensemble's overall effect.
I was going to be in the presence of other snobby nobles.
Because of that, I had to look my best. Naturally, I wouldn't care much about dressing to impress them, but if I didn't give it my all in the fashion departnt, it was likely I'd end up disappointing Lilith.
Stellaria let out an exasperated sigh. "That's a lot of hassle just for appearances, isn't it?" she remarked.
Chuckling at her remark, I replied, "Indeed, it may be a bit of work, but sotis making sacrifices to achieve the desired aesthetics is just unavoidable."
With a sleepy yawn, Stellaria continued her task, her nimble fingers never missing a strand.
"You know what?" she asked .
"What?" I answered, trying to look back all to no avail.
"I would've loved to accompany you tonight, but I'm afraid I'm just too tired."
You're always tired Stellaria, I thought.
Smiling knowingly, I nodded in understanding. "I expected no less from you," I reassured her. "After all," I shrugged. "You always prioritize rest over everything else."
"Eh, it is what it is..."
I wanted to keep the conversation going.
"You know, I didn't know you could braid hair..." I began, "Or do much of anything..." my voice took a deep sink in audiblity.
Pausing montarily in her braiding, Stellaria looked at from the mirror before us, a gentle smile on her lips. "Just because I dislike sothing doesn't an I can't excel at it, I'm a Goddess after all," she asserted. "In fact, I used to braid Serena's hair when she was a little girl, long before we crossed paths."
Surprised by this revelation, I responded with curiosity. "Really?" I questioned, intrigued.
Stellaria simply nodded, her gaze distant as she added, "Yeah, but that was around 300 years ago give or take, I don't really rember much from that ti."
I was sure she could rember, she was just too lazy to do that.
Then...
An unexpected silence hung in the air.
I was unsure of how to respond, I finally broke the quietude. "Are you finished with my hair?" I asked, trying to alleviate the sudden heaviness.
Honestly...
Was that really the best thing I could say to break the silence?
Jeez.
Stellaria twisted the final strand with finesse and then, with a sense of accomplishnt, she released her grip. "There you go," she smiled. "Now you look pretty."
As I examined my reflection in the mirror, taking in the intricately braided hair, I imdiately admire Stellaria's skills.
She always said she was too tired to do certain things.
That was true. But, the amount of effort she put into braiding my hair was very obvious. Maybe it was overestimating her emotional care, but for so reason, it felt like her heart and soul was poured into braiding this.
It already felt special to .
"You've really outdone yourself this ti," I comnted.
Stellaria shrugged in a modest manner, and yet this nonchalance made her modesty seem more like pride. "Well, it was done by none other than yours truly," she quipped.
I chuckled at her playful response.
Turning my attention back to my attire, I gave it a final inspection.
"I think I'm ready to go," I told her.
Stellaria's smile widened, but she shook her head gently. "Not quite yet," she said cryptically, her eyes glancing to sothing unseen.
It was my attire she stared at.
Confusion furrowed my brow as I looked at my outfit again, searching for any missing elents. "But it looks complete," I told her, but in a way, so uncertainty creeped into my voice.
Suddenly, Stellaria reached up and removed a golden earring from her delicate ear. Before I could react, she swiftly moved behind , her fingertips lightly brushing against my flesh. In an instant, she pressed the earring into my left ear, causing an intense pain to rip through my lobe.
"WHAT THE?!"
I let out a piercing scream, my hand instinctively covering the wound as blood trickled down my neck.
"What was that for?!" I exclaid, pain strained against my voice. "My ear... it's bleeding!"
Stellaria hovered in the air, a mischievous laughter escaping her lips. "Oh, relax," she teased, completely amused. "It'll heal soon enough."
Of course it would, but I'm still a person, jeez.
She's crazy.
But naturally, the wound on my ear closed. Gripping at the edge of my sanity, I glared at Stellaria, rage coursing through my veins. "Why would you do sothing like that?" I demanded.
With a carefree giggle, Stellaria floated closer. "It looks a lot better on you this way," she finally confessed, her words causing my indignation to crumble into confusion.
"How can it possibly look better?" I questioned, my gaze shifting between my healed ear and the reflection on the mirror.
I took a long good look, and right after I saw it for myself...
She was actually... right...
However, the thought of actually wearing it didn't quite appeal to .
Sensing my hesitation, Stellaria gracefully closed her eyes and crossed her arms before offering a solution.
"If you don't want to wear it as a fashion statent, why not take it as a gift from ?" she suggested, a soft smile gracing her lips.
This caught off guard, and I responded, partially surprised, "Oh, thank you then."
It was the first ti she was being this humane...? It felt nice.
Yawning tiredly, Stellaria nonchalantly added, "Whatever."
And she's back to her normal self.
Resolving to leave, I told her, "Well, I'm about to head out now."
She floated over to the bed and flopped down onto it, seemingly eager to relax. Curiously, she turned to and asked, "What was it you needed again?"
"Eh, I need a portal to Efistes..."
Stellaria let out a heavy sigh and snapped her fingers, conjuring a portal before . As I prepared to step through it, sothing imdiately made to pause.
Turning to Stellaria, I asked, "Hey, you want to get anything for you?"
She rolled over, facing the wall, and replied dismissively, "I don't want anything. Just go have fun."
Unconvinced, I pressed further, "You're sure there's nothing you want?"
"There isn't." Her response was ambivalent and dismissive.
"O... Okay, then," I acquiesced reluctantly.
After, I stepped into the portal and found myself transported to the streets of Argentia, inside Efistes. Since it was evening, I could freely use my flight. As such, I soared into the sky, en route to the eting place designated by Lilith.
The closing ceremony was going to be done in several places across the four duchies, it was a matter of which one was the most accessible.
Winter wasn't fixed, but there was a possibility that even after the closing ceremony that would mark the end of "winter" that there would still be snow nonetheless.
It wasn't fixed but had a certain date region when it occurred.
So, the closing ceremony we were attending was going to be hosted by Lucretia?s family.
Which ant I was not only going to see her there, but also Viscount Lugnar, the loudest noble I'd ever co across.
Well, either way I should co prepared...
Eventually, I arrived, gracefully landing on the ground as my black bat-like wings seamlessly retracted into my back.
My [World Acuity] could easily sense her.
I knew where she was.
"Hi there, handso," I heard her voice.
And there she was, Lilith, dressed in a stunning two-toned red and black dress that accentuated her beauty. The dress revealed a generous glimpse of her cleavage, and she held an elegant fan in her hand, her smile captivating.
"Are you ready to go?" Lilith asked .
I smiled. "Sure."
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