Under the twinkling lights and soft music of Lucan and Maris's wedding reception, Julia sat at a table with a pout that could have soured milk. In one hand, she held a nearly empty glass of wine; in the other, she clutched another bottle, ready to pour her sixth round. Her cheeks were flushed from both the alcohol and the simring frustration bubbling within her. She muttered under her breath, glaring at the happy couple dancing under the lights.
Rina and Hima watched her from across the table, exchanging worried glances. Finally, Rina nudged Hima and whispered, "Are we just going to watch her drown in wine, or are we going to try to cheer her up?"
Hima grinned, leaning forward. "Julia, why don't you co dance with us? It's a wedding—aren't you happy for Lucan?"
Julia's head snapped up, her eyes blazing. "Happy? Do I look happy, Hima?" She gestured wildly with her glass, nearly spilling it. "Lucan—my Lucan—married soone else today! And not just anyone… Saint Maris! Miss-perfect-hair, perfect-smile Saint Maris that... I can't even compete. Do you know how that feels?"
Rina chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "I an, you've known Saint loves him."
"Oh, sure, rub it in," Julia huffed, rolling her eyes dramatically and then sighing into her wine. "I've been here since the beginning! I supported him, I helped him with all his studies, I even cooked for him that one ti he asked—don't know why he needed an 'ergency' stew at midnight, but I made it! And does he even look my way? No!"
Hima couldn't help but laugh. "Julia, didn't you add salt instead of sugar to that stew?"
Julia blinked, frowning. "Details, Hima! Details! Love isn't about stew ingredients, it's about loyalty! And do you know what I get for all my loyalty?" She lifted her wine glass and gave it a slight shake. "A back row seat to his wedding!"
Rina grinned, trying to contain her amusent. "Co on, Julia. You have to admit, they look pretty happy."
Julia slumped back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Happy? Pffft. Sure, they look happy. But does he even realize he's leaving behind a perfectly eligible, talented, and—" she glanced at herself, adjusting her dress dramatically—"beautiful woman? I an, just look at !" She gestured to herself, as if presenting a masterpiece.
At that mont, Olive, who had been sipping her beer quietly beside them, raised an eyebrow and muttered, "If he saw you right now, he'd see a woman halfway to the bottom of a wine barrel."
Julia turned her bleary eyes to Olive and squinted. "Listen, Olive. So of us don't have stone-cold hearts like you. So of us have… feelings! Very big feelings! And a fine appreciation for wine!"
Hima laughed, patting Julia's shoulder. "Julia, there's plenty of other n out there, you know. There are lots of fish in the sea."
Julia groaned, slumping forward onto the table. "Fish? I don't want fish, Hima! I want Lucan. And he's not a fish. He's like… like a rare, one-of-a-kind golden shark!" She slapped the table for emphasis. "And now, he's gone."
Rina, thoroughly amused, held up her own glass. "To Lucan, the one-of-a-kind golden shark!"
Julia lifted her glass half-heartedly, clearly not in the mood for toasts. But as she stared mournfully into her drink, a thought struck her. Her eyes grew wide, and she leaned in close to her friends, looking as if she'd just discovered the aning of life. "Wait… wait just a minute." She paused, her lips curving into a slow, mischievous grin. "I just rembered… people can have more than one wife, right?"
Hima blinked, taken aback. "Uh, technically, yes?"
Julia's face lit up. "Exactly! Exactly! He can have two wives. And I'll just make sure I'm the second one! If I can't be his first wife, then I'll be the best second wife he's ever had."
Rina chuckled, crossing her arms. "So, you're saying you're going to convince Lucan to marry you… after he's already married?"
Julia nodded, looking fiercely determined. "Absolutely. There's nothing wrong with a little healthy competition, right? I'll simply… show him my charms." She tilted her head, trying to look alluring, though the effect was ruined when she nearly toppled over her glass.
Hima burst out laughing. "Julia, you're going to 'charm' him by drinking him under the table?"
Julia waved her hand dismissively. "No, no, I'll have a plan. I'll… I'll wear a beautiful dress. And I'll look at him with those… those eyes. You know, the smoldering look." She tried to demonstrate, squinting as her lips pursed in a way that made Rina laugh even harder.
Olive raised her beer, smirking. "Well, here's to Julia's plan to beco the best second wife."
Julia lifted her glass, already beaming with pride. "To ! The future Mrs. Lucan Number Two!" She downed the rest of her drink in one triumphant gulp, then slamd the glass down with a gleeful laugh. "Just you wait, Lucan. You haven't seen the last of !"
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Under the dim lights of the tavern, four downhearted n gathered, each nursing a glass and a heap of broken dreams. Kai, Alec, Ruki, and Damian sat hunched over the bar, looking more like a band of defeated knights than the impressive n they were.
Kai, who had broken off his engagent with Sarina, sighed deeply. "I was this close to marrying Maris, you know? I ended things with Sarina. I told her, 'Sarina, my heart belongs to another.' Now look at ! Left at the altar… without even reaching the altar!"
Alec, usually the most arrogant of the group, seed unusually somber. He swirled his drink thoughtfully. "You know, Kai, maybe this is my punishnt… I used to think I could have anyone. I would charm them with a single look, you know? And Maris, well… I thought I had her wrapped around my finger." He shook his head, his voice quieter. "But now? I'm just a humble fool, mourning a wedding I wasn't even invited to."
Kai clapped Alec on the back. "You're not the only fool here. At least you didn't ruin a perfectly good engagent!"
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anwhile, Ruki, the youngest and most hot-headed, was practically vibrating with frustration. He clutched his drink tightly, his face red with indignation. "I can't believe Maris married that guy! That Lucan… he thinks he's so great, doesn't he? I could take him!" He slamd his glass down and stood up, fists clenched. "You know what? I'm going over there right now to challenge him to a duel!"
Kai groaned, reaching out to grab Ruki by the arm before he could march off. "Sit down, Ruki. You don't even know how to duel properly. Besides, Maris made her choice."
Ruki struggled against Kai's grip, his face scrunched in defiance. "But it's not fair! I'm handso, and goot person, aren't I? Why didn't she choose ?"
Damian, usually the quiet one, looked at them all with a resigned smile. "Ah, youth… Look at you three, so full of passion." He leaned back, sipping his wine with an air of lancholy. "I have wealth, titles, and connections. Yet, here I am, just like you, drinking away my misery over a woman who didn't even bat an eye my way. Money really doesn't buy everything, does it?"
"One who is acting like child and another like old man," Alec sighed.
Kai chuckled, raising his glass. "Well, here's to all of us hopeless fools, then. To Kai, the man who abandoned Sarina for a love that wasn't his. To Alec, who learned a lesson in humility. To Ruki, who's still child, And to Damian, the rich man who learned the hard way that Maris isn't for sale, and also started think himself as old man."
The four of them clinked their glasses, laughing despite themselves. Ruki took a sip, then muttered, "I still say I could've taken Lucan…"
Damian laughed. "Keep dreaming, Ruki. Keep dreaming."
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