Arthur couldn't sleep after his conversation with Aria about their future. He wondered about how his actions and re presence could put people like Josephine and Oliver in danger.
He also pondered how he had been so ready to kill Eliza to defend his friends without knowing her or understanding her true intentions.
Although killing everyone in his way seed like a solution to avoid problems, it might also be what causes the most problems.
So, he waited for the party, not to find a reason to kill Eliza but perhaps to find a way to prevent future problems for his friends before leaving Lakeview.
While everyone was having breakfast together, a ssenger from Eliza arrived at the mansion and handed a letter to Josephine, who read it imdiately.
"It's a formal invitation from Eliza," she comnted. "The party will be at Lakeview Palace…"
"Where is that?" Arthur asked curiously.
"The Whittlee family's manor," Oliver quickly responded. "It's outside the town, near the lake to the south."
"Oh, the lake…" Arthur had gone to the walls of Lakeview town with Oliver and his cousins once and had seen the large lake that gave the town its na, several miles to the south. "Is there a special reason for the party to be there?"
Josephine made a thoughtful expression. "I don't think so. It's undoubtedly the largest and most luxurious mansion in the town, and since the other option would be Emilio's mansion… well, I don't think Eliza would do anything today besides trying to get closer to you all."
Arthur couldn't help but glance at Aria and think about what she had said the previous night. She didn't know what was going on in his mind, but Nyx did.
'You still think like Liam,' Nyx comnted in his mind. 'Killing your enemies is right, but first, you need to know who your real enemies are…'
'I don't want to make mistakes and leave more problems for them…' Arthur glanced at Josephine and Oliver.
'Don't worry, I'll help you find the best solution for this,' Nyx spoke in a confident tone.
'Thanks, dear.' Arthur was grateful to have Nyx and Aria by his side, helping him see life through perspectives other than soone who only saw killing as the only way.
He spent the rest of the morning eager for the party while Oliver and Josephine prepared their family for potential problems. Aria, Eve, and Margaret, on the other hand, spent their ti choosing clothes, jewelry, and makeup to wear.
Eliza's party was no secret; on the contrary, she made it a grand event by inviting every noble family in Lakeview. The town was in a frenzy, with nobles and commoners alike hoping that the Count's children would protect them from any calamity.
The banquet was scheduled to start at eight in the evening, but the invitations stated that Eliza and her brothers would begin receiving guests from five o'clock onwards. Before that ti, the town center beca a chaotic scene of noble carriages heading towards the gates.
Despite Eliza's suggestion for Arthur to arrive as early as possible, Josephine preferred that they wait until the official ti. Thus, the group prepared to leave at five o'clock sharp, arriving at the party slightly after most of the fawning nobles.
*Knock* *Knock*
Arthur knocked on Aria's door. "Are you ready? The others are already waiting for us…"
"Just a minute," Aria's voice ca from the other side of the door.
"Alright…" Arthur felt curious and expectant since the girls had spent most of the day preparing.
"I'll wait downstairs with Oliver," he said, then headed to the front of the mansion, where he found the other Drummonds waiting.
After a few minutes, Josephine erged from the house first. She wore a long black dress with intricate details and gold jewelry. With a black locket in her hand, her appearance was a mix of charm and dignity.
Oliver smiled lovingly at his mother. "You look great, Mother."
"Yeah, he's right," Arthur nodded respectfully to her.
"Thank you, boys," Josephine gave them a slight bow but then looked back. "Yet, no woman can be described as looking great compared to them…"
As she spoke, the trio appeared right behind Josephine. Aria stood in the middle, wearing a long sleeveless blue and white dress with a modest V-neckline. She also wore fine gloves and pantyhose under the dress.
Her hair had certainly received a lot of attention, tied into dozens of thin braids ticulously arranged around a bun and adorned with nurous ornants and jewels.
Her ears seed like a mine of sparkling gems of various shapes and sizes; there were also delicate piercings in her eyebrows and light makeup on her already perfect skin.
Her natural beauty combined with so many adornnts made her look like a Queen among Queens.
While Arthur was left speechless, unable to describe how beautiful Aria looked now, Oliver and the other male Drummonds forced themselves to look away, knowing that if they continued gazing at that goddess, they would fall in love and suffer for it until the last mont of their lives.
Aria walked slowly towards Arthur, the sound of her high heels breaking the awkward silence. She had taken a lot of ti to reach that level, but it seed worth it based on his look now.
But she wasn't alone. At her sides were Margaret, in her black and white dress, adorned with jewelry and makeup enhancing her beauty. And, of course, on the other side of Aria was Eve, a delicate little doll in a charming child's dress with minimal makeup but her lovely hair also adorned with ribbons.
"Did we take too long?" Aria asked with a proud smile on her face.
"No…" Arthur approached with a satisfied smile. "It was worth it; you…" He paused and smiled at Margaret and Eve, "You all look perfect."
"Thanks, brother!" Eve hugged Arthur's leg, giggling joyfully.
Margaret approached and placed a tender kiss on his cheek before standing beside him.
Arthur and Aria exchanged thoughtful glances, but she quickly broke the silence. "Let's not keep everyone waiting any longer, shall we?"
"Yeah, let's go," he said, turning to the carriages Josephine had prepared as everyone began to get in.
Oliver and his cousins rode in one carriage while Josephine and her siblings took another, leaving one entirely for Arthur and his girls.
Margaret and Eve entered first, and then Arthur extended his hand to Aria. She accepted his help and stepped forward, but as she was passing, he whispered quickly in her ear. "What happened to that dress?"
"Oh, you an the green one?" Aria whispered back in a teasing tone.
Arthur nodded with a curious expression, and Aria smiled. "That would be too daring for such an occasion…"
"You an when there are other people besides to see you like that?" He used a teasing tone as well.
Aria didn't respond with words, just continued smiling as she entered the carriage. The interior was luxurious and comfortable; Aria sat on one side with Eve and Arthur on the other with Margaret.
Josephine's carriage left the house first, pulled by four horses adorned with elegant armor. The carriage with Oliver and his cousins followed, and the one with Arthur and his family trailed behind.
Arthur closed one of the curtains, and Nyx materialized her body beside him. She appeared in a short black and red dress, as elegant as it was seductive, and like the other ladies, her hair was well-arranged, and her body was covered in luxurious jewelry.
"Whoah!" Margaret exclaid, impressed by Nyx's appearance. "You look so beautiful!!"
Aria nodded with an envious expression. "And she didn't need an entire hour just to do her hair…"
Nyx smiled proudly at Aria. "You could have used magic to do your hair in a minute too, couldn't you?"
Aria didn't try to hide that. "Well, girls need so ti to do girl things… next ti, you can try joining us."
Nyx quickly shook her head; after all, she wouldn't trade any ti with Arthur for such activities.
Arthur hugged Nyx and kissed her forehead as the carriage continued through the streets of Lakeview towards the gate. Through the other window, he observed the city as if it were the last ti he would see it.
Whatever awaited him at Eliza's party, it might be the end of sothing and the beginning of another.
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