I nodded slightly, and she pulled me through the service doors, where I assumed we would try the first piece by ourselves.
As soon as the door fell shut behind us, she pressed me against it and laid her head on my chest. I did not dare push her away, I should’ve known she lied—she was terrible at it.
“Is everything to your liking?” she asked.
“Sure.”
She looked up to me, squeezing her mouth for a kiss. I adored her plump lips and my heart raged, but I couldn’t bow down and answer their call, even though I wanted to.
As she pushed herself onto her toes, she swung her arms around my neck and forced our lips together. The spirit prickled on my tongue. “I miss you,” she said, slid her hands over my hips and grabbed my buttocks.
“I miss you, too.”
“Then visit me, kiss me,” she said, “like you used to.” Claire’s chin quaked, and she held on to me, leaving her tears on the lace of my dress. “I would take back what I did if I could,” she added.
“But you can’t,” I said.
“Will you at least let me try?”
I nodded and kissed her forehead before rejoining the guests.
After Claire had cut the first piece of cake in front of everyone, the servants distributed the rest and the conversations echoed through the room.
Suddenly, Doctor Di Centi rang a tiny silver bell to quiet everyone down. Laora stood by his side, forcing a smile while she squeezed Kress’s hand until it turned blue.
“Dear guests, it is an honour to see you welcome my daughter into adulthood. Our lovely Countess and I want to use this opportunity to announce another reason to celebrate.”
Kress stepped in front of Claire while looking at his feet. “Claire,” he harrumphed and knelt. “I’ve carried my family’s ring with me for many years and you have tried it on countless times, complaining that it slipped from your fingers. Today, I want to try it one more time.”
The guests gasped in awe. Claire turned her head and looked into my eyes but I was even more shocked than she was.
Tonio laid his hand on my lap under the table and squeezed it, reminding me of our agreement, and I nodded to her.
“Claire Di Centi, with your father’s and brother’s blessing I’m asking you to marry me.” Kress presented the ring and waited while she hesitated to stretch out her hand. The green gem on its golden band was as big as an eye and sparkled at every move. Ultimately, she gave in and let him slide the ring over her knuckles.
Tonio jumped up from his seat and others followed, clapping their hands.
After Claire bowed down to hug him, he lifted her up, and the guests cheered.
“Kiss!” Tonio exclaimed.
“Kiss, kiss, kiss,” the guests behind me chanted.
The corners of Claire’s mouth had dropped, but she obeyed. Watching them projected the image of her and Bryon before my eyes. From that day forward, I would be obliged to watch her kiss this human-sized fish and keep still. I knew I could not live in the role of a discreet mistress and regretted giving Claire a spark of hope for our own relationship.
One by one, the guests shook their hands, blessed and congratulated their engagement. I fell back onto the chair and turned to Tonio. “Did you know about this?” I asked as he seemed the most pleased.
“It was about time,” he said. “Laora doesn’t want to leave.”
“For the Lagoon?”
Tonio nodded. It was all part of the inner circle’s plans. “Don’t worry. You can still meet her,” he said, and put another piece of cake onto my plate.
Happy Birthday.
“I think I just lost my appetite.”
18. Proposal
Claire rebelled against her medicine and demanded to postpone her wedding because I failed to visit her.
“I don’t feel well, seeing you with him.”
“It’s just a play,” she said, but it didn’t matter to me.
When I distanced myself from her, she threatened to call off the engagement and her condition worsened, followed by hysteria and meltdowns.
I obeyed, again. Otherwise, I would have crossed Tonio’s plans and caused more problems for everyone involved. I kept our relationship innocent and refrained from kissing her or staying overnight.
After Doctor Di Centi had seen my certificates, he offered an internship in his apothecary. I accepted and began spending my free days with Tonio.
Together, we worked on potions and Claire’s medicine. With the next bottle, it would be me who suppressed her Oracle eye. During family dinners, I appreciated my seat beside him. We sank into our conversations, ignoring everyone else. It was not unusual that we would talk until we found ourselves alone with the table wiped clean and the last candle burning.
Before the summer break, grandfather’s words reached me through the Doctor, who received an answer to his marriage proposal. My letter was sealed, but Evrett’s face gave away enough information. After he hugged me, he insisted on moving the idea into existence.
Now I would definitely run away to Gerogy, I thought, but when I opened his letter and skipped through it, my knees collapsed.
‘Light of my life,
There has been no better news than your safe arrival and Evrett’s proposal.
You make an excellent pair, he told me and I can’t wait to receive more news, about my great-grandchild. I hope you accustomed well into that lifestyle and appreciate the outstanding chances this family has to offer. We must fuse blood, it’s non-negotiable.
Our God answered my prayers and informed me you might possess Vanna’s grimoire. I urge you to give it to him, so he can bring it to me after you have thoroughly studied it. Try to handle it discreetly. You can regard this matter with the utmost importance, without forgetting to form an alliance.
There was never a doubt of you being a Mage, remember you’re a Volkov and make me proud, light of my life.’
I began wondering if he used my curiosity as a tool
