Chapter Twenty-seven
“The engagement ball itself isn’t something you need to really worry about, we just have to get your dress sorted out, beauty treatments are also a must.” Lola got right down to business when they got to the lavish sitting room.
A maid served them fancy juice as they discussed, lingering to unapologetically stare at Claire without a single hostility in her eyes.
“Thank you.” Lola said forcefully, looking directly at the maid who realized herself and scurried out with mortification on her face. “Pardon her manners, you’re kind of a miracle, you’ll be getting a lot of stares.”
Claire felt very flattered about that, she couldn’t believe that she was about to be married into royalty. There luckily wasn’t much for her to do, she would leave first thing the next day to get fitted for her engagement dress and the days after would be filled with spa visits and the likes.
She would have to learn to match important names to faces before the engagement ball, especially those of other werewolf royalty. It was a daunting quest, Claire didn’t feel like she was up to the task.
Senite noticed her getting overwhelmed and moved closer to pat her shoulder. “Don’t worry, you’re not going to be dealing with everything alone and it’s fine to make mistakes.” She reassured her.
“We’re done for today too, try to get enough rest, we can’t have you burning out before the ball.” Lola winked at her, heading out.
Claire was finally able to figure her way back to the bedroom this time, mostly because the receiving room they had sat in was just two hallways down from it. She doubted that she would ever adjust to living in such a large mansion with countless rooms.
Claire’s heart caught in her throat as she gingerly opened the door in the bedroom, wary of bumping into Lukas. She peeked in and saw that it was empty, breathing out a sigh of relief which didn’t last very long.
“Looking for me?” Lukas’ voice came from behind her which made her jump.
“Lukas?” Claire turned around with her eyes wide in disbelief, speak of the devil.
Two maids were walking by at this point and they caught sight of Lukas taking Claire inside the bedroom with his arm around her waist, closing the door right after that. They both squealed silently, hurrying off to gossip with the other servants.
“Hey! What was that for?” Claire hurriedly detached herself from Lukas’ hold, flustered.
Lukas was unruffled. “You were in the way.”
She shot him an irritated look. “Did you have my phone brought here as well?” She asked calmly after taking a deep breath, she wanted to let her mom know that she was currently in the city.
Lukas seemed to read her thoughts. “I did, it should be in one of the bedside dressers and your parents already know about the upcoming engagement, they should be here two days before the ball.”
He stood and watched her hurry to check the dressers as he directed, he hadn’t been planning to come to their bedroom, he just saw Claire peeking inside the room and his mind went blank. There was no need to hang around plus he had been on his way out to attend an event, there was no time to take it easy.
Claire half expected Lukas to lie to her about her phone and was slightly surprised to find it right where he said she would. She also didn’t know how she felt about her parents hearing about her engagement from someone else, even if it was her supposed ‘fiance’.
She took off her shoes after finding her phone and got comfortable on the bed, ringing up her mom, nerves fluttering around in her stomach.
“Hi, Sunshine!” Her mom answered, her voice warm and sweet.
Claire unconsciously let out a breath she didn’t know she had been holding in, feeling peaceful at the sound of her mom’s voice. “Hi, mom…”
“Hold on a moment, baby.” Her mom quickly said, her voice getting dimmer as she spoke, most likely because she had a hand over the speaker. “Matt! Matt! Hurry on here, Claire’s on the phone.”
Claire couldn’t help the soft smile on her face, she could imagine her mom yelling for her dad. She liked to sit in the kitchen because there was a little corner set up for her to do her embroidery. She had specifically asked for it because she said the kitchen was the brightest room in the house.
Her dad would be in the living room watching shows on the television and he would get up to answer his wife’s summons, his blond hair already turning gray.
“Claire! It’s so good to hear from you.” Her dad’s voice came through her speaker.
“Hey dad, it’s nice to talk to you, I miss you and mom.” She said softly, her voice coming out sadder than she expected.
Julia thought that her daughter was just worried for them which was something she did a lot. “Oh don’t worry about us, we’ll always be here.” She fluttered her fingers dismissively. “It’s your turn to live, baby.”
“It is.” Matt supported her. “On that note, congratulations on your engagement, Lukas informed us while you were injured.”
Claire had to fight the urge to roll her eyes, *‘of course he did’*. “Thanks dad, when will you and mom come to the city?” She asked hopefully.
“The engagement will be held on a weekend night, right?” Julia asked in her high pitched voice. “We’ll try to be there at least two days before the date, although Lukas told us that we could come as early as we wanted and that we were welcome any time.”
Claire felt a little pang at the proud lilt to her mom’s voice, it would make her mom very sad when she found out that this was all a sham.
The thing was, Julia was very concerned about her only daughter because she felt like Claire was too attached to them and worried that it would affect her adult relationships and her ability to be independent. So she wanted Claire to go out and explore the world outside of her parents’ circle.
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