Chapter 9: The human realm(3)

WRITER'S POV

“Enzo!?”

“Ana, it really is you. I can’t believe it—it’s so good to see you!”

“It’s so good to see you too. How have you been?” Luana asked, a bright smile dancing on her lips.

“I’ve been great. You look breathtaking.”

His face turned red, making a giggle escape Luana.

“Thank you. You look charming.”

He was wearing a silk white shirt and black pants coupled with a pair of black boots. His jet black hair was pushed back and his dark coloured eyes matched the dark night.

“How's your mom and your siblings?” Luana asked.

“She’s alright. She just wanted to rest for the night, so she didn’t come with us.”

“I would love to see her again.”

“I’m sure she would love to see you too.”

Just then, two girls came running towards them.

“Luana! Luana!?”

“Mariam! Julie!”

They both enveloped her in a big hug.

“ Hey guys!! You girls have grown so much. Julie you're almost as tall as me”.

Luana shrieked.

“I know right? And I'm only twelve” Julie said as she adjusted her glasses,grinning from ear to ear.

Mariam, who was three years younger, and also shorter, tried to stand on her toes and be the same height as Julie.

Luana and Enzo laughed.

“Mariam, don't worry, you'll soon be as tall as Julie okay?” Luana said as she tugged at her cheeks.

Mariam nodded. Her dark eyes shining with hope.

“Alright you two, run along now”. Enzo said, ruffling both their heads.

“Bye Luana!” They chorused as they ran.

“Be careful!” Enzo and Luana chimed at the same time.

“They've become beautiful young ladies,” Luana said, smiling at their retreating figures.

“Yes they have. And so have you, ana” He took her hands and placed them gently in his. The gesture left Luana a little flustered.

Gentle music had started playing and couples started to flood the dance floor.

“A dance, my lady?” He looked into her eyes, hopeful.

Luana took one last look at Seraphina and saw her playing with her dad.

“Of course, fine sir.”

\~~~~~~~~~

Riccardo had been talking to countless people who were thanking him for removing the plague. Some even called him the Miracle Doctor. He was the centre of attraction and the ladies were all over him.

He wore a red wool tail coat with a silk black shirt open at the throat. His white trousers were tucked into knee high leather boots. His hair was in a half up pony tail with the rest falling loosely over his shoulders. Two tendrils framed his face, silver on his left, black on his right.

He looked nothing less than regal. A couple of women had approached him to talk but he dismissed them as politely as he could. Even then, more still came. He paid them no attention, his eyes were searching for one woman in the crowd.

He hadn't seen her since the beginning of the party and wondered where she might be. He stopped a waiter and took a glass of wine. The decorations, the room, the bright colored curtains, the silver chandelier, waiters clamoring around serving drinks.

The scene was a sight to behold. It made him remember when they used to have these types of parties when he was young and his father was alive. But not anymore.

He looked to where the king and queen were sitting and saw the little princess giggling as her mother tickled her. His smile reached his eyes. Just then, his eyes drifted to two figures dancing.

His grip on the glass tightened. Who was she dancing with? And why did they look close? Almost as if they knew each other.

His eyes lingered on her dress, a black and white off-shoulder mermaid gown with black elbow length gloves. Her hair was in a sleek high bun with two framing tendrils. Silver pins decorated her hair and her red lips complimented her look.

He was stunned. He knew she was beautiful but tonight, she looked ethereal. Ravishing. Absolutely breathtaking.

He saw the man whisper something into her ear, making her laugh. A genuine laugh. Something she had never done with him. It was always fake when it came to him. The smile, talks, movement. Always a sense of duty. Not of her own will.

His jaw clenched. His knuckles went white as he balled his fist. He didn't even like her. So why was seeing her with another man making him feel this way?

He could see other men ogling her even as she was dancing with someone else. This was too much for him to take. He finished his wine in one gulp and slammed it quite loudly on the platter.

He wanted to walk over there and yank her away. But he couldn't. Who was he to do that? As he was contemplating on what to do, he saw the queen carrying a sleeping Seraphina to her bedroom. Perfect timing.

He had talked to Adolf about luana guarding Seraphina and he agreed wholeheartedly. He still couldn't feel the wizards presence but leaving her to sleep alone wasn't wise. So, he and the king agreed that an extra bed be brought to Seraphina’s room and Luana stay with her.

Just a right excuse to pull her away from that man. He thought.

He walked towards them with steady, measured strides. As he reached them he lightly tapped her shoulder.

“I need to talk to you. Now.”

She nodded.

“Excuse me for a moment”. She said to Enzo before walking away with the king.

“Seraphina’s going to sleep now. You are to stay with her. A bed is already prepared for you in her room”.

“Alright. Just give me a moment”

She turned to go back to Enzo but the king caught her arm.

“Where are you going?” He asked, brow raised.

“It will only take a moment”.

“Is that really necessary?”

She eyed him suspiciously and yanked her arm away.

“Yes. It is”.

As she retreated, he finally realized that he was nothing but a master to her.

As he watched them talk and saw the man pull her into a hug, he felt oddly suffocated.

He walked swiftly outside to get some air. He didn’t understand why it affected him so much.

“Hey, Riccardo,” a sweet voice called from behind him.

He turned to see a lady in red, holding a wine glass as she strolled gracefully towards him.

A faint smile touched his lips.

“Hello, Catherine.”