15 15. A Fuss in the Dark.

The fuss going around in the house about getting new suits passed by in a flash and before I knew it, two days has passed in mundanity and today is the day for the party.

It is still breezy, in the middle of July. The afternoons are hot but the sunsets are quite a sight to behold. Elian had disappeared after that, the invites for dinner didn't come either. Which is strange.

It's only natural to share the same table if you lived together but he didn't come to join me during my meals. I haven't seen him at all in a while, except for small glimpses.

I spent my evenings on the balcony, and the carriage would roll at sharp 6 pm. The horse would wave his head about, clattering its feet to a stop. I would watch as his hulking figure emerged and then bathed in the orange light, covered in his evening cloak. And as though a sixth sense had alerted him, he would look up in a sharp turn, meeting my eyes and for a beat, he would hold the eye contact.

Only for a beat.

Then he would immediately look away, without much of a reaction as though he didn't see me at all. I would watch on as he disappeared from view in his wide strides.

He walks as though he has a stick up his ass.

Well, at least he's not making another lame joke.

The better of the worse.

A rough knock on the door came.

I blink with a start, registering myself again. I had zoned out and now, I am just blankly staring at the reflection on the mirror.

"Sir?"

"A minute!" I shout towards the door, and add in a small mumble, "...an hour, more like."

Briley's handiwork came in the morning, and now it hangs off the edge of my shoulders. I place a hand on my stomach and turn sideways,

Still flat, thankfully.

Oh, and Maria won in the end. The grey was brushed off and the shirt is made up of white layered chiffon. Surprisingly, it is not see-through at all but has a misty sheen to it. I glance at the clock,

6 pm.

Shit, I don't have time to be lazing around right now. Hurriedly, I slip in the buttons and straighten the collar out, a wide loose collar. The shirt is smooth all out with simple lace embellishments on the ends of the sleeve and the collar.

A pair of matching vest and pants, both in white with small blue embroidery, and the outfit is now complete.

Look at that, I fix my hair, I look like a pillar on the White house.

I stuff the ends of my shirt into the pants and pat it down to get rid of the wrinkles. Maybe it'll come into form somehow.

Okay, Adi– Max.

I mean Max.

You can do this. I nod at myself, a party where I don't know even a single person is not nerve-wracking at all. And I don't look that bad, just very very white.

But I don't look that bad.

---

The first thing.

This is infuriating.

But the first thing that comes out of Elian's mouth when he sees me, is a sigh. A quick light one but it's still a sigh.

"Well," I come to a stop beside him at the forecourt of the Mansion, "Long time no see." I greet, turning my chin up to flourish.

In fact, I am not feeling so confident now that I am facing it off with him. It has all crumbled within seconds of seeing him.

As a man, it feels a little disheartening to admit that Elian actually looks good when he's all cleaned up. He is clean-shaven and his smooth hair swept up at the side, and he hasn't even shown his full attire. He's now covered in his black cloak, but I could see dark blue peeking out from the inside.

My stomach gurgles and I will it to shut up for once.

Elian doesn't reply to my greeting, simply looking at me and then turning back towards the big carriage parked in front. The horse rumbles restlessly and clacks its shoes against the ground. Elian signals the coach with a quick tap on the side of the carriage. The ghost of a petty Victorian princess possesses me and I stretch my gloved hand out daringly,

"Wouldn't hurt to help," I tell him, and he glides his hand in mine. There is no hesitation and a bubble of delight bursts in my chest. For once, I feel superior.

Without much to show on his face, he balances his other hand on my waist when I hop up on the step of the carriage. Jesus, it's high. And my legs were not as long as they used to be. I would have toppled over.

It's slightly dark inside, but I could make out that it's quite modest with padded seats facing each other and small windows guarded with translucent curtains. The sun is setting behind, the grounds are covered in golden light and the shadows are long. I push open the curtains and drop down on the seat. I wince in pain immediately. It is padded but you can still feel the wooden plank underneath. Elian pushes through and settles down on the opposite seat.

Thwack.

The coach whips his rein, and the horses squeal, lifting their feet. The carriage rocks slightly as it sets off to its destination. I could see the trees along the way, zooming past the window. But not as fast as you would see on cars.

"Put this on."

He reaches in and pulls out something from his pockets and it glistens in the dim sunlight.

"What's that?"

He holds it up higher, and it looks like a necklace. But a much much broader one. I look closer and it looks like gold. Thin gold woven in intricate twists and curves making up a confusing ornament.

"It's a gorget. For your nape."

Oh, for that weird biting thing.

He leans in, holding the necklace towards my neck and I hastily fumble with the buttons on my collar, taking them out. His fingers brush against the hair at the back of my neck and the necklace fits in place around the curve of my neck. The metal is cold and I could feel Elian's breath on my skin as he leans in even closer.

And even closer.

It's dark in the carriage and he can't find the latch for this necklace. The carriage continues to tumble sideways and I stare at the trees slowly zooming past by the windows, my eyes half-lidded. My neck is bent over the side as Elian hunches over me, frowning and squinting at the darkness.

"And you couldn't have done this earlier?" I speak up, sarcasm dripping off the edge. Elian hums but it turns into a gruff sound in frustration.

"Quiet. I couldn't do it in front of the maids."

Oh, Jesus. This again.

"Yes. Yes. Mister Tall, dark, everything-is-a-secret mysterious" I wave my hands around in a gesture, and his hand jerks forward, grabbing my jaw in place.

"Quit moving."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Not funny" He grits through his teeth. He squints at my neck and his large hands tinker with the small latch.

"Is it in yet?"

"Shh. Quiet. I can't see."

"Goddamnit, just turn towards the window, you fool."

I push him off and he reluctantly leans back with a stubborn look on his face. Yeah, yeah. You thought you could fix it if you tried a bit more. My neck was gonna fall off.

With the same stubborn look, he watches me angle the necklace towards the light. And when he tries, the latch falls into its place with a small click almost immediately and I heave a deep sigh in relief at the sound of freedom,

"Well, that was quite unnecessary."

"Unnecessary? You are not bonded. You must have some awareness–"

"I mean the thing you did. Not this."

"Oh." The silhouette of his head bends down, "I am sorry about that."

"So…" I edge in, "why don't we just bond?"

Elian leans his elbow on the window, his finger massaging his temples as he did.

"Adian, just...behave. We are almost there."