Becoming Part of the Family [Female Reader x Lady Dimitrescu]

XXI. Efflorescence

Efflorescence: What occurs after a time of development, blossoming.

There may be smut!

Nah, I'm just kidding...Or am I?

At this point, I'm not even sure if I'm joking or not.

Also, thanks for the birthday wishes...from like two weeks ago or something! :D

                                          • • •

"Lady Dimitrescu requests you in her study right away."

You immediately started making your way to the matriarch's personal study, your grip on the strawberry peach candle firm.

Daniela's playful comment, "Have fun~" rang in your head.

You took quick strides, not wanting to keep the matriarch waiting long. Your nerves got the best of you when you were on the other side of the closed study door. You took a deep breath and readied yourself to open the door to head inside.

You knocked before turning the doorknob, walking inside and shutting the door behind you. It wasn't a necessity to knock, she could probably already sense you but it was a respectful thing to do.

You feel a burning gaze on you as you made sure the door was shut, turning around to see Lady Dimitrescu eyeing you with a guarded facial expression.

She was sitting behind her desk, her hands clasped on top of some documents.

You bowed your head before meeting her gaze, "You requested for me, my lady?"

She simply hummed in confirmation before cocking her eyebrow at you, "Tell me, my dear, do you know why I asked you to meet me here?"

"I cannot say for certain that I do," You reply earnestly, feeling yourself blush under her stare.

A smirk slowly formed on her face as she raised her right hand and curled her index finger, gesturing for you to get closer. You tried your best to appear nonchalant as you approached her.

"Notice anything different?" Lady Dimitrescu questioned when you were right in front of her, her eyes glimmering with amusement.

You paused and eyed her up and down, nothing seemed to be different about her. She looked every bit as beautiful as she usually does. Her hat was still the same, as was her light application of makeup. There was a small smile on her face as you tried to figure it out.

You focused your gaze around the room and observed it, hoping to catch something amiss. When you found nothing out of the ordinary, you frowned in confusion and locked eyes with her again, "I'm afraid not, my lady."

She chuckled and quirked an eyebrow at you before calling out, "Cassandra!"

Perplexed, you waited for the middle Dimitrescu daughter to show up. After a moment of weird silence, you blinked and turned to look at the closed study door. You tried your best to listen for the telltale signs of flies but couldn't hear it.

In fact, you couldn't hear much of anything.

...Just silence.

It was so unlike Cassandra to take long to show up when her mother calls. She would usually appear within seconds.

...Wait a minute.

Your eyes widened as you figured it out.

A low chuckle behind you caused your heartbeat to rise steadily. Then, a pair of hands gently grabbed ahold of your waist making you squeal lightly in surprise.