Twisted-Wonderland: Our Precious Treasure (Part 2)

(159) PoD: The Courtship Tactics

Riddle was the first one to step out of the dressing room in the rented suit, his fingers fiddling with the cuff of his sleeve. Slowly it became not much of a surprise that Mister Sam does have many things, albeit limited options, for any occasion. He picked the suit that might fit him best; a red wine coat over a white formal shirt and black vest with gold detailing and small chains connected with some buttons, a red rose tucked in his jacket's pocket, a golden cravat around his neck, white gloves, black pants, and reddish shoes. The suit was less fancy than any of what his mother had bought him for his wardrobe. To be the eye candy for the public, so every eye is on the golden child. But what Mister Sam provided shall do. Plus, it matches his red hair as well.

"Roi du rose, you look wonderfully dignified. Truly beautiful!"

Riddle turned to the upperclassman who looked more mature than he used to. Striped vest over his white formal shirt and red bowtie, a royal purple jacket with the same color as his pants, a broach of a skull-apple connected to a bow and arrow pinned on his jacket along with a red kerchief tucked in its pocket, a pair of white gloves, and white shoes.

"Thank you very much," Riddle smiled. "I can say the same to you Senior Rook. You look very mature."

Rook clapped his hands. "Merci!"

"Hey, guys. Can you help us out?"

Riddle and Rook turned toward Ace and Epel, causing him to blink in surprise. To see the rowdy troublemaker first years looking like gentlemen for once. Ace's ginger hair was the only one between them that had styled differently; gelled back almost reminiscence to Cater's, showing his forehead. He was dressed in a red checkered suit with a white formal shirt, black vest, and black bowtie underneath. A blue and gold ribbon with the words 'THE GROOM Ace' pinned on his jacket's chest and black shoes on his feet. His hair was gelled back.

Epel meanwhile wore a black formal shirt underneath a violet checkered vest, along with a pale yellow bowtie. His suit jacket was white, his pants were black, and his shoes were white. A pin of white roses and grapes was pinned on his jacket. "I don't look weird either, do I?"

"You have no need to worry," Rook said, clapping his hands and cooing at them. "Both of you are serving sweetness and style."

"Are we wearing this right?" Ace asked, fingers still fiddling with the chain on his suit.

"You've got the Albert chain and the rosette exactly where they should be," Rook said as he stepped forward to pin the chain onto one of his vest's buttons. "There. Perfect."

"And this broach?" Epel showed a pair of poisoned apple pins in his hand.

"It goes on the lapel." Riddle said. He offered a hand. "Here. Let me help." Epel passed them without a word. Riddle delicately pinned the poisoned apples right on his bowtie. "There you go."

Epel smiled. "Thank you, Senior Riddle."

"All of you look wonderful." All of them turned toward the headmaster, looking each and one of them like a proud father who was about to lead his daughter down the aisle; nervous yet proud and rather nostalgic about the tales nobody will ever know. If the situation was different, Riddle might have blushed (not that he knows what a father love feels like for Holland Rosehearts was too afraid to interfere with his wife's way in the household).

"Geez, even the headmaster is praising us." Ace scratched behind his unitchy head. "It feels so weird."

"Now, those tuxedos are enchanted." Sam approached them with the box of the Ring of Severance that Ortho brought in once Azul said it was okay to stop the recording. "Not only it'll give you more charisma, but it'll also protect you from the ghost's attack so it won't freeze you like the others."