Not Giving Into Fate

37- A Cold Family Dinner

Shortly after Sebastian had left, I had left to my room where I had my assistants dress me for the upcoming dinner. I decided to be mean to my father. I found one of the dresses my mother used to wear when she was young, a dress gifted to me when I could fit into it.

The dress was made from her family's colors, a sky blue with silver embroidery. At the hem of my sleeves, an emblem of her family's crest and on the other sleeve, was the Solon's crest. The one of my right bore the Laisel's family crest, one of flowers, while the one on the left had wolves which symbolized the Solons.

I was adorned in my mother's signature sapphire jewelry. I even had on her sapphire necklace that was simple in design save for the big jewel. She wore this everyday and only took it off to replace her jewelry for a party. I had on the matching earrings, bracelets, watch and ring. I had the maids do my hair in her signature thick braid, a braid she wore daily. To make it my own, I had the maids put sapphire clips in the braid.

A knock on my door alerts me to the time. My maids open it and I see my brother. He has a suit coat that matches the Laisel's family colors, a sky blue and matching emblems on his wrists. I look at myself in the mirror, seeing my mother's face but the white hair and green eyes of my father's. I stand up and let Elric see me.

"You look so much like her." He smiles. "I forget how much I miss her."

I walk forward and stand in front of him. "I miss her too... but I know she's happy because we now have each other." I step forward and embrace him. He embraces me back, and the whispers of the maids coo at our sibling hug.

"Ready?" Elric extends his hand. I nod and take his arm, letting him lead me to the dining room. We are quiet as we walk our halls. I see and hear the gossip of the servants. The older servants tell the newer ones that we wear our mother's colors. It's clear what we are doing. We're reminding our father who the true children are. Elric and I are silent, we don't have to say anything just yet.

Before we enter the dining room doors, I see the butler and his eyes widen. "Captain Solon, Master Solon," He bows and I nod my head. The butler stares at me. "You look so much like her, I know your mom would have loved to see how strong you are."

I smile and thank him and then he opens the doors. Elric and I walk in and I see that the bastard and my father are already seated and talking to each other. They stop when we walk in. I ignore the bastard who has wide eyes seeing us walk in together. My father's eyes narrow, obviously knowing what we are up to. I feel the room darken, but I push forward and we take our seats.

Elric sits close to our father and I sit next to him. The bastard sits across from Elric and tries to give us a smile. I narrow my eyes and ignore her.

"Well, let's eat." Elric claps his hands and the servants in the room jump to action. They give us our food and I look down to see we're starting with a fresh salad, the last fruits of the summer.

"Father," I speak up. "The preparations for my party tomorrow is set. The guests will be arriving tomorrow at noon. I have your speech ready." I reach into my hidden pocket and take out one of the papers I have folded. I open it, examining it to see if it is the speech, and proceed to hand it to Elric to pass it along.

"Thank you." Father states, glancing over the speech I prepared.

"Is there a party tomorrow?" The girl asks, breaking up our peace. "Will I be going?"

"No." I state.

"Giselle," my father warns.

"I haven't sent out invitations to members outside the family. She is a baroness's child." I stay calm, cutting the lettuce into more manageable bites. "I've sent out invitations to my father's side, my mother's side and my fiancé. I know grandfather Laisel expressed his... excitement to speak with you, father."