A Dove's Tale

Chapter 89

"Hey, look who's here!" Leon called.

A general cheer rose from his brothers as Belle dragged me by the hand to the gardens. She'd arrived earlier in the morning, just in time to hear the tail end of my recounting of Chevalier's late-night visit, which, of course, meant I had to tell it again, and then she had to tell us all about her blossoming romance with Rio. Now, with her pulling me from the front and Theresa pushing me from the back, I was breathless before we reached the tables of food and drinks positioned around the central courtyard in the gardens, and then Leon grabbed me by the waist and picked me up, spinning me around before he set me back on my feet.

"Are you all trying to put me back in a sickbed?" I asked, laughing.

"'Course not," Luke said, his large hand patting the top of my head. "We're just glad to see ya up and about."

"This calls for a toast," Jin said, raising a glass.

"Wait, wait, the princess doesn't have her drink yet," Belle interrupted. "Champagne?" she asked, glancing back at me as she studied the assortment of bottles available.

I shrugged. "If that's what you suggest."

"Ah, that's right, you've never had alcohol before, have you?" Clavis asked, his golden eyes glittering with mischief as he swirled his glass of orange juice. "This could be interesting."

"Ignore him," Yves said. He turned his bright blue eyes on me, his haughty, irritable expression softening immediately into a warm smile. "I hope you didn't eat a big lunch."

"Little Evie's been cooking and baking all morning for you," Nokto said, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "He'll be terribly disappointed if anything isn't to your liking."

"Did you make all of that yourself?" I asked, surveying the spread with amazement.

"Luke helped," Yves said, blushing faintly but glaring daggers at Nokto. "And Licht taste-tested."

"Here," Belle said, shoving a glass of champagne into my hand. "Everybody have their drinks?"

"Wait, where is Licht?" I asked. "And Chevalier?"

"Forget about them," Nokto said smoothly. "Licht doesn't drink, and Chevalier got in late last night."

"To Princess Ivetta!" Leon proclaimed, drowning out Theresa and Belle's giggles.

"To Princess Ivetta!" everybody echoed, downing their glasses. I took a sip of the champagne and wrinkled my nose.

"What are you giggling about?" Rio asked, sliding his arm around Belle's waist. Her cheeks flushed bright red.

"L-look at Ivetta's face," she said quickly as Theresa covered her mouth to stifle her giggles.

"Cute," Nokto said, poking my nose.

I shrugged out from under his arm, blushing. "The bubbles tickle my nose."

"So, what's up with the dress?" Leon asked. "Not ready for the princess get up yet?"

"Maybe she just wanted to match with Belle," Rio pointed out.

Theresa and I had decided on the dress with the green skirt. It was more comfortable and easier to manage than my new gowns, and, Theresa theorized, a favorite of Chevalier's.

"I didn't know what she would wear," I replied, although the same dress with the red skirt was Belle's favorite, and she was wearing it today. "The doctor suggested something simple, in case I need to rest."

"This is easy to get out of," Nokto commented with a sly smirk that made my blush spread to my ears.

"Nokto!"