Homesick

| 24 | Happy Birthday

"Happy birthday, Prince Nahkai." Ivory smiled with a courtesy, which Dapha quickly followed after. "We wish you happiness," Dapha continued.

"Oh please, no need to be formal. It's just me!" Nahkai said with a wide smile.

"Yeah, but your brother is right there!" Ivory whispered, motioning to the gloomy boy standing in the corner. "What if he thinks we're being disrespectful."

"Hm," Nahkai hums turning to his brother. "Novak, these are my friends alright! I'd appreciate it if you stopped staring them down." He shouted.

"What the hell?" Novak mumbled, slightly embarrassed after being called out. "Yeah, whatever." He huffed, walking away.

"See, now you can be normal again." Nahkai smiled.

Both Ivory's and Dapha's faces were turning red in embarrassment. "You didn't have to do that.." Ivory mumbled.

"Honestly, you really didn't." Dapha repeated.

"Now, now, of course I did! I want my guest to feel welcomed, not intimidated." Nahkai joked, light heartedly.

"Well, thank you." Ivory thanked with a smile. "Now we don't have to be so tensed."

"Of course, now if you'll excuse me." Nahkai smiled before turning away from the girls. "There's more guest I must greet."

"Bye," Ivory waved. "Now I feel like prince Novak is really going to watching us." She said turning to Dapha

"You're telling me." Dapha sighed. "But as long as we blend into the crowd, we should be okay."

"That's true." Ivory agreed with a nod.

"Heyyy!" A voice called from across the ballroom. "Heyyy!" It repeated.

"Is that?" Ivory mumbled looking towards the loud exaggerated voice.

Dapha sighed dramatically when she made eye contact with her Fiancé. "Seriously, Raine? I've been avoiding him for weeks, and now he wants to scream at me across the ballroom?"

"Dapha, Ivory, you're here!" Raine smiled, running to the girls and jumping onto Dapha. "I was so worried, I heard you were sick with a deadly illness. What happened, why are you here instead of in bed!?"

Dapha snapped Ivory a stern look but Ivory only looked away innocently. "Got better." Dapha mumbled. "I have a very strong immune system."

"Even so, you should've told me you got better." Raine mumbled, looking genuinely concerned. "I could've paid you a visit after you got better."

"Well, I just got better last night." Dapha lied. "So I thought it would be easier to tell you at birthday party, like I am now."

"Hmm," He hummed, leaning closer to Dapha while giving her a skeptic stare. "Are you lying to me?"

"Of course not!" Dapha pushed him back by his shoulders and said. "So how have you been Raine?"

"Really, you're asking how I am?" He asked, eyes lighting up.

"Nevermind." Dapha groaned.

"Well, I'll tell you!" He exclaimed. "I've been working restlessly, all because of my stupid brother's request of sword fighting! I mean just look at my hands!" Raine exclaimed
shoving his hands in the girls faces. They observed the hand closely as Dapha thought. 'It looks completely normal?'

"You poor soul." Dapha said sarcastically.

"I know! And that's not even half of it, since River is locked in the house I have to go to twice as many events! Can you believe that I have to go to his friend's birthday parties just to tell them he can't attend. What makes it worse is that he has no lady friends, this is outrageous!"