Recalling of Hue

Chapter 4: Truth

Chapter 4

"Truth should always be prioritized above falsehoods and lies."

-eniale

Viella

"Delacroix?" I whispered as my eyebrows furrowed and my mind was suddenly filled with confusion "What are you doing here?" He asks, but I should be the one asking him that "I was invited obviously, what about you?" He was quiet for a moment, and then I heard him chuckle at my response "I meant, what are you doing here all alone? Sorry for my error" Oh, so that's what he meant "I don't know anyone here" To tell the truth, Even if I do know some of the people here I still won't sit at their table.

Before he could even respond, a gorgeous woman entered the stage, and all gazes turned toward her. She was Dressed in a sophisticated evening gown that draped elegantly over her figure. We watched as she grabbed the microphone, her Emerald eyes scanned the whole room. It was Aurelia.

"Thank you so much for making the effort to be here on this special day. Your presence at my birthday banquet means the world to me, I am truly grateful. I hope you have a great time on this lovely evening"

Rapturous applause filled the room, Then Aurelia exited the stage.

"Aurelia is beautiful right?" He glances at me with a smile, does he like her? Well Anybody would like Aurelia.

"Indeed, she is..." My voice fell to a lower register "Come to think of it, Aurelia has an older brother right?" A slight frown played upon his features and it was immediately replaced with a genuine smile "Yeah, I haven't seen him all night, where could he be?" it seemed so suspicious, how could he be gone on his Little sister's birthday? Oh well, whatever it's not my business.

"well I heard he is bossy with his employees" Delacroix raised an eyebrow at my statement, he seemed a bit interested "He is? What else did you hear about him?" He crossed his arms in a serious gesture "I heard that...He fired his assistant over failing to attend a meeting that was scheduled" I sipped on my wine to avoid his fiery gaze "I see... but don't you think it has a reason behind it?" I was about to respond back when suddenly Aurelia started walking towards our direction "There you are! I have been looking everywhere" Her sudden call caught both of our attention "Is this her??" she gasped and felt awe, I smiled at her and she returned it with a warm smile

"Thank you for inviting me to your banquet Aurelia, but could you Excuse me for a moment" I said as Delacroix nodded in response "of course" She moved aside as I stood up and walked my way to the restroom, but along every step, I felt whispers behind my back, As if everyone was looking at me and once I turned around I'll be swallowed by fear...

I immediately sprinted out of the room but then I realized that I ran out through the wrong door, I found myself near the exit of the building, far from the restroom.

"Viella!" Suddenly an arm entwined mine with theirs, I glanced to see who it was "Ciara?" She smiled at me, Ciara came from an average family, But despite that, she had loving parents who supported her dreams of becoming a Chef.

"Are you leaving already? The banquet just started" Ciara tilted her head, Now come to think of it, why Is she here? Not just anyone can get inside Aurelia's birthday banquet. She has just turned 18 right now and throughout those 17 years this is my first time being invited to her birthday.

"No, I just took the wrong door, by the way, why are you here?" She scratched her dark hair smoothly "Actually I came with Margaret, as her fake assistant" she responds followed by a nervous chuckle

"Really? Where Is she right now?"

"She is in the restroom, fixing her makeup and stuff" Oh, of course she would.

"I was also heading towards the restroom, come on let's catch up to her"

We continued to entwine our arms as we headed inside the banquet hall, this time I was with someone who was by my side and It somehow made me feel a bit braver.

The noise became whispers, as their dark creepy eyes started to disappear.

Ciara, Margaret, me, and Aetheria who you haven't met yet, are all in one circle of friends.

Eventually, the four of us became a quadro. Ciara has the talent to cook, Margaret is smart and likes reading books, Aetheria is intelligent and is now completing her dream of becoming a doctor, on the other hand I am a Freelance artist.

We call ourselves the "D.E.R.N" which stands for "Daily Encouragement and Random Nonsense." A sentence that we don't know where it came from and why we even named our group that way.

After a few more chitchat along the way, I didn't realize we were at the restroom already "I should have come with you" Said Margaret "No it's fine" I responded with a smile, Ciara and Margaret looked at each other then they glanced at me while pouting "were you lonely?" Of course, I had to shake my head "No, I had someone to talk to" Ciara tapped my shoulder reassuring me "We should head back now, my friend must be waiting for me" i said to them so they will stop worryng, We made our way back to the banquet hall and I saw Delacroix standing there with his friend, I immediately ran towards his direction, when he saw me coming he smiled

"Carmine, I was waiting for you" he took a glance at my friends behind me, and then his eyes returned to look at me again "I see you met your friends already, well it was fun talking to you again, carmine, but I have to go, something urgent came up" I nodded "I understand" I replied as I watched him leave the hall, He can melt the whole ocean with his golden eyes if he wanted to.

Suddenly a hand blocked my view of him "Hello? Earth to Viella?" Ciara and Margaret exchanged puzzled glances, eyebrows furrowing as they looked at me.

"What?" I tilted my head slightly

"You know Luciano??" Margaret asks

"Do you mean Delacroix? What about him?"

"what do you mean 'What about him?' how in the world were you able to speak comfortably in front of that workaholic tyrant?" Says Ciara with confusion in her voice "Workaholic tyrant? he is just a normal church boy" I scoffed "You seriously don't know???" Ciara mumbled with a worried look "Vie babe, he is Aurelia's older brother" Margaret said in a whisper "What?" I sighed in disbelief.

-To be continued