Crimson {COMPLETED}

CHAPTER XXVI

ADALIA'S POV

NOVEMBER 5
5:30 p.m

AT DINNER, Christos taps his goblet with his spoon.

All heads turn in his direction. All except Alice, who is still containing a smile.

"Alice and I thought we would announce the good news sooner rather than later." Christos smiles. I haven't seen him smile so big in such a long time.

"You didn't knock her up, did you?" Emily raises an eyebrow at him.

Christos laughs. "No, of course not."

Alice jabs Emily in the side and mutters something to her that makes them both laugh.

They're much closer than I've ever been with Christos. We've had a strained relationship for as long as I can remember.

It's because they're sisters I suppose.

"Alice and I are engaged." Christos beams.

My grip on the table tightens. Lucifer looks over at me, a concerned look on his face.

Emily looks like she just might have a heart attack. Still, she throws on a faux smile.

Mother's face lights up. "Oh that's wonderful! When were you two thinking of having the wedding? We can start planning as soon as possible."

"Well, Alice said she wouldn't mind having it at the earliest opportunity." Christos smiles at her.

Why would Alice want a wedding asap?

Why is she so open to this but Lucifer-

I look over at Lucifer and he offers a meek smile, sinking slightly into his chair.

He's been a lot more comfortable here. More at ease. Still very shy.

An absolute sweetheart nonetheless.

"Speaking of which, Adalia?" Father turns his head to me.

"Yes?"

"When were you planning on your wedding to Lucifer?"

Lucifer sinks further into his chair. Becoming anxious as he always does at the mention of a wedding.

"Um, what's comfortable with you love is fine with me." I turn to him.

He smiles nervously. "I don't know the first thing about what goes into a wedding. Besides, you probably have an idea in mind?"

I smile. So considerate and absolutely sweet.

"Yes actually, I was thinking in early December."

"So in about a month and I half then." Father nods.

Any normal wedding would take months into years of planning, but the palace staff could have one ready in a few weeks.

Mother giddily wobbles in her seat, excited to see her two and only children finally getting married.

Mother and father always longed for a large family but simply had no time to care for more than two kids.

Sure, they could have had more children and had palace staff raise them but mother and father wanted to be very close with their children.

This unfortunately has led to many empty spots at the dinner table that I'm sure they'd love to fill with their new children and grandchildren.

After dinner, I grab Lucifer's hand and lead him to the other end of the table.

"Alice." I smile at her. She turns around and attempts to smile back, looking almost frightened.

"Hi Adalia." She glances behind her at Christos who is thanking Jackson for the ring.

"I was thinking maybe you, me and Lucifer could run some errands around Giana tomorrow. Get to know each other better."

She chuckles nervously. "I wouldn't want to be the third wheel."

"Nonsense, you'll be our sister one day after all."

"Well, I would love to see more of Giana..." She smiles.

"Perfect. Both of you haven't seen much of Giana outside of palace walls." I grin.

"I guess I'll see you then, yeah?" She waves, walking off somewhere with Emily.
__________

NOVEMBER 6
11:17 a.m

Sometime between breakfast and lunch the next day, I knock on Alice's door.

"Hi Adalia. You ready fo go?" She peeks through the door.

I squeeze Lucifer's hand and he smiles at me. I nod and Alice opens the door wider, stepping out.

We walk down to the foyer and a guard escorts us outside.

"Do they come with you guys every time you leave the palace? I've never seen them that much." Alice walks with a skip in her step as we make our way to the street.

"Yes, Christos and I have an awful habit of leaving without escorts." I shrug. "It doesn't cause as much trouble as one might think."

We walk around the marketplace, Alice making most of the conversation. What makes me happiest about it is the fact Lucifer talks quite a bit.

For lunch we stop at a cafe, sitting down at a table on the second floor balcony.

"Isn't Lunam just beautiful?" I look out at the town overhead.

Alice nods. "I've had fun today, getting to look around.

"Yeah? Why about you Love? Did you enjoy getting to see a little bit of your new home?" I stroke Lucifer's hand.

He nods a little, continuing to skim his menu.

"And we can just order anything?" He looks up at me, as if it's this big deal.

"Of course. Whatever you like. Why do you ask?" I set my menu down, already knowing what I'm going to get after just a skim.

"I've only ever been out to eat like this a few times and my dad had always ordered for me, even the times when I was older." He swings his legs back and forth under the table as he continues to look through the menu.

Alice orders one of the cheaper vegetarian options on the menu, probably more so out of habit. Lucifer doesn't even seem to have looked at the prices and just picks what he wants.

He speaks so clearly and steadily to our server. I don't think I've ever heard him talk normally until now. Usually his voice shakes and he stutters.

His voice sounds so nice, smooth. Calming.

At first glance it would seem like Lucifer and I clash horribly, that we're completely different. But in a way I suppose we balance each other out.

I can only hope that one day we'll be truly happy together.

Honestly, it doesn't seem as far fetched of an idea as it used to.