Book 2: Seven Demon's Hearts

Episode 48: Origins (ii)

Episode 48: O r i g i n s ( i i )

Soft violin played in the background as the chatter of high spirited people all dressed up merged into the tune.

"Damien!" Mrs. Vorshwick stopped the young boy walking by and grabbed her eldest daughter from behind. "What do you think of Luciel? How about marriage?!"

Damien's eyes widened with surprise and he was barely able to hide back the laughter. Luciel frowned and looked down at the floor. "Oh no! I am not laughing at you. It is just the abrupt manner your gentle mother presented it in that had me baffled." He waved his hands to clear up the misunderstanding. "Mrs. Vorshwick, I must say, your daughter is far too beautiful! She truly is. But...I believe she is, well, much older than me. I wouldn't be able to fit her wise views with my immaturity and I'm afraid she'll dread being with me for that." Luciel was 30 and still single, almost a burden on her parents at this point. "But, I'd suggest talking to many of the respectable older men here! I assure you, most are still awaiting a gorgeous bride. And I'm sure Luciel has no shortage of beauty for them to refuse." He politely looked at Luciel's red face flushing with a smile.

"Oh, Damien! I'm just trying to marry them off! Five daughters are far too many to handle. My poor mind lays awake at night thinking of who'd be gentle enough to care for them!" She shook her head with embarrassment before curtsying and grabbing her daughter again, walking off to another startled bachelor.

Damien scanned the room before his eyes locked onto a certain redhead. With a mischievous smile, he set his drink down and rushed over to her from behind.

"Boo!"

"BLOODY HELL!" Natella screamed, cringing away from the loud voice by her ear.

"NATELLA!" Mrs. Lelouch screamed back at her daughter's indecent language, turning away from a very important group conversation about "loving all races".

"Who in the--" Natella turned around and faced Damien's smug face. "Damn you." Her face turned as red as her hair while she timidly glanced around the scoffing audience.

"You actually came? I remember you swearing on your life that you'd rather die before setting foot into my house? How would you like your one-way ticket to hell?"

"Oh, quiet! Don't get it twisted." She rolled her eyes and flipped her long hair back. "I'm only here for the sake of my dearest friend."

"Oh, yes! What a lovely supportive friend you are." Damien sarcastically cooed. "Who is this kind soul that convinced you? Is it perhaps that Asian girl you're always glued next to?"

"She has a name and it's--"

"Dalia!"

Damien's eyes widened as he looked behind him, ironically now the one to be startled by the energetic girl. "The name's Dalia. Oh, Mr. Ambrose!" She forced him into a handshake, her eyes gleaming up with respect. "How lovely this is! I've always wanted to attend a tea party at your humble abode! Please, this means so much to me! You could not understand!!"

"Ah...yes..." Damien coughed, trying his best to tug his squirming hand out of her clingy grip.

"Do tell me, are you as much as a prodigy as they say?!" Her eyes lit up. Natella's face twisted up with nervousness at the topic she was going to bring up, nervously looking around.

"P-Prodigy?" Damien scoffed and glanced at Natella before leaning his head to the side, placing on a haughty look. "You can say I've mastered the books and scriptures."

"All of them?!" Her eyes widened.

"Indeed." He lifted a brow and smirked, glancing at Natella again.