VI. June 14th, 1989

Gwen slapped my arm.

"Ow!"

"Steven told me to smack you just in case you do stupid things."

I rubbed my arm to take away the tingly sensation. "Even Steven doesn't hit me!"

"Well, you deserve to be hit! I told you to stay with the guard."

"I did stay with the guard!"

"But...But you went back safely?"

My brows furrowed and I gave her a confused look. I don't understand why Gwen is mad at me. I mean, I did window shop a bit longer than intended and then went back to the mansion without them but at least I did it all safely.

I'm not sure why I decided to leave the mall and go back, but I'm pretty sure it's because I was tired.

I did sleep the whole night.

After we ate breakfast, where Emmett was nowhere to be found, the three of us had a picnic in the back garden.

With my eyes facing the grey clouds, I said: "You know, I aspire to be this rich one day."

"Don't we all," Gwen said.

I look at Asena, "Want to get married?"

Asena laughs, "You're not serious."

"I, too, am serious." I gave it a second thought, "Unless you want me to be your aunty?"

Asena scoffed, "Over my dead body will you become my aunt."

"You met the dude two days ago," I responded. "You're practically strangers." I resume my resting stance. With my hands on my stomach and my legs crossed, I continued to stare at the grey clouds.

From what I recall, Immortals don't like warm weather. They can tolerate it, but cold weather is their ideal type. Not too cold though. Just enough to stroll around the park or wherever else Immortals hang out. They talked about it briefly in school, but I don't remember the reason why they don't like warm weather.

The clouds layered above one another. A soft tune appeared, and I smiled at it. I can see the clouds tangling and soon, it becomes two people dancing.

"That's a nice bracelet."

My attention skewed to Gwen, "What?"

"Your bracelet. I've never seen it before."

I place my wrist in the air, and somehow the red diamonds shine beautifully even under the dulled clouds. I smiled, "It's an heirloom," I said. "My mom gave it to me before we left."

Gwen smiled, "Can I try it on?"

I frowned, "It's my family heirloom. Get your own!" I pulled my bracelet away from her.

"Can I see it?" Asena asked.

"Sure." As long as she doesn't ask to try it. I mean, it does belong to me.

Asena reaches for the bracelet, but the moment she touches it, she lets out a 'yelp' sound and withdraws.

Immediately, I sat up. There was nothing on her finger.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah." She inhaled a sharp breath, "I'm fine." She shakes her hand, "That was weird."

"Electricity?" Gwen question.

I shrugged, "Probably."

"Pardon me." Bennett appeared out of nowhere again. "It appears that the weather will not be favorable moving onward. I'd like to ask for you all to return to the mansion."

The maids behind us cleaned up the items. Emmett told us since we are esteemed guests, we should enjoy ourselves instead of worrying about the small things.

Gwen rebuttals and says it's okay for us to clean up after ourselves.

I don't really care.

I can clean up.

I cannot clean up.

It's all the same to me.

After Gwen said that, Emmett's eyes flashed red, despite the smile he maintained. Indirectly, I think he said cleaning is for lowly beings and if he allowed us to clean then we are lowly beings. I think I'm reading into it too much.

While the maids cleaned; we made our way back to the mansion. "Oh, wait, I forgot my hat." Quickly, I ran back to the picnic area. I grabbed my hat and smiled at the maids. They stopped. "Thank you," I quickly whispered before I rushed back.

It felt wrong to not at least thank them.

During dinner, Emmett talked about the ball. Unlike Asena, lady etiquette lessons are optional for Gwen and me.

It's a bit unbelievable, but Asena has been here for less than three days and Emmett is already pushing etiquette lessons onto her. His reasoning is, he doesn't want her to be confused and embarrassed in front of others.

I recalled etiquette lessons are optional for Gwen and me.

I guess someone has to make a fool of themselves at the ball.

Before vacation, I imagined what it felt like to be in Bulteria.

Asena, Gwen, and I sat at a single table and listened to the etiquette teacher talk.

Sitting inside a large mansion on a nice day, learning about etiquette from an old lady is not one of them.

I'm mentally crying.

"Miss Mira."

Oh shit, did the old lady ask a question?

"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?"

She huffed a breath but held back her obvious distaste towards me. I openly doze off during her lectures about the royal family and how not to offend them.

"When consuming a meal, the salad utensil is located in-"

I stared at the photo on the wall.

It's a bit stupid that we're learning table etiquette when we're going to a ball. Unless we eat before we go to the ball?

I don't alot of ball experience.

"Smallest one to the left."

Holy shit, I remembered.

"Excellent. To inform the server you are ready for the next meal-"

"The plus sign?"

Asena and Gwen stared at me.

"Yes. And to say you're finished with your meal-"

"Eleven."

"What?" Gwen whispered.

"Incorrect terminology, but correct process." The etiquette teacher nods, "Good."

Pat in the back for me.

Afterward, the three of us went through the rest of the etiquette training. It turns out I'm a natural at eating meals, crossing my ankles, walking with books on my head, and sipping wine.

I tapped out at ballroom dancing.

"Mira!" Gwen blocked me. "Don't you want to learn?"

Is she crazy? We're going to be in high heels the whole night. The only dancing I'll do is towards the buffet table. "No."

While Asena and Gwen learning ballroom dancing, I ate chips and laughed.

For the next two hours, I'm their worst enemy.

The door opened and Emmett granted us his presence. I held back an "ooooh" when he stepped into the room wearing sexy work clothes.

Oh, daddy.

He looks down at me and smiles, "Miss Mira."

"Pleasure." I tried my best not to spit out the chips.

Behind Emmett was a new face - a handsome new face.

He looked at me and steadily, a flirtatious grin made its way onto his face.

Unlike Emmett, he clearly shows some interest.

Ah, playa playa.

The music stopped playing, "Mira," Emmett walked across the room.

"Uncle Emmett."

Uncle Emmett?

That's quite a step.

"How are lessons?" Emmett asked.

"It's good. I'm having a bit of trouble with some of the steps, but-"

"From what I see, you're doing a terrific job." He turned his attention to Gwen, "Hello, Miss Gwen."

"Hello."

Asena and Gwen looked behind him.

"Pardon my rudeness. Asena and Gwen, this is Earl Alaric Desdemona."

Desdemona?

That's an interesting last name.

Interesting, but not unfamiliar.

"Hello, I'm Asena."

Alaric smiled and took Asena's hand. He lays a kiss on it. "Pleasure to be given the opportunity to meet the Duke's niece. I've heard plenty of things about you."

Asena chuckles anxiously, "Good things, I hope."

He didn't respond, instead, he looked at Gwen.

"Hi, I'm Gwen. Gwen Imogen. I'm Asena's friend."

"Please, Miss Gwen Imogen." When he grabbed her hand and kissed it, her face turned bright red.

"Um- just Gwen is fine."

Gwen is not fine.

While they were talking, I watched them like I was watching a TV show. Here were are, in a giant dancing room, with a Duke and an Earl.

Hold the phone.

Asena's uncle is a Duke?

Suddenly, he got sexier.

A water bottle hit my head, "Mira!" Gwen whispered before she turned her attention back to the trio.

Why the fuck did she throw a water bottle at me?

She nudges her head towards them.

Oh, shit.

"Hello-" When I stood up, the crumbs fell to the floor. "I'm Mira Liu. Also, friend. I apologize for dirtying the floor. I do not want to dance, but still wanted to support and-" Why am I still talking?

I stopped and smiled.

Emmett didn't seem amused but Alaric is.

Alaric just earned a few points in my book.

After the embarrassing introduction, I went back to my corner while they all talked. Emmett offered to teach Asena how to dance, and soon, Alaric and Dawn joined them.

The longer I looked at Asena and Emmett, the more suspicious I got.

Is it normal for an uncle to stare at his niece that way?

While they were dancing, I finished my bag of chips. Then, I got bored and decided to leave. No one noticed I was gone.

I know I'm the side character of the story, but it's a bit harsh that no one noticed I disappeared.

Well, except for the etiquette lady.

But, that's only because she left with me.

"Why do you not want to dance?" She suddenly asked while we were walking down the extremely long hallway.

"Oh, I was born with two left feet," I responded.

The more we walked, the less music I heard. "Pity."

"Pity?"

She smiles, "Out of the three, you held the most...potential."

My stomach feels warm. I believe she just complimented me. "Thank you," I said. "It's because you're a great teacher."

We reached the front door, and Bennet wrapped the coat around her shoulders, "I know."

Oh, to have her confidence.

"I'm sorry, but may I know your name."

I'm pretty sure she introduced herself or at least someone did, but I was too sleepy to recall it.

"Elena Norton."

"Well, thank you for coming and teaching us."

Elena chuckles, "Oh darling, I came due to a favor for Duke Emmett."

I smile and nod. I have a feeling anything I say will be used against me.

She looked at my bracelet but didn't say anything. "Next time, don't apologize," she said before she leaves the mansion.

"Baroness." Bennett bows to Elena.

Holy shit.

I was taught by a Baroness.

Elena smiled, "Bennett. A lowly dog as always, I see."

Oh, my God what is happening?

Bennett maintained his smile but did not respond.

Elena tightens her hands on the umbrella. She huffed a breath before she got into the car.

Without a single word to express my confusion about the situation in front of me, I walked away.

After the initial confusion, I started imagining Bennett and Elena's love story. I imagine them when they were younger, and how they fell in love. Bennett is a young man who comes from a long line of butlers and Elena is a young woman who wants to run away with Bennett.

Oh, a young love that's not meant to be.

With my imagination spiraling out of control, I soon found myself in deep sleep.

That night, I dreamt of a man.

His hard body is on top of mine.

His rough hands slide down my curves.

His hot lips rub against my ear, "Mira."

His hands stopped at my waist, and without a warning, he pushed himself into me.

A light gasp left my lips, as my hands rushed through his dark hair, "Yes?"

When his waist slammed itself against mine, the bed creaked. Steadily, my eyes opened and I found myself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling.

Dark grey.

"Who are you?" I asked.

He smiled, "Your lover."

When he leaned down to kiss me, I didn't reject it. Instead, I happily accepted his advance.

I mean, who cares, it's a dream.

Then, I remembered. This is the man I've always dreamt about since I was seventeen. At first, it felt like any other dream, but over time, it started feeling much more real.

Just like now.

I can feel every single inch of him buried deep inside of me.

"I know you."

I could feel a smile on my lips, "Oh?"

"You're the man of my dreams."

Or more precisely, my wet dreams.

His hot breath scattered my neck,"Am I?"

I giggled, "Yeah." When he hit me at an undeniably pleasing spot, a moan left my mouth. "Fuck me harder."

When his upper body moved away from me; I could see him much clearer. His wet hair drips over his beautiful eyes. He grabbed my waist, "My pleasure."

I hate mornings.

Particularly, this morning when I could barely get out of bed. I told Asena and Dawn I couldn't join etiquette class because my waist hurt like hell.

They thought I was on my period, but I'm not. It was a different type of pain, like...having sex a bit too rough last night kind of thing.

I lay in bed and stared at the ceiling.

The pain from this morning passed, but I didn't want to get out of bed.

I didn't want to admit to Asena and Dawn that I may have somehow got too rough with masturbation last night.

But, the more I thought about it, the weirder it sounded.

Did I hurt myself because of masturbation?

You'd think I know my limit.

When someone knocked on the door, I sat upward, "Yes?"

"Miss Mira. Baroness Elena is here to see you," Bennett says.

"Give me a second!"

Quickly, I got off of bed and fixed myself. When I felt like I couldn't look any better, I opened the door, "Hi."

Behind Elena and Bennett were two young girls with boxes in their hands. Bennett bowed and excused himself.

"May I come in?" Elena asked.

I move aside, "Sure."

Elena and the other two young girls walked in. They left the two boxes on the table without saying a single word.

"How may I help you?"

Elena smiled, "These are for you."

I stared at the grey boxes wrapped up by a red ribbon. So simple, but tasteful.

"Go on. Open it."

I removed the ribbon and opened the bigger box. Out came a light purple cocktail dress, "Wow." I run my fingers down the beaded trail.

Elena smiled, "I believe you may need something for the ball."

"Is this really for me?"

She nods.

I placed the dress down and opened the second box. In front of me was simple but undoubtfully, expensive earrings and a necklace. My brows furrowed, with the familiarity of the jewelry.

"Do you like it?"

"Oh, yes, but this is too much."

"Nonsense." She grabbed the necklace and wrapped it around my neck, "A gift."

From Emmett?

The man barely acknowledges my existence.

"If you believe you do not deserve this, you're wrong." She turns my body, "Do not feel guilty accepting these, all the girls will get a dress."

I smiled, "Okay." Who am I to deny such a fancy gift when everyone is getting it? "Can I try it on?"

She nods.

I grabbed the dress and went behind the divider. With my old clothes on the floor, I pulled on the dress only to need help with the zipper. "Can you please help me?"

"Of course. Come."

I waddled out of the blind and turned to my back. From the mirror, I noticed how Elena was staring at my back. When I didn't feel anything sliding up, I asked: "Is everything okay?"

She smiled, "It's nothing." She grabbed the zipper and pulled it up.

I rushed to the mirror and pulled out the necklace from under the high neck. The dress didn't show much of my curves but it was still cute.

I approve.

"I'm pleased that you like it."

I adjusted the short sleeve and turned to her, "It's really nice."

To be in a dress such as the one I'm in is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. There was a resolution to maintain the dress, and one day I'll pass it down to my daughter. Then, she'll pass it down to hers, and so on.

This dress will now be a family heirloom, like my beautiful bracelet.