Even Ice Melts | Chapter Two
A/N - Hey guys! Here's chapter two! Sorry if it's a tad boring, I promise the next one will be super juicy / fun! Also, tag list sign up is linked below!
Taglist | Chapter One | Masterlist
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Truth be told, I think that napkins do not matter. At least, not to the extent that I have to decide on a napkin design and crest for a ball that I will only attend for at most three hours. I sighed, looking at the table before me with at least twelve different designs, with the changes of each creme colored cloth being minimal at best, my head falling into my hand. “Do I have to decide all of this? I mean seriously, what’s next? Dishware?” I asked rhetorically as Violet crossed her arms at me.
“Yes!” She responded, exasperated as she threw the blanket off of a cart that must have held at least 25 different plates and bowls, all of varying design and color. My eyes bugged out my head as I looked back and forth from the cart to Violet. “It is both my duty to your family, as well as to the Ton to make sure that your ball goes as smoothly as possible!” She admonished, tapping her finger against the napkins.
“Violet you know as well as I do that I do not care about napkins, or dishware, or cutlery, or dresses, or any of this. Truth be told I don’t even want a ball.” I responded, staring at the creme napkin with gold embroidery before picking it up and handing it to the stern woman before me.
“Believe me, I am well aware.” She responded, taking the napkin from my hand before handing it off to another servant, no doubt for it to be replicated and used at the ball. She began to place plates on the table, their corresponding bowls on top of them. “But, this ball is not only to introduce you as a lady but also to-”
“Find a suitable lord to court me, yes I know.” I groaned, overwhelmed by the pure amount of porcelain on the dining room table. My mind immediately thought of Duke Wriothesley. It had been a weak since my escapade down to the Fortress of Meropide, and still no word from the Duke.
The ball was in two days- “Y/N.” Violet’s voice jolted me from my thoughts, as I looked from the bowls to her. A Melusine now stood at her side, adorning the uniform of an officer. I quickly placed my fingers along the china that had garnered my vision, a creme colored plate with gold embossing to match the napkins. Violet nodded as the Melusine began to speak.
“Lady Y/N, you are requested for a meeting with Monsieur Nuevillette at the Opera Epiclese.” She spoke firmly. “I am to escort you there at your earliest convenience.” She informed as she watched Violet hand the chosen dishware to another servant.
“We are almost done.” Violet assured Melusine before turning to me. “Gold or Silver cutlery?” She questioned as I thought for a moment.
What on earth did Monsieur Neuvilette need me for? “Gold.” I decided, before standing up as Violet nodded to the third and last servant in the room. The man quickly ushered out as the Melusine began to guide me to the Aquabus.
The melusine guard guided me to an upper room of the Opera Epiclese before stopping in front of a pair of doors in the corridor. She stopped before them, bowing as she motioned to the handles, “Here you are Lady Y/N.”
I smiled, giving a slight nod to the melusine. “Thank you.” I spoke before pulling the door handle and entering the room, large doors closing softly behind me. The room had bookshelves lining either walls, the doors laid opposite a wall of windows and curtains, through which sunlight shone through. Two couches laid in the middle of the room, a long chocolate colored table resting between the two, a glass vase holding some rainbow roses front and center.
It was at this time that my eyes landed on the delicate tea set that sat next to the vase, and the man sitting on the couch, not facing me. My brows furrowed as I quickly assessed the head of fluffy black hair. Duke Wriothesley? I coughed to announce my presence.
The warden turned his head over his shoulder, a smirk as his gaze landed on my standing form. “Ah, Y/N. I was beginning to wonder when you’d make it.” He announced, turning back as he poured a separate cup of tea. “Please, sit.” He motioned to the ice blue sofa.
I rounded the seating, taking a seat in front of the Duke on the center of the couch as he pushed the teacup towards me. I picked up and drank, raising my eyebrows at him expectantly. The smirk on his face never faltered, “I’m sure you know I didn’t just bring you here to drink tea.”
“Whatever do you mean?” I asked, placing my tea back down on the table, “I love this little tea party of ours.” It was now my turn to smirk as the Duke nodded, sipping his own tea. It was at this moment that I noticed the magazines lying on the table. ‘The Steambird: What to expect from Lady Y/N L/N’s Courting Ball!’, the picture on the cover being one of me shopping last week at a fabric store, holding up a violet textile.
‘Lady Y/N L/N - What Color will the dress be? More on Page 5!’ Hubel read with a photo of me outside the Opera Epiclese admiring the Marcottes. “Bit of light reading.” Wriothesley teased, tearing my gaze from the papers to him. “Seems the media and I are wondering the same thing.” He spoke, leaning back as he crossed his arms, grinning at me. “What color is the dress?”
“You invited me here to ask me what color dress I’m gonna wear?” I laughed, as the grin was replaced with a smirk, almost defensively. “Relax.” I waved my hand as his crossed arms seemed to relax slightly. “Besides, I haven’t really… Y’know…” I trailed off, grabbing one of the tea cakes off the table.
His grin returned. “You haven’t gotten a dress yet.” He spoke aloud in realization. I opened my mouth to protest, but quickly realized I had no words. I shut my mouth in discontent, as he burst out laughing. “What would the precious Ton say if they knew the Lady to be courted in less than 48 hours didn’t even have a dress?” he posed, a smile evident on his face as a blush rose on my cheek.
“I- Shut up!” I implored, hitting the Duke with a rolled up magazine as he continued laughing. “I was supposed to get fitted today, mind you, but you summoned me here for this tea party!” I spoke, striking him with the magazine to punctuate my sentence.
A small knock was heard at the door. “Ah, seems Coutrie is here.” Wriothesley spoke, before standing up. “Don’t worry, this is why I came prepared.” He winked at me before moving to open the door for the Melusine.
Coutrie walked in, holding a room divider as well as a suitcase that seemed to be bursting at the seams. Wriothesley offered his help but the Melusine shook her head, “Hello.” she spoke, nodding to me as she sat her things down. “You must be Lady Y/N.” She looked at me as I could only nod in response, out of shock.
This was the best seamstress in all of Fontaine, how did Wriothesley convince her- “Have you decided on a color yet?” She asked as she set up the folding wall. I quickly stood up, walking over.
“Uh, not quite to be honest. The theme colors for the ball so far are going to be gold and a cream color. We were planning on doing silk flowers from Liyue for the tables and vases.” I nodded.
The Melusine grabbed my hand, leading me behind the room divider. “A nice maroon will do then. You’ll match the flowers.” She nodded, before going over to her suitcase. She looked up at Wriothesley who stood on the other side of the divider, her eyes narrowing in on his tie.
She rummaged through the trunk before finally grabbing a maroon tie. It seemed to be the same color as the one the Duke currently wore, only with a slight floral pattern embedded in it. She handed it to the lord of the fortress. “Thank you.” He nodded, as Coutrie headed back towards me.
I looked towards Wriothesley, confused. “You… hired Coutrie to make a dress for me?” I asked as he placed the tie in his pocket.
The Duke took a moment to think before continuing, “Yes, but to be fair I also had to find a matching tie to your dress, so two birds one stone.” He smiled, leaning against the arm of the couch he previously sat on.
He took another sip of his tea before continuing, “Besides, according to these magazines, your dress color is the greatest mystery for this week.” he commented, holding the tea in his hand, “Apparently, even such a great mystery that you have two tails from other Lords trying to figure out what color dress you are going to wear.” He spoke, looking outside the windows as he sipped on his tea.
My brows furrowed. How had I not noticed that? Coutrie had grabbed a measuring tape and was starting to take measurements. “Will you need a corset for the day of?” She asked, placing the tape around my waist.
“No,” I spoke, watching as the Duke walked over to the windows, looking out. “I uh, I have one. I just wasn’t aware I was going to be fitted here.” I spoke to the Melusine as she nodded, rummaging through the trunk before handing me a corset. I nodded in thanks as she put it on.
“Anyhow, the one thing people will certainly be talking about at the ball is who found out your big secret.” Wriothesley spoke, turning around and walking back towards the surface, making eye contact with me over the dividing wall. “And if you want me to be the one to win, then I’m afraid two things are necessary.” He spoke, placing the now empty teacup back down on the table.
I breathed in as Coutrie tightened the corset, Wriothesley giving me a small sympathetic look. “Total secrecy for your dress. Coutrie here,” he motioned to the Melusine who peaked her head around the divider, giving a thumbs up before continuing to take measurements. “Has promised complete discretion and is the best seamstress in Fontaine.” He nodded, arms crossing as he leaned against the couch once more.
“You’re lucky I owed Sigewinne a favor, your grace.” The Melusine spoke as I raised an eyebrow at Wriothesley, who looked jokingly annoyed at that comment.
“Indeed I am.” He nodded, “The second thing is that I match your dress.” he addressed me once more as I realized that’s why Coutrie has handed him the tie earlier. “Besides, it’s nice to see the sun for once.” He spoke, smiling as he looked over at the windows, sunlight pouring in through the glass.
I took the time to admire the Duke’s face. My brows furrowed as I stared at the scar trailing down his neck, highlighting how soft his skin looked- “If you feel so inclined to stare, you could always take a picture.” He spoke, smirking as he looked at me out of the corner of his eye.
I felt a blush rise to my cheeks once more as the Melusine grabbed some fabric out of her trunk. She handed it to me, “This is going to be the material and color for the dress. Let me know if you have any problems with it.” I chose to direct my concentration to the maroon cloth rather than the awkward air with the Duke.
I nodded at Coutrie. “This should be fine, thank you.” I spoke, handing it back to her as she put it back in the trunk before taking off the corset.
Wriothesley turned to me, “I suppose I should get going. People will talk if we leave at the same time, and we can’t have them thinking I’m cheating for your hand in marriage.” The Duke winked, holding out his hand over the paper wall.
I smiled in response. “No, we cannot.” I nodded as I placed my hand in his. He grinned, before kissing the back of my hand.
“I’ll see you at the ball then, Y/N.” He nodded, handing a pouch of Mora over to Coutrie, who nodded in thanks as she began to pull out more fabric in preparation for the dress.
“I can pay you back!” I exclaimed as Wriothesley headed to the door. Heturned before exiting.
“No need, Princess. Just promise me you’ll actually wear it.” He winked before closing the door.
<*>
“So… How’d it go?” Sigewinne asked as Wriothesley stared at the mountain of paperwork that had accumulated in his absence.
Eyes growing wider, if at all possible, the Duke sat in his chair. “I’d say it went well.” He spoke as the medic Melusine placed her latest health concoction on the desk, much to the chagrin of ‘His Grace’.
“You know the deal.” She spoke as he winced before picking up the drink and taking a sip from the waiting straw.
“Yeah yeah. Let me get to this mountain.” He spoke, waving her off as she happily skipped out of the office. “The things I’m doing for that woman…” he trailed off, his pen now scratching the first of many official Fontanian documents to come.
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