Sofia’s pov
“Hyacinth…?”
The name spilled past my lips before I could stop it and without glancing sideways at Luca, I felt how he threw me a look.
Surprise filled James face at once, but as expected, recognizable dawned on James’ guest face.
“I mean princess Hyacinth.” I hastily corrected myself while silently berating myself for the error of addressing her without her required title.
A bashful look crossed her face as she shook her head while taking a step forward.
“Oh no, that’s not necessary. And, it’s no longer ‘Hyacinth’, now it’s just Blair.” She responded in a voice that had matured from how it remembered how it sounded the last time I heard it.
Her usual signature long hair is now chopped off to shoulder length, and even though that sort of gave her a new look, I’d still be able to recognize her face anywhere, which is probably because I still hold the encounter I had with her in the past till date.
—
I was fifteen then.
We had all been invited to the queen’s birthday, and father had felt extremely important to be amongst the lucky families who got to receive an invitation from the royal family.
He had warned mother and I to be on our very best behavior before we had left the house. He refused Angelo from coming with us because he believed Angelo was too much of a brat to not embarrass the family at the party, and so Angelo had to remain home alone.
I had felt extremely bad for him and had asked father If I could stay home with Angelo, but he had pulled on my ear for asking him a question as stupid as that.
As we head for the party, my stomach remains in nervous twists throughout because this is the first official gathering I’d ever be allowed to attend, after clocking fifteen a few days ago.
Morher had deemed me ripe enough for things like this and when I reminded her that I was still underaged in a way, she only warned me to never mention that aroused father and that was the end of that conversation.
The front of my dress had been low on that faithful day, revealing little peaks of my budding breasts, and I had felt anxiety clog every part of my lungs because of that.
On arrival, father left to sit and drink with some of his friends who luckily got invited, and mother pushed me towards a group of girls who were clad in beautiful dresses, huddled together, while asking me to be poise, polite and to mingle right before she disappeared into another part of the crowd.
The girls hadn’t looked welcoming when I reluctantly began to approach them, and although they were polite, they gossiped about different young men who were going their own way at the party. I had felt extremely uncomfortable in their midst because I knew my husband would get picked out for me as soon as I turned eighteen, probably the son of an underboss or something, so there was no point in engaging in discussions like this since it would lead to nowhere.
I succeeded in escaping their midst at a certain point, and I wandered off without even realizing while trying to escape the crowd as soon as I began to fill suffocated.
The princess’ voice had been the one to stop me. She was crouched beside a huge flower in her large dress and her tiara still balanced on her head. Finding her position odd but chosing not to dwell on it for long, I hastily apologized and was about to leave, but was shocked when she asked me to stay.
We got to spend time together, right there beneath the large three of flowers, and it was the entire highlight of my teenage years, because for one, I used to imagine her as a haughty, proud person and had assumed she was only putting a polite font each time she comes up on the television.
Even though I had suffered a slap to the face and an earful from father on the way back home because I didn’t mingle like my peers did in order for him to be able to come introduce me to some of his perverted friends who’d ogle my cleavage throughout, I was still reread to relive that particular day so I could repeat the same thing over and over again.
~~~
As we settled around the table to eat, I got off to go look at the food at the kitchen even though I knew everything was already prepared, I needed to act like a host.
Luca had poured the wine before I returned to the dining room, and a light conversation was already going on.
I had somehow expected Blair to refrain from imputing to the conversation, but to my shock, she was the one leading the conversation. She flashed me a smile as I slide back into my seat, face stretching beautifully as she spoke.
“Your dress is so dazzling, Sofia.” She offered and I grinned bashfully as I brushed my curls out of my face, said curls which were almost out and are already in need of a retouch.
“Thank you, Blair. Your dress is drop dead gorgeous and it compliments your eyes so well.” I responded, flashing Luca a look on noticing him staring at me. He held my glass out to me and I accepted it, smiling at him in thanks as I took a small sip of the wine.
The entire food which Matilda had prepared got laid out on the table a few minutes later, and the aroma alone was enough to make my stomach growl a little.
The conversation flowed around us smoothly, and there was barely any hitch, or awkward silence. Blair and I locked eyes a handful of times and I already know I’d want to hang out with her again, but just the two of us.
The dinner went extremely smoothly.
As pleasantly as I had hoped.