Her wings tucked tightly behind her, Anastasia was playing the perfect hostess as the king and queen sat on their thrones and greeted whoever came to them. They had delegated the entire duty of being a host to Anastasia and Ileus. if only they knew that Ileus was least bothered. 

Wearing a purple dress that was a sleeveless shirt stitched with long pants that fluttered at the ankle as she walked, Anastasia looked… beautiful. She had tied her hair on the top. Two tear shaped diamond earrings flanked by amethyst shimmered with every ray of light falling on them. They formed a lovely pattern on the skin of her neck. When Ileus was not being the host, he was staring at his wife. Right now, he was standing at the bar along with Kaizan. The two were leaning against the counters, watching their respective wives. 

"Ara looks like an interesting character," Ileus said as he sipped whiskey from his crystal. 

"You have no idea!" Kaizan rolled his eyes. "I wonder what Paige has seen in her." 

"But Paige loves her, right?" 

"She does. And it is understandable if she wants to help someone she loves is in a bind. But I don't think Ara needs Paige's help." Kaizan smirked. He took a large swig of whiskey. "It's like Paige keeps insisting on helping her. She feels that Ara is so fragile and delicate that only she can handle her problem. And Ara—" Kaizan gritted his teeth. "She is taking all her help. God knows what has she done to wrap Paige around her little finger! It's like she is suffering from the urge of being this white knight!"

"So, you strongly believe that Paige has this need to "save" Ara by fixing her issues?" Ileus said. 

"I think so… but I am not sure." He looked at Olivia who was now standing with Anastasia. They had welcomed a few guests. It seemed that Olivia was tired. She had gathered her long, flowing topaz gown in her lap and was sipping crushed strawberry with ice, her new favorite. 

--- 

"Gods above!" Olivia shook her head. "When she enters the room, it's like dark clouds have become darker, blocking every tiny bit of sunshine. That's how I have begun feeling when Ara walks in the room with her angry, resentful demeanor. Sometimes I feel she is a self-proclaimed "victim" instead of being one." 

"And what about Paige? How does she feel?" asked Anastasia as she smiled at yet another guest who was coming their way. 

Olivia sighed. "I feel bad for Paige. I know that Ara is looking for Paige to save her, to make her feel better. But Paige is also like a mensch around her. I mean why can't Paige understand that she doesn't have control on how Ara feels. Every freaking time, Paige keeps singing the song of "rain, rain go away", but Ara holds on to her dark, ominous clouds tightly like second skin." Olivia pursed her lips in disgust. 

"Paige refuses to see all that?" Anastasia said. Two ladies came her way and bowed to her. She greeted them in her usual style and they left after pleasant and formal exchanges. 

"I think that Paige is trying to rescue her, and Ara is taking her advantage." Olivia mentioned about the brief incident that took place in the morning over breakfast. 

"Oh my God!" Anastasia placed her hand on her chest. "Ara is shrewd!" 

"Tell me!" Olivia raised her glass for the servant to take it away. "The whole house is so quiet and gloomy that I don't feel like staying there. I keep waiting for Kaizan to come and avoid Ara and Paige as much as I can."

"Ohhh, I am so sorry sweetie!" Anastasia said as she patted Olivia's shoulder. "Why don't you come here and stay for a while?" 

"That won't solve the problem…" Though Anastasia's invitation was very appealing. 

Kaizan and Ileus had joined them by then. "It's not a bad idea," Ileus said. "Mother was also looking to talk to you. Annnddd—" he paused to purse his lips. 

Olivia's skin bunched in the center of her forehead. "What?" She had forgotten that Fuchsia was still lodged in the dungeons of the palace. 

"There is this case of your aunt Fuchsia," Ileus completed his sentence. 

Olivia jerked her head back. "She is still alive?" she blurted with disgust. 

Kaizan blinked at his wife and a moment later burst into laughter. 

Olivia shrugged. "What about her?" 

"The jailer informed me that she wants to talk to you." 

"And you can tell her back that I am not interested in talking to her!" Olivia dismissed. She was done with all the gloomy people in her life. 

Ileus shrugged. "Okay." Then he walked to his wife and wrapped his arm across her waist. "I miss you baby. How about a quickie?" 

Anastasia elbowed him. "Shut up wolf, and stay in the party!"

"Ouch! You wound me," he cried. "We will go in the garden on the back side and we can do it against the wall. You won't even come to know and I will be out of you." 

"Ileus!" Anastasia chided him. "Get your mind out of the gutters!" 

"My mind seeks bliss, woman," he growled. 

"Then you shall get your bliss after the party is over," Anastasia winked. 

Ileus grinned like a silly boy. Anastasia turned her attention to Olivia. "Why don't you come and stay with us for a few days? Mother would love it."

Olivia lowered her head. She wondered what Okashi would think of her if she ran away from the problems at home. 

"That's a good idea," Kaizan said, breaking her reverie. "Our house is under weather these days and I hate to see Olivia getting affected. She can always stay here for a few days." 

"But Kaizan—" Olivia protested half-heartedly. 

"I will come here to spend my nights with you darling." Kaizan wiggled his eyebrows. 

Olivia gave him a deadpan look. She turned her face to Anastasia. "In that case, I am staying back over here." 

"Great!" Anastasia chuckled. "We can have a girls' night out!" 

Floor from beneath the men's feet slipped. 

The next day Ara was sitting at the dining table alone when Kaizan came to have his breakfast. He didn't greet Ara. He picked up fresh salad, apple juice and lamb steaks and walked with his plate to the main hall to have it. Little did he know that Ara followed him there too. "What do you want?" he growled dangerously. 

"Where is Olivia?" she asked as she sat on the sofa opposite to him. "I don't smell her in the mansion." 

"She stayed back at the palace last night after the gathering," he replied, eating his steak. 

"That's strange," Ara remarked. "Shouldn't she stay with you at night? After all, I have heard that the crown prince is very charming."

"Shut the fuck up, Ara!" Kaizan growled in a very dangerous voice. "Do not talk about my wife with that filthy tongue of yours!" 

Ara winced. "I— I am sorry, but I—" her lips curled down. 

"Ara!" Paige's voice came from the door. "What happened?" 

Taking advantage of the situation, Ara started crying. "I just enquired about Olivia and he got angry.." Tears came out of her eyes like a river.

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