After what felt like forever, Christa finally found the dining area.

She saw a long table packed with delicious food and a few maids and butlers standing at the side, awaiting their masters’ orders. And of course, Adonis and Ocie, eating their meals in a very orderly manner.

“You’re late.” Adonis looked up from his meal, shifting his gaze onto the group. His gaze is so intimidating.

Christa gulped, keeping a composed look despite being nervous. “Father.”  She greeted as she bowed her head.

The others do the same. “Father.” They also say in greeting. 

“Why are you only greeting me? Greet your mother too.” Adonis states.

“Mother.” All five girls say in unison, bowing their heads towards the duchess.

“Morning, girls.” She greets happily. “Come eat.”

All of them were about to take a seat until…

“Wait.” Adonis stopped them. “First off, why are five of you late? We had to eat cold food because you were taking so long. Second off, your mother told me you were yelling at the maids and spouting nonsense earlier.”

“Uh…” Christa trailed off. Her friends, now her "sisters" look at her depending on her since she's the only one who knows the story and its characters. But it’s really pressuring. Christa needed to explain everything to them after this, so she won’t be the only one talking next time. “Well, I’m feeling a little sick… so I’m a little… delirious?… My sisters too. They probably caught it from me.”

“Sick?!” Mother questions worriedly. “Do you need a doctor? We’ll call one right now–“ 

She stands up from her seat.

“No!” Christa exclaim and the duchess flinches at her unexpectedly loud voice. “I mean, it’s fine. You don’t have to, mother. It’s nothing serious. We just need medicine and some rest. Please sit back down.”

“Are you sure, honey?” 

“Yeah, we’re fine, m-mother.” Kira stammers, not used to calling someone else ‘mother’ 

Christa could hear the others stifle a laugh. 

Kira sends a subtle glare at them. 

Ocie doubts that, but trusts my words, so she sits back down.

“Vittorio.” Adonis calls the head butler, Vittorio Montague, who had been serving the Castiel family since Father was a child. He snapped his fingers, urging the man to come forward. “Go fetch some medicine for my daughters. They’re feeling sick.”

“Right away, sire.” He nods and leaves to find medicine. 

They all sat down. It was so fancy and there were so many utensils lined up beside our meals. Christa didn’t know which one to use.

“I have received a letter from Cassian, love. Even through letters, I am still annoyed and questioning how we became friends with him.” Adonis said in a slightly annoyed tone as he sipped his tea.

Ocie lets out a soft laugh as she smiles at Adonis. “He’s very eager to invite us to the royal ball. You know how he is, Adonis.”

Cassian.. That name sounds familiar. Christa paused and swallowed her food as her eyes widened from realisation.

They’re talking about Cassian Soleil, the Emperor and father of Ethan and Farrel!

And tonight’s ball… is when Leonidas would show up and interrupt Cassian’s time just to threaten him. But for sure as she remembered, that isn’t the war part yet.

They’ll just have to wait and see where this goes. She has always wondered how that scene is as she read it.