The Misadventures of a Terrestrial Anomaly

As footsteps approached them, Wade gripped her hips and let his hand slide down to cup her butt. She reached up to brush his curly brown hair from his face with a warm smile. As she leaned against him, she heard a gasp and knew that Denna had seen them. His hand quickly moved back up to her lower back as he cleared his throat and pretended to be very interested at something on the ceiling.

“Unfortunately, Lady Denna is right. She’s already purchased the pattern and materials seen on the mannequin,” Esmeralda curtsied, “Sincerest apologies.”

New Objective: Find a dress for the ball.

“Adiona’s in,” She whispered in his ear, “You’re about to get your money’s worth, lover boy. Be glad I like messing with snotty rich kids.”

“Praise the gods,” He grinned and whispered to her, “If I’ve got your permission to get my hands on you, perhaps I should find more?”

“Hush, you big flirt,” She laced her fingers in his before she turned back to the clerk, “That’s okay! I also saw this one and thought—”

Wade pinned her against him as she turned to point towards the next mannequin. Her girlish laugh as she placed her hands on his made him blush.

“I’ve already bought that!”

“Perhaps you should tell us which ones you haven’t purchased, then,” Wade snorted, “If it takes you a moment to remember, we can wait here.”

“You’re just happy we’re out of sight of your guards, aren’t you?” She looked over her shoulder and teased, “Always trying to get me alone.”

“Of course, my lady,” He tucked a stray hair into her crown of braided hair, “We can be more informal if it’s just us.”

“Wade – I mean, Lord Wade, that’s not appropriate,” She playfully swatted his travelling hands, “Besides, you know how much I hate dress shopping anyway. Perhaps it’s for the best if we head back.”

She didn’t need magic or eyes in the back of her head to feel the death glare in her direction. Denna crossed her arms as she fumed at the pair. Wade nuzzled his face into her neck, and she giggled at his tickling breath. Charlie thought steam would blow out of the woman’s nose with how much her nostrils flared.

“If you want to be alone, just say so, my lord. I don’t mind,” Charlie leaned against him, “We can always sneak away again. It usually takes a few hours to find us.”

“There aren’t enough hours in the day for how often I want to be alone with you,” He caressed her face, “Perhaps if we don’t find a dress here, we could—”

“I haven’t bought that one,” Denna pointed to an outrageously large, hipped dress, “But I did buy all of the dark fabrics. Those are in fashion right now. If you want anything remotely fashionable, I can always donate the scraps to you.”

Wade kissed Charlie’s neck before he moved away and looked at the dress. He looked at the price tag and looked back to Esmeralda.

“How long would it take you to prepare this? A pale green or pastel yellow would look most elegant on Lady Charlotte. It would match her succulent skin nicely, I think.”

“Lord Wade,” She blushed, “You compliment me too much.”

“Such a shame. It seems I also already bought every shade of yellow and green as well,” Her fan snapped closed.

“Would white stand out too much?” Charlie turned and ran her fingers through a delicate lace fabric, “It could be beautiful.”

“My lord, that may look too much like a wedding dress,” The clerk said, “Perhaps we have a different color that—”

“Seeing you in a wedding dress would be a fairy tale,” He grabbed Charlie’s hand, “I think white be lovely.”

“Unless Lady Denna has also claimed all the white,” Charlie looked over at the infuriated woman, “I would hate to impose.”

“No. White is not in,” She huffed and fanned herself, “It’s not slimming, and every woman would hate to look like a balloon. Not to mention, any stains take forever to come out.”

“That’s true,” Charlie squeaked when Wade pulled her against him, “Would it be too much? I don’t want to insult you, my lord.”

“Nonsense. You’ll look elegant,” He looked up to the clerk, “We’ll take it.”

“Then, Lady Charlotte, please follow me so I can begin taking it in for you.”

“Don’t stray off too far,” She squeezed his hand, “I would hate to get lost on my way back.”

As she followed Esmeralda, Wade watched her almost hypnotically. Denna stomped over to him and crossed her arms. Her fan flicked out to cover her scowl.

“Is she even a real lady?” She snorted, “I haven’t heard of any house with a daughter like her and she is not acting like one.”

“Lady Charlotte is a traveler,” He smirked and kept his eyes glued to her, “She’s a lady because I say she is.”

“Well, hopefully she’s not too well-travelled if my lord has taken an interest in her,” Denna flicked her fan open and waved it at herself, “It would be a shame if a woman with a scandalous reputation attempted to seduce you, my lord.”

“If anything, I am failing to seduce her,” He barked in laughter, “She rejected my marriage proposal.”

“Your what?”

“I asked her to marry me. Many times, in fact,” He sighed, “She’s said no every time I’ve asked. Why else would I buy her a white dress to wear to a ball that I am throwing to honor her?”

“She rejected you?” She scoffed, “So, she has poor taste as well. I would think that anyone in your station would want a woman to stand at your side no matter what.”

“That’s why I’m insistent that she marries me,” He smirked and looked back to Charlie, “I mean, look at her.”

Wade watched as she examined the stitch work of the undercoat for the dress. Every day he fell in love with her in a new way. Her gentle eyes and beautiful features captivated him endlessly. She smiled pleasantly at the clerk and spoke casually with her. Her bright laugh echoed in the shop as they browsed the different fabrics. When she noticed him watching her, she rolled her eyes and waved him away.

“Well. My dress for the ball is fae-made,” Denna huffed.

“Her outfit now is fae-made. In fact, most of her clothes are,” He raised an eyebrow, “From what I’ve heard, it’s quite the experience to get fitted. You should count yourself lucky.”

“Maybe I’ll bring the seamstress to the ball to meet the countess, then!”

“I’m sure my sister would love that,” He said flatly.

“I’ll have my father bring her and we’ll discuss a marriage proposal that will actually make you happy,” Denna sneered, “I know you’re just playing hard to get, Lord Wade. I’m a persistent woman. I’ll get what I want.”

He smiled brightly, “Lady Denna, I’ve learned an interesting phrase recently and I think it applies here.”

“What might that be, Lord Wade?”

“Fuck off.”

She gasped, “I’m sure I heard you incorrectly, my lord.”

“No. You heard me correctly. I told you to fuck off,” He laughed, “Go on, go tell your father what I said and see if he still wants to sell you off to my sister.”

Her face turned bright red as she stormed off. Charlie looked back up at him with a puzzled expression, but he nonchalantly waved.

For the past decade his sister hinted that he would marry Denna, but he refused to entertain the idea. He made his stance clear that he never wanted to marry the spoiled brat with the infamously entitled attitude. Wade knew he would get an earful from his sister for saying something so coarse to the daughter of the region’s wealthiest businessman, but he didn’t care. Charlie taught him that sometimes being harsh was needed to make a point.

After Charlie’s measurements were taken and the dress only waited for final touches, the pair left the shop and continued their walk.

“It seems your fiancée doesn’t like me very much,” She chuckled.

“You don’t like yourself?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I would run away too if I had to marry her,” She shrugged, “But she just cost you a ton of money.”

“I’ll make it back tonight.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Well, the ball is dedicated to you,” He grinned, “But we are doing some work for charity.”

“What charity?”

“The attunement center needs renovations and a scholarship fund. It’s one of the highlights of Vlaminer, besides our manor,” He shrugged, “I’m going to be taking it over from the viscount soon. It’s the project I’ve worked on when I’ve had to leave you.”

“What exactly are you planning?” She narrowed her eyes.

“I’ve arranged for some of the attuned knights to auction off dates with young ladies. My sister is working on finding attuned ladies as well to spread word of the tests.”

“Selling dates? Really?” She frowned.

“I’m sure I could get a fortune for you,” He winked, “But I’ll be the highest bidder, don’t worry.”

“Wait, you were going to enter me without telling me?”

“Charlie, you’re the star. The belle of the ball, as they say,” He laughed, “My sister said she talked to you about it. Did she not?”

“She hasn’t,” She sighed, “For fucks sake, Wade. Your entire family is going to drive me crazy.”

“Please, be on your best behavior,” Wade pleaded, “You’ve done a great job so far.”

“I didn’t promise to behave before getting auctioned off!”

“I will be the highest bidder, don’t worry.”

She narrowed her eyes, “That includes you, buddy.”

“You tease.”

“Are you going to be auctioned off?”

“Nonsense. I don’t have an attunement yet,” He winked, “And my heart is already captured.”

“Still not going to marry you.”

Wade decided to change the subject, “Would you like to get lunch before we make our way back and prepare for the ball?”

“God, yes. I’m starving. It’s ridiculous to peck at all the food and pretend I don’t have an appetite.”

“You could just eat?”

“No. No I can’t,” She said in a mocking tone, “A lady must keep herself starved to keep herself slim.”

“Your grandmother sounds atrocious,” He snorted.

“You better believe it.”

After scarfing down enough food to last her the rest of the day, Wade promised to have more food sent to her room before each meal so she would feel less pressured or cranky from starvation.