The drawing room was a warm and inviting space, filled with the gentle glow of candles and the soft hum of conversation. Lady Moreen, Nicholas's mother, sat elegantly on a plush sofa, her hands busy with needlework. Lord Stanford, her husband, stood by the fireplace, sipping a glass of fine wine. Across from them, Annabelle's parents, Marque Edward and Marchioness Kena, sat on a matching sofa, their faces filled with concern.
"Ah, dear inlaws," Lady Moreen said, setting aside her needlework. "We've been meaning to discuss Annabelle's upcoming coming of age celebration. It's just around the corner, and we need to finalize the guest list."
Marque Edward nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "Yes, of course. We've been thinking about that as well. As you know, Annabelle's heritage makes her a target for certain... unwanted attention she knows nothing about."
Marchioness Kena leaned forward, her voice low and serious. "We've had some... inquiries from certain families, expressing interest in forming alliances through marriage. We're not sure what their true intentions are, but we need to be cautious."
Lord Stanford's expression turned thoughtful. "I see. Well, in that case, we should be strategic about who we invite. We can't let just anyone attend, especially if they're not genuinely interested in forming friendships or alliances."
Lady Moreen nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Let's make a list of trusted families and individuals who have a genuine interest in Annabelle's well-being. We can't afford to take any risks."
Marque Edward pulled out a small notebook and began scribbling down names. "Let's see... there's the Duke of Ashwood, the Earl of Waverly, and the Viscount of Ridgewood. They're all respectable families with a history of good relations with ours."
Marchioness Kena added a few more names to the list. "And what about the Baron of Blackwood? He's been trying to form an alliance with us for years."
Lady Moreen's expression turned cautious. "I'm not sure about the Baron. His reputation is... questionable. Let's leave him off the list for now as a suitor but he can still attend the celebration."
As they continued discussing the guest list, the conversation flowed easily, with each person contributing their thoughts and opinions. They debated about who to invite, who to leave off, and how to ensure Annabelle's safety during the celebration.
After a while, Lord Stanford stood up, his glass empty. "I think we've made good progress. Let's finalize the list and send out the invitations, at least Nicholas had already sent a few. We'll make sure to include a personal note from Annabelle's parents, emphasizing the importance of discretion and respect."
Lady Moreen nodded, smiling. "I'll have the invitations prepared tomorrow. We'll make sure they're delivered discreetly, to avoid any... unwanted attention."
Marque Edward and Marchioness Kena exchanged a look, their faces filled with gratitude. "Thank you, dear inlaws. We appreciate your support and guidance during this... delicate time."
As the morning stretched to the afternoon, the conversation turned to other topics, including the latest news from court and the upcoming social events. But every now and then, the discussion about Annabelle's coming of age celebration and the potential suitors continued to simmer, a reminder of the fact that Annabelle was becoming a lady, she would be eighteen in less than two weeks.
The candle continued to illuminate the room giving the soft glow of candles, and the gentle stirring of green tea, as the four parents sat together, discussing the future of their children, and the troubles of the alliances and relationships that would shape their lives.
As they sipped their tea and nibbled on delicate pastries, they spoke of the upcoming ball, and the many guests who would be attending, they just couldn't stop discussing it, they had to ensure that everything was going to be perfect. They discussed the music, the decorations, and the food, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the clock, aware that time was ticking away, and the celebration was fast approaching.
"We'll need to make sure Annabelle is prepared for all the attention," Lady Moreen said, her voice filled with concern. "She's a bright girl, but she's still young, and the pressures of society can be overwhelming."
Marque Edward nodded in agreement. "We'll make sure she's coached on etiquette and protocol. We can't afford to have her make any... mistakes."
Marchioness Kena smiled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "And we'll need to make sure she's aware of the potential suitors, and how to handle those relationships. It's a delicate balance between being polite and setting boundaries."
Lord Stanford chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "I'm sure Nicholas will be happy to help her handle those waters. He's always been a bit of a protector when it comes to Annabelle."
The conversation continued, flowing easily as the four parents sat together, discussing the future of their children, they also talked about Annabelle's brothers, they weren't ready to get married, at least not yet. Same as Nicholas, but it wasn't a bother because they were men and they could get married even in their late forties but for a woman it was different, that was how the society worked.
"We'll make sure Annabelle's coming of age celebration is going to be the talk of the entire kingdom, one of a kind."
Marque Edward and Marchioness Kena sat with Lady Moreen and Lord Stanford in the drawing room, sipping tea and discussing the latest news. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with the soft glow of candles and the gentle hum of conversation.
"I'm thrilled to report that the invitations for Annabelle's coming of age celebration are going out soon or rather some has been sent out," Lady kena said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We've had a few acceptances already, and I'm sure it will be a wonderful event."
Marque Edward's expression turned serious, and he leaned forward in his chair. "Actually, we received some unexpected news today," he said, his voice low and cautious. "The royal family has accepted our invitation."
Lady Moreen's eyes widened in surprise, and Lord Stanford's eyebrows shot up. "The royal family?" Lady Moreen repeated, her voice filled with astonishment. "You mean the vampire royal family?"
Marque Edward nodded, his face grave. "Yes, that's right. We've never had them attend a public event like this before. It's highly unusual, especially given their... nature. They don't even appear in court, only their representatives."
Marchioness Kena's brow furrowed with concern. "We've heard rumors that they're not fond of humans, and they rarely make public appearances. This seems suspicious, to say the least."
Lord Stanford's expression turned thoughtful. "I agree. This could be a sign of something more... sinister. Perhaps they're looking to expand their influence or make some kind of statement."
Lady Moreen's eyes narrowed. "Or maybe they're interested in Annabelle for some reason. We know she's got a unique heritage, and maybe they're curious about her."
Marque Edward's face darkened. "We've considered that possibility, of course. We'll need to be cautious and make sure Annabelle is protected at all times. I don't want her getting caught up in any... royal games."
Marchioness Kena nodded in agreement. "We'll make sure to increase security and have a trusted group of guards on hand. We can't afford to take any risks with Annabelle's safety."
The room fell silent for a moment, as the four parents sat in contemplative silence, weighing the implications of the royal family's acceptance. The soft ticking of the clock on the mantle was the only sound, a reminder that time was ticking away, and the celebration was fast approaching.
Finally, Lord Stanford spoke up, his voice low and serious. "We'll need to be prepared for anything. If the royal family is attending, we'll need to make sure we're ready for any eventuality. I'll speak with our contacts and see if we can gather any more information about their intentions."
Lady Moreen nodded, her face set with determination. "We'll do everything in our power to protect Annabelle and ensure her safety. We'll work with the guards and make sure she's surrounded by people we trust."
Marque Edward's expression turned grim. "We'll be vigilant, of course. We'll do everything we can to keep Annabelle safe and out of harm's way."
As the conversation continued, the tension in the room grew, fueled by the uncertainty and potential danger that the royal family's attendance posed. The four parents sat together, their faces filled with concern, if Annabelle eventually was to end up with one of the Vampire prince's, it was a good thing considering they'd become higher in status.
But they didn't know the main reason why the royals would be in attendance, it was suspicious.
The parents knew they had to be prepared for anything, and they were determined to do everything in their power to keep Annabelle safe and secure.
They also had Nicholas to care for her, including her brothers. She had people.
Marque Edward stood up and took his leave saying he had some issues to attend to at the court while Lord Stanford decided to see the new village construction leaving the ladies alone.