Chapter Text
“Announcing Master Charles Alaric Vandeleur and Miss Calithea Roselen Vandeleur!” The doors opened as all eyes turned as Calithea, escorted by her father, entered the extravagant ballroom.
Nearly a month had passed since the Grand Duke’s return to society, the nobles of the city demanding that he hosted a gala to mark his return into society. Drystan had wanted to avoid the concept at all costs, but once Aldous knocked some sense into him, Drystan relented - but only on the condition that a particular pair of alchemists were treated like nobility since they were his “special” guests. The nobles relented, curious as to who these two particular individuals were - though a few houses had speculation.
When Calithea had heard about the invitation, she suddenly became very nervous.
“I understand the feeling,” Drystan consoled when the two of them had discussed it while they were making preparations, walking side by side along the brightly lit corridors of the manor, “Personally, I think a few of the houses are groaning at the prospect of there being a ball, considering what happened the last time an event of this magnitude was held at the estate - but the others are merely looking for an excuse to know what happened.”
“There’s obviously something else that you’re not telling me,” Calithea’s hands dug in her skirts.
“Hmm, you’re very perceptive.”
“I’m an alchemist and a healer, it comes with the job.”
Drystan chuckled before sighing, “Yes - there is something else that goes along with these sorts of events. I’m sure Aldous or Raelynn told you that the last gala was supposed to help me find a potential wife before I was cursed by Orianna, yes?”
When she nodded, the Grand Duke continued, “Since I am still an eligible bachelor with means and a title, there are going to be several nobles there who will attempt to push their daughters on me in the hopes of a prospective marriage.”
“Can they do that?”
“They can, and likely will. However, I do already have a potential woman in mind who has captured my heart like no other,” Calithea felt her cheeks heat up as Drystan clasped her hands in his large ones, “and I think you know each other very well.”
“Drystan!”
The reminder of his chuckle rang in her ears as Calithea’s cheeks flared up in embarrassment as she looked down at her skirts of deep sapphire and mahogany.
“What is wrong?” her father asked in concern, “You’re not feeling ill are you?”
“No, I’m perfectly fine,” Calithea looked up at her father, holly eyes bright with joy, “Thank you again, papa, for everything.”
“It is I who should be thanking you,” Charles smiled, patting his daughter’s hand in comfort, “Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine being here - especially on a night like this.”
“Careful how you phrase things, sir,” a familiar voice spoke, “The walls of this manor do have ears after all.”
Calithea felt relief at the sight of Kaithen and Archar standing at the foot of the extravagant stairwell, both dressed in their finest. Kaithen wore the colors of the Kallistar House; a deep plum colored tail coat with a matching vest and cravat both covered in gold embroidery, the high collar of his white dress shirt touched the ends of his reddish-brown hair while a pair of black dress pants that vanished into black leather boots. Archar still wore the suit of a commander - opting for a white coat also sealed by gold buttons and tassels with embroidered epaulets with a white belt clasped around his waist, and black pants that landed on the top of black dress shoes.
“Badger, Stout,” Charles bowed to the two before standing straight again, “I never had a chance to thank you for your assistance during my daughter’s stay here.”
“Thanks is unnecessary,” Kaithen nodded, “however, I suppose in the near future that might become habitual.”
“And please call us by our names, if not the Jewett brothers,” Archar grinned, “Too many people refer to us as ‘Badger and Stout’ that we’ve grown tired of the titles.”
“Perhaps, but you both are close with his grace,” Calithea answered.
“Speaking of which, where is he?” Charles looked around, searching for the silver-haired man in question.
“He’ll be arriving soon, once all the guests are accounted for,” Kaithen answered, “He is a busy man, after all - no matter how one looks at it.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Charles admitted, “I had hoped I would be able to catch him before his big announcement this evening.”
It was normal for the host of any gathering or party to arrive last following the last arrival of the guests, typically making an announcement about the reason for the gala being hosted as well as offering a few words of thanks before having the party commence. Calithea had only read about these sorts of events in books since she and her father were not of the noble circle - thus she was internally thankful that Archar and Kaithen had seen them upon arriving and was conversing with them to help pass the time.
A tap on the shoulder had Calithea turning to see the sight of an elderly man.
The man was someone Calithea could’ve sworn she saw before - likely a lowly noble lord or viscount based upon his attire; a deep charcoal gray vest with a white low collared dress shirt and black tie sat neatly on his person while a pair of black dress pants touched the top of black dress shoes. He leaned on a cane of oak, the head carved in the shape of a hound, as his pale hazel eyes regarded her, his graying mustache turned upward as he formed a smile.
“Miss Calithea?” the man asked.
“Yes?” Calithea smiled, feeling the three men beside her watch the man with interest.
“Please pardon my interruption of your conversation,” the elderly man spoke, “but I wanted to introduce myself as well as offer my apologies on behalf of my family’s actions.”
“I’m not sure I follow?”
“I’m Lord Faolan Micah Wilde - Oberon’s father,” the man explained, “...well, was his father.”
“Was?” Kaithen arched a brow at the elder man.
“When I heard about what Oberon tried to do to Calithea, I was in complete shock. I don’t wish to be making excuses for him as I have done more than my fair share of cleaning up after his messes and entanglements. He was such a sweet boy when he was a little child and I have no idea what happened to make him so cruel. I had no intention of allowing him to force a woman to marry him - regardless of status. Then I heard about the duel and how he attacked his grace after the grand duke chose to spare his life - that made me absolutely furious.”
“Rest assured, he can not ever see the light of day again,” Archar answered, “We’ve sent him to the royal courts in Calcheth for trial on the accounts of attempted murder, bribing government officials, and attempted kidnapping of a member of nobility.”
“Regardless, my family and I have decided to disown him as well,” Lord Wilde spoke, “I intend to discuss the circumstances with his grace when he has time for an audience with me before I make it public that Oberon is no longer a member of the Wilde family line.”
“I must ask, though,” Charles spoke up after a moment, “Why not do something like this the first time? Why wait after chance whatever number?”
“You are a father to five children, are you not Master Vandeleur?” Lord Wilde asked.
“I am - two strong lads and three beautiful daughters.”
“I have more than just my three sons to consider - I also have a granddaughter to worry about,” Lord Wilde sighed and shook his head in shame, “My wife and Damien’s wife have been generous about taking the child under their wings and raising her since her mother cannot be in the picture following that scandal caused by Oberon five years ago. Honestly, I was hoping that when Oberon saw her and how she interacted with everyone something would happen and he would right himself for his child. But, now that I look back on it, I am beginning to believe that he saw what we were doing as leverage to continue his crazed schemes and living his life without a care in the world.
“If I had known what was going to happen, I would’ve put a stop to it long before little Lily was born. I would have put him in a holding cell myself for the rest of his life if he did not straighten up his act. He got away with so much and destroyed countless lives doing what he wanted - and for that I am ashamed to call myself a father.”
“Lord Wilde,” Calithea rested her hand on the elderly man’s, offering a smile, “I know everyone says you should be at fault, and you do share some of the blame - but only to an extent. We all make mistakes - even me. But you cannot blame yourself for the actions that Oberon did, all of that were his choices and his alone. If you do feel remorse for what happened, then I ask that you put what happened behind you and take the first step forward to forgiving yourself and pushing Damien and your other son to being the best men they can be for the people of Elysia and the kingdom of Elatyriaf.”
Lord Wilde looked up at Calithea, surprise covering his wrinkled features before a small smile appeared on his face.
“Thank you, Miss Calithea - I will be eternally in your debt.”
The four watched as the lord turned and walked away, his head now held high.
Kaithen let out a sigh and shook his head, “How is it, Miss Calithea, that your kindness knows no bounds?”
Before she could reply, a heavy thump sounded through the ballroom as all eyes turned toward the double doors. The guards on either side pulled the doors open as those stationed on the stairwell saluted as the host of the gala appeared.
Drystan stepped out into the light of the ballroom, the candlelight catching on the ornate designs that covered his long coat of deep sapphire. Gone were the typical blacks and grays Calithea was used to seeing, the colors being swapped for shades of sapphire, silver, and amethyst. Drystan’s familiar high collared white dress shirt had a white cravat at his neck - a silver and amethyst brooch sat in the center to keep the cravat from slipping - with both pieces disappearing into an ornately embroidered vest that matched his clout, the ends hovering in the wind behind him as he made his way down the stairwell. White dress pants disappeared into his usual thigh-high black leather boots that slid silently from step to step - typical of someone who had moved so silently for years.
As he reached the last step, everyone in the room bowed or curtsied at him as Drystan stood tall and proud among his peers.
“Please, there is no need for bows or curtsies this evening,” the Grand Duke began as everyone returned their attention to him, “For it is I who bow to all of you in thanks for protecting our city of Elysia while I was undergoing treatment these past ten years.
“As I am sure many of you recall, ten years ago at my debut into noble society, I tragically became very ill and have been unable to host any lavish balls or attend to the needs of the people of Elysia as part of my duties as the Grand Duke. For ten years, my wonderful staff here had worked their hardest to help me find a cure for my ailment - though it seemed that everything we tried was of no use. It was only a few months ago that the Vandeleur family came to my attention.”
Kaithen pushed Calithea and Charles forward gently as Drystan turned to them with a smile, “These two are the last of the Alchemists in our region - Charles Vandeleur was married to the city’s saint - Helena Grace Vandeleur - before her death near the end of the ‘Great Sickness’ a little over two decades ago… the same illness that took the late grand duchess from us. Calithea - Charles and Helena’s youngest daughter - was the one who discovered my ailment and was able to help cure it completely, hence we are forever in their debt for the services they have brought to our city.”
Applause broke out as Calithea ducked her head in nervousness and Charles straightened his back, smiling proudly at his daughter’s accomplishment.
“With that being said,” Drystan approached the two, offering his hand to Calithea, “may I ask the honor of having the first dance with you, Miss Vandeleur?”
Calithea looked up as a smile came upon her face, taking his hand, “Yes your grace, I would be delighted…”
***
Drystan’s hand was warm as he pulled Calithea deeper into the garden under the cover of night.
Following the first dance of the evening, Drystan returned Calithea to her father’s side and asked for him, Archar, and Kaithen to watch over her until he could return. Kaithen took Calithea for one dance on the dance floor before Archar snuck in and stole her away from him, Calithea giggling at Archar’s wolfish grin as his older brother fumed at the realization of his friend being snatched away. Drystan finished up his greetings with the nobles relatively quickly before pulling Calithea away from prying eyes.
“Drystan? Where are we going?” Calithea asked.
“Do you recall what you first wished from me when you first came here?” the grand duke asked, turning enough for her to catch a glint in his dark chocolate orbs.
“My first wish?”
“You never made specific mention of it to me - only my staff knew of it.”
Calithea’s brows furrowed before shaking her head, unsure of what he was referring to. Drystan grinned as he pulled her around a corner before coming to a stop at a wrought-iron gate surrounded by deep evergreen hedges on either side.
“Calithea, you are the first and only person outside of my immediate family to enter into the rose garden that was built for my mother by my father.”
Drystan pulled a key out of his coat pocket and unlocked the gate, pushing it inward and allowing Calithea to take the first steps in.
Gravel pathways glowed under the full moon as the two walked side by side among the hedges and beds filled with roses that were still bursting with life. Calithea was surprised to see the colors of gold, red, pink, and white hidden among emeralds and holly greens, the roses tilting upward as if to greet the newcomer and their master. Fingertips gently touched the soft petals of the climbing roses that wrapped on trellises over the pathways and admired the large blooms that sprout around the fountains and marble statues that littered the pathways here and there. Even under the cover of night, the rose garden of the late grand duchess had proven its beauty to be magnificent.
“Calithea?” the alchemist turned toward the duke as they continued onward, “Is it… what you expected?”
“It’s… it’s much more than that, Drystan,” Calithea smiled, turning her attention to everything around her again, “It’s so beautiful, like walking into a fae kingdom… though, I think that description is sadly short in how it actually is.”
“It’s beautiful, yes,” Drystan agreed, “but it’s also peaceful with so many precious memories here as well…”
They stopped short when the duke narrowed his eyes at three hedges that stood side by side. Calithea followed his gaze to the center of the three bushes - the buds of new roses just beginning to pop open even though it was nearly Yule.
“Unbelievable,” Drystan shook his head in disbelief.
“What is it?”
“This bush… hasn’t grown a single bloom since the day I was cursed,” Drystan left Calithea’s side and knelt beside it, taking the new growth between his fingertips as a smile spread across his features, “For ten years, it has yielded not a single bloom - even though the plant is as healthy as can be. Now… ten years later, right after my curse was broken…”
“It finally bloomed,” Calithea’s voice brought Drystan back to her.
The grand duke stood and came to her side again, taking her hands in his and kissing her knuckles as affection and tears pricked at his eyes.
“Calithea, I brought you here not only to grant your first and only wish from me, but I also wanted to ask you something as well - a last request. And… I think Orianna is telling me to ask it now or never,” Calithea giggled as Drystan dropped to one of his knees in front of her, holding her hands tightly in his grasp.
“For so long, I swore I would never love another as my father loved my mother out of fear that I would lose the same love they had for each other. I envied them for that and wished that I could turn back time to rectify my mistakes; however, if I did, I would have never met you. Ever since you came here to help me with my curse, I’ve grown a fondness for you that continues to grow and grow. I cannot live a life without you by my side - and I know you feel the same way - so please… would you become my grand duchess and stay with me until the end of our lives?”
Calithea lifted one hand to her mouth, her eyes shining with unshed tears as she nodded, “As long as you promise not until the end of our lives - but the end of eternity.”
“I think I can do that.”
Drystan pulled himself into Calithea’s embrace as the two pressed their lips together in a passionate kiss.
“My vampire,” Calithea smiled when they pulled away for a moment.
“My rose…” Drystan echoed before bringing their lips together again.