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On a freezing cold winter evening where the fog had evenly spread out through the whole kingdom, the fireplaces and Christmas decoration of each home were lightly illuminating the streets and emitting out a warm and homely light, showing the way through the everlasting fog for a lone woman wandering around the dark eerie roads of the noble district.
Said woman didn’t seemed disconcerted, neither by the fog, nor by the cold, and only snuggled her chin into the collar of her warm winter kimono, her face protected by her trusty fox mask, she hadn’t had the heart to throw away even after the curse got broken…. Instead of the fan, she usually held in her hand on warm days, she hold onto her trusty new friend and whistled merrily in the early evening.
Though the lights were dimmed by the fog, she still enjoyed the light plays of each decorated home. It was a shame the fog spoiled the nice decoration as it was the very first year Angielle had adopted the Brugantia tradition of Christmas after the latest war, but nothing could get the young woman’s spirits down as she was strolling to one of her favorite destinations.
Arriving at the far back of the nobles’ quarters, she immediately took notice of the lone mansion situated off-side and secluded from the other properties, which had one of the nicest and most elegant Christmas decoration she had ever seen. It wasn’t overly done like the usual Brugantia decoration she once had the privilege to see but had a way more refined taste.
She went up to the gate and rang the bell that echoed well through the whole estate. Her favorite butler opened up the gate, bearing an expression showing how unimpressed he was by her presence. “Good evening Morgan!" Tsubaki first greeted the butler's sister who was adjusting the garland at one of the big entrance pillars. Morgan only chuckled at Tsubaki's blatant attempt to taunt her brother who didn't react in the slightest. "Good evening to you too, Tsubaki.”
“Good evening, Miss Tsubaki, as you are late.” Was the butler's only comment as he let her in and took of her coat like the gentleman and perfect butler he was.
“The best company always arrives late, Blaze, and good evening to you too.” She quipped back with a mischievous smile on her lips. She was going to taunt the stoic butler some more but was unfortunately cut off by a cheerful and welcoming greeting coming from the big staircase behind the butler.
“Tsubaki! Welcome! We were waiting for you…” One of her best friends greeted her from the top of the big staircase in the main hall. She looked regal in her refined ball gown from the latest Asterion fashion, that would even make Belle from the Beauty and the Beast pale in comparison to her disposition.
“Tsubaki! I see you also brought Mister Broom!” Greeted her other best friend while completing his twin sister’s exclamation. He also looked dashing wearing a matching suit from the same collection as his sister.
A lot had changed since the first time Tsubaki had met the twins, especially for Anastasia who had been living in rags until the day Morgan had adopted her in their big mismatched family founded by Blaze around the Master of this mansion. It couldn’t really be called a Witch Family anymore since they had also welcomed the twins who were actually half fairies, but they still stuck together even though they gather different species in their family now.
Though Tsubaki was quite a few years older than the twins, her mischievous personality streak actually helped her grow closer to Nicholai since he had stayed at the Marchen for a while before reuniting with his sister and subsequently meeting the love of his life, who she also got along pretty well to her butler’s dismay.
After putting away Tsubaki’s coat, Blaze resumed his task of checking the Christmas decoration they had been setting up for this very special day, while Morgan had slipped away to brew the special beverage that would calm her brother's nerves. Blaze was adamant about making it perfect for his dear Lady Vernia of the House of Aimar.
Anastasia and Nicholai led their guests, Tsubaki and Mister Broom, to the drawing room, where Vernia, the Master of the House and Blaze’s main protégée, was overseeing the decoration and cutlery again with her adoptive mother, Valeriana Daemon soon-to-be… whatever name… Blaze would actually come up with…
Nicholai immediately went up to his own betrothed with a goofy smile and held out his hand for her to take, finding it actually adorable how she was fretting about organizing everything to perfection for those she considered family. It was her way of showing how much she cared for them. Vernia pouted lightly at Nicholai’s laid-back nature but also knew she actually needed someone at her side who would not disregard her worries but reassure her by his simple presence. Taking his hand, she let out a small surprised sound when he pulled her into his arms to lead her into a small relaxing dance to the Christmas music playing in the background. With a small motion of his hand he also invited Tsubaki to join the dance with Mr Broom, which she did gladly.
Tsubaki was always amazed at the grandeur of the drawing room as it could actually fit a grand piano with ease. In the midst of it, was one of her former comrades from the Marchen, Leanna, tuning the different instruments on stage, which included the grand piano, a violin and an elegant harp.
On the couch in the far back of the room, a grumbling Grinch like creature was dejectedly muttering in his non-existent beard that would seemingly never grow out on him.
“What’s going on with this party popper?” Tsubaki whispered to her best friend, who had also entered the dance floor with her adoptive mother, Morgan, who had joined them after delivering the coffee to her brother. However, her question hadn't been as discreetly as she had hoped for, given that Vernia shoot her a disapproving glare. No one should dare badmouth her family. This was the first and last warning of the evening.
Anastasia looked a bit uneasy at her comment and dismissed it with a small hand motion. “Cousin Myth is a bit broody, because Cousin Blair isn’t sure if she can attend the party today.”
Myth was indeed grumpy as hell, wearing the elf hat the twins had put on his head without his consent in a vain attempt to cheer him up a little bit. He wasn’t enjoying the Christmas party at all. He was going to call it off, but Blair had seemed interested in it and he had hoped to spend some quality time with her at the party... However, she supposedly was called in by the Queen, who didn't really trust him with any sensitive information yet...
When Blaze joined them in the drawing room with his usual mug of coffee in hand, everyone got drawn out either of their discussion, actions or thoughts by the ring of the front door bell.
“Are we expecting someone else?” Wondered the Master of the house with a frown. She was pretty sure Tsubaki and her broom were actually the last guests on the list and was suspicious of their unwelcome surprise visitor.
“It could be Cousin Blair maybe?” Her fiancé always seemed to see the brighter side of the situation, though he also often didn’t think farther than his own nose…. Indeed, at the mention of Blair, her Big Brother Myth, actually looked up with a shimmer of hope in his eyes, and she was afraid his hopes might get crushed by reality if it wasn’t indeed Blair…
“Where’s the staff when you need them?” muttered the Witch Dad with a similar frown to his all-but-in-blood daughter.
“You dismissed them for today, dear one, remember?” answered his soon-to-be wife with a passive face, though she was actually smiling a bit smugly on the inside. It was fun to actually see her betrothed worked up at times as it was quite rare.
Grumbling under his non-existing beard, but without showing his annoyance over it on his face, the Witch dad went up to the door. Sharpening his senses when he approached the front door, he could neither sense nor smell any threat, though there was for sure more than one person in front of that door... Carefully unlocking the door, he was quite surprised by the sight in front of him… as their surprise visitors were two of his protégés and….
“…Your Highness? What brings you to our humble home on Christmas Eve?” Blaze was quite surprised about this sudden unannounced visit. It wasn’t really in her Highness' habit to come uninvited. She put a lot of importance in decorum and manners after all, though no one would have told her off for it anyway. No one would have dared to after all.
Though Lucette was still not the most expressive girl as she still strives for perfection in front of the crowd, she now also shows her more vulnerable and human side. Her facial expressions were impassive but her eyes had a shimmer of familiarity and gratefulness.
“Good evening, Blaze. I’m sorry to disturb you on this festive evening. I can’t really stay as you know…” She started off explaining. He wasn’t used to this indirect approach from his usually direct Queen and dreaded the worst, though as usual he didn’t show. He knew she couldn’t stay. After all, she had guests staying over at the palace for the big Christmas party tomorrow at which they were also invited of course... “I need you to do me a favor, Blaze...”
The magical butler was again taken aback. It was rare that Her Highness would stoop down to ask for a favor or any help at all and even more from him...She would rather ask Delora or Parfait... if she could....He was reminded again of the sacrifices they suffered through the last war, guilt eating him up from inside out when remembering what his late Queen had actually tried to achieve through her own daughter... He was also a bit honored to see her trust them more and more even though they had had their differences....
When the Queen motioned with a simple hand movement her resolve to his two protégés who couldn't attend their Christmas Eve Party, Blair who had stayed in the back shifted aside her coat and gave way to a toddler clutching at her dress and wrinkling it up. “He lost his family to some recalcitrant nobles who are still against the cohabitation of humans, witches and fairies… He has nowhere to go…” Explained Blair while keeping her emotions in check to not frighten the child even more.
“He hasn’t said a word since we found him…” added Waltz who, compared to Blair, had his emotions written on his face that evening. It hit way too hard at home for the poor boy who was now a grown man. The pain written on his face was obvious to the person he considered a second father of sorts…
Blaze didn’t say anything, even though the other members of his family had already joined him while staying behind the threshold of their home, even Myth whose eyes were only trained on Blair. They let the decision up to him, he who had been the core of their whole family as it was on that day… and the decision was already obvious anyway…
“And that’s how you joined our little family, my little chickpea....” Val finished her little story while pulling up the blankets on her youngest child and newest addition to their family.
“So, I was ewyone Kwismas gif?” The child hadn’t been able to talk when the Queen had brought them over at their place... it took a few years before they warmed up to them... Though they were now more a young child rather than a small kid, their speech was more like that of a toddler. Still, their family was happy about any little improvement.
“Yes, you were, little one. Now stay under the covers. It’s bed time for you.” Val tried to coax him back under the covers gently.
“But me wanna meet Santa!” The kid had now the energy of other kids their age, which was sometimes quite difficult to handle, but which put a smile on the other family members faces as they were happy to see them get better and cheerful.
“Santa only comes to the nice children who are asleep after Midnight sweety.” His mother tried to keep up the serious talk about Santa without giving anything away.
“Santa bring me gift!” They exclaimed while jumping up on the bed again.
“If you are nice and go to sleep now, yes.” The mother pulled him down with a bit more force this time.
“Okay, me gotta sleep now!” The child crawled back under the covers and shut their eyes closed in an exaggerated matter that made his mother smile gently.
“Sleep well.... my little Raffy... and merry Christmas... my little Christmas gift…” She stood up quietly and stealthy crept out of the room without making a sound.
Outside of the room, Blaze held out his arm for her like the gentleman he has always been. He had become better at expressing his emotions as well, even though he still strives for perfection and professionalism foremost. He had a tender expression on his face as he accompanied his now-wife down to the main hall.
Unexpectedly however, his wife stopped him in his tracks by pressing slowly on his leading arm. Confused he looked down at her, wondering why his wife was trying to hold him back. She looked him in the eyes with an amused but slightly shy smile on her lips as she pointed up above of them. How good it felt to be able to look him into the eyes after so many years of shunning any eye contact...
The sight of what hang above their heads and the giggles Blaze could clearly hear from somewhere further inside, nearly made him sigh externally though he had enough self-control to keep it in, rolling only his eyes.
His family could be quite bothersome at times... but he would never regret any addition to it.... So was his thought, when he bend down to his lovely wife and kissed her on the forehead to the disappointed of all.