Chapter 06

The following morning was a Saturday, and Ethelbert arrived at the Enfleurage at the usual time of nine o'clock, just as he did every other week.

"The drink is on its way to you, sir!" The same old Coronis was there, beaming broadly with a grin plastered across her face as she enthusiastically carried the tray of drinks upstairs for Ethelbert.

When Ethelbert saw that he had ordered more than one item, his hand briefly froze as he reached out for the tray to grab it. He then quickly recovered and grabbed the tray.

"Here is the Esphora tea that you requested, and I put a little gift in it. I hope you're satisfied and satisfied. "

A bright smile lit up Coronis's face. Her eyes, which were concealed by her thick glasses, were brimming with excitement.

Ethelbert averted his gaze, as if concealing the slight embarrassment in his soul.

"What kind of cake is that?" Ethelbert enquired about it.

"For the time being, I do not know what to call it; I just invented it yesterday. But I'm willing to call it Ethelbert if you agree. It was designed specifically with you in mind."

Ethelbert started appreciating the new tea and cake as soon as Coronis left for the basement. He took a swig of the É'sphora and was greeted by the refreshing flavor he remembered from before. Ethelbert reached for the tiny spoon arranged in a tidy fashion next to him and started rolling a piece of cake. The taste of the cake took him a little by surprise the moment his tongue touched the moistness of the cake. This cake is like going on a one-of-a-kind culinary journey. The first taste, which is typically sweet, ushers in subsequent flavors. The following step involves a distinct odor that permeates the oral cavity. The image of the tropical rainforest after a rainstorm was the first thing that came to Ethelbert's mind at the time, although he was unable to use a specific word to describe what it was.

Before leaving, Ethelbert stopped at the register to pay for his items. In contrast to his usual behavior, he disobeyed the rules in order to discuss the food with Coronis and said, "That cake tastes great."

At the beginning of his life, Ethelbert was a quiet man. One sentence was all that came out of his mouth as a compliment, despite the fact that he had been praising this cake in his head for quite some time. On the other hand, Coronis was very surprised and couldn't seem to contain her genuine amusement because she knew that Ethelbert was a guest with a very delicate palate and a pretty demanding one. Coronis was very surprised and couldn't seem to contain her genuine amusement.

"Wait for a second, and I still have this," the speaker said. It appeared as though Coronis had recalled something, and she hurried over to the bartender's drawer. She took something, carefully placed it in a small bag, and then brought it to Ethelbert with the following words: "Here's to thank you for yesterday." Thank you for a beautiful afternoon. "

Ethelbert wore a look of mild bewilderment on his face as he spoke to Miss Coronis. "Miss Coronis, you already gave me the cake."

Coronis laughed and waved his hand to indicate that the answer was no before saying, "No, that cake is a gift for one of our most valued customers." Many thanks for your frequent visits. You are a significant person there.

***

Ethelbert opened the pouch while he was on his way back to his house. A charm bracelet can be found on the inside. A teeny-tiny petal that is colored a very light purple can be located in the center of the charm. Because Ethelbert has an acute sense of smell, he was able to detect the odor of the bracelet almost immediately. It's possible that Coronis used some unusual plants when making this bracelet. Ethelbert was sitting in the back seat of the family car when he painstakingly wrapped the bracelet around his arm and then brought it up to his nose. It was peculiar that the aroma of this rosemary could make him feel like his spirit had all of a sudden become much lighter and more relaxed.

However, it does not appear that he will have any good fortune in the near future. That evening, during the typical evening activities of the Gotha family, Ethelbert received some news that was not very pleasant.

"Tomorrow night, we will have a great banquet to meet among the great houses of Elliana. It will be a party of dancing and masquerading. " Over dinner, Lady Gotha Andromeda announced with a cold indifference. Then, her husband, Gotha Amman Edgardo, also continued. He said, in a low, dignified voice, "House Celton will be hosting this ball."

The only sound that could be heard in the oppressive and solemn environment of the Gotha family dinner was the faint sound of cutlery lightly clashing against one another.

"Helena, tomorrow you go with Ethelbert to represent the Gotha house," Ethelbert told Helena. Helena, Lady Andromeda's second daughter, turned to her mother and responded, "Yes, mom." Lady Andromeda then smiled at her daughter.

Only Ethelbert took a brief pause in the conversation. It came as a little shock to him that his mother and father had chosen him to represent the Gotha family at a gathering that was taking place today. Because of his poor health, while suffering from a strange disease that always had hallucinations with scents, combined with a personality that was somewhat quiet, boring, and strange, Ethelbert was the youngest son in the family, and he was the one who often suffered from being forgotten about by his relatives. With the exception of exceptionally large gatherings at which the entire Gotha family was present, he didn't show up to these kinds of social parties very often.

And Andromeda calmly explained, "Your brother and I will be busy tomorrow, so we won't be able to attend." It was as if she could read her son's face and knew what expression he would be making. Both Helena and Ethelbert plan to show up at the event. Ethelbert, I know you have a close relationship with the Celts. Is that correct?

Ethelbert kept his mouth shut and continued to cut the steak that was on the plate while lowering his head. It was imperative that he comply with his family's directives.

***

The following evening, at precisely seven o'clock in the evening, the driveway leading up to the expansive mansion owned by the Celton family was clogged with expensive and luxurious automobiles such as Mercedes-Maybachs, and Bugatti Centodiecis, Rolls-Royces, and other similar marques.

The guests were elegantly attired and carried themselves with a sense of pride. The gentlemen wear elegant, expensive suits, and the ladies accessorize with exquisite jewelry. The space to enjoy the luxurious lives of the nobility, mafia, and tycoons is comparable to a fantasy world with commoners.

But immediately after that, the attention of all of the guests who were present at the gala dinner was utterly taken over by a long and luxurious black car. Immediately after that, everyone's attention was completely taken over. It is a vehicle with a snake logo, which is the family crest of the Gotha family, which is widely regarded as the wealthiest family in Europe at the present time. The car came to a halt right after that statement was made. When the car door opened, a tall and lean man, standing approximately six feet tall, emerged from the vehicle. Even though the man was currently covering his face with a silver mask, the moment he stepped down, his high straight nose bridge and outstanding sharp lines were not hidden because of the mask. Because Ethelbert so closely resembled a prince of the royal family, everyone's attention was drawn in this direction.

Helena was assisted out of the vehicle by Ethelbert, who also opened the door for her. He did so in a polite and inviting manner, and he motioned for Helena to step down. After that, a pale hand with a gentle touch laid itself on top of his. An elegant gentleman whose beauty was as radiant as Apollo was paired with a woman who wore a wine-red dress with a beautiful white bareback. The gentleman was quite beautiful.

When the Gotha sisters made their entrance, the festivities could be considered to have begun in earnest.

Everyone got up to dance and socialize as the music was playing. Distinct echoes accompanied the sound of the glasses of delicious wine being clinked together. The surrounding conversation was also conducted at a whispering volume. The entire setting is so enchanting and luxurious that it makes anyone who accidentally gets lost want to be immersed in it forever. Ethelbert, you need to pick up your spirits a bit. "You look so unapproachable." Helena served Ethelbert a glass of champagne as a gentle reminder of her presence. In addition to that, she lifted the wine glass that was in her hand and made a toast with Ethelbert.

Ethelbert drank from his glass as he raised it to his mouth. The bitter flavor struck his taste buds very forcefully, producing a feeling that was equal parts sweetness, heat, and hunger in nature. He hadn't been to many social gatherings like this one before, so he wasn't sure what to expect. Both the fact that the Gothas didn't ask for his presence and the fact that he didn't like being in crowded places were contributing factors in his decision. Because there was so much noise and a jumble of scents, he was unable to maintain his composure for very long and was more likely to have hallucinations. Because of his heightened sensitivity from birth, he was destined to spend his life alone.

Ethelbert experienced a mild case of daydreaming as he moved his graceful, luxurious body to the rhythm of the beautiful music. Helena was engaged in conversation with a few of the men who were moving in this direction. He was unable to pick up on what they were saying any longer. They turned their attention to Ethelbert and raised a glass to him. After that, Ethelbert had to drink more wine and keep going even though the heat made it feel like his throat was being torn apart over and over again.

In an effort to maintain his alert state and take in his surroundings, Ethelbert retreated to the far corner of the room and leaned against the wall there. Suddenly, his eyes were drawn to the windy balcony on the second floor, where he appeared to see a face he had seen before. Ethelbert experienced a sudden increase in his level of awareness. He rubbed his eyes and made an effort to look more closely in order to ensure that he hadn't made a mistake. His attention was drawn to a picture of a woman who was dressed in a long dress made of black velvet that clung to the curves of her body while exposing her shoulders, which were as white as snow. It was unable to recognize the girl because she was concealing her face with a mask like everyone else. Her golden blonde hair made Ethelbert's heart flutter.

He was wondering if anyone could explain to him why she reminded him so much of the other girl in his heart.