210 The Masquerade Ball (1/2)
The soft opening of Oriental Europa was indeed a success. What was left for them was to prepare and make sure that the masquerade ball will become an unforgettable event for all the guests. As the day of the masquerade ball came, the Wang household started early with the preparations.
'”What do we have for breakfast, Ai?” still sleepy Wang Yuvin asks their servant.
”We prepared pancakes and bacons as per Little Miss's request,” Ai responded politely, bowing her head as she answered.
”Where's Europa?” Yuvin asked. He helped himself to take a seat, then turning the plate facing up. He grabbed a pancake and placed some bacons on his plate.
”She's in the kitchen, sir. She woke up early to help us,” she responded. She grabbed the pitcher of cold lemonade with honey, and poured some onto his master's glass. ”I'll call Miss Europa, so she could join you. Enjoy your meal, sir,” she continued. She placed the pitcher near the pancakes, and bowed to him as to excuse herself.
Meanwhile, Europa keeps herself busy by tasting the cupcakes she baked with Bai. She looks like a professional baker; looking intricately at the pastries she has designed.
”Excuse me, Little Miss, but your uncle Yuvin is expecting you to join him at the dining hall. Let's go?” Ai ushered the way to the dining hall, wiping the cupcake crumbs off Europa's dress.
”Did you serve the breakfast we prepared?” Europa asked, looking expectantly.
”Yes, Little Miss. I did. I'm sure your uncle Yuvin likes it,” Ai assured Europa as she gently caressed her hair.
”There you are! Join me, sweet cheeks!” Yuvin enthusiastically welcomed her niece. He stood up, and pulled a chair for Europa. He placed a pancake on her plate, and made a smiley face using maple syrup as the mouth, and blueberries for the eyes. ”Want some bacon too?” he asked.
Ai poured some lemonade onto the little master's glass. She bowed, and excused herself. Rushing to the kitchen, she started helping her twin clean the morning mess.
”No, I'm good with this. Thank you, uncle,” Europa said as she hugged her uncle. ”I can't believe I could make something delicious like this! Maybe I would be a chef, uncle… What do you think?” she continued as she ate the breakfast she prepared, or helped prepared.
Yuvin just nodded at her. He went back to his seat, and grabbed another piece of pancake and two of bacon.
”But you know, uncle, I had this strange dream. I know we are together in my dream, but you seem so far away. Like you are sitting there, and I'm here,” Europa pointed at the chair at the opposite end of the long table. She stretched her arms out, trying to mimic the distance she's explaining.
Without missing a bat, she continued her story, ”Then, there's this man wearing a bright mask. I think it was periwinkle but brighter! He tries to approach me, but the floor seems to be wavy and longer, uncle. I was so scared, but not scared enough to cry. As the floor seems to be moving, uncle, the table we are sitting at appears to be getting longer and longer!” She then ate a mouthful of pancake, and downed it with the honey lemonade.
Yuvin was taken aback. He just stared at his niece while she was busy eating and telling her dream at the same time. He could hear his heartbeat sync with her chewing. And she chews faster and faster, enough to push Yuvin to gulped his drink to the last drop, to refill his glass. He feels bad omen right off the bat.
”But here's the catch, uncle. He tries to lure me with a unicorn attached to my dress. He calls me darling just like mama. And he said that we're related. That we both have the same smile, but maybe it was my grandpa, right? Though I never met them, maybe they're trying to connect with me through dreams,” she told her uncle.
The last lines of Europa's narration made Yuvin even more nervous. He knew it wasn't just any dream. Maybe Europa subconsciously looks for his dad. Her curious little mind longs for him, unobvious, of course. But who gave her the idea? How did this happen? Has sister Reiji and her talked about him already? Without me knowing? He thought to himself.
”Are you alright, uncle? It was just a dream. Mama said that dreams are powerful yet sometimes are empty,” Europa innocently consoled her uncle. Little did she know that she's inches away from asking her dear uncle about her missing dad.
”Yeah, I know. I was just wondering that how could you be sister Reiji's daughter wherein fact, I'm the more creative compared to her!” Yuvin responded. He tries to mask his worries with a fake laugh, and by overdoing his confidence.
”Oh! I'm gonna tell Mama about that!” Europa teased her uncle. She then let out a laugh which eased Yuvin's heart. For now.
”Are you done? Go finish decorating your cupcakes with Ai and Bai,” Yuvin smiled. ”Oh, how did uncle know? The icing on your hair explains it, kiddo,” he answered his niece's curious look.
Europa ran off to the kitchen with such excitement. ”Miss Ai and Bai, I'm coming!” she shouted.
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Meanwhile, few hours before 3 in the afternoon, Yuvin is still deciding whether he would wear his crisp white long sleeves topped with brown Cashmere trench coat with a sleek black tie and mid-waist dark grey suit pants, or his tailored haute d' couture brick red three-piece tuxedo paired with brick red bowtie. What would Leilei prefer? This matinee laid back look, or should I look put to—
”Woah, what are you thinking, Young Master Yuvin? You should be dressed in two hours, now's not the time to think about her!” he scolded himself in the mirror.
He just chose the prior, for he remembered the color of her sister's pants suit ballgown. He doesn't want to steal the show; it's Reiji's first blow of revenge after all.
”Laid back it is,” he told himself as he put back the couture inside his closet. He chose this limited edition Tissot gold watch to match his outfit. As he looks at his scent collection, he chose a classic yet crisp smell: Jovan Musk.
”Timeless and classic,” he exclaimed as he sniffed the cologne.
Inside Europa's room, Ai and Bai add the finishing touches of her milkmaid Dutch braid. It goes well with her black tube ballgown with a turtleneck organza outmost layer, embroidered with Tulips and Roses.
”You look so good, Little Miss!” the twins exclaimed with horizon. They made her twirl, which Europa giggled while doing so. She felt like she was really a princess; it's her first time wearing a simple yet elegant gown.
Yuvin, peeking at the door, was busy filming her niece. He tries to stifle his laughter, for she would show his sister how the twins and Europa liked dressing up.
”Are you ready, Europa?” Yuvin asked by the doorway. He couldn't just enter the room; he knows that Europa knows consent and such.
Ai and Bai, both wearing a white Chinese-collared long sleeves paired with high-waisted suit pants, got up on their feet and bowed.
”Yes, I am, uncle!” Europa answered delightfully. She grabbed on her uncle's hand, and walked to the foyer.
”They have arrived,” one of Wang's most trusted bodyguards informed Ren Tao.