"It is nothing Lila," said Cora with motherly affection. "I am getting another one made for you. It is red in color and will be your wedding gift."
"Ohhh Coraaa!" Lila purred like a kitten. "You are too kind."
"No Lila, I love indulging you," said Cora and her attention went back to Anastasia. Her breath hitched and she found it impossible to look away from the girl. She had a soft halo around her head and the golden headdress only enhanced her looks.
"Hear hear!" Lila pulled her attention, a tendril of fear making way in her heart. Lila tittered and opened her purse. She took out a small red velvet box and opened it. Taking two rubies out of it, she clutched them, one in each palm. She placed her hands on the table and opened her palms slowly. Tiny rubies gleamed on her small palms. She lifted her heavy eyelashes and opened her kolhed eyes wide. Then she stretched her hands in front towards her. "Which of these is the real one, Anastasia?" she asked in a melodious voice.
"Why are you teasing her?" said Cora. "Those two rubies are so similar that it is not easy to distinguish."
"That's right," said Pierre, not really liking this game. What if the guest didn't like it and then Ileus would feel bad. Though he liked Lila a lot, this was not something he encouraged. "It is impossible to distinguish between them." They emanate a soft red glow in her white palms.
Anastasia turned her face to peer at all those who were on the table. The person who was watching her was Murtagh and the rest were looking at the rubies in her hands. Anastasia's eyes locked with Lila's. "Would you like to place a bet, Lila?" she quipped light-heartedly.
Taken aback at her jovial exposition, Lila said, "What do you mean Anastasia? This is a small competition in which I am asking you a small question. This is a test of your skills!"
Anastasia tilted her head and the gold chain around her head jingled a little, catching everyone's attention. "Well, what if I win? Every competition needs to have a prize, otherwise why would I answer your question?" She exuded so much confidence that for a moment Lila stared at her with disbelief. However, she recovered immediately.
Kaizan's lips kicked up as he watched Lila's change of expressions.
"I think it's a fair deal, Lila," said Pierre.
Murtagh countered, "It is not necessary that every game is played for a prize. It's just a light banter on the table, which should be taken jokingly."
"Well, in that case I don't want to answer your question!" Anastasia said with a shrug.
No one ever talked to her like that. Fury rose in her chest, and a headache began to form. Muscles started tightening for the want of opium. The fae was very clever.
"You are very unsporting, Anastasia," Murtagh sneered. "We are only trying to be friends with you."
"Oh Murtagh! Please stop it. If she wants a prize, then we will give her the prize. After all she is our guest," said Lila in the most condescending manner. Every other noble on the table including Cora, looked at Anastasia as if she was so unfriendly and hostile.
Anastasia leaned back in her chair and relaxed. She picked up her goblet and swirled the wine in it as she waited for Lila to say more.
"What prize would you want Anastasia?" asked Lila, narrowing her eyes slightly.
"You will have to give something that you love the most to me."
"What?" Lila almost squealed.
Anastasia could feel everyone's mouth falling to the floor and eyes bulging at her audacity. So she chuckled. "Don't be so alarmed. It can be your pet or your purse," she pointed to the green purse that was now on the table.
A man on the far end of the table smirked. "How greedy!"
Another man said, "I am yet to see a girl like her. That purse was given by Cora."
Cora was fuming with anger. She glowered at Anastasia but Pierre had stopped her from speaking.
"That's right," said another man.
Lila couldn't feel happier. Anastasia's demand only lowered her esteem in front of Cora and Pierre and a bonus was that it lowered in front of other nobles. Everyone would begin hating her. She couldn't believe her luck. As such the purse wasn't according to her taste. Besides, she was extremely sure that Anastasia would never be able to detect. "Alright Anastasia," she said. "This purse will be yours if you can find the original one from the fake." Her words meant that the purse given by Cora was very dear to her and Cora would take it personally if she won.
Anastasia crossed her arms across her chest. "Are you sure you will give me something you love the most?"
"Of course," Lila said. "But you have to win," she added, arching an eyebrow. "But what if you lose?" she threw her card.
Anastasia shrugged. "What do you want?"
"I want you to kneel in front of me and lick my feet," Lila said instantly. It would be an absolute pleasure to have a fae lick your feet. She could feel Murtagh stopping himself from laughing out loud. This was going to be so much fun. And now she looked forward to the evening.
"Lila!" Kaizan growled. "Don't cross your limits."
"I didn't start it Kaizan," she said in a quiet voice.
Once again she extended her hand towards Anastasia and opened her palms. "Tell me which one is real."
Anastasia was a fae. Making a deal with her was… dangerous as hell. Even her husband rarely made deals with her. If he tried to get into bets with her, she would do her best to give him an out.
Kaizan let out a soft laugh and shook his head. "That was a tricky one, Anastasia. Maybe you shouldn't place that bet." He knew about the fae deals.
"That's right," said Darla. "You can back out." She was scared that Lila would get entangled into something worse. It would catapult the entire situation.
"No way," Lila said. "Anastasia has got herself in the deal and she should honor it."
Darla pursed her lips and then waved her hand in front of Anastasia as if telling her to go for it.
Anastasia leaned forward. She crossed her elbows on the table and narrowed her eyes. The gems were glowing faintly. After examining them closely, Anastasia said, "These gems don't exist. They are fake." As soon as she said that, she heard Lila gasping.
"Are you blind?" Murtagh said.
Cora's face lit up because she knew that Anastasia had lost. She looked tenderly at Lila—the girl of her choice.
In a dulcet voice Lila said, "Are you sure Anastasia?"
The entire table burst into laughter. While some shook their heads, some mocked her and some rolled their eyes and used sarcasm to show her down. A man snorted and said, "What a newbie. She doesn't know anything!"
Anastasia nodded and with confidence said, "Yes I am sure. The rubies in your palms are just a mirage. They are not actually there."
