Chapter 215-Birthday beneath the stars (3)

Chapter 215: 215-Birthday beneath the stars (3)

The birthday cake arrived shortly after the presents. It was a magnificent creation with three layers of dark red sponge, smooth cream frosting, and delicate decorations shaped like roses.

A thin crimson glaze shimmered over the top, while small sugar flowers curled around the edges.

Lumi leaned closer to inspect it. "Is that actually blood?"

"Blood-infused cream," Varitreya explained. "The baker assured me it was safe."

Zolani’s eyes brightened. "Can we have blood cake every time we come over to the palace?"

"No," Varitreya answered. "And can you stop being so... merry?" It was starting to get to her.

"You’re very restrictive about birthdays," Zolami pouted. "And what is so wrong about being merry? I like it so I won’t stop."

"I’m only restrictive when you start planning the next one before the current celebration has ended," Variteya shot back.

Addessa laughed as she accepted the knife. She looked at the cake, then at the four vampires gathered around her.

For someone who had spent so much of her life carrying responsibility, she found it strangely difficult to know what to wish for.

Strength had never been in short supply and neither had determination. She had survived dangers that would have broken others and learned to keep her emotions carefully guarded.

But standing here, surrounded by people who had taken the time to make her feel cherished, she realized there were things she wanted that no amount of strength could guarantee.

She wanted more moments like this that held more laughter. More days when she could set aside her duties and simply be herself. And, perhaps most dangerously, she wanted the warmth she felt whenever Maisa smiled at her to remain with her.

She closed her eyes. The others waited while she made her wish. She quickly blew out the candles and then she cut the cake.

The first slice went to Maisa. The second went to Varitreya, followed by Lumi and Zolani. Addessa served herself last, accepting the plate Zolani offered with a fond shake of her head.

The cake was rich and sweet, its dark red layers melting against the cream. Conversation flowed easily as they ate, moving from harmless teasing to childhood memories and stories they had never shared with one another.

Even Lumi, who usually guarded her personal thoughts behind sarcasm and questions, found herself talking about the small things she had loved as a child.

Zolani interrupted frequently, adding her own interpretations to every story. Acting more and more out of character and making Varitreya more determined to find out what transpired in Felor.

Varitreya listened with a smile, occasionally correcting details while Addessa leaned back in her chair, watching them with a warmth she made no effort to hide and Maisa found herself thinking that perhaps this was what happiness felt like.

It was not the overwhelming sort that changed the world in a single moment, but the quiet kind that gathered gradually, through shared food, laughter, and the simple pleasure of being wanted.

---

When the musicians changed their melody, Zolani was the first to stand. "Dancing!"

Lumi looked at her plate. "We haven’t finished eating."

"Then dance with your cake... This is my jam"

"That is a terrible idea," Lumi argued, deciding it’s better to finish eating and then step into the dance floor.

"Only because you lack imagination," Zolani reached for Maisa’s hand and pulled her to her feet. "Come on!"

Maisa laughed as she followed. "You don’t even know what song they’re playing."

"I know it sounds romantic and I am top happy not to enjoy it."

"That’s not the same thing," Maisa said but still followed her lead.

"It is tonight."

Zolani swept her into the center of the gazebo, where the lanterns cast soft light over the polished stone. She placed one hand lightly at Maisa’s waist and took her other hand, moving with surprising grace.

Maisa followed her rhythm, laughing when Zolani deliberately spun her beneath their joined hands.

The sound drew the others’ attention. Varitreya watched with a smile that softened her entire face. Lumi tried to pretend she was more interested in the remaining cake, but her gaze kept returning to the dancing pair. Addessa leaned against one of the pillars, the silver bracelet on her wrist catching the light.

Zolani twirled Maisa again. "See? You’re having fun."

"I was having fun before you nearly made me lose my balance."

"Nearly. That’s the important part right?" Zolani danced her heart out.

Maisa shook her head, smiling. When the song ended, Zolani bowed dramatically and kissed the back of Maisa’s hand.

Then she stepped away and extended her hand toward Lumi. "Your turn."

Lumi stared at her. "Absolutely not."

"Why?"

"Because I know you..." Her voice fell. She did know Zolani and the person in front of her was nothing like her. "You’ll make me dance until my feet begin to hurt," She quickly covered.

"That’s hurtful," Zolani pouted.

"It’s also accurate, Zolani."

Zolani kept her hand extended, her expression unusually patient. After a few seconds, Lumi sighed and placed her hand in hers.

"One dance."

"Well that depends on the song that will be playing later..."

"Zolani..." Lumi wanted to sit back down immediately.

"Alright, alright."

"And no spinning."

"Naturally... It wouldn’t be a dance without a spin," Zolani flashed him a wink. "Come on."

"And don’t step on my feet."

"I would never."

Lumi narrowed her eyes. "You just lied to me. How can I trust that you would never?"

Zolani laughed and led her onto the dance floor.

Despite their bickering, Lumi soon found herself smiling. Zolani was playful, unpredictable, and infuriatingly difficult to resist when she genuinely wanted to make someone happy.

Their movements were less graceful than Maisa and Zolani’s had been, but they made up for it with laughter. When Lumi stumbled, Zolani steadied her, and for a brief moment, their eyes met.

The zing shimmered between them. A few dark crimson petals drifted down from the gazebo’s flowers.

Lumi noticed them this time. Her smile faltered slightly as she watched one land on Zolani’s shoulder. "Did you see that?"

"See what?" Zolani asked.

"The petals..."

Zolani glanced up. "They’re pretty."

"They changed color too. You didn’t see that?" She glancee wearily at Zolani and suddenly felt her skin crawl with panic.

"Maybe they like us," Zolani joked.

Lumi stared at her. She couldn’t pinpoint why Zolani couldn’t see the bad in anything, viewing the world through a silver lining. It was unlike her.

Zolani smiled brightly. "What? I think we have excellent taste in flowers."

Lumi tried to suppress a laugh and failed. The petals continued to fall but her heart was now restless.

By the time the next song began, Varitreya had already approached Addessa. "May I have this dance?"

Addessa glanced toward the musicians. "You don’t have to ask permission. You’re a princess, you can demand it."

"I know that but it’s your special day. I don’t wish to demand anything of you tonight."

"That’s why you asked?"

Varitreya held out her hand. "Because I want to give you a chance to say yes."

Addessa studied her for a moment before accepting her hand and getting up. "Alright... yes."

Varitreya led her onto the dance floor. Unlike Zolani, she did not spin her partner or tease her into laughter. She moved with calm, practiced grace, guiding Addessa through the steps while keeping their joined hands between them.

They danced in comfortable silence. "You’ve been unusually attentive tonight."

Varitreya’s smile remained in place. "Is that a complaint?"

"Not really," Addessa shied away from direct eye contact. "I wouldn’t dare."

"It’s your day. You can dare all you want. I don’t mind."

Addessa laughed softly at the once in a lifetime permission. "You always do that," She pointed out.

"Do what?" Varitreya raised her eyebrow teasingly.

"Act as though nothing can trouble you."

Varitreya’s steps faltered for half a second. Acting was the easy part because it hid how troubled she was deep down.

Addessa noticed her missing a step. Her expression grew gentler. "You don’t have to do that with me, your royal loneliness."

The nickname, spoken so naturally, touched something inside Varitreya. She had spent the entire day pretending. Pretending she trusted everything her parents told her, that the missing pieces in her memories did not frighten her and that she could follow Taratoya’s plan without wondering what the truth might cost her.

But Addessa was looking at her as though she could see the strain beneath her smile.

Varitreya tightened her fingers around Addessa’s hand. "Tonight, I don’t want to think about anything troubling."

"Then don’t."

"Just like that?" She didn’t buy that Addessa would push to know what was bothering her.

"Just like that," Addessa stepped closer, allowing their joined hands to rest near her shoulder. "You have a habit of making everything more complicated than it needs to be. And when pushed, you close up more so I won’t insist."

"And you have a habit of pretending you don’t care about anything..."

"Perhaps we balance each other."

Varitreya laughed quietly. The warmth between them deepened. She could feel Addessa’s happiness through the zing, along with a tenderness that made her chest ache.

A flower petal floated between them, the petal darkening until it resembled a tiny piece of black velvet.

Addessa glanced at it and then she looked back at Varitreya. "Is that because of us?"