As much as Edward was anxious to see Elysia at the dinner and ball, he really wasn't in the mood to be mingling with anymore dignitaries and having to watch his language in front of people. Plus he'd have to go several more hours without a cigarette and he thought he was going to have a fit of hysterics earlier when he was stuck watching several dance and singing troupes perform after their tour of the park. But he stood there, next to the Fuhrer, like the loyal dog of the military he was and plastered a fake smile on his face as he shook hands and exchanged pleasantries as the guests arrived for the evening festivities.
He caught a glimpse of Elysia climbing the stairs with her mother, and Edward's fake smile smoothed into a real one and he greeted her warmly when she approached. Edward noted how pretty she looked in her slinky black evening gown. Elysia was not necessarily breathtakingly beautiful but she was very pretty and there was a lively spirit she projected. Edward could see it in her eyes and the way she smiled. She looked sweet and innocent but Edward had a feeling that wasn't all there was to Elysia.
Elysia was happy to see Edward too, noting how much more handsome he looked up close in his dress military uniform then he did when she observed him from the distance of her balcony earlier that day. As Elysia got closer she saw that it was a different uniform than the one Edward wore for the parade. It was a much darker blue which would have overwhelmed any other officer in a sea of deep navy but Edward glowed with his blond hair and golden eyes.
Edward took Elysia's hand to shake it, then leaned over and whispered in her ear, "You're going to have to help me escape."
"Why is that?" Elysia asked laughing.
"There's no gambling," Edward said with a wink. "And I'm dying here. I haven't had a cigarette for hours. You cause a disturbance and I'll sneak away when nobody is looking."
"You can count on me," Elysia said winking back at him. Neither Elysia nor Edward noticed the curious looks of the Fuhrer and Gracia Hughes as they greeted each other. Gracia looked to the Fuhrer and he seemed to take the cue and leaned over to greet Elysia.
"Elysia, I'm so glad I've finally managed to get you and your mother to attend one of these silly anniversary dinners."
"I'm glad we came," Elysia answered with a quick glance towards Edward.
"Well, I've arranged the seating so that you and your mother may see some new faces as well as some old friends. I'm hoping to convince you and your mother to stay in Central for awhile."
"That may not be too hard to do," Elysia said looking at Edward again.
"Well, come in, have some champagne and enjoy yourselves," the Fuhrer said as he ushered Elysia and Gracia into the dinner hall.
More guests arrived and filled the dining hall. Elysia stayed close to her mother. There were some familiar faces amongst the military guests. Many of the officers had been friends with Elysia's father and had kept in touch with Gracia. But other than the officers there were not very many people that Elysia knew until she spotted Elizabeth Armstrong. Elysia and Elizabeth had gone to school together and became close friends. Elysia knew that under normal circumstances, that if her father had not been considered a war hero and been a close friend and supporter of the current Fuhrer, she never would have attended the same school as Elizabeth. Elizabeth came from money, old money that had been in the Armstrong family for years. But unlike most of the other girls who had attended the same ladies college as Elysia who came from old money, Elizabeth didn't act like it and Elysia liked her more than anyone else at the school so she was especially excited to see Elizabeth at the ball. Excusing herself from her mother Elysia weaved her way through the crowd toward her friend. When Elizabeth spotted Elysia coming her way a wide bright smile spread across her rosy face and her eyes lit up.
"Elysia!" She exclaimed as she embraced her friend. "I'm so glad you're here. Now I'll be able to enjoy myself!"
"Elizabeth, I'm not that exciting," Elysia said.
"Oh yes you are!" Elizabeth exclaimed hugging her friend again. "Most of the girls we went to school with are here and I've been trying to avoid them. And there are no eligible young men here that are not officers. I'm so tired of officers," she sighed thinking about how thrilled her family would be if she did marry an officer. It was a longstanding tradition that the Armstrong family either entered the army or married an officer. But her face lighted up once again. "But there is one officer that was easy on the eyes," Elizabeth said with a little twinkle in her eye. "Did you see General Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist?"
Elysia looked at her friend suspiciously. "Yeah, I did," she said cautiously.
"Wasn't he handsome? Now if there was one officer I'd dance with it would be with General Elric," Elizabeth said giggling.
"Would you now?" Elysia said not sharing any of her friend's enthusiasm wishing the sudden feeling of jealousy would go away. She tried to push away the feeling that she should be the only one to dance with Edward. But the persistent possessiveness that came over her wouldn't go away. But it's not like Edward and I are together! Why am I upset with Elizabeth thinking Edward is handsome? He is! But still, I really hope he doesn't dance with her tonight.
Elysia turned out to be the belle of the ball. When several officers learned who she was, poor Elysia was not able to sit down for a moment since entering the ball room. She took relief when dinner was called and the guests took their seats at either one of the five large dining tables overflowing with fine china, crystal and flourishing centerpieces. As Elysia entered she felt an arm entwine around hers and she looked to her right and saw that is was Edward guiding her to her seat.
"I do believe you are the belle of the ball this evening," Edward joked pulling Elysia's chair out for her.
"Unfortunately," Elysia sighed as she sat down. "My poor feet! They've been abused! Don't they teach officers to do anything else other than follow orders and shoot guns?"
"I'll have to remember to add dancing lessons in between the firing lessons and how to take orders mindlessly then," Edward said smiling at Elysia. "Now close your eyes."
Elysia looked at Edward, confused by the sudden request. "Go on," he urged so she complied. After a couple of seconds Edward gave her the okay to open her eyes. In his hand was a pillow.
"For you to rest your feet," he said as he bent down to place the pillow at her feet. Elysia smiled gratefully at him and slipped off her shoes quickly to rest her aching feet. She was just about to ask where he got the pillow when she happened to glance to her left and noticed the chair next to her own did not look as comfortable as the rest.
"Don't tell anyone about the pillow, all the ladies will want one," Edward whispered in her ear as he left to find his own seat. Elysia couldn't help from blushing and feeling very pleased with the attention Edward was showing her. She followed him with her eyes as he walked to his seat next to the Fuhrer. She was so absorbed watching Edward that she didn't hear the polite throat clearing of the gentleman who had slid into the hard dining chair to her left. After a couple more throat clearings he finally had Elysia's attention. Turning, Elysia found a rather shy, awkward young man nervously smiling at her. He was about her age and had the air of being well educated about him.
"Excuse me," he said quietly. "I'm sorry to be so forward, Ms. Hughes. The Fuhrer has told me a lot about you. I'm Jol Haren."
"Well," Elysia said smiling politely but with a seed of suspicion being planted into the back of her mind. "How do you do, Mr. Haren? How is it you know the Fuhrer? You're not an officer. Or were you lucky enough to get out of wearing those stiff uniforms."
"No," Jol said shyly casting down his eyes. "I'm not an officer. I'm a doctor. Soon I'll be the Fuhrer's primary physician. My uncle has been treating the Fuhrer for years. But he'll be retiring soon so I will be taking his place."
"I see," Elysia said looking over at the Fuhrer. He was looking right at Elysia and Jol and seemed to be very pleased with himself. Elysia could feel her cheeks coloring but not from embarrassment but from a twinge of anger. The suspicion she had just felt a minute ago now began to take root. But looking back at Jol Haren she found only complete innocence. There was nothing unnatural about him. It was as if he had been anticipating this meeting with her for some time. It was a genuine anticipation that had nothing to do with following orders but by being convinced, with the help of the Fuhrer of course, that Elysia was someone Jol would be able to find a common interest with.
Elysia was lost as to what to do. Jol Haren seemed nice and had boyish good looks but he didn't have much to say and throughout dinner Elysia found herself racking her brain for something to talk about with him. Others around her at the dining table provided lively conversation that she enjoyed but she felt bad leaving Jol out and tried to engage him when she could. But he was so shy and unsure of himself it was almost irritating to Elysia. But the way Jol looked at Elysia made it worse. She could tell he liked her immediately and enjoyed her talking to him but she was not able to feel any genuine interest in him. She wanted to be interested in him. She thought it was probably best. He seemed about the same age as her and he was good looking and seemed kind and gentle. But unfortunately, she saw Edward first when she returned to Central and she realized that her obsessing over Edward was turning into something else. Edward had immediately staked a claim in her heart within those first few minutes of seeing him after so many years and she was sure that she didn't want anyone else to do so. Giving Jol a longing look, wishing she could be more interested in him she sighed and looked over at Edward. Edward was engaged in conversation with General Armstrong and seeing him looking so lively and happy made her completely forget about Jol.