Chapter Fourteen: Fit for a Princess.

"Elsword, time to get up." Aisha shook the redhead, Ophelia standing in the door with their dresses. Night had come, and Eve sent out a message to everyone to get ready for dinner.

"Nnnh…" Elsword groaned, "Five more minutes…" She mumbled.

"Either get up or I'll practice on you more." Aisha teased. Elsword opened her eyes, honestly debating it since it felt so good, and sat up rubbing her eyes. Aisha stood upright, "There we go. Come on, we got to get dressed."

"Okay…" Elsword yawned. Aisha took the dresses from Ophelia, and the Nasod departed for her next destination.

"Here ya go." Aisha set Elsword's garments on the bed and started stripping down, getting dressed.

While it was technically clothing made by Angkor, therefore keeping in terms with their contract, even he feared disobeying Eve when it came to terms of formality. Slipping it on Aisha started to tie the laces around her arms and neck, the black clothing exposing her smooth back. Elsword did the same, realizing it was a new dress. A tight white dress that reached down to her feet, with a long stretch of fabric to trail behind her. It came with a silver necklace and wristbands, adorned with sapphires. For her leg wear was silk stockings and white high heels, not that anyone was going to see it. As she finished getting dressed she heard a whistle behind her. She turned expecting Angkor, but it was just Aisha, looking her up in down.

"Damn Elsword, talk about outclassing me!" She smiled, "It fits you perfectly."

"Thanks. I like yours too."

"Yeah, it's one of Angkor's few vestments I tolerate." Aisha spun around, the cute ruffled skirt fluttering around her thighs. Elsword could see it was a bright velvet underneath the dark exterior, complementing her hair.

"So, where do we go?"

"I'm not entirely sure actually. There weren't any directions." Aisha turned to a knock at the door. Opening it she was greeted with a bow from Oberon, "Well, problem solved I suppose."

The two girls followed the mechanical butler down the hall to the elevator, the butler keying in something before pressing a floor number. Curious they got on once the elevator arrived.

"Don't be nervous about meeting Chung's folks Elsword." Aisha said, "They're practically family. Remember to just call them by name, they don't like close friends using their titles or 'your majesty' unless it's a really specific event."

"Okay." Elsword nodded, that did take some of the pressure off. After a few minutes the doors opened to a single room.

This was clearly meant for VIP, lavish seats lined a long table clothed in a laced tablecloth. All assortment of food was laid across it; fresh salads, fruits, roasted steak and pork strips. Each seat came with a ceramic plate encircled by golden trim with matching utensils, and a tall, slim wine glass.

"Hey girls!" Rena was waving at them from the side, with everyone else. Chung looked up and suddenly looked away, blushing.

"Hey." Aisha waved, walking over with Oberon and Elsword.

Everyone looked divine. Rena was wearing a form fitting, low cut dress with an emerald necklace tightly wrapped around her neck; her heels raised so high she was practically on the tips of her toes. Raven, standing next to her, wore a smooth, well ironed black tux. His hands covered with white gloves and a red tie he kept adjusting. Both Chung and Add wore white, Add's a mirror copy of Raven's but with a black tie and Chung wearing a white admiral's uniform laced with blue instead of the standard gold. Eve was wearing her natural attire, a white with pink accessories dress that very much resembled a lotus flower, with long, flowing leggings affixed to her stockings and a mantle resting upon her shoulders reaching to the floor. Lu's dress was reminiscent of a bat, the skirt like two wings stretching behind her with fur lined gloves reaching to her shoulder. The center of her chest was exposed slightly, but in an elegant way rather than sexy. Ciel wore his normal attire, but without his fur coat. Ara and Elesis wore complimenting dresses, both modeled after Aras. Where Ara wore black, Elesis had red, with fur scarves that more looked like tails. Ara's dress was split on the right, and Elesis' on the left.

"We're just waiting on Chung's parents. We have the whole room to ourselves." Lu said. As if on cue the elevator dinged and Delilah and Helputt walked out. Helputt wore a similar suit to Chung, but with red and gold. Delilah wore a large, silk dress that spanned around her hips yet molded to her form as she walked.

"Welcome everyone, so glad you could make it." Delilah smiled warmly, walking over. She extended her hand to Elsword, "I heard of your incident, I hope to make a good impression this evening."

"M-Me too." Elsword stammered. Even when told they were close friends it was intimidating to speak to true royalty. She shook her hands.

"Well, let's begin." Helputt said.

"Elsword, it would be lovely if you would sit with my family together."

"O-Okay." She nodded.

Everyone took their seats, the men helping their partners sit before doing so themselves, with Elesis pulling a chair for Ara and Ciel for Lu. Chung pulled the chair for Elsword, which she graciously accepted. There were seven chairs on each side. On the right, Helputt, Delilah, Elsword, Chung, Eve, and Lu. On the left, Rena, Raven, Elesis, Ara, Aisha, and Add. Ciel, Oberon, and Ophelia remained standing to serve.

"Thank you for coming, please enjoy the meal." Delilah smiled.

"Oberon, Ophelia."

"Ciel." Eve and Lu addressed their servants with practiced authority. The three servants began to circle the table with the dishes, so everyone could take what they wished. After everyone had been served Ciel repeated with two bottles of wine, white and red, while Oberon stood at the head of the table and Ophelia at the tail ready for any requests.

"Ma'am, your selection?" Ciel kindly asked Elsword.

"Umm…I…"

"I would go with the white Elsword." Rena said, "It's your first time since the accident, so probably best to avoid getting red wine drunk."

"But the choice is yours." Lu said.

"Um, the white I guess." Elsword said. Ciel nodded and poured the drink before moving on. After finishing he stood behind Lu, much like the two Nasods.

"Ciel dear, please have a seat. Eat with us." Delilah said, not wanting him to be left out.

"It is not a servant's place at his master's table." Ciel responded professionally.

"Then consider it an order from the king." Helputt said firmly, "Sit down and eat."

"As you wish Mi'lord."

"Helputt." He corrected vainly. Ciel sat next to his master in the free seat and relayed his preferences to Ophelia, who was next to him.

"Bon appetite~." Aisha chimed.

"First, I would like to propose a toast." Delilah rose to her feet. She raised her glass of white wine, "To Elsword."

"H-Huh?" Elsword was surprised as Delilah looked down at her.

"To your health, and recovery." She said.

"Cheers." Everyone else said, raising their glass. Slow on the draw, Elsword did the same, and everyone took a sip.

"Ah…it's bitter…" Elsword said.

"You grow accustomed to the taste." Raven said, "You don't have to drink if you don't want to."

"So, Rena." Delilah began, gently dressing her salad, "How has your garden been?"

"Wonderful. Some of the blooms took a hit this past winter but everything pulled through." Rena smiled, her plate laid with only fruit and vegetables.

"Those flowers you brought on your last visit were simply gorgeous. Sometimes I wonder if you were cut out to be a florist." Delilah laughed heartily.

"So, Elsword." Helputt leaned over to look at her.

"Y-Yes!?" Elsword jumped, not expecting to be addressed.

"Hah! At ease lass." Helputt chuckled, "Since this is mainly for you, if you have any questions for us fire away." Helputt laid the offer on the table.

"Umm…" Elsword didn't know what to ask, "What's Hamel like?"

"We are a proud port nation. Water from the ocean flows through the city moats carved out over generations to provide power and pleasantry for the citizens." Delilah said.

"It is also home of the Red Knights, of with your sister is former captain." Helputt said, "They fought valiantly to protect hearth and home during the demon war."

"Since then we devoted our power to rebuilding our home, mainly the outskirts that were sunken in the attack."

"How is progress?" Eve asked.

"Slow, much of Resiam still remains submerged, but progress proceeds steadily." Delilah said.

"So…Chung's the prince, right?" Elsword wanted to confirm from the source.

"Indeed. But we felt it suitable to allow him to live with those who saved him, and befriended him." Helputt said, a tinge of remorse in his voice.

"Ah, Elsword would you like to marry my son?" Delilah asked bluntly. Elsword flushed red and Chung gagged on his food, smacking his chest.

"Drink." Raven chuckled, which Chung did, washing his food down.

"Ack! Mother!" Chung whined, blushing himself.

"Tis a perfectly fitting question."

"No, it isn't!" Chung argued, Elsword still frozen in shock. Her, a princess, and eventually queen?

"I-I-I a-appreciate the s-sentiment M-Ma'am." Elsword stammered.

"Come now dear." Helputt sighed, "Lay off before you give the poor girl a stroke."

"I don't see what's so daunting about it." Delilah shrugged.

"I can think of a few reasons." Add mumbled to himself, earning an elbow under the table from Aisha.

"Psst! Rude!" She whispered.

"Ah, speaking of marriage however." Helputt looked to Elesis and Ara, "I know marriage laws are still old fashioned where you live. If you ever decide to tie the knot, don't hesitate to let us know."

"Thank you Helputt." Elesis bowed her head. They weren't very taken aback by it, they have been discussing it for some time, but Ara was not quite ready.

They ate their meal, everyone chatting amongst each other in their own conversations. Chung tapped Elsword's shoulder to whisper to her.

"Sorry about my mom…She's always bugging me about that."

"O-Oh…sorry." Elsword replied, blushing at the resurfacing topic.

"Not your fault." He shook his head, "I don't think she really understands how I feel about marriage is all."

"What're you two whispering about down there?" Helputt sneered deviously.

"Oh, uh, nothing." Chung sat upright.

"A collapse in posture and silent whispering is bad manners for the dinner table Prince Seiker." Eve chastised.

"Do I have to punish you after?" Lu teased.

"P-Please don't." Elsword said softly.

"Ha ha, we're all just having fun." Delilah said comfortingly.

Hours passed as they talked and ate until everyone decided it was time to turn in. As Elsword went to meet with Aisha at the elevator she was pulled aside by Delilah.

"Elsword dear, would you mind a short walk with me on the balcony?" Delilah asked.

"Ah, okay." Elsword nodded, not wishing to be rude. They headed outside.

"Ah, isn't the night sky breathtaking?" Delilah sighed, breathing in the brisk air. It was a full moon tonight, and not a cloud above them.

"Yeah, I've never been up this high before." Elsword said.

"Elsword, in all honesty, what do you think of Chung?" Delilah asked calmly.

"A-Ah…" Elsword blushed, "H-He's very nice, and helpful. I think he's a great friend."

"I know I am imposing, but would you do a silly old woman a small kindness?"

"W-What is it?"

"Would you take my son out on a date?" Elsword froze, stunned, "You're all he talks about you know."

"I-I am?" Elsword blinked.

"Yes, whenever you come up in his stories when we chat you always take center stage." Delilah chuckled, "Call it a woman's intuition, but I get the feeling while he would deny it my son is quite enamored with you."

"Enamored…" Elsword looked at her chest, hand resting over her beating heart.

"So, if you would do me the kindness of, testing the waters as it were. If he is not to your liking, or you simply wish to remain friends, you'll never hear the topic from me again, promise." Delilah smiled, extending her pinky. Elsword waited for a moment, and locked pinkies with her.

"O-Okay. I'll…see how it goes." Elsword promised, but she was unsure as to why.