Excitement flooded through Elianna's veins as she turned the enchanted shower valve, cutting off the water coming through the showerhead. She and Nicholas had never gone on an outing together before, and she was eager to see how different it felt from hanging out at either of their mansions or at the garrison. When she asked her parents yesterday if she and Nicholas could go to the theatre together, she was a little nervous that they would say no. However, after speaking with Nicholas' aunt and uncle, her parents agreed that it would be okay as long as they had an adult with them.

Admittedly, Elianna felt a little disappointed that she and Nicholas needed a chaperone while they were out together. She understood where her parents were coming from since she was only fifteen and Nicholas was fourteen, soon to be fifteen. But that didn't mean she was content about the situation since she would rather hang out with Nicholas without having someone constantly keeping an eye on them. Her only wish was that the adult they chose would be someone who wouldn't ruin her and Nicholas' fun.

Opening the glass door to her lavishly large shower, she grabbed her towel hanging nearby and quickly dried her body off before wrapping the towel around herself. She stepped out of the shower onto the bath rug and grabbed the second towel that was hanging nearby. She approached her bathroom counter as she began to dry her hair, eyeing herself in her large mirror. Once she dried her hair enough that it wasn't dripping wet, she wrapped the towel around her hair to absorb the rest of the moisture.

Elianna's eyes flicked to the marble bathroom countertop, which had dual sinks with sterling silver faucets. She quickly conducted her basic hygiene before opening the dark gray cabinet door under her sink and pulling out a fragrance basket. She eyed the fragrances curiously, sniffing them one by one, wondering which one Nicholas would like best. She opened and sniffed the sixth fragrance and smiled as the scent of cinnamon filled her nostrils.

A core memory surfaced when Elianna remembered when she first wore this fragrance. She and Nicholas were hanging out at his family mansion, spending time in the music room, when Nicholas suddenly asked her about the fragrance. When she told him it was a new fragrance her mother had bought her, he commented on how it smelled good and that he liked it. Since then, she has always had this fragrance in stock and used it the most. That was also the day she learned that Nicholas was quite a musician and knew how to play the piano. She had asked him to play something for her, and the song he played was melodic with a warm timbre that had a beautiful rhythm she could feel to her core. She asked him when he learned to play, and he told her he learned in Gavaria but didn't go into much detail.

Elianna blinked, realizing she had been standing there with a wide smile, lost in blissful thought. She sprayed on the fragrance before placing it back into the basket and putting it away. She left the bathroom and entered her bedroom, where she had her undergarments laid out on the bed and put them on after discarding her towel around her body.

Next was the hard part in Elianna's mind... deciding what to wear. She had been racking her brain all night and morning, trying to decide what she would wear today. She didn't know if she should wear a sundress, pants, shorts, or a skirt. The only thing she did know was that she wanted to look good today. Not because of Nicholas or anything, but because she wanted to... at least, that's what she told herself...

Elianna walked into her large walk-in closet and froze, her eyes darting around at the numerous clothes she had hanging and folded on the shelves. As she stood there, she realized that this decision may be more challenging than she previously thought. Grabbing her chin, Elianna eyed her clothing, trying to picture how she would look in them. Her gaze fell on one of her sundresses, a yellow sundress with a white floral design, and she smiled. It was one of her favorite sundresses that she's had for a while.

Taking the sundress off from the hanger, she walked back into her bedroom, discarded the towel around her hair, and began to put the sundress on. However, as she put on the dress, she noticed that it felt quite snug around her. She managed to loop her arms through the straps, seeing the dress was shorter than she remembered, and immediately noticed the uncomfortable tightness around her breasts. Thinking that the dress was too small and there was no way she could zip it up, she took it off and tossed it onto the bed.

Huffing in frustration and defeat, Elianna marched back into the closet, crossed her arms, and looked at her clothing options again. After a few minutes of looking and trying to decide what to wear, she pulled a white v-neck shirt and a pink skirt off their hangers. Walking back into her bedroom, she put on the shirt, feeling it wasn't snug, and it hugged her torso nicely. She was also content when she put on her skirt, seeing that it went nicely with her shirt.

Happy with her decision, Elianna was about to walk to her vanity when she stopped, with her eyes falling to the bed. She eyed the sundress curiously, thinking about how snug and tight it felt around her. Elianna inquisitively looked down at herself, thinking about how she's grown, before she looked at the large mirror and walked up to it.

Elianna tilted her head slightly to the right and pursed her lips as her eyes wandered her body with curiosity, looking herself up and down. She turned herself to the side, looking at her body from the side as she ran her hands over her chest, her waist, and her rear. She thought about how her breasts had grown, how she had developed hourglass curves, and she laughed at herself a little, thinking she had a cute butt. As she looked at herself, she couldn't help but wonder if Nicholas noticed these things about her as well.

"Are you almost ready?"

Elianna yelped and spun around in surprise, her widened eyes falling on her mother, who was leaning casually in the doorway with her arms crossed. Elianna's cheeks reddened in embarrassment, "M-Mom, I didn't hear you come in."

Katarina hummed and nodded, trying to hide her comical smile, "Yes, you seemed deep in thought. What were you doing?"

Elianna cleared her throat and straightened, trying to come up with an answer rapidly. She didn't exactly feel like telling her mother that she was eyeing her bodily changes. Her eyes darted to the vanity, and she felt a sense of salvation. "My hair and makeup," She quickly spat out. She began to approach her vanity, "I was about to do my hair and makeup."

Katarina hummed, "I see." Her comical smile grew as she knew her daughter was lying since she knew exactly what she was doing. She sometimes thinks that her daughter doesn't realize that she, too, was a teenage girl at one point.

Katarina watched Elianna, eyeing her as she took her seat at the vanity, grabbed her brush, and began to comb her hair back. She could see how her daughter was growing, a thought she loved but hated at the same time.

Elianna finished combing her hair back, then tied it into a ponytail. She picked up one of the vials sitting atop the vanity and looked at herself in the mirror. She turned her face to the left, staring at her flawless skin for a moment, before she looked right and froze, seeing a breakout on the lower left part of her chin. She opened the vial, placing a small drop of the liquid on the pad of her finger before applying it to the breakout. She felt the liquid tingle as it began to work, and the breakout sparkled before it completely faded. Elianna smiled contently, thinking the breakout remover liquid her mother bought her was incredible.

Elianna closed the vial and placed it down on the vanity when her eyes flicked to her mother through her vanity mirror. She watched as her mother closed the bedroom door behind her, walked over to the bed, and sat on the corner.

Katarina eyed her daughter, watching as she began to apply some moisturizer to her face. "Are you excited about hanging out with Nicholas?"

Elianna froze, with her eyes flicking to her mom. Her eyes fell to the vanity, and a wide smile graced her lips, "Yeah." She cleared her throat and looked back at herself in the mirror as she continued her makeup routine. "It should be fun."

Katarina nodded, and she smiled, noticing her daughter's reaction. "So, are you two just hanging out, or is this a date?"

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Elianna's head snapped to her mom, eyes wide in shock and cheeks red with embarrassment, "W-What?" She quickly cleared her throat, composing herself. "N-No. We're just hanging out."

Katarina raised a curious brow, "As friends?"

Elianna grumbled at her mom's insinuation, "Yes, Mom." She looked back at herself in the mirror, finishing her foundation. "As friends."

Katarina smiled, "I see." She watched her daughter, seeing as she would stop what she was doing and eye her face to see if she missed a spot. "Have you thought about telling him?"

"Tell him what?" Elianna asked casually as she placed the small glass container of foundation down on the vanity.

Katarina's head slightly tilted to the side, eyeing her daughter, "How you feel about him."

Elianna's hand froze on her eye makeup, and Katarina noticed as her daughter's cheeks turned a little red. Elianna cleared her throat, composing herself, and picked up the glass container of eye makeup. "What do you mean?"

Katarina chuckled warmly, "I can see the way you look at him, Sweetie."

Elianna began to apply a light blue shade to her eyelids gingerly, but her hand slowly froze. She sat there, lowering her brush slowly, and her eyes moved to her mom, meeting her gaze through the mirror. Elianna let out a sigh as her eyes fell to her vanity, "No."

Katarina looked at her daughter curiously, "No, you haven't thought about it. Or, no, you won't."

"I won't," Elianna said, going back to applying her eye makeup to her other eye.

Katarina's smile faded, and she eyed her daughter inquisitively, "Why not?"

Elianna's mouth tightened, and she shrugged, "I don't know." She finished putting on the makeup and set the container down with her eyes locked on it. She was quiet for a moment before she softly said, "Because I don't know how he feels, and I don't want to ruin our friendship."

Katarina's smile returned, "I see." She watched as her daughter grabbed a container of blush and lightly began to apply it. "Well, I'm not going to push you to tell him. You can tell him when or if you're ready."

Katarina stood from the bed, and Elianna watched her mother through the vanity mirror. Katarina approached and stood behind her daughter. She smiled warmly and placed her hands comfortingly on her daughter's shoulders. "But, you won't know how he feels unless you ask him or you tell him how you feel."

Elianna lightly sighed and nodded, "I know."

Elianna and Katarina looked at the door to Elianna's bedroom, hearing a knock.

"Come in," Katarina said.

The door opened, and Augustus walked in and bowed, "Forgive my intrusion, my Ladies."

"It's of no worry," Katarina reassured. "What is it?"

Augustus stood straight, "I've come to inform you that the Argyles and Lord Nicholas have arrived."

Elianna looked surprised, "Nicholas' aunt and uncle are here too?"

Augustus nodded, "They are indeed."

"Thank you, Augustus," Katarina said. "We will be down shortly."

Augustus nodded and walked out of the room, closing the door behind them.

"I didn't think they would be here too," Elianna said as she quickly finished applying the blush. She closed the container and placed it on the vanity, "I thought Nick would fly here like usual." Elianna stood from the vanity as her mother stepped back. Elianna smoothed out her clothes, twirled around, and looked at her mom. "How do I look?"

Katarina looked at her daughter warmly, "You look beautiful." Katarina re-approached her daughter, placing her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "Now, I want you to have fun tonight. But you remember our talk, right?"

Elianna's brows furrowed before she blushed heavily at the memory of their talk when she started puberty. It was a little embarrassing to talk to her mom about it, especially sensitive topics like sex. It was also when her mother explained to her about romantic feelings and relationships. She nodded, "Yeah, I remember."

Katarina smiled, "Good. Just know that I'm always here to talk if you need to." She leaned forward and whispered, "Especially if you want to talk about your feelings for Nick."

Elianna blushed and smiled blissfully as she took her mom into a warm hug, "Thanks, Mom."

"Of course, Sweetie," Katarina said and began to walk toward the door. "Now, come on. We don't want to keep the others waiting."

Elianna nodded and followed her mom out of the room, closing the door behind her. Elianna and Katarina could hear multiple voices talking and laughing as they neared the grand staircase. Once they reached the top, they looked down, seeing Lucian at the bottom, speaking with Freya and Matthew. However, it was Nicholas who immediately caught Elianna's eyes and had her stomach fluttering.

Nicholas was dressed handsomely in a black short-sleeved button-up shirt and tan pants. His medium-length blonde hair was hand combed out of his eyes and a little messy, which Elianna personally liked.

Elianna's eyes looked him up and down, thinking about how handsome he looked, and the fluttering sensation in her stomach increased. Elianna flinched slightly as she felt a hand gently press against her back and looked at her mom.

Katarina smiled warmly at her daughter, jerking her chin forward, "Come on."

Elianna smiled and nodded. She began to descend the stairs with her mom beside her.

Lucian stopped what he was saying, catching a movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked toward the staircase and smiled, seeing his wife and daughter descending, "There they are."

All eyes flicked to Elianna and Katarina, and Freya smiled, thinking Elianna looked lovely. Nicholas's cheeks burned a little as he eyed Elianna, and when their gazes met, and she smiled softly at him, he felt his cheeks grow hotter.

"Hey, Nick," Elianna greeted.

"Hey, Lia," Nicholas began, watching as Katarina and Elianna reached the grand entrance.

Nicholas swallowed hard, seeing how nicely she was dressed, how she had her hair in a ponytail as he liked, and how her makeup was beautifully done.

Elianna's smile faded a little, seeing Nicholas just staring at her and not saying anything. She looked down at herself, beginning to feel a little self-conscious, "I-Is something wrong?"

Nicholas quickly shook his head and stuttered, "N-No." He cleared his throat, his cheeks slightly red, "You, uh, you look good."

Elianna's eyes shot to his with surprise before she smiled and blushed a little, "Thanks."

"Awe," Mathew teased, and Freya quickly elbowed him in the side, trying to keep him from ruining the moment.

Nicholas and Elianna's eyes widened slightly, and they blushed heavily as they looked to the side, suddenly remembering they had an audience.

"Hello, Freya, Mathew," Katarina began, trying to hide her humourous smile at Nicholas' and Elianna's reaction. "It's a pleasure to see you."

"You as well," Freya said with a friendly smile. "We decided to tag along to drop them off."

Elianna looked at Freya, a little confused, "Them?"

Freya nodded and gestured to the side. Elianna followed her gesture, and her eyes widened in surprise and glee as she saw the figure she hadn't noticed before.

"Celine!" Elianna chirped.

Celine smiled and waved, "Hey, Elle."

Elianna happily walked up to Celine and took her into a jovial hug, "I haven't seen you in so long!" They broke the hug, and Elianna looked at Celine curiously, "How's the academy?"

"It's good," Celine said cheerfully. She sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, "I'm glad for the week break, though. I really needed a break from all those classes." Celine's eyes widened and quickly flicked to Katarina, and she smiled, "Not yours, Mrs. Vail. Yours is amazing."

Freya, Mathew, Lucian, and Katarina all chuckled, and Mathew said, "Nice catch."

Katarina gestured to Celine while looking at Elianna, "Celine here agreed to escort you two today."

"With her being nineteen, I think we can trust her judgment," Mathew jested.

Elianna smiled at Celine, "Oh, you're going with us?" Knowing it would be Celine and not one of the other adults to be with her and Nicholas made Elianna feel a lot better.

Celine smiled and nodded, "Yep, I hope you don't mind."

Elianna happily shook her head, "Not at all!"

"Good," Celine said and gave Nicholas a teasing grin. "See, Nick. I told you Elle wouldn't mind me coming on your-"

"Okay!" Nicholas quickly cut in, his cheeks turning red, and Celine chuckled. Elianna's eyes curiously darted between Celine and Nicholas, wondering what that was about and what Celine was going to say.

Katarina smiled a little comically, leaned toward Freya, and whispered, "Has Celine been teasing Nicholas about this being a date?"

Freya chuckled and whispered back, "Yep. All day, nonstop."

Nicholas lightheartedly narrowed his eyes on Celine before he smiled at Elianna and approached her. "Excited for the illusionaire?"

Elianna met his gaze, smiled, and nodded, "Yep, you?" Elianna watched Nicholas as he got close to her, and suddenly, she noticed his nostrils flare and his pupils expand a little. Elianna's smile grew slightly, knowing Nicholas smelled the cinnamon fragrance she applied.

Nicholas cleared his throat, composing himself after smelling the cinnamon fragrance he liked. He smiled wide and said, "Y-Yeah!"

The front doors to the mansion opened, and everyone looked to see Augustus walk in. "The carriage is ready," Augustus informed.

"Perfect, thank you," Lucian said. He looked at Elianna, "The carriage has been prepared to take you three. Do you have your telemirror and credit keeper on you?" Elianna smiled and nodded. "Good, then have fun, listen to Celine, and be safe."

"I will," Elianna said as she approached her mother and father, giving them both a hug.

"You two be safe," Freya said to Nicholas and Celine.

"We will," Nicholas said, giving his aunt and uncle a hug.

"Keep an eye on them," Mathew said as he and Celine hugged each other.

"I will," Celine said.

Freya smiled, "You will all have to let us know how everything goes tonight."

"Tonight?" Elianna asked, confused.

Lucian nodded, "Freya and Mathew invited us over for dinner tonight. So, the carriage will bring you to their mansion after the illusionaire." He smiled, "Now, have fun, you three."

Nicholas, Elianna, and Celine smiled and nodded before heading to the door. Nicholas held the door open for Celine and Elianna, gaining an attaboy nod from Lucian and Mathew. The three of them left the mansion, closing the door behind them, excited for their outing together.