It was a beautiful spring day when the two best friends have were reunited. The flowers were blooming in an assortment of colors and there Luca stood under a willow tree. Dandelions surrounded his feet as he waited there. He seemed to be looking around while holding a letter in his hand. Surely he had gotten the location right? Or maybe he forgot again? His anxiety began to creep in as he reread the letter over and over again. Soon enough, heard the neighs of horses nearby and the creaking of a carriage's wheels. A few minutes later, he saw a figure running towards him in the distance and smiled to himself as they got closer to his location. No, he definitely had the right place.
"Luca! Lucaaaa!"
A woman was running up to him at high speeds. No one would have recognized her as a noble based on her appearance alone; she was wearing a white dress shirt adorned with golden buttons with a visible brown corset. The threading in the corset was messy compared to the neat crisscross pattern that most corsets had in place. She was also wearing some sienna breeches that were covered in dirt and oil. To top off the look, she was wearing worn down riding boots that were unbuckled. She was an all-around mess but Luca believed that to be what added to her carefree charm.
Yes, that was definitely Tracy Reznik, Luca's best friend.
Tracy ran up to the tall man as she embraced him. It had been months since the two had last seen one another. Luca was always busy with his work and Tracy was forced to attend gatherings. Not that the two minded, though. They knew they'd be reunited one way or another and simply lived on. It was comforting to them to know they at least had each other to get through the rough days. Luca especially enjoyed Tracy's company. Being an only child, he saw Tracy as a sister that he could always rely on in his times of need. As she snuggled her face into his chest he laughed and ruffled her hair.
"Tracy, hello again!" He gave her a goofy smile as he lifted her up gently. She giggled as he began to spin her around and sat her on one of the large roots of the willow tree. She patted the spot next to her and he sat down. The two looked at each other before they both opened their mouths.
"I-"
"How-
They burst into laughter before Tracy did a small 'zip' motion on her lips before urging Luca to finish his sentence. He nodded at her in thanks before continuing. She had always been a good listener and Luca was eternally grateful for her sincerity.
"I have a plan to get out of my predicament but you won't like it. Promise you won't get mad at me?"
"Well, I won't know how to react unless I have the details, hm? I promise to not tug on your ears at the very least." She gave him a reassuring smile as he took a breath in.
"I'm going to get married to a noble. If I can seal the deal with someone of high status then I can surely escape this miserable life. All I ask is that you help me find someone."
Tracy looked at him in disbelief before standing up and shouting.
"I thought you said you'd never marry, especially not for money! You had always wanted to marry someone you actually loved... isn't this going against your own values?!"
Everything she had just said was true. Luca had promised himself to never marry unless he was sure that he could provide for his partner, both emotionally and financially. He wanted to marry someone that he genuinely loved - he was tired of watching other nobles be arranged into loveless marriages. He made an oath to himself that he'd break that stereotype. Alas, that was no longer the case. Desperate times called for desperate measures and he was borderline hysterical to escape his situation.
"Yes, but my values aren't important at the moment. I can't keep doing this every day, Tracy. It's driving me mad. I just want to escape. So please, please... just help me."
Tracy looked at the crestfallen man before her and sighed. She loved her friend dearly and couldn't bear to see him struggling like this. They had been through thick and thin together and she knew he was reaching his limit. If she could grant him his wish then maybe he'd find some time to breathe.
At that moment, Tracy decided she would become his fairy godmother. She was going to help him find a wealthy lover - and someone he loved at that! She grasped at both of the man's hands and looked him dead in the eye.
"I will help you, Luca Balsa. You can count on me! Starting from this moment forward, I'll be your trusted fairy godmother. I'll definitely help you find your soulmate!"
He was baffled by her quick change in attitude and chuckled. It still amazed him how optimistic she was. Although he doubted she could find his soulmate, he still wanted to believe her. She had worked miracles before and he knew what she was capable of. He gave her a nod of assurance to let her know that he was grateful for her help. She beamed from ear to ear as she began to lay out her master plan.
"So first, we need to find an opportunity! Luckily for you, you're friends with a Reznik. I was recently invited to the Valden Masquerade and I believe I could bring you in as..."
Tracy trailed off for a moment as she questioned who she could refer to Luca as for the ball. Perhaps her lover? Servant? Butler? She was racking up for brain for a decent title to give Luca and he could see the gears turning in his head. He freed his hands from her grasp and flicked her forehead. She clutched her forehead tightly as she pouted.
"It's not that hard, Tracy. It's a masquerade ball - my identity will be hidden regardless~ You can just call me an 'esteemed' guest of your family No one will know who I am, so it should be easy to get away with."
Tracy blanked out for a second before nodding her head in agreement. Of course! She could've just referred to him as a guest. It's not as if they would have the authority to check his identity, anyways. She clapped her hands together as she went on to the next step.
"Okay, great! So that's settled. Now the only matter left to attend to is your attire."
"What's wrong with my attire?" He made a small frown as Tracy panicked and waved her arms.
"No no! There's nothing wrong with it but this... is a masquerade held by the Valden royal family. A majority of the guests will be from high families and be opting to outshine everyone in that ballroom. You'll stand out like a sore thumb - and not in a good way. To say the least, it's rather plain compared to what the higher nobility prefer."
Luca looked at his clothing before agreeing with Tracy. The only good clothing he had was a red tailcoat embroidered with golden threads. It had a beautiful design but it was plain in comparison to the extravagant coats and dresses that the higher nobility wore. He sighed as he tried to figure out how he'd get enough money for a proper outfit.
"Tracy, as magical as you are to me, I'm pretty sure you can't turn my drab clothing into something marvelous with a flick of your fingers."
"Oh, but I can." She had arrived in a carriage and ran back to it. Luca waited for a around three minutes before she came back holding a large satchel in her hand. She poured the contents out on the grass; twinkling golden coins fell out like a waterfall's cascade. Luca was baffled and batted Tracy's hand away before she could spill anymore.
"Tracy, dear, I am not going to force you to use your money on me of all people. Surely you could use your allowance for something more meaningful, like your proj-"
"More meaningful?! Luca Balsa, don't you dare put yourself down like that in front of me again. I'll throw you into the stable to bathe in the pigs' filth! You are my closest confidant, I'm not being forced to do anything. I want to do this for you. It's what best friends are for, right?"
She flashed him a smile as she pushed the satchel and spilled coins towards him. Luca was reluctant to accept. She had helped him financially once during the court incident. He felt guilty accepting her help once more. He didn't feel as if he deserved it, especially not when it was for something as trivial as an outfit. Maybe he could borrow from someone...
"Luca."
"Yes?"
"I know what you're thinking. I won't allow you to borrow or take hand-me-downs. Take the money, I insist. If you don't then I'll... I'll never hug you again!"
Luca let out a dramatic gasp as he placed his hand over his agape mouth. He knew Tracy had no real leverage on him. As stubborn as she was, she was also too sweet to actually do anything. Luca decided he'd play along just this once. He made a note to himself to repay her back, though.
"Tracy, I didn't know you could be so cruel!"
"And I'll get even crueler if you don't take the damn satchel, you dolt!"
The man accepted defeat as he took the satchel. She crossed her arm and puffed her chest out in triumph. She had fulfilled her mission. Now for the hard part.
"So, let's get going."
"Where-"
"To get you an outfit, silly~! We're going to the boutique!"
Luca didn't retaliate as he was dragged away by Tracy. She had a tight grip on him and he didn't feel like fighting back. Quite frankly, he just wanted to get this over with. Who knows, maybe he really would meet his soulmate, or at least someone he could tolerate during his marriage.
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I had this ready in advance so ooooh two chapters B)
Third chapter is in the works so I'mma probably procrastinate hard