Lady e Rochefort was quite famous for hosting the most unique bas. No one ever left one of her gatherings without feeling that they had witnessed something beyond ordinary.

  An attention seeker, some called her, but the truth was, they knew she fous hosted by other nobles dull, b, and ckluster, and would rather host her own than suffer through theirs.

  If she accepted an invitation to attend another's event, it meant she either truly wao see what the fuss was about, or the host was so impressive (high ranked) she had no choice but to show up and be impressed.

  The greatest embarrassment was to have Lady e Rochefort leave your party early. It was a statement: the host was ertaining enough.

  This event hosted by the Royal family carried a simir vibe like hers, and everyone was excited to participate.

  The security was tight.

  The rules were simple: no family crests, no house colors, and no titles.

  And, above all, the most important rule: no talking until the feast. The weight of one's presence, and the subtle power of gestures, was to be the nguage for the first part of the night.

  Lu picked up the gss from the passing tray, swirling the dark liquid and lifting it to his nose. He sniffed, but didn't taste.

  The "seating" arra was not fixed. Uraditional grand dinners with rigid seating charts, this one was designed for movement.

  The main area featured small standing tables where guests could e and go freely. For those seeking fort, semi-private booths lihe hall's perimeter, both outside and inside.

  The music, the st, the taste, the atmosphere ─ everything was desigo be stimuting, and intoxig.

  The exoticers weaved betweeables and the standing guests, their movements hypnotic.

  Even though Lu didn't want to admit it, even though the idea of giving in, even for a sed, disgusted him, he had to admit, it was a fasating experience.

  The music faded, and the dancers disappeared.

  Silence fell.

  The guests waited, holding their breaths.

  And then, a male's voice.

  "Wele."

  The guests turheir heads, searg.

  "I am pleased to see you all here tonight," the man tiaking off his hat, and bowing low, "And I hope you will enjoy yourselves," his words followed by a magic trick. A white dove appeared from his sleeve, fluttering away.

  Everyone cpped, their smiles widening. No whispers, ne looks, no subtle sneers ─ everyone was equally excited, and no one could hide it, gesturing to the person closest to them, nodding, and ughing.

  · · ─────── · ???· ─────── · ·

  When the performances ehe King and the Queen took their seats at the head table.

  The Kiured, and a single chime followed, "Ladies aleme's raise sses for a toast," he said, lifting his gss, "And have a good time!"

  The guests raised their gsses, toasting, "Long live the King! Long live the Queen! Long live the Royal Family! Blessing to the Kingdom!"

  The feast officially began. The music resumed, the atmosphere was lively and rexed.

  "What do you think?" a voice asked.

  Lu's gaze flickered to his right.

  A tall figure, lea muscur. Dressed in a crisp, royal uniform, with a sharp jaw and even sharper gray eyes. The mask did little to hide his identity. And the rare color of his hair, bck as coal, was even mnizable.

  "Yhness," Lu bowed.

  The Prince has been building a Royal Army for the past few years, and Lu has ied a fair amount in the project to lower the nobles's influen the throne.

  The Prince didn't return the gesture. Instead, he let his gaze sweep the crowd, "Not what you expected?"

  "On the trary, Yhness," Lu replied smoothly, following the Prince's gaze, "I find myself quite eained."

  There stood a shy girl, uhe gaze of those around her. Her masquerade mask hid most of her face, but uo ceal the beauty that made men trip over their ow — unknowingly captivating — a bit dense, a bit awkward, but with an irength that would shine when he most.

  "The little mb has wandered a bit too far," the Prinented, his tone unusually soft.

  The noble women curtsied, greeting the Prih warm, fttering words, their eyes glittering with the desire for his favor.

  He barely aowledged them, his focus solely on the girl, who had taken a few steps back when she felt his intense gaze, her eyes darted, looking for an escape.

  "She's an odd one, isn't she?" Lu wondered. It seemed like the Vist's daughter was able to mend the Prince's heart, after the trauma of witnessing his ex-fiance's iy first hand.

  Just the thought of e treating ahe way she treated him ─ Lu couldn't stomach it, his iwisting in pain.

  The s Prince walked ahead, his presenanding attention, and many eyes were already gng his way.

  The girl didn't want to be seen with the Prihat much was clear, and to avoid further attention, she looked around and quickly ran awa–

  Only to collide against Lu's chest.

  The collision was strong enough for her to stumble back. She would've fallen if Lu hadn't caught her by the arms, steadying her.

  "I'm sorry, I–" the girl's eyes widened, her mask falling. She took a step back, stumbling again, and this time, falling.

  Letting go, Lu watched her colpse on the ground. The girl's face turned pale. She didn't seem able to get up, hissing a quiet "ow".

  The Prince's eyes fshed. He was clearly irritated as he lifted her up by the arms. She tried tle free, but his grip was firm, and her feeble attempts only seemed to fuel his anger. Carrying her in a princess carry, he strode out of the ballroom.

  In a world where schemes, plots, and intrigues were a on thing, she was a fresh breath of air. Not tainted by greed, not stained by corruption, one who didn't have the desire to gain anything from the Prince, and that, was what made her an object of i.

  Lu wao follow after them, but didn't, yet.

  Throughout the whole event, he had felt a strong gaze lingering on him, and now, as he turned a her eyes, he was finally able to firm it.

  Standing close to the entrance, Lady e Rochefort was looking straight at him.

  The moment their eyes met, his expression ged. From a distant indiffereo a mog, derisive smile. A trained rea, hoo perfe, ohat showed nothing of the scorg heat brewing inside him.

  "'t keep your eyes off me, My Lady?" he asked, pausing at his steps.

  She ignored his words, and instead, passed him her handkerchief. "Here," she said, slowly fanning her face with a fan, hiding her bottom face, "You o yourself up a bit. After toug the girl, you've gained an unpleasant stench. Do yourself a favor and wash it off."

  Lu's chest squeezed, his pulse spiking. He didn't take the handkerchief, and instead, gave a low, mog ugh. "I'm afraid the stench you are smelling is done by you, My Lady. If I may, it's ing from the wound that refuses to dress, and instead, is still left open for the rot to spread."

  She clutched the fan tighter. Her eyes were hard to read, and it made him wonder if she could still feel emotions at all.

  He turned his back, then, ging his mind at the st sed, he faced her again, and reached out to offer his handkerchief, whispering, "Perhaps I should be the one you this, my dy. For I believe you're the one who needs it more."

  He didn't wait for a reply, pced the handkerchief oable beside her, and walked away, leaving the ballroom.

  She was no longer important enough for him to waste any time on, and made it clear with his as.

  · · ─────── · ???· ─────── · ·

  e gnced down. The white handkerchief, embroidered with his initials, y folded in front of her. She didn't pick it up, not until a waiter came to and collect the dishes. Before he could touch it and move it away, she snatched it up, holding it between her fingers like it was a rag soaked with poison.

  Even with the mask on, even with the room full of people, she had found him without any effort. She had never seen Lu wear a suit, a, he wore it well, like he was born to wear the fineries.

  A few people stopped by her table to greet her, her focus straying. Most of them were her business partners, and she made small talk with them, trying not to think about the burning cloth between her fingers.

  "May I have this dance, My Lady?"

  e g the masked man, and then looked around, seeing the rest of the couples moving towards the ter of the ballroom. "My apologies," she replied, "I must refuse."

  "May I know the reason?" He ersistent, and didn't take her reje lightly, "Nobody else will ask you. You might as well dah me."

  e exhaled a soft, amused breath. "Must I expin?" Tilting her head in his dire, she said, "I do not dah men below my status. Unlike you, they know their pce. What do you have that would make me lower myself to you?"

  His fingers curled into fists. "If a mere servant could have you, how am I beh that?"

  A sharp, mog ugh escaped her lips. She leaned closer, letting the warmth of her perfume linger between them. "Do I look like a woman who would ever so much as g a servant?" she murmured, her voice dripping with disdain. "You overestimate yourself ─ and insult me in the same breath."

  She pulled back, her eyes cold, and her expression distant, like he ebble by her feet.

  The man's cheeks flushed, but he didn't argue. With a scoff, he left to search for another partner with his tail tucked iween his legs.

  e waited for a few minutes, and then moved toward the exit.

  · · ─────── · ???· ─────── · ·

  Lu was leaning against the railing, his eyes focused on the night sky. He was no longer wearing the outer jacket the earlier girl's fated into, and was instead wearing a pin, white shirt and a vest.

  He noticed e ing, and gnced in her dire. His eyes flickered toward the handkerchief pinched between her fingers, "..."

  "...What's so funny?" e's mouth pressed into a thin line, not realizing how ical she looked, holding the piece of cloth in the air, like she didn't know what to do with it.

  "I didn't say anything."

  "Your eyes are too loud." She looked him up and down, "I was w what happeo your clothes. It seems that her face was enough to ruin the fabric."

  Lu didn't deny her words, and instead, asked, "Is there something you need, My Lady? Or have you just e here to tauh your presence?"

  e could just leave, but her legs were stuck to the ground, and she didn't want to admit that the sight of him had made her pause, had made her stay, had made her talk to him.

  "Don't tell me," Lu said, his gaze lingering on the handkerchief, "That you've e here just for me?"

  "And what if I did?"

  Lu stared at her, his expression shifting from surprise, to a strange, almost hopeful emotion, to a cold, detached look, all in a matter of seds. She really had a talent for making him lose his mind, and it was a habit he would have to get rid of, if he ever waain trol over his life.

  "What did I do to receive su honor?" he asked, his voice ced with sarcasm, "Or rather, what do you want from me, that you've decided to grace me with your presence?"

  She looked away. "Fet it," she muttered. She took a step forward, and then, another, walking past him.

  He turned, watg her go. He didn't call after her, and he didn't stop her either.

  · · ─────── · ???· ─────── · ·

  e kept walking, slower, and slower, yet the distaween them was getting farther and farther.

  She came to a halt.

  Lu didn't follow, didn't chase, didn't ask her to stay.

  She didn't know if she was relieved or disappointed. She didn't know what she was expeg, either.

  She turned.

  He was gone.

  Lu was gone.

  The handkerchief with her initials fluttered to the ground, a white blur in the darkness.

  She couldn't even crouch to pick it up, the corset squeezing the breath out of her, her skirts heavy. And rather than have it fall into the wrong hands, she remained where she was, unmoving.

  The masked man from earlier appeared again, notig her lonely figure standing in the middle of the hallway.

  "You ged your mind, my dy?" he asked, bending down to pick up the handkerchief, but before he could touch it, e stepped on it, crushing it underh her heel that peeked from under her long skirt.

  Startled by her a, the man paused, and looked up.

  "You do not talk to me like you have a right, you do not approach me like we are equals, and you most certainly do not touch what belongs to me," e warned, her words cutting like a whip. "Do I make myself clear, or shall I cut your to, and force the lesson down your throat?"

  The irritation she had suppressed was ing out. With hands behind her back, she crumbled the cloth in her fist.

  "Is my standing high enough for you to allow me to touch it? Or will you cut my tooo?" a familiar voice cut through the silence.

  From around the er, The Priepped into their view.

  ╔═══ Author's note ════╗

  If you are enjoying the read, please sider supp me with a like or a ent.?????? Thank you! ??

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