Chapter 37
Sebastian: Having a Ball
After it was over, Sebastian couldn’t remember anything he’d done to create the emperor’s new clothes.
For all he knew, the suit might have been pink tie-dye, though he was fairly certain that the dark hues Lucy had created as decoration wouldn’t have gone well with that pattern.
Since he’d given her final approval of the design, he was relatively confident that their two creations would pair well together.
Mai and Aiako hadn’t deigned to speak with them on their return.
In fact, he was fairly certain they’d gone out of their way to avoid both him and Lucy.
Not that he paid them much mind. He had enough to do, he decided, finishing the emperor’s suit for the last task and creating Lucy’s gown for the ball.
He’d arranged for Oliver to ask her for a tour of the palace, and Robin had been kind enough to convince the emperor to move the judging to the room that Emil and Tom had been using, so he’d had the studio all to himself.
Until now, at least. He heard, rather than saw, the door swing open and Lucy peek inside. “Mind if I join you?” she asked softly.
Sebastian didn’t look up from the last detail he was embroidering. “I thought you were giving Oliver a tour.”
“I was, but he had to leave to get ready for the ball.” Lucy stepped closer. “What are you working on?”
“A gift for you,” Sebastian said. He stood and held out the midnight blue gown. “For you to wear to the ball.”
Lucy’s eyes welled up with tears and for a moment, he worried she didn’t like it.
He wasn’t sure why. He’d dotted the bodice with the stars from her first set of paintings and the fox from the second entry peeked out from her hem.
Her paintings from the third entry, a city skyline rose up on the skirt.
It was, he decided, a triumph, a blending of their work together. But if she was crying, then, maybe—
“It’s lovely!” she cried, throwing her arms around him and pulling him into a fierce hug. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Sebastian laughed and laced his arms around her waist. “I should hope not. There’s never been a gown that you and I have worked on together.”
She gazed up into his eyes. “So, this is the first…is it the last?”
A lump welled up in Sebastian’s throat. “I…I hope not,” he admitted. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when I get home, but I want to open a shop. One that we can stock together.”
Lucy rested her head on his broad chest. “I’d like that, too. But what about your father?”
Sebastian scowled and, for the first time, he found he didn’t care what his father thought. “I don’t really care. I told you, I want to open our shop together, and he can go jump in a lake, for all I care.”
Lucy looked up at him, her eyes wide. “Really?”
Sebastian felt a grin come over his face. “Actually, the only drawback is that I’d hate to leave Oliver after all this time. But I also think he’d hate it if we put this off because of him.”
“Maybe we can do both?” Lucy suggested. She cocked her head.
“It might take a little time, but I might could find work as a scullery maid or something in the palace. Even if we don’t win, we could save up to buy our own shop, and once we did, I’d run it with whichever of my siblings will help.
That way, you could sell your designs while you continue to protect Oliver. ”
“Oliver still doesn’t need your protection.” They both looked up as the young duke entered the room. He scowled at both of them, though a smile hid in his golden eyes. “Aren’t you supposed to be preparing for the ball?”
“We’ll be ready with plenty of time,” Sebastian assured him. “And do you really think my father or your uncle would ever decide that you didn’t need a royal guard?”
“No, but I do hope that you’d know better than to think I needed one,” Oliver said. “I may be a bit of a bookworm, but I can handle my own in a fight.”
“And I know it well. But as long as they order you to have a royal guard at your side, you can bet that I’ll be there with you,” Sebastian said. “Especially since Leo has shirked his duties…again.”
“He didn’t decide to shirk his duties. He just doesn’t know I’m here. Besides, I’m perfectly safe under the eye of the Imperial Guard and my best friend,” Oliver said. “Now, come along. You both need to get changed. And after this infernal ball, we can discuss your business plans.”
Lucy and Sebastian shared a glance, but followed the duke from the room. There were some things it wasn’t worth arguing about with Oliver, and this was one of them.
∞∞∞
Sebastian had never attended a ball as a guest. He’d followed Oliver around when his uncle forced him to attend social events, but he’d never had the chance to dance or socialize. Now that the opportunity was in front of him, he wished he’d been more prepared.
“Don’t worry about it,” Oliver assured him in a low tone as he adjusted his friend’s collar. “Dancing is just like those sword drills you run us through, only you’re holding hands with your partner instead of trying to skewer them.”
Sebastian blanched. “Thanks for that image.”
Oliver gave another of his rare smiles. “Not a problem. Just—” He paused, gazing up the stairs at someone who had just entered.
“What are you—” The ability to form coherent thought left Sebastian as he followed his friend’s gaze. Lucy had appeared at the top of the stairs.
But this was a different Lucy from the one who had spent her morning helping him.
Her hair, which had been matted and messy, had been wrestled into an updo with only a few sparse curls framing her face.
Her cuts and bruises had disappeared, thanks to Avelar’s healing spells.
And, better than that, she was practically floating in the gown that Sebastian had made for her.
She’s wearing the gown. An irrational rush of pride flooded his body.
It didn’t matter whether or not the emperor chose his outfit to wear for tonight’s gala.
It didn’t matter whether he’d ever have the funds to start the shop that they’d talked about.
All that mattered at this point was that she was wearing his creation.
“Close your mouth, or people will start thinking you’re a bullfrog,” Oliver muttered.
Sebastian glared at him, but it quickly disappeared when Lucy approached. He opened his mouth to greet her, but, for a moment, nothing came out. Oliver tapped his shoulder with his own, jarring him into speech. “Hi.”
Lucy smiled, the sight brightening up Sebastian's life as it always did. “Hi.” She twirled her skirt. “So, what do you think? Did I do your creation justice?”
Sebastian gave a little barking laugh. “Do it justice? It pales compared to you.”
Lucy blinked, surprised at the compliment. “Why…thank you.”
“He speaks the truth,” Oliver said. “You look lovely, Lucy.”
Sebastian glared at him, and the duke took a step back.
“Well…I think I’m off to find some punch before I have to join the emperor upstairs.
But don’t get too comfortable; you two are the only things keeping me from running for the hills tonight.
” Without another word, Oliver disappeared into the crowd.
“You didn’t have to do that,” Lucy murmured, smothering a giggle. “He won’t steal me from you. He’s like an annoying older brother.”
“No one gets to compliment you but me,” Sebastian growled.
“I don’t think that’s a boundary you can enforce, but very well,” Lucy said. “Should we go in?”
Sebastian offered her his arm, which she took. “We shall,” he said, leading her into the ballroom.
The ballroom was brightly lit with what seemed like a million fairy lanterns, all floating over the dance floor. Women in brightly colored gowns swirled around, chatting amicably with men in dark suits, but Sebastian cared not a whit for any of them. Tonight, he only had eyes for Lucy.
Her lips quirked up in a smile. “You’re staring,” she whispered.
“So I am, and I don’t intend to stop.” Sebastian drew her closer to himself. “You know that you’re the most beautiful woman in the room. Not to mention the bravest. Do you think any of these silly court women would stand up to a werewolf to save the emperor himself?”
Lucy shook her head. “That was stupidity, not bravery.”
“No.” He lifted her chin until that she was looking him in the eye. “No, Lucy, love, that was bravery. It courses through your veins, makes you the woman you are. The woman I love. Can you not see it in my eyes?”
Lucy took a deep, tremulous breath. “Yes. Yes, I can see it,” she whispered. “Sebastian, I—”
A murmur swept through the ballroom, interrupting her. They turned to the high balcony, where the empress had just entered, followed by Robin, dressed in a suit of Lincoln green, a nod to his true calling, along with a string of royal visitors, including Oliver and King Alastair.
Robin raised his hand and began speaking in Umberian.
Whispers spread throughout the ballroom as the young prince spoke.
Lucy leaned closer to translate. “He’s welcoming everyone to the ball and saying that Lord Han won’t be joining us this evening, so he has the joy of declaring the winner of the contest.” She paused for a moment, though the emperor continued to speak.
“He’s talking about how difficult it was to make this decision as there were so many talented designers this year. ”
Sebastian resisted the urge to roll his eyes. “Three design teams and a pair of charlatans does not count as a lot.”
“Shhh. He’s announcing the winner,” Lucy hissed.
Despite his calm demeanor, Sebastian couldn’t help his stomach flip-flopping back and forth. Had all this work been worth it? He wasn’t sure what he would do if the emperor appeared wearing Aiako’s and Mai’s design.
“Come on. Don’t keep us waiting in suspense,” he muttered before thunderous applause drowned his words out and the doors behind the royal guests opened once more to reveal the emperor.
Sebastian’s breath caught in his throat, and his eyes widened in shock. The emperor…he was wearing his suit. Lucy’s illustration of the city skyline stood out on the dark cloth. The stitchwork he’d spent so long on gleamed silver in the candles in the ballroom.
For a moment, the entire ballroom was silent. Then, from the royal balcony, Oliver started clapping. Slowly, the applause spread through the room, until it threatened to overwhelm the two designers.
“You won!” Lucy squealed, grabbing his arm and jumping up and down.
Sebastian shook his head. “No, love. We won,” he breathed. “There’s only one thing that could make this night better.”
Lucy arched an eyebrow. “Oh? And what’s that?”
Feeling like someone else was controlling his body, Sebastian got down on one knee and reached into his hidden pocket to retrieve the ring he’d carried every day for years.
“Lucy Savage, I love you. I love your bravery and your talent. I love how you force me to question myself and make me a better man. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
Lucy pressed a hand to her mouth and, for a fleeting moment, fear jolted through Sebastian. What if she said no? What if it was too soon? And if she did and fled the room, what should he do? Should he chase her down or—
“Yes.” Tears streamed down her face. “Yes, you beautiful, wonderful, foolish man. Of course, yes, I will marry you."
Relieved, Sebastian slid the ring onto her dainty finger and swept her into a passionate kiss.
She kissed him back with equal fervor. All around him, he could hear people clapping, jabbering at him in a language he still didn’t know, but it didn’t matter.
He had Lucy in his arms. Everything was going to be fine.
No, better than fine. Everything was going to be perfect.