CHAPTER 42 - The Ball
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I had spent the rest of the day preparing for the night while keeping an eye on the letter office as much as I could. By the time the sun began to set, I finally stood before my mirror.
The gown clung to me like it was spun from moonlight and mist. It was delicate and soft, the threads woven from various shades of the palest iridescent purple.
But what really made the gown exceptional were the thousands of tiny storm-forged gems sewn beneath the sheer fabric, pulsing faintly at the slightest movement.
It was as though someone had captured a constellation and poured it into the dress.
I smiled faintly at the soft off-the-shoulder sleeves. It seemed the Clover ladies had picked up on my preference for Drakfjord fashion.
"You look beautiful," a voice said.
I blinked and turned toward the mantel where Raincatcher rested beside Windcleaver. Ryn's reflection revealed him sitting on the edge of my bed, his eyes an exceptional hue of blue today.
"What's the matter?" I asked.
He rose, moving toward me. Though I knew he wasn't really there, for a second I thought I could feel him as he stopped behind me.
"This Ball..." he murmured, his sharp nail toying with my sleeve. "It usually ends in one of two ways."
I met his gaze in the dagger's reflection.
"How?"
His grayish lips curled faintly, though his eyes stayed cold.
"You either die... or you fall for him."
I scoffed, lifting my chin.
"I won't fall for Sylvos."
"Good," he said. "Because it'll only get you killed. Again."
"No need to remind me..."
There was suddenly a knock at the door, and I went to open it.
Virella gleamed in a rich purple gown with golden accents, her hair pinned with matching purple jewels.
Sireen stood beside her, her simpler gown fading from deep violet to pale lavender, mirroring the fade of her hair from brunette to white.
"Are you ready?" Virella asked, eyes sweeping over my attire. "Wow. That gown... it's something else. I never thought the Clovers capable of such generosity. Perhaps they're plotting."
"No," I said with a small smile. "They're earnest. They wouldn't be stuck at the bottom rank if they knew how to play the court's games."
Sireen's brows furrowed.
"Why does the emperor keep low-ranked concubines? Would they not be better off free?"
I lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug.
"A high rank only has meaning if there is someone beneath it. Their place at the bottom gives value to those at the top. Which in turn motivates noble families into spending more gold to improve their daughter's standing. It's actually quite a lucrative income for the crown."
"Speaking of rank, we should hurry up," Virella said. "Everyone's already left for the emperor's castle. I will not have my name called last."
"I'll be there soon," I promised. "I need to fix my hair and make sure Vyvy is behaving. I'll catch up."
"Alright."
My friends left and I returned to the mirror, twisting my thick hair into a loose bun.
Still, something felt unfinished. My gaze slid to the wooden box on my vanity.
Slowly, I opened it. Inside, nestled in velvet, lay my tiara.
Crafted of delicate silver and set with storm-forged gems, it blinked awake at my movement.
I had subconsciously avoided wearing it at court. In my first life, Sylvos was always in a sour mood whenever I wore it.
A smirk touched my lips.
It's perfect then.
Tonight, I had no intention of rising in rank. Earning Sylvos' ire would suit me just fine.
I placed the tiara upon my head, then headed for the balcony. Vyvy lay draped across the balustrade in its feline form, enjoying the last of the setting sun.
"K??ρ ?α??? ??ι?? I α? ?σ??," I asked, gesturing toward the road leading to the letter office. "I? ?συ ??? α?? ????????? ???σ???? ?? α ??ι??? ι? α ????? ?αρ? ?ι?? ??σ?? ??σ—"
I froze. My finger still pointed downward.
For a moment, all I heard was the hammering of my own heartbeat.
Walking toward the office was a messenger, a sailor by his attire. He had a satchel slung across his shoulder and two knights in green cloaks flanking him.
"T?α? ι? ??? ?α?!" I told Vyvy. "W? ???? ?σ ??? ??α? ?α?????!"
The vylnir's form rippled and shifted, shrinking and reshaping until a twisted black crow stood where the cat had been. With a harsh caw, it launched into the air, swooping down toward the man with its talons outstretched.
But the satchel was strapped across the messenger's chest, making it impossible to snag. Vyvy clawed at it while the knights cursed and waved their arms, dismissing the vylnir as an annoying bird.
I gripped the balustrade.
The office was just ahead...
I needed to get that satchel before they reach it.
But how? How could I help from up here?
My eyes widened at the answer, and I rushed to the hearth, grabbing both Raincatcher and Windcleaver from the mantel.
"Ryn," I breathed, "can you, by any chance, sing? Or play music?"
A low chuckle rippled from the blade. I lifted Raincatcher to catch his reflection, curious what the elf found so amusing.
"That," he said mockingly, "is a ridiculous thing to ask an elf."
In the steel's surface, he leaned casually against the balcony doors.
The dying sun bathed him in firelight, catching on the faint gold accents of his dark foreign attire.
Then, like magic, he reached into the shadow behind him and drew out a lute.
I gaped for a heartbeat, but there was no time to question it.
Snapping back to my senses, I darted toward the balcony.
The men were only steps away from the letter office.
"Play. Now!" I urged, holding the daggers tight.
"Any preference, my silly mortal?" he asked lazily.
"Anything!"
Ryn's fingers struck the strings.
A sharp melody tore through the air — wild and abundant. The sound was perplexing beyond anything I've heard. Ancient yet new. Foreign yet familiar. His fingers moved so quickly they blurred, each note falling flawlessly into the next.
For a moment, the tune nearly ensnared me, but I shook my head and began to dance.
The gown flared around me, the gems sewn within pulsing with light as my feet found the rhythm. My heart matched the rise and fall of the melody, and the air stirred as the daggers began to hum.
"Why have you never played for me before?" I called over the music, spinning.
He laughed carelessly.
"I was afraid you'd fall in love with me again," he teased. "And I didn't want to break your heart."
A bark of laughter escaped me.
"What do you mean by again?"
"You've had many lives, Rainey," he smirked. "Isn't it only natural you fell for me in one of them?"
"Ha! Perhaps you've never seen your reflection, but I see it every day!"
"Ah, that cuts deep. I'm considered very handsome by elven standards. Can't say the same for you."
"I'll take that as a compliment!"
The music suddenly surged faster as though to punish me. My lungs burned, my legs trembled, but I matched it, step for step. Finally, Windcleaver thrummed and when the magic reached its peak, I spun one last time and thrust the dagger downward.
The air exploded.
A violent gust ripped from the balcony, pulling my hair free and nearly snatching my tiara. The gale slammed into the path below, knocking the messenger and his knights off their feet. With the fall, the satchel broke from its strap and a dark shape streaked toward it.
Vyvy.
The vylnir's talons took hold and with a triumphant caw, the creature shot skyward. It vanished toward the forest while the messenger shouted in fury, stumbling after the fleeing shadow.
Without hesitation, I bunched my skirts and bolted from my room, my hair wild from the wind. I flew through Lavender's gardens, slipping through a back gate and down the forgotten narrow stairway that twisted toward the lower sectors.
Unlike the lower-ranked castles, Lavender sat a bit closer to the heart of the fortress, far from the outer woods.
Luckily, I knew the paths well. I darted through hidden archways and untended courtyards until I reached a neglected stretch of wall smothered in ivy.
My hands clawed through the tangle until I found the narrow gap I'd discovered in my first life.
Pushing through, I was out of breath on the other side, scanning the steep path down to the forest.
Was Vyvy down there?
I was just about to head down when a shadow swept low. The vylnir glided to a halt before me, dropping the satchel at my feet.
"Gσσ? ?σ??, Vyvy!" I panted, crouching to snatch it up.
The bag was heavy, smelling of salt and fish. Inside, there were dozens of letters, each sealed with wax.
"Which one?" I muttered, scattering them across the ground.
Vyvy perched on a branch above me, tilting its head as if to say hurry.
Finally, I spotted a letter which stood out — its edges warped from water damage.
Quickly, I tore it open.
The words were smudged but legible — detailing the sighting of terrifying sea beast near the Northern seas with coordinates scribbled in a desperate hand. The writer spoke of the attack that left his whole crew boiled alive and that he might not have long to survive.
Though I sympathized with the sender, I couldn't help my smile. If all that remained of the sea snake's whereabouts was this letter, then it works out perfectly.
I folded and tucked the letter into my corset before glancing at Vyvy.
"Tα?? ??? ?α?????," I instructed. "L?α?? ι? ι? α ??σ?'? ???? ??α???."
The vylnir gave a rasping croak and snatched the satchel before vanishing down to the forest.
Straightening up, I let out a breath of relief.
"I did it... I actually did it..."
By the time I returned to Lavender's garden, it was well dark, the faint glow of my gown serving as my best light source. I found a loose rock in the garden wall, pried it open, and slid the letter into the hollow space.
Hiding the information in my chambers would be a death sentence if found.
Letting out a long breath, I brushed the dirt from my hands and turned toward the keep. I wanted nothing more than to collapse onto my bed. Ryn was probably waiting for my return. I wondered if he'd be proud of me. Had I ever gotten this far in any of my lives?
Just as I turned toward the corridor which led to my chamber, a voice called me.
"Princess!"
I turned, my heart jumping out of my chest. An out of breath Finnel stumbled toward me, his cheeks flushed from running.
"P-Princess, I've b-been looking f-for you!" he gasped. "You m-must attend the Ball!"
I frowned, lifting a brow.
"Why is that?"
"It's an imperial command, Princess," he blurted. "His Majesty... He said if you fail to attend, you will be demoted back to Clover."
A humorless laugh slipped from me.
What a childish order.
Finnel's hands trembled at his sides, his tanned face pale.
"P-please, Princess," he begged.
I sighed, rubbing my temple.
"Very well. I meant to attend anyway."
Relief washed over him, and he bowed deeply.
"Thank you," he said.
With no time to retrieve my daggers, I followed the youth through the frost-bitten night toward the glowing halls of the main castle.
He glanced my way and began unclasping his cloak.
"Ah, if you're cold you can wear my—"
"It's alright," I smiled. "I don't feel the chill much."
He blinked his large eyes before nodding and continuing on. In the flicker of torchlight, he looked strangely familiar. The same mousy hair and freckles that Tahlia had.
"Are you from the Flynmoore province by any chance?" I asked.
Finnel glanced over his shoulder.
"No, Princess. I was born and raised in this fortress."
"Oh?" I tilted my head. "Don't you wish to leave?"
"Not at all." His gaze drifted toward the towering gates ahead, his expression softening. "The Emperor... he may be harsh and terrifying sometimes, but he's always shown me kindness. I'm only an orphan but he's given me work and a fair wage. I couldn't have asked for more."
That caught me off guard.
I never knew Sylvos had a soft spot for anyone.
The gates rose high above us, and soon the heavy doors of the great hall came into view. The herald straightened at our approach, his expression turning sharp as his eyes fell on me.
"You! Why are you so late?" he demanded. "The concubines have all long been introduced. The Emperor—"
"There is no need to announce me," I assured him. "I'll slip inside as if I've been here the whole time."
The man hesitated, clearly baffled by my request. His brows drew together, but at last he inclined his head.
"As you wish."
"Thank you," I said, then turned to Finnel. "And thank you for escorting me."
He bowed with a smile before making his leave.
The herald moved aside, and the great doors creaked open.
The moment I stepped over the threshold, a rush of warmth and light swallowed me.
The grand hall was nothing short of breathtaking.
Thorned vines, painted a glistening silver, curled around the sone pillars like frozen serpents.
Chandeliers twinkled high above like frost. And every surface shimmered with stunning winter-themed décor.
For a fleeting heartbeat, I let myself marvel at it.
Then I noticed the change...
Almost every gaze had turned toward me. The music wavered, strings trembling as the players hesitated. Even the dancers, whirling in bright silks and dripping jewels, faltered.
And there, amid the sea of colors, stood Sylvos. He wore his best imperial attire, a garb of dark fabrics with detailed silver accents that looked as imposing as that crown of his. A ceremonial black mantel framed his broad shoulders, and even his eyes were lined with coal.
He did not move, yet his black eyes pierced through the distance between us.
My heart gave a sharp, traitorous beat.
Remembering myself, I lowered my gaze quickly, forcing my feet to move. Step by step, I descended the stairs and drifted into the crowd, weaving toward the opposite direction of where I'd spotted the emperor.
With my entrance over, most of the guests returned to what they were doing.
Nobles mingled at the edges, laughing and conversing amongst themselves.
The concubines all did their best to stand out, but in doing so, their bright dresses and extravagant jewels all blended together.
And since they weren't allowed to dance with anyone but the emperor, it was hard for anyone to really draw attention.
I kept to the edges, plucking a glass of blackberry wine from a passing tray. Keeping my eyes open for Virella and Sireen, I browsed the buffet tables. Suspiciously, most of the food tonight featured plums. The pies, the tarts, even the cakes had plums in them.
"Is this any time to show up?"
The voice dripped with sweet malice.
I turned to see Isolde standing before me, her black gown split in a daring plunge with a glittering cape trailing behind her. Beside her, were her attendants. Handmaidens in modest emerald gowns.
"I wasn't feeling well," I said coolly, lowering my glass.
Isolde's red lips puckered into a pout.
"And you left your poor friends all alone... They must be frozen by now."
My brow furrowed.
"What do you mean?"
She grinned.
"The emperor decreed they wait in the gardens until you arrived. A small punishment for your discourtesy."
My chest caved at the realization.
Without another word, I spun on my heel and left. The glass doors loomed ahead, frost feathering the edges. I pushed them open and stepped into the night, glancing around desperately. The garden stretched silent, its maze twisting into darkness.
But no sign of Virella or Sireen...
A soft click made me whirl around.
Isolde stood framed in the doorway with a cruel smile. Waving at me, she locked the doors and left, heading back toward the Ball.
Embarrassingly, it took me a moment to realize what had happened.
Ah...
I suppose it's my own fault for falling for her ploy so easily.
I sighed and turned back to the garden, shaking my head. Such a petty trick. Did she truly think locking me out here was a punishment? If anything, she'd done me a favor.
Breathing in the crisp air, I tilted my head back and enjoyed the peace. Beside the distant music coming from the Ball, there was a faint trickle of water. With nothing else to do, I walked deeper into the garden, my glowing purple gown trailing like moonlit mist across the frost-bitten path.
At the heart of the maze was a fountain carved of white stone, water spilling from the jaws of a twisting serpent. I trailed my fingers along the cold rim, wondering if I should make a wish.
Then, something soft brushed against my hand.
I glanced down.
A single snowflake melted against my skin, a tiny star dying on my palm.
Looking up, I watched as more flakes drifted down, slow and weightless, kissing my cheeks and hair. The world softened around me, blurred in white, and I couldn't help but smile.
The first snow of winter.
It reminded me so much of the winter festivals in Drakfjord, I was moving before I knew it. Eyes closed, I slipped into a weightless, dreamy dance with nothing but the distant music to guide me.
Not noticing the footsteps approaching.
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