𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐂𝐇 𝐈 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄

─ 𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐡

𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐃𝐄

━━━━━━ ◦ ❖ ◦ ━━━━━━

WHEN SHE ARRIVED TO THE BALL, Azalea didn't know what to expect. Instead she was met with a ballroom full of women in strategically woven gowns and men in crisp and newly pressed suits. The marble walls were something of a fairytale, covered in murals of landscapes that seemed too whimsical to be real. Girl trim surrounded the murals and walls, pillars lining the perimeter as well. It was gorgeous, beautiful, too amazing for words to describe. And as if to make it more visually astounding, the room had two stories, balconies lining the west and eastern walls. A golden chandelier hung from the center ceiling, dazzling in all its jeweled glory. However, guards were stationed at every corner and doorway. The nation's familiar black and red flag hung from the ceiling on both sides of the room. Contrast to the beauty of the interior, the aura of the ball itself felt unnerving yet oddly  normal enough to hide it.

Music echoed in the room as a small symphony played in the back corner. The sound of the violin and cello graced her ears as the magical rhythms enticed her. It was a melody she had never heard before but the way the instruments blended together was simply majestical. She felt like a princess, especially that old one of the young lady who came to a ball to meet a prince. Cinderella perhaps? But she was not here to meet a prince, no, she has come to observe what the capital was like and to get out of the cavern. Yet the words of Wilbur from days prior haunted her and she knew it would the rest of the night.

"If I may ask, would you do me such an honor but to have a dance with such a beautiful lady?" A voice inquired from next to her

She jumped at first at the sudden voice, not knowing that someone was going to talk to her. Azalea glanced at the person beside her and immediately recognized who it was. The guard who came to her house, the one who she thought to be named Alex. On this night he was still in his guard uniform, only this time he was without the metal armor. His weapon was still strapped to his belt and the insignia sewn onto his shoulder sleeve. The various ribbons and medals were displayed on his coat. He was the one who had caused her constant pain and had chased her down from her house to the cavern. She felt her blood run cold with distaste, no way would she even fathom the idea of dancing with such a loathsome man.

"I do not wish to accompany you in this dance sir, now if you please ever so kindly leave me, it would be much obliged."

"My lady, I was not asking." He responded through grit teeth

"The answer remains a no and shall forever remain a no,"

Azalea clenched her jaw and began to walk off, if he was going to be a pain she was going to leave him and hope he got the idea. But he did not, instead he followed her and grabbed onto her wrist and pulled her into him.

"Unhand me you loathsome and revolting creature, I will make you wish you had never laid a hand on me"

"please, don't use such crude and vulgar language..."

"Perhaps I have not made myself clear, release me now or else the heavens will rain their furry and unending wrath on you."