Murder Masquerade (Albert James Moriarty x Reader)

Murder Masquerade

It was a night, much like many others that you were going to have to get used to now that your father inherited lost profits from a late relative. The ritzy home was decorated extravagantly, furnished and catered beautifully with excessively large chandeliers and an outrageous selection of the most divine of delicacies. However, to you, none of it felt quite as filling as the life you had before you and your father had come across this stroke of financial luck. Of course, you weren't mindful of it in the beginning, when you were given expensive clothes with vibrant colors that accentuated your natural qualities, as well as a staff that handled most of your usual everyday duties. It wasn't until other members of nobility were inviting you and your father to social gatherings that their families were hosting when a sudden wave of unwarranted discrimination had transpired. What started off as merely playful banter had quickly escalated into whispers and rumors, with little evidence to support their gossip and making it all the more reason to wonder, and talk, and so on. The exaggerated banter of others didn't bother you nearly as much as the harassment on the streets from random noblemen had, however, you pressed on; Withholding this information from your father until one of the maids witnessed an incident firsthand and reported it to him, leading to the difficult decision of prohibiting you to go out in public for the foreseeable future. In all honesty, the sour welcome of nobility had left you with a lingering, bitter taste in your mouth, and practically forced you to ponder as to how some of them became who they were today, as well as why your father had decided to host a masquerade that was practically flooded with them. Overwhelmed with the sheer amount of guests in your beloved home, along with rising anxiety from the potential danger of your situation, you made the decision to take a moment of solitude on the balcony that extended outward into a breathtaking view. Although the temperature of the frigid winds that night were less than ideal, the Moon and stars welcomed you with a certain warmth that could triumph over any chandelier in your home by a landslide. 

"Excuse me, miss?" You then turned your attention to the source of your interrupted moment of peace curiously, unfamiliar with the voice and witnessing a masked young gentleman in party attire addressing you politely. "I'm sorry if I'm interrupting, but I would like to join in on this wonderful view, if you would be so kind as to indulge me for a moment?" He then removed his mask, introducing himself with a graceful bow and an enticing tone that could intrigue any daft damsel in an instant. "My name is Albert James Moriarty, although since this masquerade is hosted by you and your father, I should assume that you know who I am without a formal introduction." Moriarty, the name sounded familiar to you even though you had no recollection of meeting this man, or anyone by the family name until you remembered your father meeting a noble family with the name in discussion after a recent gathering from another event. If your assumptions were indeed correct, you also believed your father had mentioned meeting with some guests at your estate recently with a similar name. The cold winds danced through your hair, giving your dazzling party dress new life while you politely responded to the gentleman in question. 

"Yes, my father has mentioned you in conversation with praise and good graces. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lord Moriarty." The young gentleman then gave you a light smile, one that didn't reach his eyes before he kindly offered an alternative form of greeting.

"Please, there's no need to be so formal. If you'd prefer it, you may address me as Albert." The mystery man who claimed to be a member of the Moriarty family certainly looked the part of a noble, but something about his demeanor gave you pause as goosebumps crept up your arms almost instantly. Although, whether it was a signal from your instincts as a warning about the seemingly charming brunette in front of you, or if it was merely your body reacting to the brisk air that night, you weren't quite sure yet. The sensation forced your arms into motion, rubbing them lightly in front of Albert before responding daintily, with a doe eyed gleam in your eyes, as well as gently curved smile in your masked expression.