Women love to gossip, it's all they could really do. Gossip about one of the girls being alone with another man spreads as fast as wild fire. As beautiful as she may be she's viewed as dirty, used, and her whole family and sisters will suffer.
It was the evening of another ball, the year is full of them, but during the season there's events almost every evening. The young ladies prepared with makeup[, gowns and jewelry, waists bound tight with corsets. Rae in a glittery golden dress with jewels on her collar and in her hair with flowers in a braided bun style. As I've said before, she quite enjoyed dressing up, being fancy and decorated. Gray had the maids dressing them in a shimmer blue dress with sheer sleeves, stringing pearls around their neck and lacing them into their done up hair.
They left their room seeing their brother and mother talking, they stopped upon seeing them at the top of the banister.
"She does look beautiful." Their mother looked at them.
"Come now sister." Yeosang held his hand out.
Gray practically jumped down the stairs to Yeosang, earning a sigh from their mother.
"Yes, let's go." Gray said taking their brothers arm.
Their mother held their hand in front of them before they could leave, "Don't forget what you're supposed to do." She said sharply before letting Gray continue on their way.
"Seonghwa is quite interested." Yeosang spoke on the carriage ride to the hosts house.
"Did I say I was interested in him?" Gray snapped back.
"Gray I'm sorry but you must find someone."
Gray stayed silent, watching the streets and building pass by. They arrived at the party and Yeosang escorted them inside. Spotting Rae and her brothers she went over to say hi, like they usually do.
"How was your walk with that man yesterday?"
"Wooyoung, he's sweet as well." Rae smiled to herself. "And you and the Lord Seonghwa."
Gray glanced over and Seonghwa who was chatting with some of his friends, including Wooyoung and Yunho. He looked over at Gray and smiled, his features turned into a frown seeing Hongjoong approach the two.
"Miss Gray, could I steal you for a dance." He offered them his hand.
Gray said goodbye to their friend and took his hand as he lead them to the dance floor.
"Hongjoong please, you're a handsome man, and there are many beautiful girls who would want you. I don't want children, or a trophy wife life."
Hongjoong sighed and looked into Grays eyes, "I understand that, I enjoy your company none the less."
"These parties are stuffy, annoying really. Just people gossiping and flirting."
"Hmm, indeed, look around you. People bet on the couples who will court." Hongjoong spun Gray and pulled them back. "All they need now is a main event to focus on."
"Or someone, what do you think his social status is." Gray motioned to a commotion around the entrance to the ballroom. A handsome man stood there while mothers surrounded him, boasting about their daughters success.
"Well, a ball would be nothing without a duke, looking to find a duchess." Hongjoong snickered. "Certainly taking the attention away from the other men."
The song finished and Gray and Hongjoong bowed to each other, Gray leaving the dance floor to see their brother before they where suddenly stopped by someone.
"I see the Lord Hongjoong has taken interest in you." Seonghwa said, sweeping Gray away to the dance floor.
"Indeed he has, and what concern is it to you?" Gray took his hand, flowing with the music.
"He didn't come across me as your type."
"To my mom, my type is anyone, and my brother someone who want to marry me."
"But that's not your type."
Gray paused, taken aback from what he said. As a born woman, they weren't given an opinion for themselves, they weren't asked for their thoughts, or personal feelings. It was the people around them making the decisions.
"Someone, who doesn't want me as just a wife to hold their kids." They finally answered Seonghwa.
"Well, the majority of men here are the exact opposite of that."
"I'm sorry you don't match."
"I never said I was like them." There was a moment of silence before the song stopped and they bowed to each other. Rather shocked by the exchange, Gray at last made a break from the dance floor to the side table serving lemonade and cakes.
Rae rushed over and practically swooned into Gray's arms.
"Oh my lord, I met the most wonderful man. He's tall, accomplished, absolutely gorgeous. Gray he took me for two dances, two in a row! Everyone was staring!" Rae squealed.
"Which one is he?"
Rae pointed out a tall man talking to Seonghwa and his friends. "His names Mingi Song."
"Yes, he's very good looking, but what about Wooyoung?" Rae froze and winced thinking sa out it.
Gray chuckled and looked around before their eyes landed on the duke, his gaze piercing into theirs. They watched as he excused himself from everyone and started walking over to the pair.
"How are you ladies doing this fine evening." The duke bowed, he reached down, bringing their hands up and placing lingering kisses on each one.
"It's quite a fun time, but my friend doesn't enjoy parties that much so I don't know if I can say the same for her." Rae bowed low to the duke, Gray following as well.
Before the conversation could continue, the man Rae had been swooning over, Mingi, came over to interrupt.
"Mind if I steal her for another dance." He bowed to the group. Rae giggled and took his hand leaving Gray alone with the duke.
"I'd like to offer you a dance as well." Gray was revolted from him and wanted to do anything but that, but it would show great disrespectful refusing a dance from a duke.
"Actually, I already have my name on her dance card, I believe I must have my turn." Jongho swooped in, taking Gray's hand a whisking them away from the duke onto the dance floor.
Gray glared at him as they started dancing. "I can handle myself perfect fine, thank you very much." They growled.
"Yes, because being cornered into a dance by a duke is handling things yourself." Jongho chuckled.
"You are my best friends brother, this is quite inappropriate."
"I'm sorry my lady but I just wanted to help."
"I hardly call this help, you've only pained me more." The two bickered back and forth while swaying, twirling and stepping to the music.
The song finished and Gray rushed to found Rae.
"Why where you dancing with my brother?"
"The duke wanted to dance, and Jongho took my hand before he could." Gray sniffed and glared in Jongho's direction. "I'm feeling tiered, I must retire home, have a good night Rae."
They kissed each other's cheeks in farewell and Gray went to collect their brother.
