𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜'𝙨 𝙜𝙡𝙤𝙬 // scaramouche x oc

Chapter 17 - The Debutante Ball (2)

Idol AU or High School AU for my next special chapter? Vote in the comments!

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It was quite unusual to see Zapolyarny Palace so lively and bustling.

Typically, the residence was almost empty, but now, there were little snippets of assorted conversations everywhere. Yet as cordial as I was, I found myself growing sick of socialization.

"The first dance is about to begin, my lady," Childe reminded me, caressing my slender fingers. "Oh, I have something to give you."

He pushed a small box over to me, and I opened it, curious.

Inside was a morganite ring, cut into the shape of a teardrop, with a rose gold band and a halo of small diamonds framing it. Two jewels, an aquamarine and a peridot, were set on either side of the gemstone, providing a perfect contrast.

"Can I really have it, Lord Childe?" I asked, admiring the ring. "It's so beautiful . . ."

Chuckling, he slid the ring onto my finger gently. "Consider it a congratulatory gift, you know? Because we're friends, Columbina."

"Thank you so much, Lord Childe!" I exclaimed.

I bent over, planting a light peck on his cheek.

Childe stared at me, blushing, and averted his eyes from me sheepishly.

"How do you say, 'you're so cute' in Inazuman?"

"Anata wa totemo kawaii~" I giggled, the words rolling off my tongue easily.

"A-anata wa totemo kowai," he repeated.

Laughing, I didn't dare tell him that he had just called me 'scary'.

The Tsaritsa shooed away the final debutante, and Dottore stepped up, winking.

Adjusting his mask, he announced, "Now then, ladies and gentlemen, let us begin the first dance of the evening! There's nothing like a classic traditional waltz!"

"Boo."

Surprised, I whirled around to see the smirking face of the Balladeer, carrying a glass of red wine.

Scaramouche was dressed in a crisp black suit, underneath which was an indigo dress shirt, the first two buttons left undone. He wore a pair of golden earrings with dark purple rhinestones, as well as cufflinks shaped like spades and polished bit loafers.

"Lord Scaramouche, you look striking!" I praised, fixing his lapels. "You should dress like this more often!"

Ignoring me, he ran his fingers over my ring, amused.

"This is a pretty little thing. Did Childe put it on you?"

Flustered, I pulled away. "That's correct, my lord."

"It's about time you lose the 'my lord'," Scaramouche snarled, leading me to the center of the ballroom. "How about it, Rin?"

Knowing I could not refuse, I placed my palm on his arm reluctantly.

"As you wish, Scaramouche."

The orchestra began to play, and I stepped forward, then backward, left, forward, right, backward . . .

"Look at you, learning the Snezhnayan waltz," he whispered. "You must have a lot of time on your hands, dancing around all the time."

I pouted petulantly. "Hmph. How rude of you."

"Good evening, Your Grace. The moon is beautiful tonight."

Don't tell me . . .

After all that, he still has the nerve!