𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 ✦ 𝘳𝘦𝘻𝘦𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘭

-06

As you step into the opulent ballroom, your senses were immediately overwhelmed by a symphony of sights, sounds, and scents. The grand hall was nothing like before, it was adorned with intricate decorations, sparkling chandeliers casting a warm glow upon the polished marble floor. The air is filled with a melange of laughter, music, and whispered conversations.

As you joined the elegant throng that had gathered in anticipation of the dining hall procession. The women were dressed in colorful gowns that had been embroidered and beaded and trimmed with lace. The men were clad in sober black and brilliant white, the plainness of their attire meant to serve as a suitable backdrop for the display of the women. Their identities were concealed behind a dazzling array of masks. Every mask was a unique work of art, crafted with exquisite details, adorned with feathers, sequins, glitter, and delicate lace. The masks were vibrant hues to muted tones, each reflecting the wearer's individuality and style.

Later,you found yourself standing on the fringes of the ballroom, far away from the fashionable crowd. You were quite content with your position. Suddenly, you felt as if someone had been watching you but you assumed that it was just the unpleasant gazes of people.
You were casually approached by gentelmen who made overtures for you, but they suddenly excused themselves in a hurry. You wondered if you had wronged them in any way. Anyhow, You were kind of used to it by now.
It was strange that most of the guests who attended, their hair was in close shades of (h/c). The roots were diffent from the color so it was obviously dyed. Was it a trend? If so, good for you.

Magnus, on the other hand, didn't have a hard time recognizing you with or without the mask in the first place. You stood out in everthing you've worn.
As he was the speaking to the group of half-dozen men, he caught a glimpse of you. He saw that you were not giggling as the other women were. Instead you looked resolute. This was your attempt to be one of the crowd, to behave like the empty-headed women around you.
What you had no idea of, is that Heinrich had been chasing these gentelmen away from you and had been doing that for a long time. It was just that you had been so adorable, he refused that your attention could be focused entirely on another man, other than him. The mere thought frustrated him. You were the most provoking, beguiling woman he had ever met. Thunderstorms and rainbows wrapped together in a convenient pocket-sized parcel.

"Y/n!" A familiar voice called as you lifted your gaze from the glass you had in your hand, everybody's attention was directed towards you in split of a second.
"There you are!" Ophelia, your best-friend had succed in revealing your identity to the crowd. "Standing at the wall as usual. I'm surprised they haven't put a plaque there to mark your special place..."
Glaring at her you murmured "You little imp-"
"I'm sorry. I was merely too excited to see you" she grinned hugging you tightly trying to use her charm on you. Whatever she was doing it was quite effective, she was just too adorable to refuse. Ophelia was near your age. She had fair skin and thick honeywalnut hair. Her eyes were the sparkling blue of the Aeregan. Her lips were puckered into a perfect moue, stained pink with carmine. The blue gown she wore clung to her rounded frame in all the right places.

"Oh my lord...(y/n). You encountered the prince, in the red paradise? You arr marrying the most wanted duke in the empire? " Ophelia's eyes widened as you filled her in with the current events "i know, crazy right?"
"I think i saw the Duke he's probably standing there-" your heart toppled over itself. "Keep your voice down." You peeled away from the crowd pulling her farther into the ballroom.

"Isn't that Lady (Y/n)? She had been recently engaged to Duke Heinrich yet he didn't approach even her the entire evening" a dark haired female said to the few other ladies surronding her, you recognized her, she was the daughter of a famous merchant "What a poor little thing she is" they went on, giggling.