Fate in Disguise

Chapter Three

I was a noble! I knew I spent a lot of time with commoners, but did it affect how I was perceived? I was barely even a noble in the first place; why did this bother me so much?

The Masked Man's tone shifted ever so slightly, revealing his surprise at my noble status. Was it really that surprising? "I see. So why is it that you do not socialize with the nobles? You're rather different from what a noble would typically be," his voice remained blunt, yet curiosity tinged his words. He seemed genuinely intrigued by my actions.

"I'm just shy," I admitted. I didn't go into detail on how talking too someone knew caused me a ton of distress and how much mental preparation I needed to do beforehand.

"I, uh, could ask you the same. Why aren't you talking to the other nobles?" I redirected the question back to him.

"I am not particularly fond of most nobles," he replied with his customary bluntness, but a touch of honesty seeped into his words. 

"Nobles act as if they are better than the common folk. I don't like that sense of entitlement." The Masked Man's eyes remained locked onto mine as he spoke, his words making my heart skip a beat. It was as if we shared a common sentiment.

Perhaps he was like me? Someone who isn't that high on the nobility scale.

"So... what is your name, miss?" His voice shifted to a more calm and relaxed manner as he posed the question.

I thought about it for a moment. Normally you weren't supposed to tell the other person your name as a masquerade ball... however I was interested in him. Perhaps I can make a friend!

"I'm Eleanor." I told him after a moment of thinking. I didn't tell him my family name. For some reason, I felt a tinge of shame about my lowly noble status, even though I couldn't fathom why.

"What's your name?" I asked him. I guess I was just breaking all of the unofficial rules tonight!

"Eleanor? Such a unique and intriguing name..." His tone was cold yet his eyes still seemed intrigued by you. His face remained unchanged yet he seemed to be enjoying the conversation. His voice was much more calm and his tone was no longer stern.

"My name is Elric."

Elric? Why does that sound familiar?

Then it clicked!  Archduke Elric Northwind, the ruler of The Northern Territories and the world's most powerful knight, renowned for his icy cold demeanor.

"Really icy cold?" I momentarily thought to myself. His personality didn't seem like that in the slightest...

"So... Eleanor... What is your family name?" He asked me. 

I was still so shocked by this revelation I didn't tell him my family name. "D-duke?" I stammered out.

Elric remained completely calm at your stuttering of his rank. He simply nodded as if it wasn't a big deal.

"Yes, I am Elric Northwind, Duke of the Northern Territories." Elric stated with a hint of pride in his voice

"What is your family name?" He asked again.

I took a shaky breath, trying to calm my nerves. What did I do to meet literally the most powerful man alive? He could easily overthrow the current king and be one himself if he wished.

"Grace. I'm Eleanor Grace," I squeaked out, still overwhelmed and somewhat intimidated by his title.

"Eleanor Grace. Such a sweet name." Elric said, gazing at me with an air of sincerity. I felt extremely nervous; was he silently judging me? Of course he would, he's the freaking Archduke!

"You're not disgusted that I'm a Grace?" I asked him a tad bit confused.

"Disgusted? Why would I be disgusted? I see no problem with your family's status. Status and power is meaningless without kindness and wisdom. " His words were blunt yet there was still that same tone of kindness and sincerity behind them.

Elric still kept a firm grasp of your hand as he led you around the dance floor. I realized we started dancing, when did that happen?

"Tell me, Eleanor. What do you do in your free time?" Elric asked with a curious stare, as we danced with each other. It seemed like the other people weren't even there as we danced

"I uhm," nothing was coming to mind off the top of my head. "I like to read, I suppose," I said nervously. I didn't really like talking about myself, I hated being the center of attention,

"What do you like to do, Duke?" I asked him.

"I enjoy reading as well. I am a person of great curiosity. Though I also enjoy fencing, archery, and swordsmanship." Elric's words were blunt, yet there was a sense of warmth behind them.

"Of course he would like something like that! He is super powerful, of course he would be into physical activity!" I thought to myself.

I was sucked out of my thoughts when he asked. "Tell me... Eleanor. Are you the oldest in your family?

"Hm? Oh, I am not, I have an older brother," I told him as we continued to dance.

"I see," he nodded a bit, "and what is your brother like?"

Elric's tone remained calm and curious as ever. He continued to study you as if he was memorizing every inch of you. There was no malice in his eyes, yet there was so much interest.

He had a slight smile on his face, showing genuine kindness, unlike how he has acted before. He seemed to have been mesmerized by you.

"I don't know... I guess he's like a traditional older brother?" I said a bit unsure of what else to say. "He's protective of me, but he also likes to play pranks on me. However they stopped when he got married," I rambled a bit.

Elric's mood shifted again. "He is married?" Elric was blunt as ever with his tone, yet there was still that warm kindness behind his eyes.

"Did he get married to another noble?" Elric's eyes were fixed on your face. You could see the gears in his brain turning as we spoke to one another.

He still had a death grip on your hand as you danced. It was as if he didn't want to let go..."Oh, uhm no he didn't," I said awkwardly. I loved my brother and sister-in-law dearly; but it was always a bit weird to admit he didn't marry nobility. 

"No? Who did he marry?" Elric's tone was blunt yet calm. He was quite curious about your brother, for some reason.

His eyes remained fixated on yours, almost memorizing you in a sense. Elric looked as if his mood shifted... as if he was feeling something. As if he liked what he was hearing.

I opened my mouth to respond to him before I got interrupted.