The ballroom was a symphony of swirling colours and melodious laughter, the air alive with the rhythmic rustle of elegant gowns and the cadence of lively conversations.
Crystal chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow upon the polished tiled floor.
The atmosphere buzzed with the energy of a hundred animated conversations and the enchanting strains of a string quartet that echoed through the grand hall.
Nefeli, draped in her silken gown that shimmered like moonlight, stepped back into this vibrant tapestry.
The fabric clung to her every movement, creating a whispering melody as she glided gracefully across the floor.
Jaskier was quick to spot her entrance.
His eyes sparkled with delight, and a mischievous grin played on his lips as he bounced up to her, weaving skillfully through the twirling couples.
However, the joviality in his expression waned as he observed Nefeli's quiet demeanour.
Her face, normally adorned with a mischievous twinkle, now held a touch of solemnity and a faraway glaze.
Concern etched Jaskier's features, and he inched closer to her, his finely tuned senses picking up on the subtle shift in her mood.
His pale blue eyes, pools of curiosity, searched her face for answers to the unspoken questions lingering in the air.
"What happened?" Jaskier asked gently, his voice a soothing melody in the midst of the ballroom's lively symphony.
His genuine care resonated through the question, a testament to the depth of their camaraderie.
Nefeli sighed, a delicate exhale that seemed to carry the weight of unseen burdens.
"Not a thing, just tired of all the monster-hunting business. Maybe on your next bardly adventure, I can join you," she mused, her eyes flickering with a hint of mischief as she considered the prospect.
She was lying and he seemed to buy it.
His eyes lit up with wicked delight at the suggestion, and he bowed theatrically, his brown hair catching the ambient candlelight.
The grand hall echoed with the resounding proclamation, the herald's voice cutting through the lively hum of the chamber.
"All rise for Her Majesty, the Lioness, Queen Calanthe of Cintra!" The command was met with a synchronized rustle as everyone in the opulent chamber, from nobles draped in silks to knights adorned in gleaming armour, everyone stood in unison.
Cheers erupted, and the clinking of raised glasses filled the air as a collective salute was offered to the formidable blonde-haired figure striding forward.
Queen Calanthe, clad in a suit of battle-worn metal armour, bore witness to the scars of recent combat, the very essence of her regal presence intertwined with the stains of dried blood.
Her gaze, sharp and unyielding, swept across the assembly with an authoritative air that demanded attention.
The queen's every step resonated with a measured power, each footfall echoing through the hall like the reverberations of an impending storm.
"Apologies, noble sirs. A few upstart townships in the south needed reminding of who was Queen," she declared with a brazen confidence that cut through the ceremonious atmosphere.
The queen's voice, though laden with the weight of command, held a raw edge, hinting at a recent encounter that had not been without its challenges.
Nefeli, amidst the assembled courtiers, couldn't help but be captivated by the queen's audacious presence.
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the angels hidden blade
FanfictionNefeli, or "Cupid", as the infuriating beast likes to call her, has never been wanted at anyone's side, and she sure as hell has never been loyal to a single soul. The stoic and fierce Vesemir bled the ability out of her, just as he tainted her blo...
