Moonlight Pond

Chapter 1: First Dance

Estelle's POV:

I was preparing with my family to attend a masquerade ball thrown to dedicate the emperor's prince's birthday. Multiple people are invited to the party. There will be other emperors and empresses, kings, queens, dukes, duchesses, marquesses, and many others from all around the world. This gives a strong assumption of how crowded the party would be. Oh, how delightful it would be, so many people with many topics to chat about. For an introvert like me, however, it will be a pain to communicate with some random people in a stuffed place for far too long. I was so lost in my train of thought and nervousness, that I didn't notice my butler, Henry entering my room. He came to inform me that the carriage had been prepared and would be leaving momentarily, and with that he left, leaving me alone once more with my thoughts. Within a few minutes, my mother knocked on the door, signaling it was time to go to the party.

The crowded ballroom barely gave me a chance to gasp for air, yet in between the stuffed space, multiple people were talking to me about politics, economics, and literature. It seemed that it was hard for the gentlemen to hide their interest in me since they wouldn't stop starting different conversations with the most out-of-topic starters I'd ever heard. I felt the social battery in me seeping through my pores. As I was looking around for an escape I saw a door open, giving me access to view the gorgeous garden outside. Excusing myself from the crowd of gentlemen surrounding me was not easy, though I still managed the escape successfully.

Going through the door I'm greeted with a balcony-type hallway with a soft glow of the moonlight that helped brighten it up. Soon I found myself leaning on the edge of the balcony railing, looking down at a pond beneath the balcony and gazing at the ripples made by the fish. The fish were dancing in the pond, their shimmery white fins were glowing as they moved. Then suddenly I felt a subtle breeze brush past me as if someone had just passed. Turning around I saw no one, absolutely no one. Yet, in the corner of my eye was a light shadow, a total contrast to the dark hue of night. Within seconds, a man was suddenly next to me, leaning on the railing. He seems to sense my odd behavior towards him, yet he still gestures for me to join him. The moment I stand next to him, I can see a significant height difference between us through the reflection on the pond. I glanced at his reflection, he was glancing at the moon, admiring its beauty. This allows me to study him even more. His jaw is sharp, his blue eyes seem to almost blend in with the hue of water below, and his jet-black wavy hair seems soft to the touch.

My action of studying his features got him to stare back at me as well, I saw a smile forming on the corner of his mouth and before I was able to act it out, he opened a conversation, to which I responded.

"Staring discreetly at someone is one of your hobbies miss?"

"Oh-... Pardon my manners."

"Don't have to, I'm flattered that I was able to pique your interest. We haven't properly introduced ourselves, have we? The name's Thaddeus Dylan Victoria, though for a lady like you, it easier to call me Dylan..." He claimed, taking my hand in his as he bowed down, as a well-mannered gentleman should. "...and you are?"

"Estelle Colette Eloise, Stelle for short is fine by me. I must say your name sounds rather familiar, have we met somewhere by any chance?"

"Most likely m'lady. Though I don't think we have. Because if we do, I'll never be able to forget a gorgeous face like yours. Now if you excuse me, I need to be somewhere. Perhaps I'll see you around."

He walked back into the crowded ballroom and almost immediately disappeared amidst the people there. I took my time outside to collect some peace, taking in the earthy scent of garden roses and wet soil, gazing upon the beautiful moon, and listening to the trickling water fountain. My quiet is disturbed by trumpets as a sign that the banquet is starting, I drag myself to walk back and enjoy the ceremony. Everyone stayed quiet as the herald announced the presence of the emperor's family. They walked into the room from above the stairs, everyone bowed down in respect. The servants began to distribute glasses of champagne after everyone stood back up. My eyebrows furrowed, recognizing the man who stood next to the emperor. Is that who I think it is? There's no way.