Catching Feelings? (TodoDeku x Reader)

Chapter Fourty-Four

—First Person POV.—

The night of the final ball was here.

I slipped into one of the silk dresses and fixed my hair—which I had painstakingly tried to arrange into something nice before pressing my hairpin in.

What sucked was that I had to do my hair myself because Kinoko wasn't around to help..

Thankfully I wasn't completely alone since Itsuka broke in to nag me about using this circlet of gold filigree she'd brought—which now sat delicately atop my head.

Finally, with my feet shod in the same fine shoes that I also borrowed from Itsuka, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in a tall, gilt-framed mirror.

My hair glistened in the warm lighting, the dress hugged every curve in all the right ways, and makeup dressed my features in syncing colors to pull it all together.

Not bad for a servant..

That thought burned in my chest with guilt.

Itsuka excitedly clapped her hands together—teal eyes sparkling as she cooed "Oh, you're so beautiful."

"You should be getting yourself all prettied up, not me," I rolled my eyes, pushing her a bit so she'd have to continue getting ready as well—causing the Lady to tilt her head down at me in questioning.

"Me? Why?" Her brows furrowed incredulously while a playful coyness tangled into her tone.

Two months ago, I would have traded the possibility of falling in love with the Prince for something as trivial as a left shoe.

Now, I tried not to zone out as I pretended to adjust my embroidered belt— Coming to terms that tonight was the night, and I'm contemplating just not attending because my heart is a coward.

"It's time to go downstairs," Itsuka announced, approaching the door after fixing her hair a bit more.

I hesitated, unknown words catching in my throat, and soon found myself walking side by side with her through the long corridor.

My fingers pinched at my sleeves, eyes stealing glances at the Lady out of my peripheral as we descended the grand staircase—each step a reminder that this was the last time she would see me as an equal.

I silently promised myself that once the night was over and the revelry faded, I would return home, collect my earnings, and continue life from then on—doing everything possible to forget my time here.

We made a few turns into the foyer and the ballrooms doors were pushed open for us—guests swarmed like shimmering stars against the dance floor, and I watched them with a mixture of awe and despair.

Amid the throng, I caught sight of the Prince of Oyashima and I'm brought back to the very first time I'd ever seen him.

He's utterly breathtaking.