RuiKasa Week | Project Sekai

~Behind the Mask Lies a World Yet Unseen~

Tsukasa didn't mind the occasional ball or two, in fact, he enjoyed many of the yearly festivities held within the kingdom.

The masquerade, however, was one he couldn't ever bring himself to enjoy.

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Day 2: Masquerade

~ * ~

Tsukasa stood off to the side of the ballroom, watching the masked party-goers dance with a frown, an untouched drink in his hand.

Months ago, the Tenma's had received an invitation to attend the end-of-year masquerade, a well anticipated event in the kingdom.

Saki had been plenty excited, getting to work on her gown and mask almost immediately after their mother informed them of said invitation.

Toya didn't show any outward interest in the ball, though it was safe to assume he was at least a little excited, as he got to work on his suit as soon as he was able.

Tsukasa, on the other hand, dreaded every second leading up to the event. He procrastinated working on his suit until the last minute, he spent as much time as he could doing anything but preparing for it.

The simplicity of his suit, compared to the elegance of his siblings', was more than enough proof of that. Especially compared to his usual, flashier attire.

He'd even entertained the idea of 'accidentally' destroying or 'losing' his mask at the last second so he wouldn't have to go, seeing as it was required!

Unfortunately, here he was, at the masquerade.

Tsukasa didn't mind the occasional ball or two, in fact, he enjoyed many of the yearly festivities held within the kingdom.

The masquerade, however, was one he couldn't ever bring himself to enjoy.

The masks were unbelievably uncomfortable, no matter which material they could use to make them, or which shape the masks were made into. Some were more bearable than others for Tsukasa, though he'd rather be rid of the mask entirely!

It also grew stuffy in the ballroom, with a good majority of the citizens packed into the room, either dancing or mingling near the refreshment tables. It was a miracle Tsukasa found a quiet spot against the wall where he could remain mostly unbothered by the crowd.

The outdoors were open for party-goers to retreat to, but the patio and under the gazebo were still awfully crowded and stuffy, despite being outside, as people filtered in and out of the castle.

And if there were any other areas open for the party, Tsukasa had not been informed of them, leaving him with little places to retreat to where he was allowed to go, that didn't include leaving the party entirely. Which, in turn, left him leaning against the wall, just watching.

Tsukasa sighed, staring into the wine glass he held.

He would go out if he could truly escape the crowd and take this damn mask off, even for just five minutes...

But instead, he found himself keeping an eye on his siblings, making sure they're enjoying themselves. As long as they were happy, then everything would be fine.

Speaking of his siblings...

Saki was in the middle of the dancefloor, paired up with a gray haired knight-in-training. If he had to guess, which, it wasn't really hard to do so, she was dancing with the youngest Hinomori, a family and childhood friend of the Tenma's.