บท 11: Chapter 10:
The grand doors creaked open, revealing the ballroom bathed in golden light. Chandeliers dripped with crystals, reflecting the warm glow over the sea of elegantly dressed guests. Music floated through the air, a soft waltz played by musicians at the far end of the room. My heart hammered in my chest as I took it all in—this was all new to me.
Xenos led the way, his presence commanding attention from those already gathered. Eyes turned toward us, whispers swept through the crowd. Alohi stood confidently beside me, her scandalous green gown drawing envious gazes. I felt small beside her, even in my mother's dress, though the delicate embroidery and the flow of the fabric made me feel closer to her in some way.
As we descended the steps into the ballroom, I couldn't shake the growing tension in the air. Xenos had warned me about tonight—about people I didn't know yet, but who seemed to already know something about me. My eyes swept the room, scanning for the twins, Citrus and Cyra.
"Stay close," Xenos had said, and I intended to.
We stepped into the crowd, mingling among diplomats, nobles, and other powerful figures. Conversations buzzed around us, but I found it hard to focus on anything other than the nagging sense that I was being watched. Alohi kept her usual smirk as she greeted a few acquaintances, though I could tell she was keeping a protective eye on me.
Suddenly, from the corner of the room, I spotted them. The twins. Citrus and Cyra, standing near the center of a small group, both with fiery red hair that made them impossible to miss. There was something unsettling about them—something too smooth, too confident in the way they moved and spoke. Their eyes locked onto me like they already knew I was watching.
I felt a shiver run down my spine.
Alohi caught my glance and leaned in to whisper, "Remember what Xenos said—be careful."
I nodded, trying to push aside the unease. Xenos, who had momentarily slipped away to speak to someone important, reappeared at my side. His expression was unreadable, but he gave me a slight nod, as if to say, I'm here.
The night had just begun, but I already knew that this ball was more than just an evening of dancing and fancy gowns. Something was brewing beneath the surface, and I wasn't sure if I was ready for what was coming next.
The ball carried on, a swirl of colors and chatter as we moved deeper into the crowd. Xenos, who had been stone-faced for most of the night, suddenly cracked a rare smile when he caught Alohi's eye.
"Maybe Alohi can finally fix Cynfael. She's always been good at straightening out messes," he said, his voice laced with dry humor. It was the first time I had seen him look even remotely relaxed, let alone make a joke. His laughter, though brief, startled me.
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Xenos... laughing? Who are you, and what did you do with the real Xenos?"
His face immediately stiffened, the warmth gone as quickly as it had come. "Don't get used to it," he said, voice cold again, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—maybe amusement?
Before I could poke at him further, curiosity tugged at me. "Who's Cynfael, anyway?"
Alohi gave a dramatic sigh, placing a hand on her hip. "The crown prince. And, yes, if you must know, I have a tiny little crush on him."
I blinked, shocked. "You? You like softies? He looks like one of those charming, delicate types."
Alohi rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "He's more than that. But anyway, as the chosen one, shouldn't you be meeting him?" she teased, nudging me with her elbow.
I straightened, my lips curling into a playful grin. "You're right. I think it's about time I introduced myself to the prince."
Alohi smirked, "Yeah, right." She started walking, dragging me along through the crowd, weaving between guests until we reached a small group where Cynfael stood.
Even before I could speak, the crown prince turned toward me with a warm smile. He had that gentle, princely aura, his soft blue eyes locking onto mine as if he had been expecting me.
"Sage," he said, his voice like silk. "It's an honor to finally meet you."
I blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. "You… you know who I am?"
He chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling at the edges. "Of course. Word travels fast in places like these." His voice was so kind, so soft, that I almost forgot where I was.
Alohi's usual sharp wit softened as she stood beside him, though her expression remained composed. "I'm going to grab some drinks," she said, almost too casually.
But I wasn't about to let her escape. I grabbed her arm before she could slip away and winked at her. "I'll go get the drinks." Her cheeks reddened—Alohi blushed—something I had never seen before.
"Go get him," I whispered, grinning at her, and then I turned, leaving them to their moment.
As I weaved through the crowd with the drinks in hand, my mind lingered on the sight of Alohi blushing. It was a rare sight, and I couldn't help but grin to myself. But as I made my way back, I felt a presence blocking my path.
Citrus.
He stood directly in front of me, his fiery red hair catching the light, his eyes scanning me with an unsettling confidence. I didn't have time for whatever he wanted, so I did what any reasonable person would do—I acted like he wasn't there and moved to walk past him.
But before I could take more than a step, his hand shot out and gripped my arm, tight and unyielding. The sudden pain was sharp, and I gasped, the drinks slipping from my hands and crashing to the floor. My arm throbbed under his hold.
"Let go of me," I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. But Citrus just smirked, his grip tightening even more, sending another wave of pain up my arm.
"A beautiful lady like you should obey when addressed," he said smoothly, his voice low and predatory. "It's rude to ignore people, don't you think?"
I winced, trying to pull my arm free, but his strength surprised me. Panic began to rise in my chest, and I shot him a glare. "I said, let go."
He ignored my words, his grip tightening further as he attempted to pull me closer. I could feel my heartbeat pounding in my ears.
But before I could react further, a shadow loomed over us. Xenos appeared, his expression cold as ice, and without a word, he grabbed Citrus' wrist. His grip was strong and deliberate, easily prying Citrus' hand off of me with controlled force.
"She said let go," Xenos growled, his voice dangerously low. His eyes burned with a silent fury, his calm exterior betraying just a sliver of the power he held back.
Citrus flinched slightly under Xenos' grip but quickly masked it with an arrogant smirk. "Ah, Xenos. I was only having a bit of fun. No need to get so... defensive."
Xenos didn't reply, his icy gaze fixed on Citrus as he released his wrist, though it was clear the warning in his silence. He turned to me briefly, his expression softening ever so slightly as his eyes scanned me for any signs of injury.
"Are you alright?" he asked quietly.
I nodded, though my arm throbbed from where Citrus had held me. "I'm fine. Thanks to you."
Xenos's gaze flicked back to Citrus, the threat unspoken but unmistakable.
Xenos glanced down at me, his eyes flicking to the spilled drinks at our feet, then to my dress. "Your dress is dirty," he said, his voice calm but with a protective edge. Without waiting for me to protest, he took off his blazer and gently placed it around my shoulders. The warmth of the fabric enveloped me, a sharp contrast to the cold tension still lingering in the air.
"Go get Alohi before she gets too comfortable," he added, a hint of something—concern, maybe?—in his voice. His usual coldness had softened, just for a moment. I nodded, pulling the blazer tighter around me, the scent of it oddly comforting.
I quickly moved through the crowd, still feeling the weight of what had just happened, and found Alohi standing near a group of nobles. She was in the middle of telling one of her ridiculous stories, her voice exaggerated for dramatic effect.
"...and then Mr. Edwin tripped over his own two feet trying to impress a broom! Can you imagine? The poor broom's never been the same since!" Alohi laughed, her eyes gleaming as her audience awkwardly chuckled along. Despite her usual wit, it was clear that Alohi was enjoying herself a bit too much.
I approached her, expecting to see some drunken haze, but as I got closer, it became clear—she wasn't drunk at all. Just... being Alohi.
Alohi spotted me and immediately turned, her expression shifting into a sly grin. "Where are the drinks? You've been gone forever."
I gave her a wry smile. "Had a little inconvenience," I said, trying to brush off the situation.
Before she could press for more details, Alohi's eyes landed on the blazer draped around my shoulders. She arched an eyebrow, clearly about to say something snarky.
Before she could even get the words out, I grabbed her arm and started pulling her. "Big grumpy back there wants you," I said quickly, referring to Xenos.
Alohi snorted, clearly amused. "Big grumpy, huh?" she teased, but allowed herself to be dragged along. She threw one last cheeky comment over her shoulder at the group, "Mr. Edwin, don't go falling for any more brooms while I'm gone!"
As we moved away, she glanced at me, her eyes narrowing in playful suspicion. "Now, what's the story with you and Xenos' jacket?" she asked, but I just rolled my eyes, knowing she wasn't going to let this one go easily.
Alohi kept giving me side glances as we navigated through the crowd, her lips curling into a knowing smirk. "Come on, Sage, spill it. Why are you wearing Xenos' jacket? And don't tell me it's just because your dress got dirty."
I sighed, knowing she wouldn't let it go until I gave her something. "I spilled the drinks because of Citrus," I muttered. "He grabbed me, and it got a little… tense."
Alohi's eyes flashed with anger, her carefree expression vanishing. "He what? That arrogant jerk! What did Xenos do?"
I gave her a look. "He handled it. Citrus got the message. Now, can we drop it?"
Alohi relaxed a bit, though I could see the protective fire still simmering beneath the surface. "Fine. But only because you seem okay. Next time, though, I'll set that red-headed creep straight myself."
We made our way back to Xenos, who stood near the edge of the ballroom, arms crossed, watching us approach with his usual intense gaze. When we reached him, he gave Alohi a pointed look, his lips twitching into something that was almost a smirk.
"Alohi, you're needed," he said, his tone implying more than his words.
Alohi raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed. "What? I was just entertaining the masses. Somebody has to keep things lively around here."
Xenos sighed. "And yet somehow, everything gets more chaotic when you're involved." He shifted his focus back to me, his gaze briefly lingering on the jacket. "Sage, are you alright?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just glad to have escaped without more drama."
Alohi, ever the opportunist, couldn't resist jumping in. "See? She's fine. Now, if you two are done playing dress-up, what's the next step? You know, after you gave the brooding prince routine a break to save the day."
Xenos shot her a glare but didn't take the bait. Instead, he addressed me. "Stay close for the rest of the night. The twins are trouble, and we need to stay alert."
Alohi rolled her eyes. "Wow, way to keep the mood light, Xenos."
I couldn't help but smile a little, despite the lingering tension. Alohi had a way of easing situations, even when they got heavy. I tugged the jacket tighter around my shoulders, grateful for the unexpected warmth—not just from the fabric but from knowing I wasn't in this alone.
As the music played on and the ball continued, a sense of anticipation buzzed in the air. Something was brewing, something bigger than just dancing and small talk. I glanced at Alohi, who was already scanning the room for her next target of unhinged jokes, then at Xenos, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk.
Tonight wasn't over, not by a long shot.
As the night wore on, I felt someone approaching before I even looked up. It was Cynfael, the crown prince, moving gracefully through the crowd until he stood in front of me. His soft smile lit up his features, his presence calm but commanding.
"Sage," he said warmly, bowing slightly. "Would you honor me with a dance?"
I blinked, a little taken aback. I hadn't expected him to ask me. Though his tone was gentle, there was an undeniable intensity in his gaze. I smiled politely, standing tall despite the flurry of nerves in my chest.
"Your Highness, I'm flattered," I said softly, "but I'm afraid I must decline. However, I know someone who would be truly honored." I turned toward Alohi, who raised an eyebrow, looking mildly intrigued.
Cynfael followed my gaze, his smile only widening as he saw Alohi. Without missing a beat, he stepped toward her and gently took her hand, pulling her to the dance floor with a smoothness that was almost too perfect.
Alohi looked a bit surprised but recovered quickly, flashing me a look that said, Seriously? I just grinned and shrugged, watching as the two of them moved toward the center of the ballroom.
The moment they left, I exhaled a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Before I knew it, I found myself seated on a nearby sofa, and Xenos sat beside me, his usual brooding silence enveloping the space around us. Neither of us said a word, the quiet between us comfortable but heavy.
I shifted slightly in my seat, glancing at the crowd but then feeling the dull ache in my arm where Citrus had grabbed me earlier. I hesitated, then quickly pulled back the sleeve of Xenos' blazer to check the spot. My skin was marked with a deep bruise—ugly and dark, spreading across my arm in a way that made me wince.
I quickly hid it again, pulling the sleeve down before Xenos could notice. At least, I thought I had been fast enough. But the stillness next to me told me otherwise. I could feel Xenos watching me, though he didn't say a word, his face as unreadable as ever.
Little did I know, he had seen the bruise. But true to his nature, he stayed quiet, his expression hardening ever so slightly as his gaze flickered back to the ballroom.
Alohi and Cynfael danced in the distance, her green gown flowing gracefully as they twirled across the floor. For a brief moment, I felt relieved for her—at least one of us was having fun tonight.
Xenos shifted slightly beside me, but still, he said nothing. His silence held weight, and though I wasn't sure what was going through his mind, there was an odd sense of comfort in knowing that he had seen the bruise yet chose not to mention it. Maybe he knew I didn't want to talk about it. Maybe he just didn't know how to.
Either way, the night wasn't over, and something told me the real trouble was only just beginning.
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