On the fortnight, a Masquerade ball will be held in the Grand Ballroom of the Shentis Palace, a first of its kind and rumor has it, that the Princess will grace the said event. Astrid heard the news from his Knights, and although the rumors were true about her presence during the ball, it was more of the emperor’s doing that hers.
After the first Quest ended smoothly, the emperor decided to hold a ball before the Second Quest begins in two weeks, it was her father's attempt to boost the morale of the participants and the noble who would all be present during the celebration.
“Shea, don’t you think this dress looks a little too much?” Astrid was fitting the dresses that arrived for the ball, the gold dress that she was wearing was from a well-known boutique of the season, at least that what Shea said. The dress was decorated with yellow topaz and diamonds, it was shining brightly, the dress itself was beautiful and was truly one of its kind, but it was too loud for her liking.
“My Lady, this will be your first appearance in the High Society after a long time, of course wearing such gorgeous piece would be necessary,”
“I know, but can I wear something not as vibrant as this?”
“Then how about this one? It was one of the rare pieces that the head seamstress made out of curiosity, it was made out of the finest fabric and materials in the Southeast region,” Shea was not lying when she said that it was made out of the finest materials, the dress was colored in silver and a shade of blue that changes when lights hit its delicate fabric, it was not decorated with tons of gems and jewels, but instead, it was embroidered delicately with a style that was rare to find anywhere in the four Kingdom.
“My Lady, you look so beautiful,” Astrid cannot hide the smile on her face, the dress looks elegantly beautiful, matching her
The day before the Grand Ball, Astrid handed out the instructions for the knights who will be guarding the palace. An event with a huge crowd as such carried multiple chances for mischief, as the head of the Imperial Knights, letting her guard down may cause more trouble than one can anticipate.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1tKtVUN0o
“Knight Commander, you won’t be in here for the Ball?”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7txkau3Br
“No, I have something personal to tend to,” it was the best excuse that she could think of, with his father’s continues nagging about the ball, Astrid decided that it would be better to just skip her duty for that one particular night. It was a chance to see how much growth her Vice-Commanders went through, after all it was their first official duty without her to keep them in check. And also, she was looking forward to wearing the dress much to her surprised.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfv5e7hqqf
Princess Astrid social status has always been at its peak, her aloofness and rare presence from every event hosted by the Imperial Family and the Ducal House sparks a lot of rumors. Little did they knew that she has always been around for any events inside the palace but not as the Princess Astrid Von Malthor, but the Knight Commander, Astle Pyrestorm. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslwex0LAgx
She knew every single rumor flying around the Duchesses of Pharriah and Kingdom of Aetas, the wives of every noble house and even the rumors going around the middle-class households.It was never her intention to spy on anyone in particular, but she was not fond of not knowing what’s going on in the social circles that she was too reluctant to attend as the emperor’s successor. As the saying goes by, keep your friends close, and your enemy closer.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTvoQPINbn
“I can’t believe you’re going to be attending a ball, I could die from happiness right now, My Lady,”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFYvbicpjT
“Shea, I forbid you to die no matter how happy you are,” she tried to humor her, but it was the first time in a while that she made her nanny cried.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHFxN4t7RX
“You’ve grown so well, I can rest easy now, your mother would be so happy and proud to see you like this my Princess,” Shea was her mother’s nanny, from the moment the late empress was born and till the day that she drew her last breath, Shea stayed by her side earnestly. And hearing her praises, making it hard for Astrid to control her tears, but ruining her make up would be such a hassle that she has to carefully wiped her tears away.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8R07dGny7
“I promise to enjoy the ball, at least for my precious Shea,” Astrid took a final glance at her appearance, she could barely recognize herself. The dress flaws perfectly, complimenting every part of her physique, her jet-black hair and bejeweled aquamarine eyes shine brightly against her ivory skin and silver mask that covers half of her face, there was not a single trace of the Knight Commander in her appearance, a thought that she was thankful for once.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7n60UBQoYz
Everyone must be inside now, she thought while ascending the carriage with the crest of the Imperial Family. The moon embracing the sun and a sword binding them, it was the crest that was passed down to their bloodline since the founding of the Empire.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3Dm80xhhk
“Esteban, you don’t have to escort me, everyone would know who I am just by having you next to me,” She can’t help but scold him playfully, true enough, everyone could recognize Esteban, a duke who serve faithfully under the emperor despite his title in the High Society.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQ2QdZ4Fej
“My Princess, I may be old, but I’m still handsome enough to escort you inside,” Astrid can’t help but laugh lightly at his remark, they walk slowly and gracefully towards the entrance.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3o08IaLiA
“You look lovely today, everyone shall consider themselves lucky to see you here tonight, this butler shall leave now,”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF16nW7cqUc
“You flatter me Esteban, thank you for escorting me,” the butler left in an instant, leaving Astrid with two Knight a few steps away from her. It was the Imperial Knights duty to keep her safe, seeing the Knights from her platoon making her proud, they look so dignified and reliable behind her.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZhIVeyu7R
The door opened before her, the long red carpet never seems so intimidating before, but with every step that she takes effortlessly catching everyone’s attention. The emperor stood up from his seat and the pride and delight from him was too evident that she could see it behind his mask that barely covers his face. Astrid can’t help but prayed that her father wouldn’t do anything rash because he was too elated about her first appearance in such a large crowd.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFJZ9P3Jr2
“Who was she?”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLzJpCtrLK
“She looks like a deity,”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZZuPunYx2
“Her dress looks so stunning,”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3rHA9B34n
“It’s the Imperial Princess Astrid!”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4gopKfH9V
She could hear everyone who were shamelessly talking about her, not that she excepts anyone not to talk about her appearance for the first time in the last three years. Despite the mask, everyone was clever enough to knew everyone inside the room, the emperor wasn’t even trying to hide his adoration for her either, after all her father has waited for so long for her to have her debut in the High Society. He walked out of his seat when she reached the center of the room, welcoming her with his hand extended for her to take.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ448jGPP2eS
“Greetings to the Sun of the Empire, may your light shines upon us,” she greeted courteously.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKrfWhwANT
“You look stunning, my Princess,” it was no secret how much the emperor adores and treasure her daughter, everyone in the entire Empire knew that the emperor was a doting father to his only child.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwp2Z6pBgfN
“You flatter me, Your Highness,” Astrid gladly took her father's hand sending the crowd in shambles, people talking loudly and the surprised on their faces was too evident to ignore. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zEkGkkUEn
“Would you give me the honor of dancing with you my beloved daughter?” her father humor making her laugh lightly, who would she even be dancing with other than her father anyway? The emperor took him to the center of the room, it was the first dance of the night, and no one dare to join them, to see the emperor dancing with his daughter was a never before scene, since the passing of late Empress, it was the first time that the emperor truly enjoyed the party.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iSHygmJhZ
“Father, do you remember how we dance like this when I was young?” Astrid can’t help but be reminded of the days where the Emperor used to teaches her how to dance, since Astrid refused to learn from her instructor because she didn’t find interest in dancing at all. The Empress was troubled because of her child attitude and decided to confine her worries to the emperor, and her father decided to teach her to dance. Her small foot on his father’s shining black shoes while he teaches her was a fond memory of their lively past.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkHHCMqDx7
“You were so small back then, now you look like a proper lady,”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyenZpjH9Im
“You raised me well, Father,” her words were full of sincerity that the emperor can’t stop the tears escaping his eyes, thankful for the mask covering half of his face. The father and daughter dances gracefully and everyone can’t seem to take their eyes from their smiling faces and emotional number. When the song ended, the emperor motioned everyone to take the floor and dance, as they went back to their seats.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezTfYYCxJn
The line of young gentleman who wanted to dance with the Crown Princess was overwhelmingly long, Astrid could feel the fatigue just by looking at them but decided not to show a single sign of acknowledging their presence.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrTb0dhv1R
“Greeting to the Sun of the Empire, and to her Highness, the Crown Princess, I’m the son of the Duke of Elessi, Leonil Eleissi, I would like to ask the Princess for a dance,” the Duke of Elessi of the Kingdom of Aetas was a loyal subject of the King of Aetas. Astrid knew how arrogant the young son of the duke, she met him a few times as the Knight Commander of the Imperial Knights, and to think that he was asking her to dance doesn’t sits right to her.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnK1jang2H
“Father, would it be alright for me to refuse an invitation for a dance?” She asked innocently, Astrid don’t hold grudges against people who wronged her as the Knight Commander, but dancing with such an arrogant man was not something that she would do willingly.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ojkNXluDY
“Of course, my princess, you can dance with anyone and turned down an invitation if you don’t feel comfortable with,” the emperor words were absolute, it is the law, and for her daughter to do such thing was an insult to the young man.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykJumfuZz1
“Then, I would like to politely refuse your invitation Lord Elessi, I hope you won’t hold it against me, it's just that, I don’t feel like dancing right now,” Her words sounded so sincere, but her intentions were clear. She doesn’t want to dance with anyone who she doesn’t find worthy of her time.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6s8DzQnLLq
In her refusal, the young lords decided to take a step back before they suffer the same fate as the Lord of Elessi. But of all the gentlemen who lined up for her attention, one man remained unfazed, she wasn’t expecting to see the Crown Prince of Hayes lining up for her like this.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5LDt8tCjx
It wasn’t her intention to acknowledge his presence before he could even introduce himself, but the prince aura was something that she could recognized in an instant. He looks exceptionally dazzling in his white ensemble and white mask covering his eyes, despite being in a foreign territory, the prince doesn’t show any sign of weakness, his strong and confident demeanor could make people stop and stare.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasLNf38QRj
“Greetings to the Sun of the Empire, and to her Royal Highness, the Crown Princess, the Crown Prince of Hayes stand before you,”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIP9diOartP
“How are you enjoying your stay in our land, Crown Crown Prince Drystan?”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIKLDFjmKy
“It was truly an honor to be welcomed warmly by your people, in behalf of my Kingdom, we extend our sincerest gratitude for everything that you have done for me and my people, Your Highness,”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFOUSTQqi9
“I accept your gratitude, but I believe you are not here to just show me your gratitude, isn’t it?” The emperor was sharp despite his age, but Crown Prince Drystan was not the least concerned about him knowing his intentions, it was the total opposite, he wanted him to know his intentions clearly.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzOKTzVfla
“Yes, your Highness, although the Princess firmly refused earlier, I would like to take my chance of asking her for a dance,” He stated his intentions clearly that it baffled Astrid a little, she knew about his straightforward attitude but to be the one receiving the end of his advances was quite new to her. Astrid cannot just accept his invitation, but the Prince was not someone to be taken lightly, despite him being addressed as the Crown Prince, everyone was aware that he was the King of the Kingdom of Hayes.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijjgO9yYQJ
“You have my permission, but the Princess has her own choices, and whatever she wishes, she could get,” It was her father’s way of saying that it was all on her now. It was burdensome but Astrid likes the authority that she has over her personal choices. In a world where men have more power than a woman, it was a privilege to be able to make one's choices on their own.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWu1gHsl8n
Crown Prince Drystan offered her his hand, and Astrid gladly accepted. The crowd was clearly anticipating her response, they were watching their every move, the Crown Prince of Hayes and the empire's Crown Princess, a pair that would shake the world of High Society for a long time. In an instant they were at the center of the dance floor.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg68I3jtyM1
The prince was a true gentleman, his hands were firm and warm against her cold skin. His eyes not leaving hers, maybe it was Astrid’s stubborn behavior, but she refused to lose, if the prince stared at her so openly, she would do the same. It was the first time that she could see him this close, details that she wasn’t paying much attention from before occupying her mind. His eyes were green, a color resembles the emerald necklace that she likes from her mother’s collection; a small unnoticeable scar on the side of his forehead didn’t went unnoticed either, it was a small cut, but the thought of his blood smearing his pale complexion pained her for reasons completely unknown to her.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsM2nVaDW70
“Do you not like dancing with me your Highness?” His concerns starling her, wondering what gives him the impression that she wasn’t pleased with the dance. The prince was an excellent partner, he makes it effortlessly easy to dance with him.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCUFknfWbp
“No, absolutely not. It was quite enjoyable in my opinion," 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT11dXb96W
“The pleasures mine, your Highness. But you look like you’re in deep thoughts, may I know why?” For someone he just met as the Princess, the Prince of Hayes was quite bold, in a good way. Astrid hated flowery words and false praises, being the Knight Commander thought her more of the world outside her perfect little bubble.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDLZDv1d1g
“I’m afraid you wouldn’t be so kind to answer my concerns My Lord,”42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfV7pJd4OH
“Ask away, if it’s something I can answer, I’ll gladly do so,” His answers were clear and not a hint of worry in it, an admirable trait that Astrid quite find endearing. 42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeKOt7jY7c
“The scar on your forehead, that must have hurt a lot,” Astrid wanted to ask a lot of questions, but was too afraid to offend the prince. His eyes turning a shade darker, the hands on her waist tightening on her skin a little, the changes tell her that she had cross a line that she shouldn’t have. As much as she’s liking his company, Astrid knew that it was ending sooner than she anticipated.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VSnvpmfln
“It used to, but it doesn’t hurt as much now,” His words sounded foreign to her ears, Astrid could tell that it was a topic that he never wanted to talk about.42Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY9yMIXDx3
The song ended abruptly, Crown Prince Drystan escorted her back to her seat, giving his final greeting to the Emperor, Astrid watches his back walking away from her until she could no longer see his silhouette. Astrid refused all the other invitations for a dance afterwards, wondering why the place where the prince hands held her so gentle felt colder now without his touch.
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