Once breakfast was over, Evangeline and Marxius went on a long walk around the courtyard. He told her of his short life here, and how he had been chosen as a pet for Eva’s own mother when they had stopped here on the way to Ferrum. He had been just a child, and to be chosen by nobility was a great honor for his family. He had been light on the details, clearly leaving things out though Eva had decided not to push it. They had all the time in the world for that.
Upon their return, the two were separated and Evangeline spent the remainder of her day with Pip and the maidens from the night before. Getting the curly haired girl to bathe was a chore, though Evangeline figured out that calling her scared to get in the water did the trick.
Once bathed, her pretty curls were left down and a small tiara placed upon her head. Pip had chosen a mask that looked like a series of painted gears, it represented the girl nicely and complimented the copper gown she had been convinced to wear. Underneath, she still had on boots, but it was a nice compromise and something she would only agree to after Lord Vince came by and hand delivered the dress himself. Eva had even convinced her to wear a little lipstick and was pleased when Pip got a good look at herself in the mirror and proceeded to prance around, pretending to dance with invisible people
Evangeline was sitting in a plush chair, body wrapped up in a silken robe, a maiden was running a brush through her lengthy hair when a knock came at the door. One of the maids went to open it and Marxius entered, carrying a medium sized chest that had a light layer of dust on it. He set it down on the table nearest Eva and handed her a silver key. It was ornamental in nature and very old by the look of it, a confused look cast to the key and then up at him, “What is this?” “Your dress, Lord Vince asked me to deliver that to you.”
He brushed a strand of hair from her face before turning to leave the room, shaking his head lightly at Pip who had fallen asleep draped across a large chair, tiara now lopsided. Staring at the key, she inserted it into the lock and turned it until there was a soft ‘click’. Leaving the key in place, she blew off the top layer of dust from the chest before opening it and gasping softly at what she saw inside.
On top was a mask made to cover the upper half of a face, various intertwining leaves making up the design. It was a myriad of pink and green in a variety of shades, almost sheer at points with a soft shine to it; it was ethereal looking, and something one would expect royalty to wear. Gently setting the mask in her lap, she reached into the chest to see what else was inside.
Before long, the sun had fallen from the sky and it was time for the ball. Two massive double doors opened into the grand ballroom, a long set of stairs leading down onto the dance floor. The room was lavishly decorated with crystals, drapes, food, and other finery. Professional dancers moved across platforms placed in the room, several of them hanging from the ceiling as though they were in flight. The music was as colorful as the room, and masked people roamed the floor dancing and making merry.
The outfits ranged from the classic to the outrageous, and the guest list consisted of every kind of being imaginable (so long as they were nobility). Tallon stood off to the side with Marxius, both with their eyes set firmly on those double doors. Vince stood at the bottom of the staircase, a black mask covering only his eyes, a cape of the same color with brilliant red lining and a suit of solid black with rubies for accents less ridiculous than someone might expect from the eccentric Lord.
With an announcement of ‘The Little Lady Pip’, the doors opened and in pranced a very excited Pip. This was her first ball, a sort of pride swelling from Tallon at the sight of his little sister looking somewhat grown up. He moved to meet her at the bottom of the stairs, taking her small hand in his and giving a bow as she giggled in embarrassment; it was nice to see her acting like a normal little girl sometimes, “Lookit! I’m a lady!” Laughing, he squeezed her hand and guided her out onto the dance floor.
Once their first dance had ended, Marxius tapped Tallon on the shoulder and took his place with Pip, something that made the little girl blush like she had a fever. Crossing his arms from his resumed spot off to the side, the pirate watched carefully as his sister danced with the Cat. Gaze moved through the crowd and locked with a pair of eyes he was all too familiar with, the color of honey and full of a hate he could never undo. Hair stood up on the back of his neck, the song ending and an announcement made introducing the guest of honor, ‘The Secret Lady’. All eyes turned to the double doors, Evangeline stepping through them as they opened.
The gown she wore matched the mask, the bodice decorated with a combination of those luminescent leaves that turned to vines at her waist and made their way down, creating a pattern over the full skirting. Off the shoulder straps made of glass beads hung delicately over the top of her arms, leaving her shoulders bare and dusted with a light coat of glittery powder. Wings were worn at the back, Fae in origin and looking impossibly light and made of glass at the same time.
Evangeline took several deep breaths at the sight of the room, this was nothing like the balls in Ferrum; all the colors and music, it was amazing. Carefully making her way down the steps, she placed her hand in Lord Vince’s outstretched one upon reaching the bottom. He bowed to kiss it, looking up at her from that position, “I could never have known that dress would be so perfect.” It was hard not to blush when given that sort of compliment, allowing herself to be lead out onto the floor
A sweet melody started and the two began to dance, Evangeline adapting well to the different sort of music and dance than she was used to; it was far more free and flowed better than the mechanical dances she had been taught in the courts of Ferrum and she found herself smiling and laughing as they moved, Lord Vince twirling her and lost her hand. It was caught again, but as she was turned and pulled in, Eva found herself now partnered with Marxius.
“You look beautiful.” He looked handsome himself, she noted, a white and dark blue suit complimenting his features nicely. He had opted not to wear a mask, no doubt as he had only just recently been able to show his true self. The song led immediately into another, this one a slightly quicker tune that had her clapping her hands and laughing, the song calling for a partner change mid-way through.
Hands clasped by another, she turned to face her new partner, expecting it to be Tallon. Instead it was a stranger with honey colored eyes and long brown hair, a steel gray mask with modest detailing worn over his eyes and nose. He took hold of her waist with one hand and kept her hand in the other as they moved, a sweet smile dancing over his lips, “You took my breath away when you walked in, I think that could be said of any man here, Lord Vince is lucky indeed to have you as his guest.”
The melody lead into another, this was slower and more intimate in nature and the man drew her in close. Their chests were touching now, Evangeline almost at a loss for words. Were all the nobles in Crestal this smoothe, or was it only the ones she had encountered? Glancing down shyly, she would raise her eyes to his and smile, “You are too kind, the dress is doing all the work.” “Nonsense! The woman makes the dress, not the other way around. You can dress a dog up, but it’s still a dog.” The metaphor earned him a laugh, though she did not have a chance to respond before she was pulled away. It was a less graceful transition than the other ones, pulled through the crowd by her hand before coming to an abrupt stop. Arms were grasped and she looked up to see a very frightened looking Tallon, his eyes searching over her frame before he pulled her in and hugged her tightly.
He was shaking, there was no doubt about it, “What did he say to you? Did he give you anything?” “Who? Tallon, you are shaking.” Letting her go and holding her now at arm’s length, he shook his head side to side and placed one of his smirks back on his face, “I just wanted a chance to dance with you before all those other fella’s tuckered you out.” They both knew that wasn’t true.
The music picked back up, a cheery tune that spurred Tallon into dancing, picking her up by the waist and twirling to pull them both out of that awkward moment. For this chance, this moment in time, Evangeline was willing to let everything go and just enjoy. The two would dance a few more songs together before she was stolen again by various strangers, each eligible man ( some not) wishing to dance with ‘The Secret Lady’.
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