55: Far from a masquerade (part 1)

Far from a masquerade (part 1)

"How long have I been away from this place again?" Larissa whispered to her sister, her voice muffled by the hand fan she held up to her mouth.2

"They said they were investing…" Adela murmured, equally dazed by her surroundings.

"They certainly have… Invested…" Larissa whispered back, mirroring her sister's sense of disorientation.

The land was prosperous, the animals exotic, and the infirmary bustling with commoners coming in and out with beaming smiles. The ride through the King's former estate had been a journey of pure mystification, and walking out of the carriage and up the stairs towards the manor did not disappoint.

"Welcome, ladies," a tall, imposing man bowed to the sisters as they entered through the doors.

"Thank you," Adela replied politely, her eyes scanning the empty hallway.

Captivating melodies filled the manor, enveloping both sisters in their enchanting embrace.

Live music was not uncommon at Lanarkian balls; usually, a small orchestra provided it. However, the sound of a woman singing was unusual. Her voice was captivating, speaking of the irresistible allure of falling in love.

Is it perhaps a habit of Kolhis then?

They arrived fashionably late, as befits royals, considering that their entrance was the pinnacle of the entire event. However, both of them anticipated Andreas and Arkin to be waiting outside the celebratory hall for them, at the very least.

They were mistaken.

Larissa felt disappointed. "Won't we receive a formal announcement upon our arrival?" she queried.

Adela frowned and responded, "Wouldn't that contradict the purpose of the masks?"

Larissa couldn't dispute that point. Even if she could, her breath caught as the sisters finally made their way into the celebration hall.

The first sight that greeted them was a stunning brunette donning a short red dress that flattered her sun-kissed skin. She stood confidently in front of the band, with closed eyes and a smile that seemed to convey her heartfelt emotions to the audience.

"Oh my," Larissa exclaimed in awe.

The masquerade ball had a grand feel to it, with the hall decorated in dark toned fabrics, fancy furnishings, and detailed floral arrangements. While the lighting was studied thoughtfully, crafting just the right air between mystery and romance.

Unlike the Emorian events where buffets were laid out in the open, many tables were scattered throughout the hall, leaving ample space in the center where numerous couples were already dancing. Stewards were positioned next to each table to serve food and drinks. Adela couldn't be sure, but it appeared that the menu featured exotic delicacies, expensive champagne, seafood, and meat, as well as colorful desserts in abundance.

Adela felt a twinge of bitterness as she contemplated the vast number of coins the von Conradies had spent on the event. She was relieved that neither of her parents were present to witness it.

"Can you see what I see?" Larissa asked Adela.

Adela nodded in agreement.

Despite the masks, the elite in Lanark's narrow society knew each other, and their identities were not a secret. It was as clear as a cloudless summer sky that not only nobility were invited to the event, but there were also many merchants in attendance. The nobles were huddled together, too intrigued to leave but not entirely comfortable in their surroundings.

The guests were dressed in fancy costumes, with elaborate headpieces. Men wore the traditional Emorian black and white suits, while women showed off their corseted dresses.

"Such beautiful masks!" Larissa admired.

The guests' masks were usually crafted from porcelain or silk, but the masks worn by the girls were distinctively exceptional. It was apparent that the Crown Prince had them custom-made for the event, which was no easy feat given the short notice.

Adela was touched.

"Lady Larissa!" Andreas greeted her with a mellifluous voice and tender eyes that appreciated the woman standing in front of him. Larissa's arm trembled slightly as he planted a long kiss on the back of her hand.

Larissa and Andreas had an affectionate rapport that only came from a deep understanding of one another. Adela was so absorbed with Egon's idiosyncrasies that she failed to consider the possibility of Andreas belonging to a nonhuman race. However, Larissa's happiness was so sincere, and the way Andreas looked at her was so affectionate that Adela found solace in their compatibility.

Why should race matter when two people are so well-matched?

Feeling content with this conclusion, Adela cleared her throat and chuckled, reminded of the Baroness.

Andreas was quick to pick up on Adela's hint.

"Lady Adelaide, Arkin has informed me that he will join you later, but allow me to escort you to your table," he said, extending his hand towards Adela.

Suppressing the urge to inquire further about Arkin, Adela accepted Andreas's gesture without hesitation. The three of them moved gracefully towards their designated table and seated themselves. Adela leaned around Larissa, who sat between them.

"Is Egon's uncle present by any chance? If so, we must greet him," she said carefully, trying not to sound dejected.

As part of her duty to maintain Emorian customs, she had to exchange a few words of gratitude with the representative of the family hosting the event.

"That is very kind of you, Lady Adelaide, but Leopold is feeling unwell and will not be attending tonight's event," Andreas replied.

Adela's relief was reflected on Larissa's face, and she couldn't help but wonder what kind of exchange had taken place between the rude man and her delicate sister behind her back.

She suppressed the desire to inquire about another missing von Conradie.

The three of them were engrossed in their conversation when the music suddenly changed. Andreas seized the opportunity to ask Larissa for a dance, and surprisingly, Larissa turned to her younger sister, waiting for her opinion.

Adela's face lit up with a radiant smile in the dim light, teasing them good-naturedly about their newfound love.

"You two are courting now! Why not let the rest of Lanark gossip about it?" she exclaimed, clearly delighted for them.

Andreas and Larissa looked genuinely pleased to have her approval.

As the night wore on and the music continued to play, Adela found herself alone at the table, feeling a pang of loneliness. She had been so anxious about this event, but now she realized that all her worries had been for nothing. But as she watched her sister and Andreas twirl around the dance floor, Adela's mind began to wander, and new concerns started to creep in.

Is he taking care of his uncle?

Does he not wish to see the missing guest of honor?

…Is he avoiding me?

"May I have this dance, Adela?"

She looked up with excitement, then blinked the momentary disappointment away and smiled at Bastian.

"I would love to."

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