56: Far from a masquerade (part 2)

Far from a masquerade (part 2)

"May I cut in?" inquired the elegantly dressed gentleman, drawing Adela and Bastian's attention. Adela recognized him immediately, as he wore an identical mask to hers, but Bastian remained oblivious.1

"I'm afraid not," Bastian responded dismissively.

Claude leaned closer and spoke in a playful tone, "I could make an imperial request and take off my mask, Bastian von Conradie."

The Crown Prince briefly lifted his mask to wink at Bastian, who now recognized his face. Bastian released his embrace on Adela and stepped away.

With a curtsy and a wide smile, Adela expressed her gratitude, "Thank you for the dance, Tian."

Bastian had won their name game. 

Adela's gaze followed him until he disappeared into the crowd. She couldn't help but wish she could erase the scars of the past. However, she knew it was an impossible feat. 

"Exquisite,"

Adela's gaze shifted upward to meet the light green irises of Claude de Lanark. "Indeed, all of this is for you, Your Highness," she declared.

Furthermore, the Archduchy had not spent a single penny on the event.

"I must say, I've attended far grander celebrations," Claude remarked,

It was hard to read him with his eyes hidden behind his mask. Yet, the way he smiled at her was affectionate.

"What truly stands out, My Lady, is you in that dress," he clarified.

"...You always jest at inappropriate times."

The Crown Prince's right hand rested on Adela's shoulder blade, while his left hand extended outward, inviting her to dance.

Dancing with the Crown Prince turned out to be an unexpected experience for Adela. Although it was customary for the man to lead in a waltz, Claude's movements seemed to surpass their individual wills. Adela couldn't put her finger on it, but despite his flawless technique, she felt as if she was struggling to keep up with him.

"Relax,"

He urged her when he sensed her muscles tensing up. However, seeing how his advice only made her stiffer, he decided to shift her focus to something else.

"Adela, do you recall how I asked you for a word in private?" he inquired.

Instantly, Claude could see her guard lowering, and a small smirk formed on his lips as he continued, "Are ready to talk?"

He was unready for the following interruption.

"Your Highness, a word please?"

Adela's eyes darted around the ballroom, searching for the speaker, but all she could see were the swirling couples dancing around them.

With a resigned sigh, Claude took a step back, bowing to her. "Please excuse me for a moment," he apologized before turning to leave.

Adela made her way back to her table, but as she was about to sit down, her attention was drawn to the balconies connected to the celebration hall. The luxurious blue drapes swayed gently, beckoning her with the promise of fresh air. Without hesitation, she decided to step out for a moment and let her feet guide her to the furthest balcony from her table.

As she approached the towering, narrow door that led to the balcony, Adela hesitated for a moment before taking the first step outside. To her surprise, the balcony she randomly chose was already occupied by a nobleman with long black hair tied up, standing with his hands in the pockets of his black trousers, gazing up at the stars. Adela froze when the nobleman took his hands out of his pockets, revealing his identity.

As he turned to fully face her, Adela could hardly believe her eyes. Egon looked nothing like himself.

The formal Emorian black and white suit clung to Egon's huge figure, lending him a leaner and more imposing quality. Adela couldn't help but notice the black gloves that replaced the brown ones he always wore and the way his shoulder-length hair was neatly styled, no longer falling over his rigid face.

She continued to openly gawk at him, her eyes scrutinizing his face further. His permanent one-day stubble had been expertly shaved, leaving his chiseled jawline on full display. The only thing that remained the same was the cynical smile on his lips.

"You dance well," he accused, managing to sound nonchalant about it.

The relief Adela had felt at finding him here dissipated in an instant. The exhaustion and frustration of all the hours she had waited up for him suddenly caught up with her.

"You hide well," Adela retorted, returning the favor.

"…It is in your best interest," Egon replied, his eyes shifting intentionally this time.

Disappointment replaced the arrogance on his face.

"Are you used to it now? Your reaction in the market was very different," 

"...Your eyes were different back then...I am not sure of it," Adela shook her head, her mind racing with the many theories she had come up with during her restless nights. "Something else caused the shift in the market," she mused.

His big dark eyes became alive with unfathomable emotions. "Are you implying that I was jealous?" Egon's voice was laced with a mix of surprise and indignation.

"What?" Adela was taken aback.

"That is quite rude of you," Egon retorted sharply.

Since the possibility had crossed her mind, being discovered was truly shameful.

He tilted his head to the side, "Ask me when," he said, drawing closer to her while she stepped back, reminding her of how he cornered her in that cottage what seemed a lifetime ago.

"Pardon me? I do not quite understand…"

Egon stepped closer to Adela, pressing her against the wall between the two large windows of the balcony. She was startled when his hand slammed against the wall behind her.

"Would you like me to recite them in chronological order?"

She wanted to stop moving when his long gloved fingers reached behind her back, but her haggard breathing came in the way, she felt the touch of the leather on the back of her neck. Her chest went up and down frantically as he tugged on her neckless, pulling the ring outside and holding it with three of his fingers.

With her eyes pulled into the endless abyss of his hawk-like ones, she stood speechless as she heard the sound of the diamonds crackling, followed by the sound of the small fragments falling on the marble floor of the balcony.

The necklace slipped off of her neck and fell to the floor after that.

Egon's lips quirked up into a sly smile, "Good riddance," he whispered, sounding nowhere near done releasing what had been eating him up on the inside for quite some time now.

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