Elias Leywin POV
I held a wine flute full of lemonade close to my chest as my eyes scanned the room before me.
The ballroom glittered beneath towering chandeliers, their crystals scattering warm light across polished marble and glass goblets. Enchanted gowns shimmered as their wearers moved through the crowd, threads catching the glow with every turn. Music drifted through the hall from a quartet near the far wall, though it struggled to rise above the steady murmur of conversation and the soft clink of silver against porcelain.
Even near the edge of the room, the noise pressed in on me. Laughter rose and fell. Conversations overlapped. Every now and then, someone's gaze drifted in my direction before sliding away again, yet each glance made my shoulders stiffen all the same.
The white tunic I wore sat perfectly across my shoulders, tailored close to the body and trimmed with delicate silver thread. A deep blue sash crossed my chest, the colour striking against the pale fabric. My black trousers fell neatly to polished shoes that reflected the chandelier light. Draped over my back, a navy cape rested against my shoulders, fastened by a small silver brooch.
I tugged on it slightly.
'How did that maid get it so accurate?'
The glass in my hand sweated slightly. I tightened my grip, trying not to fidget, and glanced toward the cluster of nobles near the dance floor. People weaved and waltzed through in intricate steps with polished ease, smiling too brightly and speaking in voices that rose and fell like waves in a storm.
Everyone here seemed to know what they were doing, from how to walk, how to laugh just the right amount, how to flatter without sounding desperate. I was artificial. The pomp overbearing.
a laugh I had grown used to over the last few weeks roared against the tide. Turning my head, I took two steps towards him.
He stood near one of the central columns, exactly where the light hit just right, though I doubt that was by accident. His crimson waistcoat was pressed to perfection, black gloves tucked neatly beneath the cuff, and hair combed just enough to look effortless. He was grinning like a fool, and clearly in his element.
Surrounding him was a cluster of girls, each dressed as if they had stepped out of a portrait. Layers of silk and lace rippled around them as they leaned in, giggling behind their fans.
One of them, a taller girl with rose-gold hair and eyes like honey, touched his arm with a playful smile. He laughed again, rubbing the back of his neck.
A smile cracked my lips.
I glanced down at the glass in my hand. The lemonade now flat. I set it down carefully on a passing tray and adjusted my cape again, trying to will away the lump forming in my throat.
My shoes clicked softly against the floor. I made my way along the edge of the ballroom, weaving between clusters of nobles. Nodding whenever someone made eye contact, murmuring my pardons to anyone I passed, and finally slipping through one of the arched doorways that led out onto a balcony.
Cool air wrapped around me instantly. I let out a breath that I did not realise I had been holding. I moved toward the railing and leaned on it, resting my forearms against the stone. My navy cape shifting slightly with the breeze.
The balcony stretched wide, its marble floor catching the soft glow of enchanted lanterns. Beyond the balustrade, the gardens unfurled into neat spirals of trimmed hedges and flower beds, flickering with distant fairy lights. And somewhere far below, a fountain gurgled quietly.
The distant hum of the party now faded as I listened to the rustle of the wind.
"Damn, someone beat me out here," a feminine voice called in disappointment.
I jumped slightly at the break in the calm.
A girl stepped onto the balcony, her gown trailing behind her like the shadow of falling leaves. It was a deep shade of green, darker than pine but lighter than emerald, embroidered with silver thread in the shape of climbing ivy. The dress wasn't overly flashy, but it flowed with quiet elegance, matching the glint of silver bracelets on her wrists. Her long, gunmetal-grey hair was pulled half-up in a soft braid, revealing pointed ears that clearly marked her heritage.
'She's an elf… What's an Elf doing at a Human Princess's Birthday Party?'
She exhaled loudly through her nose and walked to the opposite end of the railing, resting her arms on the marble in the same way I had. "I was hoping to get this spot all to myself," she started, casting me a sideways glance. "But I suppose that was wishful thinking."
I hesitated. "I can leave, if you want-"
"Don't. You were here first." She dismissed with a lazy wave of her hand.
We lapsed into silence for a moment. The wind tugged gently at our clothes.
"Are you a friend of the Princess?" she asked, crushing the suffocation.
"I suppose." I smiled.
"Perhaps you could introduce us, I'm sure we would make interesting conversation." She asked with a tilt of her head, a wide smile on her face. "I take it you're not a noble right? Maybe a squire to one of King Galyder's knights?"
"Something along those lines, though my master is no knight." I nodded as another wave of silence washed over us. "Are you an-" I began, letting my curiosity get the better of me.
"Elf?" she stated, finishing my question.
"I am," she affirmed with a nod as her hands gripped the corners of her dress. "My name is Tessia Eralith, Princess of the Kingdom of Elenoir."
'Ah…'
I lowered my head in a panic. "I'm so sorry for the disrespect, princess. My name is Elias Reynolds Leywin, and I am the apprentice of Director Cynthia Goodsky."
"Leywin…" She rushed towards me and gripped both of my shoulders. "Do you know a boy called Arthur?" She asked, shaking me slightly at her arm's length.
"He's my brother", I said, looking up at her.
She looked me over, scanning me with twin orbs of azure. "You're his brother." She said, piecing it together.
'I just said that…'
"I am," I nodded, pressing my lips together in an awkward smile. "You, uh… know him well?"
Her grip lessened on me as a smile stretched the corner of her lips. She looked out onto the garden that sprawled out before us. "I do… or rather did." She said as her ears dropped.
'So it's like that, huh? I guess I can help big bro out.'
"He used to talk about you…" I started looking over the garden myself.
"He did?" she asked, jolting up right into my face.
"Y-Yeah," I stammered, straightening up. "Not all the time or anything, but you know, here and there. He mentioned you, well, not by name, but you know..."
Tessia's lips parted slightly. Her gaze drifted past me. "What did he say… About me?"
I rubbed the back of my neck, suddenly feeling way out of my depth. "Mostly good things… He said that you're stubborn and that you're his friend…"
She went quiet, her fingers tightening around the edge of the marble railing. Her expression softened. There was something bittersweet behind her eyes. "I wasn't sure he still thought of me," she murmured.
"Well, yeah," I said, giving her a small smile. "You're clearly not someone that's easy to forget."
She smiled back at me as the sound of a glass clinking grew louder.
---
"Where've you been?" Curtis panted as he rubbed some sweat from his reddened face.
"Just went to get some air," I replied, reaching out to get another flute of lemonade.
I took a sip, looking over at the young prince to my left. His once-pristine waistcoat was slightly rumpled now, a few strands of hair sticking up where he'd run his hand through it one too many times.
"And yourself, My prince?" I asked, smiling slightly.
"Dancing," he muttered, catching the way I raised an eyebrow. "Don't look at me like that. You try fending off five different noble daughters without offending their houses."
I let out a small laugh despite myself. "Didn't seem like you were struggling earlier."
He gave me a flat look, then chuckled under his breath. "Trust me, there's a difference between entertaining attention and surviving it."
The hum of conversation faded like a tide drawing back from shore. Fans lowered. Laughter died mid-sentence. One by one, heads turned toward the grand staircase at the far end of the hall.
I followed their gaze.
Princess Kathyln descended the curved steps beside her father, King Glader, her gloved hand resting lightly in his.
Her gown shimmered beneath the chandelier light. Silver-blue silk flowed around her like winter mist, embroidered with delicate frost patterns that caught the light with every movement. The bodice hugged her frame before the fabric loosened at her hips, falling in soft, gauzy layers that brushed together with a faint whisper. Her hair had been swept into a braided crown pinned with silver leaves and crystals that sparkled like frozen dew. A single sapphire pendant rested against her neck, shimmering against the high lights.
She moved with quiet certainty. Each step was measured. Each motion controlled.
Curtis nudged my arm.
"Try not to look too enchanted," he murmured.
"I'm not-" I began. The protest died in my throat.
Her father leaned down and murmured something into her ear. She listened, gave a small nod, then rose onto her toes to kiss his cheek before stepping forward on her own.
The sea of nobles parted without her needing to ask. She walked with quiet confidence, her eyes locked on mine the whole time. The weight of every gaze turned in our direction.
Curtis let out a whistle beside me before discreetly backing away into the crowd.
Kathyln finally stopped in front of me. Silently, she raised her hand, palm up before me. My head snapped to my right as my heart thumped erratically.
Her hand remained suspended in the space between us, poised with the same grace as everything else about her. She didn't blink. Didn't fidget. didn't falter. Her black eyes met mine with a strange sort of expectation, like she was waiting to see what I'd do next.
My heart thundered in my chest loud enough that I was certain she could hear it.
This can't be real.
"I…" I swallowed, suddenly very aware of how clammy my hands felt. "Are you… asking me to dance?"
Her head tilted ever so slightly, her expression unreadable. "You don't have to if you don't want to," she said quietly, her voice as even and composed as ever. "But I would like to."
'You ain't given me much of a choice here, Princess.'
My brain scrambled for words. Something clever. Something polite. Something that wasn't as ridiculous as this.
"I'd… I'd like that." I nodded.
I placed my hand in hers, trying not to think about the dampness of my palm. Her own gloved hands were soft and cold.
Without another word, she guided me toward the centre of the room.
The nobles around us shifted aside as the music swelled into a slow, regal rhythm. My breath caught again when I noticed how many people were watching.
But when Kathyln turned to face me, everything else faded.
One hand rested lightly on my shoulder. The other remained in mine.
I placed my free hand carefully against her waist.
"Ready?" she asked, so softly I almost thought that I had imagined it.
I nodded again, and the two of us began to move.
The dance itself was simple. A slow waltz that circled gently across the marble floor. Kathyln moved with effortless precision, guiding each step with subtle pressure from her hand. I followed as best I could, counting the rhythm silently in my head while trying very hard not to trip.
"You're not bad at this," she murmured.
"Am I?" I asked, genuinely confused.
"Maybe not the best," she replied. A faint smile touched her lips. "But I'm glad I'm better than you at least one thing, Elias."
"Only one?" My foot brushed hers again. "I think I stepped on your shoe," I whispered.
"No," she said softly. A faint blush warmed her cheeks. "That was me."
We turned again with the music, slipping more easily into the rhythm. My shoulders relaxed a little. For all the grandeur surrounding us, something about the moment felt oddly natural.
"I still don't know why you wanted to dance with me."
"You're one of the few people here who won't try to marry me afterwards," she replied dryly.
A laugh burst out of me. "I suppose that's fair."
Her lips curved upward. It suited her. It was akin to the warmth of spring's first dawn.
A breath of wrongness whispered through the air.
I turned my head sharply, scanning the sea of nobles, masks, and shimmering gowns. My grip on Kathyln faltered.
She noticed. "Lias?"
"Get back," I hissed.
Mana surged from my core in an explosive burst down my arm. Before she could protest, I released her hand and thrust my palm forward. I pushed her square in the chest with just enough force not to hurt her but enough to send her flying back across the dance floor.
She tumbled, crashing into the arms of a startled nobleman, eyes wide in betrayal and confusion.
The blast hit me full on. a scorching inferno of mana and heat shot at me at blinding speeds. It tore through my left side, ripping away muscle, bone, and blood in a single, blinding instant.
My left arm was simply gone, reduced to ashes.
The force lifted me off my feet and flung me like a rag doll across the ballroom. Agony roared through me.
Screams erupted. The music stopped. Shards of glass rained from above. The golden chandelier above swayed violently, one side blackened by the heatwave.
I gritted my teeth, trying to bear through the searing pain emanating from my left.
I held my right arm up and aimed my palm in the direction of the previous strike. As I focused down on my arm, a second crimson flame flew towards me.
Hastily, I gathered mana to my palm as a sphere of Golden flame quickly formed. I forced more mana into it as the flame reshaped itself. Golden light seeped from my palm.
A single word gathering in my mind.
"RHONGO-" The sphere changed shape, and a point formed as golden light radiated from it.
"-MYNIAD"
It elongated and blasted cleanly through my assailant's attack. The recoil sent me flying faster back into the wall behind.
My back slammed into the wall with a thunderous crash as I felt my bones shattering from the force.
I fell down the wall into a hunched-over slump. The taste of blood thick in my mouth.
"Lias!"
I couldn't move. My body wouldn't respond. The cold crept in fast, wrapping around me like a blanket soaked in snow.
My vision flickered to black.
---
Hello everyone, Rius here,
Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. See you tomorrow for Chapter 18.
Thank you to Lancelot Dragonroad for beta-reading and editing.
Rius Out.