"Rafelius?" an old nobleman asked with apparent surprise, as if he knew that the eldest Greyford would be the last person to host a ball. "That is very surprising. How come I have yet to see him?"
"There was an urgent matter in our vineyard that required his attention, so he will be a little late. I hope you don't mind if Lark and I preside over tonight's event."
The old man chuckled. "Of course not, milady."
A young lady stepped forward, dressed in one of the most expensive gowns in the crowd. She tipped her chin up with a smile.
"Lady Leah, if I may ask, why did your brother Rafelius suddenly think of hosting the first ball of Halcyon? It has garnered the attention of many, which makes me wonder if he's hosting a ball to find a suitable wife among the ladies in attendance."
"That is the princess's niece and the earl's daughter, which is why she's very bold," Rory told Elain in a whisper.
From where Elain stood, she could clearly see Leah's face, and she saw how the woman's silver eyes narrowed slightly.
"Who knows? Lady Isabelle, even I don't know what runs through my brother's head. I suggest you ask him yourself. The information would be more credible that way."
Although Leah was smiling, Elain could see the sharpness in her gaze. She wasn't sure whether the woman disliked the earl's daughter or simply didn't appreciate being approached with a question that wasn't her concern.
"Please don't worry, Lady Isabelle. Everyone will surely know if my brother decides to marry. We won't miss sending an invite to the earl's family," said Lark, which made the lady's cheeks turn red in embarrassment.
He then shifted his gaze to the crowd. "Our dearest guests, as I'm not a man of eloquence, forgive me if I cannot offer you a warm speech. Let's all try to enjoy the night, and if you can, do it without spilling blood as we Greyfords are not fond of mess."
While some laughed, taking it as a jest, others saw it for what it was.
A warning. Not to ordinary humans, but to deviants and supernaturals.
"His dark humor is not funny and I doubt it is just a simple jest," Rory murmured.
Elain understood what her cousin meant. She wasn't an active participant in social functions, but words had wings. There had been multiple incidents at soirées and balls where blood was shed.
"The wine served tonight is from our winery's special edition that hasn't been released. Please enjoy," Lark added.
"Unreleased special edition? Father must be ecstatic," Rory remarked.
Elain chuckled, knowing well that her uncle loved wine. In all of Liandel, the Greyfords' winery produced the best. Being top businessmen in the country for generations, and perhaps even on the continent, it was one of the reasons the Greyfords had amassed great wealth and influence.
The dancing began, and many men flocked to Rory. Elain stepped away from her cousin, not wanting Rory to worry about her being left alone. Rory bloomed like a flower in her peach-colored gown, so it wasn't surprising she had caught the eye of many.
While Rory got lost on the dance floor, Elain drifted along the edges of the ballroom.
It was impossible to miss the disdainful eyes flickering her way, as if they were wondering why she had attended the ball in such an unremarkable gown. Some blatantly laughed at her, which was annoying at best, while the rest simply acted as if she weren't present in the same room. The latter was better.
She liked looking at wonderful gowns, and though she wished she could wear something better, she wasn't bitter about her own. She believed she looked decent for the event.
It wasn't being unable to dance or wear the best gown that she regretted most, but not being able to feast on the delicacies laid out on the tables. There were all sorts of cakes, meat cooked in different ways, fruits cut to perfection and sprinkled with chocolate and honey, all waiting to be devoured.
In the end, she could only sigh as she forced herself to look away from the tables of treasure.
Disheartening, really.
Thankfully, the food wasn't the only thing that drew her attention,- but also the wonderful music and the sight of people dancing. The twirling of gowns, the harmony of bodies swaying with grace, left her in awe.
Though she had taken dance classes with Rory, she would surely make a fool of herself if she dared step onto the dance floor. Those private lessons paled in comparison to the experience of dancing with others.
After a while, Elain's stomach grumbled. She had already taken the three bites she promised her aunt, so she couldn't have more. Thinking to ease her stomach with a drink, she took a glass of wine from a servant's tray.
One sip, and she immediately regretted it. This wine was different from the ones she had tasted before. It was bitter and had a sharp tinge that bit at her tongue.
Feeling nauseous wasn't part of her plan tonight, but fate had other ideas, and she had no choice but to step away from the ballroom after handing her unfinished drink to a servant.
Outside the ballroom, where large pillars stood and the front garden lay beyond, she stopped beside one of the pillars. Everyone was busy inside and uninterested in this shadowed part of the mansion.
She held her chest, stopping herself from vomiting the bitter wine. Even if no one was watching, doing such a thing especially in someone else's home was improper.
"Hold it in, Elain," she muttered to herself, taking slow, deep breaths.
Moments later, she was still fighting the nausea.
She wondered if she should ask for a glass of water or head to the bathroom. Or perhaps she should just go home?
"Have you eaten something sour?"
The air was knocked out of Elain's chest when she heard someone speak.
She turned on her heel so hastily she almost lost her balance. Seeing her flustered, the familiar man smirked darkly.
"You seem to be so fond of finding amusement at the expense of my dignity," she blurted out before she could think, instantly regretting it upon remembering she was at a ball filled with people from high society, further confirming her assumption that the man belonged to the upper class.
"I was merely asking out of concern. What amusement are you talking about?"