Chapter 65: Le Monde D'illusion

Le Monde D'illusion: French for dream world

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Chapter 65:

Le Monde D'illusion

The sound of music had spread throughout the hall as two figures stood in the middle of the dance floor, their arms circling each other with some distance as they matched the beat of the music. A swirl of glittering fabric swished around them as they spun around repeatedly. As the music began to pick up, couples stepped onto the dance floor and joined in the spirited dance. Others stood on the sides, watching the couples join, but the couple that had begun the dance stood out like a beacon in the flurried sea of other dancers.

Olicia pressed her back against the wall, looking solemn as the dancers swished around her, the men's boots clicking together and the women's perfume wafting high into the air. She glanced to her side, then back forward with a pensive gaze.

Did I make a mistake? Olicia wondered as another couple passed by her, the speed of their dance giving a strong enough wind that it lifted the tip of Olicia's dress and pulled the wisps of her hair to the side. After the love-struck couple passed, both fell back into place. Olicia still used her hand to gently readjust her hair as she watched on.

"What a deep frown." Olicia jumped at the voice, turning towards the body it came from. Standing beside her, leaning against the same wall, was a grinning Alywin, "If you frown like that, Prince Clarence won't like you." Alywin pushed off the wall and straightened his back, dusting off the front of his embroidered attire as Olicia shot him a glare that made Alywin raise an eyebrow.

"Why are you bothering me?" Olicia asked coldly, turning back to watch the dancers move through the ballroom like wisps of wind.

"Prince Clarence is occupied at the moment," Alywin said, gesturing with a bored look towards Clarence, who was dancing with a brilliantly-dressed Sagara, "So I figured I would entertain myself while he's busy."

"By harassing me?" Olicia asked, her tone tight with annoyance.

"If that's what you would call this, yes." Alywin retorted with a wide smile, amused by Olicia's anger, "But why stand here bored? Why not join me in a dance?" Alywin held out a gloved hand, his grin proudly displaying his amusement.

"Would it be appropriate to dance with one of Prince Clarence's bridal candidates?" Olicia asked testily, staring at Alywin's outstretched hand.

"In the end, he can only pick one of you. Why not use this moment to make some connections?" Alywin asked, his hand still out.

Olicia thought for a moment, then slowly lifted her hand and placed it in Alywin's, "Alright. Lead the way, Marquis Cyernic."

Without wasting a moment, in case Olicia would change her mind, Alywin led her out into the busy dance floor. As people flurried around them, Alywin pulled Olicia close, his quick hands slipping around her waist and his chin resting near her ear. His light breath danced near her neck as he spoke in a low voice, only loud enough for the two of them to hear.

"I must say, I am surprised you agreed." Alywin said, the two of them following thoroughly-practiced steps to match those around them.

"Why else would the popular marquis grab a little marchioness like me if he did not have something important to say to me?" Olicia asked, stepping away from him in time with the others, then rejoining him with a wide spin of her dress.

"You see right through me." Alywin said with an exaggerated sigh, "I was just wondering what had you so nervous and watchful." Alywin pulled Olicia in close again, their chests almost touching, which made her shoot an even fiercer look to him. Ignoring her gaze, he added, "And I haven't seen you in a dress yet. I must say, I am quite surprised by how well you dress up." His tone was light and syrupy, like a playboy. It disgusted Olicia enough to make her speak up.

"Stop the fake flattery." Olicia snapped back with a smile, "What do you want?"

"It's not so much what I want, but what you want." Alywin said with a smile, "I have someone who wants to speak to you. They are very interested in your skills and would like to employ your talents. You will be very well compensated, of course. Whatever you are looking for, they will give you." The music began to slow around them as the couples completed their final twists in their partner's arms. Olicia spun before she was pulled back by Alywin.

As she returned her hold on the duke's hand, she spoke, "And who would this employer be?" Olicia asked, locking eyes with a smirking Alywin. He opened his mouth slightly to answer, then glanced over at the other couples, who had begun to separate with the ending of the music.

"It's a shame, the song is over." Alywin said with a smile, guiding Olicia back to where she was standing before with a gentle guide of his hand. As they returned to Olicia's original spot, Alywin turned towards her, "You have not outright refused my offer, so I take it you'll at least willing to listen. Oh, and," Alywin leaned his face close to Olicia's ear, "Thank you for your assistance. I managed to keep a persistent suitress off my tailcoat for a few minutes."

Olicia glared at Alywin, then glanced around the room. Though a small figure in the distance was trying to hide it, she was watching the mismatched couple in great annoyance.

"Philomena?" Olicia gasped in shock.

Philomena had been intently watching the pair with a distinct fire in her eyes, but she seemed to be quickly hidden in the crowd as the dancers moved around the floor, returning to the side to take a refreshment from a passing servant or sit down and speak with another noble. The pink and white in her dress was swallowed by the array of other colors, and the gold-brown hair trailed down her shoulders in a stylish fashion. She had already been directed by the princess to complete a task, but it seemed she had been just as distracted by Marquis Cyneric's affectionate display. When she met eyes with Olicia, her face was solemn, and she turned back into the crowd before she was caught staring again.

"Yes, she seems to be smitten with me." Alywin sighed and turned to Olicia, "But no matter. " He grabbed two glasses of punch from the passing waiter and gave one to Olicia with a charming smile, "We have more important things to discuss." Olicia stared back into the crowd one more time before she turned back towards Alywin.

It was only a short time before music began playing again, and their voices were quickly drowned out as the banquet hall began to brighten. More and more pairs entered the dance floor with their partners and other guests, moving in their decorated gowns and suits with a garish air that made the entire event feel superfluous, but for the young Prince Clarence's engagement, there was no expense the Yursinean Kingdom would not afford.

The final performances were not only a display of wealth from the strong central kingdom, but a show to the candidates in order to express their sincerity, hoping to attract a high-standing woman for Clarence to marry. With poise, Clarence danced with each candidate one by one, smiling and playing the role his parents had assigned him from birth.

As the song continued to play throughout the large, grand ballroom, frivolous couples danced around the room. Clarence had stepped off of the dance floor, taking a moment to drink from a glass and speak to one of the captains of the royal guard. Many watched the young, handsome prince, waiting to see who he would choose to dance with next. The banquet would be over soon, and the final dances were the most important of the night. It was the candidates' last chances to make an impression on the young prince. Yet it seemed Prince Clarence would not pick a partner for this song. Instead, he continued to speak to the captain.

Seeing an opportunity, Duchess Cordelia gave her fan to one of her followers and approached the prince. She gently placed her hand on Clarence's shoulder as he bowed to the weakly-smiling Yursinean captain. Taking the prince's outstretched hand in her own, Cordelia smiled sweetly and allowed the prince to lead her back to the dance floor.

Following the prince's movements, the chandeliers burned bright with fresh vigor as the new quick dance began, calling out the nobles who had yet to approach the dance floor. Philomena and Sagara were invited to the floor by two high-standing Yursinean nobles, while Charlotte stood near her knight, sipping a glass of fruit punch as she exchanged pleasantries with a tall, beautiful Yursinean countess, who was speaking animatedly about an unknown topic as Charlotte maintained a sense of fake attention towards the woman, her eyes scanning the dance floor with a watchful gaze.

Dancing quickly in step with Clarence's movements, Cordelia followed the prince with the grace and skillfulness of a practiced dancer, moving her body like a swan drifting on the still water of a clear lake. As the pace of the violins hastened, the number of dancers around the pair increased, until there was no clear distinction between pairs. Clarence danced without care, smiling politely as he waited for the song to finish, for the event to end.

While Clarence danced with Cordelia, Charlotte excused herself from the chatty noble, and her knight quickly followed from behind as she moved closer to the side of the hall, in better view of the dance floor and the food arrangements and balcony, where Olicia was speaking to Alywin, who was smiling as the young marchioness with a bright smile that made Charlotte frown in disapproval.

Turning her head to the now-staring princess, Olicia sighed internally as she stared back at Alywin, who had been using her as a shield to protect from Philomena's affection and said, "While it has been a pleasure speaking with you, Marquis Cyneric, there are many things I need to think about. I must go now. Goodbye." With a curt curtsy, she took one step out, attempting to regain her foothold in the Bethillian princess's plan, but before she could prepare herself, she felt a hand grab her wrist, pulling her back by a foot.

The smile on Alywin's face was still dazzling, but there was a murky undercurrent in his expression as he stared at the nervous Olicia and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? Are you meeting someone else?"

With her irritation mounting higher than her anxiety, Olicia ground her teeth in anger as she stared at the persistent Alywin and spat a fiery but quiet, "As I have said, you have said many things just now, and I need somewhere quiet to digest this information. Goodbye." Though Olicia kept her voice low, as to not attract attention to her and Alywin, nearby onlookers heard the heated exchange and turned to watch the pair with growing interest. Olicia's face reddened in embarrassment as she attempted to shake her arm out of Alywin's steel grip, but he held tight with a smile.

"You're making a scene. Release me immediately." Olicia said with a low tone, her eyes locking onto Alywin's as she attempted to hide her anger and not catch further attention from the whispering nobles around them.

"I will," Alywin continued, the smile on his face frozen, "After you tell me where you're going."

"I don't feel the need to repeat myself. Instead, I think I might just refuse your request. Not only about not answering your question," Olicia firmly but subtly shook off Alywin's grip, which loosened as Olicia spoke, "but also about your stupid re-"

"Watch out!" Alywin shouted, attempting to pull Olicia back towards him, but she slapped his hand away and stepped back, right into a pair of dancers who danced right into Olicia. The force of the hit pushed Olicia to the side, right into the back of another dancer. The dancer loudly gasped, pushed forward with the force that was transferred from the pair of dancers through Olicia to her. Olicia gasped as she felt the female dancer she fell against fall over, but before she could reach out to help her, Alywin grabbed Olicia by the arm and dragged her into the crowd. Before Olicia was submerged into the quieting sea, she glanced back at the woman she bumped into.

"Ah!" Gasped Duchess Cordelia Bernard as she was forcefully pushed forward. Between her surprise and her heavy gown, Cordelia stumbled towards the surprised prince, who had stretched out his arms to catch her fall. Just as Cordelia lifted her hands to catch the prince's, her hands fell onto his formally-tailored jacket as her nails dug down onto the embroidery on the breast of the prince's coat, where the Yursinean royal coat of arms lay sewn into the jacket. As her nails tore down his jacket, the golden thread embroidery was torn from the jacket, causing the royal coat of arms to tear cleanly off of the jacket before it fell to the ground with a quiet thump.

The only sound around the pair was the drifting music of the musicians, continuing to play some distance away, while those around the prince froze in place, their faces frozen in shock and horror. Guards raced towards Clarence as the queen and members of the senate slowed their conversation to stare at the frozen scene. The dancers around the stopped pairs stopped as well, bringing the dance floor to a startling halt as Cordelia gained her balance and took a small step back, her face paling as her eyes reddened in concern.

"Your Majesty, I have disrespected you." Attempting to salvage her great mistake, Cordelia grabbed the sides of her dress and bowed her head low in shame. She tightened her grasp on her dress, hoping the young prince would take pity on her and ignore her error.

However, touching the Yursinean royal coat of arms was a large offense, particularly marring or destroying the item, be it an embroidered design on the fabric, as the prince's engagement coat had been prepared, or the flags that had been hung around the palace honoring the royal family. Even peasants were well aware of the consequences for such an action. Losing the candidacy would be the least of Duchess Bernard's worries. Cold sweat trailed down her back as she maintained her poise and expression, holding her back straight.

Clarence's gaze fell to the floor, where the royal coat of arms lay, and then he lifted his gaze with a smile on his lips, looking blissfully unaware of her discretion. "Please lift your head, Duchess Bernard. It was a simple mistake. I would still like to finish our dance." As she lifted her head, Clarence motioned for a nearby servant to pick up the embroidered coat-of-arms. The guards that surrounded Clarence slowly resheathed their swords and sunk back into the crowd, as the nearby servant picked up the insignia with care and speed, hurrying away before more of the guests would become aware of it. After it disappeared to be properly disposed of, Clarence held Cordelia's hands again and continued their dance without another pause, returning the lively atmosphere of the hall.

With the nearby nobles still halted, Olicia watched what happened in horror. Though she knew it was not directly her fault, she was still embarrassed by her display and the unexpected consequences. As she glared at Alywin, ripping her arm out of his loose grip, she was able to step away from the large, buzzing crowd and move back towards Charlotte, who was watching the display with her eyes narrowed, a small smile flashed on her lips. Olicia stepped next to the happy Charlotte, and she felt the heavy stare of the princess's stoic knight resting on the back of her head. Feeling a pit in her stomach growing from the earlier exchange, Olicia ignored the knight's stare as she asked Charlotte, "Why did everyone become so quiet all of a sudden? Did something bad happen?" Olicia's expression was full of confusion and concern, her mind replaying the horrified look on Cordelia's face as Olicia was pulled into the crowd.

Charlotte smiled lightly, her gaze moving to Olicia as she said, "You don't know?"

Shaking her head, Olicia responded, "Know what? Duchess Bernard may have tripped, but it was not like she made a mess. And Clarence forgave her right away. Besides, I was the one that bumped into her. She wouldn't have tripped if it wasn't for me." Olicia looked down, her hands gripping her large, uncomfortable dress. All of a sudden, the dress felt incredibly tight and restrictive. Olicia suddenly felt like she could not breathe.

"It's not because she tripped." Charlotte said with a sweet smile, passing her fan to her knight and placing a gentle hand on Olicia's arm. Olicia looked over at Charlotte, and could not help but shiver at Charlotte's conniving, pleased smile, "Everyone became quiet, because Duchess Cordelia, that clumsy child, destroyed the royal coat-of-arms embroidered on the Crown Prince Clarence's jacket." Charlotte said with a smile full of pity as she stared at the ignorant young woman, "That's a high criminal offense. If nothing else, it completely ruins Duchess Bernard's chances of ever taking the Yursinean throne." Charlotte's smile grew wider as her eyes lightly glistened with excitement, "That was not what I had planned for tonight, but it worked better than I ever expected. I'm so glad you decided to help me, Olicia. And don't worry," Olicia's face dropped as she looked over at a shaking, devastated Cordelia, who raced out of the room as the song came to a relieving close. Charlotte's grip on Olicia's arm tightened, causing Olicia to glance down at Charlotte's hand, "You'll be under my protection. She wouldn't dare try to enact revenge with me in her way. Especially after this unsightly incident."

"Thank you." Olicia whispered, her eyes remaining on Charlotte's hand, which had wrapped itself like a chain around Olicia's arm.

…

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Huge thank you to Hunny for her hard work on this chapter! TIL buying paint can be expensive, but our new house will be looking styling once we can move in!

The next three chapters will probably focus on Clare's side of the story, and then we will give another three to Silas and the mysterious person he spoke to the last chapter ♥ There's a lot going on currently, so we're trying to juggle what makes the most sense at these particular plot points! Though, I will say the reunion is getting closer and closer between Silas and Clare ;y; I don't know if I'm more excited for it, or you all tbh. Slight spoiler maybe? But my conservative estimate on that is chapter 100. That's all I'll say :D

Thank you all for reading and your continued support! ♥♥