The Palace Ball (Part One)

Charm's POV

"Are you sure that you'll be going to this ball?"

Here we go again with the never-ending nagging of Baal. I think he has asked that very same question to me for more than ten times already.

"Yup. I'm very sure of it." I answered him for more than ten times as well.

It's almost sunset and I'm getting ready at the moment for my once again journey to Citadel. Me and Lance agreed, way back when he was walking me home on Misty Forest's entrance, to pick me up around this time at the same location.

When I made sure that I had enough things on my sling bag, I quickly zipped it and wore it around my shoulder. Then I faced Baal again.

"I'll be back as soon as the ball is over. " I reassured the still-worried tiger.

I know for a fact that he does not agree for me to go to the capital city in the first place so I was kinda surprised when he said yes to my request on going to this ball.

Few seconds later, I noticed Baal lifted up one of his paws and showed me a silver necklace with a ruby pendant attached to it. He motions for me to grab it from his paw.

"I forgot to give this to you the other day when you went to the capital city. That is a concealer necklace. Wear it and it will conceal the presence of your magic and the guards will not be able to detect it." Baal advised.

I was able to tell him by the way about those weird magic detector devices that the guards are using to capture deities like me.

I smiled as I wore it. "Thanks. This is just what I needed."

"Take care of yourself." he said for the last time.

I gave him a smile before I turned my back on him and headed for the temple's exit.

***

I went straight to Misty Forest's entrance where I immediately saw Lance standing at the far end corner. Oh no, is he already waiting for too long?

As soon as he saw me, a smile appeared on the corner of his lips while watching me walk towards his direction.

"Phew! Thank goodness you're here! I thought you'd never come." he said as soon as I was able to reach him.

"I'm so sorry if I made you wait. I did have second thoughts on going to this ball to be honest. You know, since it's my first time attending, I'm kinda confused on what I should do or wear." I awkwardly admitted.

It's true that I don't have any knowledge of these events that mortals are used to do.

"Oh! If that's the case, don't you worry then. I got your back!" he smilingly said.

I didn't say anything after that and just nodded at him. Since he says so, then I will leave the rest to him.

***

I mentally let out a sigh of relief when I saw that we still went through the secret passageway that he had shown to me the other day. Thanks to that, I'll never have to worry about passing through a lot of guards at the main entrance and main palace gates, which I know are equipped with magic detectors beneath their armors.

As we walked passed the secret passageway and entered his room, we immediately left it. And the next thing I knew, I am now in a huge room painted in sky blue, and being surrounded with expensive-looking furniture. But the one which stands out in this room is the large mirror placed in the middle.

However, I was startled to see several mortals standing in this room except for Lance. They quickly turned around to greet us with their awkward stares. W-what is happening here?

"Who are they Lance?" I asked in a whisper that's enough for Lance to hear and looked down so that I'll not meet their gazes.

"Ah! They are the group of people I requested to dress you up for this event. Since something's telling me that you are not used to these events, so I requested some people in advance to dress you up for the ball." He said as he held his hand high and pointed it towards these mortals.

"And my guess is actually right."

I just replied with a simple "Aaahhh" with his explanation.

I then saw him walk towards that group of mortals that he said he had requested to dress me up. While he is having a discussion with them, I noticed some of them nodding to every instruction he is giving.

After a few seconds of discussion, he turned again to face me.

"Charm... I will need to leave you here with these people for a moment. I have many things to take care of at the Cultural hall, to make sure that everything is ready for the upcoming event tonight." he said, and I just again nodded.

"As soon as I'm done, I will immediately pick you up here, okay?"

"Okay." was all I could utter.

After our brief conversation, Lance left this room, leaving me with these mortals that I didn't know in the first place.

And the next thing I knew? They were now doing some weird stuff on my hair and on my face that I don't know about, so I just let them do what they needed to do on me for this to be done as soon as possible.

It's kinda uncomfy for me, you know.

***

I think it took them almost two hours for them to finish all the work they've done to my face and hair. When I finally had a glimpse of myself in the mirror, I immediately gasped in astonishment.

Is this actually me?

While I'm still preoccupied looking at myself in the mirror, someone from the group approached me with a lavender-colored gown in one hand.

"Let's get you now dressed up, shall we?" she courteously said.

I didn't complain and just followed her to a corner where I should put on this gown. Other mortals approached me and helped me put on this complicated gown that I will be wearing for the first time in my whole life.

Boy, I never knew until now that attending to some mortals' events requires this much hard work... and a little suffering in the process.