What to do at a ball?

Elaina walked beside Alexander while Mya walked behind them with some of her acquaintances in a large hallway leading to the main hall where the ball was being held. The large chandeliers hung on the ceiling highlighted their pathway from the beginning of the hallway to the end.

The hallway was covered with paintings of different types and designs, it was fun to look at them as they walked.

This was Elaina's first time seeing so many paintings in one place she was quite intrigued by them that she turned her head left to right to look at them.

Elaina chuckled when she saw one funny-looking painting of a man so she tapped Alex and pointed in the direction of the painting, "That one looks like you," she said with a smile.

"You're not funny, Laina," Alex stated with a frown when he saw the painting.

"I think I am," Elaina said with a chuckle. It wasn't just Elaina who was intrigued by the paintings, the other people also watched the paintings with interest and even commented on them but not all were interested.

The nobles and those of higher status did not find the paintings intriguing, as such sights were not uncommon in their world.

Some of them scoffed at the obviously low class people who were captivated by the sights in the castle.

"No matter how hard the peasants try to change their looks, peasants will still be peasants," Elaina heard the comments of a couple that passed beside her.

She noticed the dirty looks the seemingly higher class people were passing at those fascinated by the paintings and castle but she remained unaffected. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity granted to them by their very generous king so they'll have to bear with their supposedly lower class behavior.

"Oh, look at that one," she tapped Alex while looking in the direction of a beautiful painting of the horizon. "Isn't it pretty?"

"It is," he replied.

Their journey to the end of the hallway came to an end and they entered a large hall where Elaina felt a gentle and cool breeze slap across her face.

The walls of the hall were covered with black drapes that ran from the top of the ceiling to the ground which made the hall completely dark, a clear contrast with the hallway they came front. The lighting came from the star-like bulbs that covered the ceiling. The lights looked like a million stars littered across the dark night sky.

"Woah," Elaina stated in awe when she saw her reflection on the floor. The floor was made of toughened glass that reflected the starry night from above. On a closer look, she noticed that the floor had tiny stars too which reflected their own lights. It was fascinating and she couldn't hide it.

"Wow," she gasped as they moved further inside the hall. There were some drapes that flowed from black to white which added to the monochrome feeling and she was loving the cool breeze too.

The star-like lights coupled with the breeziness of the hall and the slow music created a nice atmosphere that made the midnight indoors better than the one outside.

Elaina felt very grateful to the king for inviting them to the ball. This was an experience she would never forget.

"Alex," she tapped him excitedly but when he didn't respond her eyes widened.

Her excitement and wonderment had made her forget that Alexander didn't do well in crowds. She couldn't see his face but she could tell from how stiff he was and his nervous gulps.

She took his hand in hers and called him gently, "Alex," and he turned to face her. "It'll be fine," she reassured him with a smile when she saw his quivering eyes.

"Just take a deep breath, I'm right here," she squeezed his hand breaking him out of his trance.

Alexander closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He had thought he would be fine but he was wrong. When he opened his eyes, they met with Elaina's brown ones filled with concern.

"Are you okay now?" she asked him.

"Yes," he answered but he didn't let go of her hand.

"Great!" Elaina beamed. Her eyes moved to the crowd and she saw their mother walking towards them.

"Are you okay, Alex?" she asked him and he nodded in response. but she was his mother, she could still see the way his eyes quivered subtly.

"We can step out-"

"Mya!" a very familiar voice interrupted her and she turned around to face the man who looked like he had found the greatest treasure in the world.

"I thought you weren't invited, Mr Leighton," she stated with a frown.

"I wasn't, but when I found out you were attending without a date, I went and got an invitation for myself," he stated with a satisfied smile.

"You didn't have to do that,"

Mr. Leighton smiled when he saw the annoyance in her icy blue eyes. The most expressive he had ever seen.

"It was my pleasure, Mya," he stated then bent to take her hand to place a kiss on it but she moved it away.

"You keep hurting my feelings, Mya," he said sadly as he stood straight and that's when his eyes fell on the people behind her.

"Oh, you're here too," he stated in surprise. He was just noticing them now. He saw how good they both looked and he returned his gaze to Mya.

"They really are your children, Mya?" he asked for confirmation.

"Yes," she answered.

He moved his eyes back to them for just a second, he could see a lot of resemblance now but none of them had her beautiful eyes. "We could make children as beautiful as them, you know," he said to her.

"I'm not interested," she declined. Mya sighed tiredly, she had to get rid of him and as if on cue, one of her acquaintances called, "Oh my, Mya! Is that really you?"

Their conversation developed and the woman wanted to take her away, she turned to her children and met Elaina's assuring gaze then she left with the woman.

But, Mr. Leighton also went with her.

"Who's this charming young man, Mya?" the woman asked.

"Her soon-to-be husband," he answered.

"No, he's not." Mya quickly replied.

Elaina heard their conversation fade as they mixed with the crowd.

"So what do we do now?" she asked Alexander because now that she thought about it, aside from dancing, What was there to do at a ball?

"We could dance," Alexander suggested.

"You want to?" she asked him eagerly and he nodded in response.

"Then let's go," Elaina hummed as they went to the dance floor. They stood at the edge of the dance floor as the music playing was a fast and cheerful one so they had to wait for a drop in the beat.

There was a crescent moon above the dance floor and the lights under the dance floor were much brighter compared to the rest and at intervals some of the lights went off at random which left some couples in the spotlight.

It made the dance floor brighter and cheerier and Elaina couldn't wait to get on the dance floor.

The beat dropped and Alexander stepped on the dance floor first, he pulled Elaina by her hand, twirling her around as they started their dance.

"Do you still know how to dance?" he asked her as their feet moved to the fast-paced music.

"Of course. I wouldn't be here if I didn't," she replied before Alexander twirled her around again and she landed back in his arms with a hearty smile.

***

"I'm exhausted," Elaina breathed. Their dance ended five minutes ago and now they were at the side of the hall. The dance was a fast paced one that involved a lot of twirling and movements, it was too much for her exercise-deprived body to handle.

If not for the breeziness of the hall, she would have been covered in sweat by now. The dance was fun but she didn't think she could try it again.

"Here," Alexander gave her a glass of wine that he picked from a tray carried by a passing waiter.

"Thanks," she took the wine from him and took a sip. She felt the flavours burst on her tongue and she relished the taste. So this was wine drunk by elites.

She took another sip, enjoying the sweet taste of berries.

"Elaina?" a young man peeked his face to look at her from the side. "It is you," he stated happily when he found that he was right.

Elaina's head tilted to the side as she tried to recognize the person through his mask. Black hair, pale green eyes and a warm smile, "Oh, Kaede!" she realized.

"Took you long enough," he joked. "You look amazing, I almost didn't recognize you." he complimented. His pale green eyes shone as he stared at her.

"Thanks, you look good too," she smiled. Kaede lived in the same street as them, he was the golden boy of her street.

"Hope you're good, Alexander," Kaede asked but got ignored.

"Of course he is," Elaina replied for him with an awkward laugh while pinching his arm. The two of them weren't on good terms for whatever reason.

"Haha," Kaede laughed it off. "Uh, so, Elaina," he started.

"What is it?"

He scratched his head nervously, "I was wondering if you would maybe like to uh," he took a pause to calm his rapidly beating heart but he didn't get to complete his sentence as a voice spoke from behind Elaina,

"Morning, milady," and she turned around to see who it was. Her eyes widened when she saw who it was, Alois Trancy?!