The night is young and dazzling in the empire. Bright lights flash here and there illuminating the length and breadth of the land with excitement and merriment as if the land itself was imitating the beauty of the dark night sky with thousands of shining lights. Numerous shops and places of entertainment are bustling with life and profit, the streets and different edifices are decorated with bright fabrics and decorations, and the people are filled with lightness and merriment.
In the Karnstein villa located among the rich mansions of Lytebright, Ruby and Carmilla fret about in their shared room. Maids lined up in a single pile holding jewelry and dresses for the two noblewomen to check upon. All stare in contempt of the mess they have to clean up after the two finish their dress up and makeover. Expensive clothing was stew across the floor neglected regardless of their beauty that did not fit the standard of the couple. High-class accessories were left ignored in some chairs while shoes and laces were thrown carelessly on the ground.
"Do you think I look nice enough?" Carmilla asked worriedly as she models a stunning glittery violet gown with a very high slit on her left leg exposing her long slender legs covered in dark thigh high stockings. The dress had silver decorations that traced the alluring figure of her body while a big ruby gem lies under her chest, a personal request she made to the designer to show her lover her utmost dedication to her. An extravagant black choker was wrapped around her pale fine neck decorated with another pinkish ruby gem. The dress exposed her ample bosom making the huntress worry a bit about the greedy eyes of lustful men. Ruby playfully rolled her eyes at her partner and directed her a teasing smirk.
"You always look too good to be true. You mustn't worry too much. You look wonderful." the blonde complimented as she allowed the maid to finish her braid updo and decorate it with a dazzling hairpiece made of crystals carved as leaves held by the finest gold. Contrary to Carmilla's darker garment, Ruby chose to wear an off-shoulder rose gold dress with a high slit on the right leg. The garment hugged her small waist perfectly and highlighted her delicate figure excellently. A gold and diamond necklace hangs from her elegant neck completing her look.
"That's very easy for you to say! You look like a goddess that descended from heaven while I look like I crawled from the ground!" Carmilla complained, pouting at her. With such a dazzling appearance and undeniable natural beauty, Ruby wondered how Carmilla can think that she looks lacking in aesthetics. The blonde maiden stood up and held her hands before grabbing her cheeks.
"Don't criticize yourself too much. For me, you are the most gorgeous woman out there even if you only wear rags and never comb. If you say that I'm a goddess, then I think that you're beauty is extraterrestrial. Completely out of this world with a heavenly body." Ruby sweet-talked, connecting their foreheads together and gazing passionately into Carmilla's eyes.
The raven-haired can only blush due to the undeniable sincerity in her fiancee's words. She suddenly connected their lips together never minding the prejudice of their audience or the fact that their expensive lipsticks are getting smudged. Ruby kissed back with equal passion, sending fire into her soul due to their fiery intimacy. The only thing Carmilla cares about right now is ravishing the supple lips of the romantic loli in her embrace.
Carmilla soon let go of the smaller maiden after satisfying her desire for her attention and love. Her heart skipped a beat as she basked in the brilliance of her partner's sweet and kind face but Ruby didn't fail to notice a very brief look of guilt that danced between her fuchsia orbs as they soon pulled away from each other's hold. The blonde didn't question the sudden emotion that flickered from her face and only gave her a kind smile.
"Now that you're out of your self criticizing reverie perhaps we should head down now and stop the chauffeur from waiting any longer as well as our servant?" she suggested, gesturing towards the blushing maids who had recently witnessed their passionate display of affection.
Carmilla blushed red before nodding. A maid helped Ruby wrap a soft white fur on her shoulder while another one helped the young Countess with a black feathery coat before placing a rose headpiece on her hair. Ruby intertwined their fingers together before heading out of the room and walking side by side while playfully swaying.
"I don't see the point of us staying on a middle seat in the theater when we can get a private balcony for ourselves as well as room service." Ruby wondered as they walked in the busy hall of the large opera house. The piercing gaze of the people followed after the two in either contempt of their unacceptable relationship or admiration of their stunning beauty like two dazzling stars walking among the mediocre inhabitants of the earth.
"According to my experience regarding shows, it is best to get a closer view of the performance to feel like you're really part of the story. It feels more intimate like you're one of the characters as well." Carmilla explained with a fond smile hugging her arm tighter.
"Of course. You've always fancied basking in the comfort of fantasies and exerting yourself in the story. Reminds me of the first time I lost my purity to your curiosity when I was 11 while you were 16." Ruby joked, making her partner giggle and slap her arm playfully.
"I'm my defense, your cuteness is very irresistible and since we're to be betrothed, I saw it fit to practice with you so that we don't perform sloppily when the time comes for us to "consummate" our marriage." Carmilla responded giggling flirtatiously at her.
"My she looks stunning. Aurelius, you should see your girlfriend. She looks magnificent." Sylvia mused while holding a champagne glass with her gloved hand and directing him a teasing smirk. The prince whose back was turned to her as he socialized with the other nobilities spun on his heel before gazing over the balcony overlooking the people entering the establishment.
"I told you she's not my girlfriend she's just..." he frowned, sweeping the mass of people moving on the lower portion of the edifice before spotting the said female, which was truth be told, easy to find because she was glowing with the glamor and charm of a deity. Her outfit also made her sparkle among the other people who seemed mediocre and mundane compared to her astonishing beauty.
His heart skipped as he observed her most minute actions and admired her mere gestures. She seemed to move with the grace and elegance of a rose dancing in the gentle breeze. He watched as she giggled and shared a joke with her 'betrothed'. Oh, how he wished to be the one holding her in his arms and sharing inside jokes with her. The thought may seem immoral but not far fetched. Ruby and the Camel girl are still to be married and until they are not then there's still a chance.
"She's not my girlfriend..."
"Because she's going to be my queen."
🌹
Ruby and Carmilla sat side by side in the middle seat of the amphitheater. The seats of the theater are starting to fill up however the few rows and columns in their left and right remain empty since they both decided to rent all the surrounding seats around theirs to stay away from the unwanted socialization of the people who would most likely want to be on their good side for political and other unpleasant reasons. A small table lay in front of them filled with small snacks and beverages as per Ruby's request even though foods and liquids are banned from the theater however there's barely anything here that money can't solve.
"So this play is called the Phantom of the Opera and this rising singer Marcel is supposed to play the part of this so-called 'Phantom'. The story is foreign to me. Is it newly written?" asked Ruby as she flipped through the pamphlet a theater staff had handed to her.
"The story and the plot are also unknown to me but as long as Marcel plays it I know it will be wonderful." Carmilla replied fondly.
"You seem awfully taken by Marcel's... talents. Should I be worried?" Ruby jokingly said but the underlying meaning is prevalent in her gesture and playful tone.
"Oh please. He is merely a singer whose talent I fancy very much however you, my dear, are my soulmate and greatest love. Are you seriously getting jealous because of a simple opera singer? You're Ruby F-ing Edelweiss Pendragon. Letting you go would be the stupidest thing I will ever do." she mused teasingly.
"Plus I don't think your father would ever let us split anyways. He bought one of the strongest swords in the whole Realm of Twilight just so he could bargain it to my mother for my hand."
"Exactly. Our marriage is more important to him than our own happiness. But it's not like we're unwilling. Being engaged to you is one of the luckiest things that has ever happened to me. Second to being born good looking in everything." Carmilla smiled before intertwining their fingers together.
"Smooth talk." Ruby chuckled, rolling her eyes at the girl.
"The show's about to start." Carmilla informed as she noticed the curtains being drawn. The two noble ladies straightened in their seats and focused their attention on the stage where the settings of the scene had been elaborately displayed.
"What a lovely cast." Ruby commented sarcastically.
The first scene was about bratty ballerina girls gossiping about the so-called 'Ghost' in the Opera house. It was a boring scene but it was necessary to prepare the audience's knowledge about the plot. So far Ruby had grasped that the Phantom, a well-dressed music genius who hid his deformed face behind a mask, became obsessed with a beautiful soprano singer named Christine Daae. The story was very interesting and exceptionally well done. Marcel, playing the role of Erik the Phantom, was excellent with his acting. He was able to move the audience even though he was depicted as quite villainous. His elegant manly charms and articulate way with which he enunciated his lines impressed Ruby but more so her partner who had a look of reverie as she watched his performance devotedly.
In the middle of the show, Ruby felt the sudden urge to relieve her bladder and excused herself to Carmilla who barely heard a single word she said due to how invested she is in the show. She quietly exited through the double door being managed by two buff looking men who bowed their heads in recognition of her identity. Unbeknownst to her is a set of vibrant amethyst colored eyes watching her every move.