Viktor's fingers brushed against Heidi's hands, gently taking the mask from her hand. "You stand out too much without this," he said, his eyes locked on hers.
Heidi's cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she felt the warmth of his hand lingering on hers. She immediately wished she could disappear into the swirling crowds of the ballroom. The orchestra's melodic notes and the chatter of the guests faded into the background as Viktor's gaze held hers.
"I-I was going to put it on..." Heidi stuttered, her voice barely audible over the music.
A sly smile crept unto viktor's lips on seeing her flushed cheeks which seemed to get even redder by the second. "Thinking naughty, huh?" He asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
Heidi's gaze fell to the floor, her eyes tracing the intricate patterns on the marble tiles before returning to Viktor's piercing stare. Her eyes subtly accused him of invading her privacy, and he was now accusing her of thinking dirty. What did he expect her to think when he leaned so close, his breath whispering against her skin?
"I-I wasn't..." She stuttered, and the look in his eyes told her he didn't believe a word she said.
Her heart skipped another beat as viktor's hands moved to place the mask on her face. As the mask settled into place, Viktor stepped back, his gaze roving over Heidi's concealed features. "Better," he said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "We wouldn't want you drawing unnecessary attention, right?" The words hung in the air, laden with an undertone of protectiveness.
As the music reached a crescendo, viktor offered Heidi his arm, leading her towards the center of the ballroom, where a mesmerizing masquerade dance was about to begin.
Most of the guests had left the corridors, filling the seats to watch the masquerade dance. Viktor guided her as they took their seats at a comfortable distance, where they could still see the dance clearly.
The masquerade dancers, who had scary masks on their faces, began their mesmerizing routine. With each step, their elaborate costumes shimmered and swirled, like a kaleidoscope of colors come to life. The lead dancer, a towering figure in a black domino mask, commanded the floor with grace and precision, their movements mirrored by the other dancers.
As the music swelled, the dancers' masks seemed to glimmer with an otherworldly light, casting a spell over the entranced audience. Gasps of wonder and admiration rippled through the crowd, with some guests leaning forward in their seats, completely absorbed in the performance.
A woman who sat two seats to Heidi's front, clad in a midnight blue gown, whispered to her companion, "Magnifique!" while a gentleman nearby applauded with gusto, his eyes shining with delight.
Heidi's eyes remained transfixed on the dancers, but her fascination gradually gave way to a subtle unease. Her gaze drifted to Viktor, who sat with his legs crossed, exuding an air of confident control. Despite feeling safe in his presence, a nagging sense of wariness lingered, a reminder to tread carefully around him.
As the performance reached its climax, Heidi's thoughts turned to the deal she had made with Viktor. A shiver ran down her spine; she was now bound to him, a possession of the rumored cursed prince. The weight of her decision settled in the pit of her stomach, fueling her growing curiosity about Viktor.
He knew everything about her, yet she knew so little about him. The curse that surrounded him like an aura of mystery only added to her intrigue. What did it mean to be cursed?
"it's a bad habit to stare, Heidi." Viktor said, his voice low and even, his gaze still fixed on the dance. Heidi's cheeks flushed as she bit her lip nervously, caught in the act. As a slave, she knew better than to look directly at a noble, let alone a prince. Yet, around Viktor, her etiquette and morals seemed to desert her.
She gulped, her voice barely above a whisper, "May I ask a question, milord?" The title felt foreign on her lips, a reminder of their disparate stations. She hoped he wouldn't take offense, his mood mercurial and unpredictable.
Viktor finally turned his gaze towards her, his eyes sharp and piercing. "Go on, try not to beat about the bush." He said, turning his gaze back to the dance.
Heidi took a deep breath, trying to phrase her question properly. "I was wondering what essences imply and their significance."
Viktor's head tilted slightly, taken aback a little by her question. He wasn't expecting her to ask such a question as most slaves were ignorant to such topics.
"Essence is the very core of one's being," he explained, "every single child born in Bloodstone has an essence but it's manifestation is limited only to the royal bloodline."
Heidi nodded thoughtfully, "How does the essence manifest? And how many essence are there?" She asked, intrigued by the subject.
Viktor regarded her question for a while before he finally said. "There are four known essences - water, fire, wind and earth. Everyone is born with one of these essence in the core of their soul. To prevent a mad rush of power, the bloodstone makes these essences dormant. This is why the bloodstone draws blood from a person, to ensure the royal bloodline is present before manifestation."
Heidi felt even more intrigued as she listened to him. Her mind drifted to Amara and she couldn't help but wonder if Amara's essence was manifested, since she had royal blood too. "And princess Amara?" She asked, voicing her thoughts.
Viktor hummed in response to her question, "unfortunately, the manifestation takes place only in male children. Women are considered fragile, as their body cannot contain the rush of power and energy from the bloodstone." He explained, his voice low and smooth.
Heidi nodded, fascinated by the amount of knowledge he had. "Pardon me milord, but I'm only curious to know the essence the king possesses." She muttered softly, curious as she had never heard of the king's essence.
"There are rare occurrences where one is not blessed with the power to control an element but with a rare gift." He explained, pausing to let his words sink before he continued. "The king is blessed with what we call a third eye, it allows one to see significantly into the future. It is most useful when it comes to wars and leadership."
Heidi's eyes widened in surprise, her mind reeling from the revelation about the king's ability. No wonder Bloodstone remained undefeated in war. She bit her lip, hesitant to ask the question that had plagued her for so long. "Does this mean you have no essence, since you couldn't connect with the Bloodstone?" she asked, her voice laced with trepidation.
Viktor's amusement was palpable, his voice dripping with dry humor. "Quite the curious slave, aren't you?" Heidi's cheeks flushed, but Viktor's expression remained enigmatic. "I do possess an essence, but mine has remained dormant for some reason."
Heidi nodded, her nails digging into her palms as she resisted asking more questions. She didn't want to inadvertently pry into sensitive topics and shatter the fragile calm between them. Viktor's dormant essence was clearly a concern, given its significance in distinguishing royals from commoners.
As the masquerade dance drew to a close, the guests erupted into applause, their cheers and laughter filling the air. Heidi's gaze drifted back to the dance floor, but her attention was soon diverted by the Queen mother's approach. The older woman's unmasked face was an enigma, her expression unreadable.
Heidi's heart skipped a beat as fear coursed through her veins. Has the Queen mother discovered her true identity? She felt Viktor's gaze on her, but couldn't meet his eyes, her focus fixed on the Queen mother.
Just as the tension became unbearable, a shrill, horrific cry pierced the air, echoing from a distant corridor. The room fell silent, the guests' faces pale and alarmed.