The old Ivo would have never left his room, the loud music and giggles that passed the halls draw his attention.
He couldn't help it, he had sitting in his room, his heart was pounding from excitement.
He didn't want to go, but he couldn't help it. Ivo weighed the risk, the benefit of witnessing an actual royal ball or the risk of offending everyone which was the better option, but to him, both looked like a suitable option.
He stared at the clothes on his bed and smiled, just before midnight, he thought.
Elvira loved more as much as she hated the crowd, too many lowlifes and half nobles.
She was tired of them trying to lick her shoes which in this case was a pair of black crystal heels paired with a dark red and black dress, she had a hat over her head with exotic jewelries on her neck, her black raven ring stood out as she wrapped her hand in front of her waist.
The weather was growing warmer, the harvest sun will soon be here, she needed to make her plans before then especially now that the king wanted to stir up the waters, she was never going to drown.
She resumed her usual routine of smile and wave as she walked through the crowd, she looked up to see the king staring at her as she bowed holding her dress up before he nodded and resumed talks with his brother.
Elvira turned and walked towards the other staircase, she climbed down the hallway before arriving at the door that lead to the balcony of the banquet hall.
She turned to her handmaids and guards. "It is a festival and not an execution, go and have a drink or two but be back before midnight" she instructed them as they bowed and hurried away.
With a deep breath, she pulled the door.
"Sorry I hope you have not waited too long, she asked?"
Ivo hummed to the rhythm, he was off tone a couple of times, but he appreciates the music.
He adjusted his high collar one more time. He was already loving the music, the clothes, and the drama, what else.
Ivo wore a black long sleeve that looked like a jacket with high collar, he had gold weaving embroidery on the collar and cuff of the shirt.
He had a large jacket with wide cuffs that covered his shirt and a pair of black pants and a ceremonial shoe.
As Melisa pushed him down the hallway, he couldn't hold his excitement.
"Have you ever been to a festival before?" Ivo asked her.
"No my lord, it is forbidden for servants to go without their masters" she replied.
"But don't you just feel excited, the music, the food, we could even find you a husband while we are at it can't we?"
Melisa didn't reply, not because she didn't want to, but she didn't know if Ivo was being sarcastic, or he was already drunk.
Knowing him, she opted with the second option and prayed that he didn't damper his already damaged reputation.
Soon they were in front of the hall as Ivo smiled to the guards who pushed the door open letting him pass.
It was the music that hit him, the sweet melody flowed through the air, even though he was lost in it, he could still notice the eyes that stared at him.
They expected him to make a mess, they wanted him to fail, he was the king's curse, a bastard, an incompetent fool that would curb their boredom.
But he couldn't care less, he had until midnight, and he wasn't going to spend his time sulking because some nobles didn't like him.
He directed Melisa to lead him to where the food was, he was going to try out everything.
From the corner of his eye, as she rolled him, he could see Ida break away from a boy that she seemed to be in a heart-warming conversation with, they were contrast to each other as she wore a red dress with black ravens printed on it, while her jovial partner had silver hair, blue eyes and wore a white ceremonial dress with golden weaving embroidery.
Ivo tried to see the sigil on his chest, but he was too far and since the jovial lad was shorter than Ida, she covered half of his vision.
She smiled and giggled but as she noticed him her smile turned soar as she quickly ended her conversation and walked towards him.
"I must say you have a nack for trying to get yourself killed."
"I must say I didn't take you as the type to fancy a lad."
"What are you doing here?" Ida asked as she decided not to argue with Ivo.
"You don't seem to like me very much."
"You don't, and I don't like you at all."
"Can you at least hide it?" Ivo asked as she signaled Melisa to move away and took her place to push his chair.
"Can I at least get a smile?"ivo requested as she pushed him in silence.
"You have bigger problems than getting a smile I'm afraid" she replied as she took him to the corner of the hall where there were fewer people.
Ivo turned his neck to stare at the food, he swallowed hard before turning back to her.
"What problems?"
"While you're planning of making a fool of yourself, edric has won half of the royal court and nobles to his side, the other half sees you as incompetent and have sided with Thag".
"Oh, I already know that, sister, trust me."
"And you intend to do nothing? Why do I feel like I have sided with the loosing side!?"
"Calm down, votes are not the only way to win the king's game," Ivo replied with as smile as he stared at his well trimmed nails.
"What! You don't mean?"
"Yes exactly, I didn't ask you to side with me for your vote, I needed your trust and want y to help you achieve your goals…you love him don't you?"
Ida for the first time this night was taken aback by ivo's claim, she stared at him and then stole a glance at the boy she had spoken to.
She was promised to another as part of the right to use the forgotten sea, but now ivo the blued-eyed bastard had promised her a way out.
It was risky, but she already knew the dangers when she decided to vote for him regardless, she bent to whisper in his ear.
"So, what is your plan?"