Luna glanced at them both for a few seconds and they waited patiently. She could feel the friendly rivalry brewing and decided to play along. "Well, this villa isn't going to explore itself," she replied, rising to her feet without taking either hand. Instead, she led the way toward the hall.
(i bet she is rude)
(shut up she is so cool, look at her outfit she looks so hip)
comments on her were balanced, since she wasn't able to blend, probably because she was expecting someone else in the show, someone familiar. Soon she realized that this won't help.
Ryu chuckled as his eyes kept following her…
Rosalie watched from her seat and her eyes narrowed as she observed. She knew Luna was someone she'd need to keep an eye on…and it seemed like the guys were already noticing her, too.
The contestants strolled through the villa in two groups, exploring the hallways and terraces. Ryu stayed close to Luna, keeping his energy playful but not to push her boundaries. As they reached the outdoor garden, where the city lights glimmered faintly in the background, Luna paused to take in the view and her guarded expression softened for just a moment.
They reached a beautiful sunlit courtyard after a few hours of strolling and relaxing, since it was the first day and was limited to contestants to self-explore. Luna stopped, marveling at the sight. The courtyard was surrounded by ivy-draped stone walls where creepers were hugging it, increasing its charm, with a big fountain in the center that sparkled in the evening sunlight. A cool breeze drifted through, carrying the scent of flowers and fresh earth.
Noticing her pause, Ryu's eyes flickered toward the camera at the corner of the courtyard. With a small, charming smile, he stepped beside her, making sure the scene appeared intimate. He angled himself perfectly, his posture was casual as he watched her take in the view. "Beautiful, right?" he asked softly, his voice seemed to lose its usual teasing tone.
Luna nodded, her eyes didn't leave the fountain. "It really is. It feels… peaceful."
Ryu took a breath, his expression growed a bit more earnest. "I wanted to say… I get that you probably didn't come here looking for all this attention. Or you might have been missing someone." He hesitated, as if searching for the right words. "But I hope you don't feel out of place. Sometimes… it's the people who don't seek the spotlight who end up shining the brightest."
Luna glanced up at him, surprised by the sincerity in his voice. For a moment, she felt as if he saw past her walls, really noticing her.
"Thank you," she replied, her voice was as if she let her guard down finally. "maybe you're right." she grinned at Ryu.
Again the comments started rolling in …
(Ryu is such a gentleman!)
(Omg, he's so sweet to her! Maybe he's misunderstood after all…)
(I knew Ryu had a soft side. Total heartthrob!)
As Luna, Ryu, and Noah strolled further into the garden, laughter and conversation echoed softly. The sunlight streamed through the medium sized trees, casting dappled light on the ground, and for that moment, everything seemed peaceful. It was already 4 in the evening.
Suddenly, from behind a pathway lined with rose bushes, Rosalie, Dew, and Quinn emerged, chatting animatedly among themselves. Rosalie's gaze flicked to the trio and she offered a small, knowing smile as she joined the group.
"Well, it seems like everyone had the same idea, the garden is the real gem of the villa, isn't it?"
Quinn gave a little twirl, letting her dress catch the breeze. "It's gorgeous! Perfect for some sunset photos," she said with a grin, scanning the area as if already planning her shots.
Dew seemed to be seeking sleep and he laid down on a bench, facing him to the sky as he felt a few areas of his cheek captured by warm sun rays "Not bad for the first day. The vibe here is definitely…interesting."
Just as everyone started to relax on the following benches, the villa speakers crackled to life, and a voice echoed through the garden, catching everyone's attention.
"Contestants, I hope you've enjoyed your initial tour of the villa," the host began warmly. "Now that you're acquainted please make your way to the main hall for your individual interviews."
Live that got streamed ended a while ago, now the production cast team wanted their interviews to cast and edit the real time footage for episode one.
Everyone except Luna gave their interviews and settled in their rooms. It was her turn. The production team didn't have much expectations of improvement in the interview since she seemed to be zoned out all day except for the time in the garden she was with Ryu, when he finally whispered some words of encouragement.
As Luna stood under the bright studio lights, the energy in the air crackled with anticipation. The interviewer was a charismatic host with a playful attitude, grinned at her.
"Alright, Luna, you chose the silver mark! What were you thinking when you made that choice?"
Luna laughed softly, her nerves settling. "Honestly? It felt like the mask was winking at me!"
The host chuckled and amused at her energy, nodding. "A sweet analogy! But seriously, you're diving into the unknown. Do you ever worry about what's behind that mask?"
"Of course!" she admitted, her eyes sparkled with mischief. "But isn't that the fun part? If I wanted safety, I'd stay home binge-watching my favorite shows"
The production team erupted into laughter, and Luna felt a wave of warmth wash over her. "So, what's your game plan?" the host pressed. "How will you navigate the chaos of the Masquerade?"
Luna leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Well, I have a secret weapon. I plan to charm my way through! I wasn't concentrating in the beginning but I think I'll get along now.
If they think I'm here for fun, they might not realize I'm also playing to win!"
The host raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh, so you're a double agent in this game? I love it! Are you ready to steal some hearts along the way?"
Luna grinned widely. "Absolutely! But I promise I'll do it with style and grace."
"Wow! You definitely have the viewers rooting for you," the host declared. "Before we let you go, any last words for the audience?"
Luna said, her expression was earnest. "Miso if you're listening i miss you and i think my knight forgot his way"
With that, she flashed a dazzling smile and left the team burst into giggles. They were enchanted by her spirit and charm. The camera zoomed out, capturing her infectious enthusiasm, as the team erupted in applause, eager to see more of Luna's journey in the Masquerade of Hearts.
It was sure that she was going to have lots of audience gathered, so the production cast team was relieved that she seemed okay now and was happy by the decision of her getting in the show.
-
It was the day of the release of the first episode and the second day of shooting.
After the interviews were held that night, Luna was getting positive responses from the audience. There were articles of a commoner in the high profile dating show and it really helped her to gain support from the public.
Everyone was gathered in the main lounge, it was painted in classic white with warm pallets adjacent to it.
A voice echoed through the speakers, it was the host of the show.
"Welcome back, contestants!
Let me introduce you to the motive of The masquerade of hearts.
In the world of The Masquerade of Hearts, love begins with a choice…a simple mask, picked out from a sea of possibilities. Each contestant, hidden behind the carefully selected, feels a spark, a pull, something that might be fate… or just an illusion.
Now, the masks have fallen. The faces behind them revealed, secrets exposed. Yet, the question lingers in the air…
Was that first choice their destined path, or merely a fleeting fantasy?
And as the final episode draws near, each contestant must make a choice…follow the path they believed was fate, or take a risk on a love that's blossomed in the light of truth.
The Masquerade of Hearts dares to ask…
Can true love be chosen from the start, or is it discovered along the way? In the end, only time will tell which bonds will survive the unmasking…and which will be left behind, like a dream fading with the dawn.
Now contestants!
We're introducing your first activity…the Token Exchange. Each of our female contestants has a token to give out. If you don't give it to someone, there will be a penalty. So choose wisely!
From now on, the person who receives a token can propose a physical interaction with the giver.
You'll be rewarded for particular interactions.
Here's how it works:
1. Holding Hands: If you decide to hold hands, you'll earn a prize of $500.
2. Hugging: If you opt for a hug, that prize doubles to $1,000.
3. Kissing: And if you go for a kiss? That's a whopping $2,000!"