Alex was excited to attend this ball with her. It would give him a lead on the case he had been working on.
That traitor... He was not an important one. The worst he did was embezzlement, yet his father insisted on him taking care of it himself.
Alex knew that his father was testing him. He shook his head. How was that senile old man still an Emperor, he did not know.
The day of the royal ball arrived much faster than Selena anticipated. Despite the whirlwind of preparations, she felt remarkably calm as she opened the box containing her gown and Alex's suit. The dressmakers had outdone themselves—every detail was perfect.
She made the changes to the dress herself, she wanted it to be bold and different. She wanted to make an everlasting impression, and she will... With this beautiful dress.
Selena nodded in approval, her lips curving into a small smile. This would do.
As she set aside her gown, a knock at the door. It was the Steward, he wanted to inform her of Alex's arrival. She needed to hurry up if they were to make it to the ball on time.
On second though, coming in late would be quite the entrance.
From her room, Selena could hear the faint hum of conversation as Alex entered the estate. Lucien was already in the living room, dressed impeccably for the evening when Alex appeared.
Lucien's sharp gaze landed on the newcomer immediately, his brows knitting together in suspicion. He didn't need to ask who Alex was—Selena had made no effort to keep her so-called "new lover" a secret.
Still, seeing him in the flesh was an entirely different matter. Alex, with his rugged good looks and easy confidence, was a stark contrast to the polished nobles Lucien was accustomed to.
He didn't like it.
Lucien's glare was piercing enough to make most men squirm, but Alex barely noticed it. In fact, he smirked. That's cute, he thought to himself, amused by the younger man's attempt at intimidation.
Assassination attempts and hostile negotiations were part of Alex's daily life—this was nothing. He offered Lucien a friendly nod as he passed as if to say, Nice try, kid.
Lucien didn't respond, his jaw tightening as he watched Alex stride toward the steward. He knew better than to interfere. His mother had made it clear that Selena's decisions were hers to make, and meddling would only invite her wrath.
Though the Duchess didn't fully approve of Selena's new "companion," she was secretly relieved that her daughter had moved on from the Northern Duke.
If this man was a temporary distraction to help Selena forget that humiliation, then so be it. Still, Lucien couldn't shake his unease. There was something about Alex that felt... Unpredictable.
The steward, a seasoned professional who had seen his fair share of drama in the Whitlock household, maintained his composure as he guided Alex upstairs to a guest room where his attire awaited.
Alex followed without complaint, though he couldn't help but feel slightly out of place in the grand estate. He had been in opulent homes before, of course, but this one had a distinctly cold and calculating aura—much like its owner.
When they reached the room, Alex was momentarily taken aback by the suit waiting for him. It was nothing like the simple, functional clothing he usually wore.
It was pure white, the fabric was rich and luxurious, tailored to perfection with intricate gold accents that hinted at Selena's eye for detail. He raised an eyebrow as he ran his fingers over the material.
He was used to dark colours, he wasn't a pure and naive prince to wear light colours. In fact, he was used to wearing black, it was much easier to hide blood that way, and convenient as it didn't stain.
Wearing this blinding white outfit made him hesitate... But he could not question it.
"This is... Fancy," he muttered to himself, a hint of doubt creeping into his voice. Would something like this really suit him?
He hesitated for only a moment before shrugging and slipping into the ensemble. Alex wasn't one to overthink things—if Selena wanted him to wear this, he'd wear it.
And he had to admit, it fits like a glove, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean frame in a way that even he found impressive. Once he was fully dressed, he took a deep breath and stepped out into the hallway.
The steward guided him back downstairs, where he was instructed to wait by the staircase. Alex stood there, feeling more self-conscious by the second as servants and household staff passed by, stealing curious glances at him.
He could practically hear their whispers: Who is he? Why is he here? He shifted uncomfortably, his hands fidgeting at his sides.
He didn't know that they were practically blushing. He was very good-looking and he looked much different than the men they were used to. His appearance was not in line with the men of the Kingdom.
This is weird. Do I look ridiculous? he wondered, tugging at his collar. He wasn't used to this kind of attention, and the silence of the grand estate only made it worse.
Just as he was about to distract himself by admiring the intricate architecture of the Whitlock home, a movement at the top of the staircase caught his eye.
And then he saw her.
Selena descended the stairs with the grace of a queen, her silver gown shimmering like moonlight. Every step she took seemed calculated to draw attention, the fabric of her dress flowing like water around her as she moved.
Her hair was styled elegantly, soft waves framing her face, and around her neck hung a diamond necklace that sparkled as brightly as her icy blue eyes.
Alex's breath caught in his throat. He'd known she was beautiful, but this... This was something else entirely. She looked radiant, almost otherworldly, and for a moment, he couldn't do anything but stare.