Cior smiled mischievously, her plan already in motion. She had prepared everything, from the clone to the outfit, ensuring that her presence would remain a secret. After carefully creating the clone and ensuring it was well-dressed in male attire, she teleported to her father's location.
"Hey, dad," Cior said, with a grin that spoke of both mischief and trust. "I need a little favor. Can you grow my hair out? I'm visiting a restaurant, and, you know, don't feel like going as a guy today."
Kieran, lounging with a cocky smile on his face, didn't even glance at her. "You do realize you could just let it grow naturally, right? But sure, I'll do it. But don't blame me if you end up with a full-on mane, little girl."
Cior rolled her eyes. "You're just jealous of how fabulous I am."
With a dramatic wave of his hand, Kieran effortlessly used his powers, making her hair grow long and flowing in an instant. Cior, now with her hair as she had envisioned it, gave him a quick thanks before she teleported off, ready to put the final phase of her plan into action.
Back in her room, she quickly made the necessary adjustments. Her clone, already blending in as her male counterpart, had successfully entered the ball. No one suspected a thing. Cior, now dressed in the gorgeous gown she had picked out earlier, adjusted her mask, grinning at her reflection in the mirror.
"Let's do this," she murmured, and with a snap of her fingers, she teleported straight to the ballroom.
As she entered the grand ballroom, her heart raced a little. She had pulled it off—no one knew it was her, and she was about to have the time of her life.
Meanwhile, at the entrance, her clone continued to be none the wiser, standing awkwardly while the guards looked on, totally oblivious to the plan unfolding. It was the perfect heist.
And after she was in she diminished her clone
Cior couldn't help but smirk behind her mask, the thrill of her successful plan making her feel a little more confident. She had strategically chosen the food counter to start, stuffing herself with an array of delicious dishes while savoring the luxury of being in disguise. After filling up, she casually scanned the room, taking in the ambiance of the ball, when she noticed Ziven making his way towards her.
"Oh no worries, he doesn't know I'm Cior, all is well," she thought to herself, reassuring herself as her heart raced just a little.
Ziven, always the flirty and bold type, flashed her a grin as he approached. "My lady, how are you? Aren't you feeling lonely without your fiancé?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with a mischievous gleam.
Cior raised an eyebrow, playing along with his teasing nature. "You recognized me? I am feeling honored, Sir Ziven," she replied, feigning surprise.
Ziven smirked confidently, not missing a beat. "Of course, Lady Lunette. How could I not recognize such a beauty? And of course, my best friend's fiancé," he said, his tone dripping with charm and a bit of teasing.
Cior laughed softly, leaning in slightly as if to reveal a secret. "Oh, you flatter me too much, Ziven," she said, still maintaining the pretense of being Lunette. "But I must admit, your company is quite pleasant."
Ziven winked, leaning back casually. "Well, if you're ever bored, you know where to find me. Not every day I get to spend time with such a captivating lady," he said with a grin, clearly enjoying the moment.
Cior smiled, keeping the conversation lighthearted, but in the back of her mind, she couldn't help but feel a bit of amusement. Ziven was no fool, and though he was flirtatious and a bit forward, he never seemed to have a clue about who she truly was. And that made everything even more fun.
"So, how's the ball treating you?" Cior asked, looking around the room once more. "I'm sure all the girls here must be swooning over you."
Ziven chuckled, leaning against the nearest pillar. "You know, it's not every day I get to be the center of attention. But I'm only interested in the company of beautiful women... like you, of course."
Cior rolled her eyes playfully, trying to keep the conversation fun and light. "Ah, flattery will get you everywhere," she teased.
Ziven gave her another wink, clearly enjoying her response,
Ziven's grin widened as he gave her a playful bow, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Will you give me the honor to dance with you, my lady? As your shortie fiancé... oh, I mean, my best friend Cior is not here," he said, his words laced with sarcasm and charm.
Cior couldn't help but laugh at his antics, playing along with his teasing. "Why not?" she replied with a mock pout, tipping her head to the side as if contemplating his offer seriously. "I think I'll indulge you, Sir Ziven, just to see how good of a dancer you really are."
Ziven's face lit up with a grin, clearly pleased by her response. "Ah, you won't regret this, I promise. Prepare to be swept off your feet!" he said, extending a hand toward her with exaggerated flourish.
Cior hesitated for a moment, her mask hiding the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "We'll see about that," she said, taking his hand and allowing him to lead her to the dance floor.
As they moved into the crowd, Cior couldn't help but enjoy the playful exchange. Ziven was certainly full of surprises, and dancing with him, even under false pretenses, was turning out to be much more fun than she'd initially thought. The ball was far from predictable, but at least for now, it was exactly the kind of distraction she needed.
Cior let herself be spun gracefully across the dance floor, laughing as Ziven's bold and carefree nature matched the rhythm of the music. "You are quite admirable, Sir Ziven," she said, her voice full of playful sincerity.
Ziven smirked, clearly enjoying the compliment but not willing to let it go to his head. "No need to be formal, my lady. Call me Ziven only," he said, his tone teasing as he swung her into a smooth twirl.
"Ziven, hm?" Cior replied, raising an eyebrow as she was pulled effortlessly back into his arms. "I suppose I can do that, but only if you continue being such an excellent dancer."
"Ah, it's all part of the charm," Ziven quipped, his grin widening. "I've got many talents, my lady. Dancing happens to be one of my finest."
Cior chuckled, enjoying the playful banter as they glided across the floor, blending their movements seamlessly with the music. Despite all the chaos of the evening, dancing with Ziven was a brief but welcome escape, one that made her momentarily forget the weight of her plans and the world outside the ballroom.