Chapter 3: A Spark in the Dark
As the days grew chillier with the ball at hand, Evelina was swept into a maelstrom of preparation. Yet, despite the busy flutter of the palace, her mind dwelled upon none other than Lord Kaelen. Every glance, every nuance of his manner in interactions with her, replayed itself within her mind, leaving an unease and excitement she couldn't place. It wasn't just his jarring red eyes or his imposing presence that unsettled her; it was the way he seemed to see right through her, as though he understood something about her that she herself couldn't grasp.
Something strange, which had never reached her tranquil, tightly controlled life, yet it did. She was brought up as a princess to maintain perfect composure and control at all times, never showing emotion, and yet here she was, hardly able to refrain from curiosity about the demon lord that seized her with every waking moment.
The ball was to top off a series of courtly events for the season, joining her in even more solidity of engagement to King Ulric. But the thought of that upcoming union, dutiful and expected as it was, seemed so.distant now. How was she to take seriously a man to whom fate had assigned her when her heart was being tugged in the direction of another man-someone dangerous, someone forbidden?
On the eve of the ball, with the sun sunk below the horizon, Evelina stood before her vanity, brushing her long golden hair. Her fingers shook slightly, betraying the calm facade she had struggled to maintain all day. She was accustomed to the sight of it in elegant coils, her soft curls pulled back and secured; tonight, though, she wore it loose. It felt free-the way the strands tumbled down her shoulders as if to release the weight of her responsibilities, at least for that one moment.
The knock at her door broke her back into the world.
"Enter," she said softly, and her voice didn't give a hint of how she felt inside.
Lily, her maid, entered and smiled faintly. "Your Highness, it is time to begin. The guests will be arriving shortly.
Evelina nodded and rose, smoothing her gown out with her hand: an intricate, deep-emerald dress which heightened the colour of her eyes to even more brilliance than they already held. It was the gown of a princess, yet in her mind, it didn't have that shine anymore. Many times, she had used this gown to make royal impressions; tonight, however, it seemed to wear on her like a mask. A beautiful mask, cloaking a heart no longer sure of its purpose.
She gave one last glance in the mirror, straightened her shoulders, and followed Lily out of the room.
Dazzling chandeliers pricked the dark ceiling like diamonds on velvet; the air glimmered with music and the soft spill of laughter and hushed conversations of nobles mingling from all parts of the empire. She swept into this grand ballroom, and a sea of faces turned toward her; Evelina was used to their weight. But tonight felt very different. It was not admiration she had encountered but something else altogether. Her gaze moved over the people until it alighted upon King Ulric, standing near the other end of the hall with some of his advisors. The grand presence was imposing as any could be among these guests yet appeared not the slightest out of place. Yet a niggling at her guts suggested otherwise to Evelina. It had always been a duty to the kingdom, her engagement to him an alliance, and yet now, as she looked at him, her heart didn't flutter. It remained still, indifferent.
Her breath caught as her eyes found Lord Kaelen.
He stood leaning against the far wall, striking improbably above the crowd. His black garb contrasted with the ornamented interior; his cloak fluttered like a shadow that managed to slink along amongst colorfully attired nobles. He did not belong here, yet he stood at the very center. Deep red eyes looked around him as if they took in everything and nothing all at once. Removed, unreachable, and yet Evelina found she could not pull her gaze from him.
Time stood still while she watched him, the soft music playing in the background. His eyes met hers, and for that one second, something shifted. The world fell away from around her, and there was only them, locked in a silent exchange. His eyes, burning with intensity, softened just a fraction, and she felt her breath hitch in her throat.
But before she could gather her thoughts, her father appeared, breaking the trance. "Ah, Evelina, there you are. It's time to greet the guests."
She forced a smile, heart still pounding in her chest. "Of course, Father."
She made her way through the room, greeting the guests with all her usual charm, but her mind kept wandering back to Kaelen. Every time her gaze met his, that same electric pull tugged at her, stronger each time. Why did he affect her this way? She had been surrounded by men of power, men who had courted her with promises and gifts, yet none had ever stirred her like Kaelen.
After an hour of circulating, her work as a princess was done for the moment, and she came to a stop near the balcony, which afforded her the relative silence. The night air was cool, the music faraway and muted; for the first time in ages, Evelina allowed herself to breathe.
But as she leaned against the railing, trying to calm her racing thoughts, a figure appeared beside her, silent as a shadow.
"Princess," Kaelen's voice came from the darkness, sending a shiver down her spine.
She didn't look at him at first, her gaze fixed on the distant stars. "Lord Kaelen," she replied, her voice softer than she intended. "It seems you've made yourself at home."
His chuckle was low, a rumble of thunder far away. "I suppose I have. You're quite the spectacle tonight, Princess. Your beauty has enthralled many, but it would appear not all your heart belongs to the king, does it?"
Evelina's pulse quickened, and she turned to face him, her heart betraying her composure. "I'm not sure what you mean.
He moved closer, and his red eyes shone bright in the moonlight. "I see the way you look at me, Princess. There is something more in that than just curiosity. No use trying to deny it."
Her breath caught in her throat as she looked up to him, the words pressing against her chest. And she couldn't deny it; she couldn't play anymore that she wasn't attracted to him.
The crunching sound of shattering glass filled the air before she could utter a word, accompanied by wild screams from startled guests. The music stuttered to a stop, and the room was enveloped in chill. The calm was broken.