Chapter Text
Parties at the castle are rare, but they also provide emperor Belos with the opportunity to interact with high ranking families, allies, and contributors outside the castle. This helps in gathering information, not just about the technicalities of their operations, but also about their social status and positions, as well as the reputation of the emperor's coven.
Parties are also an excuse to dress up and dance, which is what mattered to you and your fellow scouts. Since being in the emperor's coven, you haven't had a chance to indulge in the things people do for fun. Certainly, you couldn't dress up, or show off any stylish outfit, being forced to wear those baggy unflattering uniforms with the cloaks, you could hardly call them fashionable.
So, you decide to take advantage of this opportunity, and get dressed to the nines! You're not sure you'll get a chance like this again after all.
The day begins with you running around to help with preparations, as it was all hands on deck, to get the castle halls and the throne room transformed to be party-ready.
"Okay Okay, I know we're all excited but that doesnt give you an excuse to be sloppy!!" Your assigned captain yells out, to which you and your group of friends sigh, and continue wiping down the windows.
"Ugh, I just want to be done already!! I want to pick out my mask!" One of them says.
"Ooo, I think I'll put a lot of feathers in mine!" says another.
"You just loove drama don't you." You respond jokingly.
"Like you don't, come on it's a masquerade party! you gotta go all out."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." You laugh, your mind eventually drifting off to thinking about the outfit you're gonna wear.
That evening, you find yourself in front of the mirror, carefully considering the details of your outfit, and inspecting the mask you decided on pairing with it. You were pretty impressed with the color scheme, you had to admit. You also found yourself very satisfied with how nice you looked, it was amazing what being out of those ill-fitting uniforms did to your image.
Nearing the beginning of the evening, you walk down the halls to see everything and everyone, and it's just so jarring to see the castle full of beautiful decor and amazingly dressed people, it feels enchanting, dreamy, almost unreal.
However, you look and look, but you can't seem to find any trace of the emperor! which was very odd. You sense everyone around you catching on to this soon enough, and before you can say anything, Kikimora stands on an elevated platform that was added to the throne room, and clears her throat. Even from afar you can feel the disgust and self-importance radiating off her.
"Ahem, emperor Belos will be attending the party later in the evening, as he's currently communicating with the titan on very important manners. In the meantime, you can start the festivities. Go on, start the music!" She yells, storming off the stage.
You sigh, your shoulders sagging. You were really hoping to see the emperor dressed up, he was sure to outdo everyone here, and seeing him in something new would be enough to ignite your heart on fire, as the flame of attraction you feel for him on every level burns your insides.
Soon enough, the crowded throne room, and all the noise becomes too much for you. So, you decide to slip out into the castle garden to take a break from everything.
The night sky looks beautiful, and the garden has never appeared more enchanting, as Terra herself oversaw the garden's preparations, to welcome the high ranking guests. There were seasonal blooms everywhere, the moonlight danced beautifully on the open, drooping petals, which were so harmoniously colored. Even the trees seemed otherworldly, their branches draped like beaded curtains, framing the view.
The beauty of it took hold of you, and you found yourself dancing by yourself, absent-mindedly humming along with the faint music, which could still be heard even out in the garden.
You danced and hummed, twirling and stepping, when suddenly, something caught your hand.
You let out a surprised squeak, quickly spinning around and breaking out of the loose grip of a stranger.
When you turned to see who it was, you found a tall man standing in front of you with a relaxed smile on his face. He was wearing an extremely nice looking suit, nicer than you'd seen anyone wearing, though the handkerchief tied around the neck and the elaborate blue cape gave it an older, almost deadwardian feeling, which definitely suited the party's theme.
His hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, and some gray strands in the front fell over his golden masquerade mask, from which a single black feather can be seen.
"I'm sorry" he said. "I didn't mean to scare you". He looked at you with such kindness in his eyes, and his smile, which was the only thing not covered by the mask, put you at ease, though you couldn't help the feeling that something about him seemed familiar.
"O-oh, it's okay, I'm fine " You respond, finding your bearings. "Sorry, you seem familiar, do I know you from somewhere?" You ask.
He thinks for a moment. "Hm, perhaps, we might've met once or twice. I meet a lot of people. None as beautiful as you." He looks you up and down quickly.
Your face goes red. "O-oh! Hahaha, thank you!" you giggle, caught off-guard. "You look nice too, I love your style." You add, subconsciously brushing a strand of hair behind your ear.
"That's high praise from someone dressed beautifully like yourself, I appreciate it." He replies. "Say, I very rudely interrupted you, would you care to continue dancing...with me?" He holds your hand as he speaks, slowly bringing it closer to himself.
"Yeah...um, yes, I would like that." You say, feeling swayed by this person's energy.
You try to reach his shoulder, but hes very tall, so instead you settle for somewhere on his arm. You hold his hand with your other hand. He reaches down and puts a hand on your waist, and you feel him pulling you slightly closer. The two of you begin to dance, but you find your attention focused down at your feet.
A few steps in, he stops, causing you to accidentally bump into him.
"Why'd you stop?" You ask.
He removes his hand from your waist and places it on your chin, firmly tilting your head up.
"It's rude not to look at your parnter while you're dancing...especially when you look so nice" He says, slightly smirking.
Your eyes widen and you feel yourself flushing again.
"Ah, sorry, I didn't..." You trail off, distracted by the way he stares at you.
"Just trust me." He says, as you begin to move again, and you let yourself be swept away by him.
The two of you dance together, as if the music is moving you, and you can't help but to lose yourself to the picturesque view of this charming stranger, against the beautiful garden.
You dance for what feels simultaneously like a moment and a lifetime, enjoying this moment, as you've never felt something like it before.
However, before you know it, and all too soon, the song ends.
You both ease into a stop, but you don't let go. You just stand there, looking into each other's eyes. Slowly leaning towards each other...
A new song starts, and it gets the attention of your mystery man, who's head snaps up suddenly.
"I have to go." He says.
"Why? But, the party just started..."
He squeezes your hand. "I know. Listen, I have to go, but I'll come back before the night is over, okay? Just save me a dance."
"...I will...it was nice meeting you" You say.
He smiles at you. "Perhaps we were destined to meet." He says. You reluctantly withdraw your hand from his, and he walks away into the castle, lost in the crowd.
You stand there for a moment, the ghost of a touch still lingering on your lips.
"Gather round, Gather round, everyone! It's finally time for the emperor's arrival!" Screeches Kikimora obnoxiously, alerting everyone to go inside. You rush in, excited to see the emperor, but subconsciously still trying to find the stranger in the crowd.
You don't have to wait long before the emperor emerges. He is donning the longest cape youve seen him wear, as it drags on the floor despite his impressive height. The cape seems to be made entirely of gold, segmented for movement and adorned with precious jewels and silver accents, some engraved with the symbol of the emperor's coven.
Underneath the cape you could see his gold gauntlets, along with silver boots, worn over a pair of black pants, and his torso was covered by a silver breastplate.
What caught your attention though, was a single black feather poking out from under his mask. You thought for a second, but it couldn't be. It's ridiculous to even entertain the thought. You forced yourself to focus on the ceremony.
"Children of the isles!" His voice boomed, immediately stopping any hushed whispers. "I've been communing with the titan, and I'm happy to report that he's been extremely pleased with our conduct, and I have his blessing to celebrate all out accomplishments!" The crowd roars in approval, and he pauses, letting them clap and yell and shout for a moment. He holds up his hand, and as if on cue, everyone quiets down immediately. He continues,
"However, not all is well. We still have many wild witches running free. This angers the titan, and he demands we take them in and help them become ordered coven members. We must increase our efforts, and end this era of savagery before The Day Of Unity. For the will of the titan!" He ends with a shout, to which everyone responds with even louder screams, and a chant emerges. "FOR THE TITAN! FOR THE TITAN!" everyone around you screams, and you join in, passionately screaming, though who you're shouting for, the emperor or the titan, you don't know.
The emperor steps down from the stage, and the guards allow the prestigious families, and the covenheads to get close to the emperor, so they could speak with him.
Soon, the music begins once again, and the mood of the party returns, as everyone starts dancing.
You find yourself mostly standing by the drinks table, halfheartedly waving to people you know when they pass you, but still your mind is focused on two things.
Emperor belos, and all the high ranking people who get to speak to him, a chance you probably won't ever have. He's unreachable, despite being in the same room as you.
But, tonight there was someone else, a stranger who stole your breath away, someone who you found yourself scanning the room searching for.
To your disappointment, he was nowhere to be found, and you found the evening much duller without him.
Soon enough your friends start pulling you to dance, and you find yourself being spun and tossed around between them. You were thankful for them, as they lifted your mood and you began to actually have fun. Though, strangely, when you'd glance over at the emperor, you could've sworn that you saw him staring at your direction, sometimes making eye contact.
But no, that's ridiculous, why would he concern himself with you?
Eventually, the band stopped the music to give themselves and the dancers a break, and as you sat with your friends you told them about you mystery man.
"Awwwww, you're in looooove!!" One teased.
"Wh-noo! I just, he promised he'd find me and dance with me again." You replied, slightly deflated.
"The evening isn't over yet, chin up! I'm sure he'll show up again, and if he doesn't, we still had fun right?"
"Yeah, that's true. Thanks guys".
As you sit with your group, you hear a small commotion from a distance, and when you look you see the emperor leaving the throne room. Kikimora hops onto the stage again, and announces that the emperor was retiring for the evening, but asked that the festivities continue as scheduled.
You found this odd, but then the band resumed their music, and everyone got up to dance again.
You were preparing to go join your friends, when you feel a tap on your shoulder.
To your surprise, when you turn around you see none other than mystery man!
"There you are! I was wondering when you'd show up again." You joke.
"I apologize," he said, taking your hand again. "I would've been here sooner, had I not been tied up with some important business." He bends down, making a big show of bringing your hand to his lips, looking right into your eyes as he kissed it. You even saw a few people turning their heads to look at the two of you.
The tiny mask you were wearing did little to disguise the red blush traveling down your face and neck, and you unwittingly let out a giggle of embarrassment. He didn't seem to mind at all though, and suddenly he was standing tall and pulling you in to the proper dance position. He smirked at you, and you smiled back, as the two of you started moving together again. You were swept back up into the magical aura of that first dance, and you forgot anyone else was even around, focused only on him, dancing in unison and harmony.
It was as if the music only played for the two of you.
You seemed to dance your way out of the throne room, past the halls and back into the garden again. There, when you realized it, you slowed to a stop.
He sat beside you on a small marble bench, and you laughed.
"Wow, how'd we even get here again?" You say.
"I suppose, something might've drawn us to this place. Why were you here in the first place, if I could ask?" He responded.
"Well, I guess the crowd overwhelmed me at first. I'm not exactly thrilled to be around people with loud music blaring in my ears." You confessed.
"That's strange, you seemed just fine when we were dancing in there." He said, sounding amused.
"It's better when I'm around people I like." You said. "Plus, You kinda put me in a good mood earlier. It...actually helped a lot. Thank you." You say, starting to blush again.
"Did I? I'm glad to hear it. Honestly, I wasn't very enthused for this event either. It bores me." He said.
"Why did you have to leave though? If you don't mind me asking, you missed the emperor's speech."
He chuckled at this. "I was there for it. Don't worry."
You look at him, confused. "Oh? I didn't see you there."
"Well, I wasn't easy to spot."
You stop to think for a second. There was still something about this stranger you couldn't explain.
"...I don't mean to bring this up again, but are you sure I don't know you? You sound so...familar. What's your name?"
His expression warps for a split second, but he stands up, and looks back at you to answer.
"It's Phillip."
"Will I see you again, Phillip?" You ask, holding out your hand for him.
"Yes, of course." He says, taking your hand and pulling you up beside him.