Chapter Text
The wind hissed violently through the trees, and the sky a dark royal blue. As the carriage came to a steady halt, you hear the crunching sound of twigs turn into the clacking of stone. The royal palace.
Your coachman stepped down from his perch, and lightly tapped on the doors window with his knuckle. "We are here my lady." He opened the carriage door and reached his hand out to meet yours.
With a tight grip on his hand, and a gathering of skirts in your other hand, you stepped out from the carriage and onto the brick beneath you. You wore a long ivory ballgown, embedded with crystals. A dainty lace mask covered your eyes, unable to reveal your identity to any that would know you. "Thank you..." You thanked shyly, pushing back a stray lock of hair that was elegantly placed from your updo.
Gazing at the grandeur displayed before you, a palace of merveilles. Many others where gathering at the entrance waiting for their turn to be let in. You could hear the beautiful sound of a quintet coming from inside, and the laughter of the party.
"Let's not keep the others waiting my lady." The coachman bowed to you and gestured to the stairs leading up to the doors.
"Right..." This is a masquerade, we shouldn't reveal our identities to one another. Therefore, servants shouldn't accompany us. You strode towards the ball, carefully lifting your skirts before taking each step up the stairs.
A royal servant stood by the door and happily greeted you. "My lady..." He bowed, and gently pushed the intricate door open. Light poured onto your body as he revealed the enormous ballroom. Figures held onto each other gracefully and glided across the checkered marble. The quintet played a melody unlike any other. You look into the sea of nobles chatting on the edges of the ballroom, with their faces obscured you couldn't recognize a single one. A hand reached out to you as you took in your surroundings.
"May I?" A tall male figure offered to dance, his dark ebony hair was tied back in a low ponytail and fell down his back in ringlets. He wore a gold mask with damask material, and an overcoat to match.
You politely curtsied and took the hand he offered. "It would be a pleasure." He pulled you to him, your other hand rested on his shoulder, and you began to waltz. Effortlessly, the two of you blended into the ballroom with the other figures. Your dress billowed with every spin and turn.
"You seem to be no stranger to this dance, my lady." He praised, twirling you gently.
A smile lit up your lips. "I'm quite fond of dancing, it's a hobby of mine you could say." His steps following yours tightly, almost passionately.
"A hobby you say?" He chuckled. "Many noble women take up dancing as a hobby, but yours is the best I've tasted I must say."
As you passed the other couples, a man in a glittery purple lapeled overcoat and his partner spun in sync with the two of you. As he brushed against your shoulder, the two of you caught yourselves in a short lived glance. His mask was obscuring his face but you could catch the twinkle in his eye. We should switch partners soon, you thought to yourself.
The man that held you in his waltz loosened his grip on your hip, ready to hand you off to the next gentlemen. "Before we part, may I know your name?" He grinned.
You huffed. "My lord, I believe we are to remain anonymous at this ball." Almost annoyed at the fo paux.
"I jest, I jest." He giggled. "Well, in part I do. You're interesting, I would love to dance another time my lady." The end of the song came to a blissful stop, and only a second later the next one began. "This is where we part, I do hope we meet again." He bowed as you curtsied.
"As do I my lord." You glanced to your right to find the gentleman from before extending his hand in dance. He was quite tall, his hair a reddish brown flowing down past his waist, his skin glistened in the light. He wore a purple mask, almost pink, with three butterflies touching the left side of his temple.
"May I?" He said ever confident.
"I would love to." You curtsied to him, holding your head low to hide your blush. You took his hand and he pulled you in close. His grip was tight, and assuring. You felt security in his grip. Wordlessly the two of you spun in a passionate dance. You could feel the bottom of your dress wrap around your ankles with how aggressive you moved. You were almost in shock with how well he kept up with you, everyone around you shushed and mumbled to one another as they watched you two between their own dances.
"My, you are a wonderful dancer. My eyes did not deceive me." He complimented you in a smooth tone. "I saw you from near across the ballroom, and I knew I had to have you." He smirked, his smile lit up his face almost giving him a glow.
You had difficulty keeping eye contact, but his did not waver. "Th-Thank you..." You blurted. "I could say the same for you...My lord...." You muffled out, trying to focus on keeping up with him.
"Do you think the prince will make it tonight?" He cocked his head to the side, attempting to make small talk to relax you. "Or maybe he's already here." He tightened his grip on your hand and spun you outwards, not letting go, and raveling you back into his embrace.
The thought of dancing with the prince and not knowing which one was him rattled your brain. The man before you -could- be him. What exactly was he insinuating? What if you stepped on his foot? Would he have you sent out? "Prince Gackt isn't well enough to attend." You spat, reassuring yourself he wouldn't be here tonight in his condition. His fiancée passed just a month ago, there's no way he'd be interested in dancing at this time. They were to be married today.
"Are you so sure of that?" His facial expressed remained the same, an unwavering smirk. "Do you know him personally?"
"I mean...No..." You glanced away from his gaze. "His lover just passed, and today was supposed to be the royal wedding, nobody in their right mind would be here in their mourning period." You continued to reassure yourself. This man was toying with you.
"So, you don't know him personally?" He glanced behind you, seemingly making eye contact with somebody.
Your face contorted in confusion. "Are you saying that you do?"
He looked back down on you. "I do. We are quite close actually." He pressed his hand up against your back, pushing you even closer into him. You could feel his breath on your skin. "Prince Gackt really isn't well enough to be here, but he is."
You froze, causing your heel to come crashing down onto this gentleman's foot. "Ah! Oh my, I'm so sorry!" You both stopped. He chuckled playfully. "Please forgive me, I was just nervous I don't know what got into me..." You were flushed, even your shoulders glowed red.
"Maybe a bit more practice is in order, should we meet again my lady I would love to glide with you again." He took the hand he held from you and placed a kiss on top, holding it a bit longer than expected before setting you free.
You curtsied quickly before skittering off to the snack tables. Everyone here gossips, but you need a breather from dancing. Many nobles lined the walls, talking amongst each other, some revealing their identities so openly to gossip with their friends. One lady clad in a deep blue, almost black, ballgown sat on a chair at the end of a table. Her mask was identical to yours, the only difference being black in color. Her gold hair pulled in tight ringlet pigtails, a fan in her hand wafted tenderly in front of her lips. She gave you a glance before rising and returning to the dancefloor herself, partnering with your previous one.
"You were captivating my lady." A rich, deep voice spoke from behind you. Startling you slightly. "My apologies, I didn't mean to frighten you. Would you care to join me for a glass of wine?" You looked behind you to the voice, a tall man clad in velvety black stood before you. His dark hair fell graciously over his eye, and from behind it preciously feathered upwards behind his ears. The mask he wore was simple, a silver glitter glided around the edges. He reached his gloved hand to you, and you took it without a word. "I hope you don't mind."
"I wouldn't mind at all." You spoke, hypnotized by the alluring resonance in his tone. He led you to an almost empty table. The gentlemen in gold that you danced with earlier was sat there, recovering from the heat in the waltzing. "My friend..." He gestured to the man in gold. "He told me about his experience dancing with you."
You sat down, smoothing out your dress. Trying to upkeep an attractive look for the man before you. "He was quite the dancer himself I must say." You smiled elegantly.
The man in black poured a few glasses of red wine, handing one to each of you before taking a sip himself. "Do you attend noble events often?" He tilted his head at you, possibly trying to get more information about your identity.
You sipped your wine and cocked your head at him. "Why do you ask?" You said pointedly, trying to act coy. "My father usually attends these sorts of events, I'm actually quite shy I'd say." You gave them, taking another sip of wine.
"I see." He sat down next to you, keeping a respectful distance. "I'm not very fond of attending large events like this either, I'd rather be in my study with my books." He twirled his glass, not partaking in the drink.
"If my father wasn't ill at the moment that's where I'd be too!" You carelessly spat out. Instantly gasping and covering your mouth with your palm. The gentlemen in gold raised an eyebrow and wordlessly sipped on his glass. "Oh..Um..." Your face turned bright pink, looking directly at the black-masked man as he bore his gaze into yours. He had blue-grey eyes, so bewitching you thought. Just as he opened his mouth in response, the woman in blue appeared before you. A new face accompanying her.
"Good evening." A man with short, curly crimson hair appeared. His face was obscured only partially by a half-mask. Not that it made much difference with the non-obscured portion covered by his curls. "May we join you all?" He questioned.
"Of course." The alluring man offered the open seats and the two new members sat.
Still embarrassed by your blatant outburst that nearly revealed you, you sipped on your drink quickly. Avoiding more conversation.
"I must get a turn with you." The red headed man stated. "The way you stomped on that guys foot was hilarious, promise you won't step on mine this time thought okay?" He sneered.
"Ah come now, she is a lovely dancer, he was being rough." The man in gold chuckled back to him. "I think he saw her as a rival!" He exclaimed.
"Ohh maybe you're right." He gossiped back. "He's being much gentler with the other ladies."
"I will not tolerate you two gossiping about this in front of her, please." The dark haired man snapped and gave the other two a cold look. He stood up and raised a hand to you. "Will you have this dance with me?" His cool gaze and tender smile charmed you.
"I will..." You took his hand and he led you to the ballroom floor, softly grasping your waist in his palm and your fingers laced through his. His touch was so soft, when you began to dance you felt like you were gliding in clouds. His gaze didn't leave yours and you couldn't look away. His skin was ice cold but there was warmth in his presence. Every twirl away from him made you crave his embrace more. You felt teased after having a taste of his embrace. From across the room, you barely caught a glance at the man you waltzed with earlier. He was with another man, and they were both watching you with questioning eyes. What are they talking about? You thought.
"You are as lovely as he said." He sang. Were we always this close? You thought, his fruitful lips were just a breath away from yours. Why are you so mesmerized by this man you just met? Is this love at first sight? So many questions raced through your mind. You could taste the small amount of liquor he had from his breath. You leaned in closer and pursed your lips... "My lady..." He whispered. Looking up at his gaze, his eyes held an almost pained expression.
Immediately you felt flushed, and winced away from his face. Looking back to the two men, the strange one was gone, but the dancer was watching you. "I apologize...! I must've had too much to drink. Please excuse me!" In the middle of your waltz you let his gentle grip go and gathered your skirts.
"Wait!" He exclaimed, but it was too late. You ran through the crowd and into the nearest hallway leading you to a place you don't know. The halls were enormous, the clacking of your heels echoed sharply. You could hear the man calling to you, trying to find out where you ran off. Without thinking you opened a door that led out to an enchanting garden. Endless roses speckled the greenery, and a fountain of an angel crying decorated the center. You collapsed on the edge of the stone fountain, throwing your head into your arms you softly sobbed.
"Embarrassing! This is so embarrassing!" You ridiculed yourself. You were just about to kiss a man you just met, and don't even know for that matter, what kind of 'lady' does that? You continued to criticize. Your thoughts racing and your makeup ran. Suddenly you hear the sound of shuffling in the rose bushes. "E-eh?" You perched up. "Who's there?" You held your hand to your chest, afraid of the unknown person in the garden with you.
"I think I should be ask you that question, miss." A man stepped out from behind a rose bush, holding a white one in his hand. He stood at an average height, he was wearing a long black overcoat, it dazzled like no other. Embedded with crystals that rivaled yours, he glittered spectacularly. His hair spilt down the middle in a criss-crossed form, and he wore a mask that matched his coat, although spun with gold flecks.
You were tired of being pushed around all night. Person after person it felt as if you weren't being taken seriously, and the one that did you tried to kiss. Not anymore, you needed a moment of peace so you stood your ground. "Leave me be," You scoffed. "I just want a second of peace, is that so much to ask for!" You whined, burying your face back into your arms.
The sound of the quintet played quietly in the background, you could hear the sound of the water rippling as you sobbed. The man before you sighed and approached you. "I understand." He sat down close to you on the stone and silently listened to your sobs.
After a moment you gathered yourself and sat up. "Why are you here?" You looked down at yourself in the reflection of the water. "Won't we get in trouble for entering into the palace?"
He smirked. "I don't think so." He extended the rose in his hand to you, it's just barely bloomed and dew dripped from it's petals. "Here."
"Huh?" You tilted your head in confusion before taking the rose. You noticed his long dark cape draped over the stone of the fountain, he had a somber look on his face. Could he be.... No there's no way. "What is this for?"
"An offering."
"An offering?" You blinked,
"Mhm." He glanced down at the rose and back to you. "You get this rose and in exchange..." He took the rose from your hand and placed it lovingly in your hair. "You will do me the honor of the final dance of the night." He didn't wait for your response, he just took your hand and lifted you onto your feet.
You didn't even get a chance to speak before the two of you began to twirl around the garden. The soft glow of the moon bore down onto your skin, giving you an ethereal glow. You were speechless. You let him guide you as you were so worn from the rest of the night.
"It's true that you are a talented dancer." He commented.
"Why does everyone say that..." You sighed, exhausted from tonight's events. "I practice dance in my freetime but I never thought it was anything special."
"I've never seen someone like you at the ball, are you new to this?"
Thinking back on how you basically gave away your identity you didn't see any harm in chatting up this stranger. Couldn't get any worse right? "Mmm...Right. Well, usually my father attends these kind of events but he is currently ill, so I am here in his stead."
"Just because your father comes normally doesn't mean you don't have to, so what's your point?" He questioned you further.
You scoffed, annoyed with his integration. "Well if you must know, I don't generally enjoy these types of events, and after you just witnessed me crying I'm sure you can understand why."
He cocked his head to the side with a smirk. "Touche." He spun in sync with you, instead of twirling you. He seemed so fascinated by you, what was he thinking? Who is this? I've never met a noble quite like him...Could he be?
No it couldn't be Prince Gackt, he has a long ponytail, and besides he's in mourning. This man is too cocky to be him. "What brought you to this place?"
"Who knows?" He spun with you again, your faces getting closer with each turn, his blue eyes bore into yours like daggers. Is he challenging you?
"I'm tired of playing games, please be honest with me." You sighed.
He looked off to the side, glancing at the clocktower behind you. "Well, since you're so desperate to know..." His eye twitched at the hands of the clock moving. "I'm...The ghost of this castle."
You looked back to the clocktower he gazed at and as you did the hand struck midnight, the chime of the bell ringing out through the palace. You gasped. "Oh no!" Your hands left his and cupped your mouth. "I'm so late! My father is going to be so upset with me." You gathered your skirts and attempted to run off again. Your partner reached out and grasped onto your elbow.
"Wait, don't leave." He pleaded with you. "I want to know who you are, please."
You gripped your hand to your chest and contemplated. Will I ever see you again? You thought. I want to know you too... Just before you opened your mouth the sound of the gardens gate clacked open.
"My lady? Excuse me!" It was the man in black from before, the one you almost kissed. "There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you! Are you alright? I didn't mean to offend you." He raced towards you, apologizing profusely for hurting your feelings.
"A-Ah... Um." So many things were happening at once, you need to get home now! "E-Excuse me!" You picked up your skirts and ran back through the gate and into the halls. The man with the dark hair followed you, trying to catch up again. Your dance partner stood in place, watching you leave his abode with a smile.
"She'll be back." The man in purple stepped out from the rose bush.
"Yes she will..." He grabbed his cape and swooshed it behind him as he walked away.
As you ran through the almost empty ballroom, the velvet-clad man followed close. You made it to the outside and your carriage was waiting for you, the coachman nearly fallen asleep. "I'm sorry I cannot stay." You hurriedly said to him.
"I'd like to see you again, please my lady, tell me who you are." He took your hand and helped you into your carriage. Kissing your hand softly.
"If we are meant to be, we will meet again." You leaned down and kissed his cheek. "I would like to know too."
His face flushed and he let you go. Watching you ride away he took off his mask. You looked behind to see him go and realized. "That's Duke Klaha...!" You know his identity. You cupped your mouth with your palm and looked back to the castle in awe, someone looking out a window in curiosity to watch you leave. It was the man from the garden, you could recognize the dazzle of his overcoat from here. He reached up to his face, and without breaking eye contact with you, revealed his identity.
He was Prince Gackt.