Work Text:
“The Church family has truly done the country a great service.”
“Thank you for the invitation, my wife and I are honoured to be here today.”
“It’s been so long since I last attended a ball this well-hosted!”
The guests mingled with one another as these conversations filled the ballroom. The sound of champagne glasses clinking and polite, insincere laughter created the perfect atmosphere for such a gathering. The ball was an annual event, it was simply another formality- most of the attendees were nobles, seeking to forge connections with those around them, particularly the Church family. Kit stood near a corner, adjusting his tie- no matter how many times he wore this, he could never get used to the stuffiness of formal attire. He often wondered what dignity they managed to uphold by voluntarily choking themselves. Kit had finished extending his greetings to those necessary, just to appease Richard- who wouldn’t have let him hear the end of it otherwise.
His blue eyes glanced up towards the clock, then darted towards the main staircase which led down to the ballroom. He let out a sigh as his fingers subconsciously rubbed over the ring beneath his white gloves.
“She’s still not here?” Kit looked ahead at the sound of a familiar voice. “Good to see you are doing well, Lord Christopher.” Catherine Astor politely smiled.
“Hello, Lady Catherine.” He replied before momentarily shooting another glance towards the staircase. “And no…she’ll be here soon though.”
Just as those words left his mouth, the low murmur of conversation almost came to a pause as the doors to the hall opened. There were audible gasps as an elegant figure stepped into the room. Her white heels clicked against the marble steps of the staircase as she descended, the flowy white silk of her gown glimmering with a silver sheen underneath the lights of the chandeliers. The white lilies in her pinned up hair were identical to those embroidered on the neckline of the dress.
“Oh my! She looks almost like the former Duchess.”
“The Silver Lily is a stunning masterpiece, I can’t believe this is my first time seeing it in person!”
As people started murmuring once more, she walked through the crowd, heading towards one person only.
“I hope I didn’t make any mistakes-” Her words came to a halt as Kit slightly bowed and took her hand, placing a kiss on it. Her cheeks coloured pink as her lips curled into a smile.
Looking up towards her, Kit smiled warmly, his clear blue eyes looking straight at her as he spoke, “You were perfect Lili.”
“...Thanks.” She spoke softly. Lili flinched at the sound of a light cough, her hand slipping away from Kit’s- she hadn’t noticed anyone near him.
“While it’s quite nice to see you two getting along so well, I’m here too you know!” Catherine placed her hands on her hips, mimicking a frown as Lili began stammering, clearly flustered. Her expression broke into a grin as she started laughing, “Lili! It’s been so long, how have you been?”
“Catherine! It’s so good to see you! I’ve missed you.” Lili’s eyes sparkled as she enthusiastically returned the greeting. The conversation continued between the trio, melting away the stiffness in the atmosphere. Kit momentarily stepped away upon noticing Richard signalling him to come over, leaving the two ladies in each other’s company.
“So Lili, tell me, how do you feel about tonight?”
“Huh? Well to be honest,” Lili fiddled with the ring on her finger as she continued, “I am kind of nervous…it has been a while since I’ve attended a gathering like this.”
Catherine’s eyes widened as she said, “Really? With the way you carried yourself into the ballroom, head held high, each step graceful and elegant, no one would ever be able to tell you were nervous.”
She muttered in a low tone, “I just don’t want to embarrass myself or Kit.”
A melodious tune began to fill the hall as the musicians started to play their violins. Catherine opened her mouth to respond but was interrupted by Kit, who had just returned. He held out a hand to Lili as he asked, “May I have this dance?”
Catherine gave an encouraging smile to Lili, who took Kit’s hand and began to move towards the center of the ballroom. As Catherine watched the pair completely in sync with one another, she couldn’t help but ponder on how much had changed these past eight years. Life truly was unpredictable. She never imagined that the same girl she ardently despised upon first seeing her, would be the same individual who would become her first friend. It was thanks to her that she realised that what she truly wanted was to be able to create something as memorable and magical as the Silver Lily. To be able to make people feel as wonderstruck as she did when she laid her eyes upon that dress for the very first time.
As Kit took Lili’s hand, he said, “This brings back memories, doesn’t it?”
“Yes.” Lili smiled fondly, her eyes holding a wistful gaze as she glided across the ballroom. “I still remember it like it was yesterday. Time really flies doesn’t it?”
Their footsteps were in perfect sync with one another, their fingers intertwined as Kit replied, “The first time I met you, I wondered how someone could possibly be so loud and stubborn. Never did I think that someone would become my dear, irreplaceable wife.” He laughed as he twirled Lili, her gown flowing around her. She looked like a princess from a fairytale.
Lili raised an eyebrow as she smirked, “Well now, that’s ironic coming from the same person who offered me a piece of charcoal bread to eat when we first met! They clearly had their head in the clouds. And yet, fate is a funny thing, isn’t it? Because this person is my beloved husband, right in front of me.” Her lips curled into a smile that put the glimmering chandeliers in the ballroom to shame. Kit gazed at her fondly, his ocean blue eyes full of warmth and affection as he pulled her closer. This was a scene he wanted to paint, to preserve it forever. They say that when an artist falls in love with you, you never die. But when two artists fall in love with each other, they both become forever immortal, their stories living on through their art.
The melodious harmony from the violins faded into the chatter in the room as the waltz came to an end. Lili took Kit’s arm as they walked ahead, occasionally stopping to greet guests who were eager to have a chat with them.
“You look absolutely beautiful in that dress, Lady Lili.”
“Thank you, I’m glad you could attend today Lady Deborah.”
“I hope you’re enjoying yourselves.”
“Do you remember me, we met at the wedding?”
Snippets of the conversations they’d had in the past hour played through Lili’s mind. She let out a sigh, closing her eyes as the cool night breeze caressed her face. She leaned towards the balcony railing, the moonlight illuminated her shimmering, silver gown. Lili’s eyes opened at the sound of familiar footsteps on the marble tiles. Kit came up behind her, holding two drink glasses as he offered her one. She graciously accepted one, taking a small sip as she stared at the starry night sky.
Slowly, Kit’s voice filled the comfortable silence, “Earlier…Lili, is everything okay? You seemed a little nervous.”
He noticed Lili’s fingers wrap around the glass a little more tightly, as her shoulders stiffened. “Oh, that.” She continued leaning on the railing, glass in hand except her gaze focused on the garden down below as she continued, “It seems silly, but sometimes I wonder what people think of me. Whether I seem out of place or if I’m doing everything right. I don’t want to embarrass you Kit.” She murmured the last few words, reluctantly sharing something that had been heavily weighing on her mind.
Kit took Lili’s hand in his, causing her to look at him as he spoke, “You are a part of this family, Lili Ichijoin Church. You don’t need to worry about what they think. The people who matter will see you for who you truly are, a talented, wonderful person whose very shining presence can change someone’s life.” He held her hand tighter, his fingers brushing over hers, not letting go. Kit would never fail to show Lili how much he cared, as if trying to make up for all those years of holding back.
“I truly feel lucky to have someone like you in my life, Kit.” She rested her head on his shoulder as she reminisced all they had been through. Lili almost held her breath as if this blissful moment was only an illusion that would shatter at any moment. She continued, “You know, I actually believed that dance I shared with you eight years ago was something out of a fairytale. A dream I would only get to experience once.”
“It’s a reality now and we can experience it together as many times as you like, my love. That’s a promise.” The pair remained on the balcony, the dark blue sapphire on Lili’s ring glowing under the moonlight as their fingers remained intertwined. This night was sparkling, and none of them would ever let each other go.