Chapter Text
The full moon in the sky shines down on a magnificent palace. Inside an opulent ballroom that glows a bright gold, it is packed to the brim. A well-dressed young man stands outside on a balcony. He holds his face in his hands before erratically messing with his gray hair. His breath is visible as he sighs hard.
“Why must noble women be so complex?” he questions, “Why must noble men be so mean?” Tears begin to well in his eyes, “No, I promised Finn that I would not cry. Baronet Castor-Alexander Gray is not a crybaby.”
He rubs the tears from his eyes as a brunette with hazel eyes lands on the balcony, her green ballgown billowing as she does. Castor is taken aback as the woman with a determined expression bursts into the ballroom, completely ignoring him.
“Illisa?” he thinks to himself, “What is she doing?”
Castor follows behind her as she rushes through the crowd until she finds herself in the center of the room in front of the host of the ball, a mountain of a man, his features sharp and serious, an unapproachable presence. Black hair, black eyes, and a persistent frown.
“The Dark Duke of the North, Dominic Caesar Noir…” Castor stares at him in awe.
Illisa holds her hand out to the Duke. Everyone stares at her in shock; the Duke doesn’t dance with anybody. To everyone’s surprise, the Duke takes her hand and leads her in a dance. The two of them perform the most graceful dance everyone in attendance had ever seen. It’s almost as if the world had been created purely to be their stage. The two people are seemingly perfectly made for each other. Everyone ebbs and flows like waves as they dance, except for the young man who finds himself almost trampled by the ball’s inhabitants and a woman with fiery-red hair and striking emerald eyes. Her black ballgown sways as she walks through the crowd, bumping into Castor as she does so. They finish their dance as the woman greets them.
She curtseys, “I greet The Grand Duke of the Irida Kingdom.”
“Hello, Ms. Lilith, I didn’t expect you to be here,” the Duke says coldly.
“Why would I not be here, your Excellency? I have been an inhabitant of this wonderful palace for many years now. Although I do have a question if I may, your Excellency,” Lilith requests.
“Very well, you may speak,” the Duke says.
“Thank you very much. Why have you accepted that girl’s invitation to dance?” she asks.
“I don’t see why that concerns you, Lilith,” the Duke replies even colder.
Lilith remains calm, “It’s just that you have never accepted any invitation to dance before…” she walks by the Duke’s side, lightly shoving Illisa out of the way, “even mine, despite our relationship.” Lilith places her arms under her chest to accentuate her breasts.
“I see… you are correct, Lilith,” the Duke says.
“Thank you, your Excellency,” Lilith smugly says.
“Lilith, you should vacate the palace. I have no need for a bed warmer anymore,” the Duke curtly says.
“Wha-, bed war… bbbu...” Lilith stutters.
She stands in the ballroom frozen as the crowd sneers and snickers at her.
“Serves her right… A commoner not knowing their place… What a whore…”
Their laughter, while quiet and subdued, pierces through her like knives. Lilith bows to the Duke before promptly exiting the palace. Castor follows behind Lilith; he watches the lady stumble as she rushes down the palace stairs. At the bottom, Lilith collapses and begins to cry. Castor reaches into his pocket and shuffles toward her.
“Miss…” he says.
Lilith turns to him, makeup running down her face. He pulls a hanky from his pocket, offering it to her.
“Uh… here you go.”
Lilith’s face turns with rage as she slaps away his hand.
“Do I look like I need your pity?!!” she screams.
“No, miss, that wasn’t…” Castor tries to explain.
“I don’t need your help, I don’t need anyone, not even that stupid Duke!! I did everything myself and I’ll do it again!!” she shouts.
Castor lowers his head, “I am sorry, miss.”
He walks away, looking back as he makes his way up the palace stairs, dejected. Castor reenters the party as unnoticed as when he left. His mind no longer focused on his plight but on the nature of the world itself. He makes his way back to the balcony and thinks.
“Illisa and the Duke are like protagonists; this world seems built to tell their story. They’re beautiful and powerful. Lilith is an antagonist, someone who disturbs their story, someone to be defeated. The crowd are background characters; they move in response to Illisa and the Duke; they move as a unit, not distinct, not personable. Where do I fit in? I am not part of the crowd. I cannot move in unison like them. I am not brave enough to stand by Illisa or the Duke, let alone bold enough to stand against them. I guess I am just nobody.” He smiles wistfully at the starry sky, “I like being nobody. I dislike conflict or adventure. I do not hate anyone or anything of the sort. I just want to live my life at home with a wife who can stand me at least.”
Months Later
Castor walks out of the building, letting out a sigh of relief as he sees a black carriage. An armored guard bows his head and opens the door for him. Once inside, the man opens his black trench coat, places his black leather gloves in his pockets, and loosens his black tie. His clothes, while appropriately fancy, are slightly too large for him. The carriage starts moving, and he closes the privacy curtain as tears begin to well in his eyes.
“Why is everyone so scary!? They know I am an easy target, and they bully me! I just want to do right by my family. Why am I such a failure…” he mops internally.
A knock comes from the window. The young man rubs his eyes and opens the curtain. The helmeted young man rides a horse alongside the carriage.
“Sir. Gray…?” the helmeted man asks.
“Yes, Sir. Yards.” Castor responds.
“Are you crying again?” he bluntly asks.
“No!” Castor exclaims, “…well, not a lot.”
Despite his helmet covering his eyes, Sir Yards clearly rolls his eyes.
“Baronet Castor-Alexander Gray, it is unbecoming of nobility to cry when being lightly jabbed at while talking.” Sir. Yards says.
“I didn’t cry when it happened, I’m crying after. There’s a difference, and I’m not even really nobility, I’m just a Baronet, so it's fine.” Castor says.
“Ugh, grow up, Lexy.” Sir Yard retorts.
“Finn, I told you to stop calling me Lexy!” Castor moans.
“I will when you start acting like a Baronet and an adult.” Finn responds.
Castor clams up and closes the privacy curtain. With the exception of the rain that is starting up, the ride is mostly silent. Castor slides to the other side of the carriage and looks out the window on that side. The cobblestone roads appear much darker thanks to the dark clouds rolling over the city. Large buildings with deep alleys start appearing as they reach the city gates. As he stares out into the rain, a red glint from within an alley catches his eye. A disheveled woman stumbles out of the alley and collapses onto the ground. Without a moment’s hesitation, Castor opens the carriage door and runs to where the lady lies. He scoops her up in his arms before running back into the now stopped carriage. Finn knocks on the window.
“Lexy, are you really doing this again?” he asks.
“I apologize, Finn, but I have to help her.” Castor replies.
“Very well.” Finn sighs, “We’re taking her to the nearest hospital out the city. We don’t need any more rumors about you flying around.
Castor places the woman on the opposite seat and looks over her. Her shoes are nowhere to be seen, and her feet are bloodied and raw; her dress is ripped and muddied, and her fiery red hair is ratty. As he looks at her, Castor sees in her hand she holds a bright red gemstone pendant so tightly as if she would die if she would let go. His face turns to worry as he covers her with his trench coat. As he takes a good look at her face, her features pop out: her long fiery-red hair, her supple lips, and her high cheekbones. Castor’s eyes widen as he stumbles back to his seat. His heart begins to beat out of his chest and his breathing becomes erratic as a single word leaves his breathless lips.
“Lilith.” he gasps.
Castor grabs onto his head as his eyes dart all over the carriage, as he internally panics. Lilith stirs, causing him to jump. Castor looks at her face and blushes.
“She really is a beauty… no no no I can’t believe I have thee Lilith in my carriage! If anyone finds out I brought her to my carriage, I will be ruined!”
Castor grasps his chest in an attempt to relax. The rhythmic pitter-patter of the rain helps calm his nerves. At the same time, Lilith begins to wake. The woman rubs her face and groans as she sits up on the carriage seat. She plants her sharp emerald eyes on Castor. She looks him up and down once; Castor blushes and turns his head away from her. A sly smile creeps across her face, as she holds the trench coat covering her with one hand.
She bows her head, “Thank you, good sir.”
“It was nothing, my lady,” Castor says.
“Although I must ask, where are you taking me?” she asks.
“I will be dropping you off at the nearest hospital, at a place that isn’t here,” Castor says.
“Are you sure that’s what you really want? There is a hospital in the city, if you truly wanted to get me treated.” Lilith moves to his side. “A young nobleman takes a young lady in his carriage, far away from prying eyes. I know what you want, that’s fine.”
“Miss, I understand that circumstances may lead you to believe my intentions are ahem improper, but I assure you I just wish for you to get some medical help,” Castor replies.
“Sure…” Lilith says.
“I am serious, Ms. Lilith,” Castor says.
Lilith’s eyes widen. “You know… who I am?”
Lilith moves back to the other side of the carriage before returning to her flirty persona.
“Yes, Miss, we have actually met before,” Castor says. “I have even spoken to you.
“We have? I don’t really remember talking to many people... I do remember talking to this unremarkable guy with gray hair years ago. What kind of curse do you have to be graying so young?” She laughs.
Castor chuckles awkwardly as Lilith notices his gray hair.
“I mean unremarkably handsome… wait, that doesn’t make any sense. Uhhh…” Lilith clams up.
The two of them sit in awkward silence for a minute before Castor speaks.
“I understand I am not the most interesting. My appearance is extraordinarily average, and I am not the most interesting person to talk to, but I can assure you, Miss Lilith, despite all my shortcomings as a person, I am only here to help you. I know you may not believe me,” Castor says earnestly.
The carriage stops and Finn opens the door. He escorts Lilith out of the carriage and closes the door behind her. Castor waves goodbye as she is led into the hospital. The carriage begins moving as Castor lets out a massive sigh of relief.
“Nothing good will come about with me interacting with her. She will get treatment and continue on her way,” he thinks.
The rest of the carriage ride is quiet; hours pass until the carriage stops again. Finn opens the door and lets Castor out.
“Thank you for the ride, Quinton,” Castor bows his head. “I apologize for the detour today.”
The old mustachioed man at the driver’s seat tips his hat to Castor.
“Please raise your head, Lord Castor. It is always a pleasure to take you around the country,” Quinton says. “Don’t ‘cha agree, Sadie Pie?”
The horse neighs in response.
“Thanks to you as well, Sadie Pie. I hope to call on your services in the future.”
The carriage drives away as Castor and Finn look upon a slightly overgrown manor. The manor is dark blue, almost black, with vines covering the sides of it. The grass surrounding the manor is also a bit too long.
“We have our work cut out for us tomorrow, right Finn?” Castor says jokily.
“Unfortunately, Sir Gray, I will be heading home first thing tomorrow morning. I will remain there for as long as my business requires of me,” Finn says.
“Your mother again?” Castor says.
“Yes, my Lord,” Finn says apologetically.
“There is no reason to be apologetic. If my mother was ever in need of something as unlikely as that would be, I would go to her side as well. Even then, I’ll be fine without you here for a couple of days; I can take care of myself,” Castor says.
Finn sighs, “Of course, Sir Gray and thank you, Castor.”
Castor walks up to the manor as Finn walks his horse elsewhere. Castor opens the door to the manor; it's dark and quiet. The entrance is full of furniture covered in sheets, wallpaper peeling off the wall, and creaky floorboards. A large staircase stands at the back of the room. Castor walks past everything and heads upstairs, heading to the far right room to find an empty office with only a desk and a single book on top.
“Looks like Arthur left already,” he says.
Castor closes the door and heads back downstairs. He walks to the back of the staircase and stands in front of a single door. Castor places a hand on the doorknob and another on his chest. His heart beats quickly and erratically.
“I have to paint,” he speaks to himself.
He opens the door to a large studio with a large circle window up high. The light peeking through the clouds illuminates the room full of paintings. There are paintings of people, nature, cities, and animals. In the center of the room sits a lone easel and stool. Castor hangs his trench coat on the door and rolls up his sleeves. He grabs a blank canvas off the ground and places it on the easel.
“I cannot understand why, but Lilith has not left my mind. I should not think of her anymore; she is not someone I will ever see again,” he thinks.
Castor takes a deep breath as he begins to paint. He loses himself in the art as he creates a Lilith that never existed before his eyes. He draws Lilith as he remembers her: a confident, beautiful, and pushy woman. Her gaze as though it was seeing right through him, her smile full of bravado, yet she’s weak. Her disheveled appearance lit a fire in his soul as he drew her in her ripped and muddied dress, with a pool of blood at her feet. He puts her left hand over her heart with a blank spot on her hand. He tries to finish it but he can’t.
“Dang it, I cannot remember what that pendant looks like,” he mutters.
Castor scratches the back of his head before he shakes his head.
He stands out of his stool. “I guess I will never finish this piece. There is no good from getting involved with one of the main cast. I hope Illisa is doing okay.”
Castor picks up his trench coat and closes the door to the art studio, leaving the painting of Lilith without a heart.