Chapter Text
Just perfect.
Princess Jelena anxiously shifted her sparkling, topaz necklace into its proper position. She chose a platinum dress with the same shade as her silver hair but also matched its red streaks with a ruby sash to adorn her waste. With her diamond earrings in place, her hair tied into a bun, and her feathered hat snugly fitted on her head, everything was perfectly centered. It was exactly as it had to be.
Almost. She had to attend a masquerade ball, after all.
She was almost ready to leave her dressing room. Out of the corner of her eyes, the dusty clock’s hands shifted. It was the top of the hour, and her company would almost certainly leave without her if she were too late.
Without a moment to waste, she dutifully searched her room, hoping to locate a matching mask. A small snort could be heard from behind the dresser. She sighed and leaned on the wall. “Numby!” she called out. “There’s no use hiding back there. You know I’m going to get you.”
The piglet waddled out from its hiding place. A sparkling, red mask with glitter and ribbons hung out of its mouth, thankfully undamaged. Jelena giggled and snatched it away. “You really do love anything that sparkles, don't you! I’ll be taking this for now, though.”
She placed her mask over her shining, silver eyes. With everything in place, she picked up the edges of her dress and rushed out the door. Numby raced after her, oinking as they hoped to join the action. They sprinted across the red carpet to the front door, just narrowly missing the tables with expensive vases and priceless artifacts before finally bumping into one of the maids.
“Easy, Numby!” she called out. “Don’t cause any trouble while I’m gone, okay?” She mouthed an apology to the irritated maid, who picked her up and marched back to her quarters.
Jelena’s mother tapped her foot impatiently, pacing by the entrance until she heard her daughter barrelling through the halls. “What were you doing? I thought you were going to be late!” she said. “At least your dress is in order. Come, Lady Jade is already waiting for you outside.”
Just right outside the entrance doors, a black carriage adorned with purple ribbons was already waiting for them. The queen ushered Jelena towards the door. The door opened with a small creak. Emerging from the shadows was a tall woman, with a smile and a calculating gaze. She pursed her lips together thoughtfully, scanning Jelena’s outfit from head to toe. After a few seconds which felt like an eternity, she offered a nod of approval and hugged them both.
“Lady Bonajade, how wonderful it is to see you!” the queen said. With a wide smile, she pressed her hand on Jelena’s back and nudged her forward. “My daughter has eagerly anticipated your arrival. She’s been counting down the days until this very ball! Haven’t you, dear?”
Jelena quickly nodded. “Y-yes, of course! Sorry, I was finishing up some things. Thank you so much for taking me to the masquerade ball, Lady Jade.” She quickly curtsied in her presence.
Jade laughed and waved it off. “No need to be so formal, princess. It is a great pleasure of mine to have such a close connection with the crown,” she said calmly. “And you, Your Highness, are very well dressed for the occasion. I’m impressed.”
Jelena stifled the smile that erupted on her face. “R-really!” she said, hoping to hide her excitement at the compliment. “Thank you, Lady Jade. From a refined noblewoman such as yourself, I… well, that means a lot.”
“Now now, there’s no need to be so humble. You’ve turned into quite the fine lady over the years. You deserve as much credit for that as your parents. Or me, even.”
“I’m glad you think so,” Jelena said while dutifully stepping inside. She peppily nodded and spun towards the servant with the reins. “All ready over here!”
Jelena’s mother waved to her worriedly outside. “Bye for now!” she yelled as the carriage started to move. “Remember your dance steps! Remember your manners! And choose wisely!”
“We have it all covered, old friend!” Jade exclaimed.
Then, the door slammed, startling both the queen and princess. Jelena waved goodbye to her mother, who was determined to wave back until long after they were gone. Then, their view was not the castle grounds but the busy streets of Penacony. Jade smiled. “So. How do you really feel these days?”
The princess fidgeted in her seat. “Me? I feel fine,” she said. “Looking forward to having a good time today. I have my mask, my fan–”
“I am referring to Sugilite,” Jade said pressingly, her eyes staring right into her soul. “In other words, your husband-to-be.”
Jelena’s heart sank.
Sugilite. The son of a high-ranking general from a foreign land, her parents saw fit to arrange the marriage for both kingdoms’ benefit. Ever since she had met him, though, all he wished to do in her presence was to delve into rare dishes on a golden platter, engage in meaningless gossip, and annoyingly ignore her fact-checking as he believed the most nonsensical fibs.
He didn’t even bother to engage with events if they didn’t benefit him in some way, such as this very ball that his future wife would be attending. She invited him, of course, but her invite was quickly spurned. Naturally, Jade was the next best choice for a companion.
“Well?” Jade pressed.
“Right. Well, I’ve always trusted in my parents’ judgment, and that has led to a pretty high success rate, all things together. So… I’ll just have to trust them again here,” Jelena mumbled hesitantly. She diverted her attention quickly to the scene outside her window, watching for stray cats and dogs on the streets. As much as she wanted to share her true feelings on the matter, she knew her place.
Regardless of her personal feelings on the topic, marrying Sugilite was meant to be.
Penacony, otherwise known as the Town of Festivities, was well known for its lively aura. The streets were always filled with chatter and cheer, and the market stands had props and trinkets for the next three events. The flames glimmered in the darkness, whereas the elaborate tapestries on the buildings were enough to catch anyone’s attention.
What caught everyone’s eye the most was the lavish building of the town. Surrounded by golden fountains and cerulean flowers, the mansion of the Fontaine family was a sight to behold. Partygoers fell in love with the raindrop-shaped tiles across the gardens before finding themselves at the door.
The family’s only son, Misha, had taken it upon himself to greet the guests at the door. He was dressed elegantly, with a navy blue coat with cerulean cuffs and a classy bow adorning his neck. “Welcome! Would you like me to take your coat?” he asked with a warm smile. “Have a wonderful ball!”
Jade sighed, shaking her head at the sight. “The Fontaine son is one of a kind. A nobleman pandering to the guests at the door like a servant. He has a strong sense of duty, but it comes at the cost of his dignity.”
Misha bowed at the sight of the princess. “Welcome one, welcome all!"
"That will do for today, Misha. You should enjoy the party with everyone else now," A gentle, baritone voice filled the air as a familiar man approached. As usual, Monsieur Neuvillette Fontaine was dressed for the occasion, with a navy blue jacket and frilly, white cuffs. His lilac eyes were just like his son's, both in color and in kindness. "Thank you for your attendance. Please do let us know if there's anything we can do to improve your stay. Ah, and do try the sparkling water near the windows."
Princess Jelena had always stuck to the rules. She stood straight, minded her language, and even fainted when it was considered appropriate to give off an air of fragility. As a princess, it was expected that she follow all of these rules and more. But at the masquerade ball, she was no longer a royal figure. Shielded by her glittering dress, necklace, and jeweled mask, she became someone else entirely.
She sauntered across the ballroom, reveling in the lively scenery. She watched a group of nobles huddled by a table, firing away guesses at each other’s identities as the dice rolled across the table. Through the spotless window, she observed a masked man and woman in a rebellious embrace alone in the gardens. Although she longed for fresh air, she saw fit to go another way to give them the privacy they likely desired.
The side entrance had been abandoned in favor of the hors d’oeuvres being served upstairs. But unexpectedly, there was already a group of gentlemen there. Judging by their expressions, however, Jelena found herself on the defensive, hiding around the corner warily as they tossed a masked, blonde gentleman against the marble wall.
To say that his outfit was showy would be an understatement. He bore a checkered hat with an unusually large, slanted brim that she could’ve seen from a mile away, and his gold and black mask had glowing, green gems embedded right on the front, shrouding his face with opulence and mystery. But it was tasteful, for his jacket was slim, but the dark greens popped out and matched all of his accessories. This man had a flair for fashion, and he was not afraid to show it.
Compared to the individuals who had confronted him, the man had a relatively slim build underneath all of his flashy, teal clothing. There was no way that he would be able to take them on on his own.
Jelena jumped at the man’s loud voice. “Give it back. Now,” he demanded.
The blonde man’s expression was an enigma behind his mask. But they heard his laugh, for he had no shame in taunting them further. Jelena was flabbergasted by his boldness.
“You are sore losers, aren’t you?” he said. “I’m surprised you can’t handle the facts, but I’ll lay it out for you anyway: I won that money. Sounds like you just need to learn how to play the game.”
The lead man crackled his knuckles. “What a fool. Don’t you know who I am?”
“Uh, no. Have you folks forgotten that this is a masquerade ball?”
“What is going on here?!” Jelena cut in. She was feeling particularly brave today and marched in between the gentleman. “Leave him alone!”
The man glared at her. “This doesn’t concern you, lady. Head back to the party and no one gets hurt.”
The men towered over her, their fists balled. They had confident smirks on their faces, but while Jelena loathed to use the card, she knew she could always count on one statement for her protection. “Think twice,” Jelena said sternly. “Midnight may be a few hours away, but trust me. Lay a hand on me, and you will be sure to pay. My father is not known to be a merciful man.”
“Ha! Such big talk, coming from a little girl such as yourself.”
Jelena folded her arms and pursed her lips thoughtfully. “What would it take for a man to incur the crown’s wrath? Why don’t you enlighten me?”
The gentlemen froze in place and exchanged glances. Trembling in his place, one of them leaned over to his companion. “Wh–hey, friend, does that mean she’s…” he shyly whispered.
“Quiet, fool! Remember, this is a masquerade ball,” he snapped, “She may talk all big, but she could be anyone.”
“So? You want to take that risk?” Jelena challenged them. She stood tall and unafraid but still scanned for all the ways she could exit the scene with the blonde man sprawled on the floor. Carrying him off would be a feat, but she had to manage somehow if needed.
Thankfully, the boss relented before then. Even without guarantees, the threat of the crown was enough to put him on his toes. “This isn’t worth my time,” he snapped. “That was barely any money, anyway.”
The gentlemen made their dashing escape. From their tones, Jelena had a guess as to who they might be, but the incident wasn’t worth pursuing without any way to verify her guesses. Besides, there was the question of who exactly she protected, and what his intentions were.
She turned back to the masked man, who jumped back on his feet and stretched his arms. “Look at them run. What babies,” he chuckled. Jelena was quick to smack him for such foolery. He flinched. “Care to tell me what that was for?”
“For your recklessness, obviously,” she deadpanned. “Just what were you thinking, hanging out with those guys? Don’t you have any idea as to the risks that come with associating with them?”
He chuckled. “I guess considering your high status and undoubtedly uppity lifestyle, you wouldn’t understand. But if you really wanna know, I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he said, leaning close to her face. “With big risks come big gains.”
She glanced at him with doubt. “Uh, compared to those guys, I don’t think you can afford to take many risks.”
“Actually, I’ll have you know that I had a very important backup plan,” he said with smugness in his voice.
She rolled her eyes. “Oh really? And what backup was that?”
“You, obviously.”
Jelena scoffed in his face. “Seriously? You can’t just wait for someone to come and help you! What if no one came?”
“Then luck would have not been in my favor,” he said. He shrugged. A smile crept on his face. “I still would’ve figured something out, though. I always win in the end.”
She threw her hands up. “Ugh– you know what? I’m not going to get into all of that. First, I need to get you some help.”
After pulling his sleeves up, she examined his arms. As expected, they were bruised and scraped, though they bent with little issue. She squeezed his shoulders and torso, watching his body language for any signs of visible pain.
All that was written on his face, however, was pure amusement. “Oh? Getting handsy now, are we?” he said. It was obvious by his tone that he was grinning underneath. “Who knew the princess could be so bold.”
“Stop it. I’m just checking for your wounds,” she snapped. “You’re bruised up more than I thought. We’ll have to see a healer right away.”
He jolted away and brushed himself off. “You’re just blowing this up into such a big deal. I’ve dealt with way worse than this on the regular,” he said, before shoving a wagging finger in front of her face. “Besides, I know how tempting it is to skirt the rules, but you have to remember the biggest one for today: No masks off before midnight.”
She shoved his hand aside. “But– you’re hurt. How can I just ignore that?”
“Well, that’s easy. Do what everyone else does. Look away. Mind your own business.”
“Nope, no can do. Sorry, sir, but as long as you’re with me, I can’t allow you to pass me by with that attitude,” she insisted. “I haven’t done a comprehensive exam by any means– I have to leave that one to the professionals–but from what I know, you are in a bind.”
The man sighed and looked to the floor. He touched his torso silently as if remembering the kick he received just moments before. Perhaps that hurt him a bit more than he wanted to admit.
Jelena smiled. She was making headway, surely. “And given my position, it’s my responsibility to look after all of the Penacony inhabitants. So, at least for the rest of the evening, it looks like it’s up to me to keep you out of trouble.”
“What interesting logic,” he said with an amused tone. “Still, even I can admit that that's quite thoughtful of you. A kind heart befitting a princess.”
With an inch came two inches. She had to press further for his safety, so she confidently continued. “And after this, you’re going to find someone to take care of you. Got it?”
“Oh? Making demands so early in the evening? You’re showing your true colors, princess.” he laughed. “But sure. If it’ll make you feel better, I’ll see what I can do.”
That would do. For now. “I guess we can leave it there,” she said, before offering her hand. Well, what do you say? Shall we head to the dance floor, Mr…”
He paused thoughtfully. Judging by his looks, he seemed like a Jacques perhaps, or a Lucifer. And yet, he came up with a name she couldn’t have predicted altogether.
“Aventurine.”
In all fairness, the odds of her getting that right would’ve been low.
“Aventurine? Like the gemstone?” she asked, surprised at his choice. Perhaps, she shouldn’t have been, given his taste in fashion, but it was a unique name. Nonetheless, it was an easy one to remember, so she was not one to object.
Jewels, showy as they were, were precious indeed. Even she couldn’t help but think back to the jeweled necklace sitting on her collarbone, as it glimmered beautifully under the golden lights. If she were to match his style, then perhaps Topaz would be perfect. “Alright, then. In that case, you can call me Topaz.”
“A rare gem indeed,” he said with a nod. “What did it take to get your hands on that fine piece?”
“It’s an heirloom. Not everyone is taken from someone else, okay?” she snapped defensively.
Upstairs, she heard a song she was fond of playing from upstairs. “Oh! The music is starting... let's head up there!” she whispered, excitedly. She took to dragging him along with her, for she was not going to miss the festivities for just a moment longer.