CHAPTER 461: BEHIND THE PALE SMILE

Getting used to the attention on them was becoming easier with every time they entered a room full of people.

Lady Athanasia Orpheus approached the couple with a bright yet cold smile. What was on her face had nearly all the ingredients to make the perfect beam. Well, nearly as missing one or two let it completely fall apart.

In any case, Arabella returned a warm smile and braced herself for the conversation whereas Silas was being... Silas as per his rigid usual.

"I hope to be the first to say how...," she trailed off, looking all around at the ballroom, "Different things feel this time around,"

"You are the first, yes," Arabella pushed a chuckle she wished convincing, "But hopefully it feels different in a good way,"

"That is the easiest yes I’ve had to give for a while, my dear," the Lady nodded, her eyes flickering between Arabella and Silas, "Involving the fairies with the decor was definitely an impeccable idea," the floating chandeliers closer to the ceiling came to mind at those words, "But truly, the best part of this all is the music," her index finger rose with grace to give her own ear gentle little taps, "It is just perfect but solely because I can’t put my finger on what’s so new about it,"

"Well, I can answer that question if you wish me to, my Lady,"

To that, Athanasia did not hesitate in front of Arabella’s offer, "Yes, please do," her head tilted slightly to the side.

"Well, it is simply original Lustrisian music before the grand royal gathering era,"

"Oh... Now, that you’ve mentioned it. Yes! I hear it. It can be so subtle yet so... There!" upon simmering down after digesting the information, Athanasia resumed her idle expression, "I hear you two were responsible for the organisation of the ball this time around. You have truly outdone yourselves,"

"Oh! Thank you, my Lady. We-"

"I am afraid I cannot take the praise as all of this was her doing," Silas cut her off mid-sentence.

The heat began rising from her chest, burning her lungs and traveling all the way to her cheeks to render them flushed.

"Yes... A human would know how to impress our kind," Lady Athanasia covered her smile with her long, beautiful and slender fingers, "You too are lucky to have found each other. My congratulations for your union again," she curtsied before retreating back to her own crowd.

"That was unnecessary," Arabella murmured, cheeks still red, "We could have shared the praise,"

"It was very necessary to me,"

She continued to smile in his face even though he didn’t. To the onlooker it might have seemed unfair or unbalanced but Arabella knew more than they did. Silas needn’t smile for her to know what lay behind the facade he so carefully crafted for himself.

"Would you dance with me, my love?" his voice was just as soft as his tone.

"Most definitely," her grin grew brighter at that.

After walking her onto the dance floor, Silas took her by the waist as she rested her hands upon his chest.

Together, facing each other, they moved with the music, gliding along its calmly magnificent rhythm.

Their feet knew where to go without them putting a single thought into it and into each other’s eyes they gazed. An action which helped cloak the world that surrounded them.

When Arabella spoke, her words came out almost in a hum as if they were the missing vocals that would raise the beating melody to perfection.

"I forgot to ask you; how are you feeling about being here and all?"

"A lot better than I thought I would," he said, "I cling onto your words on the night of our wedding. The way you said we belonged in this world just as much as everybody else does, no matter what anyone else has to say...,"

"I still stand by those words," she nodded.

"You were more than right and...," he trailed off momentarily, "Having you by my side does help,"

"I wouldn’t have been here if I didn’t have you by my side either," she smiled.

Alas, once more, the sweet moment couldn’t last for external interference had to come from somewhere.

And... It, of course, had to be from the one and only; Cedric the not so great.

After clearing his throat and successfully garnering the attention of the couple, the prince proceeded to voice his request.

"I hoped to get a dance with the only other human on this floor other than myself,"

Arabella’s eyes instantly flickered towards the beautiful blonde standing a few steps behind the prince.

She was dressed for the occasion but hung her head low and held her hands together near her lap.

There was... No light in the brown eyes of that poor creature.

"Oh, I see you’ve spotted Irene," Cedric seemed to have noted the shift in Arabella’s focus, "She is one of my favorite girls. She’s worked very hard to earn the honor of accompanying me all the way here,"

"And how many ranks did that help her climb?" without consideration, the words had escaped Arabella.

They boiled from deep within and turned her throat itchy.

She’d worked very hard, he said... At doing what exactly? At pleasing him? Saying yes to each and every humiliating, disgraceful and repulsive whim of his?

That could have been her had she not fled. That would have been her future...

The honor to stand mute, always a few steps behind him and follow him wherever he wanted as though on a leash.

Irene barely lifted her head at all when curtsying before them. There most certainly was a long and sore story behind that pale smile of hers... A story she would probably never get to share.

Cedric took a deep breath before answering, "What need would she have for ranks?"

To that, a small scoff escaped the young woman, "No, of course not! Why would she?"

"So, may I have this dance, my Lady? I reckon switching dance partners might be fun," he grinned.