(Lancelot’s POV)

The evening of the ball quickly came by. While the servants were entering their carriage, I escorted Avery to our respected carriage and we departed. In the carriage, Avery couldn’t seem to take her eyes off of me. I know my fashion changed but could you please not stare daggers at me?

“You look exceptionally beautiful tonight.”

I began, trying to start a conversation and trying to steer away her gaze from me for a second. Though, she really looked exquisitely beautiful tonight. Her golden hair were braided and red flowers were strewn along the strands of her braids. Her outfit were usually black or red but tonight, she wore a dress with white as its main color while having some golden and red embroideries at some parts. If this was not the night where I would die, I would gladly praise her beauty.

Avery fell silent, before answering me as she smiled coldly.

“You too look very handsome tonight. Though, I like your old hairstyle better than this one. And I never know that you were into make up.”

She said and glanced at my red lips. Due to the last stage of the Miragela poison, my whole skin and lips turned pale so I have to cover it up with make up to at least not look suspicious when I entered the palace.

“Well, it is not illegal for male to wear make up, right?”

I could see the corner of her eyes twitched. “...Indeed.”

Then we fell silent until we reached the capital.

          When we had finally reached the capital, I stared at its surrounding through the carrige window in awe. The ambience was bright and colourful, just like the summer festival back in Japan. Though I rarely went to summer festivals in my past life, every time, I would feel very happy while seeing the surroundings, even through the windows of my apartment house.

          The people were loud and cheerful noises of children could be heard everywhere, colourful lamps lit up the festival street and because it is spring, many colourful flowers were planted on the side of the streets all throughout the capital.

          I stared in awe as some of the childrens were holding some candy in their hands as they walked along the streets.

“You look really mesmerized by the festival.”

Avery spoke after a long silence.

“What? Well, its been awhile since I went to the capital so I’m just kinda surprised.”

          I answered shyly. Heck, I forgot that I am right now sitting face to face with the most evil villainness in the whole novel and just succumb to my curiosity. I scratched my cheek in embarrassmet.

“...Very well.”

She said simply, and the atmosphere returned back to be silent. Not far from the festival, the palace finally appeared.

          (Asher’s POV)

          I crossed my legs as I scanned the people who entered the palace from the high platform seats prepared for the royal family. Because the festival includes all the commoners and nobles accordingly, the amount of people inside the great hall doubled that I feel like my eyes were strained too much from staring at the entrance.

“Were you not going to greet any of your acquaintances?”

“Mother...”

          My mother asked as she walked near me. She would usually sit on the right side of father’s throne chair and I would sit on the left side, following by the other sons.

“Are you waiting for someone?”

She asked and glanced towards the door. At the moment, people were pouring in and the hall looked almost full. But I still didn’t see the wherabouts of Baron Constance. Did he not come?

“How about you, mom? Weren’t you supposed to come together with father?”

          I said quietly. My mother insisted on her children to call her ‘mom’ rather than ‘mother’ because ‘mother’ feels kind of distant. Even after I turned 21 this year, my mother still insisted on me calling her ‘mom’ and would punish her children if they were to change that. Might be because her origin is from the south as southern people have a very carefree and intimate personality.

“Well you see, Asher. Your father couldn’t decide which sash that he wanted to wear, so he was stuck inside the fitting room trying some sashes. Thats why I came here before him.”

She heaved a long sigh.

The corner of my eyes twitched.

Seriously now?

I followed her and also sighed.

“Well, father can try all those sashes he wanted, but please don’t be late for the formal ceremony. It almost started.”

My mother nodded in agreement.

Finally, after some time, my father showed up along with my two little brother and my youngest sister a few minutes  before the start of the ceremony. Yet, Baron Constance never showed up, will he perhaps be escorting Avery?

Its impossible though, as Louis will be the one to escort Avery to the hall. The Baron never showed up until suddenly, at the final minute before Louis marched into the hall, a figure entered the main entrance after his name was announced.

“Baron Lancelot Ral Constance!”

          All the eyes are now focused to the Baron, some of them to smite him, some other were curious of what kind of stunt that he will pull in this magnificient event, while some others are just curious of the noble that had been the talk among the nobles for the longest time.

          But then, all the people fall silent, including me and my whole family, as we were shocked to see him. No, rather than shocked...

We were entranced.

          He only just stepped into the hall, yet his outfit were strangely beautifully made, a long light turqoise coat, with embroideries of glowing white strings and a design that we had never seen in any other place before. As he gallantly stepped towards the throne, the earcuff that he wore jingled along in his every step.

          He must have thought that he need to pay respects to the royal family, as he gracefully and beautifully kneeled before us for a brief amount of time before standing up again and retreated towards an indistinct corner, eyes still on him.

          I found myself etching my eyes on him, not letting go. What scares me the most right now is my heart, that thumped loudly against my chest.