Your Distant Paramour

Throughout the day, Valda occupied herself with mapping out the evening's tableau, successfully seeking help and getting someone to write her a letter for Nelson—of course, with his Majesty's approval. The servants bustled about each time she ventured through the hallway, their attention divided, and they paid her little to no observation in comparison to the night's prior.

The muscular guards were still stationed outside her door, she was still heavily monitored regardless of how busy the day went, and surprisingly, to her worries, the bothersome fox was nowhere to be seen.

When she woke up from her bed with a paper plastered on her cheek, the sun had already set, and through her opened window beheld the unmistakable glow of a crescent moon. It didn't take long for her brain to recall the event scheduled for tonight, that is if it hasn't already begun.

"Shoot! I'm late!" Valda immediately sprang out of bed.

Meanwhile, the guests were starting to commence their entry into the Palace from the main entrance, making way for the courtiers to get in first before the rest followed. The palace was adorned with a simple, yet exquisite grandeur that elicited admirations from the onlookers. Each guest, upon being received by the chief butler, felt compelled to remark against the splendor of the decor, or how the noble ladies of tonight were righteously dressed.

Annabelle made her appearance in the Palace, her gloved hands quivering delicately. Her hair was meticulously styled in an updo, and the elegant ball gown she wore signaled her thorough readiness for the evenings affair. Whispers fluttered here and there as she walked past, her ears picking up complimentary comments and what not, but she remained unfazed, for there were weightier matters occupying her thoughts.

"What are you doing??" Marissa, who was flanking behind with her husband, whispered sharply to her apprehensive daughter, her voice like brittle parchment. "stop staring as if a ghost is out to get you! Remember! We're here to impress His Majesty, so do not squander this golden opportunity you have to become His Queen."

"It's not my fault, Mother! Why are you scolding me?" Annabelle rolled her eyes in frustration and sighed exaggeratedly. "this is all Valda's doing, can't you see? She's attempting to undermine me even in her absence! I don't know Mother, but I have a dreadful feeling about tonight."

She turned her face away from her nagging mother, attempting to bite on her nails, but upon realizing where she was, she gave up on that method of relief.

When she heard this news moments back, she was excited that someone like King Sebastian would honor her and her family an invitation to his royalty ball. But now that she was here, all dressed and fashionably late, she couldn't shake off the feeling that gnawed endlessly in her stomach.

Moreover, Chucks is another huge problem she has to get rid of before he comes in the way of her plans tonight.

"You're worried about Valda? What can she possibly do?" Sneered Maverick, and it jolted his daughter to gaze in his direction. "She's probably rotting in the dungeons by now, being feasted upon by those rats you mentioned. You have nothing to fret over, and I heard that the chief guard executed his duties splendidly."

"See, my dear?" Marissa reassured her daughter, making her turn to face her. "You're fretting over nothing. If it's about those property files then she has no use for them, not while she's languishing in the dungeon. You're my beautiful girl, so cheer up and don't let Valda's malevolent influence cloud your thoughts."

"I guess you're right, Mother." Annabelle agreed with her parents. She halted a passing servant with a tray and took a drink. "I shall do my best to impress His Majesty, and once I'm Queen, you and Father will reside with me in the Palace."

"Do you have the poison ready?" Marissa whispered in a much lower tone, and her daughter nodded with a cunning smile.

"I have it with me, Mother, don't worry, everything will go as planned."

"Now that's my daughter talking." Marissa said, patting her daughter in the head affectionately. "Come, let's go extend our greetings to His Majesty."

As they walked away in unison, donning forced smiles to the guests they came in contact with, a young man emerged from the crimson velvet curtains. He leaned against the wall, a satisfying smile playing on his lips as he observed the departing family of three.

His hand cradled something—a brass contraption with a spinning cylinder.

"Works just fine." Nelson commented, adjusting the needle on the phonograph.

He lowered his hat a bit and dived into the sea of crowd, staying close enough so they wouldn't vanish from his line of sight.

Annabelle, who was unaware that she was being monitored, could hear the violin start to play, signaling the start of a night accompanied by an orchestra.

Perhaps tonight, her alliance with King Sebastian would be solidified, and no one would dare to look down on her with demeaning stares, isn't that what this is about? For power? The notion filled her with pride, causing her to straighten her shoulder as she approached Sebastian, who was engaged in a conversation with the courtiers.

He looked strikingly handsome tonight, in his royal green coat that reminded her of the forest during the spring season.

"Your Majesty." She greeted, drawing his attention towards her, and she curtsied, "Would His Majesty do me the honors of a dance?"

"Is that an early request?"

"I took my time to prepare, all to please His Majesty, "she admitted shyly, her voice suddenly coy and sweet. "The least I could hope for in return is a harmless dance." she peered at him, catching his green eyes on her, and that made her cheeks bloom.

Was he fascinated by her appearance already? He doesn't look offended though.

"If it's a dance you desire, I don't see why not?" Sebastian replied with a subtle smile, guiding Annabelle by the hand to the center of the room where they could dance together. Their presence in the middle of the room sparked attention, and Annabelle could feel her tummy curl in delight.

Nelson watched from the crowd and scoffed in disdain. He wondered how those people could carry on with their normal lives after placing an innocent lady in the dungeon, and tonight, they've certainly crossed the line by targeting His Majesty with poison.

Back in the quarters, Valda sat in front of her ornate mirror and viewed her appearance. She was super sure that Nelson would show up with the phonograph she sent him to bring, and all she had to do was make a wonderful entrance at the royalty ball.

"Move aside, let someone with more superior standards and style take over." Eryx's voice unexpectedly came behind her, making her freeze in surprise. She was too dumbfounded by his sudden appearance to muster a response.

"Move." Eryx declared as he drew the chair back, rousing Valda from her reverie. Out of instinct, she rose from her seat at his command, allowing Eryx to assume her position before it eventually hit her that she just stood up so he could take her place before the mirror. He stared at his own reflection, and Valda couldn't help but roll her eyes dramatically.

If self-importance was a living being.

"If I heard clearly last night, you said you'd be here by morning, or did you not?"

"Well if you truly longed for my presence, you would have set free the butterflies I gave you." he remarked with a dismissive shrug, straightening his outfit. His hair, that framed his face like a silky veil was moved back, apparently styled in a messy bun, but the more Valda studied his appearance, the more she sensed a glaring absence of something crucial.

"Hold on, what has become of your ears?" She asked, her astonishment evident as she observed the disappearance of the furry, pointed appendages, now replaced by ears resembling that of humans. "And where has your tail vanished to?!"

"I chopped them off."

"Are you jesting?"

"Of course I am." He replied bluntly, to Valda's strange relief. "Can you fathom the absurdity of those guests if I were to present myself adorned with a tail and pointy ears? I disposed of them, for the sake of propriety this evening. At the very least, this appearance doesn't frighten a picky little ungrateful kitten like yourself."

"So you're attending?"

"I'm just here for the tea." he leaned against the dressing table, "but when will you start spilling?"

"Are you here to help me then?"

"What language am I speaking?" He arched a devastating eyebrow at her. "I don't help ungrateful wretches."

"You assisted me earlier with the phonograph suggestion, so… I believe I'm far from being in that category." Valda clarified it to him, making him eat his own retort. She probably would have teased his appearance but unfortunately there was nothing to tease.

She was actually jealous that someone could look this perfect—physically. It was unfair.

"Shall we leave? I still hate this bondage." He said, eyeing her room yet again, and Valda shook her head with a devastated sigh before leading him out.

Upon entering the hallway, Valda veiled her countenance with a black thin shroud, exposing solely her eyes. However, the diligent servants began to cast astonished gazes her way, with their mouths agape, some even stumbled due to their unabashed staring. But upon closer inspection, Valda realized their gaping expressions were not directed at her, but rather at the 6ft man sauntering beside her.

Wait! She thought he couldn't be seen!!!!

"They can–"

"I let them." Eryx interjected with a wink. But Valda wasn't having it with him tonight. When they made it to the grand hall where the event was hosted, Valda stopped Eryx from going in, gently pulling him back by the arm.

"You can't go in there, make them not want to see you again!" She stretched her arms at both sides, blocking his path, but he only looked at her from bottom to top.

"Do you tremble at the thought of me stealing your limelight?"

"If His Majesty asks, what will I tell him?"

"If 'His Majesty' is that intrusive, then tell him I play the role of your distant paramour," he intoned, lowering himself to her level and softly conveying the remainder into her ear. "I've arrived to transport you hence, to our new sanctuary. But don't cross me like that ever again, do you understand?" his tone unexpectedly shifted to a serious, almost menacing demeanor as he uttered the last sentence.

A subtle smile curved his lips as he withdrew, and with an ominous air, he strode in, leaving Valda paralyzed with terror on the threshold.