Chapter 40

40 The Palace Ball (Part 1)

A knock came into a bedroom. An older man with a broad shoulder cleared his throat and open the bedroom door. He looks around the room when he notices someone looking at him from the tall window of the terrace, a man with red color as the hair.

“It’s four in the afternoon, Bernard! It’s early.” Justice was mildly annoyed by the presence of his chief of guard.

Bernard looked at Justice and noticed the weird behavior of the crown prince. “Your majesty, is everything alright?”

“Yes, Bernard, I’m fine, and just enjoying this new flavor of Aggrus, until you came though.”

“Right, my apology your majesty, her majesty the empress was looking for you, something about the maze.”

When Bernard mentioned the maze, he immediately put his glass of aggrus at the table. Justice put on his formal suit and walk away from his room. “Tell me what happened to the maze.”

At the barrack, Vale, Henry and Xavier are waiting for the carriage to pick them up. Henry will be the escort for his sister, while Xavier is going to ride his horse. They are looking so handsome in their military uniform.

“Ready for the big night?” Xavier said to his friends a bit enthusiastically.

Vale and Henry glanced at each other and laughed at Xavier’s enthusiasm.

.....

“Vale is the one that got lucky, but why you’re the one that got nervous? What the F, Xavier?” Said Henry to Xavier, he still chuckled endlessly.

“Oh, shut up, Henry! Look, your snooty sister is here to pick you up. Better go fast. I hate her to walk inside our barrack and bat her eyelashes to Vale.”

Henry looked into the window, and there she was, standing impatiently outside the barrack front door.

“Sh*t! I must go. Folks, let’s meet at the ball, alright?”

He dashed through the front door, leaving Vale and Xavier behind.

“Aren’t you going to pick up Anne now? Since the troublemaker already left the dorm.” Asked Xavier pointing at the window where they can see Henry arguing with his sister.

“Yeah, you’re right, I’ll get going then,” Listening to Xavier, Vale tried to fix his uniform before he was leaving the room. He stopped for a moment to check on Xavier, “Wait, what about you?”

“I ride a horse. I have time to drink for a moment and still going to beat you to the palace. Just go! Don’t let her wait for you.”

Smiling at Xavier, he descended the stairs and get into his carriage. He was so nervous even Silver Hawk could sense it.

‘Master, you’re looking dapper today. No need to be nervous. I’m sure the young miss will be mesmerized by you.’ Said Silver Hawk from inside Vale’s shadow.

“Gosh, thank you, Silver Hawk. So, could you give me a stamp of approval from her?”

‘I can sense the sarcasm. Regardless, master, please have some fun today.’

“I will, thank you, Silver Hawk.” Said Vale to Silver Hawk. He smiled while staring at the crescent moon above.

He arrived at the Icarus dorm and asked for permission from the dorm matron. Even though it was almost seven o’clock at night, there were still some nobles who were waiting for their carriage in the lobby. They begin to whisper, curious about a handsome, noble captain in their lobby, waiting for someone. They wonder, who’s the lucky girl? Until they saw Anne descending the stairs with her soft lavender gown and the intricate silver lace around the tulle skirt.

Vale looks at her with an awestruck on his face. Her long purple hair is braided with a wildflower scattered perfectly on her hair, her face with a soft red rogue and pink blushes. When Vale took her hand, the aroma of meylatee flowers spread around him. A very fresh and soft fragrance.

“You... Wow... you look stunning!” Said Vale while his eyes never look away from Anne’s face.

“Thank you. You look handsome, by the way. This is the first time I saw you in your military uniform.”

In his light blue Magi military uniform, Vale was indeed looking classy and handsome. Everyone around them was insanely loud. They were gossiping and murmuring came from every direction. The silver pass cheater is attending the palace ball with a very famous magi captain. That was pretty much the whole conversation inside the Icarus dorm. Even when the two of them were long gone, the rest of the nobles still talks about her and Vale.

At the palace, the music was already starting; the attendees were floating at the entrance; the servants had a hard time announcing the arrivals of the nobles. Henry and Heirim were getting announced together.

“Lord Henry Spencer and lady Heirim Spencer!”

They finally get inside the palace, where Henry is ready to leave Heirim.

“No! Don’t you dare to leave me here, Henry!” Heirim’s hands were holding tight to her brother.

Henry’s a bit annoyed by her clingy sister, he looks at her and tried to let go of his hand from Heirim. “Heirim, your friends are scattered around the palace. I need to go and meet with Justice.”

“Then take me with you. I wanted to meet with Justice.”

“No! Justice doesn’t want to meet with everyone but us three, so go away.”

His sister’s hand never lets go of his, and Heirim is determined to meet with Justice. She bought one of the expensive dresses with flawless hair and make-up from one of the best beauty care shops in the capital. She is ready to present herself to Justice. Henry gives in to his sister’s selfish request, hoping that after she met with Justice, Heirim will be gone afterward.

The two of them go to the royal balcony, where all royalty stay seated to see the ball from the higher places. Every royal has a private balcony. Justice was in the middle of discussing something with Bernard. Their faces were tense or anxious. Henry knew something was going on and it wasn’t a piece of good news.

“Lord Henry Spencer and Lady Heirim Spencer, your majesty.” A servant announced the siblings to Justice.

Justice glances at the two of them and gets annoyed right away. “Henry, why were you brought your sister here?”

Heirim face begins to beam, she then walks forward to Justice, trying to hug him.

“Justice, so good to see you.”

Justice rolled his eyes and push Heirim away from him. A disgust came to his expression, “Henry, please take her away from this balcony. I need to talk to you, alone.”

“Hey, you don’t have to be so rude. I just wanted to see you and catch up.”

Justice let out a sigh. His eyes go to Heirim’s face. “Do you ever be willing to get out of my balcony?”

Heirim pouted and gave Justice a sweet voice of her, “Oh, come on, you can push me away so easily. I’m not going anywhere.”

Suddenly, a smile came into Justice’s face, “Fine, if you don’t want to leave my freaking balcony, let me go away with your brother,” He pull Henry away from Heirim, and before he goes outside the balcony, turned his face once again to Heirim, “Oh, you can enjoy the refreshments in here, just... don’t wait for us.”

Henry and Justice left the balcony, not even bothered to see Heirim, who was fuming. Her hand was shaken, and she bites her lips and tried to hide this humiliation.

Henry let out a sigh of relief. “Save me from the catastrophe named Heirim, thanks, brother.”

“I’m saving myself, actually. You were lucky that I’m willing to let you into my escape plan.” Said Justice, trying to tease Henry.

“Oh, shut up! So, what happened?”

He looked around the hall and then pointed at his study. “Let’s talk inside. I’ve already told Bernard to call for Vale and Xavier to my study.”

They took a seat on the sofa, while Justice pour the two of them a drink. “My mother told me there was something wrong inside the maze.”

“What? That’s absurd. Vale and other magi captains already sealed black magic for the rest of the day, including the maze.”

“I know, but one servant saw something that... well, he saw a shadow.”

Henry looked at Justice with a frown, “A shadow, that’s it? Justice that was...”

The study door suddenly opens ajar, and there’s Xavier and also Justice’s brother, Jason.

“Justice, someone is missing inside the maze.” Said Jason with a concerned face.

Justice cursed and jump from his seat, “F*ck! I thought we’ve already put the sign?”

The four of them go to the maze immediately. There’s a distressed person outside the maze entrance. It was a female servant, crying at the entrance. The maze is a part of the palace garden. There are two entrances with one exit. Inside the maze, you will find a beautiful water fountain with a small garden and benches. The favorite place for the young nobles to have a romantic encounter is inside the maze.

“Your majesties, sir, and my lord thank you for coming as fast as you can.” said the female servant.

“Tell me what happened. What are you doing here?” Asked Justice to the servant, while Henry and Xavier look around the entrance.

“I... I have an arranged meeting with my uhm... lover inside the maze. I know you asked us to close it down, but we just wanted to have some fun...” The servant was practically wailing.

“Sh*t! Jason, tell Vale to go here as soon as possible. The three of us will try to save the servant.”

Prince Jason, the older brother of Justice, immediately nodded his head and ran back to the palace. Justice walked inside the maze, leaving the other two in the shadow outside. Xavier and Henry tried to follow Justice, but a ward threw the two of them back to the entrance of the maze.

“What the f*ck?! The maze repels us?!” Henry feels so confused.

Xavier cursed and screamed, “Oh my Gods! Justice, He was inside!”