Chapter 49: Ball (4)
After a few minutes Izek joined the party.
The ball takes place in the expansive outdoor area adjacent to the villa, a breathtaking and enchanting space. The panoramic view is nothing short of spectacular, offering a sweeping vista of the giant lake shimmering under the moonlight, the dense forest creating a natural backdrop, and the stars above forming a celestial tapestry in the vast night sky. The ambient glow from strategically placed lanterns enhances the magical atmosphere, casting a warm and inviting glow across the revelry.
As soon as he stepped there Izek saw a servant carrying a tray with champagne, he grabbed a glass and started walking through the place. Many people who saw Izek's presence came to greet him, many not important nobles who wanted to be on the good side of the Esterius house, and even Izek being considered the disgrace of the house, he was still an Esterius.
Izek greeted each of them with a warm smile, engaging in polite small talk, although he hates that.
'Hypocrites, everyone wears a snake-like smile, praising me in front but cursing behind my back, if you don't want to talk with me don't bother me'
Izek had talent to read people and with politics since childhood, back then he thought it was a great thing, but now he only thinks it's bothersome.
Izek retreats to a corner and thinks to himself.
'So, should I find a hole to hide, or should I pretend to be an extrovert?'
While Izek was considering his options, a person approached him, and her voice brought him attention, "Izek, it's been so long"
He turned around to see a girl with captivating jade eyes, her dark brown hair framing a face of striking beauty. She wore a simple yet elegant dark green dress that complemented the depth of her eyes perfectly. Adorning her neck was a beautiful necklace featuring a brilliant emerald gem.
"Cassandra, how are you doing?"
She smiled, happy that he recognized her, "I've been fine, what about you?"
"Never been better, it's been sometime, when was the last time we saw each other? six years ago?"
She nodded, "Yeah, at that time I was taller than you, but look at you now, all grown up and handsome. Yet, here you are, all alone in the corner, brooding"
She then hits him lightly with her shoulder and asks, "What? Not a single lady caught your attention?"
Izek takes a sip of champagne before answering, "I promised I would behave myself tonight"
They both laughed and after a few seconds she said, "Do you want to meet the others? Everyone is here"
Izek wanted to say no, but ended up accepting, "Lead the way"
Cassandra Ophelia Thorner, the only daughter of house Thorner, one of the most influential houses in the Corvos region, her father being one of the elders of Esterius. Since she and Izek are the same age they often play together as children, she was Izek's first love, a long time ago.
'And in the novel she was one of the main characters, since she and Luca attended Sanctum in the same year, they interact a lot'
"So, I heard you enrolled at Sanctum," Izek said.
"Yeah, that place is incredible, really, there are things that I've never seen before there, it's truly a magical place"
"I can imagine"
She then continued, "Julie enrolled too, Andrew and Elijah too, we wish you were there as well" she said the last part with sadness.
"Sanctum it was never my place, I'm good here"
"I see"
Their small conversation ended when they approached two people. A man and a woman about their own age.
The young woman possesses platinum hair and eyes reflecting a golden hue. She graces the scene in a stunning ensemble, donning an exquisite white dress adorned with intricate gold embellishments that perfectly complement her features.
The man is extremely tall, features deep brown hair and eyes of matching hue, complemented by a pair of glasses. He is tastefully attired in a traditional ensemble suited for the event.
The woman is called Julie Mila Illiade, August's sister, Izek's cousin and childhood friend. And a very important character in the novel.
'She's Luca's future girlfriend, if I the plot goes on that is'
And the man is called Elijah Nash Murray, another character from the novel, also a quite important one and one of Izek's childhood friends.
When they saw Izek and Cassandra, Elijah waved, "Hey man, it's been so long"
Elijah greets Izek with a tight hug and Izek did the same, "Elijah, you're crushing me"
Realizing that Elijah let go off Izek and laughed awkwardly, "Sorry, I got a little excited it's been some time since we saw each other"
Izek nods agreeing with him, and then turns his attention to Julie, "Hey, your favorite cousin is here. You aren't even going to greet me?
She scoffed and opened a smile, "I haven't see Liliane yet, tell me when you see her"
Izek laughed at that, then asked, "Where's Andrew?"
"He said he would arrive later, I don't know why," Elijah explained.
Then the four of them started chatting, talking about everything that happened with each other the past few years. They told Izek all about Sanctum, which he didn't need and didn't want to hear, because he was already very tired of Sanctum because of the novel.
Even though he heard their conversation attently, feigned interest, because he didn't want to ruin the little bit of friendship they had.
"And you Izek, anything interesting to tell us?" Cassandra asked.
Izek laughed awkwardly as he tried remembering anything that could satisfy their question.
"Well, nothing much, I saved a dwarf, meet a demon, defeated a corrupted spirit"
They laughed at that and Elijah said, "You always loved to tell jokes"
Izek made an offended expression, "Okay, you caught me, I'll admit, I never saved a dwarf"
They laughed once again and then he saw his sister Liliane walking through the hall alone, then she spotted Izek and stopped on her tracks. And Izek, predicting that the conversation about his life wouldn't end there, used all the connection he had with his older sister to send her a signal with his eyes.
'Please, save me'
Izek is sure that she caught the signal because she laughed, then walked away, leaving Izek alone to deal with them.
'I never felt more betrayed'
Then the question that Izek didn't want to answer came, "Why did you stop talking with us?" Julie asked.
'Because I was tired of seeing you success while pretend I was happy for you, or because I preferred be a failure alone'
There were some other reasons too, but those were the main ones. Izek then was nothing like them, he always compared himself with them, and at that time he would always fail to catch up.
When Izek was about to create a fake reason and answer, a voice came behind him, "Excuse me, but can you lend me Izek for a second?"
Izek, recognizing the voice, turned around and saw his sister coming towards them, with his eyes he thanked her.
"Oh, of course, we can talk later," Elijah said.
Then Izek said goodbye to his friends and left with Lily.
After getting away from them he said, "I love you"
Lily chuckled, "You seemed to be having a hard time there, had to save you"
They walked together through the hall, and as they passed some other nobles tried to talk with them, especially men trying to talk with Lily, but she politely made all of them retreat.
"The never of those guys, trying to flirt with you with me on your side" Izek said indignantly.
"You wanted to protect me, little brother?"
"Nah, they can flirt with you, but at least have the decency of doing while I'm not here, that was extremely uncomfortable"
Lily laughed and they continued to walk through the hall until they saw Asher with August and two other nobles that they didn't recognize. They analyzed their older brother's expression and Izek came with a question.
"Should we also save him?"
Lily shook her head, "No, he needs it, he will be the heir from now on,"
Their conversation was interrupted when a huge announcement was made.
"The first princess and the fourth prince have arrived"
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