Chapter 292: The Shimmering Veil
His crimson eyes immediately fixed on the woman standing in front of the mirror, wearing a gown that was a masterwork of delicate craftsmanship, rendered in soft champagne and silver tones that shimmered subtly under the warm light.
The bodice was fitted and richly adorned with intricate embroidery and beadwork, sculpting her elegant figure. Fine floral and vine-like patterns appear to be woven into the fabric itself, giving the impression that the dress has grown around her rather than been tailored. The neckline was graceful and feminine, revealing just enough to feel alluring while remaining undeniably regal. From the waist, the gown flowed into a sheer, layered skirt that cascaded outward and trailed behind her in a long, diaphanous sweep.
Her brown hair was styled into a delicate low bun, with the side strands twisted and pinned gracefully into place. At the sound of footsteps, she turned towards him, and Ivan felt his breath catch in his throat as he stood there, utterly mesmerised.
Eve smiled at him, colour rising to her cheeks beneath his intense gaze. Her heart began to race when he remained silent for a moment longer.
"How do I look?" she asked softly, a hint of nervousness in her sweet voice, which finally guided him back to the present.
Without a word, he moved towards her until only an inch separated them. He extended his hand, and Eve placed hers in it without hesitation. Maintaining her gaze, Ivan bent down and pressed a lingering kiss to her knuckles, sending a flutter through her heart that he clearly revelled in.
Then slowly, he rose, tugging the hand he held gently toward him until she gasped softly. Her hand landed on his chest while his large hand coiled around the small of her back. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered, "Beautiful..." His lips brushed the shell of her ear. "So beautiful..."
Heat coiled in the lower part of her belly as she felt his sinful lips brush from her ear all the way down to her neck. She closed her eyes, instinctively angling her head to the side to give him more access. Ivan smiled at her subtle invitation; he wasted no time pressing another kiss to her throat, feeling her tremble ever so slightly in his arms.
Tracing his nose back to her ear, he murmured, "You’re making this impossible, baby. All I think of is canceling everything just to rip this lovely gown off you and take you right here and right now." He pulled her flush against him, leaving no doubt about the heat of his desire pressing against her.
A soft sound escaped her lips, which was a mix of want and protest, as if her mind, body, and heart were at war. Ivan dragged his nose across her cheek until his lips hovered just over hers.
His crimson eyes took in her flushed, breathless expression, a wicked smirk tugging at his mouth. "Looks like you agree?"
"N-no..."
"No?" He raised a brow, murmuring the word against her lips. "Hm....maybe not, then." He caught her chin, tilting her face up slightly. "Maybe I’ll let you earn it tonight."
"Earn it?" she echoed, her blue eyes searching his.
"Hm....depending on how well you manage to keep the buzzing bees away from me." He brushed his lips ghost-light against hers, murmuring seductively, "Consider it your reward."
With that, he pulled away. She narrowed her eyes at him, the mention of "buzzing bees" sparking a sudden, sharp glint in her gaze.
He extended his arm for her to take, fighting a losing battle to suppress his smile.
Eve scoffed lightly before winding her arm through his, pulling herself close. She leaned in, her voice a silk-wrapped blade as she murmured, "If a single ’bee’ gets too close, don’t expect me to be gentle when I swat it."
Her response brought a wicked grin on his face, and they began walking, "I don’t expect anything less."
.....
As the clock struck eight, Silas’s estate was already buzzing with flattering voices and hollow laughter.....a shimmering veil for the hidden agendas of the nobility.
The air hung heavy with the scent of vintage wine and rich delicacies, swirling through a ballroom adorned with small circular tables where flickering candlelight danced across ivory floral arrangements.
Mothers stood proudly beside their dolled-up daughters, displaying them like prized possessions. Though their conversations drifted toward trivialities, every mind in the room was fixed on a single goal: to seize the "vacant" seat beside the Crown Prince of Versailles.
Rumors that he was a celestial being circulated heavily, making him all the more alluring, as if his status alone weren’t enough.
The daughters couldn’t suppress the excitement coursing through them at the thought of finally approaching His Highness, a man who rarely graced such social trifles.
Knowing he was no longer with the "lumen princess," they prepared to put their best foot forward, viewing every other woman in the room as an obstacle. Although their painted lips wore practiced smiles, their eyes glinted with a predatory thirst to win the race.
Soon, the vampires caught the sound of carriage wheels coming to a halt outside, followed by the rhythmic clatter of hooves.
Guests still entering Silas’s estate froze at the sight of the Silvercrest flag. A phalanx of knights escorted two luxurious, dark brown carriages bearing the sigil of the House of Silvercrest: a vibrant blue crest featuring a roaring tiger in profile.
The knights dismounted at once, and two of them opened the carriage doors in perfect synchronization.
The first to emerge was a striking pureblooded vampire, his light blond hair styled to perfection.
The crowd recognized him instantly.
His dark red eyes swept lazily across the gaping onlookers, where he watched women’s expressions ignite at his arrival. Yet, his gaze moved past them, settling on the second carriage as Edward stepped out.
The sight of the man with his ethereal, pale blue hair and matching eyes stole the breath from the women who couldn’t help but gape at his beauty.
But Edward did not look anywhere else. Instead, he turned back towards the carriage and extended his hand, only for a delicate one to clasp lightly in his. A beautiful woman with light blonde hair stepped down, leaving those watching momentarily stunned.
Watching Cece Silver arrive with an escort other than her brother, Damien, sent a ripple of shock through the assembly.
In every previous gathering, the siblings had been inseparable, always accompanying one another while keeping the rest of the world at arm’s length.
This aloof behavior had not only made people wary but had also added to their mystery and allure, inciting the nobility to vie for their favor, especially since the Silvercrest family stood closest to both the reigning and future kings.
For years, people had discreetly attempted to approach the siblings, only to find their efforts were never reciprocated.
Seeing Cece finally accept an escort made them burn with curiosity about the beautiful lumen at her side. Yet, it also sparked a darker urge to push the stranger away, hoping that the Princess of the Dukedom was finally "attainable" once more.
The crowd watched, mesmerized, by the rare sight of the man smiling at Cece and her smiling back with genuine warmth.
When Damien approached them with a wide, knowing grin, the onlookers expected them to enter the estate. Instead, they lingered by the entrance, as if waiting for a presence even more significant than their own.
All this while, Silas, his wife Maribel, and their daughter Ruby rushed out from the estate to receive the arriving guests, eagerness practically dripping from their every movement. All the while, Ruby smoothened her beige gown that was scandalous by any respectable standard.
As hosts of the evening, they knew they held the privilege of greeting each guest before anyone else.
Silas’s crimson eyes swept across the arrivals and landed on Damien, then to a lumen he recognised immediately from the court hearing. His gaze then shifted to Cece, whose hand was looped firmly around the lumen’s arm, leaving no doubt that the man was her escort for the night.
As they approached the trio at the base of the stairs, Ruby’s hungry eyes raked over Damien and Edward as if sizing up fresh meat. She felt a surge of heat just from the sight of the two strikingly handsome men, completely disregarding the fact that one of them already had a lady on his arm.
Her gaze was predatory, as if she were devouring them where they stood.
Cece, whose innate gift allowed her to feel the repulsive intentions dripping from Ruby and her greedy family, tightened her grip on Edward’s arm to keep from recoiling in disgust.
She forced herself to remain composed, her dark crimson eyes fixing on Ruby, who looked like a woman who would sell her soul for peanuts, and noted the unadulterated lust in the girl’s stare.
A primal urge to break the woman’s jaw and claw her eyes out surged within Cece, but she maintained her mask of regal indifference. Ruby, oblivious to the danger, continued to feast on the men with her eyes.
