A grand and splendid ballroom had been neatly arranged for what seemed to be an immensely significant and upscale occasion. Chandeliers hung gracefully from the ceiling, casting glimmers of light that spanned the room, bestowing an ambiance akin to a luminous, star-studded night sky. Throughout the room, numerous round tables were neatly placed, adorned with an elegant blend of black and purple–colors that represented wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.
This masquerade ball was undoubtedly a showcase of luxury, evident in every detail from the gleaming crystal champagne glasses to the resplendent silver and black cutlery. The walls adorned with exquisite paintings and decorations added to the lavishness of the scene. However, it wasn't just these opulent elements that caught one's attention.Inside the ballroom, clusters of good-looking individuals were adorned in clothing, jewelry, and accessories that collectively amounted to millions of dollars. The women's adornments–earrings, necklaces, bracelets, tiaras, and rings–radiated a brilliance even more dazzling than the room's luminosity. A mere glance inside revealed that this was a gathering of the most influential, affluent, and powerful persons. Naturally in keeping with the masquerade theme, each attendee, male and female, concealed a portion or the entirety of their face behind a mask, adding a layer of enigma to the already mysterious identities of those present.Walking in, her arm intertwined with Mr. Man in the black jacket, this was the scene Rose beheld.Her eyes widened as her jaw dropped in sheer amazement. She had never before encountered such extravagance in her entire life! The lavish tables, the intricate decorations, the assembled guests–it was almost overwhelming. No wonder Mr. Caleb had sent her the dress, jewelry, and shoes. He was intent on avoiding any sort of embarrassment on his part at this luxurious event. She was now immensely thankful that she had asked Amelia's aid in getting ready tonight; otherwise, she would have felt conspicuously out of place–though, in truth, she already did. This was a whole new world that felt so odd, she felt no sense of belonging.As she navigated through the crowd, the luxurious fabric of her gown clung to her like an unfamiliar second skin. The chandelier cast a warm glow, accentuating her hazel eyes that darted nervously from one elegant face to another.She snapped out of her daze when Mr. Man in the black jacket guided her towards the champagne fountain. He took a glass and gave it to her before taking one for himself.“Thank you,” she said, taking a small sip.“For the nerves,” he replied as his lips slightly curved into a smile.As she took a sip from the glass of wine, she felt like a lone vessel navigating uncharted waters, a sensation that only grew stronger as a peculiar gaze seemed to settle on her. She was about to look for a particularly handsome man when she sensed a familiar presence behind her.At first, she couldn't pinpoint the source, but the sensation of being watched lingered, a phantom touch on her skin. Her movement became hesitant, and her skin tingled. Just then she instinctively understood that searching was unnecessary. A sizable hand alighted on her shoulder as he leaned in, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered.“May I have this dance?” His deep, seductive, husky voice sent shivers down her spine. Before she could react, Mr. Caleb had already retrieved her drink and set it on the table. He grasped her hand and led her toward the dance floor, where several other couples were already swaying to the music.Guiding one of her hands, he placed it on his lower back while firmly holding the other in his grasp. His arm slid around her, drawing her intimately against him, leaving no gap between their bodies. Rose's mind seemed to have ceased functioning, and all she could do was follow his lead.She was glad that she was taught how to dance in the orphanage back then when she was a teenager, but she never would have thought that she would have to use her skills on a night like this and with a person like him. She never thought that it would feel like this–so intense, magical and so much more.Her heart was beating loudly, but strangely, she didn't feel tense. She was dancing with him so smoothly, just following his lead, and she knew she shouldn't be amazed but she was. The way he touched her, the way he led her, the timing of his every movement were all perfectly in time with the music. He was so graceful that even she could tell that his movements could only be formed from constant training from a young age. Not only that, she was sure that it could also be from the constant attendance with other noble people of similar backgrounds at events like this. That gracefulness in his movements and that hunt of arrogance were most probably drilled into him from birth.Rose could not think of anyone else who drew everyone's attention without any effort.Now that she was this close to him, Rose finally had the chance to study his face.His nose, his lips, his jaw, and every contour of his face was just… perfect. Even though he was wearing a mask, she could still see his grayish eyes through them, and they were simply, astonishing; spell-bounding. She felt like if she ventured close enough, his eyes would pull her in like quicksand, where there was no escape, and she felt like that was what was happening to her right then.“Penny for your thoughts?” The man finally spoke, startling her from her reverie.Rose somehow quickly regained her composure as she responded, “I didn't expect that you would bring me to a party like this.”“You don't like it?”“No, I wouldn't say that, but… This is my first time attending a party like this, so I feel a little overwhelmed,” she confessed, and he gave her a soft, enchanting smile, flashing a set of perfect, ultra-white teeth. If only his eyes would smile as well…“You find the party overwhelming, but not me?” He said, seemingly quite amused before his mood shifted yet again. “Tell me about yourself,” he added, now serious.“I am an orphan, and the only child of my parents, so I was told. I currently live with the owners of the orphanage, they've become a family to me over the years.”“Are you a student?” He asked.“No, I graduated years ago.”“What was your major?”“Music,” she answered.“So what do you do now? You're a singer?”“No. I'm currently working in the orphanage. I assist teachers, read stories to the kids, and teach music lessons as well.” Rose thought she might be boring him right now. She couldn't decipher the look in his eyes to confirm. But when she looked closely into his eyes, he continued to stare at her with those penetrating gazes, as if her normal life's story caught his interest. She knew it was far from interesting. She didn't have anything exciting enough to tell him, now that she thought about it as she had spent most of her life peacefully in the orphanage and their quiet home. Yes, her life was normal and peaceful, so much so that her peers often referred to it as downright boring.So before the man could ask once more, Rose swiftly took the initiative and beat him to it by asking a question of her own. “Mr. Caleb, what's your full name?”The music faded, marking the conclusion of their dance. Rose wasn't ready to depart the dance floor just yet, not without receiving an answer to her question. However, the man had already left her away. Mr. Caleb then guided her towards a grand staircase, and together, they ascended the steps. Proceeding along the corridor, they continued until they reached a pair of large doors that swung open to reveal an open-air garden. The garden was a beautiful sight to behold. The flowers were in full bloom, an assortment of different types and colors, and the petals seemed to be glowing from the moonlight. But that wasn't all. The view from where they stood was magnificent. The lights of the skyscraper and the lights of the city below were spread out in front of them like a brightly painted canvas. The man walked towards the railing and leaned on it, facing her. She finally realized that the man was wearing a vintage, classic black suit. She had been so focused on his face until then that sh
The bedroom was enormous, decorated in a masculine tone of gray and black. It was dimly lit–mood lighting, she supposed–and Rose found herself standing a few feet away from a large king-sized bed. Rose knew exactly what could happen the instant they entered this suite. She wasn't going to lie to herself. Deep within her, she still wishes that this man would be like the male leads she has read in her favorite romantic novels–a gentleman, sweet, dotting, and respectful, a man who wouldn't do this thing without love for his partner. However, she knew right from the start that he was not that type of man. He clearly showed her, and his actions spoke clearly of how he wasn't the type to love. In short, he might only want a girlfriend for company or sexual needs. Rose didn't mind, she just wanted the experience, to know what it means to have a boyfriend, to fulfill her novel-inspired desires. And here she is willingly following him to the depths of hell, despite the thudding of her puls
I can do it, she declared. Her voice was a little louder as if she was trying to give herself some motivation before she finally moved. She reached her arm out behind her and easily found her zip. There was shyness and hesitation in her movement as if she was a little uncertain of herself. She then pulled the zip slowly downwards, feeling her dress loosen up the moment she did so. She instinctively caught the front of her dress with her other hand and held it up so it wouldn't slip down. Once she finished unzipping her dress, she straightened up and her arms were crossed over her chest, holding the dress in place and preventing it from falling off.She looked up and lifted an eyebrow when he met her eyes as if he was asking a silent question. However, her gaze was steady and she didn't look away from him. It was obvious that her resolve was as solid as a rock. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before carefully moving her arms away and letting her dress fall gracefully aroun
Mr. Caleb could see that this girl seemed to be seemed to be clueless about all this but he found it so hard to believe it. She was creaking twenty-three years old! He was struck with intense disbelief that she was clueless and ignorant about it. If she told him that she never masturbated or touched any toys, he might be able to believe that, but there was no way she hadn't watched, read, or heard about these things in her twenty-three years of existence! Moreover, she was the one who bravely went through with this! Unless… was she trying to be timid? He had met plenty of girls before who acted all timid like this. However, this little fox was on a whole other level. No one ever made him this speechless before but what was even more unbelievable was that he now truly felt that she wasn't trying to be timid at all, that she was indeed just too pure and innocent. But is she truly? She isn't just one hell of a skilled actress, is she?Suddenly, he moved, drawing her body close to his.
His mind was instantly cleared of his desires. “You… you're a virgin…” he trailed off, shaking his head slowly. When the girl nodded, his eyes narrowed slightly. Breathing deeply, he closed his eyes. And when his lashes fluttered open, he couldn't hide the hint of anger that crossed his features for a fleeting moment. “Tell me… how come you're still untouched?” he licked the inside of his cheek as though he just realized what a stupid question he just ranted. “I've never had a boyfriend before, that's why,” she responded quickly, leaving him with no choice but to continue asking. “Why haven't you had a boyfriend before?” he didn't hesitate to keep asking as the woman sitting in front of him just kept flaunting new colors. “I don't know… I haven't thought about it.” For some reason, he felt like her answer this time was half-baked. Perhaps because her expression was a little flustered as if she was someone who didn't know how to lie. “Wait. Don't tell me you have never been ki
“Rose…” he uttered her name, calmly. His eyes looked at her with a seemingly steely decision–a decision to send this girl away, as far away from himself as possible. Since the night he first laid eyes on her in that forest, he had felt that she was likely a kind-hearted, gentle, and virtuous girl; an aura she appeared to ooze. He discerned it from the way she talked and their interactions – a hint that she might have lived a sheltered life. He would even wager that she had been raised with strong values and he matured into a person of decency and compassion. That's one of the reasons he had initially dubbed her “little fox” - she just emitted an aura of purity akin to freshly fallen snow, a striking contrast to his nature. The girl’s eyes were so clear. Unlike his, her eyes spoke of life, they weren't dead, and it was as if they were unable to hide any secret at all. His first impression of her was that she was like an untouched river, clear and pure but also vigorous. But then sh
“Caleb, I really think we should start heading back now!” a man’s voice echoed in the dimly lit towering trees jolting Roselia and causing her phone and her violin to nearly slip from her grasp. She was sitting on a moss-covered fallen log, humming to the symphony of her violin and enjoying the moonlit sky, as she just turned twenty-two years old, the night of her birthday. “What did you say?” A deep, growling, and husky male voice interjected, its depth sending a shiver down her spine—even though the words weren't directed at her. Maybe it was the sheer force of his voice, or perhaps the way his tone sliced through the air, devoid of all warmth.“I said, I think we should start heading back now” Roselia heard the man’s voice again. “It's too late, let alone dangerous for us to be wandering in another territory, all for a long-dead prophecy?”Roselia held her breath, waiting for the man’s response, but only silence followed. Her curiosity sparked. What prophecy she thought to hersel
The man finally turned to look at her. His dark eyes assessed her with disbelief and then, interest.Silence reigned between them for a bit. The man stared at her through his narrowed eyes and seemed astonished as if his long-awaited hope was restored.“Why are you asking me?” her lips curled up to a nervous smile that quickly turned averted her face to a curious look. “I'm just curious, are you?” he answered.Unsure of how to respond, “What if I am?” Rosalie responded, pressing her lips tight, her response felt so ridiculous to her. She saw a low glacier in his eyes and she felt even more ridiculous. There was definitely something in his eyes that attracted Roselia to him, she couldn’t explain how and why. “I've seen these from a book” Cutting Roselia off her wild thoughts. “These patterns” he whispered to himself. “Is it true that you are a king or a prince?” Roselia queried, wanting to clear the numerous questions going on in her head. She didn't think he'd answer her, his atte