The moment the door opened, soft music and laughing voices flowed to them even before they stepped in. The hall was just as Belle remembered, only this time there were double the amount of guests she remembered, some standing at the balconies of the hall and some moving below, where the high chandeliers were all lit, bathing the space in a light gold hue.
Nobody had noticed their arrival at first, as people were too distracted mingling and talking, men in suits, women in gowns, until the herald sitting at the side moved to announce their entrance.
"Our honorable guests from Nightbrook have arrived!"
It was like a spell of silence had been cast inside the hall, for a loud stillness suddenly befell the place. The music stopped along with the chatter and the movement as they entered, the sound of the door closing echoing too loudly in the silence, while countless eyes turned to them.
