The city of Avelesse never cease to stop gossiping, three days has passed since the lord's arrival in Avelesse and the news has already spread that he was invited to the palace for the grand ball. And not just him, all nobles were invited to the palace, as their will be a ball to be held in celebration of their first daughter's birthday princess Loraine Silverdain, the first daughter of the king's five daughters. This will be her 21st birthday which she celebrated still at her parent's palace, yet unwed.
In Avelesse, woman who have come of age, at eighteen to nineteen they would already be at their marital home, but the princess, twenty one now and still she's unwed, and as everyone would put together the puzzles,
Reason why the king commanded lord Harrington to return to Avelesse and inviting him to his daughter's birthday, it must be as clear as day, a royal wedding between the first daughter, the crown princess and the Duke of Ashbourne is to happen soon enough.
But the mothers of Avelesse never gave up on the duke, it might not be true, and who knows, maybe the Duke would refuse, but let's all be for real, who would refuse to be the next king of Avelesse?!!
But never the less, the birthday was to happen on 30th July, the Duke of Ashbourne got the letter on 27th July, which meant today was the day, and so it was.
The ladies were dressed like dolls with their faces powdered and colored like a painting, some looked beatiful with their elegance and hand fans fanning their faces.
And when the sun finally set to allow the moon to shine, the ladies and gentlemen arrived in the palace of Avelesse.
The Palace of Avelesse glowed like a jewel that night.
Golden chandeliers spilled warm light over marble floors, each tile catching reflections of swirling gowns. Musicians lined the balcony, violins humming a soft, elegant waltz as nobles gathered beneath draped banners in the colors of the royal house,silver and deep blue.
The ladies were a garden of color.
Silk gowns brushed the floor in shades of rose, emerald, sapphire, and gold. Sleeves glimmered with crystal beading, corsets laced with ribbons, skirts layered like petals. Some wore delicate gloves; others let jeweled bracelets catch the candlelight. Their hair was curled or braided, pinned with pearls, flowers, or polished silver combs with their mothers beside them.
The gentlemen stood sharp and dignified.
Tailcoats of black or midnight blue, embroidered subtly at the cuffs. Crisp white shirts. Polished boots. Some wore sashes marking their houses; others fastened brooches at their collars or carried swords with ornamented hilts. Their hair was neatly styled, some tied back, some left to fall just above the shoulders, as they made sure atleast one of the Four princesses would notice them. And yes, that wasn't a mistake, four princesses, not five , but four, as one of them was nothing but a mystery to them, the third princess of Avelesse.
But nevertheless, Soft laughter drifted through the hall, champagne catching the glow of the chandeliers, and the air carried the faint sweetness of jasmine candles.
It was the first princess's birthday—an evening meant to dazzle. And it did.
At a corner stood mother with her three daughters, Serena, Arielle, and Marielle lionfell. Daughters of the Duke of Eldenhall.
Serena 18 Arielle 16 with their youngest 15. And each not wed. The youngest had no problem what so ever, but Serena had one, a big one. But she lost no hope, as she too dressed wonderfully to attract a man's eye, a lower chest royal blue gown with silver decorated along her full bosom, for sure, a man will be attracted tonight.
" Keep your eyes open my daughters, for a man will come and ask for your hand any moment now" their mother, the Duchess of Eldenhall urged them. " But momma you've been saying the same thing each ball with each time we go out but non showed attention!! Even to Serena, and you say she's the brightest star of Avelesse!!" Arielle retort to her mother, in which her mother slap her arm and told her not to talk nonsense
"Your sister just hasn't found the right man yet, soon the right one will come" her eyes landed on the large double oak doors and she smiled to herself " and here he comes!! Get ready Serena, for him will come to you tonight" " or go to him" Marielle commented and Arielle laughed at marielle's comment, her laughter coming out as a pig's oink, in which her mother slapped her once more to behave.
It was the Duke of Elvings, a striking figure in Avelesse. tall and poised, every inch the picture of nobility. Golden hair caught the chandelier's glow, falling just so over his forehead, a sunlit halo against the shadow of his sharp jawline. His eyes, pale and clear, scanned the room with a measured intensity that made heads turn involuntarily.
Broad shoulders carried the weight of his tailored coat with effortless grace, while the cut of his attire—deep navy with subtle silver embroidery—hinted at power without ostentation. Even in motion, there was a fluidity to him, a confidence that whispered of command and quiet magnetism.
A polite murmur ran through the guests as he stepped further into the room, and it was impossible not to notice the way his smile, brief but disarming, could melt restraint and decorum alike. In that moment, the Duke of Elving was not merely a man; he was a presence, and the ballroom seemed to bend toward him, enchanted. And as predicted ladies clustered around him, drawn by his presence, it was like a beautiful flower surrounded with bees, and he couldn't help but smile at them and wave to them knowing of his striking figure. The daughters of the duchess also joined in, and ell except for the youngest of course, as she had no interest in men whatsoever. She shook her head staring at her mother and sisters when her eyes caught another figure entering the ball.
Leon Stratton, Duke of Elvings was enjoying all the attention he got from the ladies which of course made the other gentlemen envy his charisma, but soon all lost when the Duke of Ashbourne entered the ball as well.
The doors of the ballroom opened, and a hush fell over the gathering. The Duke of Ashbourne stepped inside, tall and commanding, every movement measured with the grace of a man accustomed to attention. His raven-black hair, swept back perfectly, catching the candlelight and framing a face both sharp and captivating.
His medium-to-dark complexion glowed softly in the golden light, a warm contrast to the deep navy of his tailored coat, embroidered subtly with silver threads that spoke of wealth and taste without ostentation. Eyes as dark and piercing as onyx swept across the room, taking in the crowd with quiet authority.
Every head turned as he moved, ladies leaning subtly closer, gentlemen offering polite bows—and even the musicians faltered mid-note. There was an air of inevitability about him: when the Duke of Ashbourne arrived, the ballroom belonged to him.
"Alias!!" Leon called as he approached him, Alias smiled at him as he too called out " Leon", the men hugged each other and pat each others backs as if they were long lost friends, which they were actually, Alias was able to endure the days with his father thanks to Leon, who also didn't have quite a good relationship with his father either, a drunken womanizer of a man.
"How have you been? You're a man now!!" Leon added as his laughter filled Alias' ears " Well, after thirteen years did you expect to meet the same thin boy of Ashbourne?!!"
"Well definitely not!!! You've grown, heard you've been sent to war to lead your knights but I can barely see a scratch on your face, are you sure you didn't leisure in your castle and let your men do all the work?" He asked him as he hit his shoulders making harmless jokes with his long lost friend.
" well the large ugly scars on my back would say otherwise which I would love to display them to you but…" he went closer to him and whispered beside his ear " am afraid the young ladies and their mommas would lose their minds leaving the others jealous" he took a step back noticing a smirk on his friend's face as he continued " I just got back three days ago, the last thing I want is to be despised by half of the men of Avelesse"
" Not that you actually care" Leon added before Alias retorted " I actually do" Leon furrowed his eye brows and asked
" Are you back for good?!"
"Most certainly, Lady Serra would tie my feet to that castle if I say otherwise"
" well then finally, Avelesse finally would breath and …."
" Excuse me gentlemen, lord Harrington, lord Stratton, I would like you to meet my daughters, lady Serena and lady Arielle" the two ladies bowed and the two gentlemen bowed back, each held a hand an kissed it before they rose.
"It's a pleasure to meet you my ladies"
" the pleasure is ours" Serena answered back, she wanted to say more when a clear blast of the horn echoed through the halls
" Let all rise! Presenting His Majesty, King Aldric Silverdain, Her Majesty, Queen Elara, and their daughters, Princess Loraine, Princess Selene, Princess Liora, and Princess Loretta, heirs of Avelesse!"