Twisted Fate of the Knight

Hunt Ball

*stud* " Are you okay?" He said so I slowly open my eyes since I didn't feel anything, and our eyes meet since his face was so close to me since he supports me so that I do not stumble on the floor.

"Eh, I am okay. You can let go of me," I said because he seems to have no intention of letting me go, and our position is not really comfortable, and awkward because he is kneeling while holding me.

"Ah, right," He said as he let go of me, and we stand awkwardly. My heartbeats didn't stop as I am trying to calm but it didn't go away and hoping that he didn't notice when he held me a while ago since he looked at me intently.

"Do you want to take a rest for a bit?" He asks me while scratching the back of his head and can't look at me straight.

"Yes," I said as I sat down on the floor and he also sat down not too far from me. I looked out the window and thought that the Hunt Ball we were going to attend is tomorrow. I feel a bit excited and nervous since it will be my first time attending a ball not only watching it from the outside or just waiting.

"By the way, Avy, be careful for tomorrow if ever that I will not be by your side or any of us with you," He said so I turned to him and he looked at me seriously. Why does he look so handsome and cool while seating like that? Well, he just sat with one of his legs folded while one of his hands rested on his raised knee.

"Okay," I said while looking away from him.

"Shall we have the last practice? I'll do the woman's part and you do the man's part," He said as he gets up and handed me his hand to help me to get up. I reached out his hands to stand up and shook my clothes.

"Sure," I said as I offer my hand as I said 'May I have this dance with you, My lady,' as I looked at him while smiling and I didn't expect him to be flustered since I can see his cheeks bright red.

"My pleasure, Sir," He said as he holds my hands, and I lead him to the center. We bow when we faced each other, and I hold him in his waist and his other hand. I looked up at him because of his height so I frowned since I feel uncomfortable when I realize it is not good when your partner is taller, especially when you are a man. 

"Why? Is there anything wrong?" He asks me when he notices that I frowned at him.

"I feel so small when I am with you. It would be better for me to look for a partner who is smaller than me or as tall as me," I said while looking at him.

"Pfft," He chuckled as he looks at me so I pouted since I don't get him since I don't think I said something funny. "I agree, since you are not a man then you should pick a lady with the same height or smaller than you," He said.

"I know right," I said as I lead the dance without music and so far I didn't step his feet this time.

*clap clap* "I hope you will not step on your partner's feet," He said while smiling at me.

"Are you challenging me?" I said as I looked at him with my annoyed expression, and he just smirks at me as if he was sure that I will be mess up.

"Then, let's make a deal. How about that?" He said as he smiled at me as if his stares telling me that 'I am a hundred sure that you will step on your partner's feet,'.

"Sure," I said confidently and he looked at me with an amusing expression as he smiled.

~~

The Day of the Hunt Ball ...

The Hunt Ball event was held annually after the Hunting Event to congratulate the winners and an auction also held there. Hunt balls consist of a cocktail hour, followed by dinner and dancing. Attendees are invited to wear Royal Blue Tailcoats produced specifically for hunt ball attendees. 

"Are you ready, Avy?" Ian asks her after he knocks on the door. Avy opened the door before answering. "I'm done," She said as she fixes her bow tie.

"You looked stunning, Ian," She complimented Ian while she can't look away since Ian giving off a different aura from his usual aura. In her mind, 'The dress suits him, and he is even more attractive.'

"You look handsome, too," He said to me so she blushed at what he said.

"Hehe, although I am not a man. Of course, I look handsome," She said as she laughed while boasting that she is good-looking for a man. 

"Let's go," He said as he pats her head.

"Hey, don't touch my hair," She said while pouting as she gently fixes her hair but he just chuckled before he walked first so she just followed. 

They arrived at the Emerald palace where the Hunt Ball will be holding. They showed their invitation letter to the knight before they can enter. As soon as they enter, you will see Avy's admiration for the design of the venue since it was designed with magic with the things that you usually saw in hunting such as guns, swords, animals, and magical stones hanging on the walls. 

"The Hunt Ball is more pompous today than it was last year," Ian commented as he gets a juice on the table while Avy looks at him with a questioning look 'Really? How?' 

"It is much simple than this," He said so Avy just nodded while looking at him and she also drank some juice.

"When does this ball start?" Avy asks him since she was looking around since when they got in.

"I think around 9 pm," He said as he checked his pocket clock so Avy looked also at the time, and it is 7 pm.

"Why do we come so early," She said with a bored expression on her face.

"Of course, we can't be late," He said as he looked around.

"Geez, we have to wait until. I hate crowded spaces. I think I should stroll in the garden," She said as she pointed to the door that leads to the garden since it can be seen from where they are.

"Okay, but make sure that you come back before its starts," He said to her. Avy left and went to the garden because there was no one so it was quieter there.

"It's much better," She said as soon as she seated on the chair near the fountain of the garden.

"I know right. Do you also go out to get some air?" she was surprised when someone talks to her so she turned around and saw a woman came out of the garden as she brushes off the leaves on her dress.

"You scared me there. By the way, what are you doing there?" Avy asks her as she helps her brush off the leaves and she helps her to sit in the chair.

"Well, I am not comfortable inside since it is my first time attending an event like this," She said while smiling at Avy. 

" Same, here," Avy answered while she is examining her.

"Really?! I thought I am the only one who is new here but I am glad that I found one like me," She said cheerfully so Avy smiled at her because she seemed happy to talk.

"By the way, I am Nova and you are?" She said while looking at Avy who is looking at her.

"my name is Avy, Miss Nova," She said as she diverted her eyes on Nova.

"Is there anything on my face?" She asks Avy with a questioning look since she was curious why Avy is looking at her intently as if she was stunned by her beauty. However, in Avy's mind is 'Her appearance is a bit different so as her hair seems that it is not her real hair color' since Nova has dark browned hair, fair skin, and light brown eyes.

"Nothing," She said to Nova she smiled at her.

"Is that so? Hmm..." She said to Avy as she looks up to the sky.

"Why are you looking at the moon with that beautiful face?" Avy told her since she was smiling but her eyes telling otherwise as she was looking at the moon.

"Hmm, You are a smooth talker, Sir Avy," She chuckled when she said that to Avy.

"Ah, I'm not since you are really beautiful. I assume that everyone in the venue will look at you when you enter there," She said to Nova while smiling as she also looks at the moon. Avy didn't notice that Nova is looking at her too.

"You look handsome too, Sir Avy," She said so Avy looked at Nova who was embarrassed because she did not think there was a woman who would tell her that she was handsome.

"Thanks, Miss Nova," She thanked her. "Anyways, let's go inside," She told Nova after checking her pocket clock since it is nearly 9 pm. The Hunt Ball will be started.

"You should go in first," She told Avy.

"Okay," Avy just answered her as she left her in the garden. Avy immediately looked for Ian and she spotted Ian with Prince Renz, Lady Miary, and Ronan near the balcony. 

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Good Evening Lady Miary and Sir Alfinus," She greeted them as she nods to Ian.

"You look a quite a man, Avy," The Crown Prince commented as he looked at Avy from head to toe.

"I agree, so how was your practice?" Her Grace asks her about her dancing skills as she smirks at her as if teasing her.

"Of course, it paid off my absences, Lady Miary," Avy answered her with confidence while she looked at her intently since she is confident.

"Oho, what practice is that?" Renz said while looking at Avy.

"Well, your Highness. You can witness later on," Avy said as she smirks with confidence.

"Perhaps, it is related to the dance later," Ronan said while holding his chin as if unsure of his prediction.

"Oh, is it your first time to attend?" He asks her.

"Of course, he is," Lady Miary said.

"Geez, Anyways, why would I have been invited here?" Avy asks them so they looked at her and were silent.

"We should talk about that later, Avy," His Highness said as the event started with the opening of the Crown Princess which is Ryah and Renz went up there too after he said to Avy.

"Before, we start the Hunt Ball and the auction. I would like to thank all of you who attended the Hunt Ball. I am really happy that all of you came even though you are busy but still thank you for coming," The Crown Princess said as the audience claps with her message.

"Now we will begin the Hunt Ball. Start the music," Prince Renz said, and the music started. Those in front of them started dancing while Avy didn't want to dance in a crowded space so she let them dance first. The dance will be exchanging partners after one-minute so Avy is just waiting for someone to leave or the next batch of dancers.

"Geez, maybe I can ditch this dancing portion and come back after," Avy murmured as she is watching the people who are dancing in front while Lady Miary and Ronan is also there while Ian is also there since someone invited him so he was alone in their place earlier.

"It's so boring," She said again after she drinks the juice, and as he is watching those people in front of her, she saw Nova approaching her while smiling at her.

"Hello, Sir Avy," She greeted her.

"Hello, My Lady," Avy said as she kissed the hands of Nova as she looked at her blushing since Nova's cheeks become bright red.

"Why are you here alone?" She asked Avy as she gets a wine on the table since they are near the drink's table.

"Well, my companion is dancing," She answered her.

"Is that so? Are you going to dance?" She asked Avy as she was smiling at her. 

"Yes, how about you?" 

"Yes, since I've practiced a lot even though I am not really confident to dance. I have been thinking about ditching this portion and come later on," She said so Avy smiled at what she said.

"We are thinking the same thing, Milady," Avy said as she smiled at her and Nova chuckled.

"Really? I really like talking to you Sir Avy since the moment I saw you in the garden," She said as she drinks to the wine.

"I feel the same thing too," Avy said as she chuckled with her.

"I am glad that you feel the same," She said when the music changes so it's time for the next batch to dance in front.

"Then, can I dance this song with you, My Lady?" She said as she offered her hand to Nova.

"Of course, it's my pleasure," She said as she holds her hands as they go in front. 

*chuckled* " I thought both of us doesn't want to dance but we are here dancing," She said as they are dancing.

"Well, when you said that a while ago I had the courage to dance if it's you since you are my first dance," Avy said as she looks at her while Nova looks away as she blushed.

"Then, we are the same. It is also my first time," She said as she giggled.

"The Pleasure is mine," Avy said as she turns her since they are exchanging partners. Avy did not notice who her next dance was.

"Good Evening, A--"