6
1506 Words
Erick
The grand ballroom of the Cheshire estate shimmered with opulence.
Crystal chandeliers cast a golden glow over guests adorned in their finest attire.
The ballroom had never looked more alive, and yet, death hung in the air.
Not the literal kind—no, not tonight.
Tonight was about appearances. Power wrapped in silk. Vengeance cloaked in grace.
Tonight, my Queen would stand beside me, unnamed and masked, a shadow in the light. And those who had wronged her would walk directly into a stage crafted to humiliate them beneath gilded chandeliers and polished lies.
I stood at the top of the grand staircase, dressed in traditional regalia—black tailored suit lined with silver threading, my crest sewn across the breast.
My crown, forged of moonstone and obsidian, gleamed under the lights. But my eyes… my eyes scanned the room for one person only.
Sophia.
She emerged from behind the velvet curtain just to my right, and for a moment, even I forgot how to breathe.
When she appeared, the room fell into a hushed awe. Draped in a gown of midnight blue, embroidered with silver threads that mimicked the constellations, she moved with the grace of royalty.
The gown hugged her waist before flowing outward in regal waves, and on her face was a silver mask, ornate and feline in design, trimmed with sapphires and black feathers. The delicate mask concealed her features, adding an air of mystery.
Her hair was braided with gold threading, coiled into a low bun that exposed the graceful curve of her neck.
She looked like a woman born for a throne. And yet, no one here knew her name.
Not yet.
She approached me, her presence commanding. “Are you ready?” I asked, offering my arm.
“As I’ll ever be,” she replied, her voice steady.
“You’re sure about this?” I asked quietly, stepping close enough to feel her warmth through layers of silk and velvet.
She nodded once, calm but fierce. “Not yet. I want them to feel my presence. To see what they lost. But I don’t want them to know me. Not tonight.”
“They will, eventually.”
“Yes,” she murmured. “But not before I finish what I started.”
I turned toward her, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “You still want to be the one to punish him?”
Her jaw tightened. “Yes. I want to make him squirm. Let him think he’s rising again. Let him taste victory, then I’ll take it from his tongue.”
I smiled at this side of hers.
Wicked, yet sweet.
I studied her a long moment. “And Sonya?”
“She’s nothing to me now,” she replied. “But she’ll learn what it feels like to be second. Forgotten. Just like she made me feel.”
A pause hung between us.
“Very well,” I said finally. “Judgment day is postponed. But only for you, Sophia. Only because I trust you.”
She smiled beneath the mask. “I won’t waste the opportunity.”
With that, I extended my arm, and she placed her gloved hand in mine.
Together, we descended into the party.
The ballroom was a sea of nobility.
Alphas, Lunas, dignitaries from the Eastern and Western territories. All dressed in lavish finery. All curious. Whispers trailed behind us like perfume as we crossed the floor.
“Is that her?” someone whispered. “The rumored bride?”
“Why is she masked?”
“Who is she?”
Sophia remained unshaken. Regal. Poised. Unbothered.
We took our place at the head of the ballroom. A raised dais crowned by silver drapes and twin thrones.
I didn’t sit. I let her sit first. Let the room see the reverence I had for her. Even without a name, she had more presence than half the royalty assembled here.
I raised a hand, and the music softened.
“Lords and Ladies,” I announced, my voice echoing through the room. “Thank you for attending this evening’s banquet. It marks a new chapter in our history, one of strength, alliance, and change.”
The crowd clapped, polite and expectant.
“Tonight,” I continued, “you will know the name of your new Queen. But tonight isn’t the night you’d see her face.”
Everyone clapped and Sophia stood up, dripping grace.
My voice echoed loudly again as I proceeded to announce. “Lords and Ladies, I present to you my woman. My most precious Gem. Your Queen, Sophia.”
As soon as I finished introducing Sophia to the people. The doors at the far end of the ballroom creaked open.
Caleb and Sonya stepped into the room, dressed in their finest.
His suit was immaculately black. Sonya’s dress was a revealing silver gown clinging to ambition.
They had clearly dressed for attention. For approval.
If only they knew that they were walking into a stage set for their downfall.
I watched Sophia closely. Her posture didn’t shift, but I saw the tremble in her fingertips as she gripped the edge of her throne.
“She’s enjoying this,” I murmured.
“More than I expected,” she replied, a cool edge to her voice.
The crowd turned as the announcer spoke.
“Alpha Caleb Delvaux of Moonlight Pack and his intended, Luna Sonya Quinn.”
They strode forward, heads high, unaware of the doom looming right over their heads.
As they reached the base of the dais, I stepped forward.
“Caleb,” I said, voice sharp and clear. “Your name is known to this court. And tonight, we celebrate alliances, do we not?”
Caleb blinked, thrown by the welcome.
He bowed stiffly. “Yes, Your Majesty. I hope to strengthen the ties between Moonlight Pack and the throne.”
“Oh, you will,” I replied. “But first, I believe a demonstration is in order.”
Two guards stepped forward, dragging a large covered structure onto the floor—a pedestal shrouded in black velvet. Whispers rippled through the crowd.
Sophia leaned in. “What is this?”
“Your gift,” I whispered.
The cover was pulled off.
A mirror.
No. Not just a mirror.
A magical artifact forged from enchanted glass, gifted to the Cheshire bloodline by the Eastern Seers. It is said to only show one’s deepest desire.
“Stand before it,” I commanded.
Caleb hesitated. “Your Majesty?”
“Stand. Before. It.”
Reluctantly, he did. Sonya clung to his arm.
The mirror shimmered and Sonya was about to look at it, but I stopped her right in time.
“Don’t you dare!”
She flinched and immediately bowed. “You are to present it to my wife on my behalf.”
Murmurs were heard around the room as everyone admired the mirror. After all, the mirror was a one of its kind artifact.
Caleb and Sonya moved to carry the mirror to present to Sophia but surprisingly, Caleb tripped and Sonya staggered, the mirror fell and broke into several pieces before they could reach Sophia.
Gasps were heard all around the ballroom as the mirror broke.
Sophia gasped loudly.
Though Sophia had asked that I let her be the one to punish Caleb, I just couldn’t let him get away with touching her.
“What have you done!” I yelled and Caleb immediately dropped to one knee, likely from fear, possibly shame.
Sonya tried to step forward. “Your Majesty, I… we…”
“Enough,” I snapped. “You’ve both shown your true selves.” I hissed and signaled the maid to come clean the broken shards. “You’re so incapable and undeserving of the honor given to you!”
The room hushed as I spoke.
“How could you ruin such an expensive gift?”
“I… apologize for…”
Caleb wanted to explain, but I was in no mood to listen.
“I would like to punish them myself.” she said, voice clear, accent softened to avoid recognition. “Their punishment… will come, but not tonight.”
She turned away, reclaiming her seat like a monarch whose patience had limits. “…Tonight is all about me.”
The music returned as soon as she said that but the tension didn’t.
Caleb and Sonya were escorted away, humiliated, confused, and shaken.
The rest of the night passed in a haze of eyes and whispers.
But all I could think of was the masked woman beside me.
When the guests had gone, when silence returned to our palace, I took her hand in mine and led her to our chamber.
“You were magnificent,” I said. “The mask did nothing to dim you.”
Sophia looked up at me, eyes glinting with quiet pride. “And yet they still don’t know who I am.”
“They will,” I promised, brushing a hand over her jaw. “When you’re ready.”
- Writer
