The masquerade
381 Words
The palace masquerade was held three weeks after Prince Lucien’s arrival.
It was supposed to celebrate the friendship between Valeria and Armand.
Instead, Elara felt trapped.
Hundreds of candles illuminated the ballroom.
Musicians played from a raised platform while nobles danced beneath golden chandeliers.
Every guest wore a mask.
Elara wore a silver one.
She had been dancing with Prince Lucien when she suddenly felt overwhelmed.
“I need some air.”
Lucien stepped aside.
“Of course.”
Elara left the ballroom.
The corridor was quiet.
She walked toward the garden.
Then someone spoke behind her.
“You shouldn’t be wandering alone.”
She turned.
A masked man stood beneath the archway.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who doesn’t want you getting into trouble.”
She studied him.
There was something familiar about his voice.
“You’re a guard.”
The man laughed softly.
“And you’re a princess.”
Elara smiled.
“How clever of us.”
They walked into the garden.
For several minutes, they spoke without names.
Without titles.
Without expectations.
“What would you do,” Elara asked, “if you could live anywhere?”
The masked man considered it.
“Somewhere quiet.”
“A farm?”
“Perhaps.”
She smiled.
“And if you could be anyone?”
“Someone who could choose his own life.”
The answer struck her.
“What about you?”
Elara looked toward the fountain.
“I would like to be someone who isn’t always being told what she must become.”
He turned toward her.
“Then perhaps we’re not so different.”
She recognized him.
“Adrian.”
He removed his mask.
She smiled.
“You knew it was me.”
“I knew your voice.”
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then music drifted from the ballroom.
Elara looked back toward the palace.
“We should return.”
“Yes.”
Neither moved.
Finally, Adrian said quietly, “Goodnight, Princess.”
“Goodnight, Adrian.”
She walked away.
Neither noticed Lord Marius standing in the shadows.
He had followed Elara from the ballroom.
And now he knew exactly who she had been meeting.
The guard.
The one person in the kingdom who could never be allowed to become more than a guard.
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