Even before the party began, Evadne already felt exhausted.
She was waiting in the VIP room of Aurora Vineyard Castle, located just outside New York, where her 19th birthday celebration was about to take place. Since she hadn't celebrated her debut in France last year, her parents had gone all out this time, calling it her official coming-of-age ceremony.
Aurora Vineyard wasn't just an exclusive event venue... it was a place steeped in history. Twenty years ago, Zeus had proposed to Ceres here. The proposal was remembered as a once-in-a-century moment, when a meteor shower appeared right after a grand fireworks display... as if the heavens themselves had blessed the couple.
But that blessing turned tragic. Ceres died just a few months later, and Zeus followed a year after.
"Baby, stop making faces," Hades said as she frowned for the third time.
She was dressed in a royal blue ball gown, its strapless bodice and sweeping skirt dusted with hand-stitched diamonds that shimmered under the soft glow of the chandelier.
"I don't like my dress," Evadne muttered, still pouting.
The dress was undeniably beautiful... grand, regal, the kind that would make every girl in attendance turn green with envy. Her long black hair flowed in soft waves, and a tiara glimmered atop her head. She looked perfect. Too perfect.
"What's wrong with your dress? You look like a real-life princess," Hades said as he approached her. He looked every bit the prince beside her... his suit was a subtle match to her gown, an ensemble clearly coordinated by their mothers, Cielo and Angelina. The velvet cape, the golden accents, and his blond hair made him look like he had walked straight out of a fairytale.
"Exactly my point, hubby," Evadne said with a sigh. "I look like a princess. This is exactly the kind of dress I wore in my past life. And I hate it."
Hades froze for a moment, realizing what she meant. Then he sighed softly, kneeling in front of her without a second thought about his suit. Not that it mattered... the room was carpeted in ivory silk.
"I'm sorry, baby," he said, looking up at her. "I didn't think of that. When Mom showed me the dress design, I just thought it would look beautiful on you. But can you bear with it for a little while? After the formal part of the party, we'll both change into something more comfortable."
Evadne pouted again, adjusting her long silk gloves.
"As if I have a choice," she said... but a faint smile tugged at her lips.
"Prrrriiiincess~!" a familiar sing-song voice called out.
Casadin entered the room dramatically, dressed in a pristine white suit that looked like a modern prince's attire. A black sash crossed his chest, complementing his tousled black hair perfectly. "Oh my God! My heart is about to leap out of my chest!" he exclaimed, clutching his left gloved hand to his heart... his right hand holding a medium-sized velvet box.
"Hey, you're not supposed to be here," Hades said immediately. "You're supposed to wait in the ballroom... And don't ruin her makeup."
"It's waterproof! Don't be stingy," Casadin retorted, leaning in to kiss Evadne on the lips. "And so what if I ruin her makeup? She's still perfect without it."
"Yeah, tell that to the parents, the stylist, and the poor makeup artist who had to beg and glare at her all afternoon just to get her to sit still," Hades shot back, arms crossed.
Casadin just made a face at him. "I'm not here for you, so shut up," he said before turning back to Evadne. "Princess, I brought you my gift."
He opened the velvet box with a flourish.
Evadne's eyes sparkled. "Oh my gosh! Is that what I think it is?"
"Yup. A Boho white-gold goddess head chain," Casadin said proudly, lifting the delicate piece for her to see. The intricate chain gleamed under the light, a single sapphire gemstone resting elegantly at its center.
"Put it on me," Evadne said excitedly, already reaching to remove her tiara.
"Baby, no," Hades said quickly, catching her hands before she could undo her hairstyle. "Do you want to ruin your hair? You're all dolled up now. If our moms come in here and see your hair undone, they'll panic. You don't want that to happen. Try it later... after the formal part, when you change."
Both Evadne and Casadin rolled their eyes in perfect synchronization but gave in anyway. Hades had a point.
After all, Evadne had spent nearly four hours sitting in the stylist's chair just to achieve this look... and there was no way she'd survive that ordeal a second time.
Evadne held the headpiece in her hands, her smile bright and genuine.
"Do you like it?" Casadin asked, his own smile matching hers.
"I love it," Evadne said, looking up at him. "Did you have Dee make this?"
With its exquisite craftsmanship, she was certain it was Diana's work. Jewelry design... of every type, shape, and size... had always been Diana's talent. And unlike most designers, she crafted each piece with her own hands.
Evadne wasn't particularly fond of jewelry, but at the start of the year, she'd developed a fascination with headpieces. She'd tried purchasing a few, but none ever felt right... they were always either too extravagant or too simple. Casadin had promised that for her birthday, he'd ask his mother, Diana, to make her a one-of-a-kind headpiece. And he kept that promise perfectly.
"Yes. I helped her choose the stones," Casadin said proudly.
"It's perfect. I can't wait to wear it later." Evadne cupped his face with both gloved hands. "Thank you, my Prince Charming Casadin Sinclair," she said before kissing him softly on the lips.
"Anything for you, my Princess Evadne Persephone Monteverde," Casadin replied with a grin, returning a quick, tender kiss of his own.
"Are you two done?" Hades asked dryly, one brow arched, his tone edged with mild irritation... especially directed at Casadin. "Go back to the ballroom. The party's about to start."
"Yeah, yeah…" Casadin waved him off. "Don't forget... the first dance is mine."
He shot Hades a pointed glare before taking Evadne's hand and lifting it to his lips, kissing her knuckles like a true prince. "I'll see you later, Princess," he said with a charming smile, then exited the room with the velvet box in hand.
Evadne frowned and turned to Hades.
"Cas will be my first dance?" she asked.
As her fiancé, Hades had always been her official partner for every event, every gala, every dance. Naturally, she expected her first dance of the night to be with him.
"We compromised," Hades said with a small, knowing smile. "It's your birthday, after all. Not just some random gala."
Evadne narrowed her eyes suspiciously, standing up with a huff. The layers of her ball gown flared slightly as she stepped closer to him.
"Are you planning something?" she asked, her tone suspicious.
"Maybe," he said, his smirk deepening.
"What is it?" she pressed, narrowing her golden eyes at him.
"It's a secret, baby." Hades chuckled, cupping the back of her neck and kissing her gently on the lips.
"What do you think you're doing?" came a scandalized voice.
They immediately pulled apart to see Cielo entering the room, followed closely by Angelina… both women wide-eyed at what they had just walked in on.
"Are you trying to ruin my daughter's makeup, young man?" Cielo scolded, glaring at Hades. "You know how hard it was to convince her to go full glam, and now you're just going to mess it up?"
Cielo walked straight to Evadne, turning her around and adjusting her hair as she inspected every inch of her face.
"Mommy, you're being overly dramatic," Evadne muttered, half-exasperated, half-amused.
Angelina joined in, checking Evadne's hair and gown to make sure everything was still perfect.
"I asked my son to stay here and keep an eye on you, sweetheart," she said, giving Hades a sharp look. "Not to ruin your look. You'll have all the time in the world for that after the party. So, no hanky-panky, Hades... keep your hands to yourself."
Angelina turned to her son and gave him a warning glare.
"I was keeping an eye on her," Hades protested, sounding aggrieved. "And I was doing a great job too, even with all the eye rolls I got every time I stopped her from ruining her hair. All I did was give her a chaste kiss!" He looked at Evadne for support. "Baby, defend me!"
Evadne only stuck her tongue out at him and grinned.
Angelina laughed softly, shaking her head. She stepped closer to Hades, straightening the collar of his suit. She couldn't hide her fondness for the sight of them together.
She... and her husband, Jupiter... had seen how Hades had changed since being with Evadne. He was softer now, warmer, yet still as determined as ever. At first, their relationship had been a polite arrangement, a performance of affection. But now, Angelina knew without a doubt... her son had fallen for Evadne completely.
They no longer had to convince him that she was the right one for him. He could see it for himself.
And ever since the two had grown closer, Hades had seemed truly happy. He no longer made decisions out of obligation... but because he wanted to.
Well, except when Evadne was involved. In her case, he always said yes far too easily. And on the rare occasion that he disagreed, he would stubbornly try to hold his ground... usually for a week at most... before giving in to whatever Evadne wanted.
A few moments later, the head event coordinator knocked on the door, informing them that the party was about to begin.
Cielo and Angelina were the first to leave the room, followed by Evadne and Hades.
"Ready, baby?" Hades asked, holding her hand gently where it rested on his arm as they stood at the grand entrance on the second floor of the castle. From there, they would descend the sweeping staircase leading down into the glittering ballroom below.
"Nervous," Evadne admitted with a small laugh, "because this is my very first grand party. But I'm ready." She glanced sideways at him. "How many guests are there?"
"At least five hundred," Hades replied casually.
Evadne's eyes widened. Her jaw nearly dropped to the floor.
"At least five hundred?" she repeated in disbelief.
She had expected a large crowd, of course... but growing up in France, her parents had kept most of their gatherings small, especially because of her "bipolar" condition. Their parties had always been limited to close friends and intimate circles.
But now, being back in New York... where her father's influence carried far more weight than it ever had in France... grand had apparently taken on a whole new meaning.
She had expected at most five hundred guests, not at least. There was a very big difference.
"You'll be fine," Hades said reassuringly. "And most of the guests are just our peers from NYE, so you don't have to worry. Just be yourself, baby."
Before she could answer, the Mistress of Ceremonies' voice boomed across the ballroom below.
"And now, let us all welcome the lady of the night... our birthday celebrant, celebrating her 19th birthday! Escorted by her very handsome boyfriend, Hades Falcon, please welcome... Evadne Persephone Monteverde!"
At the cue, the double doors opened. The coordinator gave them a small nod.
Evadne took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and smiled. Her hand remained on Hades' arm as the two of them stepped forward and began their descent down the grand staircase.
Just as Hades had said, the ballroom was absolutely packed. Hundreds of faces turned up toward them, applause echoing against the high glass ceiling.
The center of the ballroom had been cleared for the dance floor, surrounded by elegantly arranged round tables that could seat ten guests each. A full orchestra played in the corner, the lilting sound of strings filling the air.
The theme colors were silver and blue, while the guests were asked to wear white or gold... making Evadne the true center of attention no matter where she stood. The lights were dim, and a single spotlight followed her and Hades as they descended the staircase like a royal couple stepping out of a dream.
The crowd rose to their feet, clapping and cheering as they reached the ballroom floor. Then, as the applause faded, the orchestra began to play a waltz.
But to everyone's surprise... the one who stepped forward to claim her first dance wasn't Hades.
It was Casadin.
He stood from the table where their parents were seated, walked confidently across the room, and bowed with his usual charm before offering his hand to Evadne.
The crowd murmured in surprise… when Hades himself took Evadne's hand and placed it in Casadin's before stepping aside. He then made his way toward the table Casadin had come from, taking the seat next to Angelina with a quiet smile.
And just like that, the party officially began.
After her first dance with Casadin came a long line of others... Romos, Jupiter, Caspian, and many of their family friends, including Delvin and Flynn.
Since Evadne hadn't celebrated her 18th birthday with a formal debut last year... only a small gathering with friends in France... this evening became her "18 dances" moment. Everyone who had once wished to dance with her now had the chance, all except one person.
Hades.
Evadne couldn't help but notice... and frown a little at his absence.
The evening continued with the blowing of her four-tiered cake, dusted in gold, followed by the ceremonial cutting. Every part of the event involved either her parents, Hades' parents, or Casadin... but never Hades himself.
Which only made her more curious about what surprise he was planning. Because clearly, he was planning something.
Especially since he seemed to be deliberately giving the spotlight that should have been his... as her escort... to Casadin.
"Vee, happy birthday!" Amanda and Bea greeted her cheerfully after dinner, when the formalities were done and guests were finally free to mingle.
"Gosh, you look beautiful! Like a real-life princess," Bea said with a grin.
Evadne rolled her eyes dramatically, earning laughter from both of them.
Almost everyone from their previous school year had been invited, and most greeted her warmly and sincerely. Of course, not all her classmates liked her... she could easily feel the undercurrent of envy masked behind polite smiles from a few of the girls.
Hatred wrapped in honeyed words. Envy disguised as compliments.
It wasn't surprising.
After all, this was the grandest ball anyone from their generation had attended in years. And both the Monteverdes and the Falcons had spared no expense in making it a night to remember... solidifying what everyone already knew...
Evadne Persephone Monteverde was, without a doubt, the Monteverde-Falcon Princess.