"For years, the Lahorei Palace was just a picture in my head. It was a bright dream of gold and light. Tonight, that dream was so close I could almost touch it, even with the muddy path under my worn boots. Each step through the puddles felt strange and unreal.
What would it be like inside? Would it really be as grand as the stories people whispered? My breath caught in my throat. Tonight, I would finally know.
Rain poured down, cold and heavy. It stuck my hair to my face, but I hardly noticed. My eyes stayed on the palace gates in the distance, glowing like a promise in the stormy darkness. A nervous feeling fluttered in my stomach, mixed with a thrill I couldn't name.
This was it. My birthday. And maybe, just maybe, the start of something more.
The palace came closer. Its shape looked sharp against the stormy sky. Even through the rain, I could see the glow of many lights. It felt warm and sounded like music and laughter.
My heart beat faster. This was the place I had only ever dreamed about.
Leofric squeezed my hand. "Ready for this, Kira?"
I grinned, feeling a thrill bubble up inside me. "More than ready, Leo."
Raindrops hit the strong shield we held together. It was our only cover from the downpour. But nothing could make me less excited tonight.
We reached the gates. They were tall and looked important. Soldiers in shiny armor guarded them. I held my breath. This was really happening.
Leofric took a deep breath and stepped forward. He held out a small card in a waterproof bag. Our invitation.
The guard looked at it closely. His face was stern. My stomach twisted with nerves. Would they let us in?
The guard's eyes narrowed as he looked at the card. The wind blew around us, pulling at my cloak. I held my breath, feeling nervous and excited at the same time. Would he believe it?
After what felt like a long time, he finally nodded. The heavy gates creaked open. We saw a path lit by torches that flickered in the storm. It was like stepping into another world.
Leofric grinned, his eyes bright with excitement. "Come on, Kira! Let's not keep the party waiting."
We hurried through the gates. The sound of the storm faded behind us. The air here felt different, fancy and important. I could almost taste the luxury in the air.
The path led us towards the palace itself, a huge building that seemed to touch the sky. Lights shone from every window, making the wet stone glow warmly. Music floated out, a lively song that made my feet want to dance.
As we got closer, I could see people arriving in carriages and walking. Their clothes sparkled with jewels and rich fabrics. I smoothed down my own simple dress, suddenly feeling unsure of myself.
Leofric must have felt my worry. He squeezed my hand again. "Don't worry, Kira. We'll be fine. Just act like we belong here."
I took a deep breath and lifted my chin. He was right. We were here to celebrate. But we do not deserve to be here. Leo stole the pass card that got us in. What if they discover?"
The open gates led to a long path, bright lights shining all around us. When Leo and I reached the palace doors, a servant in fancy clothes opened them wide.
Stepping inside felt like walking into a dream. The ballroom was huge, bigger than anything I'd ever imagined. Shiny lights hung from the ceiling like captured stars, and the walls had gold decorations that gleamed in the light. Soft, sweet music filled the air, making my heart flutter.
So many people were in the room. They wore beautiful clothes made of rich cloth that shimmered as they moved. Jewels sparkled on their necks and fingers, catching the light with every gesture.
Everyone looked so fancy and important. I felt my simple dress suddenly looked so plain next to theirs. I held Leo's hand tighter, needing his familiar touch.
We walked into the room slowly, trying to act like we belonged. But everyone else seemed to know exactly what to do. They talked and laughed easily, moving with a grace that felt foreign to me. I felt like everyone was looking at us, and a knot of unease tightened in my stomach. We felt so out of place in all this grandeur.
Leo looked around, his eyes wide with wonder. He spotted people dancing, twirling and moving smoothly to the music. A smile spread across his face. He's always loved to dance.
Without thinking, Leo started to move his feet. He swayed a little to the rhythm, his shoulders loosening. My eyes widened in panic. This wasn't our world. We needed to blend in, to be invisible, not stand out.
In his head, I could almost hear him thinking, Just act normal. Move like they move. But his feet seemed to have a mind of their own.
He almost took a big step, ready to twirl like the others.
I gently pulled his arm, my voice tight with worry. "Leo," I whispered urgently, "We need to just... stand here for a bit. Watch what everyone else is doing."
Leo stopped moving, a little surprised. He looked at me, then back at the dancers. The realization seemed to dawn on him. He was about to make us look even more like we didn't belong. He took a deep breath and nodded slowly, his earlier excitement fading.
"Right," he mumbled, a little embarrassed. "Just... looking."
We stood near a wall, trying to look like we were waiting for someone. I kept my eyes down, feeling the weight of the other guests' stares. Leo tried to look calm, but his fingers tapped nervously against his leg, a small sign of his anxiety.
The fancy ballroom, which had seemed so magical from the outside, now felt like a place where we didn't fit at all, a gilded cage highlighting our poverty.
As we stood there, a group of young women and men nearby, probably our age, started to whisper. They made sure their voices carried, so we could definitely hear them.
One girl with shiny curls leaned close to her friend and said, just loud enough for my ears, "Look at those two. Their clothes are so plain. Where did they even come from?"
A boy in a velvet jacket snickered, his eyes flicking over our borrowed attire. "They must be from the outer lands. Do they even know how to behave in a palace like this?"
Another girl with a jeweled hairpiece giggled, her voice dripping with disdain. "Maybe they wandered in by mistake. Servants, perhaps?"
My cheeks burned with shame. I tried to ignore them, to pretend their cruel words didn't reach me, but they stung like tiny barbs. Leo's jaw tightened, and I could see the anger flashing in his eyes. I squeezed his hand, a silent plea for him to stay calm. We couldn't afford to make a scene.
I stretched my neck, trying to distract myself by looking at the royal family. They were seated on raised thrones at the front of the ballroom, a vision of power and elegance. I saw a beautiful woman who had to be Queen Katherine. Next to her sat a graceful young woman, probably Princess Grace.
Then there were two young men, Prince Anthony and Prince Andrew, and a little girl, Princess Chloe. They looked like characters from a fairy tale.
I noticed that one ornate seat beside the Queen was empty, and so was another even more grand-looking seat next to it.
"Where's the birthday prince?" I whispered to Leo, my voice barely audible. "Prince Adam?"
Leo also scanned the royal seats. "And the King, Damien, isn't here either," he muttered, his brow furrowed.
Just then, the music in the ballroom shifted. It became louder and more majestic, filling the room with a sense of anticipation. All the guests turned their heads towards the large, intricately carved doors at the far end of the room.
The doors swung open wide, and two figures entered, commanding everyone's attention.
The first was a tall man with a powerful presence. He wore dark, rich clothes that emphasized his broad shoulders, and his face held a serious, almost brooding expression. This had to be King Damien.
Behind him, or perhaps walking slightly beside him, was a young man who took my breath away. He was incredibly handsome, with dark, almost black hair that seemed to absorb the light, and piercing eyes that held a strange intensity.
This must be Prince Adam, the birthday celebrant. The room seemed to fall into a hush as they both entered, all eyes fixed on the King and the Prince, as if nothing else mattered."
As Prince Adam walked in, it felt like all the air in the room shifted. Every head turned, and I could see the reactions on people's faces.
Many of the ladies looked like they were completely smitten, their eyes wide with admiration.
Some of the young men watched him with clear admiration, but I also caught glimpses of jealousy in their eyes. He definitely had an effect on everyone.
I couldn't help but stare myself. Prince Adam was even more striking in person than I could have imagined. He was tall, with a smooth, caramel-brown skin tone that seemed to glow even in the soft light of the ballroom.
His dark hair, styled in thick strands, fell down his back, adding to his almost otherworldly appearance. And his eyes... they were a deep, vivid red, the pupils stark against the color, making his gaze intense and captivating.
He truly looked like a heavenly being who had somehow stepped onto the earth. There was a strong, bold aura about him, a quiet power that seemed to command attention without him even trying.
As Prince Adam walked in and moved towards the royal seats, his expression was like ice. It was deadly cold, giving nothing away. He didn't smile, didn't nod, just walked with a regal air.
His black clothes had a royal design on them, a pattern that was barely visible in the dim light but hinted at his high status. It only added to his otherworldly appearance, making him seem even more distant and powerful.
Leofric, who was standing beside me with his mouth slightly open as he watched Adam, suddenly started to whisper silly things under his breath.
"Did you see his face? He looks like he hasn't smiled in a hundred years," Leo mumbled, trying to sound serious but failing miserably.
"Maybe someone stole his favorite toy. Or maybe he just really hates parties."
I nudged him with my elbow. Leo was always like this, making jokes even in serious situations. It was one of the things I loved about him, but right now, I wished he'd lower his voice a little. There were scornful gaze around us already.
"Leo, be quiet," I hissed, trying not to laugh. "Those people are looking at you."
But Leo just grinned, his usual lightheartedness returning. "Relax, Kira. They looked too important to hear little old us. Besides," he added, leaning closer, "someone needs to lighten up this gloomy entrance. It's a birthday party, not a funeral!"
The party began with a quick speech from a short, bald man who stood on a small, ornate stage.
His polished head gleamed under the ballroom lights as he spoke in a booming voice, announcing that tonight was to celebrate the First Prince's twentieth birthday.
His fancy uniform, embroidered with the royal crest, marked him as someone who served the royal family. The guests offered polite applause, a ripple of clapping that echoed through the vast room.
It was my birthday too, my Eighteenth. A secret smile bloomed on my face, and I exchanged a knowing glance with Leo.
In our minds, amidst all this splendor, tonight was our party as well. We'd braved the storm, risked everything with that stolen pass. We were determined to soak in every single sparkling, luxurious moment."