With Damien gone, Cece was just about to speak when Kayla bumped into her, spilling red wine onto her gloved hand.
Cece shot her a cold glare, only for Kayla to launch herself into full performance mode. She began trembling like a dried leaf and exclaimed "Oh my god, I am so sorry, Lady Cece!" With an overly dramatic bow, she added, "I don't know how I let this happen. Please, allow me to make it right by escorting you to the powder room to help clean the wine off your hand and glove."
Cece said sternly, "It's alright, you should really watch where you're walking."
"Yes, my lady, but please allow me to fix my mistake, otherwise the guilt would eat me alive," Kayla replied dramatically.
As Cece watched her dramatic flair, her performance drew the attention of a few nearby students, including Professor Dante, who began watching with keen interest. As the Inter-Species Relations professor, he seemed eager to assess how Cece would handle the situation, especially since Kayla was human.
Cece realised that continuing to refuse might only draw more unwanted attention and escalate things unnecessarily. With an exasperated sigh, she said, "Alright you may accompany me to the powder room."
Though clearly annoyed by the whole ordeal, she decided not to not make a scene. Evelyn stepped forward and said "Let me also come with you."
"No, it's alright, Evelyn. I'll be back shortly. Besides, you need to be here when Ivan shows up. I don't want you to miss him if he arrives while you're away."
Eve felt conflicted but understood Cece's concern. She gave her a nod and said, "Alright, then I'll wait for you here."
Edward, who had been keeping Eve company, was suddenly called over by a fellow student for a brief conversation. With a quick apology and a reassuring smile, he briefly excused himself, leaving Evelyn finally standing alone amidst the glittering crowd.
The ballroom thrummed with music and laughter as the evening deepened. Candlelight flickered across the jeweled masks and the air was thick with perfume. Since the time Evelyn had entered the ballroom, her eyes had inevitably searched for one person in the sea of people. She hadn't spoken to Ivan since their last exchange in the lighthouse. The way he had left her afterwards, without saying another word, left her feeling a little empty.
To Eve, Ivan was the most complex character she had encountered so far. He possessed a kind presence that made people want to submit to him without him even lifting one of his elegant fingers. One moment, he would be so fiery it felt like he could burn your entire being and the next, he'd turn into ice–cold, distant and impenetrable. Eve felt like she was getting emotional whiplash from his constant shifts between hot and cold.
'What's with him? Does he have some mental issues with sudden mood swings?' she thought inwardly, continuing to sip her wine. 'Anyway, why do I even care? All I hope is that he shows up so I don't end up getting dragged down with him and earn a bad grade. Hmph!'
Even though she told herself she didn't care, her eyes remained fixed at the entrance, hoping he would appear.
While Eve was lost in her thoughts, Drake never took his eyes off her. Seeing that she was finally alone, he subtly signaled Gabe to initiate the next step of their plan.
Gabe adjusted his collar and approached Evelyn with rehearsed charm. He stopped next to her and said, "Good evening, Princess Evelyn." Eve, who had been lost in thought, snapped her head up to look at the man standing next to her.
She replied politely, "Good evening."
Gabe offered what he thought was a charming smile, though it only made him look more sly. He added smoothly, "May I say, you look absolutely gorgeous tonight."
When Evelyn grew a little wary and didn't respond right away, Gabe cleared his throat and said, "I see your glass is almost empty.." He glanced at the one in her hand and signaled a server, who hurried over with two glasses of red wine.
Gabe deliberately picked one up and offered it to Eve. "Here, Your Highness, consider it a peace offering for…well, for existing in a world not beautiful enough to deserve you."
At his sleazy line, Evelyn felt a chill run down her spine from sheer cringe. Her mind screamed, 'Oh, for the love of god! Did he seriously just say that? He looks like he sells cursed elixirs in a back alley. Why do I only attract the weird ones?' She shook her head inwardly.
After recovering from a moment of speechlessness, she responded. "Thank you for your kind offer, but I think I'll just stick to just one glass tonight."
Gabe felt the situation slipping through his fingers. Evelyn was too sharp for her own good. He needed to act fast before any of her companions returned.
He quickly said, "Oh my, forgive me, I didn't mean to presume that Your Highness needed another glass. Where I come from, it's customary to offer a drink to a royalty as a gesture of respect." He bowed his head slightly, but there was urgency behind the gesture, his eyes watching her like a hawk.
Evelyn hesitated as she was a kind person. But something about him itched at the back of her mind. Still, not wanting to be rude in a public event and being raised better than to cause a scene over a drink, she looked at the glass in his hand and said, "Oh, my apologies," she said slowly, forcing a polite smile.
"I didn't mean to be rude. I'm not very good with alcohol, so I usually stick to one glass. But if this is a custom in your kingdom…I shall accept this in goodwill."
Gabe couldn't be happier and said, "That's very kind of you, Your Highness." Handing her the glass "Cheers, to good relations." He offered her a toast and raised his glass to take a sip but his light red eyes continue to watch Evelyn.
'Just a sip, that's all it takes,' he thought, since he had poured half the potion's content in her glass.
He saw how she raised the glass slowly and tilted it to have a sip, the moment the wine touched her lips, he allowed himself to breath in relief. 'Perfect. Just perfect. Soon she'll start to feel hot and dizzy…. By then, she'll be too confused to realise what's happening.'
Eve, however, only pretended to take a sip, by letting the wine touch her lips . She then discreetly licked the drops away and swallowed a minimal amount, just enough to sell the act.
Drake grinned behind his mask, watching Eve finally taking a sip from the glass. The same wine which was laced with a potent aphrodisiac. Potent enough to even weaken a trained vampire. Now all he had to do was to wait to make his move.
Eve gave Gabe a polite, tight lipped smile. Her instincts were already screaming that something was not right. The taste of the wine lingered bitterly on her tongue, too sweet, too thick. She frowned a little as she looked down at the glass in her hand.
Before she could dwell on it, Gabe spoke again."So Princess Evelyn, I haven't seen you out on the dance floor yet. If not, would you do me the honour…" His voice trailed off when he noticed she lifted her head and looked over his shoulder.
He frowned in confusion and moved his gaze around, only to realise that others around them had also grown unusually quiet, all staring at the same direction behind him. A sudden sense of foreboding crept over him. He swallowed hard and slowly turned to see who it was.