The grand hall of the Vermillion Castle was filled with the soft hum of classical music, the gentle clinking of glasses, and the murmur of guests. Nao and Raviel entered, and immediately, the atmosphere shifted. Every eye in the room turned toward Raviel. His presence was magnetic, impossible to ignore. The men and women gossiped in hushed tones, eyes wide, admiring the handsome figure who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. His striking features, the aura of mystery around him, and the quiet confidence with which he carried himself captured the attention of everyone present.
Raviel's dark, mesmerizing eyes roamed over the room, but he remained close to Nao, ignoring the admiring looks from the ladies and the whispered comments. It was as if they didn't exist to him. Nao, still trying to process the events that had led them here, felt an uncomfortable tension growing within him. He was aware of the gazes of the women around him, but more than that, he felt Raviel's silent protection. There was a quiet authority about the demon that made it impossible for anyone to approach them.
Just as the air was thick with unspoken curiosity, Isadora made her entrance. She was elegant, her presence commanding, but there was something cold in her eyes as she locked onto Nao.
"Where have you gone?" she asked, her voice sharp, laced with an undertone of concern.
"I just received my friend, Raviel," Nao responded quickly, not wanting to make his stepmother suspicious. "He came from America to wish me on my birthday."
Isadora's gaze sharpened, her eyes flicking over Raviel as if sizing him up. Then, with a forced smile, she said, "Welcome to Vermillion Castle. I hope you enjoy the party." Her tone was welcoming, but there was an edge to it, a thinly veiled threat. Without another word, she turned on her heel, her servant, Wick, following closely behind.
As Nao exhaled softly, relieved that Isadora had moved away, Elias stepped forward. He had been watching them from the corner of the room, and now he moved closer to Nao, his curiosity evident.
"You never told me about your friend," Elias remarked, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at Raviel. "He's... quite handsome."
Before Nao could respond, Adrian suddenly cleared his throat, a sharp sound that caught both Nao and Elias off guard. Adrian's eyes were fixed on Elias, his voice sharp with the faintest hint of irritation.
"Who's handsome?" Adrian asked, his tone colder than usual.
Elias froze, his words failing him as he blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of Adrian's sudden reaction. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Nao, sensing the awkward tension, quickly intervened with a teasing smile. "Oh, let's go, it's my night! Let's enjoy it. No need to worry."
Elias, still flustered by Adrian's sudden behavior, nodded silently, but Raviel, sensing the subtle discomfort, stepped forward.
"Would you like to dance?" Raviel asked Nao, his voice low and commanding, yet soft.
Nao blinked, his heart skipping a beat at the unexpected request. "Dance? But…" He was caught off guard, and his cheeks flushed red. His mind raced, unsure of what to say.
Raviel, with an unreadable expression, leaned in slightly closer. "It's for your protection. I want to be close to you. No one should touch you tonight."
Nao's heart raced, a mix of confusion and something else stirring inside him. Before he could gather his thoughts, a voice interrupted them. A girl approached Adrian, her movements confident, her voice sweet.
"Adrian, let's dance," she said with a flirtatious smile.
Adrian glanced at Elias, who was still standing awkwardly, and then back at the girl. His eyes softened, and he nodded.
"Yes, let's go," Adrian said, his tone warmer now, a stark contrast to the earlier tension.
As Adrian and the girl moved away, Nao was left standing with Raviel, his thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. The feeling of Raviel's gaze on him, the warmth of his presence, was both comforting and overwhelming. He had no idea what had just happened—he had no idea why the night felt so different, why his heart was racing. All he knew was that something had shifted, something had changed, and he couldn't quite put it into words.
Raviel's hand gently rested on Nao's, and without waiting for a response, he led Nao toward the dance floor, ignoring the curious gazes of the guests around them.
In that moment, Nao realized something: tonight would change everything. He had already met his fate. And there was no turning back.
As the music continued to fill the grand hall, Nao and Raviel made their way to the center of the dance floor. The crowd parted to make way for them, and a ripple of whispers followed in their wake. All eyes were on Raviel, his flawless features glowing under the warm lights of the chandeliers. His presence was magnetic, drawing everyone's gaze, but it was the way he moved with Nao, so effortlessly and confidently, that made the room feel like it had come to a standstill.
Nao couldn't help but feel the weight of the attention. His cheeks flushed a soft shade of pink as they began to dance. Raviel, however, didn't seem to notice or care about the stares. His eyes, dark and intense, were locked solely on Nao. He held Nao close, their bodies moving in perfect harmony to the rhythm of the music. Every step felt deliberate, every movement almost predatory. Nao could feel his heart pounding in his chest as Raviel's gaze never wavered from his face.
Nao, on the other hand, was aware of every single gaze in the room. He couldn't help but feel shy, unsure of how to handle the fact that Raviel was completely ignoring everyone else, his attention only on him. It felt intimate, as if they were in their own world, separate from the grand ballroom.
Raviel's touch was warm, his fingers gently brushing against Nao's skin as he guided him across the floor. Nao's cheeks burned with embarrassment as the crowd continued to watch them. But Raviel didn't look away. He didn't blink, didn't even flinch. It was as if Nao was the only person in the room, the only person who mattered.
Nao felt his heart race even faster, unsure of what to make of this strange connection they were building. His mind was swirling with questions: Why does Raviel insist on being close to me? What is this strange pull I feel toward him?
Meanwhile, the other couples on the dance floor swirled and twirled around them, but Nao's eyes never left Raviel's. The way Raviel looked at him made Nao feel like he was the center of his world, and it made him feel vulnerable in a way he couldn't explain. Every soft touch, every brush of their bodies, made his heart flutter. He was so caught up in Raviel's gaze that he didn't notice the other couples noticing them.
From across the room, Adrian stood with his date, his eyes scanning the dance floor. It wasn't long before they landed on Nao and Raviel. Adrian's jaw tightened as he watched the way Raviel moved with Nao, how effortlessly Raviel held him close, his focus solely on him. There was something unsettling about it, something that made Adrian's stomach twist. What's going on between them? he thought.
Adrian couldn't help but glance at Elias, standing off to the side, watching the couple with a hint of curiosity in his eyes. Adrian's gaze lingered on Elias for a moment before he cleared his throat and turned back to the dance. But it wasn't long before his eyes wandered again to Nao and Raviel.
Elias, meanwhile, stood near the edge of the dance floor, clearly uncomfortable. He was alone, watching the dancers with an uncertain expression on his face. His fingers nervously tugged at the cuff of his sleeve as he glanced at the couples swirling around him. He didn't feel like he belonged there, not in this crowd, not with all the eyes watching.
A man approached Elias, his smile wide and friendly. "Would you like to dance?" he asked, holding out his hand.
Elias blinked, startled by the sudden attention. He hesitated for a moment, but something in the man's eyes made him feel a bit more at ease. With a soft nod, he placed his hand in the man's, accepting the invitation.
As the man led him onto the floor, Elias felt a sense of unease wash over him. He wasn't sure why, but the moment felt off. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. But before he could process any more, Adrian's voice rang out across the dance floor.
"That's enough," Adrian's voice was sharp, his eyes cold as he walked swiftly over to Elias. Without a second thought, he grabbed the man's hand, pulling Elias away from him.
The man looked confused, but Adrian's glare was enough to silence any protest. "He's mine, Mister," Adrian said coldly, his grip tight on Elias's wrist. "He's dancing with me now."
Elias stood there, stunned and speechless, as Adrian led him away. He didn't know what to think, what to say. His heart was racing, and a part of him felt strangely embarrassed, his face burning with the sudden attention.
"Adrian, what—" Elias began, but Adrian cut him off, his voice low but firm.
"No questions," Adrian said, pulling Elias closer to him. "We're dancing. You don't need to dance with anyone else."
Elias could only nod, still unsure of what was happening. But before he could think too deeply, the music swelled around them, and Adrian's hold on him tightened. They began to dance, but Elias couldn't help but wonder what this meant. Why had Adrian said he was "his"? What did that mean?
On the other side of the room, Nao continued to dance with Raviel, but his mind was elsewhere. Who is he really? Nao couldn't help but wonder about Raviel. Why is he so... connected to me?
As they swayed together in the middle of the dance floor, Nao's heart raced. He couldn't deny the magnetic pull he felt toward Raviel, but there were so many unanswered questions. The uncertainty only seemed to grow as the night wore on.