THE CHOOSEN ONES

The air was thick with the scent of roses and the warm glow of candlelight, casting a golden hue over the swirling sea of gowns and tailcoats. I stood at the edge of the dance floor, my crimson gown shimmering like liquid fire, a beacon of defiance in a room filled with wolves in silk and velvet.

Rheon appeared at my side like a shadow given life, his mischievous grin cutting through the tension. "Well, well," he drawled, his voice dripping with mock reverence as he gave me an exaggerated bow. "If it isn't the Lady of the Hour. Care to grace this humble knight with a dance, or are you too busy plotting world domination?"

I rolled my eyes but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at my lips. Rheon had always been like this—irreverent, playful, and impossible to resist. "If I said no, would you actually leave me alone?"

"Not a chance," he said, already extending his hand. "Come on, Tia. Let's remind these stuffy nobles what real dancing looks like."

I placed my hand in his, and he pulled me onto the dance floor with a flourish. The musicians struck up a lively tune, the strings and flutes weaving together in a melody that seemed to pulse with energy. Rheon's grip was firm but gentle as he led me into the first steps, his movements fluid and confident.

We began with a traditional waltz, but it didn't take long for Rheon to add his own flair. He spun me unexpectedly, the skirts of my gown flaring out around me like a burst of flame. I laughed, the sound bubbling up unbidden, as he twirled me back into his arms.

"Show-off," I muttered, though my grin betrayed me.

"You love it," he shot back, his golden eyes sparkling with mischief. He dipped me suddenly, catching me off guard, and I let out a surprised gasp before he pulled me back up, his grin widening.

The dance became a game, each of us trying to outdo the other. Rheon led with a playful arrogance, his steps bold and daring, while I countered with precision and grace, my movements sharp and deliberate. We moved in perfect sync, yet there was a competitive edge to it, as though we were both determined to prove who was the better dancer.

At one point, he spun me out, and I used the momentum to twirl away, only to circle back and catch his hand again. The crowd around us seemed to fade into the background, the music and the rhythm of our steps the only things that mattered. Rheon's laughter mingled with mine, a bright, unrestrained sound that felt out of place in the formal setting but perfectly suited to us.

As the tempo of the music increased, so did our energy. Rheon led me into a series of quick, intricate steps, his movements almost theatrical in their exuberance. I matched him step for step, my heart racing as we danced faster and faster, the world around us becoming a blur of color and light.

When the music finally slowed, we were both breathless, our faces flushed with exertion and laughter. Rheon pulled me into a final spin, then dipped me low, holding me there for a moment as the last notes of the song faded away.

"Admit it," he said, his voice low and teasing. "I'm the better dancer."

I smirked, my chest still rising and falling as I caught my breath. "In your dreams, Rheon."

He laughed, pulling me back up and releasing me with a mock bow. "One day, Tia, you'll admit I'm right. Until then, I'll just have to keep proving it."

I shook my head, still smiling as I straightened my gown. "You're impossible."

"And yet, you still dance with me," he said, his grin turning softer, almost fond. "What does that say about you?"

I didn't have an answer for that, but as the next song began and Rheon offered his hand again, I didn't hesitate to take it. After all, where else would I find a dance partner who could make even a formal ball feel like an adventure?

As we continued dancing, I could feel my father's gaze on us. I managed to catch a glance of his face, and he seemed pleased by my dancing with Rheon. When it came to power, the Duchy of Zeveran and the Duchy of Nyxveil could rival each other on the same footing. Maybe he was thinking that if I married Rheon and Alancia married Ezekian, the status of House Nyxveil would increase dramatically.

But it wasn't possible. Firstly, because the relationship between me and Rheon was more like siblings. And secondly, because Rheon had already given his heart to someone else.

I shook my head, thinking how my father would react knowing I had no plans to marry anyone from the five great families. He wouldn't be alive by then, so it wasn't a big deal.

"Your fiancé is digging his eyes into my face, Tia," Rheon joked. I rolled my eyes. "Do you think it's funny? If that guy cared that much, it would have been me he was escorting, not my younger sister."

Rheon nodded. "Agreed," he said, deliberately pulling me closer. "But I'm not lying. He's looking at me with fire in his eyes."

Why would Ezekian do that? On paper, we were still engaged, so of course, the first dance was supposed to happen between us. However, he had escorted my sister because, as always, he wanted to play it safe and neat. Most likely, my mother had asked him to escort Alancia, and Ezekian, being Ezekian, didn't want to get on her bad side.

"But seriously, will you really marry that guy?" Rheon asked while lifting me up in the air. "No," I replied as he put me down.

"Not that I'm surprised. And if you were going to him even after how he dared to escort that bitch," Rheon flicked my forehead lightly, making me whine a little, "I would have drowned him to death and made it look like an accident."

I couldn't help but laugh at his words. "Do you think you can win against Ezekian Nordwyn?" He grinned and pulled me closer, holding my waist lightly.

"Hehehe, don't forget I'm stronger than you, Tia." I shook my head, and we continued dancing until our legs gave up.

For next 4 hours I ended mingling with future influential people. Rheon, who was well known as the Aristocrat's Butterfly, was surely someone who could help me get into conversations smoothly.

I continued talking to twenty people from twenty different families—all of whom would become people who would bring revolutions to economics, the usage of magic in daily affairs, and other aspects, and most importantly, would influence the law and order of Wymhold.

Among the twenty, only five belonged to already well-established families, while the other fifteen came from comparatively modest families. But it just worked in my favor.

I was approached by some young noble lords too, but since it was none other than Rheon escorting me, they didn't bother. I didn't want to admit it, but this freak had some good looks. His long golden-brown hair, tied in a ponytail, swayed every time he moved. His uranium-blue eyes looked at the other person as if he was just made to listen to them. His fair complexion, tall and muscular body—though he was only twenty, nobody could ever ignore his charisma.

And that was something that allowed him to make the largest number of allies.

After four hours of hectic socializing, I realized I had enough for that day. My groundwork for my political debut was completed. I had attracted both attention and envy. Till now, people used to circle around Alancia. She had made the best use of her status. After all, if we excluded the Imperial Household ladies, the two Archduchesses, four Duchesses, and me, she had nobody else over her.

It was something I had never realized in the past. The younger me would think that such social aristocrat status meant nothing, so I never bothered using it. But looking back, I should have done it. I should have made my presence in the noble society so strong and evident that even after the fall of our family, I wouldn't have made so many enemies.

It was okay. I could always make it right now. This was a second chance for a reason.

"Wanna take a break?" Rheon whispered in my ear, and I nodded. I was really out of energy from all the talking and socializing.

"Go to the balcony on the second floor. I'll bring something to eat." He patted my shoulder, and I chuckled. He might be a joker, but he still knew how to treat a lady right.

Judging by the atmosphere of the banquet, I guessed it would continue for the whole night. Father and mother seemed busy drinking with the envoys who had come from the Imperial palace. Dain was busy talking to his friends while drinking. I looked around unconsciously for Ezekian. And there he was... with Alancia.

From afar, they looked like the perfect couple, and it did hurt—

No, I wasn't going to think something like that again.

I went up to the second floor after barely shaking off the young lords who wanted to talk to me and got inside the balcony. The balcony was filled with beautifully arranged flowers. Closing the glass door behind me, I took off my heels and sat on the sofa placed in the middle of the balcony.

Ahh, finally. My butt was relaxing. I lifted my leg and laid down on the sofa. My body was all sore from the practice and dancing. The softness of the sofa felt like a comfort.

As I looked up at the sky, I had my breath taken away by the beauty of the night. It was a full moon, shining so brightly and beautifully that even the stars next to it felt hazy.

I smiled and lifted my hands as if trying to grab the moon. But the moon was too far from my reach.

Behind the closed glass door was the banquet arranged for my fiancé, who was escorting my sister. In the entire banquet, Ezekian hadn't even tried to come to me. I wondered if he even knew how humiliated I felt.

Hadn't it been for Rheon, I wondered how people would have laughed at me for being abandoned by my fiancé, and Alancia would have added more fuel to it by pretending to be innocent.

I scoffed and closed my eyes. There was no point thinking about it. It was nothing new. It was nothing new. It was nothing new. It was nothing new. It was nothing new. It was nothing new.

I kept telling myself, yet tears started streaming down from my eyes. The pain I felt in my heart was too suffocating. I felt as if someone could just tear open my heart and set me free from the pain I was feeling.

Just because it wasn't new didn't mean it didn't hurt. I hadn't even dared to approach him, even after getting this second chance, because I was scared of feeling this pain. Because I was scared of this feeling where I had to admit that I was really not important enough to be considered.

I curled up in a ball, without caring how my gown must have become a mess, and started sobbing lightly.

About whom should I even complain? About strangers? About my family?

It was overwhelming. It was really overwhelming. I thought because it wasn't new, I wouldn't be hurt. But who knew I would be this hurt?

Be it my father, who was suddenly interested in me because of power; my mother, who avoided me and disregarded me for some reason; my brother, who saw me as a rival whom he must defeat; my sister, who was desperate to make me feel useless and unworthy; or Ezekian, the man I had ended up loving like a fool, even though he never cared the slightest about me.

I knew this engagement wasn't something he wanted. Though I had told him that we should reconsider it, should he not have at least said hi to me, even if it was for the sake of public eyes?

I had pretended to be unbothered. I had danced, laughed, talked to people, and planned out who could be useful to me in the future—I had been avoiding feeling this. I had been avoiding feeling this pain. The pain of being forgotten. The pain of being abandoned. The pain of being used. The pain of being thrown out. I had been avoiding it.

But guess what? I was feeling all of it.

*Knock knock.*

My eyes widened as I heard a knock. Wiping off my tears hurriedly, I sat up.

Fuck! I had let myself get overwhelmed by my emotions and hadn't realized someone was coming onto the balcony.

The door opened, and I started channeling my aura to control my emotions, but oh God! What a life I had!

"Young Lady,"

My body froze the moment I heard his voice. I hadn't been expecting him to come to the balcony.

Fuck you, Selantia! That's why you should always be conscious of your surroundings instead of your emotions.

I turned my head, and as expected, it was Ezekian standing in front of the door.

I guessed he had heard me crying, given how sensitive his senses were. Not that I could even hide it, as my face and eyes were red and puffed from crying.

I stood up from the sofa. Even my legs were hurting from wearing such high heels when most of the time I wore boots.

Don't waver. Don't lower your head. Keep your head up and face the challenges head-on. This was something I had been living by and planned to live by even in the future.

"I greet the Young Duke of Nordwyn," I said, lowering my gaze instead of getting into a deep curtsy. Ezekian seemed stunned by my not-so-polite greeting, as if I were in the mood for any drama.

"Young lady, you—" "Do you have something to say to me?" I lifted my eyebrow. Looking at how he was shamelessly standing, I could feel my blood boiling.

I was hurt. I was feeling humiliated. And most importantly, I was angry at myself for getting hurt by this guy again.