CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61 THE BALL(5)

Min-jae sighed, the gender-bender trope in this book was annoying but he had somehow come to terms with being a male-wife.

"...thank you.." he sighed stiffly as Odysseus led them to the carriage.

"We’ll be back before midnight.." Meical paused, as he helped Min-jae into the carriage. Helping him arrange the flows of his gown before closing the door.

"Eyes on the road, Vanadis." turning to Odysseus, Meical nodded "Watch the estate. I don’t want anything thing of mine or Kaizar’s missing and I don’t want any outsider stepping inside.."

Odysseus nodded "Okay, Master. You can rest assured, everything will be fine in your absence.."

The carriage rolled forward, wheels cracking softly over cobblestone. Min-jae sat very still, his hands on his lap, the mask resting loosely between his fingers. He didn’t look out the window, the closer they drew to the castle, the more uneasy he felt.

A ball. A masquerade. A bride-choosing ceremony.

None of this had existed in the original story.

And when the story deviated, things tended to go wrong.

Meical noticed his silence. "I can practically hear your thoughts.." he murmured.

Min-jae blinked. "...."

Meical shifted his posture, slightly leaning closer. "Listen to me. I won’t leave your side. You won’t be alone at any point tonight. Understand? So you don’t have to worry.."

Min-jae nodded, but his shoulders didn’t relax.

Meical’s voice softened. "If you get overwhelmed, touch my hand. Even if we’re surrounded. Even if I’m speaking with someone. I’ll know what to do."

"...Okay. You said this, so I should be your first priority.."

The palace came into full view, tall, white stone walls illuminated with lantern light, the banners of Aldoria swaying, and strings of crystal decorations glittering like fallen stars.

Music floated through the air, blending into the darkening sky.

The carriage stopped.

Vanadis jumped down, opened the door, and offered a stable arm for Min-jae to use as support. "Steps are steep.." he muttered.

"I’m wearing a suffocating gown and heels. Everything is steep.." Min-jae replied.

Vanadis snorted, but helped him down carefully all the same.

The entrance to the ballroom was flanked by palace guards. Since guests wore masks, names had to be announced.

One guard stepped forward. "Your names, please."

Meical spoke calmly. "Governor Meical Vukasin. And my spouse, Kaizar."

The guard began to check the list, then froze.

His gaze dropped. Then rose. Then dropped again.

"...Spouse Kaizar is—"

He hesitated.

"...a man?"

Min-jae just stared at him.

-_-

"here we go.."

The guard’s eyes widened even more when he realized the delicate, stunning figure in red was not a noblewoman but a male spouse. His shock was loud. Obvious and borderline insulting.

Meical’s expression did not change but the air did.

Cold. Sharp. And unmistakably dangerous.

"Is that a problem?" Meical’s voice held no inflection. Which was somehow worse than anger.

"N-no, my lord, of course not..."

"Then stop staring.." Meical said quietly. "Before I remove your eyes."

The guard nearly tripped over his own feet as he stumbled back and signaled them through.

Vanadis held his laughter in. Barely.

Min-jae sighed. "You didn’t have to threaten him."

"Yes, I did..." Meical replied, offering his arm again. "If someone looks at you like that again, I’ll do worse."

Min-jae had no idea whether to be annoyed... or flustered.

He settled on quietly flustered. As they stepped inside the palace.

The crystal chandeliers bathed the ballroom in warm gold. Velvet drapes cascaded down the walls. The nobles, dressed in every shade from midnight blue to rose gold, clustered in patterns of elegance and gossip.

As the pair entered, the musicians did not stop but the room shifted.

People didn’t gasp or whisper loudly.

They simply turned, one by one as if their attention had been pulled by a single invisible cord.

The Lord in white. And the spouse in red.

Meical led him smoothly, hand steady and sure.

Min-jae lifted his chin, held his mask lightly to his face, and followed.

Mask after mask turned toward them, first in curiosity, then in surprise, and finally, in hushes whispered behind gloved hands.

Everyone knew the rumors.

Everyone knew the story.

The Governor had married a man.

But rumors were one thing, and reality was another. Watching Min-jae descend the steps beside Meical was like watching a painted icon come to life. The gown was as red as ripened wine, sculpted to his frame in a way that neither hid nor exaggerated.

The pearls threaded through his hair glimmered like frost under warm light. His mask, pristine white, framed his eyes in soft curves.

He did not look like a man trying to imitate beauty.

He simply looked beautiful.

And Meical, in his white attire with red detailing to match him, walked with the quiet certainty of ownership not possession. His presence was a warning and a promise: This is mine. And I choose him.

They did not hurry. Their descent was steady, unbroken, synchronized, as though they had practiced it a hundred times.

Vanadis followed behind at a respectful distance, expression blank, posture perfect, each step precise and controlled.

His role was not to be seen, but to be present, and he fulfilled it flawlessly.

The nobles pretended to continue their conversations, but every eye remained fixed.

"Who is that?" a lady whispered behind her fan.

"That is Governor of the South. Meical Vukasin and the man next to him is partner..." her companion began.

"Wife, the man has a male wife.." another corrected quietly. "They say he is addressed as ’Madame’ now."

A brief silence followed, heavy with intrigue.

"He’s quite... breathtaking."

"Terrifyingly so. To think two handsome fellows got hitched.."

Min-jae felt the weight of all the stares. But he kept his chin lifted, posture straight, steps even.

He had worn this confidence before as an armor, not as a expression. His heart was beating too fast, and he knew Meical could see it. The man’s hand at his back tightened slightly, grounding him.

"You’re doing fine." Meical murmured, low enough that only Min-jae could hear.

Min-jae didn’t reply, but his shoulders eased by a fraction.

At the foot of the staircase, servants stepped aside and bowed. Meical led him through the crowd, every motion calm and unhurried.

Even if Min-jae had shown the slightest tremor, Meical’s presence beside him made it inconsequential.

It was strange, Min-jae thought, how someone could feel like a storm and a shelter at the same time.

The hall parted gently around them not by command, but by acknowledgment. Even masked, Meical Vukasin was unmistakable.

The nobles moved aside, careful not to block their path. Some bowed. Some attempted shy greetings. Others simply stared.

Min-jae kept his eyes forward, refusing to falter.

And then came the familiar, unwelcome voice.