CHAPTER 66: SAPPHIRE BLUE

Evening finally arrived, and guests had already begun to fill the palace. Fiona had offered to help Lilith get ready after she was done preparing herself. Eldric had left the room earlier to attend to something important, giving the girls the privacy they needed to get dressed.

Lilith watched as Fiona slipped into a gorgeous green dress with short sleeves, matching green gloves, and delicate hairpins. She looked stunning—elegant enough to pass for a noblewoman. Seeing how beautiful Fiona looked, Lilith could only imagine how extravagant the noblewomen would appear in their expensive gowns.

Once Fiona and her sister were ready, Fiona followed Lilith to her chamber. Lilith could barely contain her excitement at finally seeing the ball gown. She placed the basket on her bed, opened it, and carefully pulled out the dress.

She could hardly believe her eyes—it was breathtaking, far beyond anything she had imagined. She wasn’t sure she had ever seen such a beautiful dress before. Even Fiona was momentarily speechless.

Fiona urged her to try it on, and Lilith did so eagerly. Fiona helped fasten the laces, securing the gown in place. The sapphire-blue dress hugged Lilith’s curves, the luxurious fabric catching the light with every movement. The low neckline framed her face beautifully, highlighting her delicate features and offering a subtle hint of cleavage.

Matching blue gloves extended up her arms, adding a touch of sophistication and elegance. The rich, jewel-toned color of the gown made her blue eyes gleam like sapphires. As she moved, the fabric shimmered and flowed, enhancing her grace and poise.

Fiona had her sit while she styled her hair into a loose bun, allowing soft strands to fall around her temples and behind her ears. She finished the look by gently smearing beeswax on Lilith’s lips and lining her eyes with kohl.

"I have always known you were beautiful, but this dress... it enhances everything. You’ll be the brightest star at the ball tonight, I’m certain of it," Fiona said, standing behind Lilith and admiring her reflection in the mirror.

Lilith blushed softly and looked away. "Thank you, Fiona. You’re too kind," she replied with genuine appreciation.

"You’re welcome." Fiona glanced around the room, then said, "It seems I’ve forgotten my vizard. You can join us in my room when you’re ready." With that, she excused herself, leaving Lilith alone in the quiet of her chamber.

Almost instantly, Lilith felt her palms grow clammy. She couldn’t believe she was actually meant to walk into the ballroom looking like this. It felt like too much—too extravagant. She wasn’t a noblewoman or anyone of significance, so why should she be dressed like one?

Letting out a shaky sigh, she rose from the chair and moved to the bed, lying flat on her back as she stared at the ceiling. Her head turned toward the door when it opened. She assumed Fiona had returned, but when the door shut again and no one appeared, she lifted herself to look—and there stood Grim, grinning at her.

Its eyes widened as it took in her appearance from head to toe.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Lilith asked, narrowing her eyes.

"Dear gods, you look like you were sent down from the heavens themselves. You look like an angel, Lilith," Grim said, its voice filled with genuine awe and amusement.

Lilith felt the blush return, warming her cheeks. She laid back down on the bed. "I don’t think I can go to the ball looking like this."

Grim climbed onto the bed and sat beside her. "Why not? You look like a princess. Why would you say that?"

"I... I don’t want to draw attention to myself. What will people think when they see me in a dress this expensive?" Lilith said, her voice laced with real worry.

"I’m pretty sure everyone at that ball will recognize you. If you recall, you already drew attention to yourself at the last one. Besides, the prince is an incredibly wealthy man—no one would expect anything less from someone under his care. So, you have nothing to worry about... except maybe the hundreds of men who’ll want you for themselves," Grim said, frowning slightly at the last part.

"Are you sure?" Lilith asked, turning her head to look at the moggly.

"Yes, yes. Now get your arse up and have a wonderful evening at the ball. It’s already started," Grim said, gesturing with one of its tiny paws.

Lilith sighed again but pushed herself off the bed.

"How do you look even more beautiful on your feet? I’m so jealous of you," she heard Grim mutter, making her roll her eyes.

"So, what will you be doing if you don’t plan on attending the ball?" she asked, smoothing down her dress.

"Resting. I spend a lot of time taking the form of different things, and it wears me out. We mogglies use a lot of energy when transforming, so we need plenty of rest to recuperate—hence why you usually find me lying down or asleep," Grim explained.

"Oh, I see. Well, I’ll be on my way now." Lilith picked up the vizard and moved toward the door.

"Goodbye! Do have fun," Grim called out, stretching its small body with a yawn.

"I hope so," Lilith murmured as she fixed the vizard over her face and stepped out of the room. She made her way down the stairs toward Fiona’s chamber, thankful that the servants’ quarters were far from the ballroom. She wasn’t quite ready for the public gaze just yet.

Before she reached her destination, Lilith bumped into Fiona, her sister, and Eldric chatting outside in the corridor. Their conversation halted the moment their eyes landed on her. Fiona wore a knowing, proud smile across her face, while her sister and Eldric stood frozen, their mouths slightly agape as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

"I told you she looked breathtaking," Fiona said, adjusting her vizard with a smirk.

Her sister immediately agreed, her voice filled with admiration as she complimented Lilith on how beautiful she looked. Eldric, however, took a step forward. He was dressed in black trousers and a fitted brown coat, a brown vizard resting over his face. His hair was slicked back, making his sharp features even more prominent.

"You are indeed breathtaking, Lilith," he said, offering his arm.

"Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself," Lilith replied, slipping her hand into the crook of his arm.

"Much appreciated. Shall we, ladies?" Eldric called out to Fiona and her sister, who were busy adjusting each other’s attire.

Fiona and her sister led the way, while Lilith and Eldric followed closely behind, walking in slow, graceful steps. As they approached the ballroom, Lilith felt her breathing grow unsteady. Her heart pounded in her chest with each step.

After what felt like an eternity, they finally arrived at the ballroom. The moment they stepped inside, they were met with a sea of guests in an array of stunning colors and elegant gowns. Lilith had seen the room during the decorating process, but the finished product was more than she could have imagined. Flowers cascaded from the ceiling, creating a dreamlike canopy that transformed the entire hall into a garden of beauty.

She kept her eyes lowered, avoiding the faces of the guests or, worse, locking eyes with any of them. Her grip on Eldric’s arm tightened. He noticed and gave her a reassuring squeeze, offering a warm, encouraging smile.

Suddenly, the attention of the ballroom shifted toward the stairs. The prince had arrived.

He descended gracefully, dressed in a tailored black coat and trousers, black gloves on his hands, and a burgundy cape draped over one shoulder, fastened with a golden clasp. The buttons, neckline, and edges of his coat were intricately lined with golden embroidery. A golden vizard masked the upper half of his face, leaving the lower part visible, his lips set in a calm line.

Lilith noticed that his hair was shorter than the last time she’d seen him—neatly trimmed and styled. She wanted to look away, but her eyes remained fixed on him. There was something magnetic about the way he moved, exuding authority and confidence. His aura commanded the room like a silent roar, brushing over every soul present. Hades looked every bit the ruler he was—a strikingly handsome ruler.

Behind him were Viktor and Charlotte. Viktor wore an outfit similar to the prince’s but without the gloves and cape. While the prince’s vizard was gold, Viktor’s shimmered in an almost silver hue. Charlotte walked elegantly beside them in a flowing emerald green dress, her black vizard adding a touch of mystery.

Realizing they were about to walk past her, Lilith hastily excused herself from Eldric. Panic fluttered in her chest—she wasn’t ready to be seen by them, not yet. As she tried to disappear into the crowd, weaving through the crowd of guests, she suddenly bumped into Kathryn and her group of friends.

There were four of them—Kathryn and three other ladies—all watching Lilith with sharp expressions. Kathryn’s eyes lit up as she called out.

"Lilith, dear! It’s so good to see you here. I didn’t think you’d be attending the ball," she said, her gaze sweeping from Lilith’s head to toe with obvious scrutiny.

"I had a last-minute change of plans. I need you to excuse—"

"You must come meet the girls. They’d love to have a chat with you, wouldn’t you, girls?" Kathryn interrupted, her tone overly sweet.

"Yes, absolutely," the three girls echoed in unison, their smiles not quite reaching their eyes.

"Come stand with us for a while, Lilith," Kathryn said, gesturing to the small circle they had formed.

Lilith clenched her fists at her sides. She didn’t want to make a scene, but the last thing she was interested in was spending time with Kathryn—let alone her insufferable friends. Still, they were all staring at her, clearly awaiting her response.

"Fine," she muttered through clenched teeth.

"Lovely. Come stand here. Let me introduce you to everyone," Kathryn said with a pleased smile as Lilith reluctantly stepped closer.