CHAPTER 455: CUSTOM MADE

Left so far behind was her first time facing the ballroom doors. The music intertwined with the humming and voices of the guests that escaped through the gates came so... Different.

The rumbling they caused through the young woman’s chest weren’t as enfeebling as her first introduction to the assembly.

Arabella and Silas stood ahead of Lady Persephone who was to bring Ada and Abigail along on her trail as the most recent entertainers to join the roster.

Though at mere minutes before the strong masculine vocal cords that usually syphoned the attention of the room to announce the arrival of the hosts blared, a familiar, raspy one caught Arabella’s ears from the side.

"Would you hold for a moment?" Rubius walked over, along the hallway, a smile on his face and a small box in hand.

Nobody said a word for a moment, the five, including Arabella, simply watched his every step.

With some hesitation, she unwrapped her hand from around her husband’s arm to face her approaching grandfather.

"Why aren’t you inside?" she asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

"I will be," he nodded, "But for now, I’d rather enjoy the fresh air in the gardens for a while longer,"

That answered her question well enough, but it still did not explain why he was coming their way right then and there.

"I won’t take much of your time, darling," it seemed as though he was about to spare her the effort of asking, "I’ve just come to hand you this," he raised the box a tad higher, "As you are the last living Sterling born woman, this goes rightfully back to you,"

The last living Sterling born woman, he said... Those words prompted a wave of chills to run through every cell in her body.

Her sight landed and remained on the box which his fingers slowly peeled open before her very sharp gemstones.

"A diadem?" she squeaked as the shine of the gems on the piece sparked more light in her eyes.

"I had it custom made specifically for your grandmother but... She categorically refused to put it on her head," his smile paired with the distant look he had on earned him such a wistful expression.

One that ached Arabella to witness, even on someone she did not carry dearly in her heart.

"Why didn’t she wear it?" the young woman asked, her attention back on the jewelry he presented in front of her.

In response, his shoulders did the most subtle of shrugs. By all accounts, it seemed instinctive rather than a deliberate action on his part.

As though his soul spoke without permission.

"Will you do me the honor of wearing it tonight, my dear?"

Somehow, his voice came meeker than before... Straight in the heart it struck her, tugging at her mellow strings.

At those words, the not so foreign body warmth of Silas reached from behind and wrapped her whole.

His voice was the next thing to travel her way, "It must be assessed first," he came to stand between them.

"No, of course," Rubius let out a strained chuckle, "After everything that happened. I understand," he nodded, "I shall keep it until it can be examined,"

"No!" the words escaped her, firm and confident.

It turned everyone’s head back onto her and stopped Rubius as he had been about to turn around and leave.

"I will wear it," she added, just as steadily as before.

"We cannot take this risk," Silas stood in front of her, blocking Rubius from view.

Arabella looked up at him but said nothing for a good few seconds before whispering, "It does not need to be assessed," she shook her head very slowly before stepping around her husband.

Her grandfather extended it but Arabella stood unmoved, looking him in the eyes, "You may put it on my head yourself," she declared.

Her body should have been shivering. Her heart should have been hammering its cage from his sight alone. Her legs should have threatened to give out...

And yet none of that happened. Her spine held her posture straight and her weight was well supported without any external help.

As for her heart! Well, it certainly sang a different tune than its usual, but it was in no way an unpleasant or hurtful one.

The bright smile that overtook Rubius’ features was the better reward to her response in that situation.

"Yes, of course," he nodded a few times.

With a bit of a shaky hand, he picked the frail piece of jewelry then gradually brought it to the top of her head.

Rubius took a few seconds to measure the perfect landing spot on that raven silk of hers until he seemingly calculated the precise center point to place it.

All the while his not so measured, warm breaths brushed her hair and face.

His smile was even brighter once done. Rubius took a step back to behold all of her.

"Thank you for the present," she didn’t even bother to look at her reflection on any reflective surface.

"No... Thank you," he whispered, "I thought I’d never live to see this moment,"

"I believe you told me something similar already," she nodded, then came her eyes’ turn to sweep his figure, "You are dressed for a ball," her eyebrow rose.

"I will join you inside soon enough. I promise,"

With that, he turned around and walked back from whence he came... Hands held behind his back, posture straight, Rubius took slow steps as though relishing every instant, every inch traversed.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Your majesty, the crown prince of Lustris! Allow me to introduce our gracious hosts for tonight’s honouring!" the announcer took a breather before continuing, "First, please welcome the newly united; Lady Arabella and Lord Silas Eleazar!"

"Get back in your positions please," Persephone advised.

Without any objections on their part, the couple returned and faced the doors as they did before the interruption.

Arabella wrapped her hand around Silas’ arm only to sense how tense it was.

It could have been due to stress of what was heading their way or perhaps it was their most recent interaction with Rubius that did it.