Die Melusine - Chapter 32

The light was dazzling. Though the sky had been a dark gray on her way to the castle, it felt as if all the light in the world had been gathered here in one place.

“Wow…”

Melusine stood in a corner of the ballroom, her gaze fixed on the chandelier above. Hundreds of crystals, each unique in shape and size, reflected and refracted the light, creating rippling rainbows across the room. It reminded her of how everything on her island sparkled under the sunlight after heavy rain.

When she arrived, the ball was already in full swing.

Couples twirled in the center of the grand hall, their hands interlocked as they danced in graceful circles. Groups of people gathered in clusters on the edges, sipping from their glasses and exchanging laughter and whispered stories.

But Melusine had only one purpose: Kieron.

She didn’t know where to find him, nor what to do amidst this sea of strangers. Fidgeting, she reached for the ribbon tied at her chest, twisting its end nervously between her fingers.

What Melusine failed to notice was that from the moment she entered the ballroom, she had drawn attention. Subtle, lingering glances followed her as she moved.

Most notably, a group of young noblemen gathered near the balcony, idly smoking cigars, had shifted their focus entirely to her.

The main hall of the Grand Duke’s castle, once the heart of an ancient kingdom, was as vast as it was opulent. The decor bore the weight of centuries, its grandeur both refined and overwhelming.

Paintings depicting the Empire’s history adorned the high ceilings and walls. Intricate gold filigree bordered arched mirrors, spreading light throughout the space. Statues encrusted with jewels were casually placed at the bases of ivory columns or near the entrances to the balconies.

Even in this setting—where noble heirs had dressed to dazzle and compete—Melusine stood out. Her exotic beauty and air of mystery made her impossible to ignore.

Her pale skin seemed almost translucent under the flickering candlelight, and her delicate, bare shoulders glimmered faintly.

“Pink hair? That’s a first in the Empire. Could she be from another duchy?”

“If we remove her mask, we’d know for sure. Still, she’s definitely my type. If no one objects, I’ll be the first to ask her to dance.”

“Hold on! I was the one who gasped the moment she entered through the west doors!”

“Ridiculous. It’s obvious I should go first—”

The squabbling was abruptly silenced as a tall figure passed by them. A sudden chill, carrying the faint scent of smoldering cigar smoke, swept through like an icy breeze.

“Wait, could that be…?”

The baron who had been boasting seconds earlier rubbed his goosebumped arms and muttered, his voice trembling.

For a brief moment, he had locked eyes with the man behind the mask—a pair of sharp, golden eyes that seemed to pierce straight through him.

“Isn’t that… the Grand Duke?”

The imposing figure strode past without hesitation, heading directly toward the center of the hall. His broad shoulders and towering height made him stand out even among the crowd of elegantly dressed nobles.

Every step emphasized his powerful frame, his well-defined muscles flexing visibly beneath his tailored suit.

The previously boisterous group fell silent, as if his very presence had drawn the air from the room.

There was no need for words. A man of such stature and command could only be one person in the Empire.

“The one who’ll soon be our Grand Duchess?” one of the young nobles whispered.

As if on cue, a blonde woman appeared from the opposite side of the hall, gliding gracefully toward the Grand Duke. Her movements were so fluid it seemed as if she weren’t walking at all.

Her white gown, reminiscent of a wedding dress, shimmered with diamonds intricately sewn into its flowing chiffon. The jewels caught the light with every step she took.

As the distance between them closed, the two figures—so poised, so perfectly matched—formed a picture of elegance, like a pair from a storybook.

“Is it true? The two of you are getting married soon?”

“Well… Father says it’s likely to happen soon, but I’m not sure of the exact details,” replied the heir of a family close to the Marquess of Hesnal. He hesitated, unsure what more to say.

“Your Highness.”

Estelle spoke, aware of Melusine lingering nearby, and turned toward the man in the black mask approaching with steady confidence. He exuded an aura that matched his imposing figure, his velvet and gold-threaded tailcoat impeccably tailored.

He was breathtaking. Estelle felt herself basking in the collective admiration and envious glances directed her way as she stepped forward.

“Tonight, we’re…”

But to her shock, the man walked right past her.

It was as though he hadn’t seen her at all—or worse, hadn’t even acknowledged her existence.

Startled, Estelle withdrew the hand she’d reached toward him, her poised expression faltering for the briefest moment before she laughed softly to save face.

“Oh my, I must have mistaken him for someone else,” she said, the lightness in her voice carefully measured.

“Yes, of course,” a nearby noblewoman said, offering a polite laugh of her own. The others quickly followed suit, hoping to ease Estelle’s embarrassment.

Meanwhile, the man strode toward a woman standing alone in a coral-colored dress—a color unflatteringly out of fashion in noble circles.

Melusine, oblivious to the attention she was drawing, swayed gently to the sound of violins, her movements languid and unrefined. She sipped from a glass of red wine she’d taken from a passing tray, the rich, sweet aroma lingering in her mouth with each sip.

The wine burned slightly as it went down, but the more she drank, the more she wanted.

By the time she had nearly emptied her glass, a pleasant haze had settled over her mind. She felt light, carefree, and a little dizzy.

“What exactly are you doing here?”

The deep voice, resonant like waves crashing against a shore, came from behind her.

“Kieron? Kieron!”

Melusine turned, her face lighting up as she called his name. Her smile was brighter than ever, laced with a giddy laugh born of her newfound intoxication.

It felt as though she were floating, as if her body were buoyed by the waves.

Her gaze met his under the ballroom’s dazzling lights, and for a moment, it was as if the world had melted away. He was more striking than ever, standing beneath the shimmering chandeliers, his presence commanding the entire hall.

“Again. Doing things you weren’t told to do,” Kieron said sharply, his golden eyes narrowing as they glinted with cold irritation.

Even so, Melusine’s mood didn’t waver. Her heart and mind were too pleasantly dulled to feel anything but happiness at seeing him.

As she lifted her glass again, murmuring softly about how much she had missed him, Kieron snatched it away with a swift motion.

“Why? It’s good. Really, it’s…”

Her protest was cut off as he seized her wrist and began dragging her through the ballroom.

“Ow… Where are we going?”

Even as he pulled her along roughly, her attention lingered on his sharp profile.

He has such a tall nose. I think his hair’s a bit longer than the last time…

Her gaze drifted lower, catching the tense lines of his jaw as he clenched his teeth. The taut muscles made her stomach twist in a way she didn’t quite understand.

Once they left the hall, Kieron veered sharply to the right, pushing open a door and ushering her inside with force.

“Ah—!”

The door shut behind them, and before she could regain her balance, he had her pinned against the wall, caging her between his arms.

“Are you doing this on purpose?”

With a swift motion, he tore her mask from her face, discarding it without a second thought. Then, without hesitation, he removed his own.

The tension in the small room was palpable, and his piercing gaze bored into hers.

The lace that had obscured her eyes fell away, revealing the tears perpetually glistening in her blue irises—eyes that never cried but always seemed on the verge of doing so. From the moment he first saw them, they had irritated Kieron to no end.

“I just… wanted to see you. I kept thinking about you… and—”

Before Melusine could finish, Kieron’s face moved closer, and her lower lip was caught between his teeth. The sudden sting made her gasp, and in that instant, he gripped her jaw firmly, forcing her mouth open as his tongue plunged inside.

Her chest, constrained by the tight ribbon of her dress, quivered as his scent—familiar and achingly missed—flooded her senses.

The wine she had drunk heightened every sensation, and the texture of his movements felt searingly vivid.

Remembering their last kiss, Melusine timidly offered her tongue. But Kieron was relentless, as if intent on drawing out everything she had to give. Overwhelmed, she clung to his waist, pressing her body against his.

She wanted to be closer, to melt into him. But it wasn’t enough—her breaths came shallow and fast, her need insatiable.

Just as she tried to respond more fervently, his lips abruptly left hers.

Panting softly, she opened her dazed eyes to meet the piercing gold of his, shimmering like molten metal, boring into her with a weight that made her tremble.

“Why… why did you stop? Do it more…”

She lifted her face toward him again, her voice tinged with desperation. Kieron let out a low, guttural sound, biting back his frustration.

Instead of answering, he clenched his jaw and grabbed her chin again, this time trailing his tongue along its line before moving to her neck.

His teeth sank into her skin, harder than before, marking her repeatedly with unrestrained hunger.

“W-wait—ah, ahh!”

Melusine gasped as he bit and sucked along her shoulders and collarbone, leaving her pale skin mottled with darkened marks. Each sharp nip made her mind blur further, until she felt utterly consumed.

When he finally stopped, her neck and upper chest were a canvas of bruises and welts, his possessive touch unmistakable.

Kieron’s breath was uneven as he leaned back, his fingers brushing her swollen lips, smearing the saliva and leaving them glistening. His chest rose and fell more visibly than usual as he spoke in a low, curt voice.

“I told you not to act on your own. Go back. Quietly.”

He turned to leave, but before he could take a step, Melusine grabbed his arm.

“Kieron,” she called, her voice trembling.

He turned his head slightly, but didn’t face her fully.

“Will you… call for me?”

“What?”

“I waited. I kept waiting. Why don’t you see me? It hurts. I miss you. I think about you all the time.”

Kieron remained silent.

Melusine, growing more anxious, tried again, her words spilling out.

“Don’t you miss me too? Don’t you ever think about me?”

For a moment, a faint twitch pulled at the corner of his mouth. Was it a smirk? A sign of anger? She couldn’t tell—his expressions always left her guessing, always made her ache for more.

“Melusine,” he said, her name slipping from his lips like a blade’s edge.

She tightened her grip on his coat, bracing herself.

“Why… should I be curious?”

Your feelings are yours alone.

With that, he turned and left, the door slamming shut behind him with a resounding clang.

The sound cut through her chest like shards of glass.

For the first time that night, Melusine learned the word emotion. And she learned it from a man who didn’t seem to know what it truly meant.