Chapter 53: Disappointment
"Hey handsome" Elijah stood before the grand mirror, carefully fixing his dark curls with the precision of a man who knew exactly how good he looked. With a smirk, he adjusted his tie, placed his signature hat atop his head, and admired his reflection one last time. Perfection.
Satisfied, he turned and descended the grand staircase, his polished boots clicking against the marble steps.
Below, his birthday celebration was in full swing. The grand hall pulsed with laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses. Golden chandeliers bathed the room in warm light, illuminating the polished floors and the elegantly dressed guests.
He moved through the crowd with ease, flashing effortless smiles, nodding at guests who greeted him with admiration and envy. Born with a Blue Zeten and Green Neba, he had lived his life however he pleased. Schools and institutions begged for him to enroll. Noble houses extended offers of marriage. None of it mattered. Elijah wasn't interested in being a hero, a scholar, or a ruler.
He just wanted freedom.
Diana stood near the balcony, sipping wine from a crystal glass, her fiery red hair cascading over the shoulders of her elegant crimson gown. Her black eyes shimmered under the chandeliers. She looked untouchable, like she had stepped out of a legend.
Elijah smirked and approached her. "You look beautiful today, Diana," he said smoothly, taking her hand before she could react.
Diana blinked, a flicker of pink on her cheeks. "You always talk like this?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Only to people worth my time."
She laughed softly, rolling her eyes, but she didn't pull away when he led her onto the dance floor.
As they danced, their movements were effortless, the world around them fading. Elijah was used to this, pretty girls who came and went like the seasons. But Diana? She felt different. They had only known each other for a few months, yet there was something about her that intrigued him.