Chapter 476: The Truly Powerful
A cutthroat voice and an imposing posture despite her humble height.
Madame Devereaux was woman of impressive aura, dressed in a gown of blood-red silk, her mask a delicate creation of black lace and gold. She carried herself with the poise of someone who had long since learned to command a room without speaking a word. It was simple enough to read her thoughts, wants, expectations, and emotions. The woman had the same silky hair as Pauline, although longer, silkier, and chestnut rather than black.
For the first time that evening, Pauline faltered. Her fingers brushed against Kazi’s.
Kazi did not react outwardly. He wanted to, suppressing his instinct to yank himself away. The idea of casual touch was not one he entertained, but they were both wearing gloves. A layer of separation existed. That was enough for now. The mission. The necessity to be disguised, to be in-character. That was more important than his ethics.
Madame Devereaux’s gaze flicked between them, assessing.
"Well," Madame Devereaux said smoothly, a smile that did not reach her eyes forming beneath her mask. "It seems I finally have the pleasure of meeting Pavvo in person."
Kazi inclined his head slightly. Time to be every bit the eccentric noble he had crafted himself to be. "The pleasure is all mine, Madame, although we have met before."
"We met when you were but a child. What I see before me is a man."
Pauline, fingertips touching and never committing to his hand, remained silent.
The moment stretched, tension thick beneath the polished elegance of the ballroom. Kazi, ever the observer, noted the minute details—how Madame Devereaux’s fingers twitched slightly against her champagne glass, how Pauline’s faux smile tightened just a fraction more, and how the butler stood a few feet behind them, ever the loyal shadow to the Madame.
No, not a butler...