"Oh, for f*.....-"
Before she could even say anything else, her body rose and began quickly scattering away from her seat and went forward, drawn toward the lake as if the system had taken control over her.
"Ohh-Ahh....Wait.....wait! Let me think. Just....give me a few minutes!" she panicked, but nothing happened. Instead, she was moving even faster towards the shimmering lake.
"F-fine, you stupid system, I'll do it! " she hissed through gritted teeth. Only then did she regain control of her body.
She steadied herself and her dress, exhaled slowly, accepted the interface's command, flipped a finger to the sky before turning her steps toward the dare box.
"Let's play your little game!"
The crowd parted as Eli stepped forward and their murmurs swelled into cheers seeing a new source of entertainment. Her hand slipped into the slot and a card slid up between her fingers with a crisp click.
Dare: Exchange a personal object with a stranger in given colored mask only- (Silver with green mask and embellished) without speaking. Penalty for failure: Balance a glass of water in middle of dance floor on your head for full five minutes.
Her jaw tightened. She had thought giving the task of writing the Dare Box cards to the palace maid would be fun innocent mischief, but she hadn't anticipated it coming back to bite her quite like this. If she fails, she'd make a complete spectacle of herself, and if her mother's guards notices her… forget slipping out of here early.
The host's voice rose above the rustle of silk, announcing for everyone, gleefully: "Wow! A silent exchange! Choose your mark, noble dancer. Offer something of yours. If they return the gesture you win!"
The crowd erupted into delighted cheers with excitement feeding the lantern-lit chaos. Eli slipped a gold bracelet from her wrist, it had intricate wine-red design, with dangling tiny golden charms that caught the light like winks of mischief into her hand.
Stepping out, she adorned a lovely smiled to lure her prey. She moved and her gown whispered against the grass near her feet. The crowd parted around her, giving her way. Then she saw him, his mask matched silver with green edging, the exact color required by the dare.
He was standing near the edge of the balustrade on a bridge casually engaged in conversation with a small cluster of nobles. His one hand was curled around a wineglass, while the other was moving in casual gestures as he spoke. He looked distracted enough not to notice her coming, and composed enough not to make a scene if he did.
She didn't care who he was: noble, commoner, flirt, or bore. He wore the right colors and that was all that mattered. He was her mark and she felt like she could outplay him.
She continued to walk through the crowd, toward him. The bracelet dangled from her fingers. A few guests turned as she walked by them, whispers were trailing behind her like soft silk. She ignored them all. He still hadn't seen her yet.
She closed the distance with careful precision, one step at a time. She came close enough now to see the faint tilt of his head as he listened to something the man beside him was saying. He still was distracted.
Right now, he was standing with his back toward her.
"Ahem, ahem," she cleared her throat softly, trying to catch his attention. But he was too engrossed in his small circle of nobles to notice.
Finally, someone from the group glanced her way and that tiny movement earned his attention as well. Slowly all of them turned to face her, including him.
She lifted the bracelet and let it swing in front of him. She stopped just short of touching him. The nobles he had been speaking with fell silent immediately, sensing the unspoken assertion in her gesture. Only then did he finally acknowledged her presence, truly.
He slowly turned his head downwards to regard her upheld hand and the bracelet dangling from her fingers. His eyes then returned to her face flickering with confusion. Eli's bold move earned her his attention. Clearly, he had no idea what was happening and rightfully so, they were standing far away from where all the real fun was happening. Maybe these were the serious-type of nobles, she wondered.
Originally, Eli had planned to charm him with a soft and inviting smile. But now, taking in his broad, imposing physique, she decided to pivot. She couldn't shake the feeling that any attempt at seduction here would fail miserably and possibly backfire spectacularly. Better to be sharp, confident and let him figure out the game she was playing.
She continued to hold out her hand, palm up, silently demanding him to take it away. Already few minutes had passed, but he neither moved nor said anything to her, and her arm was starting to ache, the strain started to burn down through her wrist.
They were locked in a silent battle, both measuring the other across the small distance between them, each of them testing the other, seeing who would yield first. Eli could tell he wasn't about to give up easily.
Oh, come on, Eli thought, just take the stupid bracelet. This isn't a duel.
When he didn't move for another few seconds, she glared more fiercely at him, sharp and unyielding as a silent command to play along.
For a heartbeat, those blue eyes met hers behind her mask, narrowed in a flicker of surprise that quickly shifted into something else: irritation? Or perhaps calculation.
He blinked once, and then took another slow sip of his drink, looking deliberately past Eli with a face that appeared to be passive.
Oh, you've got to be kidding me. Haah… I guess, I will have to take matters in my own hands now, she thought dryly. Sir, believe me, I'm being forced into this too.
She stepped forward coming dangerously close to him now blocking his line of thoughts once more. She was close enough for his breath to stir a loose strand of her hair. Her skirts also brushed against his boots.
I don't have the luxury of caring about your mood, not-so-gentleman.
Seeing no choice, Eli reached out for his free hand and yanked it upward.
Gasps rippled through his nearby companions in disbelief at her impudence. He, too, was startled, just for a few seconds his shoulders tensed, a flicker of surprise crossed his otherwise passive expression and the wine glass in his other hand tilted ever so slightly before he steadied it again.
She grabbed his hand tightly and slipped the golden bracelet around his wrist herself, fastening it snug enough that he'd feel its presence long after she was gone, all the while glaring constantly at him. He was built well enough that he could have easily freed his hand, but he did not. Perhaps he was too shocked, or perhaps he was being considerate towards her, a lady.
That's when she noticed a simple silver ring glinting on his little finger, without thinking much, Eli plucked it off, letting her fingers brush briefly against his skin. Their contact sent an unexpected spark of embarrassment through her, startling her more than she cared to admit.
The crowd around them had been constantly cheering and their excitement rose with her every bold action. Many times, balls were infamous for their flirtatious daring, whispering guests to pair off with desired partners, and her brazen move had clearly not gone unnoticed.
Eli, however, felt a rush of shyness out of nowhere. She couldn't even look up to see his reaction. The second the bracelet was in place, and she got something of his and not knowing what else to do, she gave a quick, awkward curtsy and hurriedly fled back to her seat with the ring tucked safely in her palm.
As the crowd shifted and the music swelled once more, Elinessa slipped back into the whirl of masked guests. With her task complete, her expression carefully returned to the composed serenity. Laughter rang bright as crystal, glasses chimed, and a hundred conversations spun. The public attention scattered easily, darting away to the next jest.
But not every gaze was so easily diverted.
At the edge of the lake, beneath the drooping boughs of a silver lantern-strung tree, a figure sat in unyielding stillness. His mask gleamed with the same shade of silver Elinessa had to find in her challenge. Yet, where the first man had left half his face bared to the light, this one allowed no such glimpse. His mask was sealing away his every feature, his whole face from view.
And though his golden eyes should have blended into the night lit with bright light and shadows, they remained locked on only one thing; her.
Unbeknownst to Elinessa, she had summoned something far more dangerous and persistent. It was a gaze that had already chosen not to look away!