Owen stopped in his tracks at the entrance of the banquet hall, his face half covered by the handkerchief in his hand while his gaze pierced towards the man holding Luna's hand. Prince Sebastian smiled gleefully as he gently held Luna's hand in his as the two danced to the melody of the music. Luna's eyes were cast downwards on the golden embroidery of Sebastian's red suit while he stared at her eyes and the red cheeks on both sides of her celestial nose.
Two hearts raced rapidly but neither could hear the other's wild beat. One raced with passion on the dancefloor while the other heart raced with aggression for the former at the entrance. Funnily enough, the latter soon became conscious of his emotions and got confused as to why he felt that way.
Did he have any grudge against him? No. Had he felt jealousy towards him? Definitely not!- Maybe? But why? It's not like he had something he held dear next to him. There was someone dancing with him though.
Owen lowered the hand that had been covering his mouth, shaking his head. "This is ridiculous! Why would I- that's right! He was quite rude the other day so that's why I'm feeling a bit on edge tonight."
"What are you mumbling about?" Hugo peeked from behind him.
"Nothing." Owen exhaled a deep breath. "When will you stop following me?"
"Till you say what's goin' on between you and that pretty lady." Hugo raised his chin up towards Luna's direction who was now bowing gracefully towards Sebastian indicating the end of their dance.
"What makes you think that? I have nothing going on with her." Owen placed his hands in his pockets.
"Really?" Hugo straightened his back with a frown. "Well... You two were stealing glances at each other, so I thought.. you know..." He pointed his index fingers towards each other.
Owen raised a skeptical eyebrow, "Are you out of your mind? We're two different worlds. There's no such thing between us."
"Why the rise in your voice? Makes me think I've said something offensive. Sheesh. I'm sorry." Hugo raised his hands as mock surrender. He wasn't louder than anyone there- just his tone was not as low as he usually had which was new for Hugo.
"I didn't raise my voice." Owen's tone came back to his normal low, steady tone. "And don't say such things around others or there will be rumours spreading around."
Hugo smirked as Owen left him alone at the entrance, "You say there's nothin' but my bet's on you two. Oh Lord! I hope he marries her!"
"Is something interesting happening between you two?" Arum excitedly cornered Luna alongside Violet, their faces grinning.
"There's nothing between us." Luna shrugged as she took a glass of wine in her hands, "I was simply fulfilling the promise of a dance with his Highness."
"We're not talking about prince Sebastian, we're asking about that breathtaking beauty." Violet's smile couldn't be any wider.
"Who?" Luna narrowed her eyes.
"Oh you know..." Arum lowered her tone to a whisper, "Owen." Violet nodded.
"What? Why would I have anything of thatsort with him?" She was genuinely shocked by the two.
"There isn't?" Violet's smile faltered, "But you were stealing glances at him."
"I know, right? While in the arms of another man, you couldn't help but peek at him. A romantic story if I say so myself." Arum embraced herself as she spoke in a poetic tone.
"Oh come on! I only glanced at him because he kept glaring in my direction." Luna tried to explain. "It felt as if he'd poke a hole in the prince's head if he'd stared any longer."
"So it's one sided love?" Violet tilted her head. "Poor guy."
"And he's good looking too. It's a shame." The two sighed in unison making Luna uncomfortable.
"Oh please. There's no such feeling in his heart. He was probably like that because of what happened at their last encounter." She started to gulp the wine in her glass.
"Love triangle?" Arum's words made Luna choke on her wine.
"Are you crazy? There's no such thing! Have you ever listened to the venom that comes out of his mouth? If I hadn't known him better, I'd think he has snakes for his meals." Luna remembered the harsh critics he had given not only to her staff, but also to her during the dance practice.
"He doesn't seem to be that type. He seems like a refined young gentleman." Violet's pondering reassured Luna that she understood what she meant.
"Should we continue the party?" Arum smiled and hinted at the pastries on the table.
"Why not! Oh, Violet and Lottie, make sure to zip your lips and never mention this thing to anyone again." The two nodded at Luna's words.
"It's been a long time since you called me Lottie." Arum's smile was innocent and playful. "I began to think you'd say that after I get married."
Owen was having small talks with the nobles when one of them asked, "Can I ask why you have that chain around your arm?"
"I'm sorry, what?" Owen raised an eyebrow.
"That chain." The man pointed towards his left arm. Owen glanced at the direction the man's finger was pointing.
It was strange. Very strange. A chain seemingly emanating out of his chest wrapped around his left shoulder and arm dangled within the air to somewhere else. Where did it end? There was no such thing before, then why suddenly-
His gaze went to where the chain ended. A wave of vigilance washed over his face as he saw the Lilian having a conversation with Luna.
Owen strode across the ballroom to where the two stood. The chain ended at where the metallic collar once resided on the Lilian's neck. The neck and the heart- the chain disappeared there as if the two were connected by those points.
Why is mine at the heart while his at the neck? Is it the difference between the living and the dead? A thousand questions popped in his head but one was louder than the others: Why did he approach lady Oleander?
Luna stood at the spot with the glass of wine in her hand near the table. "Could you repeat what you had said?"
"Of course. I was asking for a dance."
"You.. you're not Owen Lily but you look like him- only from the outside. I had not invited anyone like you to my debutante." Luna rejected his offer with a sharp cold gaze.
"I'm afraid you'd have to welcome me to the party for I'm inseparable from the man you just mentioned. Wherever he goes, I too have to stay there." The man's reply was to the point. "But the answer to my question still remains."
"I know nothing about you. Do you think I'll dance with a stranger?"
"Owen Lilian. Did my identity satisfy your curiosity? As for a stranger, isn't that Lily a complete stranger to you as well? You know so little about that man yet you have your first dance with him." His words were sharp, cold, and yet, somewhat curious.
Owen came right at that moment, the atmosphere changing from the chatter and music to a sudden cold and eerie silence.
"Is there a reason for you to approach her?" Owen's words were sharp and precise.
"Just curious. I mean no harm. Just a dance to know her better. Mind you, I'm an excellent partner for a dance- to the point that it's recorded in history." He was speaking to Owen but his gaze didn't leave Luna for even a second.
"I don't trust you." Owen stood between the two as a wall.
"Owen Lilian keeps his word. The dance is just an excuse to get to know her better." The Lilian shifted his cold gaze to the Lily. Luna couldn't tell whose gaze was much colder.
"Just one song." Luna answered, trying to break the tension that the two had formed in the peaceful environment. Even the guests had noticed, and they were all focused on the three.
"It's my pleasure." The Lilian walked to the orchestra, took a violin from one of the musicians and handed it to Owen. "Play Chaconne."
"You think I'll be able to pull such a hard piece?" Owen raised an eyebrow.
"Start. Your muscle memory will lead you." He took Luna to the middle of the ballroom.
"You speak as if you know the things about me that even I don't remember." Owen scoffed at him. The Lilian's silent glance affirmed his sarcasm as a fact, leaving him speechless. Does he see the memories that I've lost? Not possible, right?
Owen began to play a low, deep sound while the two began the dance. His hands played masterfully with a steady repetitive beat while his eyes remained fixated on the Lilian.
Luna tried to read the Lilian's face which she became unsuccessful at.
"Inscrutable." She mumbled under her breath with agitation.
"Not the first time I'm hearing that." Luna's face flushed with embarrassment knowing he heard her mumble.
"Will you learn something about me with just a dance?" She inquired, trying to change the subject.
Owen felt a faint glow under the steps they were taking as the dance of the two continued while the violin changed its tune in his hands.
"Possibly."
The glow seemed to become more vivid with the change in the violin's tune making it even noticeable by Luna.
"Is this your doing?" She asked, a sense of vigilance awakening.
A smirk appeared on the Lilian's face, increasing the tension in Owen's heart. No longer believing the "no harm" oath, he snapped, stopped the bow mid-draw on the violin and hurled it in the direction of the Lilian to separate the two. The bow moved in the air like a shot arrow, but it was too late by then. The Lilian had vanished into thin air and the light grew intense enough to blind everyone for a moment.