The Duke's Daughter Is A Villainess (33)

Just as Dahlia was thinking about how else to approach Lucas, an invitation to a ball arrived. It was held at the royal palace to celebrate Noah's twenty first birthday.

As Noah's 'fiancée', of course she had to show up.

Dahlia knew that as one of the royal family's knights, Lucas was bound to be there too, even if he was just stationed somewhere near the ballroom and not actually inside. Either way, it was a good opportunity.

Dahlia made sure to prepare properly for it. She and Stella played dress up in a boutique and made sure to get the best and most expensive dresses. Balls were always an exciting event for ladies, but Dahlia felt a different kind of anticipation. She felt as if something might happen there, like something big was waiting to unfold.

Instead of scaring her, this feeling excited her instead.

[Host, I feel worried....]

~What are you worried about?

[I'm not sure... I just feel something in the air is strange...]

~Oh, that? I'm not too worried. I bet it'll be fun.

[.....]

Before Dahlia knew it, the day of Noah's birthday arrived, and the three Baudelaires headed to the palace together as the sun set in the distance.

Stella chattered on happily about attending her first 'grown up' ball while the duke pretended he was listening. Dahlia merely sat in silence, her eyes glittering as they neared the familiar landscape of the royal palace.

As she made her way down the stairs of the ballroom, sensing many eyes focussed on her, Dahlia once again felt thankful that she was given a beautiful body to inhabit. It was quite nice being the centre of attention like this, being envied and admired. She smiled kindly at everyone below, and noted with a certain satisfaction that most of the people there seemed flustered at her appearance.

Noah, especially, seemed to be looking at her with appreciative eyes, as if thinking, yes, this is my woman. Dahlia wanted to laugh. They weren't even really engaged.

Lucas, at the far end of the room, had a much more subtle look on his face. He didn't like her so much yet, so of course he wouldn't be as open as Noah, but that didn't mean Dahlia couldn't still sense that he never once took his eyes off her as she descended from the stairs.

What was waiting for her at the end of the staircase was Noah, who offered his arm to her. Dahlia smiled and hooked her elbow through his, letting him lead her to the dance floor.

As they began to dance, Dahlia couldn't help but notice Lucas' gaze from the corner of the room. Though he knew that her engagement to Noah was a hoax, it seemed looking at them dance made him begin to doubt it for a moment. His gaze seemed to waver, as if he was confused by the strange feeling that arose in him.

Dahlia looked away for a moment and met Noah's eyes.

"Dahlia... could I ask something?"

Dahlia could sense he was serious, and nodded. "Yes."

"Would you... consider possibly making our engagement official?"

Since they were dancing, no one could see the shock that appeared on Dahlia's face.

"You... you want to actually get engaged to me?"

Noah chuckled at her dumbfounded expression. "Lately I find I can't stop thinking about you. No matter where I am or what I am doing, all my thoughts somehow always come back to you. For the longest time I thought I was going mad, but lately I think I've finally been able to put a name to this indescribable feeling you've evoked in me..."

Dahlia acted shy, ducking her head so that he couldn't see her face. "... What is it?"

The hand that Noah had on Dahlia's waist moved so that his fingers could grasp her chin and lift her head up to face him once again. Once he could see her bright eyes and red cheeks, he seemed emboldened.

"I love you, Dahlia Baudelaire." He said, and then leaned down to kiss her.

This was not Dahlia's first kiss, but she reacted like it was anyway. His lips were only pressed to hers for a brief moment, and then he pulled away to see her eyes wide, and her cheeks becoming an even deeper red.

They stopped dancing abruptly then, and then she made an excuse and left the room to get some air. In Noah's eyes, this was the action of a shy girl who was so overwhelmed by her emotions that she needed a moment to recollect herself. He grinned to himself as he watched her retreating back.

To Lucas, however, the scene was entirely different. He saw Noah kiss her, and saw that she didn't react, and then saw that she left in a hurry. In Lucas' eyes it was as if she ran away shocked and afraid.

When he saw this, he didn't hesitate to go after her.