#12: Ball: A Warzone with Cupcakes and Hot Guys

I had to share the carriage with father, as we had an 'unexpected' guest, Lucas. I didn't mind the sharing part and was okay with it. Father, wore a blue suit, a lighter shade than my dress.

I realized, if father remained silent, he was actually a handsome man. I sighed and looked out the window, the streets were decorated with flags and banners, It looked so peaceful. There were many people out, buying things within the sale period. Young women were adorning themselves with jewels and the young children playing around.

People were fighting for the tickets to the play at evening. It was nice, It was eerily familiar, though I had never been here.

We soon reached the palace, and I was greeted by a family friend, Earl Dumont, he was a business partner too, My father invested in his business of restaurants and jewelry stores. He wasn't exactly a nice man but was honest with his business and never failed to repay any debt or loan he would take from. A trustworthy man in terms of business only.

He played a major role in the upcoming war. He was one of the very few characters who remained till the end. Unlike all the characters, he didn't pick sides, he was neither a person of Ian nor of the Villain.

He was on his own. He mainly helped the financial recovery of the country and in the supply of good to the soldiers.

He was a bachelor, in the book, he wouldn't stay around in parties and would escape from the ladies who would try to set him up with a match. I think he is around father's age, 38 or something.

He greeted me with a smile and soon began talking to father.

I could see Lucas from the corner of my eye, He was immediately surrounded by some ministers who brought along their wives and daughters.

Father held my hand we both went in, They had announced our arrival. As we entered, I could feel everyone's eyes on us, judging and jealous. I put on the classic smile and didn't bother to look at anyone as that is what Elizabeth had always done.

Father left me to socialize and I was stuck. I couldn't find a way out. I went and greeted the ladies of various houses. I smiled just the way I used to whenever my Father (my father in my life as Han Eul) would take me to his parties.

In that life, Dad would always take me to the parties to show off that I had gotten into University and try to get me engaged with some son of a business conglomerate. I couldn't say anything and just had to smile and talk. I used the same skill here and began talking. At first it was peaceful chatting about the recent trends of hairstyles and tea recipe.

Then came the problem. There was the group of my peers, the group of jealous young ladies with their razor sharp tongue.

They are like the last people I would want to converse with so I went towards the food section.

I was unconsciously drawn towards the cupcakes, which were so perfectly decorated, frosting and all, there were like a 20 varieties!! And I had all the time in the world to calmly eat and enjoy.

I started with strawberry, It looked so appealing with its unicorn like frosting all with a chocolate horn, it looked so delicious and it did taste delicious, In my life as Han Eul, I could never eat anything in a party as it would embarrass them with my bad eating habits or something, my mother never allowed me to.

As I was slowing melting as the frosting melted on my tongue I felt a large hand on my shoulder, which scared the wits off me, I turned and it was Lucas, who was about to say something but suddenly just stopped and just stared.

I snapped my fingers over his eyes and brought him to this world,

"Um.. You good? I know the wine in the palace gets you high.. but this is not what I expect.", I said.

"Uh... That.. You have a... nevermind, Your father was calling you, he is in the other side of the banquet hall, Towards the Lounge.", He said covering his expression and hiding his eyes, he went as far as to cover his face with his hand as his ears turned red.

No way, Don't tell me, Is he shy? Does he think I am pretty??? I read about this exact description in romance novels!!! The male lead is speechless by seeing the beauty of the female lead! Kyaaa!!!! Of course he isn't my type, but.. hehehehe I guess he has good taste.. >u< I never thought I would experience this, Finally I could cross it off my checklist.

"Oh, Thank you, I will go then.", I said, slightly blushing and proceeded to walk through the crowd.

Somehow, all were staring at me, It felt good, the attention and whispers, they were all about me. I strode through the crowd so confidently and so gracefully that it would put swans to shame. As I almost reached the Lounges, I turned around to look at Lucas to see if he was still looking and yes he was!! With his hand still covering his face...He looked like a tomato from here, red all over.

I looked for Father and I found him, he was strangely surprised seeing me.

"Um.. Yes?", He asked clearly confused.

"You called me?", I asked.

"No, who informed you so?", he asked his eyes looking at me but not exactly my eyes.

"Lucas was the one.", I said.

"Lucas? I didn't even talk to him after getting down from the carriage.", He said

"Ah?? But.. he did say so..", I said slowly.

"Leave that, but is it intentional?", he asked.

"What is?", I asked confused.

"You coming here from the other end of the hall with your face like that.", He said struggling to phrase his sentence.

"What do you mean by my face being that way?", I asked.

"You have a pink moustache of frosting.", He said, his finger pointing it out.

"I don't..", I laughed as I touched, there is no way my nervous system is that damaged that I can't feel a layer of frosting on my face and.... NO FREAKING WAY!!!!! I DID HAVE A LAYER OF FROSTING!!!! AAGH!!!

I had walked looking confident, now I realize I was just embarrassing myself!!! NO WAY!!! How did I not notice it??? Is it a female lead thingy? To be a person with nerve damage and cant feel things on face?? I was sure I turned red from the embarrassment!

"So, It wasn't intentional?....pfft.. *cough* Here take this..", Father gave a handkerchief as he was whimpering.

"I didn't know..", I said as I removed the cream off my face and Father broke out laughing saying,

"So, I think it was a prank by Lucas.", He said still coughing.

I turned and yes, Lucas was laughing, or you could say trying not to laugh, the previous peer group I ignored were too, I was so angry!!! I was going to murder him on the field before his destined time!!! I turned to complain and saw, Father who was usually with a scowl was also laughing.

He was laughing and when he looked at me, he tried not to laugh but I know it is a pretty funny thing, I would laugh too... I should be angry that he is laughing instead of saying something to console me, but I kind of felt at peace with him laughing, I had never seen him smile, never. Not even in Elizabeth's memories, he never laughed. Not once! Not even a smile.

I laughed along with him and then excused myself. I went towards Lucas at my highest speed on high heels, and caught him by his sleeve and pulled him towards a balcony for privacy, I didn't care about rumors no more. I just slammed him on a wall and he surprisingly obliged being pushed onto a wall. He was still struggling to laugh.

I stared at him, I guess something was in the cupcakes, but I found this Lucas cute, Him turning red from his prank, I don't even know If I could stay angry. I asked c.a.l.m.l.y.

"Why are you wheezing?", I asked

"Hmm?", he managed

"It was quite funny, wasn't it?", I asked.

"Hmm?", he tried but failed miserably.

"You can laugh.", I said

"Re..ally?", he asked.

"Yea.", I said.

"hahhahaha", he laughed.

I sighed and removed my hands from the kabedon and just looked at him, he was laughing like a kid. He looked damn cute. I couldn't help thinking so, Though not my type, he was handsome. A very fine man, good posture and structure and all.

Him in this blue-black suit just rocked my heart. I was a sucker for hot guys, but whatever feelings appeared for him disappeared with his great prank.

"I am sorry.", he said smiling.

"I am not forgiving you that easily.", I said.

"Then how about a dance? Will you forgive me then?" He said looking a bit drunk with his eyes relaxed and a sly smile.

"I...", I was caught off-guard.

"I will take that as a yes.", He took me by my waist and we entered the dance floor as the song was playing.

He took my hands put them on his shoulders and smiled as he took the lead. I was too flabbergasted by everything that I stepped on his feet many times, it didn't look like it bothered him though, cause throughout the dance his eyes were locked with mine, his hands on my waist pulling us closer with every next step.

As the song approached its end, he pulled me close enough for it to be a hug and whispered in my ear,

"Is this dance enough for you to forgive me?", He asked

"Uh..Yes?", I said, I kinda felt saying no was dangerous. dangerous to my heart.

As the song stopped we left the floor, strangely there were butterflies fluttering everywhere in my stomach. I tried to contain them as a person came up to me with strawberry cupcakes in their hand.

"Do you want one?", They asked.

"No thank you, I had enough...", I looked and saw, God's masterpiece, A tall man, strong build and slightly playboy style suit with a few buttons open at the top (best like that), Red hair like blood, eyes golden. His face was so perfectly chiseled that it would put Michelangelo's sculptures to shame. I know, I had seen them in the museum just before transmigrating here.

He tilted his head and smirked,

"I thought you were a fan considering you showed off your approval of them.", he said his voice setting goosebumps through me.

He was my type alright, but I couldn't take this sudden brightness that I stumbled backward and was caught by another hot guy...

I recognized this one though, It was the crown prince, The blonde haired and blue eyed prince, Handsome as hell and annoyingly hot.

I was barely breathing... My heart couldn't take it anymore. Is this what it feels? to be surrounded by handsome men? I met my dream guy, I got no regrets, I am ready to die now....

...And God took that personally cause the very next moment I found myself near the hands of Death.

Lucky me :)