The Ball - Part 4

"Hide me!"

Those were the words of desperation that came from Sylvia's mouth as she panicked and clung to Octavia's arm. It was so sudden, but she knew why she asked.

As she looked around the room, she could also see that everyone knew why as well.

All of the guests around the room hung their heads as they heard the man shout, which made her realise this was a common occurrence for them. Had it been the first time he had shouted across a ballroom of nobles; she would expect them to talk about 'uncouth behaviour' or the 'nerve of some people'. But no, it was more disbelief and annoyance that was on their faces, as they looked at the floor.

With Sylvia clinging to her and looking around for a place to hide, Octavia looked around and found the man who shouted.

Sir Roderick Gustavo.

The knight, using the term loosely, who is obsessed with Sylvia. He stuck out like a sore thumb, having made his way to the stage to get a good look at the crowd to find her. His outfit was ridiculously pompous, being covered in a massive number of silks and finery, which in the end made him look overly flamboyant. Blues and purples lined his outfit, with oranges and yellows slotted in here and there. She also saw he had jewels and gems on his fingers and neck, all of it adding up to make him look horribly ostentatious.

"You have to help me. I really don't want to have to deal with him."

"Wh-where can I hide you? This is an open ballroom." Octavia said as she looked around for something. Sure there were exits, but she couldn't just leave the party having entered only a while ago. To Sylvia it would feel like she had let him win, and who knows what the rest of the nobles would think of her leaving the ball which was hosted by the family she was currently living with.

"I-I…" Was all Sylvia said before, in her panic, she let go of Octavia's arm and speedily walked into the crowd.

"Wait, Sylvia, where are you going?" she tried to call out. But she had gone, mixing in with the rest of the nobles, possibly thinking that hiding behind enough of them would make it hard for Sir Roderick to find her.

Octavia did think that she could have just hidden with her, but very quickly realised that wouldn't have worked.

Especially when Sir Roderick strolled right up to her.

"You there, odd beast-kin, where is my beloved." Sir Roderick demanded before he narrowed his eyes and started to scrutinise her, "I remember you from when I embarked on my daring rescue for my love. After I saved everyone, you tried to keep her away from me. How forlorn she must have been to not be able to fall into my arms and thank me, her saviour, her partner. How villainous you are to have come between us, acting just like the despicable creature that you resemble." He said with a small huff at the end as if he was trying to blow hair out of his face, even though there wasn't any.

Octavia could only stand there in shock. The guests surrounding them too were frozen at having heard what he said. Just the sheer gall of this man. There was the delusion of his romantic relationship with Sylvia, which was ridiculous, but for him to talk as if he had saved everyone was insulting to what she had done. Did he truly believe he had done it, or did he know he failed but still spoke as if he succeeded to big himself up?

She had no idea. And honestly, she didn't really care to find out.

And let's not brush over the actual insult. Calling her a villain and comparing her actions to that of a snake metaphorically represents. To outright state, she had kept the two apart by being sneaky and despicable. Wow.

The only saving grace from this was that while everyone around them was shaking their heads, it was towards Sir Roderick, not herself. If they had all believed what he was saying, it would have been a different story, but thankfully, they all for whatever reason knew he was blowing out hot air.

She was still tempted to counter with an insult herself, which she felt was her right given what he had said. But, as she was about to, she realised how badly that could backfire. Of all the stories she had read on Earth, and also from what she had been told to not do at the ball, to have a, let's face it, commoner, throw an insult at a noble would not end well. She didn't know if everyone knew she was a commoner, but if she said something and it was found out, well, that would ruin Lord Desmon's reputation and may end with her life…well, ending.

Even if they didn't find out, it would surely cause a ruckus.

So, she had to grin and bare it as she continued to listen to this man.

"I don't suppose you can truly comprehend what I am saying, but from here on out, I expect you to leave my beloved alone. She does not need someone of the likes of you around her. Only I, her future husband, is all that is necessary to make her happy. Now, while you take my words to heart, I shall go and search for my love who is probably looking for me as we speak. Ta ta."

With his speech finished, he then walked off into the crowd, leaving Octavia there to just…try and process his lunacy.

She did try, but after a few moments, she was afraid she would lose her sanity if she continued to try and make sense of his words.

…

With the pompous fool gone, this now left her on her lonesome, surrounded by people she knew nothing about. As she looked around, she could see them all pretty much averting their eyes having heard all that Sir Roderick had said.

She just didn't know what to do.

So, she decided to just wander a bit, looking for Sylvia as she did, and found herself at the edge of the room. There she found several small tables surrounding a very large one which was covered with food. At each of the smaller tables, guests were sitting and slowly eating the food they had plated up. It was very bite-sized stuff. Tiny sandwiches, small wraps filled with meat and vegetables, glasses of juice and possibly soup, among many other things. So, with nothing to do, she decided to grab some food and take refuge at the edge of the ballroom.

…

As she started to grab and few things and place them on her plate, a few other members of nobility spoke to her with the usual questions, and she gave the usual answers. But, as she had finished adding the last morsel which almost made the plate overflow, someone spoke to her asking more than just who and what she was.

"Lady Octavia was it. I don't believe I have had the pleasure of meeting you before. I am Marquis De'vamillion."

Octavia hearing this turned to the man that had started to gather food for his own plate and quickly responded.

"No. I don't believe we have met before. It is lovely to meet you." She said keeping a good-looking smile on her face. Any wrong word would cause a lot of problems so it was all smiles for her.

The man before her, was like all the others dressed in a nice outfit, with a small amount of finery on his person. It looked much better than Sir Roderick, and really flattered his physique. He had dark brown hair, cut short, with blue eyes, standing with a good deal of confidence.

"I must say you are quite the topic of focus in this ball. As I have wandered around, your name has been on everyone's lips."

"Yes, well I am apparently the first Lamia anyone has seen, so I can understand why I am being talked about." She said making sure to not say she was the only Lamia anyone would or had seen, which was true as far as she knew. Given what Sylvia had said, it made sense to leave it ambiguous that there may be others like her out there.

"True, although while many are just curious about your nature, there are a few where it is your beauty, they are engrossed in talking about. And as I see you now, I can understand why."

That she did not expect. It was however quite flattering. Having heard so many people talk about what and who she was it was nice for someone to actually compliment her as a person.

Not that it did anything for her, obviously. She had only ever liked women, so this guy had no shot with her. But what he said did lift her spirit a bit, so she felt reciprocity was needed. Plus, it wouldn't do to just outfight and tell him to leave her alone as he wasn't her type. That would most certainly not go down well.

"Thank you. And I must say you are rather handsome yourself." Was the only quick line she could think of to compliment him herself.

"Why thank you as well. Would you care to join me for the next dance? I believe it will be Galadro's Reconcile and I would love to talk and get to know you some more as we dance."

"Err…I-"

As she formulated some sort of response to tell this guy that she couldn't and wouldn't, she felt a hand grab hold of her arm. Looking over, she found a panting Sylvia standing next to her.

"Octavia...*huff**huff* I am so glad I found you. I have been looking…*huff**huff* all over the place for you."

"What, but you left-" was all she managed to get out as she felt Sylvia pinch her arm to get her to shut up.

"Yes, left you waiting, I know. I am so sorry, but I just had to talk to…some people." Sylvia said in response before she turned to the man Octavia had been talking to, "Ah, if it isn't Marquis De'vamillion. It is…lovely to meet you again." She said through gritted teeth.

Octavia had no idea what was going on, but the sour looks both of them held as they started to talk meant that they were definitely not friends.

"Yes, Lady Sylvia. It is a pleasure to see you again."

"How have you been? Still…looking after your family."

"Why of course. They are my family. Why wouldn't I be looking after them." he responded with a slightly quizzical look, something that was mirrored on Octavia's face as she tried to understand what was happening.

At this point, the Marquise turned to place his plate on the nearby table and pick up a glass of some form of alcohol. Sylvia took the opportunity to enlighten Octavia by whispering in her ear.

"He is a womaniser and has six wives, all beast-kin. People also say he is…rough with them. Do not believe a word of what he says." she quickly said, before turning back to the marquise and plastering a smile on her face.

The marquise though was not an idiot, having seen her out of the corner of his eye as she drank his drink.

"Whispering lies about me to your friend. That is very un-ladylike I would have to say."

"I spoke only the truth."

"Of course you did, why would you lie about me." He turned back to Octavia. "I have heard what you did for Lady Sylvia from the musings of others and I am sure it has been…nice staying in Lord Desmon's estate with her, but you would truly be better off seeking other friends. People of higher standing of course. Now, why don't you join me for that dance, and after, I can then introduce you to a few as well." he said with a quick wink in her direction.

"I, well-" Octavia managed to stammer out, before being cut off by Sylvia.

"I'm afraid she can't join you. She has a prior eng-"

Only to be cut off herself, by someone talking much louder.

"My love, there are you. I have been looking all over for you."

Cut off by someone who was just going to make things so much worse.