Ancient balls are just modern parties, but there are a bit less drugs and a lot more poloticking

Because Jude had decided to go to the stupid ball, Edmonde said he'd also need a new outfit, not too flashy to outdo the host of the ball or the prince, but not too drab to seem poor.

It led to four layers of a commissioned outfit. A silk undershirt, a laced white top with silver accents in the sleeves along with pleated wrist cuffs. On top of it would be a dark gray vest with a crest on the back collar, which would be finished with a dark green long coat.

At least the night would be cold, he couldn't imagine wearing those thick cotton pants with that top ensemble.

Despite that, he delighted in the amount of accessories the previous Jude owned. Now that he was rich, he could throw away the thoughts of selling the jewelry, and simply admiring his drawer full of rings and earrings.

Of course, out of habit, he still picked out his accessories to go with the outfit ahead of time. Obviously, his thumb ring, the Harper family ring, and two silver bands, on each of his middle fingers, and one long ring that went from his knuckle to past his fingernail. It looked cool, so he would wear it on his ring finger.

On the night of the ball, while Edmond was getting him dressed, he commented on it. "Clever choice, my Lord. The chinese fingernail guard was often said to reference the ladies' lack of work, presenting them of higher status. I am impressed by your foresight."

He took the compliment with as much grace as someone who had not known even a smidgen of that could.

Unfortunately, he hadn't gotten around to learning how to ride on horseback as of yet, being stuck in his office all day, so he had to suffer through the fancy coach.

At least his sister was excited, tastefully dolled up, her hair decorated in a half up half down style, many pins and clips cluttered in her extra curled hair.

Meanwhile, he had to suffer through the coach with his equally long hair left loose and around his face, making it feel like it was harder to breathe than it was.

He really hated these carriages. He could only wish Edmonde would suffer the same, instead of riding in the front with the driver, the lucky bastard.

But somehow, he made the two hour drive without breaking down crying, and they made it to the ridiculously large manor which was more like a castle, by nine o' clock.

They were one of many to step out and ascend the stairs to the main hall. His sister held his arm while Edmond walked slightly behind him on his left.

He was thankful he didn't have to carry a cane as well, these stairs were already hard enough to climb while supporting his sister and her ridiculous heels and lack of balance because she had to hold up half her dress.

They were barely given a glance as they were announced, which was just fine with him. As his sister pranced off to frolick amongst the nobility, and motioned Edmonde to follow. "I trust you the most to make sure she doesn't trip into someone's bed tonight."

The butler nodded his understanding and shadowed behind her.

It left him to turn and investigate his potential threats to his security. Most of the men hung to the side, quietly talking to each other or sizing up the women until the Prince could arrive and it would be acceptable to approach a woman.

Lord Wade, who was by the refreshments, stuffing his face with a cheese platter. Lord Cely, with his red hair tied up, elegantly cradling a glass of alcohol mixed with ice cream, presumably, to make a sweet cold drink fitting of the Lords. He spotted a lighter splotch right under his ear, a small blemish to his otherwise light honey complexion, it was odd, maybe he applied makeup wrong?

And of course, the man of honor who wasn't the Prince, Lord Vaughan, who was sitting in a chair front and center on what would be the dance floor, to look over all his guests.

He was admittedly attractive, from what he could see over the heads of others. Healthy tanned skin and dark hair cut to his chin that fell in a slight wave, the curl on the end framed his face more appealingly.

He turned to look at the last person on his threat list. Lord Arderne, who had sent him three letters containing offers to their lands in the capitol, which were small plots set to the side for the stonework business in case their main building ever burned down, along with one of their holiday homes.

He was a tad greasy, in the way he presented himself, but objectively, he could see why he had many wives.

Straw blonde hair and sharp cheekbones, his clothes were of impeccable quality, all silk, rich, good looks, and what looked to be a charismatic personality with the way he had a gathered crowd.

No wonder he had a monopoly so quickly at twenty five, the man had the boxes checked for pretty privilege.

He turned away from the man and observed the rest of the party. His sister was trying her best to get into the circle of the higher standing ladies, Edmonde at the wall behind her.

It was now getting too hot, so he decided to retreat near the open balcony instead, and wait for the party to be over.

"Nice party, isn't it?" His eyes slid to the side, to watch the other red haired man, Lord Cely's younger brother, if he was right.

"Hm. I came here for my sister's prospects."

"Ah, so you don't like it."

Despite how much he worked in customer service, he didn't actually like people, and if he had the chance, he'd rather not talk at all, and curl up with a video game as he did when he was a kid, before he had to sell it.

His head turned to the other side, hopefully warded off the man.

"Ha! Lord Harper, ignoring Lord Cely's right hand man, that's pretty brave, we could buy your entire manor right now."

"The bank doesn't own our properties, and the Harper family coffers have barely been opened for generations, even before my Father's blunders with money."

The man turned to his other side, forcing him to look at his stupid gray eyes directly.

"Elias Cornelias Cely, at your service, may I know the name of my conversation partner?" He turned back to the other side.

"I'm not talking to you. Go away." He caught Lord Cely looking in their direction, before an unfamiliar hand combed through his hair, which Edmonde had spent painstaking time making extra wavy, to fall down in tresses instead of laying flat.

There was a loud sniff, and a hum. "Tea tree oil, exotic, I never would have thought someone of the Harper family could afford such a thing."

He jerked forward, and accidentally glared at Lord Cely right in the eye before he whipped around and turned that full glare at the piss ant called Elias instead.

"Please leave me alone before I make up a reason to stab this ring in your eye." Elias then grabbed his right hand and kissed the nail guard directly, "Wow, such soft hands, and exotic jewelry too? You must be quite the collector, I remember this from Lord Gerrard's auction before he went bankrupt six years ago."

A stern voice behind them both stopped Elias in his tracks.

"When I took you to this party I specifically told you not to flirt with the common folk, and yet here I see you, trying to lay with a dog."

It was only by sheer force of will that kept his eye from twitching like he was a coffee addict.

He withheld his immediate comment about the filthy rich and instead did a slight head bow, more like a head tilt, really, to Lord Cely, who towered over them both, and went to go look for another place to sulk until his sister was satisfied with her soon to be brief glance at the prince.

"How disrespectful." Followed his back, to which he replied with the universal sign language of the middle finger.

_-_

Edmonde found him ten minutes later, handing him a small glass of champagne. "I see you've been making friends my Lord."

Friends, in reference to Lord Cely, who went out of his way to pass by the spot that he could directly glare at Jude after every few minutes of mingling.

"We leave half an hour after the Prince arrives, I can't stand this anymore."

"Oh? You used to love these balls."

Not the Jude of the present, unfortunately, not that he would tell Edmonde that. He merely hummed, and took a small sip of the slightly bitter, mostly fizzy drink.

Thankfully, the Prince finally deemed it late enough to be fashionable, and made a fuss of it at the great hall, a whole plethora of guards keeping him from the rest of nobility as he was then given a clear path to greet Lord Vaughan.

They greeted each other like old friends, the young man's frown turned into a small smile as he grasped the prince's hand warmly.

Jude took it as his cue to start counting the minutes until he could finally leave. And he started it off by sending Edmonde back off to let Myrna know of their soon departure.

He made his way back over to the spread of food, looking for something to hold him over for the two hour ride back.

He settled on two grape and cheese cube sticks, eating them quickly so as not to draw attention to himself.

He finished them just in time before his sister was making a fuss as she looked for him, Edmonde behind her trying to calm her down.

She finally spotted his shorter stature amongst all the taller Lords, he sighed, but secretly he was hoping she'd make a scene so they could leave immediately.

Myrna marched over, both hands holding up her dress so she could gain ground quicker. He braced himself for a spew of vitriol directed at him, but her surprised face soon mirrored his own as she was grabbed and pulled into a newly formed dancing horde.

The music started up quickly after and he watched as she soon forgot all about him, trying to maneuver herself into getting a better partner.

Edmonde took it as his cue to join his side again.

"Care to dance, My Lord?" He turned to the taller man, who had a small smug smile on his face. It reminded him of his manager when he told him he'd have to work extra hours.

It irritated him enough into taking Edmonde's hand before he could refuse, and doing a small box step dance off to the side, despite the upbeat music and jumping feet nearer to the dance floor.

Edmonde's face lost its smile quickly as he instead started looking around with increasing panic. "My Lord, this is extremely improper!" He hissed it out quietly, having to lean down for him to hear over the jubilant instruments.

"You asked for a dance, so we'll dance." "You know that is not what I meant."

He was starting to gesture to the hopeful ladies off to the side of the party, looking for someone to ask them for a good time, his mouth opened to further prove his point, when an annoyingly familiar tan hand shoved itself between their chests.

"Mind if I cut in?" Edmonde let Elias in with a quick, "Not at all." Before he could use him as a shield.

Rather than pulling him into the fast paced dancing behind him, Elias kept up the slow pace as they turned in an almost romantic rhythm.

Well, it would be romantic if Jude didn't already find him the most annoying person on earth besides his older brother.

"So I heard you're leaving soon, a shame, I wanted to talk more. Alas, I will just have to content myself with taking your last dance."

"Funny, word travels fast, despite the fact my only confidant was Edmonde at the time." Elias threw him a flirty wink, "Even the walls have ears darling, how would I ever dare turn deaf to their report."

He leaned in close, nose almost touching Jude's. "The song is almost over, will you do me the honor of ending it with a goodnight kiss?"

That was Jude's cue to let his hands go like he'd be burned. He turned around to stare at Edmonde, who was waiting dutifully by the wall.

"We're leaving Edmonde, tell Myrna to hurry up or I'll make her walk home."

Edmonde bowed, "It shall be done, my Lord."

He speedily made his way to the front, the cold night air blasting past the grand front doors.

"Is that my little Judy that I see?" He turned quickly to see Lord Arderne, his blonde hair practically a glowstick in all the bright brazier light.

Elias had been trying to rush after him, and almost ran smack into Lord Arderne. He looked behind them both to see Edmonde struggling to get Myrna to leave the dance floor, before he'd been dragged in by a young decorated lady himself, almost falling flat on his face before he righted himself.

Well, there went his shield.

His face fell into a despairing blank as he waited for the Lord and the annoyance to make their way over, he'd rather they corner him here than outside where there were no witnesses.

"Lord Arderne, I'd say nice to meet you but with how many times your letters have passed my desk, I feel as if I already know you intimately."

Elias raised his eyebrows, and shot a glare at the taller man, who smiled jovially in reply. "Aw, Judy, so cold! I remember when we were kids, you were so cute and innocent, you promised me so much back then, it's a shame you still haven't delivered."

So Lord Arderne knew Jude, huh? Well, that's not great.

"Hmph, we were but children, I'm sure if we held every word and action accountable when we were pubescent, you would be in much deeper trouble than you are now."

Lord Arderne pouted, "So cold, I remember when you ran after me, calling 'Sol! Sol!', now I barely hear even my last name pass your lips."

Elias decided he was on Jude's side, at that moment. "Solomon Arderne, looking to rake in more lands even through old flames then?"

It was Jude's turn to raise his eyebrows, "I've never had sex with this man in my life, and if we were ever friends as children, his letters certainly never hinted as such."

Solomon coughed, his ears going red, "Yes, well, forgive me for being a bit irate, you know how business goes in the capitol these days, and I'm running out of room for my rental business…"

"Sounds dreadful, my condolences."

He turned to leave, but a hand held him back on his shoulder, and he then lamented at all the people touching him today.

"Please, Judy, I really do need your help, and I would prefer if we could talk about it." The man glanced at Elias, who looked like he wanted to chop Solomon's hand off. He shook his head, "Maybe if you lead a letter with pleasantries instead of demands, I'll think about it."

He shrugged his hand off, and finally decided politeness be damned, he'd wait outside in his coach.

Thankfully Edmonde had herded his sister in the same direction, and they both joined near the doors. As he walked towards sweet freedom, he noticed his sister a tad teary eyed, though she wouldn't look at him.

He reminded himself that he was going to have to try to form relationships if he wanted to live this life, so he tried to comfort her.

"If you saw anyone you liked, let me know, and I'll make a proposal." She looked further away from him, and stomped down the stairs. Edmonde barely was able to open the coach door for her in time.

He shook his head, and let Edmonde open his coach door for him.

He didn't look back at the now full swing party behind him, nor did he feel guilty for ruining Myrna's night.