Page 95 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“Noted.” Julian leaned back in his chair.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but is this a good time for introductions?” a dwarfess sitting on the other side of Julian cut in awkwardly. She had brown hair with purple streaks, and a purple beard with brown streaks. She wore matching light-purple pants and vest over a white tunic. Her buttons were large cut amethysts. “I’m Lady Betta Ameth of the Baldorin Mountains, and this is my partner, Sam Glenwood of Servalt.”
Her partner was an elf with brown skin and strawberry pink hair, wearing a hood with intricately embroidered oak leaves over a sky-blue tunic and pants. Sam waved nervously.
Julian and I shared a look. His face resumed its stern neutral expression while I smiled wide, showing off my pointy troll tusks.
“It’s nice to meet you. I am Miss Gerda Jones from Nilheim, and this is my partner, Duke Julian von Slyke, Border Master of the Northern Fortress, heir to the duchy of North Sumbria,” I stated, purposely highlighting the duke.
Lady Betta’s eyes took on a sharp gleam. “I can’t imagine what it must be like, living in the Dark Enchanted Forest. I could never—”
“You are being too humble.” His voice carried an edge as he interrupted the dwarfess and waved a hand at me. “May I introduce my partner, Miss Gerda Jones, an elite member of the Dark Horde—and the famous Madame Potts.”
“What an honor!” Sam clapped once.
“Thank you for waiting, everyone.” Calisto returned and elegantly sat in the chair at the head table. “And for joining me in a light bit of refreshment before tonight’s celebration. I’m so happy that you could make it.”
Her head was held high as she swept them all a friendly smile, and I didn’t need my ludicrously high perception to notice that she stared at Julian and I longer than the others, her smile getting wider. I started to sweat under that look.
“For many of you, tonight will be your first debut into society.” The duchess waved a hand, and servants in palace livery came forward with enchanted tea pots full of different varieties of expensive tea. The one set before Julian and I was an aromatic blend of mint and citrus with a hint of something familiar I couldn’t place. “While our tea is brewing, allow me to explain a few important details.
“First, you all should have an escort for this evening. If anything changes between now and then, let me knowimmediately. We want you to feel comfortable and have someone you can trust by your side during the festivities. Everyone is going to meet in the main hall outside the ballroom. Usually, we would announce everyone as they enter, but this is a masquerade ball. Where’s the fun in that?
“Instead, we will simply enter as we did today. There will be time to mingle and enjoy the open buffet for an hour’s time, then there will be a toast. After that, Chloe and Julia will open the dance floor with a solo performance, after which we have an hour of dancing before the great mask reveal. You arenotexpected to keep your mask on all evening. Please take it off any time you wish.”
“Your Grace!” An eager hand popped up from the end of the table belonging to a lizardkin woman with orange scales and long black hair. “I don’t have a partner for this evening.” The lizardkin shot a look at Julian that surprised a moment of jealousy out of me, and my fingers twitched.
If this were a cheesy romance, I might have grabbed Julian’s arm or glared at the lady … but I was a grown woman with enough emotional maturity to count for two lifetimes—and Julian had already promised to escortme, so she was just out of luck.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Terralith. Come see me after the tea party.” The duchess smiled reassuringly at the lizardkin before addressing the group again. “Now! Let’s pour some tea, and then I will go over a basic etiquette lesson for anyone interested in a refresher.”
As to be expected, the tea was delicious. The smell that I couldn’t discern earlier was immediately recognizable with the first sip. My mind remembered the joy of root beer in my previous life, and savored the familiar taste. It had no carbonation or foam, but it was so close to home that I closed my eyes and let the moment take me.
I wondered where they’d found the sassafras? I could make and share a root beer float recipe—No. There wouldn’t really be time before I left for the North.
I placed my glass down and looked up at Julian, who was staring at me and my tea. We would be leaving tomorrow.
And that was that.
CHAPTER 54
He Didn’t Want Them to Clash
Julian
After the tea, Julian escorted Gerda to the western garden. He didn’t know what she was going to get up to in the two hours before the Masquerade, but he had a few tasks to complete himself before he could get changed into something more elaborate for the occasion.
“Thank you for escorting me.” Gerda let go of his arm when they reached the fountain. She demonstrated a perfect curtsy—as learned from his mother only thirty minutes prior.
“The pleasure was all mine.” His lips twitched as he said, “Am I to assume thatthis timeyou won’t forget where we are meeting?”
She raised both eyebrows and smiled at him. “Only ifyouaren’t late.”
“You wouldn’t have even known I was late,” Julian pointed out, “if I hadn’t told you.”
“But youdidtell me,” she countered, lifting up her new purple fan and hiding her smile behind it.
A tray of fans had been presented as gifts to the tea party attendees, to keep and to practice with during his mother’s lessons. Gerda had chosen one that obviously matched his own coloring. A darker purple like his hair, with silver decoration like his eyes. It was painted with a crescent moon surrounded by clouds.
