Marmalade's Love Potion

Chapter 20 - The Dark Moon Ball - Part 3

From the corner of her vision, Penelope could see Princess Ivy's friends retreating, visibly distancing themselves from her.

Penelope ignored it, allowing Steph to guide her to a quiet corner of the room, eyes following their every step.

"Quite the entrance," Penelope murmured, at a loss for what to say, feeling flustered by the intensity of Steph's gaze. He released her arm, brushing his hand down her wrist as he lifted her hand between them, her gloved fingers still clasping the honeybelle.

"I could say the same," he replied with a smile. "I wanted to meet you as you arrived, however I was... waylaid." Steph's smile twisted for a moment as he glanced away. Penelope raised her eyes in question but he shook his head. "Nothing to worry about."

Penelope frowned. "Still keeping secrets?" She hadn't meant to sound so sharp, but she felt all the bitterness of the past weeks resurfacing.

"I—" Steph looked stricken, conflicted, as he pursed his lips. "My brother and I have been arguing. It's been... difficult for me. It's not... not a secret. It's just..."

"I'm sorry, that isn't my business, I shouldn't have—"

"I don't want to keep secrets from you, Penelope. I never did, I'm sorry."

Penelope swallowed past the lump forming in her throat, aware of their audience and the crowd once more trying to surreptitiously eavesdrop on their hushed conversation.

Before Penelope could reply, an attendant with a gilded scroll strode into the room. The crowd fell silent as the attendant cleared their throat.

"Welcome, Scions of Royal and Noble Houses. House Grimwood is honoured by your presence tonight. It is my utmost pleasure to announce the commencement of the Dark Moon Ball."

The room filled with applause and excited murmurs rippled through the room.

"Please gather here. When directed, please step forward and you will be announced into the ball."

The attendant began to unfurl the scroll as the drapes were drawn back, creating a passage through the curtain just wide enough for two to stand abreast. Penelope moved forward with the crowd, craning her neck to at last catch a glimpse of the ballroom beyond.

Penelope had never seen so grand a room, and she felt momentarily breathless with awe. A sweeping staircase of gold and black marble led down into the chamber, already filled with guests twirling to the strum of harps. Banquet tables laden with delicacies lined each side of the long hall.

Ornate crucibles of silver fire shone from arched alcoves set into the stone walls and garlands of black blossoms spilled from golden vines twining the intricate railings of the upper balconies. Butterflies flittered amongst the blooms, shedding golden sparkles that fell like snowdrift, vanishing before they reached the smooth obsidian floor.

Suspended from the ceiling far above were long sheets of rippling silk, luminous and twisting like flares of the aurora in vibrant flashes of greens, blues, and purples. Hundreds, thousands, of silver crystals clung to the fabric, glowing like stars as the ribbons writhed like snakes.

Along the far wall was a raised platform on which stood two bejewelled thrones occupied by the King and Queen of Grimwood. Either side of them stood their sons, six princes from oldest to youngest, dressed in suits much like Steph's. Above them hung an enormous green and bronze banner featuring the crossed club emblem of Grimwood.

Penelope glanced over her shoulder at Steph. "Aren't you... Shouldn't you be standing there with them?" she whispered. Steph offered a roguish grin and shrugged.