Chapter 4 : Severus von Krakenan (1)
Even with the grand event going on inside in her honour, Esme stood apart from the celebration, remaining in the balcony in solace.
She lingered by the door leading there, gazing into the dark night.
The laughter and music behind her seemed like echoes from another world.
Esme let out a frustrated sigh.
"Nothing is going to change, Esme. What are you even thinking?" she thought quietly to herself, after what had transpired between her and her half sisters.
A voice suddenly broke through her thoughts, sending shivers deep down to her marrows.
"Little sister squabble, huh," the voice said. "Looks like you have bad blood between you and your sisters, Princess Esme."
Esme turned sharply.
"Who's there?" she asked, scanning the dim corner of the ballroom.
From the shadows, a tall figure stepped forward.
He wore a tailored royal apparel adorned with gold, and a golden mask that covered the upper half of his face.
His hair was as dark as coal, and his eyes were an eerie red—like blood.
Esme stood still, cautious but composed. "And who might you be?" she asked with practiced grace.
"I am Severus of Laesian," he said with a bow. "It is an honor to meet you, Princess Esme of Enorth."
Esme returned the gesture with a polite curtsy. "Thank you, Severus of Laesian," she said softly.
His crimson gaze lingered on the princess, making her slightly uneasy.
The way he looked at her was intense—almost as if he could see right through her.
Esme shifted her weight, uncertain of what to say as the silence between them stretched.
Severus, on the other hand, stepped closer.
The sudden movement caught the princess off guard.
She instinctively stepped back—but her heel caught the edge of her gown and she stumbled.
However, before she could fall, Severus caught her swiftly by the hand and pulled her into his arms.
"S-Seve…" Esme murmured, startled and flustered as her cheeks burned red with embarrassment.
"My apologies if I frightened you, princess," he said gently. "I only wanted to give you this."
In his hand, he held a single flower.
The flower was strange. Definitely not something that grows in these parts.
"For… me?" Esme asked in surprise.
She wondered what she had done to deserve such.
The flower looks like a chrysanthemum but red as a tomato.
It was a one of a kind type of flower that could only be found in Laesian.
Looking closely at the crest that rested well on his chest area, Esme likened the flower to that crest.
That was also the inspiration for the crest of Laesian.
Severus reached forward and tucked the rose behind her right ear, his fingers brushing gently against her hair.
"It suits you," he said. "The flower's beauty comes alive when worn by someone like you."
Esme's cheeks flushed at his words. "Sir Severus…" she began, her voice faltering.
She was still in his arms and part of her wanted to ask him to let go, but she couldn't quite find the words.
"Dance with me," Severus said suddenly.
"Eh?" she blinked in confusion.
He hadn't really asked—it was more of a command, spoken with calm certainty.
Before Esme could react, Severus took her hand and led her toward the dance floor.
As they walked into the light, whispers spread across the room.
Conversations came to a halt.
All eyes turned toward them, watching.
A masked man and a princess of the kingdom.
'Why are they all staring?' Esme wondered, unnerved.
Who exactly is this man?
The guests on the dance floor stepped aside, clearing a path.
By the time they reached the center, even the musicians seemed to play with more intention, as though aware something important was about to happen.
Severus turned to her and placed one hand on her waist, the other still holding hers.
"You do know how to do this, don't you, Princess?" he asked, his lips curling into a teasing smile.
Esme nodded quickly. "Y-yes. Of course."
In truth, she had only just begun learning to dance a few weeks ago.
Because she had never received proper princess training, her instructors had crammed such dancing lessons into her daily schedule, insisting she needed it for this very ball.
The music began—a soft, graceful melody.
Severus took the lead, and Esme followed.
To her surprise, her feet moved easily.
Every step felt natural, as if she had always known how to do this.
All the clumsiness she had during practice melted away under Severus' steady guidance.
He danced with such ease, his movements refined and smooth.
Esme felt as if she were floating.
Each turn was graceful, every step perfectly in rhythm.
Without realizing it, she began to smile.
Severus looked down at her, smiling as well.
Their eyes met, and Esme felt the air shift.
His deep crimson gaze pulled her in.
It was mesmerizing, and she couldn't look away.
For a moment, it felt like the world had vanished around them.
The chattering crowd, the chandeliers, the music—none of it mattered.
It was just the two of them, moving as one.
The music built to its climax, and their movements slowed.
As the final note echoed through the hall, silence followed.
Then, a wave of applause erupted.
The ballroom was filled with clapping and cheers, but Esme barely noticed.
She and Severus continued to look at each other, breathing slightly heavier, lost in the moment.
Finally, Severus stepped back and gave a deep bow.
Esme gathered her thoughts and returned a curtsy.
Then a familiar voice rang out behind her.
"Prince Severus von Krakenan. Heir to the kingdom of Laesian," King Norbert called the masked man as he approached the two of them.
'Father,' Esme thought, turning sharply to see her father coming closer and closer.
The king's tone was formal, yet there was a note of tension in it.
"It is a pleasure to have you with us tonight, Your Highness," the king said.
Esme's eyes widened.
'Heir to Laesian?' she thought in shock, sneakily examined Severus even more closely. 'He's the Crown Prince of Laesian?'
She looked up at Severus again—now understanding the weight of the name he had given her earlier.
He wasn't just a charming nobleman.
He was the future ruler of Laesian—one of the most powerful kingdoms in the continent.
Severus smiled politely at the king. "The pleasure is mine, Your Majesty," he said. "And I'm honored to have met your daughter."
Esme stood silently, trying to steady her racing heart.
Tonight had started like every other—filled with duty, tension, and the cold indifference she had grown used to.
But this moment, this dance, had changed something.
Maybe…
Just maybe… everything truly could change after tonight.