The grand hall glittered with candlelight and crystal chandeliers, the soft strains of a string quartet winding through the air. Gilded walls were draped in deep blue velvet, and nobles in silks passed by. This was the crown prince’s ball- an event you’d been instructed to attend only briefly, then escorted away to meet that certain someone- Vergil.

You slipped away from the main gallery, certain the powder room must be down this corridor. Instead, the hallway narrowed into shadow, torches flickering against the stone walls. You paused, realizing you’d taken a wrong turn.

A sudden movement and you nearly collided with a figure in a red coat. He caught you by the shoulders, steadying you with surprising strength.

“Well, well, what do we have here?” His voice was low, amused. He tilted his head, white hair falling into his eyes slightly. His coat’s crimson hue caught the torchlight, casting a warm glow on his sharp jawline and the defiant glint in his eyes. “Sneaking around, are we?”