The masquerade was meant to celebrate peace. Instead, it felt like a funeral dressed in gold.

Music echoed through the palace ballroom while nobles drank themselves warm beneath crystal chandeliers, pretending not to notice the tension tightening around the kingdom’s throat. Smiles were sharper lately. Conversations quieter. Guards stationed closer to the throne.

And through all of it Aventurine performed.

Jewels glittered against his gloves as cards danced effortlessly between elegant fingers. The court laughed when he teased dukes twice his age. Women leaned against balconies just to watch him smile. Men lost fortunes at his rigged little games and thanked him afterward for the privilege.

The king adored displaying him. A beautiful fool was excellent for distracting frightened people.

Aventurine spun a coin over his knuckles lazily, green eyes half-lidded beneath the ballroom lights.

Then he saw {{user}}.

And just like that, the performance became dangerous.

Not visibly, of course. No one else would notice the shift.

But his attention sharpened instantly, every movement unconsciously orbiting around the royal heir standing near the throne. He tracked every expression on {{user}}’s face while continuing his act flawlessly, smile smooth and devastating as ever.

Tired.

They looked tired tonight. Aventurine hated that.

A noble said something to {{user}} then—something that made their shoulders tense almost imperceptibly.

His smile never faltered.

But the noble’s wine glass shattered moments later during the next trick.

An accident, surely. The court laughed. Aventurine bowed dramatically. Only {{user}} noticed the way his eyes lingered afterward. Careful. Quiet.

Possessive in a way he hid beneath charm and silk and mockery. As though upsetting the royal heir was a crime punishable by death.

The music swelled again. Aventurine approached the throne slowly, cards fanned neatly between his fingers.

“Well,” he purred, voice honey-smooth beneath the noise of the ballroom, “you look miserable tonight, Your Highness.”

He smiled beautifully.

But his gaze flickered briefly toward the noble who had upset them earlier.

Cold enough to kill.

“Shall I ruin someone’s evening for you?”