Free Web NovelChapter 81: Chapter 81
Circe had barely spoken more than a handful of words to him since they’d left his manor that evening. Even now, as they sat opposite each other inside the grand carriage, she hardly glanced in his direction. Her gaze remained fixed on the small window, watching the rolling fields of greenery pass them by.
This wasn’t the first time she had chosen to ignore his presence entirely, and Ragnar seriously doubted it would be the last. But for reasons he couldn’t quite explain, her cold detachment stung more than usual tonight. The silence between them stretched, broken only by the rhythmic rocking of the carriage and the steady pounding of horse hooves on the road.
Ragnar, for his part, couldn’t help but notice everything about her in that moment. Her hair had been swept up into an elegant style, secured with jeweled pins that sparkled faintly in the fading light. The deep green gown she wore was one he recognized. It was the same dress he had once walked in on her wearing. She had looked stunning in it then, and perhaps even more so now. Her eyes were lined with dark kohl, and her full lips painted a striking shade of red that only heightened the fierce elegance of her features.
She was far too captivating to ignore, so Ragnar didn’t try. He allowed himself to look. Occasionally, he stole furtive glances, some lingering longer than they should have. If Circe noticed where his attention was, she didn’t show it. And if she somehow knew how thoroughly she had occupied his mind, she didn’t comment on the strangeness of it.
As the light from the sun waned, it cast a golden hue over the sprawling Hawthorne estate. Carriages had already begun to arrive, each delivering finely dressed guests to the much-anticipated ball in Amris. Uniformed servants stood at the manor’s grand entrance, accepting beautifully embellished invitations and directing guests with practiced efficiency.
Their own carriage eventually rolled to a stop in front of the manor. Only then did Circe finally turn to look at him, her piercing grey eyes holding his for a single charged moment. There was something sharp and unreadable in her expression. But the moment shattered with a sharp knock on the carriage door. Three deliberate raps from the driver signaled their arrival.
Ragnar moved first. The instant his boots hit the ground, he turned back and offered his hand up to help her down.
When her gaze met his again, he knew she was fighting the urge to glare at him. The only thing that stopped her from doing so was the fact that she had to be on her best behavior, which included being nice to him while they were out in public.
Her right eye twitched, betraying the effort it took to maintain her composure.
After their conversation in the library days ago, it didn’t take long for both of them to reach a compromise regarding her offer. She would accompany him to any social event of his choosing for a fixed fee. But just because he agreed to her proposal didn’t mean he didn’t have terms of his own.
To be paid her full amount at the end of each event, she was to remain by his side for the majority of the evening, and she was to appear as if she genuinely enjoyed his company. That meant no glaring, no sneering, and absolutely no snide remarks.
For Circe, it might as well have been a form of slow torture.
If she failed to comply with the rules of the agreement, a substantial amount would be deducted from her pay and the penalty fee depended on how many rules she disregarded.
To his surprise and amusement, she accepted his terms.
Instead of swatting his hand away like he knew she badly wanted to, she slid her hand into his outstretched one. Her palm felt warm in his as he gently helped her down fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
The evening air was alive with the gentle swish of silk skirts and the soft murmur of greetings. Ladies clad in elaborate gowns moved with refined poise, their fans fluttering like butterflies. Gemstones shimmered at their throats and wrists. Their intricate hairstyles, adorned with feathers, and ribbons, framed striking faces, completing the elegant ensembles.
Men dressed in expertly tailored attire and gleaming boots, offered courteous nods and quiet salutations, raising glasses of red wine and amber colored liquor in wordless celebration of the night ahead. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
Inside, the ballroom stretched high and wide, its walls draped in gilded tapestries and lit with an ethereal glow.
Massive crystal chandeliers, alive with the light of hundreds of candles, bathed the large hall in a soft hue.
Unlike the other couples who entered arm in arm, Circe and Ragnar walked side by side but with a distance so wide between them, one could have easily placed a table in the space they left.
As they crossed the threshold, they were met with a swell of noise: the clinking of fine glassware, the low murmur of refined conversation, the gentle notes of a string quartet playing in the far corner of the ballroom.
Ragnar’s gaze moved swiftly across the crowd until it landed on Lady Maelis, who was gracefully making her way through the room. She greeted guests with a warm smile, pausing for short conversations and the occasional embrace.
It didn’t take her long to reach them.
A polite smile lit up her face as she curtseyed elegantly before them.
"I’m so glad you both could make it," she said, her voice smooth and welcoming. Her gaze shifted to Circe. "It’s lovely to see you again. My sons are currently mingling with other guests, but I would very much like to introduce the three of you to each other, if that wouldn’t be an inconvenience."
"Of course not," Circe responded, her tone pleasant but detached. She didn’t want to seem rude, but in truth, she couldn’t care less about Lady Maelis’s sons. The person she truly wanted to get to know better was Lady Maelis herself.
Most of the eyes in the room had turned towards Ragnar and Circe’s direction, not just because there was a royal in their midst but because of the tales and rumors that clung onto that particular royal. Their gazes bounced between the both of them but they lingered longer on Circe, the human bride of the bastard prince.
