"You wanted to say outstanding.", you corrected Salo's praise. "Revolutions are not talked down upon, my dear friend. The future must be greeted with optimism."

The blond man nodded in agreement.

"Of course, how could I?", he laughed softly. "But tell me, Viktor, what else can Hextech do?"

Viktor frowned. He wasn't practiced in dealing with humans, but he wasn't stupid either. He could see the greed in the council member's eyes.

The kindness tasted bitter.

"Enough to satisfy you, Salo.", you placed a hand on his narrow chest. "And now that I'm practically a member of our honorable council... you can count on profiting as well."

Salo scrutinized you out of thin eyes. The smirk on his lips grew. Now he was satisfied. Not convinced of your motives, but you had thrown him a bone big enough to satisfy his hunger.

"Is that a promise, almost council member Hoskel?", he asked with a purr.

With a sweet grin, he came so close to you that goose bumps crawled up your spine. You resisted, pushing slightly. He shouldn't get too close to you. Not again. That was history.

Besides, there had been a tugging in your chest since that evening in the smithy. A longing that you couldn't name.

"It's a business proposition, my dear.", you managed to keep him at arm's length. "But let Viktor convince you. I have business to attend to tonight."

Your gaze jumped through the crowd.

Amidst all the bodies and voices, a familiar one flashed up. Jayce made his way through the crowd. The expression on his face was a mixture of fascination and concern.

As a man from a lower house, he had probably never been to a festival like this before. With a nod of your head, you left Viktor in Salo's care, who enthusiastically began to pepper him with questions.

To your surprise, you were still able to listen with one ear as the inventor indulged in the flow of conversation and answered every question as if he were facing the entire council.

All the better for you. The more he could convince Salo, the more certain you were of his vote. A victory was a victory no matter how it was won. And this victory was particularly important.

Crucial to winning the entire war.

The music led you across the dance floor, every step carefully taken and perfectly placed. Other guests lined up close together, laughing, dancing, drinking wine. It had been a long time since you had felt so free, so light.

How wonderful life could be when you were at the top. In the midst of this chaos you found yourself, a single man like any other and yet more powerful than any other.

And all your eyes were looking for was Jayce. Despite his height and stature, he was lost in the crowd. Even the clothes he wore, perfectly tailored and adorned with gold and red velvet, had disappeared.

And yet, even though there were dresses made of the finest fabrics everywhere, perfectly fitting suits, you knew he was no longer in the room.

By now, the guests had drunk enough to move around the dance floor. The lady of the evening still hadn't made a single appearance and yet it felt like every breath contained her essence.

How powerful could a woman be that she could mesmerize people without having to show herself?

Oh, how you envied her. For so much.

Yet you wouldn't trade places with her once because you had something she couldn't have.

"Jayce.", his name slipped from your lips like a prayer as his face flashed out from behind a curtain.

He had retreated to the farthest and darkest corner of the entire hall. Green eyes watched the spectacle skeptically while others could hardly keep on their feet with laughter and fun. Now and then he sipped a glass of wine.

"And I would have taken you for a man of the people.", you greeted him and grabbed another glass of wine from a passing waiter.

Jayce crunched his nose, half glad to see you and half disdainful. His tanned skin seemed to glow in the light of the chandeliers that evening. Divine, even if it wasn't the first time you'd seen him like that.

Unlike many times before, this time he didn't hesitate to look at you. Your eyes met. A strange feeling of heat ran through your head. Everything was spinning and yet you couldn't help but look at him.

He was like a drug, made you smile as if you had already consumed a whole bottle of wine on your evening. Mildly tilting his head, he let out an audible breath. His eyes wandered over your body, the suit, the shoes and the jewelry you had specially made for the occasion.

No one should think that you were treating tonight like any other night. No, this was special and Medarda should know that you hadn't come to celebrate carefree. She should know that you could see through her game and not be charmed.

"You look adorable.", Jayce sighed.

You frowned in amusement.

"I am not a child.", your hand found his chest to come to rest there. "Tell me I look handsome."

He grinned. The red glow on his cheeks grew.

Why did he look at you like that? So enchanted?

Almost affectionate...

"You're so vain.", he murmured and took another sip from his cup.

"Don't tell me you wouldn't like to hear that too.", you purred.

One of his eyebrows rose.

"What exactly?"

A strand of dark hair fell into his forehead. Without thinking about it, you caressed it away, put both hands on his cheeks and smiled. You came so close to him that the tips of your noses touched lightly.

"You look good.", whispered to him.

He smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. It amused you to see him so flatted, embarrassed. It was a little sweet.

But before you could tease him, the music changed. The attention changed.

Mel Medarda had just appeared.