This chapter is for ayezxx!! Hope you like it! a user

The night is young and dazzling in the empire. Bright lights flash here and there illuminating the length and breadth of the land with excitement and merriment as if the land itself was imitating the beauty of the dark night sky with thousands of shining lights. Numerous shops and places of entertainment are bustling with life and profit, the streets and different edifices are decorated with bright fabrics and decorations, and the people are filled with lightness and merriment. 

In the Aberleen Castle located in Avalor, Ruby and Carmilla fret about in their shared room. Maids lined up in a single pile holding jewelry and dresses for the two noblewomen to check upon. All stare in contempt of the mess they have to clean up after the two finish their dress up and makeover. Expensive clothing was stew across the floor neglected regardless of their beauty that did not fit the standard of the couple. High-class accessories were left ignored in some chairs while shoes and laces were thrown carelessly on the ground. 

"Do you think I look nice enough?" Carmilla asked worriedly as she models a stunning glittery violet gown with a very high slit on her left leg exposing her long slender legs covered in dark thigh high stockings. The dress had silver decorations that traced the alluring figure of her body while a big ruby gem lies under her chest, a personal request she made to the designer to show her lover her utmost dedication to her. An extravagant black choker was wrapped around her pale fine neck decorated with another pinkish ruby gem. The dress exposed her ample bosom making the huntress worry a bit about the greedy eyes of lustful men. (It's her wisteria countess skin dress) Ruby playfully rolled her eyes at her partner and directed her a teasing smirk. 

"You always look too good to be true. You mustn't worry too much. You look wonderful." the blonde complimented as she allowed the maid to finish her braid updo and decorate it with a dazzling hairpiece made of crystals carved as leaves held by the finest gold. Contrary to Carmilla's darker garment, Ruby chose to wear an off-shoulder rose gold dress with a high slit on the right leg. The garment hugged her small waist perfectly and highlighted her delicate figure excellently. A gold and diamond necklace hangs from her elegant neck completing her look. 

"That's very easy for you to say! You look like a goddess that descended from heaven while I look like I crawled from the ground!" Carmilla complained pouting at her. With such a dazzling appearance and undeniable natural beauty, Ruby wondered how Carmilla can think that she looks lacking in aesthetics. The blonde maiden stood up and held her hands before grabbing her cheeks. 

"Don't criticize yourself too much. For me, you are the most gorgeous woman out there even if you only wear rags and never comb. If you say that I'm a goddess, then I think that you're beauty is extraterrestrial. Completely out of this world with a heavenly body." Ruby sweet-talked connecting their foreheads together and gazing passionately into Carmilla's eyes. 

The raven-haired can only blush due to the undeniable sincerity in her fiancee's words. She suddenly connected their lips together never minding the prejudice of their audience or the fact that their expensive lipsticks are getting smudged. Ruby kissed back with equal passion, sending fire into her soul due to their fiery intimacy. The only thing Carmilla cares about right now is ravishing the supple lips of the romantic loli in her embrace. 

Carmilla soon let go of the smaller maiden after satisfying her desire for her attention and love. Her heart skipped a beat as she basked in the brilliance of her partner's sweet and kind face but Ruby didn't fail to notice a very brief look of guilt that danced between her fuchsia orbs as they soon pull away from each other's hold. The blonde didn't question the sudden emotion that flickered from her face and only gave her a kind smile. 

"Now that you're out of your self criticizing reverie perhaps we should head down now and stop the chauffeur from waiting any longer as well as our servant?" she suggested, gesturing towards the blushing maids who had recently witnessed their passionate display of affection. 

Carmilla blushed red before nodding. A maid helped Ruby wrap a soft white fur on her shoulder while another one helped the young Countess with a black feathery coat before placing a rose headpiece on her hair. Ruby intertwined their fingers together before heading out of the room and walking side by side while playfully swaying. 

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"I don't see the point of us staying on a middle seat in the theater when we can get a private balcony for ourselves as well as room service." Ruby wondered as they walked in the busy hall of the large opera house. The piercing gaze of the people followed after the two in either contempt of their unacceptable relationship or admiration of their stunning beauty like two dazzling stars walking among the mediocre inhabitants of the earth. 

"According to my experience regarding shows, it is best to get a closer view of the performance to feel like you're really part of the story. It feels more intimate like you're one of the characters as well." Carmilla explained with a fond smile hugging her arm tighter. 

"Of course. You've always fancied to bask in the comfort of fantasies and exerting yourself in the story. Reminds me of the first time I lost my purity to your curiosity when I was 11 while you were 16." Ruby joked making her partner giggle and slap her arm playfully. 

"I'm my defense you're cuteness is very irresistible and since we're to be betrothed, I saw it fit to practice with you so that we don't perform sloppily when the time comes for us to "consummate" our marriage." Carmilla responded giggling flirtatiously at her. 

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"My she looks stunning. Aurelius, you should see your girlfriend she looks magnificent." Silvanna mused holding a champagne glass with her gloved hand and directing him a teasing smirk. The prince whose back was turned to her as he socialized with the other nobilities spun on his heel before gazing over the balcony overlooking the people entering the establishment. 

"I told you she's not my girlfriend she's just..." he frowned sweeping the mass of people moving on the lower portion of the edifice before spotting the said female, which was truth be told, easy to find because she was glowing with the glamor and charm of a deity. Her outfit also made her sparkle among the other people who seemed mediocre and mundane compared to her astonishing beauty. 

His heart skipped as he observed her most minute actions and admired her mere gestures. She seemed to move with the grace and elegance of a rose dancing in the gentle breeze. He watched as she giggled and share a joke with her 'betrothed'. Oh, how he wished to be the one holding her in his arms and sharing inside jokes with her. The thought may seem immoral but not far fetched. Ruby and the Camel girl are still to be married and until they are not then there's still a chance.

"She's not my girlfriend..."

"Because she's going to be my queen."

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Ruby and Carmilla sat side by side in the middle seat of the amphitheater. The seats of the theater are starting to fill up however the few rows and columns in their left and right remain empty since they both decided to rent all the surrounding seats around theirs to stay away from the unwanted socialization of the people who would most likely want to be on their good side for political and other unpleasant reasons. A small table lay in front of them filled with small snacks and beverages as per Ruby's request even though foods and liquids are banned from the theater however there's barely anything here that money can't solve. 

"So this play is called the Phantom of the Opera and this rising singer Cecilion is supposed to play the part of this so-called 'Phantom'. The story is foreign to me. Is it newly written?" asked Ruby as she flipped through the pamphlet a theater staff had handed to her.

"The story and the plot are also unknown to me but as long as Cecilion plays it I know it will be wonderful." Carmilla replied fondly. 

"You seem awfully taken by Cecilion's... talents. Should I be worried?" Ruby jokingly said but the underlying meaning is prevalent in her gesture and playful tone. 

"Oh please. He is merely a singer whose talent I fancy very much however you, my dear, are my soulmate and greatest love. Are you seriously getting jealous because of a simple opera singer? You're Ruby F-ing Edelweiss Pendragon. Letting you go would be the stupidest thing I will ever do." she mused teasingly. 

"Plus I don't think you're father would ever let us split anyways. He bought one of the strongest swords in the whole Land of Dawn just so that he could bargain it to my mother for my hand." 

"Exactly. Our marriage is more important to him than our own happiness. But it's not like we're unwilling. Being engaged to you is one of the luckiest things that has ever happened to me. Second to being born good looking in everything." Carmilla smiled before intertwining their fingers together. 

"Smooth talk." Ruby chuckled rolling her eyes at the girl. 

"The show's about to start." Carmilla informed as she noticed the curtains being drawn. The two noble ladies straightened in their seats and focused their attention on the stage where the settings of the scene had been elaborately displayed. 

"What a lovely casts." Ruby commented sarcastically. 

The first scene was about bratty ballerina girls gossiping about the so-called 'Ghost' in the Opera house. It was a boring scene but it was necessary to prepare the audience's knowledge about the plot. So far Ruby had grasped that the Phantom, a well-dressed music genius who hid his deformed face behind a mask, became obsessed with a beautiful soprano singer named Christine Daae. The story was very interesting and exceptionally well done. Cecilion, playing the role of Erik the Phantom, was excellent with his acting. He was able to move the audience even though he was depicted as quite villainous. His elegant manly charms and articulate way with which he enunciated his lines impressed Ruby but more so her partner who had a look of reverie as she watched his performance devotedly. 

In the middle of the show, Ruby felt the sudden urge to relieve her bladder and excused herself to Carmilla who barely heard a single word she said due to how invested she is in the show. She quietly exited through the double door being maned by two buff looking men who bowed their heads in recognition of her identity. Unbeknownst to her is a set of vibrant amethyst colored eyes watching her every move. 

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"..." 

Ruby paused and found herself lost in the hallway of the theater. Three paths divided in front of her and she couldn't figure out which way will lead her back. The hall she's in is unfamiliar making her wonder if she's really even facing the right direction. 

As far as she knows she's a few levels away from the auditorium since she had to look for another toilet because someone locked the toilet near the show hall and she heard odd noises emitting from the other side of the door so she didn't bother any staff to open it for her. After relieving herself she suddenly met a man who probably pathetically got drunk with the free wine and champagne aiming to harass her. They were all alone, no staff or guard was nearby so she couldn't ask for any help. She punched him hard on his gut and then ran the other direction without carefully navigating her path bringing her to her current dilemma. 

Since she's not a frequent patron of the establishment she's completely unfamiliar with its structure and the hall she's in is suspiciously vacant. She hadn't seen any staff passing by for what felt like hours. She's really missing a great deal of the show she paid so much for. It was disappointing since she was quite interested in the play. 

She sighed for the nth time and turned around the corner with her head bowed in defeat. A terrified yelp suddenly escaped her lips when a cockroach unexpectedly crawled in front of her making her jump and run away in panic. She suddenly collided against someone. She wobbled on her golden stilettos and nearly fell on the floor if the person hadn't caught her just in time. 

"It's fascinating how you can face a large dangerous monster and smile fearlessly while scream in fear after seeing a small insect." chuckled her 'savior'. 

"Aurelius?" she said in astonishment. The male produced an alluring smile on his lips before helping her back on her feet. 

"Why are you here?" she asked in confusion. 

"I clearly went here to see the play. I suppose you do too though I wonder why you're too far away from the cinema room. You've been heading that way when the show is this way." he said gesturing to the path where he came from. Ruby blushed in embarrassment and lowered her eyes to her golden heels. 

"I'm, well... los- What do you even care?" she asked snobbishly. 

"Why the sudden sourness? Did you perhaps run out of all your sweetness in the woods? It's not like I did something bad to you, did I?" he voiced with faked sadness. Ruby, being the soft-hearted princess that she is, blushed in guilt of her poor attitude towards the male. 

"Forgive me. I'm sorry for being too cranky. I guess getting... lost just made me... kind of annoyed and it was not fair of me to take my anger out on you. I'm sorry." she apologized after taking a deep breath. 

"It's okay. Your angry face is cute as well. Shall I lead you back to play?" he offered putting his arm out for her to take. 

"Yes please." She smiled weakly ignoring his first statement and locking her arms with his as he led her through the hall. 

"What are you doing here anyway? Isn't the restroom quite distant from here as well?" Ruby questioned with a straight face to hide her skepticism.

"I was looking for you." Ruby was astounded by his plain honesty. She thought he's going to tiptoe about the subject which really surprised her that he didn't make something up instead.

"Why?"

"I saw you earlier when you were entering the lobby. You certainly are a head turner and I wanted to thank you for saving me and helping me get home so when I saw you exit I followed along as well though I missed you a few times luckily I found you just in time to prevent you from straying farther from the auditorium." Ruby couldn't detect any falsehood in his word so she satisfied herself with his answer. 

"You're welcome and thank you for helping me out." she replied awkwardly. It was silent after that as they both walked through the quiet yet somehow creepy hallways. 

"So you like plays too?" Ruby started, trying to lighten the awkward atmosphere. 

"Hmmm... Not really. I only came because my sister wanted me to accompany her. The story was interesting though, so I choose to stay anyways." Lie. Ruby can detect that that's not really the case but she didn't probe the subject further. 

"I see. Are you enjoying it so far?"

"Quite but not so much. What about you?" 

"I find the music very excellent and the plot is okay however I'm not much fond of Christine because she's too much of the Mary Stew character. She's kind, pure-hearted, and compassionate yet ultimately a pushover and naive. She's depicted as society's standard on how a woman should act meek, ignorant, innocent, compliant, and submissive. She didn't question who the voice was guiding her and stupidly thought that it was 'An Angel of Music' without considering otherwise. It's a bad influence on women. She just went with the flow and didn't strategize on how to save herself. Oh, I'm a bit curious about your opinion regarding Erik. What do you think of him?"

"So far I'm quite interested in the deep obsession of Erik to Christine and his enigmatic persona. He is a genius shunned and misunderstood by society because of his appearance and I sympathize with why he chose to stay hidden mysterious as the darkness if it means that he'll be getting away from the garbage that is human prejudice. I'm certainly not a fan of Romantic heroes so I quite favor that the main character is depicted as a Byronic hero." Aurelius answered leading her to a right turn. 

"That is a very interesting perspective and I quite agree. Even though I was away from the other people I can deduce that they are hating Erik and favoring Raoul more because of his good looks and cliche knight in shinning armor vibe."

"People tend to accept those that are familiar and coinciding with what they dub as morally acceptable that's why it's very easy to reject new perspectives that are quite diverted from what they believe as admirable. They seem to be liking Christine Daae however I find her character quite annoying like you. I haven't seen the full story yet since... we're together but I think I've seen enough to compose my opinion."

"Then what do you think a woman should be?" Ruby asked in curiosity. His opinions had greatly captured her interest making her curious about his perspective regarding women. Of course, it's very common for the men of this era to consider women as lower species and favor them as subservient yet Ruby had found those men who respect women as equals especially in Cadmure and Colchester, her birthplace. 

Aurelius thought for a while darting his gaze to the ceiling in deep contemplation of his reply as he guided her through the twist and turns of their path. When he had finally gauged his answer he looked back at her and met her alluring emerald eyes that seemed to turn blue once a certain light hits it. 

"My idea of a woman is you." he divulged. "And my sister." he soon added. 

"Me?" Ruby questioned in disbelief. 

"Clearly you are from nobility. You could have chosen to be a sit-still-look-pretty kind of lady but you didn't. Instead, you chose to learn the arts of war and combat. You didn't let society's standard to deter you from taking up arms and learning how to fight for yourself. You're intelligent and you know how to wait. You pick your fights and win them, like how we retreated to lure the Chimera to a trap you kept us running even though the Chimera was highly sedated because you didn't want to risk my life. We attacked when you saw it fit and we won. Honestly speaking I couldn't have pulled it off all by myself because I would most likely brute force it all but your guidance, knowledge, and strength had helped me achieve victory. You are without a doubt a very admirable woman, Ruby Pendragon."

Ruby couldn't help but blush due to his compliment but more so on the sincerity and passion with which he voiced his opinion of her. It's almost as if he really knew her for a long time now even though they've only known each other for a day and ten minutes. 

"How did you know my surname?" she asked in wariness. 

"You're a Pendragon. You basically own nearly half of the northern portion of the empire. Cadmure is the most peaceful territory, except for the monster parts, and second only to the capital when it comes to prosperity. There's barely anyone who doesn't know you."

"Fair enough. Ohh, we're near the theater already. I recognize the hallway. We should be--" 

"Isn't that Prince Aurelius?" Ruby and the said man turned their attention to a group of females that had noticed their presence. 

"Yes, it is." answered the girl's companions 

"He's the one that rejected me and called me a flat-nosed chimpanzee! He's so mean!" another one added. 

"He put a spider on Lady Clara's hair and she was the nicest!" 

"He threw a fake snake at me and I nearly fainted while he laughs profusely! Let's get him and teach him a lesson!" rallied a curly-haired brat. 

"Yeaaahhh!!" her companions agreed and Aurelius gulped in fear. 

"Get hiiiiiiim!!" 

Aurelius quickly grabbed Ruby's hand and dragged her away with him as the squad of ladies in high heels closed in on them. They ran through the hall where they came from with the ladies close on their tails. They were really hell-bent on getting to him even though it must be difficult considering the type of footwear they are running with which he is extremely thankful for. In a desperate attempt to lose them Ruby pulled Aurelius to a vacant room and slammed the door shut. 

"Where are they?" they heard the leader ask from outside the door.

"They could only head that way. Let's get them!" The two listened to the clacking high heels of the women who ran wildly outside the room. After a minute of waiting, they finally heard silence. They waited for another minute to pass, breathing deeply in exhaustion. Their eyes suddenly met and they can't help but chuckle due to their sudden hilarious escapade.

"Prince Aurelius? I thought it was a coincidence but you're actually the prince. Pffft! I saved a prince from being beaten by a horde of brats and an ancient monster. It's like we're in a reverse fairytale. Hahahaha!" Ruby laughed.

"Don't get it over your head. They're gone. We should head back out now. What the." Aurelius tried turning the knob but it won't budge. 

"What's the matter?" Ruby asked worriedly. 

"The doorknob is stuck. It seems to be broken that's why it locks itself. Looks like we're stuck here. Let's wait for someone to pass by and ask them for help." 

"Why don't we take an alternative route?" Ruby suggested pointing to a door across the room. 

"I'm not familiar with this part so maybe we should just stay put."

"Fine. Let's wait but if no one comes after thirty minutes we're taking this door." Ruby went to the passage and tried the doorknob to see if it's locked or not and it twisted indicating that it's open. "It's even opened."

"Fine by me." Aurelius agreed before taking a seat on the fancy sofa. 

Ruby pulled a golden pin from her hair and tried picking the lock of the doorknob. Aurelius sat still and gazed at her elegant form squatting in front of him. He admired the shape of her bottom and the thin curve of her waist as she tried unlocking the door with very little luck. Her pin broke so she took another one. 

"What are you even doing? I thought we agreed that we're going to wait for someone. You should just relax for a while. Aren't you exhausted after walking for so long in those torture slippers?"

"I said I'll be waiting but I didn't say that I won't try to free us. Waiting to be rescheduled is for losers. I told you I like doing things for myself especially rescuing myself, and you, for a mess I put us in in the first place. And my feet are fine. It hurts a bit but pain for beauty." she persisted with determination. 

Aurelius watched her for a while until he got bored and then busied himself with looking through the room to pass the time. He found a decanter filled with wine as well as a few goblets. He looked under the table and found a chessboard and a complete deck of cards. He soon settled back into the sofa and started arranging the pieces on the tiles with the black pieces on his side of the board. Ruby surrendered as she ran out of golden hairpins making a few locks of her hair stand out. She soon joined him on the sofa set and settled on the seat across from him. 

"Perfect timing. Care to join me for a game of chess?" he offered, pouring her cup with wine. 

"This isn't even ours. We shouldn't be touching these things." 

"Then why leave it here? I'll just leave a note to put the tab on the Imperial Palace with my sign and then can we play?" Aurelius reasoned persistently. 

"I suppose that will be fine." Ruby agreed. 

The two began with the famous Sicilian defense, Ruby's white pawn goes E4 while Aurelius's black pawn responds with a C5. Aurelius took a more aggressive turn as the game progressed while Ruby used curious moves that seemed unfazed by his advances. On Ruby's tenth move things became critical for Aurelius. So far the maiden had established her white bishop on G5 attacking the line of his king with the intervention of a black pawn and her white knight established the position of E6 putting the black queen in danger as well as making C7 a danger zone for the king to be checkmated. Aurelius responded by taking the queen to safety on B6 and safeguarding C7 from the Knight but Ruby became more aggressive by deploying her other knight on D5 establishing the danger zone once more and threatening the queen. The prince countered it by deploying his own black knight to take hers on D5 and Ruby in return took his knight with her queen endangering his rook so he placed his bishop in between supported by his black queen. Ruby checked his black king by finally placing her knight on C7 which was easily neutralized by his queen. 

"Checkmate." Ruby smirked as she placed her Queen on E6 attacking the king on a vertical line and because a black bishop is still on the king's right the only opening is the left tile which was being guarded by her white bishop. Aurelius observed the board and looked for a way to turn things around but found none so he only sighed and congratulated her in her victory. 

"You're exceptionally good at this. I should have figured as much after our escapade with the Chimera but I won't lose to you on the next round. Up for another game?"

"Certainly." 

The pair played some more to pass the time. Contrary to his claim, Ruby still emerged victorious until the next round but he finally won on the third round. Because they were both very competitive and headstrong the game continued on while they chatted and talked more about themselves, opening up their deepest secrets that they won't usually tell another soul even those that are closest to them. They also paused in between games to build a card pyramid after a few series of repeated failures because of Aurelius's shaky hands. During their fiftieth chess round, where Ruby had an advantage of 27 to 22, Aurelius finally voiced a question he's been holding back. 

"Can I interest you with a little dinner or if you like to be casual we can go for lunch at one of the famous cafés and restaurants at the empire?" he offered with a straight face that did not betray his emotions. 

"Are you perhaps asking me for a date?" Ruby asked with a teasing tone. 

"I wouldn't put it that way. It's a simple thank you for the time you saved my life from the Chimera and perhaps for saving me as well from my haters." 

"That will be alright I guess but if you really want to hit on me I would like you to know that I am already engaged with someone whom I love. I don't want to give you hope where there is none." 

"It's fine. My intentions are completely amicable. I wouldn't want to bring my family into scandal as well. People already hate me enough for being taken by the Abyss for such a long time and then sabotaging the relationship of the most beloved couple would surely put the last nail on my coffin. The truth is... you're the first person outside of my family and household that had shown kindness to me even though you don't know that I'm the Prince. You could actually be the first person I could call a friend since there's no one my age who would befriend me if their parents didn't tell them for political reasons. It's quite upsetting." He answered truthfully as he moved his pieces. 

"I see. Contrary to you I was put on a pedestal. My peers think that I'm better than them, that I'm stellar so they tend to avoid me since they feel small compared to what I've achieved so far. In fact, my only friend is my fiancee, Carmilla as well as my mother's knights. Please don't consider this as pity, but do you want to make our friendship official?" Ruby offered her pinky to him with a warm and gentle smile. 

"What's that? What am I supposed to do to it?" he asked raising a brow at the gesture. 

"It's a pinky swear. You wrap your finger with mine then we swear to be friends forever. It may look childish and corny but it means that our words are sincere and our promise is eternal." Ruby explained as pink dusted her cheeks. 

Aurelius' eyes filled with wonder and they sparkled with light due to the information. He happily wrapped his pinky with hers and looked at her with a childish smile. 

"I, Aurelius the Second of House Parabellum give my oath that Ruby and Rel will be friends for life, death, eternity, and even if we lose all our fingers. I will always be your friend I swear this oath upon my name and my crown. Did I do it right?" he asked hopefully at her. 

"Yes, though you were overly dramatic but I suppose it's kind of... cute." Ruby cleared her throat and then put on a serious expression. "I, Ruby Edelweiss of House Pendragon swear that I will always be your friends for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us apart and even if we lose all our fingers." she announced before giggling. 

"That's so cute now let's get out of here. It's apparently eleven already. So we've been here for roughly two hours, ten minutes, and 40 seconds. Huh, we completely missed the play" he said looking at his pocket watch. 

"WHAAAATT??! That's insane! I thought it was only thirty minutes!" Ruby exclaimed in alarm. 

"I guess time really does fly fast when you're enjoying yourself. Should we head to the other door now? It seems that our location is quite remote from the auditorium as well that's why no one had passed by so far."

"Yes, we should. Come on. Carmilla is probably worried sick about me and she's completely alone. What if someone harasses her while looking for me? I can't bear the thought. Come on Aurelius let's hurry it up." she said striding towards the other door and quickly opening up followed by the prince. 

They entered into a new hallway diverted into three paths left, right, and forward. Ruby debated between the three for a while and choose right since Aurelius said that that's the direction of the auditorium. The girl had a stern face as she walked in a brisk pace, her heart hammering loudly in her chest in worry for her beloved. 

"Ruby wait a moment. Can you slow down for a bit? In fairness of your short legs, you can actually walk really fast." Aurelius voiced trying to catch up to her pace. 

"There's no time to be slow. I'm worried about her what if she's sitting in a corner while people stare at her pitifully as she waits for me. She'd be very upset and sad, she'd think that I abandoned her! What was I thinking getting lost in games and getting chummy with you when my true best friend must be suffering because of my forgetfulness?" she increased her pace and made another right turn and saw another door at the end of the hallway. Her heart fluttered in joy thinking that it was the exit. Her heels hit loudly against the tiled floor threatening to shatter them due to each powerful step she took towards the door. 

"Carmilla, I'm very sorry for abandoning you. It's my fault. I got lost and then I met--" she pushed through the double doors while composing her apology for when she sees the girl but her world completely stopped at what she saw on the other side. 

Carmilla stared back at her with a dumbfounded face like a deer in headlights or a child caught in a bad act. Cecilion had her wrapped around his arms as they stopped mid-dance to a beautiful music emitting from a music box while the moon shined on them with its eerie light. They stared at her with a terrified face caught in a forbidden tryst. No painter could have ever painted the look of betrayal in Ruby's face as a single tear fell from her brilliant eyes. 

"What have you done?" she whispered shakily as more tears fell from her eyes. 

"I'm sorry, Ruby. You're my fiancee but... I love him now as well." 

A pained cry erupted from her lips due to the betrayal of her most beloved so she threw herself at them and pushed Cecilion away from Carmilla before landing a hard punch against his pale face. 

Ornaments broke and vases shattered, furniture are overthrown as people poured into the room curious about the commotion. Cecilion accepted all of her anger and rage, he endured her cruel and painful words as lethal as her punches and didn't dare fight back nor restrain her as Carmilla begged for her to stop. Ruby was eventually pulled from the singer by Aurelius and she cried in his hold not noticing the mischievous smile on his lips as well as the key that fell from his pocket.