The Ball

10 Months before the Fall

Ash, the Capital of the Phoenix Empire — Royal Palace Ballroom

The grand chandelier bathed the ballroom in radiant, golden light. Pleasant classical music drifted from the orchestra on a small stage, the violin particularly lively tonight.

Nobles drifted stiffly across polished floors, their colorful attire shimmering, yet they danced like hollow marionettes, eyes empty and unfocused. Champagne glasses sparkled gently in idle hands, and shallow chatter drifted through the ballroom. It seemed they’d forgotten what a real ball was meant to be.

Yet amidst this elegant monotony, there was one couple who danced with life, their every movement charged with a subtle yet undeniable intensity. Two out of the Three Great Empire Heroes — Gladius and Katerina.

Her hair was the first thing anyone noticed: long, lustrous, and as red as a thorny rose. It cascaded gracefully over her shoulders, capturing every stray ray of the chandelier’s light, drawing gasps from noblemen and envious sighs from their partners. Her hair alone marked her beauty, yet her eyes — golden and sharp as a predator's — radiated strength and confidence, lighting the room more vividly than the light bathing the ballroom.

Katerina felt Gladius's touch slip teasingly along her thigh, pausing knowingly at the concealed dagger beneath her dress. A mischievous smile formed on her lips.

“Feeling touchy tonight, aren’t we, dear?” she whispered, fingers pinching his side in playful revenge. His breath hitched — she felt a sly ripple of satisfaction.

At a glance, one might assume no man alive could match her presence. Yet the man dancing with Katerina was the only exception — undoubtedly the most handsome in the Empire, perhaps even beyond. His striking green eyes and immaculate white hair were admired as much as hers.

Gladius leaned in closer, his pristine white hair brushing against her fiery locks. “I thought today was just for fun.”

Katerina spun elegantly into his arms and laughed softly, eyes sparkling. “Well, since you have your pretty toothpick,” she teased, glancing pointedly at the ornate rapier at his waist, “I deserve my own little toy. Don’t worry — I promise not to use it unless you misbehave.”

“You seem to be feeling better,” he remarked, smiling softly.

“As you said,” she replied quietly. Her smile remained the same, but her eyes shadowed with a hint of sadness. “We need to savor nights like these. Tomorrow may not be as kind.” Her grip tightened suddenly, painfully, but Gladius endured it without any reaction.

Gladius’s expression hardened gently, a quiet resolve filling his eyes as he tenderly lifted her chin, forcing her gaze upward — and before Katerina could respond, he leaned down and kissed her in front of everyone in the ballroom.

Her eyes widened in shock for a split second before flaring defiantly. She wrapped her muscular arms around his neck and kissed him back even more fiercely, drawing shocked gasps from every direction. Noblewomen covered their scandalized eyes but peeked through their fingers anyway, spellbound.

Now it was Gladius’s turn to be surprised. His eyes widened, eyebrows shooting up. There was nothing left of his stoic and imposing expression.

The man tried to pull back, but she held him tight, her hands gripping his neck firmly. The muscles and veins on her hands bulged. There was no chance for the man to escape. Everyone watched, captivated and scandalized, as the two admired heroes of the Empire kissed passionately, oblivious to propriety or decorum. Her lipstick left a vibrant mark across his lips. Grinning, she finally let him go.

“Y-y-y-y-y-y-you…” Gladius stammered, blushing from head to toe. He tried to rub his lips, only spreading the lipstick stain further. “You wild woman! That was too… You overdid it!”

“You started it,” she replied coolly, grinning at the lipstick smeared across his lips. She laughed warmly, wiping his mouth gently with her thumb. “You blush when I hold your hand in public — and now you pull a stunt like this? What choice did I have?”

"I want to disappear into the ground. What will everyone think of us now? I can already hear them calling me a savage..."

"You've always worried too much about appearances. Why does it matter? A gorgeous lady like me just showed appreciation to you for raising my spirit and rewarded you with such a passionate kiss that any other man would die for — but you only complain and complain. Uh.” She glanced at him and saw how Gladius shyly bowed his head. She couldn’t help but become smitten by his cute puppy look charm. She smirked and petted his head. “But don’t fret, my love. They already think we’re savages — just beautifully dressed ones. Why disappoint them?"

“Speaking of savages,” she added suddenly, her eyes darkening as a towering figure approached.

Hero Andrew — the tall barbarian with sun-bronzed skin and arrogant, deep-blue eyes — swaggered toward them, his huge frame casting a shadow across theirs.

“Gladius, Katerina, it’s nice to see familiar faces, especially when such familiar faces make such a show. Why stop? I'd gladly pay to see more — or perhaps join you myself. Surely, that would be fun, don’t you think?” Andrew suddenly tried to hug and touch Katerina’s shoulder. Gladius sighed and shook his head.

Without looking, Katerina seized his wrist instantly, her grip turning bone-crushing. Andrew’s face twisted in pain, arrogance collapsing into humiliation.

“Andrew, it was a surprisingly pleasant evening — until your face ruined it. Strange, I thought this was a royal ball. And yet they let pigs in. Now the stench of this vile creature has poisoned the air. What a shame.”

“Ai! Ai! Ai! Let go! Let go!” Andrew squirmed helplessly, his arrogance dissolving into pathetic whimpers.

“That’s all you have to say to me?”

“I apologize for daring to even think of touching you.”

“That’s all?” She squeezed his hand harder.

“Ghaa! And insulting your husband! And for ruining your evening with my presence! And my existence overall!”

Satisfied, she released him disdainfully. Andrew rubbed his wrist bitterly, shooting her a venomous look quickly masked by a forced smile when she stared at him.

Gladius ignored their petty exchange, frowning slightly. “Weren’t they sending you north?”

Andrew sulked bitterly, nursing his hand. “They changed plans. Lena and Drezden got sent instead.”

Both Katerina and Gladius raised an eyebrow.

“Drezden?” Gladius frowned. “He’s the last Great Hero besides us — the Commander of the Purple Roses. Why would the Emperor send him? Sending you would’ve been far less of a loss.”

Andrew scowled. “You two don’t take me seriously, do you?! I didn’t even once lose in a duel to your beloved snotty student!?”

“As far as I recall, Gerald didn’t lose to you either,” Gladius noted calmly.

“Only because he flits like an annoying mosquito. I can’t hit him, while his mosquito bites can’t do me anything except make me want to scratch. And if you compare me to another smartass friend of yours — Drezden is old story! The old chap should have retired years ago. So there’s no surprise they would send him instead of someone strong, brilliant, and full of potential — like me. And besides, the old man is from the North, so maybe he volunteered for it.”

"Where'd you hear this?" Katerina asked skeptically. "It wasn’t announced publicly."

Andrew shrugged. "Well, you know. I speak regularly with the Emperor. He's rather fond of me. As his wife... Their daughter hates me, though." He grinned unpleasantly.

"Counting Gerald South, Milana West, Lena and Drezden North, Gabriel and Rei East," Gladius mused aloud, "that leaves just four heroes in the center — us included."

“I doubt it's four,” Katerina said, pulling a wrinkled letter from her dress.

“Magnolia?” Gladius stared at it, recognizing the handwriting immediately.

“She asked me to give this personally to His Majesty.”

“Gagagaga,” Andrew laughed wildly. “That crazy plant. If any of us were to do it, it’d be her. Can’t say I blame her, though. Serving a fool against enemies like that — who can stomach it forever? It’s like watching a baby fight a lion. You already know how it ends. Sometimes I also wonder if the lion's side isn’t the more attractive bet.”

Katerina and Gladius both fixed him with a piercing glare.

Andrew hastily raised his hands. “Kidding-kidding. Just kidding. Why did you tense so much? I was just talking in general, okay? I’m just a brute, remember? The neighbor’s garden always looks greener — especially when yours is burned to the ground and pissed on. Words were never my strong suit anyway.”

Three sharp trumpet blasts cut through the air, and the ballroom fell instantly silent. A herald's voice echoed proudly: “Their Majesties, Emperor Vlad III, Empress Elizaveta, and Crown Princess Tamara have arrived!”

Everyone kneeled instantly. Katerina could barely suppress her resentment. Gladius’s gaze turned icy as Andrew smirked bitterly.

“Speak of the devil,” he muttered darkly.

Emperor Vlad approached awkwardly, flustered by their bows. “Come now, rise! We’re here to enjoy ourselves. No need for formalities!”

The Emperor stood tall and imposing, his daughter nearly reaching his height. The Empress, though much shorter, radiated the most intimidating presence — thanks to those ferocious hazel eyes.

The musicians awkwardly looked at each other. The Empress stared at them viciously.

“You didn’t hear him? Play. Play, I said!”

Music resumed hastily. The Empress turned her ferocious gaze on the nobles still kneeling. They immediately stood up and began to move and dance clumsily.

Katerina sighed, gently wiping the remaining lipstick off Gladius’s face.

“Here they come,” she whispered with tired resignation.

The Emperor and his family were hastily approaching them.