Red

The next week, Ewald didn’t take Radna’s words seriously. He visited Mia every single morning and, of course, rumors of a possible engagement were circulating. 

During breakfast, Randal kept glancing at Radna, who didnt touch his food. 

“What is bothering you, brother?” 

Radna ws not listening and Randal had to call him two more times, until one of the servants poked him. He looked around and found his brother, the King, staring at him with an eyebrow lifted. 

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” 

Randal put his cuttery on the table and smiled. 

“Why are you so distracted? Is it because of a woman?” Randal asked. He knew Radna had been visiting the Chapman residence quite often. 

“Yes.” Radna answered. 

“One of the Miss Chapmans, perhaps?”

“Yes.” 

“Which one?’ Randal asked and smirked, but Radna just smiled at him and got back to eating. “Oh, come on, brother!”

“No.”

Randal knew better than anyone not to keep pushing Radna. 

As much as they were twins, Randal didn’t have different eye-colored eyes. No, his was blue. 

“I think I’ll have to keep an eye and guess, then.” 

“I agree with you, Randal. I am not telling you until I am ready to ask for her hand.”

“Ok…” Randal said and sighed. “I hope this time you’ll marry. We are running out of time, you know? We’re not kids anymore, Radna.” 

Randal could take a second wife, but he didn’t want to. So, he entrusted Radna to continue the lineage. 

“Don’t worry, I won’t die just yet. And I’ll have an heir.” 

“Good. But I worry because you keep going to battles.” 

Radna wiped his mouth with the napkin. 

“One has to. Now, excuse me.” He said, getting up and bowing to his brother, leaving the room. 

Randal shook his head. Radna had always been an obstinate boy. Fierce, brave, ruthless. No other kid ever went against him after he gave ‘the look’, as Randal used to call it. He knew Radna was more to be king than him, but he rejected the idea, affirming that only when his brother passed away he would put the crown on his own head.

Radna went to his room in order to rest a bit. He didn’t have much sleep for the last few days and he had to be fine. That night, they were going to Campbell’s Ball and it would be his chance to court Lily. 

By night, he was more than ready. It was going to be a masquerade ball and he was going to wear a demon’s mask. He smiled at himself when he saw his figure reflected in the mirror. 

Radna was a tall man, around 6,4”, broad shoulders. It was possible to see his firm and muscular arms and legs even with clothes. He knew that his eyes would make people know who he was, so he changed it. He decided to let them see his golden demoniac eyes. 

……

Mia and Lily were ready. Normally, Mia would not wear too brightful colors, but Lily insisted that she should wear red. 

“I am old for that!” 

“Mia, you’re twenty-five years old! Young! And you may meet the man of your life tonight! I have a feeling.” 

Mia rolled her eyes and shook her head. 

“You’ve been telling me this for a while now.” 

“Yeah! But I know he is around!”

Lily could only think about Radna Teivel, but she couldn’t tell that to her sister. Mia would be irritated and may even end up not going to the party. 

Lily was wearing a lilac dress with rose and white flowers. Very delicate and a beautiful silver mask with the same flower pattern of her dress on it. Her hair was in a bun. 

Mia, on the other hand, had her hair in a half ponytail, letting her locks cascading down her back. Her red dress was not adorned with anything but a corset. The mask was golden. She looked stunning. 

Both women went to the carriage and Gabriel, who helped then get in, was looking at Mia with his mouth agape. 

“You look… more than beautiful, Miss Chapman.” he said to her and she returned the compliment with a smile. 

“Thank you, Gabriel!” 

Radna arrived and people couldn’t not notice him. The taller man in the place, with an aura that would transmit power and lust. Even with the golden eyes, people knew him. His figure was unmistakable. 

When the carriage of the Chapman’s arrived, he smiled. But then, the Marquess of Graiko approached and he gave the man a stare. 

“You can look as much as you want, Grand Duke. I am not backing away from Miss Mia Chapman. You like it or not.” 

“Are you defying me?” 

“If you prefer to see it this way…” 

When the carriage stopped almost in front of them and the coachman opened the little door, the first one to appear was Miss Lily. Her blonde hair gave it up. She looked like a fairy and it was possible to hear the sighs of the men in love with her. 

Radna approached her and offered her his arm. Lily accepted and made a curtsy. Radna tried to pull her to building, but she shook her head. 

“Let’s wait for Mia.” 

Radna didn’t want to. Why waste his tim… He saw a goddess leaving the carriage. Her forms, her hair, her aura… everything was perfect. His throat became dry. Lily observed his reaction and smiled. 

“She is perfect, right?” She commented and Radna nodded, without realizing what he was doing. 

But then, someone stood between the sight of the most beautiful woman and his eyes. 

Radna inhaled deeply the air and he was almost going there to take Ewald’s hands from Mia’s. 

‘She is mine, damn it!’, he thought. 

“Now we can go inside, Your Grace.” Lily said and Radna was brought back to reality. He nodded and turned around, but he was already in a foul mood. 

They had to speak to many people and as much as Radna heard people praising Lily, it didn’t bother him one bit; But listening to the other men talking about Mia’s beauty and how they would love to have the chance of a night with her… he was about to explode! 

‘Doesn’t she know that some men would crave to be between her legs?’, he thought, bitterly. She was a mature woman, to some. And so, many thought she should not attain herself to those society rules anymore. 

‘I would love to try her… look at that body!’, one said. 

“And that mouth. She is great with words. Do you think she has another great use for those lips?’, another one replied. 

Radna could hear more than humans normally could and so, he could listen to those atrocities. 

‘It is not your business! Pay attention to Lily!’, his mind told him and he agreed. 

“Miss Chapman, would you care to dance with me?”

“It will be a pleasure!” 

Radna saw by the corner of his eye something red moving and he looked at it. Mia and Ewald. He then turned to Lily. 

“Your sister is gathering quite the attention tonight.”

“She always does. She just doesn’t acknowledge that. She believes I am more beautiful and that men approach her because of me.”

“Isn’t that true?” 

“No! By all means, Your Grace!” Lily chuckled. “No… actually, some of those gentlemen approach me because of her.”

“I didn’t know that.” He said, making a mental note to keep an eye on those so called gentlemen.

“But that is how it is.”

“And what does a man need to do to have your attention?” 

“Mia.” 

“I’m sorry?” 

Lily giggled. 

“I could never marry a man that my sister does not approve of. Not only approved. But that really get along with her. Same goes with her. We want a family more than anything, so our future husbands must provide that to us.”

“Hmm…” Radna nodded and then motioned for Ewald. “Does the Marquees fulfill it?”