A noblewoman tried to greet him, but Min-jae smiled politely and glided past. He declined a servant's offer of wine with a shake of his head, still moving through the crowd.
Whispers followed him – a mix of admiration, curiosity, and confusion but he didn't stop.
Not until he reached the marble balcony, where the music softened and the chatter muffled.
The night air was a welcome relief, carrying the scent of the gardens below. Min-jae exhaled, feeling a sense of space and freedom from gazes.
"You always did hate crowds.." a smooth voice said behind him.
Min-jae turned to face Seraphine, resplendent in pale gold, her hair cascading like sunlight. Her mask was tilted and her smile was a gentle, poisonous thing. Min-jae's expression remained neutral as he greeted her. "Seraphine."
Her smile widened, showing a hint of teeth. "You look lovely tonight. Truly. I almost didn't recognize you. You've... bloomed." The words were a mix of compliment and insult, a subtle jab.
