[After the Event—Leif's POV — Leif's Chamber]
I stood by the window, watching the glittering crowd trickle out of the garden. The music had died down, and the last flickers of lantern light painted the courtyard in soft gold. A satisfied smirk tugged at my lips—my show had been a hit.
"Wow… that was… spectacular!" gasped a noble lady as she fanned herself dramatically, her pearls nearly flying off. "I've never seen anything like that in my life!"
"Nor have I," added another, clutching her pearls. "The way those jewelry pieces shimmered! The way they glowed under the moonlight—like they were dancing! But…" Her voice dropped into a breathy squeal.
"The way the Grand Duke proposed to Lord Leif—KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
And then it happened. The entire flock of noble ladies screamed in unison—like a pack of teenage fangirls in the front row at a boy band concert.
Glass. Shattered. I blinked.
. . .
. . .
Wow. My ears. They're gone. Rest in peace, my poor eardrums.
