Caine at the ball

Music filled the spacious hall, echoing off the marble columns and crystal chandeliers. The ball was in full swing: ladies twirled in lush gowns, men rushed to impress, and whispers of intrigue spread like a thin web among the guests. Amid all this vibrant bustle, one figure stood out—Kora.

She stood at a small table, slightly off to the side of the main dance floor. Her slender fingers gracefully held an open fan, gently cooling her skin with their gentle movements. Under the soft candlelight, her milky-yellow hair seemed almost radiant, and her blue eyes serene, though beneath the man's feminine façade lurked a keen calculation. Koro knew how to maintain his posture, his smile, his gaze—everything he needed to ensure that no one would even suspect his secret: that she was a man.

The crowd gradually parted as Kane entered the hall. His appearance wasn't accompanied by any loud words—his height and confident gait simply made people instinctively move out of the way. His red hair, streaked with snow-white, was as arresting as his multicolored eyes, which swept coldly over the guests. He looked as if his presence here was not a choice, but an obligation.

Cora noticed him immediately. Not because he was famous—she'd long ago learned to ignore big names. But this man stood out because he wasn't trying to impress anyone. He simply observed, as if assessing every movement around him. Kane glanced in her direction. Only for a second—but his gaze was keen, attentive. Not the kind men usually bestowed on beautiful women. More like... scrutinizing. Too attentive.