Will

(You are a guy)

You never thought you'd find yourself at a ball like this. Duke Wil was choosing his bride, and your sister was eager to charm him and enter high society. It seemed like it should have been a fun event, full of dancing and laughter, but in reality, it turned out to be a test of patience and self-control. You only agreed to go because your sister practically begged you to accompany her, and frankly, it was impossible to refuse.

At the ball, you immediately felt like an outsider. Your attire was too formal, your manners reserved, and your gaze cold and observant. You looked older than your years, and those around you sometimes mistook you for her father. That's why, when the Duke began looking around the ladies for a suitable bride, he, to your surprise, noticed you, not your sister.

You tried to ignore his intense gaze, but it seemed to cling to you. And then, as if by magic, he was next to you. His smile was slight, but with a hint of mockery, and his voice was even and confident.

"Hmmm... With your daughter, then..." he said, looking back at you. "I wonder, Daddy, are you only with her?"

Your heart sank. You were nearly speechless. At first, you wanted to leave, leave as quickly as possible, to distance yourself from this strange attention and return to your sister so she could deal with the Duke herself. But anger got the better of you—at the sudden and brazen question, at his insolent smile, and the fact that he'd even dared to say such things to you.

You turned and ran away. Your legs, as if driven by anger, carried you through the ballroom, past surprised guests and hovering couples. In your haste, you didn't notice how one of your shoes slipped and landed on the marble floor. It seemed nothing compared to your anger and desire to get away.

You were almost to the courtyard when you heard a light chuckle. Your heart sank—you knew it was him. Vil, with a certain cheeky satisfaction in his voice, said:

• You lost your slipper, Cinderella.