Elowen's POV:
Morning arrived quietly after the chaos of the masquerade.
For the first time in days, the palace corridors felt calm.
The echoes of music and laughter had faded into memory. Servants moved through the halls carrying trays and folded linens, clearing away the remnants of the night's celebrations. A few nobles still lingered in the palace, their carriages waiting in the courtyard below as they prepared to depart.
Sunlight spilled gently through the tall windows of my chamber.
Yet the moment I woke, my thoughts returned immediately to the same problem.
My anklet.
I sat up slowly, glancing toward the small dressing table where the rest of my jewelry lay neatly arranged. The silver chain with my mother's pendant rested beside the pearl earrings and bracelet I had worn the night before.
But the anklet was still missing.
A quiet sigh escaped me.
Perhaps it had slipped loose while I was dancing. Or when I stepped out onto the balcony. Or somewhere along the corridor when I returned to my room.
It had been delicate—almost too delicate.
Thin silver, small pearls, and tiny diamonds that caught the light only when one looked closely.
I swung my feet off the bed and stood, crossing to the window.
The palace courtyard below was already alive with activity. Carriages lined the entrance as nobles said their farewells. Servants hurried about with luggage and packages.
The masquerade might have ended, but the palace was still buzzing with the aftereffects.
I tied my hair loosely behind my back and slipped on a simple day dress before leaving my chamber.
If the anklet had been found, perhaps a servant had already turned it in.
The corridor outside smelled faintly of fresh polish and morning tea. Two maids passed by carrying folded linens, both offering polite bows as they walked.
"Excuse me," I said gently.
They paused immediately.
"Yes, my lady?"
"I seem to have misplaced a piece of jewelry during the masquerade last night. A silver anklet with pearls. Has anything like that been found?"
The maids exchanged glances before shaking their heads.
"I'm afraid not, my lady."
"If we find anything, we will inform you immediately."
"Thank you."
I continued down the corridor, though a small knot of disappointment had already begun forming in my chest.
Perhaps someone else had already taken it.
Or perhaps it was still somewhere in the ballroom, unnoticed beneath the endless footsteps of nobles and servants.
I made my way toward the grand hall where the masquerade had taken place.
The transformation from last night was striking.
The chandeliers still hung high above, but the floor that had once been filled with swirling gowns now stood mostly empty. Servants moved about collecting decorations and clearing tables.
The orchestra platform had already been dismantled.
I stepped carefully across the marble floor, my eyes scanning the ground as I walked.
Nothing.
Not even a glimmer of silver.
I moved slowly toward the edge of the room where the balcony doors stood.
The same balcony where Lord Damien had found me leaning too far over the railing.
The memory made my cheeks warm faintly.
His hand had been steady when he pulled me back.
And then—
I frowned slightly.
Lord Alden Davenwood appearing almost immediately afterward.
His interruption had been strangely timed.
As if he had been watching.
I pushed the thought aside and stepped onto the balcony.
Morning sunlight had replaced the moonlight from the night before. The gardens below looked peaceful, almost deceptively so.
I leaned down carefully this time, scanning the stone floor near the railing.
Still nothing.
I walked the length of the balcony slowly, searching along every corner.
No anklet.
A quiet sigh escaped me.
It seemed unlikely I would find it here after all.
Perhaps it had fallen somewhere else entirely.
I was just turning to go back inside when a familiar voice called out behind me.
"Elowen!"
I turned to see Selene approaching across the ballroom.
She looked slightly less radiant than the night before, though her golden hair was still arranged neatly and her expression was bright.
"You vanished again," she said, joining me on the balcony.
"I was searching for something."
"Oh! What is it? Maybe I could help you look!"
I blinked in surprise. "My anklet."
I leaned against the railing.
"I hoped I might find it here."
Selene glanced around the balcony.
"And?" I asked.
"No luck."
"That is unfortunate."
"It was one of the few pieces of jewelry I truly liked."
Selene tilted her head thoughtfully.
"Well, if anyone finds it, they will certainly return it. Jewelry like that is difficult to hide."
"I hope so."
Selene rested her arms against the railing beside me.
"You worry too much."
"I do not."
"You absolutely do."
Before I could respond, a servant approached from the ballroom entrance.
"My ladies," he said politely. "Your father has asked if you might join him before he departs."
Selene brightened immediately.
"Father is leaving already?"
"Yes, my lady."
Selene glanced at me.
"We should go."
I nodded and followed her back through the ballroom.
Duke Roland Evermere stood near one of the tall windows, speaking with a palace official. When he saw us approaching, his expression softened.
"My daughters."
Selene reached him first, embracing him warmly.
"You are leaving already?"
"I'm afraid so," he said gently.
"Must you?"
"Estate matters cannot wait forever."
Selene sighed dramatically.
"You always say that."
Roland chuckled softly before turning his attention to me.
"Elowen."
"Father."
His eyes lingered on me for a moment longer than usual.
Almost as if he were studying me.
"Did you enjoy the masquerade?"
"It was… eventful."
Selene laughed.
"That is a polite way of saying she hid on the balcony half the night."
Roland raised an eyebrow.
"I see."
I smiled faintly.
"It was quieter there."
Selene linked her arm through his.
"Well, I danced more than enough for both of us."
Roland smiled warmly at her.
"I have no doubt."
For a few moments we spoke of simple things—Selene's dancing, the departing nobles, the lingering celebrations in the palace.
Yet I noticed something beneath Father's calm demeanor.
A tension.
A careful watchfulness in his eyes.
As if something weighed on his thoughts.
Eventually he straightened slightly.
"I must leave soon."
Selene hugged him again.
"You must visit more often."
"I will."
He turned to me then.
For a brief moment, his expression softened, stirring a strange unease inside me.
"Take care of yourselves," he said quietly.
"We will."
He nodded once, then turned toward the courtyard where his carriage waited.
Selene watched him go, sighing softly.
"He always leaves too quickly."
I remained silent, watching his figure disappear through the palace doors.
For reasons I could not quite explain, his parting words lingered uneasily in my mind.
Take care of yourselves.
Almost like a warning.
Beside me, Selene stretched lightly.
"Well," she said, brightening again, "perhaps we should search for your anklet again later."
"Perhaps."
Deep down, I had a strange feeling I wouldn't find it anytime soon.
Somewhere else in the palace, unseen and carefully hidden from every searching eye…
The missing anklet rested quietly in the possession of the one man who had no intention of returning it.