A couple of days later
Leila stood in a dressing room with Eloise by her side. They had made it to the city of Vermillion – a large town with traditional houses and castles. The ball was to be held in the evening and there were an abundance of ships and royals loitering around the city. Leila had stayed somewhat covert, she didn't go out much during the day and when she did she usually wore Law's hoodie with his jolly roger on it – it was a good enough disguise for now.
She had thought about the dangers of attending this ball. There were sure to be people who would recognise her, however, Law persuaded her to stop worrying. It was a masquerade ball, thus, everyone would be wearing extravagant masks to cover up half of their face. With her hair up and her dress on, she would blend in like any other young woman.
She was currently in one of the castle's many dressing rooms fit for the young women to attend. Eloise and her sisters had ushered her quickly from the ship in the morning. Leila couldn't quite understand why they needed to get ready quite so early, but she didn't complain. She liked having the female company, it was like having sisters.
Eloise's hair was being curled by Abby, her older sister who was humming a delightful melody. Leila was busying herself with unpacking the dresses, her gaze falling on the deep blue one she had chosen a week before. She let out an unsteady sigh, suddenly feeling the nerves creep up on her.
"Are you excited?" Abby asked Leila, turning her attention briefly to her to make light conversation.
"Yeah…" Leila agreed nonchalantly, thinking back to her days were these would be a custom in her life. "I haven't attended a ball in a long, long while"
"When was the last time you attended?" Abby asked her curiously
"3 years ago, maybe four now"
"Ah I see" Abby nodded. "Did you used to come as a guest?"
Leila thought long and hard. She didn't want to reveal that she had attended as a high up royal – she wouldn't know how to explain that away. Balls often invited valued guests such as valued workers, marines and sometimes even pirates – given the circumstance. Leila's old balls consisted of families mostly working in the underworld with significant standing, occasional pirates and the very rare marine (who was no doubt crooked in their morals).
"Uh…yeah I did. I had connections to a royal family at one point" She lied, quickly distracting herself with something else. Abby paused for a minute, observing Leila closely.
"Well, I'm glad we could take you along this time" She said softly. "Do you want me to do your hair after Eloise?"
Leila stared at Eloise, who was only quiet because her head was buried in a book, and her hair that had been daintily curled to frame her petite face.
"If you wouldn't mind, that would be lovely" Leila smiled at Abby. Abby seemed to brighten up and grinned at her, happy to make a step towards being friends with the young woman.
Law sat around with a number of men, both young and old, who were sitting around the drawing room drinking rich tasting alcohol. It had been some time since Leila had been ushered away and Law couldn't help himself but feel restless. It was rare that she was somewhere he could not see or get to. It was safe to say, he did not like the feeling. His crew were dispersed throughout the castle, Bepo had found the food along with Penguin whilst Shachi talked happily with Jean and other men.
He was dressed in a navy tuxedo – the material so smooth it almost felt like velvet. It had been a gift to him by King Silver, who stood not so far away conversing happily with some of the older men. Law tugged at his tie, loosening it as he slumped against the chair. He wasn't here to look presentable or to appease anyone – he was here solely for Leila…and work, he supposed. His suit was a similar colour to her dress, an action that no doubt Eloise had pushed upon her father. Law looked outside the window that was to his right and observed the illuminating lights on the courtyard – a number of bountiful flowerbeds and groomed bushes lining the path up to the castle. A few young women were outside the gates, chatting happily with old friends and catching up. Some had their masks in their hands, their young and expectant faces innocently on show.
"Excuse me" A young man cleared his throat before Law, making him look up disgruntled. The man had chocolate brown hair with icy blue eyes with a golden whiskey glass in his hand. Law raised an eyebrow at him coldly – he didn't want to make conversation just for the sake of it.
"They're beauties, eh?" The man gestured towards the women outside before taking a large swig from his glass. Law let his eyes fall on the young women.
"Sure" He said nonchalantly, looking back to the young man.
"Tomas" The man extended a hand to Law. Law looked at it begrudgingly but he wasn't one to be outright rude – he shook it firmly.
"Law"
"I am here on strict orders to find myself a befitting wife" The man joked, shaking his head in disbelief. "What about you? You here to find a bedazzling young lady?"
'Already have…' Law thought to himself cockily.
"No, I'm actually a doctor – here on work duties"
"Whoa, what kind of work duties take you to this kind of a ball?" Tomas laughed aloud, seemingly amused. When Law didn't respond he cleared his throat. "Anyway…isn't it stupid that we have to make a decision for our life partner when he can't even see half their face?" He scoffed.
Law found himself smirking slightly at that but quickly disguised it. Suddenly, a clap from one of the men settled the room into silence.
"The grand hall is now open for your pleasure" The servant bowed before opening the drawing room doors.
"That's their way of telling us to hurry up, isn't it?" Tomas smirked, taking a small mask out of his pocket and putting it onto his face. "Makes us look like bandits, right?"
Law nodded and put his simplistic mask on also. At first, there were only men in the grand hall. It was indeed grand – it was purely golden with white marble along the floor and extravagant chandeliers lining the ceiling. At the end of the hall there were two golden flights of stairs, both leading up to an elevated floor with a throne – to which the king of Vermillion sat upon quietly. He was an old man, very old. But he seemed happy and peaceful, nonetheless. Then, the women started to slowly trickle in from an opposite door to which the men had. They would greet their respected partners or stick together in clumps of young women, giggling happily. The women's dresses were vastly different – some were designs ball gowns whilst others wore more simplistic dresses that looked handmade. Law couldn't help but appreciate the variety of classes that had attended the ball, he felt respect for the elderly king.
Tomas stayed relatively close to Law, boring him with menial conversation. Suddenly, his eyes got caught on the door.
"You know, I know I was being a bit of a jackass about finding a wife" He spoke, his eyes fixated. "But if it's someone like her, I wouldn't mind"
Law turned to look to the entrance. Eloise and her sisters entered the ball gracefully, with Leila linked in her arm. Law struggled to breath for a moment. Leila's hair had been delicately styled into a bun on her head, with two wavy strands falling to the side of her face to frame it perfectly. Her dress hugged her voluptuous body to an illegal degree and her golden eyes stood out even behind her navy blue mask that was framed with jewels. She looked even better than the time he had first seen her in that dress and he had never felt prouder to have known her.
Her eyes were searching over the crowds and she seemingly mellowed when she saw Law. She smiled genuinely and gave him a tiny wave from across the hall. Law felt a lump form in his throat as he couldn't help but stare at her – she was exceptional.
"I mean…she just stands out from everyone doesn't she?" Tomas continued after he heard no response from Law. Law stiffened and turned to him, glaring subtly.
"I hope you're not talking about the young woman in the blue dress" Law darkly spoke, his voice clear cut and threatening. Tomas grew rigid and had to swallow a lump in his throat as he looked at Law wide eyed.
"Ah, I'm sorry I didn't realise she was your wife" He bowed his head gentlemanly, seemingly regaining his composure. Law let out a subtle sigh, he didn't bother correcting him.
'Let him think that, maybe then he'd keep his eyes to himself'. He thought. Law's eyes glanced over the room and noticed that it wasn't just Tomas, many men were observing Leila from afar. Her dark ebony hair contrasted with her golden eyes would catch anyone's attention – it shouldn't have surprised Law but still, he found himself gripping his glass a bit too tightly.
Soon, Bepo and Shachi were beside Law, chatting happily and joking about like clowns.
"This is great, why don't we come to these more often?" Bepo asked, biting into a pastry he had found. Law scoffed.
"Because not all of them are like this – it's highly unusual for things to be this relaxed" A feminine voice replied, making all of them turn to look. Leila stood with Eloise on her arm, smiling happily. Bepo hummed in appreciation of her appearance.
"Wow, you look great!" He assured her.
"Yeah, is that really you?" Shachi teased. "Who knew there was a woman underneath that bad personality?"
Leila hit his arm lightly, a mischievous look on her face. "Oh please, says the one insulting a lady". Eloise giggled at their antics and said her hello's to the crew she was so familiar with.
"Law, what do you think?" Eloise twirled happily in front of him, causing Leila to smile at her. She really did act like a child sometimes.
"Very pretty Eloise" He humoured her, smirking to himself. Once she was done twirling her pearlescent dress, Leila linked her arm through hers once again. Law raised an eyebrow.
"I don't want her to fall; I said I would be here to support her all night" Leila smiled, somewhat guilty for not considering being with Law much during the ball.
"Oh for crying out loud!" Eloise exclaimed, causing an older couple to raise their eyebrows disapprovingly. Eloise didn't notice though. "I'm fine, I won't fall, I won't trip, I promise to be careful so let me actually have fun!"
"But-" Leila began to speak but Eloise shushed her and removed her arm. Leila's looked at her worriedly, not wanting her condition to worsen but Eloise rubbed her arm in appreciation.
"You two should go have fun also!" She interlaced Leila's arm with Law's and hummed in approval. With both of them in matching colours they looked absolutely charming. Tomas was still on the side, watching Leila with an enamoured gaze and a slight blush on his cheeks. Law glared at him seriously this time, wrapping his arm securely around Leila's and holding her close into his body.
Eloise noticed the young man off to the side and smiled at him. "Would you care to dance?" She forwardly asked him, making his eyes widen in surprise. He nodded slowly and offered her his arm, to which Eloise took graciously. They soon left to the middle of the hall, leaving Law and Leila by themselves.
Bepo and Shachi shifted uncomfortably, feeling out of place suddenly.
"W-would you care to dance?" Bepo blushed and asked Shachi, averting his gaze. Shachi blushed as well.
"Oh my god, why are you acting like that?!" Shachi complained, pushing Bepo away. "You're embarrassing – don't ask that like I'm a woman".
Leila laughed happily as the music began to start.