The Ballroom was alive with energy and noise as I tried to make my way through the throngs of people. The music was also loud, changing from piano to orchestra and back again. It was a dance party, the chatter was even louder, and I could feel the beat of the drums pulsing through my veins. I was lost in the moment, enjoying the festive mood, when suddenly I collided with someone.

I stumbled back, nearly losing my balance,I glanced up to see who I've run into.

It was Doru! The main villain of the story... I felt how my heart sank at the sight of him.

I felt a weird pain in my chest, like a heavy weight pressing down on my heart. At the same time, I felt pressure building up in my head, making my vision go blurry. I couldn't make out the details of the room around me, and I felt disoriented.

For a moment, I thought I was having a heart attack or a stroke. My mind raced with fear and panic, and I felt like I was losing control of my body.

But then, slowly but surely, I regained my composure. I took a deep breath and tried to calm down, focusing on my breathing and trying to relax my tense muscles.

As the pain and pressure subsided, my vision cleared up and I could see the room around me again. I still felt a bit dizzy and disoriented, but I knew that I couldn't show any weaknesses right now.

I looked at him..

He was a tall, broad-shouldered guy...His long red hair covered his face like a mop. His eyes were dark green and piercing. As he looked down at me, his lips curled up into a sinister smile.

"Ya know what's funny? They think they can just come waltzing in here, all happy and carefree?" He stared at me, and I couldn't understand what he meant by his words, "what are you doing here?" He growled, his voice barely audible over the noise of the crowd, 'is he talking to me in that tone?' I slowly stepped back.

I tried to stammer out a response, but my words would feel lost in the chaos. The annoying music was pounding in my ears, drowning out everything else, and I could feel how my head was getting dizzy from all of it once again. I was an introvert in my previous life, I didn't like the noise.

pαndα`noν?1--сoМ Doru seemed to sense my discomfort, and a cruel smile spread across his features, "can't handle the noise, can you?" He taunted, leaning closer. "Maybe you're not suited for this kind of life after all as well."

I slowly backed away, no this was not the moment to fear him. He was taller, but he was my age and right now he had nothing for me to even consider him as my rival, but more like a target.

He stepped forward, blocking my path. I could feel the heat of his breath on my face, and I know if I was anyhow weaker, I would be in trouble.historical

"No, loud noises are not for me," I answered his question and looked straight into his eyes, "are you lost here or you clearly don't know have any manners?" I raised an eyebrow.

I knew for sure that my status in society was higher than his, "have they taught you nothing?" I spoke again.

His face turned blank, as he leaned back, he looked surprised trying to fix his posture, and he glanced back at me one more time.

But before he was able to say anything else, a sudden commotion erupted on the other side of the room. Someone has spilt a drink, and the resulting chaos distracted Doru long enough for me to slip away from this meaningless situation.

I made a beeline for the exit, feeling a sense of relief flooding through me as I escaped the noise and the confusion of the ballroom. Once I got away from him, the pain seemed to lessen too.

But then another noise was heard and being curious about the drama, I decided to go back in to check what was happening.

The blood began to boil, forcing my skin turn red when I saw a guy around his twenties slap Nari, "what the fuck is he doing?" Without thinking much, I pushed people, feeling a weird tension in my body, as the adrenaline coursed through me.

Nari was standing there stunned, not knowing what to do, speechless, "move!" I shouted at someone as I pushed him back. I didn't care about any manners right now, my goal was to get to her there immediately and check what happened.

As I got close to her, she seemed shaken up, but she was trying to hold herself together. A man was standing beside her, Nari's hand on his right shoulder, "she doesn't know her place!" He shouted at both of us, while I slowly touched Nari's waist to see how she felt.

"How dare a peasant like her touch me?" His words caused me to tremble, but I quickly pulled myself back and stood firm. This was not the time to be scared, I needed to act fast.

"Get your filthy paws off of her!" I commanded.

'Nari spilt a drink? Impossible!' I widened my eyes, something wasn't right.

While the guy was roaming around and causing a ruckus, Nari lifted her feet and whispered into my ears, "Rowen, the drink had poison meant for you..."

I felt how my mind was reeling as I tried to process what she just told me. This was not some kind of thing that happens at a normal ball, but my story was also not normal, so I didn't know how to react. "Poison?"

Why was it meant for me and why Nari knew that? A sudden energy of vibration started flowing through my back, was I shocked? No, it wouldn't make any sense.

My frozen legs moved on their own, as it didn't matter if Nari lied or not, this guy in front of me was causing chaos and touching my belongings, Nari was mine to control and protect.

I reached for the guy's throat and squeezed hard, "you will never lay a finger on her ever again!" I snarled, his words echoing in my head.

The guy stumbled back and fell, as I released my grip and hit the ground with a thump.

"You're lucky I'm too busy to kill you right now!" The words were out of my mouth, and before I knew it, I had already wrapped my arms around him once again.

This time he was not expecting my aggressive reaction, and he was struggling against me, trying to escape.

"Rowen!" Irene's voice rang in my head, making me realize what I must look like right now.

I let go of the guy and stood up, "sorry!" I apologized to everyone there.

I looked at Nari who was still standing there motionlessly, "come with me," I said, and took her hand.

She nodded, and we walked towards the exit.

A pathetic and crying laugh escaped that man's lips, "huh, you think I will let you go now?" He started to stand up, "a battle, a fair one until death," he added to his sentence completely killing the atmosphere in the room and making everyone stay speechless and in silence.

After a couple of seconds, loud whispers spread through the ballroom, eyes glaring at me and Nari.

"I can't believe this...he's going to fight this guy?" Doru mocked us loudly, "now that's what I call an interesting turn of events."

I ignored him, as I looked at the guy, "you want to have a battle with me? Are you even worth considering one?"

He smiled, "your arrogance is beyond belief," he laughed, "I accept your challenge and my reputation depends on it," he said looking me straight in the eye.

"Pick a time and a place," I answered as I turned around and was about to walk away, "no, let's do it here..."