3_Preparations

When they say chaos wrapped in silk, that was exactly what the mansion looked like when I walked in late in the evening. The air felt different the moment I stepped through the grand doors, thicker, heavier, buzzing with an energy I wasn’t used to.

I had just come home from my evening part time job, feet aching and mind exhausted, hoping for some kind of normalcy. I only wanted some peace and silence or maybe… just maybe the normal routine of Emily and mother screaming their lungs out at me with some few beatings here and there, including being given some hectic works to do. But this… I wasn’t expecting at all.

The mansion had been transformed into something I could barely recognize. Maybe hell, but dressed up in expensive clothing. The cold hallway marble floor was now covered with a warm, plush rug that swallowed my tired footsteps. The sitting room was adorned with flowers everywhere, massive arrangements of white roses and lilies making it look like a shrine. Crystal vases gleamed under the chandelier light, and the scent of fresh blooms mixed with something richer, like expensive candles and polished wood. The long dining table meant for visitors was occupied with varieties of foods: platters of roasted meats, delicate pastries, imported wines, and dishes I had only seen in magazines. Silverware sparkled like it had been laid out for royalty.

"What… The… Hell," I muttered slowly, my voice barely above a whisper.

I quickly stopped one of the dozens of maids rushing around with trays and fresh linens, her apron slightly askew from the hurry.

“Hey, hey wait a second. What’s happening?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Clearly in a hurry, she barely glanced at me. “Miss Emily’s soon to be husband is visiting today.”

Not waiting to hear my response, she rushed off, heels clicking sharply against the floor.

"Alexander is coming……today," I whispered surprisingly, the name sending an unexpected jolt through my chest.

“Oh, you are back.”

“Mother,” I said, turning to face her.

“I’m not your mother, bastard,” she whispered under her breath, not meant for others’ ears but definitely meant for mine.

And she knew I had heard her, judging by the tight smile on her face and the nervousness that flickered across mine before I could hide it.

“I’m sure you’re aware of what’s happening tonight.”

“No,” I lied, keeping my expression neutral.

“Well, Emily… My daughter…” She emphasized the words, maybe trying to let me know I was a nobody in this house or to her. “…is getting married. To who……you may ask.”

I didn’t ask. I just stared at her silently, my hands clenched at my sides.

“You should know him. ALEXANDER KING COSTELLO.” She said it proudly while smirking, as if she had achieved her whole life’s dream. And maybe she had.

“Well……I don’t know him,” I said, wanting to kill her ego just a little.

But in my mind, I thought, "who doesn’t know the Costellos? The name enough can bring a man down onto his knees."

“And he will be coming for dinner tonight to get to know your sister.” She completed the sentence, the smirk on her face slowly changing into a scowl.

“And now you will be doing us a favor, doing Emily a favour. Do. not. show. your. face. Nobody needs to know you exist. You are just a fucking parasite feeding on us.”

Her words hurt. Yes, they hurt. They always did, cutting deep into places I tried to keep protected. But I won’t give her the satisfaction of knowing it did. I kept my face blank, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“Okay, can I go now?” I asked, my voice flat.

“Yeah, yeah go.” She dismissed me with a wave of her hand like I was just some homeless fly. And maybe I was.

I turned and walked away, the soft rug muffling my steps as I headed toward the back stairs. The mansion felt alive in a way it never did, servants moving like shadows, the scent of food wafting through the halls, soft classical music playing faintly from the main sitting room. Everything was being polished and perfected for the Ice King’s arrival. For Alexander.

Part of me wanted to disappear into my room like always. Lock the door, bury myself in whatever distraction I could find, and pretend none of this touched me. But another part, the stupid, curious part couldn’t stop thinking about him. The man from the rumors. The one with the deep blue eyes I had once seen across a crowded ballroom. The dangerous, beautiful chaos my sister was about to marry.

"If only I could just get a glimpse of him."

The thought slipped through my mind before I could push it away. Then… maybe having a bad day was worth it. Maybe seeing the man who could make my entire family tremble would be worth enduring another night of feeling invisible. Worth the insults. Worth the ache in my chest that never really left.

I climbed the stairs quietly, avoiding the main areas where the preparations were loudest. My room at the far end of the wing felt even smaller tonight, like the walls knew something important was happening downstairs. I closed the door behind me and leaned against it for a moment, listening to the distant sounds of the house buzzing with excitement.

Emily would be glowing, no doubt. Mother would be playing the perfect hostess. Father would be tense but obedient. And me? I was the secret. The parasite. The boy who didn’t belong but couldn’t leave.

Still, as I sat on the edge of my bed, peeling off my worn work shoes, I couldn’t shake the quiet thrill running under my skin. Alexander King Costello was coming here. Tonight. To this house.

I didn’t know what I expected from a glimpse. Maybe nothing. Maybe everything. But for the first time in a long while, the heavy weight of the day felt just a little lighter with that single dangerous possibility hanging in the air.

I stared at the ceiling, heart still beating a little too fast.

"Just one glimpse."