William Rex x Dorothea Alice Claremont (Ikemen Villains) | Canon x OC, Oneshot

William Rex © CYBIRD Co., Ltd.

Dorothea Alice Claremont © Ame (@demoicselle)

Beneath the sparkling chandelier, the faint murmurs of the guests mingled with the clinking of crystal glasses and the music of the orchestra that filled the hall that evening.

On the side of the room, a lady in a sapphire dress stood gracefully, chatting with a friend. Her eyes radiated gentleness, while a sweet yet polite smile graced her lips.

“I thought this party would be boring. Luckily, I met you, Lady Dorothea,” said her friend.

Dorothea smiled slightly and nodded. "I thought so too. It feels like it's been so long since we last met at the academy, Lady Margaret."

The blonde-haired woman—Lady Margaret—let out a small sigh, then nodded in agreement. "That’s right ... I didn't even have time to choose my most beautiful dress tonight because—" she said, suddenly stopping.

Her gaze kept darting toward the other side of the hall. Her amber eyes widened as if she had found a rare jewel, her slender fingers pressing the fan to her chest.

With a trembling voice full of admiration, she whispered, “Oh … Lord Rex looks as charming as ever .…”

Dorothea furrowed her delicate eyebrows, curiosity prompting her to turn her head in the same direction. There, in the middle of a circle of guests who seemed to be vying for his attention, stood a silver-haired man with a pair of blood-red eyes. A charming smile was etched on his lips—a smile that seemed to be able to dominate the entire room with its charm.

Those red eyes scanned the room, until they finally stopped on Dorothea. For a moment, it seemed as if their gazes met, touching her directly. It was as if Dorothea forgot the noise of the hall, leaving only the two of them.

Dorothea froze, her breath caught in her throat, her fingers clenching the fan she held. She quickly looked away, though out of the corner of her eye she was sure she caught a glimpse of a faint smile on the man's lips—as if that smile was meant only for her.

Suddenly, Margaret's cheerful voice broke her train of thought. "Did you see that, Lady Dorothea? Lord Rex is looking this way!"

Before Dorothea could answer, the orchestra's music changed. The soft strains of a waltz filled the hall. "Ah... time to dance," Dorothea thought, her eyes following the couples who were beginning to step onto the dance floor.

Shortly after, a man approached them and bowed politely. Dorothea recognized the face—her best friend’s fiancé.

“May I borrow Lady Margaret for a moment?” the man said kindly, a playful gleam in his blue eyes as he held out his hand.