Reflection in His Eyes (Kamisato Ayato x Reader)

Chapter 7

The tight uncomfortable gown stresses you out. And the most irritating feeling is you can feel the itchy edge of the square neck gown and its puffy sleeves. It was beige with a few blue details at the hem part of the gown. "I'm sorry but is this still part of the game?" you asked uncertainly while in the rocking carriage. It was quite dark and there was a random man guiding the horse.

Is this how rich people play a game they desire? ... can't relate.

Ayato was presently sitting straight in front of you with his complete white coat with beige details and dark blue vest. "You could say that," he answered and adjusted the sleeves on his wrist. After a while, the carriage finally stopped in front of another massive manor. The lights in the garden were lit up and the bushes on the side of the pathway are perfectly trimmed. Ayato left the carriage first and offered his hand. Your sight wandered around the unreal estate as you went down the carriage but Ayato suddenly stopped you. "No, go back in the carriage again."

"Gosh, sorry! I was carried away. I thought I was invited to come here with-"

"You accept my hand when I offer you my hand," Ayato ordered while glaring at you firmly, looking offended for you, declining his offer.

Ah... I thought I wasn't supposed to come with him.

He smiled from ear to ear when you finally accepted his hand while walking down from the carriage. As the carriage left the both of you standing in a tall medieval estate, Ayato let go of your hand and went behind you while his hands are resting on your shoulders. "Be still," he whispered before you felt the cold silver necklace interact with your bare skin. Honestly, you're not sure if the shivers and goosebumps you got were from his cold whisper or from the cold necklace. You looked down at it and saw a camellia symbol which indicates the Kamisato clan.

"What's this for?"

"Alright, listen to me. Unfortunately, Ayaka couldn't attend this gathering so I was forced to attend this matter. I refused to go alone so I brought you with me," he enlightened you as he walked and stopped in front of you to hold both of your shoulders and let you face him. "We're still playing, alright? You know roleplaying?"

"Like... pretending to act someone?"

"Clever! Yeah, we're playing that game. Just pretend you're my...acquaintance? Or maybe more than friends. It's up to you if you don't want to pretend. Just be yourself." Ayato brushed your hair with his fingers as if you were a doll and carefully removed the smudged wax of lipstick at the side of your lips. "Don't call me 'young master' there. Kindly, address me by my first name. Are we clear?"

You raised a brow at him. "I can't do that. I'm sorry."

"Don't tell me you already forgot my name."

"I can't address you by your name. It's the bare minimum of respect."

After fixing your hairpin, he sighed and stood straight. Ayato offered his hand with a warm smile so you gladly accepted it. Instead of walking directly to the huge entrance, he stopped in the garden, a little far from the entrance. "Please, excuse me." His hand slipped on your left sleeve and placed the strap with a dagger. It's a fighting knife for unexpected events. "Shall we?" He offered his arm and you clung to him before the two of you entered the main estate.

There were a few announcements and talk before the slow music begins. Ayato offered his hand for a dance and so you accepted it, as usual. Every minute, you were tripping and accidentally stomping on his foot but he was patient and held your waist even tighter to prevent you from losing your balance. The stares you're getting from the other people dancing as well weren't helping at all. Especially, that tall young man with tan skin and navy-blue hair. You gave back the same intensity of stare he gave until he avoids your glare which painted a victory smile on your face. "Eyes on me, M'lady," Ayato suddenly whispered while staring at you.

Who are you calling M'lady?! You looked at your back curiously to see who he was referring to but no one was behind you.

"Indeed, obviously you," he responded seductively as if he could read your mind. As the music finally ends, someone called for Ayato. He was hesitant at first about whether he should leave you or not but he has already decided and held your shoulders. "I'll give you one rule for this game. Don't make eye contact with anyone. Understood?"

You nodded so he gave you a smile before leaving. While looking at him walking away, you stood there frozen as if you were a robot, not knowing what to do next without a command. You were alarmed when you saw in your peripheral vision that someone was walking in your direction so you turned away and walked, without knowing where you were heading. Good thing, a tall tapestry-like curtain hung on the wall caught your attention. You stared at it and pretended to admire the tapestry.

Wondering if that person had realized that you don't probably want to interact and communicate with them, you finally turned around. But unfortunately, a tough chest met your face. There was a badge with his initials carved in. His initials were... K. A.? Same thing as the young master, huh?

Even though that person is also wearing a white coat and a navy blue vest, you knew it was not the young master. Ah, he's the one who I had a competition with intense glaring a while ago.

"Hi there, gorgeous," a cold baritone voice welcomed you. He had two red wine glasses in his hand so he handed you one. "You know, it would be rude to reject an offer from the cavalry captain. Are you fond of wines?"

"Thanks," you accepted the glass to avoid further follow-up questions. Still, without making eye contact with him, you took a sip and spat the wine back into the glass without making it obvious.

"Kaeya Alberich," he offered a hand and looked at your necklace. "It's the first time I've seen you here, huh? And you're from the Kamisato clan. Interesting..." Silence lingered around between the two of you since you refused to respond. "You were just intimidatingly glaring at me a while ago. How competitive... Where did that oozing confidence go?"

Saved by the bell, a tall woman with ghostly pale skin entered the scene. "Kaeya, don't scare the poor lady."

Kaeya looked at him like he was offended, then he scoffed and pointed at himself. "Sister Rosaria, does this pretty face looks scary?"

"Certainly, it is."

Avoiding eye contact was getting well not until you accidentally stepped on the tapestry behind you so it unfortunately fell. Your fast reflexes caught the heavy metal curtain rod with both of your hands but the glass of wine that you were holding earlier, made an unpleasant crashed sound as the wine slowly stained the carpet. Anxiety crawls and impulsive decision-making kicks in as you slowly stepped back and eventually ran away from the scene.

Out of luck, a tray of glasses of wine hits your chest so the wine stained your beige gown and a dozen of glasses fell on the marble floor. You got a lot of attention and you felt all their judging stares so you couldn't run away this time. At that moment, you didn't just make eye contact with one person, rather, you made eye contact with almost everyone in the room. "Sorry for the trouble, Ma'am," the man in a black suit apologized even though it was your fault.

Then, he left for a while to grab a mop. You knelt down and wiped the flowing red wine with your bare hands, expecting you could help. Without you noticing, the blood from your palm started to blend with the red wine. Yet, you couldn't feel the sting because the humiliation from the people's stares bothers you more. Before you could mop the floor with your hands any further, Kaeya held both of your trembling hands and helped you to stand up.

"Oh my, you're hurt," Kaeya mumbled as he took his white cloth napkin to wipe the cascading blood from your fingers.

"I gladly appreciate the accompany, General Gorou." When you heard the familiar soothing voice, you immediately shove Kaeya's hands and carried your heavy gown to run faster away. You ended up exiting the manor. There was a small pond with ducks and water lilies down the mini bridge so you went closer and knelt down while grasping your heavy gown. As you lean, you noticed a random cloth napkin on your lap. It seems like you accidentally grasp Kaeya's cloth napkin since there was an embroidery of his initials in the corner. "Ah, there you are," Ayato said which made you flinch. "Why are you outside here in a dark place?"

Ayato was looking at you with a wide smile and both of his hands on his back. You slowly stood up and gave him the same wide smile while also hiding both of your hands on your back. It was dark but under the pale moonlight, you could still see his ethereal face. "I was just feeding the ducks," you reasoned, still smiling widely.