Snow in July

Caitlyn wanted a way out.

The ball was heavy on her, the cacophony of speech and music blurred in her ears like a thundercloud in the distance, warning her of the storm yet to come. The various gazes upon her made her stomach twist—they were all here for the same purpose, but that purpose would go, as ever, unfulfilled.

There was not a single face in the crowd she hadn't seen before, not a single man she hadn't tried to court before in this overly glamorous ballroom; the white walls, tinted with curls of silver that climbed up to the ceiling. An array of flowers dotted every corner, resting comfortably within their marbled pots. Most horrid of all, her damn heavy gown.

Suffice to say, she wasn't able to escape her mother's insistence on changing the moment she entered the manor. And of course, her entire wardrobe was emptied yet again, replaced by a single blue dress meant only to accentuate her figure. Ridiculous…

And yet, she wondered why her daughter wouldn't come home as often.

She sighed in annoyance at the bumbling heirs and fools vying for her attention, and rushed into the safety of a corner amidst married men.

She had expected a conversation about it. In private. But she didn’t put it past her mother to pull a trick exactly like this, gathering every man with at least the slightest status for a 'welcome home' party. Caitlyn swore she could feel a blood vessel pop somewhere on her face.

She stared at their rings as they glinted under the light of the crystal chandeliers decorating the ceiling. Their smiles held warmth. Their gestures held an honesty that was easily lost within the bustle of conversation.

Caitlyn finally had room to breathe, even as her corset imprisoned her lungs.

She examined their well sculpted faces with a curious glance, trailing the silver curls of hair up and into their well groomed manes. Truth be told, she found them pleasant to observe. Caitlyn could trulyappreciate faces, as long as the person behind them was of decent character. She found herself appreciating soothing voices once they no longer pined for her affection.

…Like Jayce.

But that was just that; appreciation. Nothing beyond, for the very thought made her gag and shiver in disgust for reasons she could not fully put to words. Only that it did.

The evening stretched on, like a strand of yarn pulled too tight. Exhaustion nipped around her ankles, and a hue of red creeped onto her face. She hadn't quite counted the hours, nor had she sought to entertain herself in conversing with the men before her.

She fluttered her fan over her flushed face in a manner ‘unbefitting’ of a lady in her station, earning her mother's ire from across the ballroom. She was sick and tired of this old song and dance, but it was one where there was only one ending in sight; marry, and move on, lest the Kiramman line end with her.

“—quite, the harvest this season had profits soaring.” One of the married gentlemen chuckled, oozing with confidence as he swirled the glass of wine in his hands. 

Caitlyn nodded with a well practiced smile as she entered the conversation. “I suppose the plentiful rains had brought their much needed minerals from the valleys to your vineyards.” 

They turned their attention to her with a mix of surprise and confusion. Needless to say, they hadn't expected her to be amongst them.

“Why, of course! We have Janna to thank for that," the older man spoke up. "I believe I shall name the finest batch this season after her. But of course, I'd love to hear your opinion, Lady Kiramman."

“Hm. Might I recommend Janna’s Wiles?” Her fan paused for a moment. “Men of fine taste would appreciate an accurate name for a wine of such complexity and depth.”

“I had not expected the lady to be so well versed in wine!” He beamed with excitement at the suggestion. “I'll be sure to send a bottle to the Kiramman residence to share with your father."

“That would be most generous of you, sir Holstein." Caitlyn nodded. She could not quite show much else in hospitality or acceptance as her ankles were quivering under her gown.

“And you'd be most welcome, lady Kiramman. Had I but half the son of-"

“Excuse me?" Jayce intersected their conversation, placing a gentle hand on Caitlyn's shoulder. “May I borrow Lady Kiramman for a moment? Thank you." 

“Excuse us, gentlemen." Caitlyn welcomed the disruption as she locked arms with Jayce. “Oh, but please, do send a bottle at your earliest convenience.”

He nodded in return, all the while Jayce escorted her out of the glamorous ballroom. Somewhere far more comfortable for the both of them.

The cold air against her flushed skin was a much needed reprieve, albeit temporary as Caitlyn began fiddling with the obstructive corset under her dress.

Jayce paused at the nearest set of marble railings. His gaze was drawn toward the sea of autumnal shades against the dark horizon. The Kiramman garden was a spectacular sight, day and night, with lights that dotted the property like stars did the skies. The scent of moisture was thick in the air as the delicate leaves before them fluttered helplessly in the wind.

“You… need any help with that?” Jayce offered hesitantly, his smile dimming down into an uncomfortable half-grin as he stared at her. His fingers found the smooth buttons of his cuffs and circled them, distracting himself from his own worries.

“No, I do not.” She blurted out the words, but more kept shooting out of her mouth like smoke from a campfire. “What I need help with is getting out of this damned house before I do something I might regret!”

He sighed, slouching against the marbled balcony as his head tilted higher toward the stars. “Your mother's really pushing for your marriage huh… I uh, saw her speaking on your behalf and arranging at least a dozen more meetings for tea and dinner.”

“Of course she would.” She groaned under her breath. Her hands slumped to her sides as she gave up on finding reprieve from her corset. Something in her gut churned—anger, confusion, and hatred—all of it mixing together into a whirlpool that swallowed her peace. “She never understood in the first place.”

His gaze followed the silhouette of the extravagant manor, leading down to Caitlyn's frame. Countless times he’d offered her to be her partner in marriage, but his good-will was met with a bite more vicious than her bark. Not out of malice, but... Something neither he or Caitlyn knew herself. He couldn't fault her for that.

Jayce allowed Caitlyn the silence she needed for her emotions to calm as the two stood there, side by side. What was left of her turmoil had swallowed the color of her eyes—the sparkles of blue, eaten by something Jayce could not see with bare eyes alone.

“Remember… the first time I brought my telescope?” Jayce chirped up, attempting to lighten the heavy mood; a robin in the autumn darkness.

She hummed in a light response, followed by the roll of her shoulder. “I was excited. But… we both know what mother said.” She leaned against the palm of her hand propped against the marble railing.

Jayce fidgeted with his cuff a moment longer in thought. Until he pushed himself off the railing and turned to face her. “Look, if you happen to be interested…” He dug into the inner pocket of his coat, revealing an embroidered letter with the crest of piltover embedded on the wax seal. “I'm going to the Progress conference in two weeks. They said I could bring someone along, no matter who. You're the only—uh… other person I can think of that might want this.”

Caitlyn scanned the letter in his grip a moment, allowing it to bend in the wind before her hands slid over to grasp the fine paper. 

“Why would you give me this? What about Viktor?” Caitlyn raised a brow lazily as she ripped the letter’s seal, reading the contents of the invitation in the dim lights around them.

“Because I— I think you need it more. He’ll understand… I hope at least. Ah– and If your mother doesn't approve, I'll convince her for you. Best part,” he tapped the bottom of the letter, where the location of the event had been listed. “You might get a chance to let loose for once.”

Caitlyn switched back and forth between him and the letter, awestruck. There was that bright sparkle in her eye that reassured Jayce that he'd done something not so stupid for once.

“Actually, you should go convince my mother—right now.”