The Art Exhibit was one of the few events of the season that did not require her to interact with a dozen people to be viewed as a success. It was a museum—couldn't she simply stand around and look pretty? She was no verity, but her skin was clear and her dresses, although one year out-of-season, hung prettily enough on her body. She could be an art piece, a statue.

Except it became clear upon her arrival that this was no ordinary art exhibit. One of the staff members, hearing that she had no clue what she was expected to do, made quick business of ushering her into one of the rooms, which was distinctly not her vibe.

There were people there—plenty, actually, and all dressed in typical styles for the season—but he setting was distinctly primeval, the walls dark and the props enchanted in a way that made Grace feel as though she was really in the dungeon on display. She wandered through, her eyes permanently widened as she found herself increasingly invested in the story being told. There were creatures in the background, far enough away to keep her pulse at a steady rate, but as she passed by a statue goblin, she stopped to admire the artistry.

And then it yelled at her.

Grace let out a yelp and stumbled backwards... right into the frontside of another person. A gentleman. Grace turned around, her mouth already opened to apologize, but then she saw who it was, and her expression changed: eyes still wide, her lips clamped shut in a tight line, and her cheeks went warm. "I—My goodness, I didn't—I didn't mean to," she stammered, unsure if she was more spooked by the goblin statue or the presence of the familiar face.

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