N. Italy x Reader - Masquerade 1

It surprised you, how well the mask fit on your face. It was almost as if...it had been MADE for you! You loved the way it accommodated your cheekbones, when you smiled, and the way it didn't feel too heavy, or too light, but just right.
Peering into the mirror, you smiled. This mask was your perfect ticket to freedom.
~*~   ~*~   ~*~   ~*~   
Opulence. The sheer opulence.
That was the first thing to hit you. Before, you had helped decorate these ballrooms, for the balls, but now – seeing them in all their glory had you dumbfounded for a moment. You were merely a simple, middle-class girl, but when your distant (and much wealthier) cousin had come to you for help, asking you to masquerade as her for a ball, you couldn't decline. She had wanted to spend the night "somewhere else"...with her lover, you presumed, and, well...this would be the closest you'd ever get to the higher echelons of society, anyway.

"Vuoi ballare?" The words had caught you off-guard, and you were almost about to curtsy, but then you suddenly remembered that you were no more just a commoner, but had managed to enter a masquerade ball meant for the elite! Turning around, you saw...only a man in a mask. His mask wasn't ornate – in fact, it was more on the plain side, but it was made tastefully, and you found yourself following the intricate details with your eyes. It wasn't until he held his hand out further, that you fully realised what he had been asking you.
"S-Sì," you replied, nodding, letting the brown-haired boy take your hand, and lead you to the dance floor.

His steps weren't hard to follow, but nonetheless were graceful, elegant and lithe. You found yourself enjoying this very much – it wasn't often that you met with someone who could dance so well, and with such grace.
"I don't think I've seen you around here before, bella" he spoke, all of a sudden.
"How would you know?" you smiled, as you replied. "We're all wearing masks, after all."
"Sì, but...you dance so well – I wouldn't forget someone who dances so beautifully."

This... was insane – how did he manage to make you blush, without even seeing you?

"G-Grazie, signore," you stumbled somewhat with your reply.
The man who you danced with laughed – a light, merry laugh – as the music came to an end.
"Signorina, could I have the next dance, too?" The stranger leant in closer, and you could feel the heat radiating off your cheeks, as he whispered into your ear. You found yourself nodding.
"Actually..." he paused, for a moment. "You look tired, bella – why don't you rest, and we can talk? I'd love to know more about you!"
You couldn't help but smile at this man's frankness, and honesty, and you really felt that he meant no harm.
"Why not?" You found yourself replying – a bold answer for a woman.
"Bene! If you go down the third door on the right, there's a corridor there – I'll meet you there, d'accordo?"