The Shadow of Great Britain

Chapter 1442: Chapter 223: Moscow Trending Figures

Since Arthur spent the entire morning enthusiastically discussing natural science with Moscow’s First Secretary Zubkov, it was already close to four in the afternoon when he appeared at the welcome party hosted specifically for him by Duke Golitsyn, the Governor of Moscow, in the Kremlin ballroom.

However, this was not considered a major faux pas, as per social etiquette, the main guest, Arthur, was entitled to be fashionably late.

In fact, if he had arrived too early, it would have seemed inappropriate.

The walls of the ballroom were adorned with heavy velvet curtains, and the windows, with their stained glass, cast a kaleidoscope of colors. The ceiling was filled with exquisite religious-themed murals, and the wide dance floor in the center of the hall was surrounded by rows of chairs for people to rest.

The lighting came from crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceiling, casting soft yet bright light that illuminated the entire room.

The floor was waxed and polished, reflecting the flickering of candlelight so brightly that it mirrored the silhouettes of people. In the corner where the band played, musicians dressed uniformly were diligently tuning their instruments, ready to provide beautiful melodies for this ballroom filled with Moscow’s elite.

The grand ’gallery’ surrounding the dance floor was lavishly decorated, with 1500 flower boxes containing rare plants, creating a fragrant green forest.

At one end of the hall, amidst exotic shrubs, a fountain gushed with a stream of fresh and sparkling water: the mist shimmered like diamond dust in the multitude of candlelight, refreshing the air that was perpetually stirred by the dancing.

One might think that these exotic plants, including large palms and bananas, concealed beneath a layer of moss-like greenery, appeared to be growing in their native soil, as if the northern dancers were magically transported to a tropical forest.

All of this was like a dream, featuring not only opulence but also poetry.

The splendor of the magical gallery was magnified a hundredfold by the huge gilded mirrors around it.

The hall was tall, extending the length of half a palace. The grandeur of all this was imaginable, yet difficult to describe in words.

It was like a fairy’s palace, where all concepts of boundaries disappeared, and what remained was space, light, gold, flowers, reflections, illusions, and the swirling of people, who seemed to multiply infinitely.

The gentlemen’s attire was quite similar, with tailored tailcoats in dark colors like black, deep blue, or deep green, matched with white shirts and bow ties, the trousers close-fitting, complemented by shiny shoes.

Those serving in the military often followed the example of Tsar Nicholas I, attending the ball in impeccable uniforms, some adorned with brooches or ribbons as embellishments.

The ladies’ attire was noticeably more complex, with floor-length silk or satin gowns, styles varied, but often featuring tight bodices and wide hems.

The gown colors were vibrant, but mostly in pastel tones that highlighted their elegance—such as pink, light blue, and ivory.

To add layers, they would drape a shawl or cardigan of thin fabric over their dresses.

The noble ladies’ hair was intricately styled into elaborate chignons, adorned with flowers, jewels, or feathers.

Their necks were graced with exquisite necklaces, while their delicate lace or silk gloves were adorned with emerald, ruby, or diamond rings.

As for what shoes they wore, Arthur found it difficult to discern.

After all, as a gentleman, he couldn’t simply lift the ladies’ trailing gowns, even if it was just out of curiosity and not for any sordid purpose.

Although not all guests had arrived, some familiar ladies and gentlemen were already entertaining themselves by dancing, especially those young couples in the throes of budding romance and developing private relations.

Fortunately, the dances at the Moscow ball weren’t strictly regulated. With a quick glance, Arthur could identify German Waltz, quadrilles, Polish dance, and Mazuka. Although he was clueless about the latter dances, at least the German Waltz and quadrilles he learned at Almack’s Club would come in handy.

Of course, Arthur wasn’t too concerned about which dances would be performed tonight or what shoes the ladies wore beneath their skirts.

He had anticipated that Duke Golitsyn would offer him a reception of high standards, but such a grand welcome ball still exceeded the expectations of someone accustomed to the grimy air of the East District old precinct.

Aside from the day he was presented to the Tsar at the Winter Palace, this might be the most lavish place Arthur had ever set foot in; the grandeur of a Russian ball far surpassed those in Britain and France.

More importantly, compared to serving as a foil to the Tsar and Earl Dalmo at the Winter Palace, Arthur was undeniably the protagonist this time.

Such a high-level reception even left Arthur momentarily doubting whether he was truly the main guest tonight.

Moreover, he quickly noticed a difference between Moscow and St. Petersburg, just as Captain Hutter had once told him.

Moscow’s ball seemed tangibly more Slavic than St. Petersburg’s, particularly reflected in the elegant ladies.

In St. Petersburg, the mix of various ethnicities made it difficult for Arthur, over an extended period, to develop an accurate perception of Russia’s actual demographic proportions.