"I am pleased," he confirmed quietly, as the din from the Grand Foyer drifted over them at the entryway.
Gaunter than usual, paler than usual, and with deeper lines in his face, Erik clearly showed the wear of the last couple weeks. He hadn't been sleeping much; he'd forgotten more than a few meals. But the night's magnificence had been worth it. His own opera was written, and needed only to be cast and directed. But the music.... the music was there. And that was the most important part.
His Christine had been patient indeed. He was aware that she lacked the comfort that she should have been given from the man who should be seeing to her every need. Erik felt guilt over his absence from her. She lived under the same roof as he, and he'd gone days without seeing her. But she was good and she was patient, and she still chose to allow him to lead her on his arm. This beautiful creature who consented to be his wife.
"Pleased indeed," he said, moving them further into the crowd. There were greetings to be made. Duties to perform. Unlike the first time, Erik chose not to wear his mask. The pressure of the humanity around him was still present, it was true, but... Christine had become his mask now.
Across the room, Erik found his diva and two other men - strangely close to each other. Erik had seen many unnatural things during his time traveling, and the amorous affection of a man for a man was one of them. Still, it seemed grotesque under the lights of his opera house. He smirked. Then, that blatant of a display - between whatever combination of sexes - would always seem rather out of place in public.
And it wasn't the men who kept Erik's attention, but Enigma. Erik needed more time to study the girl he'd selected to be one of his divas. His trust for her had never been solid. He'd recognized in her a kindred spirit. But apart from her dedication to the music he set in front of her, he'd had no reason to trust her. But the day Christine fell down the stairs made Erik pause about Enigma. He remembered what his assistant whispered to him at the hospital, while he paced in the waiting room.