À la Fête

The gates creaked open. Entered the white carriage that carried Eclair inside. A grand mansion, with a fountain decorated in the middle of the entrance where the girl lives. The mansion was vast that it could be around an acre. And so, the woman stepped out of the carriage with a bouquet of flowers cradling in her arms. She entered the mansion and was greeted by maids and butlers.

That is when a voice roamed inside the hollow building. "Eclair! My darling." A woman walking down the staircase delicately, wearing a crimson red dress with a big hat, decorated with eye-catching feathers and beads.

"Mother, I am home." The daughter talked in a soft tone making the mother happy.

"How was the flower shop, my dear? Did you get what you were looking for?" The mother asked as both of them walked out of the hall to the library.

"Yes, mother. But only there were few of them. It was probably because it hasn't bloomed yet." The mother let out a hum.

"My dear, tonight we are invited to Count Visconti's ball. I'd love you to dress very beautifully tonight." As she said this, the mother turned around dancing lightly and putting up her dress, bowing. Eclair wasn't happy hearing this, she planned to spend her night reading and rearrange the flower that she had bought today. But she couldn't reject her mother. Smiling, she says.

"Ah yes, mother. I'd love to come too. Could you please choose a dress for me? I am bad at making choices since all my dresses are very gorgeous."

The mother awed, "Oh, of course my dear. Well then, shall we?" She offers her arm to her daughter. Eclair slid in her arms to her mother's and walked to her fitting room.

The ball was held, lots of people got out of their carriage carefully. Women, men and some children attended the ball. Inside was lively. Now, a pearl black carriage arrives at the front of the entrance. A woman; wearing a royal blue dress decorated with layered see through silk with pearls, exposing a part of her shoulders, her hair was combed delicately into a layered bun and was decorated with beads and feathers. It was Lady Merissa Grace, the wife of the famous aristocrat, Viktor W. Grace.

A while after, another woman comes out. This time she had a rare purple coloured dress that the royal could only obtain. Her dress was decorated with laces, beads and has a beautiful faded flower pattern on it. Her back was exposed till her upper waist showing her light toned skin with a tinge of rosy colour on it. She was holding a feathered fan, covering half of her face. Her lush hair was combed with purple ribbons and beads. A huge hairpin settled at the both sides of her combed hair. She wore matching jewellery, an earring and necklace with elf-like features. Her eyes glisten as the lights from the hall reflect to her. However, despite being a beautiful and most outstanding person. She is suffering, she couldn't breathe well or even move properly.

A few hours beforehand...

"Mother, its- too tight, please..." Eclair tried her best to catch her breaths as the mother kept on pulling the strands of her corset.

"There, done." The mother exclaimed. The daughter, though, felt like all her internal organs were being mushed. It was an unpleasant feeling but she will try her best to bear with it.

Eclair kept on letting out a breath as she tried to get all the oxygen she needed. Now, she walked next to her mother. Cradling her arm around her, entering the huge hall; a butler asked their name. Then, announced them.

"Lady Marissa Grace, the wife of Lord Viktor William Grace. With her daughter, Lady Éclair Grace." Elegantly and proudly, both walked inside the ballroom. The petite woman beside the mother was fanning herself with her fancy feathered fan. It was hard to breathe because of the corset. Both settled next to the buffet; delicate foods and desserts were on it but none of them captured Eclair's eyes.

Lady Grace took 2 glasses of champagne and gave one to her daughter then took a sip of it. Music started to play, exciting everyone; each of one person was offered to have a dance with them. So did the mother, a man her mother has known for a long time walked up to her.

"May I have this dance, Madame?" Flattered, the mother smiled and told her daughter to wait for her.