6 Chapter 6

The Town Ball

The town were filled with buzzing people. Glimmering lights were hanging everywhere, in the windows, walls, and in every corners of the square. Laughter were heard even behind the walls and for once, the colorful rendezvous made the night joyful.

Splendid carriages were lining up in the street. Ladies and gentlemen were everywhere as they tried to show off their fancies.

Finally, a carriage of gold had arrived. Several people turned their head as the door of the splendid carriage opened, making it's way for a pretty lady wearing a crimson dress. Holding her hand was a young man in his mysterious purple eyes, gazing upon the lights of the town. It was none other than Lucas, the man of the talk.

As he was exposed to the light, several ladies exclaimed their excitement as they finally saw the person they had admired for years. And among them was Judith, Lucas' greatest admirer. But it was not for two long since someone had caught their attention. Their eyes quickly averted from Lucas, to his hands, and unto the lady holding hands with him, none other than Maliya.

She's nervous. The gazes towards her felt so disturbing and unpleasant. Those were the eyes of other people that were strangers to her . It was the very first time she was exposed to the society that she felt it hard to even breath. It was suffocating for her. But the hand she nudged for a while now kept clutching to hers. She glanced at Lucas as she tried to nudge it again but it won't budge.

" It's my mother. She requested me to do this so please just bear with it. " Whispered Lucas in a stern voice. Maliya turned her head behind her and saw three familiar grins mocking her with enthusiast. She couldn't do anything so instead, she just laughed at the absurd idea.

Well, it was not as bad as she thought. The warm hands that held hers soon made her feel at ease.

...

" Judith? Judith! You're spacing out again!" whispered a noble woman as she felt ashamed by her daughter's behavior.

"What happened to you?" she asked. Judith, who heard her mother's question just now felt puzzled.

"What?" she replied nonchalantly.

"Your etiquette, gosh. Your shaming me." her mother said as she tried to cover her face with her fan.

Just then, her thoughts came back. Bits of food had splattered all over her tablecloth as she held her teacup wrongly.

"I-i'm sorry." she exclaimed nervously as she stand up from the table. "Please do excuse me." she said as she bowed courteously.

She strode away from the table and instead of tidying herself in the bathroom, she walked mindlessly to where her feet would take her. Finally, she found a quite place to rant.

"What a shame!" she said to herself. It was the first time that she spaced out during a tea party. Usually, she would carry herself with a high demeanor and is composed all the time. She was always the center of the high society that she can't afford to space out until now. And she clearly knows the reason why.

For a while now, all that she's been thinking is Lucas. How handsome he was, how her heart flattered just by Lucas' eyes and who could be that girl he escorted a while ago.

All those thoughts piled up in her head but as usual, she could do nothing. She sighed in despair. If only Lucas' held her hand too. It would be great if he could dance with her too! And she would surely dance all night.

"Gosh, what are these thoughts?" she said shamefully to herself as she rested her chin on her knees and curled up.

"What are you doing?" she looked up and saw a mocking face staring down in front of her. She turned her head and ignored the taunt of the young man in front of her.

" Pfft. You look like a fool." he said, as he slowly sit in the gutter next to Judith.

"Shut up Cain, it's not funny." she said irritatedly. The young man was Cain, her acquaintance. They're not close enough until a year ago, when their parents decided on their engagement. Before they became each others fiance, they've known each other well since they attend the same academy. They were also in a dispute for years because they were both the captains of their own academy team, each struggling to own the Annual Cup of the Academy. Well, Cain was quite known there.

"Is he your problem? Lucas?" Judith's eyes widen as she quickly covered Cain's mouth with her hand and looked around to see if anyone was listening

"Whaut?"(What?) Cain asked her pertaining to why she covered his mouth.

"Don't say that!" she shouted. " He could be killed because of you!" she added. Well it's true. Noble families are sometimes bound to be cruel. And in her case, yes. Her mother was strict but her father was way more strict towards her than her mother. Maybe it's because of the fact that she's the only heir. She didn't even got the chance to say anything about the engagement.

Judith was bound in the difficult situation. She couldn't even tell her mother who she likes, as what other ladies usually do. That's why she had built a fanclub for Lucas, but only exclusive to her trusted friends who won't sell it to her parents.

On the other hand Cain came to know it by accident. But putting it aside, she was happy that he was on her side. Cain's support towards her made her feel unwary of the settled engagement. Right now, the biggest problem was her family.

It was her greatest fear. What if her parents found out that she likes Lucas? She doubted they would let just him go unscathed. More to the fact that he's someone of a lowly status.

"Tch. You're spacing out again." said Cain as he knocked her head once. She replied with a soft "ouch" as she rubbed it with her hands.

"Don't look at me like that." As Cain laughed, he had thought of an idea that would help Judith in a way.

"Don't worry, I'll give you a hand." he said while turning his back on her.

" Wait, what?!!" asked Judith as she saw Cain walking away from her.

"Cain!" she tried to call him but he just waved his hand instead.

"I'm the best! Whoa!" he shouted to himself as he throw his hands in the air and give a thumbs up.