Masquerade Ball I

Laura took a peek out of the window and was amazed by the structure of the palace. The emblem was made out of gold, and there were royal guards guarding everywhere. The garden was filled with beautiful flowers. Everything she had heard was real.

"Are you worried milady?"

"I am more nervous than worried."

"That's not really like you."

"I am a human, after all, Lester."

"I've never said you weren't."

"It sounded like you were implying that."

"It must have come out rude. My apologies."

Lester had come to accompany Laura to the masquerade ball, and he was right; She looked more worried than nervous.

And deep inside Laura, she knew she was worried because her plan might mess up and go differently as planned since there wasn't a specific time given for the event to happen.

Laura sat back and took deep breaths as they arrived at the entrance of the palace doors. Before getting off the carriage, Laura needed to wear her mask as it was not just any ordinary ball but a masquerade ball.

Lester got out of the carriage and quickly went to help Laura down. Laura looked at the palace door once more and took a deep breath before entering.

Lester had stopped walking and stayed by the door since he was only there to escort her until she went in and now she was alone.

Laura walked in the noisy ballroom where the sound of people chatting merged with the sound of the elegant music. She nervously walked inside and reminded herself to stay calm.

Laura wasn't usually this nervous, but thinking about the bad event stuck inside her head, she felt more anxious than ever. As she continued walking into the ballroom, she noticed that people were looking at her.

Laura wondered if it was because of her hair or if it was because she was wearing the dress made by Serena.

Overall, her biggest worry was not being able to converse with the other nobles, but at the same time, she didn't want to create new enemies within them. She felt a light pat on her shoulder and she turned around to see Serena and Scott smiling at her.

Serena complimented Laura and was really happy that the dress she had made was gorgeous on her. Her brother Scott praised Serena with her work and felt very proud to have a sister like her.

"Do you see her dress?"

"I do, where do you think she bought that?"

The ladies beside Laura whispered to each other as they looked at the elegant dress. Laura, on the other hand, didn't know what to feel. It was always her hair that brought attention to her but today was different.

From afar there were two men talking, one was the master, and one the other was his servant. Blaine leaned on the railing and noticed a girl with black hair. He then was reminded of the girl his young master had met before.

Blaine notified his young master about it, and his young master had moved quickly to see the person Blaine was referring to. He pushed the folder aside and asked Blaine where she was. His light blue eyes softened as he saw her.

He had wondered if she was doing fine back in the orphanage, but it seems like things had changed. On the way back home from his investigation yesterday, he had passed by at the orphanage to see her.

But no matter how long he had waited, she never walked out of the door nor has she been seen her through the windows. He was so worried that he got off his carriage and knocked on the door.

He then saw a guy around his age and he had questioned where Laura had gone. The man called Luke told him that she had been adopted into a count's house. He had no clue where she had gone, but now he was lucky to have found her.

Blaine observed his master, whose eyes were sparkling as if he had eaten something delicious.

"Young master, are you that interested in her?"

"Once a predator has chosen what to eat, he would never back down."

Blaine sighed out of frustration. He knew that once his master had set something in his head, he would never leave it alone. Having come to this knowledge, Blaine knew that something interesting would happen soon.

"But please do not forget your ranking, young master."

"I know that Blaine."

"You keep saying that, Duke Erwin Ferguson."

The man who had set his eyes on Laura was the one and only Duke Erwin Ferguson, the cousin of the crowned prince and the second prince. He would be third in line for the throne, however, he has no such ambitions to become the emperor.

Erwin looked at Laura, who seemed to be enjoying her time having a conversation with two other people, one guy, and one girl. He asked Blaine who they were and Blaine replied saying that they are from the Smythe family.

Erwin nods his head and truly he really liked the choice of friends she had made. But somehow he knew that there was more to Laura, a secret not meant to be spoken about.

"Blaine, would you get angry if I went after her?"

Blaine took a pause and didn't answer him. Blaine had decided not to answer this, despite him being his servant. Erwin didn't mind Blaine ignoring him because it had happened a lot of times.

Blaine and Erwin were childhood friends and were always together. Erwin's father, the previous duke, had taken Blaine into their household when he was seven. When the duke was on his deathbed he had asked Blaine to stay by Erwin's side and never betray him.

Blaine, who has always been grateful for the duke, had promised him and now he works for Erwin as his personal aide and friend. Since Erwin had inherited the title at such a young age, he had always been burned with work and his studies.

But this was no problem for Erwin since he was an intellectual and not only that he also excels with swordsmanship.

"Don't ignore me, Blaine. You need to answer this question as my best friend and personal aide."

"I don't really care who you marry, but if she's a type of girl who can't take care of you, then she's immediately out."

Erwin laughed while Blaine continued reading the reports and handed back Erwin's folder and told him to finish his work.

After having a fine talk with Serena and Scott, Laura decided to take a breather since it was a kind of stuffy inside the ballroom. She walked to the secret balcony where few knew about.

Before entering the palace, Lester had told Laura about the place if she needed to take a break from the talking. Laura was grateful for Lester since she wouldn't know where to go if she needed a rest.

Laura walked to the secret balcony, and as she turned around, she saw Andrea Marshall. The woman Laura had not expected to see. Her mouth opened as she looked at Andrea, and she didn't know what to feel.

"Miss Andrea…"

Her brown long wavy hair had shined under the moon and her green eyes looked at Laura as she wondered who had called her name. She tilted her head and wondered who the girl in black hair was. Not until Laura had removed her mask.