The Ball - Part 1

ON THE NEXT DAY (9 P.M.)

THE ball ceremony of the night began brilliantly. It was the grandest ball of the decade in the Northern Empire. And they held it for celebrating the triumph of the Gregory Knights on the battlefield against the walking dead monsters or notoriously called the Criminal Hybrids. The Gregory Family hardly ever hosted a ball. But once they host a ball, it must be glorious! The ball would be a special occasion attended only by the extraordinary elites like the top members of the high society and the bravest knights from all over the Underworld Realm. They invited the guests based on their lineage and knighthood. Receiving an invitation alone from the Gregory Family was an immense honor that one would apprise to their next generation and descendants in the future.

The guests started arriving at eight, and the ceremony began once the clock struck 9:00. The ball ceremony started with the first dance of the star of the night, assisted by a piece of a classical serenade. Damien did the first dance of the night with her little sister, Grace.

Yes. Damien was supposed to dance with his betrothed because it was an old-fashioned custom. But Damien preferred dancing with Grace to his fiancée. The guests were announced by names at the ball and Damien heard of the Collins Family. He saw Lady Vanessa Collins, his fiancée. She was in a blue dress and walking down the stairs with her father, Baron Collins. But Damien ignored her completely and never asked her for a dance. No hard feelings! Their engagement was purely a political arrangement and not more than that after all.

After the first dance ended, Grace sat at the corner of the ballroom with Doctor Evelyn, as always, while watching others. She preferred to enjoy the food and music. Rather than socialize with those good-for-nothing nobles, who loved to suck up to her for the Gregory name. Grace enjoyed watching the guests from afar.

The guests were happy to talk and gossip, drink, eat a bit, and watch the other nobles dancing in the middle of the ballroom. The guests that danced tonight were mostly from the young and unmarried, of course. As always, a ball was the only place they could seek potential marriage candidates.

Suddenly, the peace and enjoyment of the ball were disturbed. The servant called out, "Duchess Bridget of Gregory and daughter, Lady Dakota, have ARRIVED."

All eyes hooked on them as they walked down the flight of steps. Duchess Bridget wore a dazzling, golden ball gown. Her dressers and maids gave them all to adorn her dress with hundreds of diamond and sapphire stones. Huh! She was truly a seeker of attention. She was desperately overdressed! In contrast, her daughter wore a modest evening gown in soft color, and she looked naturally stunning, unlike her mother. Outsiders might think they were not biologically related.

"What the hell is she doing here?" whispered Damien to Felix.

"Not a clue, milord." Felix looked puzzled, as he was sure that Duchess Bridget tore the invitation into pieces before. After making a big fuss about not attending or involving in the ball, here she was! In her most extravagant dress!

"Oh, Damien!" Bridget walked straight to her stepson once she saw him. "This is a magnificent ball! You totally outshine yourself!"

Damien chuckled. "I can say the same to you, Bridget. You really… OUTSHINE!" He was lost for words. Standing close, Damien felt like he was talking to a chandelier, rather than a person.

"Please enjoy the rest of the night. And keep low key, if you can," advised Damien. "You too, dear sister!" He looked at Dakota, who stood behind Bridget. Dakota normally did not enjoy this kind of ball. She favored her library better than spending hours at a party. Damien bet Bridget dragged her daughter to come tonight.

"Of course, we will. I am expecting a surprise tonight!" Bridget could not hide her excitement.

"Oh? What kind of surprise do you mean?" asked Damien. 'Don't tell me she sabotaged the ball in advance!' was what he thought.

"I don't know. SURPRISE me!" Bridget left her stepson after that and talked to the other nobles. She acted oblivious after seeing the face Damien was having at the moment.

Damien watched Bridget from afar. Something was amiss! He knew Bridget must have an evil plan prepared for tonight's ceremony. "Keep your eyes close to Bridget. She is scheming something, and I hate to imagine it." Damien ordered his knights.

Damien would let nothing destroy his ceremony!

___

YUKI woke up in her room after a long time of being unconscious and sleeping. She felt a bit dizzy and thirsty. Her room was pitch dark, but she heard noises outside. However, instead of checking the noises, she went to the nearest mirror and looked at herself. Yuki touched her neck, covered in the bandage. She loosened the tape slowly. And she saw the cut was completely healed without leaving a scar. As always, her healing ability healed her again.

Yuki walked to the door and looked outside. No one was in the hallway. And it was quiet. No servants were waiting outside. And no Grace. 'Where is everybody?' Yuki went back inside her room. She walked to the glass windows as the noises were coming from that side. She saw some lights outside. And heard waltz music playing from a distance.

"A ball?" Yuki muttered to herself.

KNOCK! KNOCK!

The knocks on the door startled Yuki. She saw a maid in brown, short hair and freckles on her face, asking for permission to come in. The moment the maid came inside, she said, "Oh! You have awake, miss."

"Hi. Err… can I have a glass of plain water?" asked Yuki. Her thirst was hard to ignore.

The maid nodded and left the room. Not soon after, the maid returned with a glass of water and a vast box. The maid told Yuki to sit at the dresser. While Yuki was drinking the water, her eyes kept looking at the maid's doing. The maid opened up the box, and Yuki saw a beautiful evening gown, a pair of heels, and some jewelry. The maid put the dress on the bed. "I am sorry. What are you doing right now?" Yuki could not help herself but ask.

"I have to assist you in preparing for the ball." The maid answered in a monotone.

Yuki was a bit confused. "But I just woke up."

"My master wishes for you to attend the ceremony no matter what, miss." The maid smiled.

"Oh!" Yuki nodded. She thought the maid was mentioning Grace as her master. "How long was I asleep?" Yuki asked again.

"A day and a half, miss."

Yuki looked surprised. Hmm, that was quite a long time. As she was wondering, the maid did her job. She helped Yuki to wear the dress, styling her hair, and applying some make-up for the ball. After everything was done, the maid assisted Yuki to the main entrance of the second manor. Yuki saw a butler smartly dressed in a white tie, white tuxedo coat with tails, white pique vest, white shirt with panel front, and white gloves, was waiting for her with a carriage. The butler dressed from head to toe in WHITE!

"Good evening, miss." The butler bowed in respect.

"This is my first time seeing you," said Yuki. Yeah. She never saw him before. Yuki already met the head butler of the second manor before.

"Yes, miss. I am Winston, the head butler of the first manor, at your service. I am here to escort you to the ceremony. May I?" The head butler held out his hand like a gentleman to help her up into the carriage.

Yuki could not remember when was the last time she stepped outside this second manor.

"Umm… where is Grace?" Yuki thought Grace was waiting for her in the carriage, but unfortunately, no.

"Little Lady Grace and Young Lord Damien are already at the ball. They are waiting for you." The butler answered with a slight smile.

Yuki pondered for a moment. What was happening? She just woke up. Everything happened too fast that she could not think properly. And she was hungry, for goodness' sake!

"Well, okay then." Yuki did not ask further.

Before closing the door, the head butler said, "Please enjoy your evening, miss."