It was a banquet held in honor of Duke Czarrino. Carriages filled and emptied and all of the guests proceed to the hall. Laughter filled the atmosphere and added weight to the gaiety of the ball. It was the exact ball were all the complications severe. Beautiful misses parade with their timid pretenses as they exchanges glances to prospect gentlemen to seduce with. Noblemen discusses future alliances while noble women and ladies help themselves circulating flattery, mockery, as well as scandalous issues involving among themselves. I can't help but heave a sigh to relieve myself from tension that I will be involved later.
Most of the eyes were fixed at me as I walked in the hall. Some looked at me quizzically as soon as I enter; some with shallow praises, some with malicious smiles and some were eyes of perverseness scrutinized my whole being. I give them my controlled smiles and curtsies as I walked carefully and prepared on whom tried to interact with me. I stayed with mother, Countess Gaia as she chatted with her allies and introduced me to them. It was also my first appearance of the ball. Maia met the crown prince and foolishly confesses her love towards him. Hugo. I can still recall his cursed face while devious smiles thrown at me as mockery. This time, I won't fall short of it. I just obediently and patiently stuck myself with these maligning gossipers, displaying my calculated demeanor that surprised my benefactor.
"I believed that Maia is indeed well mannered which in contrast to rumors we heard." It was a compliment from the Baroness Liliana while looking at me and smiled. "I wonder what makes a child change overnight."
"I myself too am surprised with my daughter. She is well behaved and well-mannered today. My hard work is already paid off" it was from my mother itself uplifting her unruly daughter. It was to make me sound a reply.
"I am afraid I am still lacking and naïve mother." I answered courteously. "I remember I offend most of my age in etiquette lessons last summer that really tainted this lowly miss. I asked of forgiveness to all of the wonderful daughters I have shown my misconduct."
I better redeemed this lowly being. Maia Gremoire is known as trouble maker and spewing discord in any social gathering. She offended most of her age and no one would dare to bother an influential daughter like her. Her influence is too much that one word can twart any truth and instill falsehood. Me, as the new Maia, thinks critically of my further scandals that could hamper me in the future.
"There is always room for improvements. I believe this young miss was taught well that she able to do this. I admire the duchess to turn her into fine lady" it was Countess Erica commend with surface flattery. I assumed she wanted to me to go bald with her killing eyes beneath them sparkling.
Maia even had a fight with Countess Erica's daughter the moment she heard that Allison was day dreaming with the crown prince. This is one of the largest scandals in her youth. I really should clean this mess fast.
I know that the moment the social ball will starts, Duke Czarrino will appear as well as the crown prince. Maia was dumb that instead of accepting her fiancee's hand for a dance, she ran towards the prince and even danced with him instead. The duke was crushed with humiliations in his own banquet that lasted even a year as a laughingstock of the town. The duke even received mockery from her actions that complicates more his ties with the royal family. This time, I should make it right.
I moved towards the same spot, Maia was offered to dance with Duke Czarrino. I felt it in my footstep the weighted humiliations. I never even wondered now why the duke himself forced me on our wedding night that almost breaks me and trampled my dignity. Maia started that war, I received the punishment to the point of poison. I closed my eyes and flashed Maia's memory and scent of this ball, she was arrogantly flaunt herself in the midst of the crowd. The crown prince smiled that makes her go crazy to the extent of pushing every noble ladies who had eyed the crown prince. That same smile makes me puke. That smile trapped me in my death. I am partly responsible to watch that monster. Not in this life. Hugo.
I never moved an inch, I just stand there blankly while the crowd was cheering and congratulating the duke descended in the stairs. He was comely even with his stern expression. That same expression that defiled me on our wedding day, my hands grew cold as I recalled them, I pleaded him but he never stopped breaking me to the point of unconsciousness. He wanted an heir himself, my life was unworthy to them at all; from that murderous prince, even to that vengeful duke. I breathed hard as his steps drew nearer and nearer to me. I tried to calm myself and clasped my hands together and tried to smile at him.
One move. One bad move can promote me back to that destiny. I saw him stopped before me. We were estranged to each other. They were engaged when Maia was still ten and Czarrino was 18. It was a political marriage to maintain both households. Maia never seen him again until today's banquet for the duke himself was a general that defended the fortress of the Ulda borders where the Almavon Empire invaded. The Duke was the genius behind the stability and security of the Rudin empire that everyone pushes him to sit for the throne. I look at him in his eyes, I was certain for sure that I am staring at a formidable being that I shouldn't dare to offend. He offered his hand to me to dance.
"Will you give me this dance?" It was like a scene from the best-selling novel I wrote. It echoed in my ears and looked at the anticipating crowd and looked at him in the eyes again.
"His highness, Crown Prince Mavier Rudin has arrived." It was announced as he entered the room and all eyes were at him except me and the duke. All their admirations towards the duke earlier were robbed with that bold gate crasher. I was curious too to look at the unwelcoming guest but I was afraid, I am afraid that glance will send me back to hell.
"I wonder what will Lady Maia do now that his beloved crown prince is arrived." It was a loud murmur from the crowd that anyone could hear even me and the Duke with the awkward situation. What will Maia do? I am not even Maia to begin with. I muster my courage and take the Duke's hand that surprised him too.
"I will be honored." I stepped forward and focus my gaze towards him and smiled.