The theme of the ball this year was a masked theme. And although Lillian was no fan of the mask she had, she decided to put it on as she was the only one in the whole ballroom not wearing a mask.
People now occupied the dance floor and Lillian found herself hiding within the crowd of people in a bid to conceal herself from the prince as well as her mother and the prince's parents.
It had been working so far as she had managed to keep out of sight and make her way to a lonelier corner. There, she let out a relieved breath and collapsed into one of the empty seats there.
However, her victory was short-lived, seeing as not long after, her eyes spotted Gilbert, masked poorly, walking alongside one of his mates in the direction where she was. Lillian panicked, jumping up immediately to make a run for it.
In her panicked daze, she bumped into someone, stumbling back briefly before gaining her footing.
"Watch where you're going!," came a familiar, high pitched ring in Lillian's ear. She visibly cringed, taking a look at the person. Blue eyes, blonde, wavy hair, a half mask on a stick on a stick in her hands which she had pulled away from her face.
"Babette," Lillian breathed out in disbelief, cursing her luck that made her run into Babette of all people, while she made a desperate escape from Gilbert.
The lady's expression contorted into one of confusion. She asked, "Do I know you?"
The question took Lillian by surprise as she was sure her mask had not made her unrecognisable. She adorned a red, half mask that covered the lower half of her face, concealing her nose, lips and jaw and showcasing her eyes and forehead.
Perhaps, it was because Babette was simply dumb. Lillian decided to play along, now thanking her luck for Babette's inability to recognise her.
She shook her head at the lady, adorning a small smile on her lips which soon fell when she realised Babette couldn't see it. Shaking her head, she made to move passed the lady.
"I apologise for bumping into you, my lady," she said as she walked but froze immediately when Babette called to her.
"Wait," the lady said. "You are familiar with the Larde family, are you? Sir Benjamin's family, he is the youngest, strongest Knight of the kingdom at the moment, of course you are familiar with him."
Lillian immediately knew she would be looking for Benjamin. She had left Ava with him some moments ago and she was sure that they were either dancing or talking with each other. She didn't want Babette to spoil her friend's night so she nodded at the lady.
"Yes, my lady, I am," she spoke, sounding as polite as she possibly could. "Are you perhaps, searching for him? I remember seeing him and his mother with the Queen, you may start your search there."
Having the information she needed, Babette turned her gaze away, waving her off dismissively. "You have served your purpose, you may leave."
Lillian didn't need to be told twice as she spun on her heels, quickly beginning to once again, depart from that area which she had thought was a safe zone but was quite the opposite of it. She cringed when she heard Babette squeal out the prince's name in a bid to get his attention.
She rolled her eyes. One of the reasons why she did not pity Babette that Benjamin did not have any affection for her was because Babette had no affection for Benjamin either. The lady simply only had affection for his influence and wealth. Babette had affection for any man of influence who was wealthy, youthful and handsome, hence, her affection for Prince Gilbert.
Although Lillian was in favour of Gilbert falling in love and marrying another lady, she could not allow that lady to be Babette. Not simply for Gilbert's sake but also for the sake of Alfadamia. So spinning on her heel and fighting the voice inside her head telling her to take her opportunity and run, she walked towards the group of three, making up Babette, Gilbert and Gilbert's acquaintance whom Lillian could not recognise.
Gilbert was the first to notice her and as he had seen her with the mask on previously, he easily recognised her and Lillian did not miss the relief on the prince's face. He moved passed Babette with a near urgent demeanour and quickly made his way to Lillian, grateful for her intrusion.
"Lillian, I have been looking for you," he bowed, taking one of Lillian's gloved hands in his and placing a kiss upon it. By now, the other two had refocused their attention on Lillian, Babette with a horror filled expression as she recognised the person whom she had thought was someone of a lower class as the daughter of the Duke and duchess now.
"Have you?," Lillian asked back and as she gazed within the depths of the prince's eyes, she knew. They both knew. Gilbert had certainly not been looking for her.
Following this realisation, Lillian felt a mix of relief and disappointment. Her hand went to press her chest, confusion etching her features at the new, sudden feeling.
Gilbert did not miss this.
"Would you like to dance with me?," he asked. Lillian glanced over his shoulder, understanding his desperation to get away from Babette.
"All right," she nodded.