"Approaching destination, Miss!"

Immediately the lazy carriage crawled to a stop, and two young ladies slipped off it, padding towards the alleyway of a lively Belmont Town, both looking dazzling in their early twenties.

Belmont Town was known for its brilliance. Every day in Belmont was a spirited atmosphere.

The noise of carriage wheels adds to the pleasure in the air. The paperboys ran about Belmont's highway, distributing and collecting newspapers of the latest edition. Giggles of ladies filled the air as they made haste to the new modiste in town to get a new dress sewn before the next ball.

No day had passed without a vibrant Belmont.

However, the past few weeks had been the exact opposite.

No paperboys. No carriages. Zero signs of ladies making haste to the modiste. Belmont appeared rather deserted and depressing. Everyone is glued to their various abodes.

And, just for one reason - the devil was back in town.

A man had staggered into the quarters a few nights back, his face muddy his attire of shirt and breeches had been stained with blood. Blood of which were his. This strange man had reported to the bureau officers of Belmont that the devil had cornered him in an alleyway and munched on his blood with its fangs.

Although, he hadn't made it through the night. He puffed his last breath right there in the quarters, his body turning blue in an instant.

A few nights later, the man's testimony was confirmed. Three more people were murdered in the same manner.

Their body is drained of blood with bite marks on their necks. Their faces were as white as cement.

This got Belmont panicking.

The last time they dealt with such was 50 years back. And successfully, with the help of skilled hunters, they had managed to kill it. Now, another of its breeds was back.

Many only heard about this devil, and few witnessed him. And, the few that had witnessed this devil never lived to tell the story.

Nevertheless, a few days ago, they realized there was no more casualty. And, they decided that it was gone in the same vain it had arrived.

Therefore, the Marshall Ball of Belmont Summer 1706 was their way of celebrating its disappearance despite them having to do nothing.

The Marshall Ball (also a Ball of Competition).

Everyone either flaunted their new attires, flashed their designer bag designates by a famous seamstress that had just grazed the town, flaunted their hairdos, and shared the inspiration of their plush and expensive makeovers amongst their peers.

And, the most vital, bragging about their partners especially if they held an important position in Belmont.

Everyone who had no partner would have questioning gazes thrown their way.

Ember Hall was, however, an exemption.

No gentleman ever approached. No one in his right senses would approach her for a dance at a ball not to speak of courting her.

She strongly believed the thick yet, detailed scar that ran from her upper lips down to her chin in a straight line was enough reason for every man to stay away from her.

And, each time, she had been proven right.

Passersby spared her more than one glance - the second glances always came with a thick frown on their foreheads, a terrified tiny gasp, or a gaze of disgust. Children ran for their guardians immediately they set their gazes on her, claiming they had just seen a monster.

She was indeed one. She looked into the mirror and nodded in agreement.

So, whenever she got dragged to a ball by her friend, Lauren, she always had a Cape draped on. Though, she got weird glances directed at her for wearing a Cape to what was supposed to be a party aimed at flaunting your outfit, but, at least, they wouldn't get to see her scar.

She knew she could worry less about visiting the modiste when her Cape would, in fact, prevent people from seeing the outfit that lies beneath.

However, she still lets her bright, charming friend, Lauren, drag her down the alleyway towards the modiste.

She had sneaked out of the house, refusing her mother's offer to get on a carriage all for the purpose of picking a sensual dress for the ball.

"This is madness, Lauren. You have hundreds of dashing outfits to put on for the ball. Why put us through this torture?"

Ember ranted, positioning her Cape properly above her head with one hand as she let Lauren carelessly yank the other hand.

Heaven forbids the Cape mistakenly slips off right before the gathered crowd hovering around the modiste shop.

She could bet that once they saw her face, every one of them would be running for their home, forgetting that they had to grab a dress for the ball that was in a few hours.

"Nonsense. I need a new dress. Lord Mylthe is going to be present at the ball."

Lauren halts to a stop before the gathered crowd hovering around the modiste shop. She stares over with a perturbed frown.

"And Lord Mylthe is courting Faye."

Ember reminded her friend, frowning over at the crowd and wondering how they would get past it to get the "sensual" dress her friend needed to seduce Lord Mylthe.

"Oh please, he just wants to make me jealous."

She suddenly had a smug grin on and twisted around to face Ember.

"And, that's why I would be dancing with the Duke tonight, at the ball."

Ember froze on a spot.

The Duke.

A name that had never failed to make Ember weak to her knees. Always.

After that night of their first and last encounter, the Duke had managed to invade her thoughts and dreams. His smile, his sexy baritone, his captivating blue eyes - not one day had passed since that night without these things raiding her senses and invading her dreams.

It got to a point where she was pushed to do the one thing that she despised so much just to force the thoughts of the Duke out of her head. She had appeared at a ball without her Cape on and waited for a man to be kind enough to ask her for a dance. At least, he could replace the Duke in her thought. Or, so she thought.

And, a man, who she later discovered had approached her following Lauren's request, came by but, once she imagined the man to be the Duke throughout their dance, she gave up and accepted that no man could ever replace the Duke in her heart.

She was obsessed, and she admits it but only to herself.

God forbids the Duke discovering that a hideous girl like her has a thing for him.

Ember had lied about an upset stomach and slipped out of Lauren's trap, which was an easy success thanks to the fact that Lauren's attention was fixed on the long cue before the modiste shop.

Ember could afford to watch the Duke dance with any other girl but her friend.

Over the years of their friendship, Ember had watched her friend enjoy the privilege she had always desired.

She had a long, everlasting line of suitors asking for her hand in marriage.

Meanwhile, Ember had received none.

However, it didn't make her jealous of her friend. In fact, she had been happy that her friend had been blessed with such privilege, but she still wished she had the same privilege.

And, if Lauren catches the eye of the man she had always yearned for - the Duke - she feared there might be a crack in their friendship.

That was how much she loved the Duke.