The Lady's Right-Hand Man

CHAPTER 2 "GOVERNOR'S GRAND BALL"

I keep on dreaming myself begging to be saved. It's always that man. He reached his hand towards me. Who are you?

It was a calm morning in Shiori's office. The aroma of black tea could be smelled inside the room as well as the sweet scent of the fruit cake on her table. Though papers were piled up tall in front of her, her mind was neither with her work nor with her.

"Our mind is incapable of creating new people or faces..." Shiori mumbled. "So it is impossible that that man was just made by my brain itself." Shiori took a sip from her ceramic cup of tea. "But..." Her brows creased. "...why am I asking to be saved?"

Shiori closed her eyes.

The lady was nowhere to be found after the tragedy. But after a month, she appeared completely fine without even a single scratch.

That headline came across the city and other neighboring cities and countries. The news surprised everyone and some even made speculations and assumptions about the tragedy saying that it was planned by the family to hide a hideous issue. But Shiori despite of being present on the scene could not recall anything from the said tragedy which made people think that the lady herself was suspicious.

"What?"

"A grand ball, the Governor prepared it and you're one of the main guests."

Shiori scanned the invitation letter handed to her by Madame Anneliese.

"Why all of a sudden the governor wants to see me there?" She asked. Her eyes were still on the small paper she was holding.

"Actually, a lot of people wants to see you not only the Governor." Shiori looked at Madame Anneliese who were seating on the sofa in front of her. "After the tragedy, you became an instant celebrity, my dear. They all want to see you especially the media."

Shiori furrowed her brows. "Media..."

"If you're feeling uncomfortable about this, you can refuse the invitation."

"No. I will show up."

That was an unexpected response from Shiori even made Madame Anneliese surprised and blankly stared at her niece.

"Really—I mean, are you sure you're going?" Anneliese asked clarifying what she heard.

Shiori nodded. "Yea, I'll show up if that's what they want." She said flicking the invitation letter straight to the trash bin. "We'll be present on that ball, Madame."

Night of the same day, Shiori and Madame Anneliese arrived at the Governor's House in a twenty-three-foot long armored Rolls-Royce Phantom Limousine. As expected, the two already became the show stealer as soon as they walked on the red carpet. Everyone turned their heads and cameras flashed her and there. On her extravagant crimson-colored Victorian style ball gown, Madame Anneliese caught everyone's attention as she proceeded on the aisle gracefully outshone every fashion critics with her personally designed wardrobe. Meanwhile at the same crowd, people gawked at Shiori eyes filled with curiosity and suspicions.

"Is this real? Shiori Clandestine is alive and kicking."

"I heard the family manipulated and planned everything just to hide a scandalous issue."

"So what's their purpose? Why they made the lady show up out of nowhere like is this part of their show?"

"I still don't get it why they have to use their only child to act up in front of the people."