Marked: Part 2; The Wronged

Chapter 96

The night came when the masquerade was held. Everyone she knew would be there, from Oglm to Unora. Amilia sat on the roof of the castle looking to the crystals for sanctuary. She sighed as she thought about last time. How the night began to when the castle was in shambles from the attack.

"What are you doing up here?" Leo said, walking up to her.

"Just thinking."

"Really?" He said sitting down. "About what?"

"Oh, nothing, honestly."

"Just the pressure of tonight?"

"Yeah, I suppose you could say that."

"Well, I can tell you you don't need to worry."

"Is that so?"

Leo laughed, "If there is anyone who can do this, any of this, it is you. You have worked so hard."

"I guess so." Amilia looked to him and smiled.

"Now, come on, we're about to begin." Leo stood up and offered Amilia his hand, and with that they walked down to the castle. Leo bid her farewell as she walked down the hall. Finally she reached the dressing room and stopped at the door. She kept getting flashbacks of that night. Her mind flashed to the excitement she felt as she opened the door and walked in. Then suddenly she was looped into the present. Amilia grabbed the knob and turned it to open. She shut the door behind her and looked to the wall where her dress hung. She looked at it as she remembered how she put it on and walked through the door to the ballroom. She did the same thing as she did last time, Amilia dawned her gown and made up her hair. Found her tiara and her mask. Amilia hesitated as she put on her mask. Then she opened the door as she walked out to the alcoves of the ballroom. They were introduced and then Amilia began to dance with her father.

"Are you alright?" He asked her.

"Huh?" SHe said looking around frantically.

"You seem a bit antsy."

"Oh, I'm fine, just the jitters."

"Are you sure, honey? You can talk to me, you know."

"I promise, I'm fine." Yxeyhfkx looked at her worried as they danced. Finally the music ended and the crowd clapped. The ball officially had begun as they did the first waltz of the night. After Jasvinder and Amilia did their waltz, she left and stood over by the tables. Amilia leaned on the wall as she watched all of the attendees at the ball.

"Are you alright?" Elsie said walking up to Amilia.

"Fine, thank you."

"Then why are you surveying instead of dancing?"

"I'm not surveting. I'm just- resting. I had a fulfilling day today."

"Well, I suppose as long as you're resting. Maybe you should go up and join your parents. AT least you can sit up there."

"No, no, no, I'm good here, thank you. Now, go on, go have some fun, dance with your boyfriend." Elsie put her hand on Amilia's shoulder.

"Alright, but you have to make me a promise."

"Really? And what exactly is that?"

"That you'll save a dance for me."

"A dance for... you?"

"Yeah, it's fun to dance, you're telling me you don't want to have some fun?"
Amilia laughed, "I suppose you're right, and you're the expert."

"Is that a yes?"

"Sure." Time passed and Amilia had made her way full around the ballroom.

"Knock, knock, Miss. Cripple."

"Well hello, Miss. Huff." Elsie extended her hand and Amilia took it. Esie took her into the crowd and then grabbed her other hand. They began to dance, with Elsie twirling Amilia around. Later they were thrown into a waltz with each other. Amilia was a little too close for comfort, but Elsie seemed to have no problem holding Amilia's waist. Finally the music stopped and Amilia shoved herself off of Elsie.

"You alright?"

"Yeah, yeah. I've never danced a waltz with another girl before."

"Ah, I see, my bad, sorry."

"It's alright! I had fun!"

"Good! That's what I was going for."

"Yeah, so I'm just going to go..."

"Yeah, of course. See you around Amilia." Amilia scurried off to the corner of the room. All she did was stare at the door, waiting for a war that would never come. She walked around the room, still watching the door. She ended up rubbing her arms in anticipation as she continued to look around. After some time she walked up the stairs and sat down next to her parents.

"We'll look who it is!" Yxeyhfkx said, looking at her. He laughed a little bit and Cristel waved to her. Amilia smiled at them and then went back to watching the door.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?" Cristel asked.

"Hm? Yeah, I'm alright."

"Are you sure?" Yxeyhfkx asked her.

"Yeah." It was silent, other than the music and crowd, of course. Amilia didn't get up again except to eat until the ball ended. At which point she took off her dress and mask. She looked at herself one more time. She had forgotten about the tiara, but with her normal clothes it almost looked right. She grabbed her tiara lightly and put it back where she had found it. She walked out of the room and shut the door. She never was able to leave the ballroom, at least not peacefully. She walked through the halls and then made her way back to her bedroom. She changed into pajamas since it was very late. She went over to her night stand and turned on her lamp. After that she turned off her light. She sat down on her bed as she looked out the window. She turned her glance to her dresser and then got up and walked over to it. On her dresser was the thing that started this whole journey. She had kept it with her all this time. She had bought a new copy of it for Oglm's house, but always kept the original in the palace. She grabbed the object and then sat back down on her bed. She slapped it in her hands a few times, then she tossed her feet up and put her back against her pillows. She opened the book and began to read. The title read: Jimbo.