Her Name is Not Dejah

Chapter two- Foreboding

Foreboding- fearful apprehension; a feeling that something bad will happen.

Dejah waited. She listened to the sounds of hooves and feet passing by her hiding place. It was cold in the dark, empty coach. The biting cold passed easily through her sleeves, but she waited. Until all of the chatter had subsided, until all she could hear were the grunts of horses and the chirps of insects.

She opened the door carefully.

Lamplights illuminated the night from outside the palace. Gargoyle statues stood on either side as if to guard the building against evil spirits. The greenery was beautiful- vines enveloped around pillars, arborvitae trees lined up like soldiers near the tall gates. Grey stone walls made up the high towers with slit windows. Dejah saw the silhouettes of guests in those windows, dancing in their lavished suits and gowns. She would like to dance and laugh with those of high rank.

Now was not the time.

Shoveling the layers of her dress into her hands and attaching the mask to her face, she ran to the back entrance before anyone could see her. It wasn't very elegant of her, but that was not the main issue at the moment.

Sneak into the office of the emperor. Grab some magical herb. Dash out of the castle before anyone notices. Maybe steal a few treats while she was at it. Whatever the case, she would not make a scene.

Dejah crouched into a ball just behind a shrub, cursing when a branch caught on her dress. 

"Did you hear the news, my lady?" A man's voice came dangerously close to her hiding place. Dejah stole a glance from where she was, bowing lower. A man and a woman in complimenting attire, the woman in a deep blue ball gown, the gentleman in a navy blue, strolled around the back door. Exactly where Dejah needed to enter.

The lady fastened herself to his side, hooking her arm around his. "Do tell, Authur."

Lord Authur halted in his steps, feet away from Dejah. "Word has it that Lord Kyan's fiance, Lady Dabria, has arrived at His Majesty's palace tonight." 

The lady gasped dramatically. "Lady Dabria has not been to a single ball hosted by Lord Kyan, despite her love for parties. It is rumored that she has been avoiding him. So why has Her Highness decided to come tonight?"

The gentleman seemed pleased to have been asked this. "Perhaps..." He motioned for his lady to lean in closer. "... the lady has finally realized what a handsome devil the emperor is."

The two erupted into a fit of laughter, despite how unfunny Dejah found the joke to be. 

Lady Debria? Betrothed to the man that they were stealing from? An arranged marriage was not uncommon for people of the high class. For her sister to be engaged to Lord Kyan meant social gain to both sides of the family.

"Do not be fooled," the lady giggled, wiping her tears. "For no matter how charming that man may be, all of us know what he is truly like under those looks. We simply come to his parties out of sympathy for the family." Letting out the last of their jeers, the couple put on their masks and headed inside the house.

Dejah didn't move. If the emperor was such an evil man, it made her feel less guilty about stealing from him. The girl let out the breath she had been holding.

She couldn't help but feel sorry for the man who called the people who talked about him behind his back his friends.

No matter. She was going to betray him as well tonight. She was no better than those nobles.

"Let's get this over with," she grumbled, brushing her gown and smoothing out her hair.

And with that, she entered the house of the man with a thousand secrets.