The Princess's Servant

60. The Feast

Sybil blinked her eyes a few times. She wasn't sure how to feel about... this.

The gown itself was lovely. It was a moon-white silk dress that went down to her ankles. Unlike Lailoyan dresses, it wasn't fitted — a pearlescent chord wrapped around her waist to cinch the fabric instead. Atop her head was a silver headband with thin strips of metal that radiated from her head like rays of light. At her ears were diamonds like tear drops and at her wrists were thick bracelets that hugged her skin. Sybil furrowed her brow.

"Do you like it?" The servant asked."The outfit is meant to represent the Maiden. Everyone will be in costume tonight."

Sybil stared at herself in the mirror a little harder. "It's beautiful," she said, half in truth and half in not wanting to offend the dressmaker who'd worked so hard on it. But Sybil couldn't stop staring. Who was this woman that she saw in the mirror? She didn't look like the Lailoyan Princess. She looked Wardian.

Sybil shook her head and shook off the feeling. "It really is a wonderful dress," she said. "Thank you, good servant." And the dressmaker bowed and left. The princess gave herself one last glance in the mirror before shaking her head a second time and stepping away. She met the servant in the hallway, and she followed her to the ballroom.

To call the Saturn Ball a party would be like calling the moon a big rock. While technically true, that word didn't do the ball any justice. After all, this wasn't really a party, Sybil thought. This was debauchery.

There were bodies everywhere — some fully clothed — others fully nude. Golden statues and topiaries decorated the floor, along with fountains that flowed red with wine. In the air, there was lively music, played on drums, flutes and harp. But all of this was dwarfed by a massive indoor hill.

A hill. Sybil blinked. Made of dirt. With trees and grass and flowers all transplanted. Atop the hill was a little white-columned temple. This was insane, Sybil thought. These people were insane.

But as impressive as it was, the hill was not even close to the most mind-bending feature of the festival. That honor belonged to the guests. All of them — with the exception of Sybil — wore black or white animal masks.

Rabbits. Wolves. Eagles. Deer. Some creature with a long nose and big ears that Sybil figured must have been pulled from a Wardian myth. They looked like demigods, all of them, and suddenly she felt very, very human.

"Well?" She asked the dressmaker, a strange smile creeping onto her lips. "Where might my mask be, good servant?"

The servant didn't miss a beat. "Your highness," she said. "You're a virgin, are you not?"

Sybil raised her eyebrows. "I beg your pardon?" She asked.

"You're a virgin. An unmarried woman — a maid. Aren't you?"

"I... I am," Sybil replied.

"Then your face is your mask!" The dressmaker exclaimed. "Just as I designed it."

Sybil held back a groan.

"So get out there, your highness. Enjoy! Meet your prince." The servant waved her forward.

A jolt ran through the princess. "Holden..." She muttered, and she immediately forgot the servant. Sybil threw herself into the crowd and began searching for her hope. Her prince.

Thomas watched as Sybil's little white figure wove in and out of courtiers. He could see everything from the edge of the temple on the hill. His black sandals stood firmly on the edge of the marble. His onyx lion mask was flipped up so he might better see the people-like-insects that crawled and mingled beneath him.

A bashful Sebastian stepped next to the prince. His own white fox mask had been flipped up too. Thomas, though sensing the Lailoyan, didn't move his gaze. 

The servant cleared his throat. "Your Majesty," he started. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

The prince's upper lip curled and he let out a throaty snarl. Sebastian's shoulders tensed ever so slightly. "You dare question me, slave?" Thomas asked, watching his servant from the corner of his eye. "Have I not taught you your lesson?"

Sebastian moved his gaze to the ground. He bowed a little. "Apologies, your highness," he told his prince.

The prince did not move his searing line of sight. He growled again, louder this time and with more force.

Sebastian shrank. "Your majesty!" He corrected himself. "I meant 'your majesty.'"

Thomas's eyes narrowed like a snake's, and then he looked back to the crowd. "Slip the jewels into Sybil's purse, and then come find me," he said, his voice a hiss. "I'll do the rest from there."

Sebastian bowed and picked up the jewels from the temple's altar. The jewelry in question was a necklace made from emeralds that shone the way leaves shine when sunlight passes through them. He picketed them, and went to leave, but paused before he could get too far. "Thomas—" He started, turning around.

The servant caught sight of his master's two eyes, which burned like hot coal.

Sebastian looked away sharply. "I will do that right away..." He completed, suppressing a shiver.

He made his way down the hill and didn't look back again.

A/N: Bonus chapter 2/3! One more bonus chapter to go!

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