The Masquerade

 It was finally the day of the Autumn Equinox Ball. I had always loved this ball. It was a very lavish event, but I liked it because it was a masquerade ball. 

People wore elegant masks along with their dresses and suits. No one would know who anyone was. No one would know I was the princess of the Dewleaf Realm. I didn't mind this life, but sometimes it feels like a lot.

After waiting impatiently all day, the evening finally came. I put on my dress, which was a long burnt orange gown with puffy sleeves and faux oak leaves decorating the floor-length skirt, and grabbed my beautifully crafted mask. It was a deep bronze, like my dress, and was accented with gold. It matched my mother's topaz necklace, which I felt honored her well. I took a deep breath and walked down to the ballroom. I saw my younger sister, Emerie, waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. People had already started to arrive.

Emerie looked gorgeous. She wore a rose dress with a silver mask, which was adorned with pink jewels. She wore her long auburn hair draped over her shoulders and had a silver circlet on her head. Her pink crystal necklace, which she usually wore, matched her outfit perfectly. I loved being in awe of her endless beauty.

"Ah, good evening, Emerie," I said, walking down to her. She smiled happily.

"Excited for the ball?" She asked, sounding sweet as a songbird. I nodded.

"Yes. It's always been my favorite part of the year." I said. She nodded.

"Just like mother," She said softly. I nodded again and watched as the people continued to file in.

Finally, more people started to arrive. The orchestra started to play, and a slow waltz started around the room. Emerie took my hand and led me onto the dance floor. We had made it a tradition to first dance with each other before finding and dancing with others. As she twirled me across the floor, a man caught my eye.

Unlike most of the others here, which were dressed in bright autumnal attire, he wore a dark suit, accented with silver. His masquerade mask was undoubtedly the best I had seen yet. It was half silver and half black, with a swirl combining the two colors in the center. Above his mask was a mop of curly black hair. His hair looked almost familiar, but I didn't think I had ever seen this man before. His whole aura was mysterious, but at the same time, intriguing.

The song Emerie and I danced to finished gracefully and we both nodded to each other, going off on our own. I walked through the rhythmic patterns of swirling partners and made my way over to the mysterious man.

"Good evening, m'lady," He said, as I drew nearer. His voice, like honey, was melodic and smooth. Behind his mask, his eyes were a deep brown. Both only added to his mystical allure. I gave a slight curtsy as he bowed.

"Good evening to you as well. May I have this dance?" I asked boldly, motioning back behind me to the crowded dance floor.

"I'd be delighted," He said, offering out his hand. I took it and he led me out to the floor as a quick waltz played. We both swiftly fell into step with the music, aligning ourselves with the other pairs. His other hand met the small of my back, gently guiding me closer to him. He let me lead the dance but followed along easily. Eventually, the song slowed and came to an end.

I hadn't realized how close we had gotten during the dance. As I tried to catch my breath, I caught a whiff of him. He smelled of sandalwood and vanilla.

The entirety of the ballroom erupted into applause. I hadn't realized that everyone had been watching us. I hadn't really realized that they were still there. When he and I danced, it felt like we were the only two people in the ballroom. I looked up and saw that underneath his mask, he had a faint blush as well.