Casanova H.S

Chapter One

1853

Every year the king and queen throw a ball, and each year it has a different theme. This year it is a masquerade ball. Both of my sisters are beyond excited, but the news only made me miserable since I knew they would make me go. That is why I am now losing my breath because of the tight corset. It has never been something I like to wear, but it is obligated for every woman to wear one.

"Are you not excited, Mira?" My sister asks finishing up with my corset. Olivia has been waiting for this ball for months as she waits for every ball. She believes that she will meet her true love at one of them. The one destined for her, like every other girl except me. Do not get me wrong, it is not like I do not believe in love, on the contrary, I just do not believe you can find a guy remotely worth loving at one of these events.

"Excited? You know I never had any desire to go in the first place." I shake my head already dreading the ball. I have never been one to socialize with boring, rich people for fun. I have never seen the point in doing so. Instead, I would like to stay home and finish my novel. Finish is not exactly the right term to use, more like getting started.

"I know, I know." My older sister sighs in defeat knowing she is making me go against my will. She moves to stand in front of me and takes a hold of my hands giving them a weak squeeze. "Listen, I know this is the last thing you want to do, but who knows maybe you will meet someone."

"Oh, dear sister, you know I would rather die before I marry off to one of those arrogant, rich men that only want me for their own satisfaction." I remove my hands from hers and move them up to her tinted red cheeks. I give her a weak smile letting her know that no matter how hard she tries to convince me it is a long lost cause.

"Why do you have to be so dramatic, Mira?" She laughs removing my hands from her face. "Luna!" She screams calling for our younger sister. Only seconds later she comes rushing into the room fully dressed, and ready to go. She certainly does not look sixteen in her dress and with her face full of makeup.

"You look beautiful, Luna," I tell her reaching out my hand for her to come over. She moves closer and smiles at me in gratitude.

"Yes, she does, and so will you if you just hurry up, and get ready. We are both dressed, and ready to go." Olivia says impatiently not wanting to wait for a second longer.

"All right then," I say before she helps me put on my beautiful red dress. Luna wanted to make sure we did not wear the same color, so Olivia got pink, while Luna got blue, leaving me with red. I originally wanted blue seeing as it's my favorite color, but whatever Luna says goes.

Once my dress is on we all move to stand in front of the mirror to see how we look. "We look stunning," Luna says almost out of breath by her own reflection.

"Tonight is the night one of us meets our future husband," Olivia squeals making me shake my head in disagreement. "I can feel it." Her voice sounds determent, and she has a face to match it.

I do not know what tonight will bring, but I'm sure it is no husband.

-

Masks are everywhere. In different colors and shapes. I never understood why people would bother to wear them seeing as it is easy to recognize the people you know, but I guess it makes it more exciting to meet a stranger.

"Casanova is rumored to be here this evening," Olivia tells us while looking around in search of whoever this Casanova is. Luna giggles at the mention of his name, making me curious about who this person is.

"Casanova?" I ask wanting to be better informed about this person that brings excitement to my sisters face.

"Of course you do not know who that is," Luna says, and moves closer to me. "He is known to be quite popular among the ladies." She raises her brows while saying so, almost as if she knows it for a fact.