The Failed Assassin

Blend In

Emma slipped into the ballroom seeing the impressive surroundings.They showed all the wealth and pomp even if this was a normal ball,nothing really that interesting. If anything it looked all the moreimpressive, showing that even in this simple way it was surrounded inpomp and ceremony. It was shining in crystal and jewels, lights ofimpressive pillar candles, the finest tapestries she had ever seenhanging showing the history of the kingdom. The room smelt of sweetjasmine and the perfumes that graced the ladies' wrists and throatsand the gentleman's scent lockets. The jasmine was so surroundedeverything that it kept from smelling like a tangled mess of sweetand musky scents going against each other and would make someone gag.There was a orchestra doing their warm ups as their singer had hersaltwater ready. The scents of roasted meats and vegetables grillingcould be scented even from this far from the kitchen.

It was a show of power. A show of the upper crust, their luxuriesthis day open to everyone. Well, almost everyone. If you could lookto at least be part of the upper class it would be open to you, nomiddle class or peasants of course. But it was opened enough thatthose who normally would not be allowed even on the palace groundscould celebrate like nobility. They could see the luxuries and easeof the lucky few. See how 'slumming it' would be.

It made Emma sick.

How could they do this? How could anyone live like this-orbetter-every day and not worry about was going on outside theirwalls? No. It was worst then that, they weren't just oblivious, theywere actively making it worst. Who cares if the entire kingdom had tosuffer, as long as they had what they wanted.

Though her hair was striking being that few had the shade no onenoticed who she was. Of course they wouldn't. Why would they think tolook twice at a nothing as they thought of her? They couldn't lookpast the clothes and her social class to what she had on the inside.

The thing her mother had not allowed anyone to speak of, to protecther from becoming a pawn. Not even her father knew, not even now,only Nathaniel, her mother and herself ever knew. And now that hermother was gone, it was down to two.

"Ladies and gentleman! If I may have your attention?" All turnedto see the butler, the head of the servants who worked inside andwould be seen by outsiders. Either the family or their snobby guests.Usually they were picked by their beauty; fine eyes, lovely physique,symmetrical features, all had at least one of these if not more. Thebutler had been a very handsome man in his day, but was now mucholder and time had long since taken the beauty from his handsomeface, though even in the fall of his life he had a strong stalwartappearance.

"Thank you so much for joining us! I extend from my master's familya welcome to you. It is an honor to again open the palace to all ofthe subjects!" He managed to have his voice boom across theballroom yet not seem too emotional. Emma, somehow, managed to holdback her facial expression from a grimace.

She managed to look excited and happy, even if someone were to lookinto her eyes and be able to read them they would know that shewasn't. She hated this, was disgusted by it, had to fight withherself not to grab gunpowder and a match and set this wholebeautiful horrid palace to the ground.

With a raise of his left hand the orchestra started to play and Emmamoved out of the way. Since she looked like she could be a heiresssent or a noblewoman down on her luck. There were many dressedshabbier then her, though she would hazard a guess their jewels werereal, so she would blend in not being just able to get in but easilyable to slip into wherever she wanted. She was invisible as well asif she was shrouded in shadows.