Thread: Midnight Rhapsody

So it was that time of the year again. Well, it was one of those times of the year she supposed one could say. An extravagant gala filled with no one but high society, nobility, and royalty. Such was the life of those who had inherited their status and money. No one there but a few would know of the hard work it took to reach the top. All of these people had been born with a silver spoon in their mouth, only to be wrapped up in the finest of silk. They would grow up knowing no better. Their lives were filled with nothing but the best, and they expected no less. Their views of the world were misconstrued and warped by their petty fears of the everyday rustics and struggle. So, they remained high on their perch, closed off from the world, as they attended balls, auctions, masquerades, afternoon tea, and sporting events that were deemed safe enough for their delicate sheltered skin. Tonight was one of those nights, where they could gather and brag about their meaningless lives that served no purpose or help to society other than furthering the gap. Alone in her room, Lily Ellenford laid on her bed, her nose buried deep into a book, today's tale--- Peter Pan. It was her favorite pastime... to engulf herself in tales of adventure and overcoming conflict and troubles. It was something she would never know. As critical she was towards these people that she so loathed, she was unfortunately one of them. She didn't deny fears of leaving the four walls of her family's manor. Her father had often filled her head with ideas and dangers of men from the outside world. They only wanted one thing from her, and they'd only take advantage of her. They'd strip her down until the lack of her finely stitched gown left her looking no different than some whore on the streets. They'd taint her flawless, creamy, fair skin. They'd rob her of her innocence and corrupt every inch of her soul. The young woman was yanked out of her fantasy world when she heard the soft scuff of a maid making her presence known at her bedroom door. The girl looked nervous, as she usually did, as she feared angering the young mistress of the home while she was deep in concentration. M-Ma'am, your father, Lord William, would like me to inform you that it is time to get ready for the masquerade ball tonight. I've been instructed to assist you, the maid spoke softly holding up a bad that appeared to contain a gown. With a sigh, Lily stood up and waved her hand, signalling the woman to come forth and join her in front of the dressing mirror. The gown was a light blue, and made of satin with champagne hued accents. Of course it had a finely crafted mask decorated with jewels and feathers to match. This was her least favorite part of the whole ordeal--- getting dressed. Thick fabric that made her sweat like a pig, corsets that made it impossible to breath, skirts that made it difficult to move around, and shoes that ached her feet until they blistered and bled. She was the epitome of elegance, but beauty definitely was pain. With the lacing, the buttons, and her hair, it took the two almost an hour just to get Lily dressed. Her long golden locks were intertwined into an intricate bun only to be accented with a gemmed pick and feathers that matcher her mask and dress. The mask concealed her eyes that matched the sky on a clear summer's day. At least it was a masquerade. Unless her father was planning a completely unncessary formal entry, she could hide in the corner the entire time and not expect people to want to talk to her simply because she was the host's only daughter, and pride and joy of the family... even if she wasn't a son and couldn't carry on her father's name. Lily Ellenford stood at her bedroom window that overlooked the garden, watching as carriages pulled up to the gates of the manor , and guests began to gradually pile in. Some were dressed up in themes, some chose to dress formally with a matching mask. She couldn't tell who any of them were and she didn't care to know. She just wanted to get out of there, she could already feel the suffocation coming on. What were they celebrating anyways? If they even needed a reason to hold a masquerade. These people lead such boring unproductive lives. They lived for these events. Little did the woman know, her father had ulterior motives for this event.