Artrix Snow looked herself over in the mirror from head to toe. This was the night she'd been waiting for, for months. She'd saved all her money, and scraped together every last bit she could to afford this outfit. So she could go to Prince Nathaniel's masked ball. She'd been living in his lands for three years, and had watched, every year, from her balcony, as the castle light up beautifully for his ball. She'd dreamed of going, and everyone, including commoners like herself were invited, but she'd never had the money.
This year was different. Her little sister, realizing how horribly Willa's heart ached every year when she saw the streets filled with masked beauties, headed for that fantasic night, had saved up small stashes of money. Three months ago, she'd given it to her, and Artrix had nearly cried on the spot. She didn't want to take her sisters hard-saved money, and told her that she could go instead, but she'd insisted, so she agreed, and helped save for the last three months.
Now she stood, on the night of the mask, a commoner, dressed as a queen. Her gown was white, and made her feel like royalty when she spun, layers floating out around her like a white, lace cloud. Her long hair hung in glossy blond ringlets down to the small of her back, the top half of it was pulled back loosely, and two little spirals hung from her temples, gently grazing her neck. Throughout her hair, her sister had studiously worked to pin lavender orchids frosted with glitter in seemingly random places, all the way down to the very end. They gave off a sweet scent as she moved about.
Willa had a knack for the unusual, and unique and, as such, her mask was not the typical masquerade mask. Often, a mask was fashioned after a certain animal, and your dress and various props matched. Her sister had told her she should go as a butterfly, so, instead of a true mask, she'd painted frosty white glitter around her eyes, along her cheekbones, and up onto her forehead in the curling arcs of a butterfly's wings. Small imitation diamonds, that glittered like the real thing, were glued to her skin, following the arches of her browbones, just under her eyebrows. The mask was truly a work of art, looking like frosty ice, glittering in the light every time she moved her head or smiled.
"I'm ready." She whispered to her sister. "Lock the door." Winni kissed the girl she'd all but raised herself on the forehead and left the house, climbing into the carriage that would take her to the mask.
She glanced at the large, ornate clock on the castle wall as she stepped out of the carriage. She was more than an hour late, but that didn't matter. All that mattered was that she was here. Finally at the ball. As she entered the castle and made her way down the hall, she could not help but feel intimidated by the huge ceilings and maze of corridors, making her feel very small, like a mouse distracted by a piece of cheese while, meanwhile, the trap waits to spring.
But that feeling was erased as soon as she reached the ballroom. Around her, a world of fantasy exploded, and she made her way slowly towards the dancefloor, taking in all the fantastic sights, sounds, and smells surrounding her. At the edge of the floor, she was whisked, without even realizing it, into a dace, twirling and spinning in the arms of a man she didn't know. "I come to the Prince's mask's every year." The man said, trying to make conversation as he spun her. "Though I don't think you have even once. Surely I would have noticed such a ravishing creature."
She simply looked at him, taking in his small gold mask, only covering one of his brown eyes. "No." She said simply, spinning again. "I haven't come, this is my first year."
"Well," he said, eyes daring as he pulled her closer. "Let's make it a good one."