Chapter 1 The Ball
Rosie looked around the big hall where she was invited to. The invitation she got stated that she was needed at this ball party. That it was essential for her to be there. Rosie felt that discomfort being there at this party. She didn’t know anyone and had no energy left in her to socialize with random strangers after all the work she had to manage yesterday. *four more men killed* Rosie closed her eyes tightly and tried to suppress that thought. Just last week, she had lost her four loyal soldiers and it felt disturbing to come straight to this party after mourning the loss of her people. Rosie took a sharp breath in and sat down at one of the tables available. All the mixed negative feelings started to arise in her. *All of this is impossible, I can’t do it* that thought made its way through her mind. That’s when her clear vision of people around her started to distort but she didn’t pay attention to any of that. She wanted relief, comfort, and sweet lies to make her come back to feeling better. *DON’T LET YOUR TRUE FEELINGS SHOWN TO EVERYONE* shouting that in her mind, she managed to maintain an expressionless face. *everything is getting out of control, don’t attract attention to yourself!*. fear and anxiety started to speak inside her.
“Now royalties are at peasant’s parties, didn’t know I would witness that in my lifetime.”
Rosie’s head turned at the long straight black hair lady smirking back at her, her purplish eyes looking devilish then ever and one of her hands was holding a wine glass with red wine in it. Now this was a familiar face for Rosie. She almost felt comfort in Kelsey’s presence. It felt like she could go back to the days when this lady was her competitor and Rosie used to pull all her efforts out to try and defeat her. But something told Rosie that nothing was going to be the same anymore especially when her replies came as:
“Of course, you would enjoy seeing me away from here.”
Kelsey who had just sat in front of Rosie, got a puzzled expression upon hearing that reply but she quickly hid it with a frown and commented:
“You are saying it like I care, don’t confuse my pity for kindness.”
Rosie wasn’t paying attention to Kelsey’s words like usually she used to do but instead, she just wanted to stay close to her presence. It felt safer like this:
“yeah right...”
Rosie replied distractingly and Kelsey noticed that right away but didn’t comment on it. Instead, she said while pushing the wine glass towards Rosie:
“Drink this then we are going to dance.”
Rosie was flabbergasted by that statement and wanted to say something but words got stuck in her throat and she looked at Kelsey dumbfounded. Kelsey who casually ignored all that reaction started explaining further:
“It is just a one day favor so count yourself lucky.”
“But..”
Rosie was about to say something when her work partner came and interrupted this very casual talk between them:
“You should leave.”
the bold red-haired woman said to Kelsey and Kelsey stood up and checked this very woman who had become a bone in her plan. Martha, the red hair woman decided to say further to Kelsey:
“and not to forget that this is highly inappropriate.”
Kelsey smirked at Martha who looked back at her dead serious. Kelsey spoke while keeping her smirk:
" I only offered because I know that this respectable woman wouldn’t want men to touch her.”
Martha became speechless at that and didn’t know how to respond. Kelsey who was enjoying this whole chaotic situation looked back at Rosie hoping for an answer:
“I will be there in a minute.”
Rosie politely replied to Kelsey in a low voice and tasted the wine she had received from her. Kelsey’s smirk stayed intact at that reply and left not before giving Martha one last look that said I won.
“Kelsey is playing with you. She is manipulating you!”
Martha said to Rosie in a loud voice while Rosie tried her best to not let her words affect her.
“I don’t care...”
Rosie replied but Martha was having none of that:
“You should! ever since that incident, you have lost your senses...”
Martha was cut off by Rosie’s low broken voice this time:
“Please... let me feel normal for once...like she said this will only happen once.”
Rosie spoke with small thoughtful pauses and Martha backed up from the argument. Even though Martha didn’t trust Kelsey at all, she still thought that stopping Rosie in this would not come out to be a good idea. That is why she decided to only watch them from afar to keep check that things don’t get out of control and Rosie stays safe.
