The Golden Ones

Our Vices

The guests started pouring in at about six in the evening. After a few words from the esteemed host, the first dance of the ball began. The luxury, the sheer amount of money spent on this gathering was extreme.

Chandeliers made of pure imported crystal; food that enticed and if full then a juice that can digest it all in moments so that one can experience more delicacies. Even the guests left no room for error, the gowns that, even if one travels far south or even ventures to the un-veturable demonic lands wouldn't be found.

How naive. How despicable.

Even after a whole evening of extravagance, the nobles from different corners of the kingdom still seemed unsatisfied. Illia was sure nothing could sate their greed but on this particular night, there was a special exception.

As she looked with contempt at the crowd from a balcony outside, her uncle smiled his signature smile and worded his speech so that the people knew that the moment to come was not far. Not far at all.

"Eager bunch aren't they?" The snake made of nothing but shadows hissed in her ears with a voice as sweet as an over-sweetened cake.

She did nothing to show acknowledgment. Her face was stoic because if not that than her sneer would be too much for the open.

"They are searching for you senseless, my lady," the snake - whose name, allegedly, is cupcake - spoke with a smile. It was strange how she could tell that he smiled even when he had no mouth.

"Stop stating the obvious," she finally spoke and instantly regretted it.

"Who's there?" Came a rather menacing call. The voice colder than the freezing weather of the North and as she looked down, his eyes that glowed with their own vibrancy were squinted with intimidation.

"Calm yourself, Your Highness," she called out. The instant change in emotions was not something she expected.

Instead of that legs quivering sight, Illia saw soft jeweled blue eyes. The signature of the royal line of the human lands.

"Illia," he called softly, that from where she stood was nothing above a whisper, "can you come down?" Eerily, he was requesting something of her.

Cupcake hissed angrily. "He is covered with divinity and melancholy, and the putrid smell of his cologne is giving me a headache." He muttered to which she couldn't help but laugh.

The prince did nothing nor asked the reason as to why she did so. He just waited and for that, she found him strangely a gentleman.

"I am sorry, your highness, but it seems the guest of honor is about to arrive and I will just be hogging your time." She looked through the glass windows and saw the relieved look on her uncle's face. Seems to be that the guest of honor actually is arriving soon. A stroke of fate.

"I just need five minutes," the man sounded desperate.

"Five minutes is alright, but I do not wish to dirty my dress by coming on the ground."

"We can talk as we are," he said with a sigh of defeat.

Moments passed by, perhaps even a whole five minutes but nothing came out of the prince's mouth. The sudden wind that picked up added more to the moment.

"Do you have regrets?" Alas, it was she who had to break the ice.

The shame on his face, the guilt was making her so very angry.

A cheer erupted from the crowd and she knew without turning that her cousin, Diana, the star of the night had arrived. The one who can make the room joyous with just her appearance.

The events in the hall paired up with the fact that the prince did not even make an attempt to deny her assumption made everything around her seem so meaningless. Abandoned again with salt on her wounds each time laughter came from behind.

"You are my kingdom's future leader and that I will respect, but for the love of everything you and I both hold dear please do not come at me with such intentions ever again, Your Highness." She had to grit the words through her teeth. Tear her heart out and stomp on it.

"Illia," she heard him call but she was already opening the door to go into the Godforsaken stuffy hall.

The transition from the cold fresh air to the humid hall was not smooth. She could have passed out or hurled her empty guts out and it would be justified. In her opinion, at least.

At some point, she noticed, cupcake had disappeared into thin air as he likes to do.

"Lady Illia," came a smug call from nearby. The table filled with pretentious ladies smiled and waved at her. For the respect of her uncle's image, she walked over as gracefully as she could in the floor-length gown that threatened to trip her at each step.

"Lady Estelle," she curtsied, "what may be the pleasure?" Lady Estelle, daughter of Count Desmond.

"Such formalities, Illia," a woman she had never even met said with a laugh. "I am Baroness Nepheria." She finally introduced herself. The others also had quite a rank in the high society like Lady Highbury, daughter of a duke, who sat on the same table but had less of a hand in the conversation that took place afterward.

"A pleasure, Baroness."

"Come sit with us, Illia," Lady Estelle patted the seat beside her.

"I have heard that the crown prince was also invited to this celebration, do you perhaps know if he is here, Illia?" Baroness Nepheria asked as soon as she sat down.

"Not at all, Baroness," she spoke, "all the preparations were handled by Diana alone." Her mouth felt bitter after that.

"Really?" Lady Estelle seemed genuinely impressed.

"Indeed, Lady Estelle."

"Well, I am sure he would be here to congratulate Lady Diana, after all, it's her coming of age ceremony and she has already shown steady progress in developing divine power," Baroness waved her hand through the air.

"I heard that the crown prince and Lady Diana are Involved with each other."

Illia bit her tongue.

"Oh yes, I even heard that Lady Diana might be the crown princess."

She clenched her hands enough to draw blood but her gloves acted as a barrier.

"Is that true, Lady Illia?" They asked.

With ire boiling in her hotter than the depts of hell, if she be so bold to compare; with the familiar iron taste filling her mouth and the unyielding pain in her hand, she smiled.

She smiled and said, "I don't know."

After that, she couldn't move from her place and listen to them wonder among each other how good of a pair the prince and the daughter of Count Baugsbery, Diana Baugsbery will be.

She sat frozen as they talked about her lover.