The Heiress

She could hear the musicians and the boisterous laughter coming from downstairs.

"Can you please make them stop?" She asked the butler with disinterest.

"My Lady, you know what is expected of you, right? Perhaps you could join them, maybe then the music won't seem so vexing to you."

"You are right, the corset and the thick gown is going to make the music seem tolerable."

The butler had a dry smile.

"You always had a way with words. But the Duchy demands that you be brave too. I'll send for a lemon cake for your highness tomorrow. Show me that you can do your duty."

"Why are you taking me to this thing anyhow?" "You Heini, you are still a Adeliger. Maybe this ball will knock some sense in your simpleton brain." The colonel muttered. "You are not a stupid kid, you are just, such a knave." The palace is massive, and from a distance looked like a giant bonfire. We were soon greeted by the sounds of commotion as the carriage drew nearer. Following the colonel stiffly, I ventured inside.

The colonel spoke to many older influential men, but to me they seemed decrepit. Their wives were also not interesting to look at.

Turning around, I found something more interesting - a gaggle of young socialites, with beautiful hair, youthful cheeks, yet as they walked by none even looked back at me, but instead, they surrounded the men I thought were uninteresting.

There was a wave of commotion following from upstairs, as the owner of the magnificent palace is descending from their quarters. As I was wandering off, the colonel grabbed my jacket.

"Would you for once make the right impression?"

Staying still, I tried to look presentable for the man to whom we all owed the honour. But instead, an elegant young woman walked down the stairs, flanked by her butler. As she came down, her eyes seemed to be affixed towards my direction.