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The carriage ride was mercifully short.
After Dominique, Lyra, and Blake had met their driver down near a more reputable part of town, they’d started towards the castle. Dominique rather liked riding in carriages, but Lyra was not fond of them, and Blake looked on the verge of sickness the entire ride.
Paying to be escorted via carriage was not a luxury the ECL often had, if ever. But tonight, they were not members of Eldom’s Common Liberators. They were not assassins. They were not middle class nobodies, nor were they born in the slums. Tonight, they were noble guests. Curious attenders, respectful subjects.
When the carriage pulled up to the front of the castle, Lyra and Blake exited first, heading up the marble steps that led into the grand ballroom. Other carriages followed suit, dropping off their respected guests and finding a place to station themselves for the night. Dominique remained in her carriage, letting their driver find a secluded spot near the flower beds to stop.
“Would you mind staying here for the night? I know it’s a bit far from the other carriages, but my friend, Mrs. Templeton has a rather delicate stomach, if you can guess what I mean. She doesn’t like to be ridiculed by others if she needs to leave on account of her health. Do you understand?” Dominique asked sincerely, her cover lie was realistic enough.
The driver smiled sympathetically. “Aye, my wife has a similar issue. I’ll be waiting right here if you need to leave quicker.”
Dominique returned the smile. “Thank you kindly sir, it’s much appreciated," she said softly, handing him a generous payment. The driver looked surprised, but he took the coins without complaint, pocketing the sum.
“If we need to leave early, I’m sure a few more coins may fall into your hands. For the inconvenience.”
The driver nodded, thoroughly bought out.
Dominique then opened the carriage door, stepping out into the evening air. She followed the crowd of well-dressed people up to the palace entrance. Before she entered through the adorned doors, she paused to take the scene in.
There she stood, in front of the royal palace. Its walls were made up of shining stones that had been carved into intricate swirls and patterns. Marble beams laced their way around windows and archways, accenting alabaster and other precious materials that lined the castle. Unlike the noblemen and women around her, the sight made her that more angry. The excess wealth and useless stone made Dominique all the more eager to tear down the royal family. To watch as they bled upon their priceless floors, helpless.
Dominique shook her fury off, composing herself for the task at hand. Tonight, she was not going to murder any royalty. She was the distraction for a very small puzzle piece in her grand scheme. She took a deep breath, painted on an eager smile, and entered through the towering doors into the ballroom.
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Noblemen and women of all varieties filled the ballroom, slowly gathering at the base of the grand staircase. Adorned with glistening pearls and gold necklaces, courtiers donned gorgeous, intricate gowns. Men were clad in their expensively tailored suits, looking either ridiculously pompous or impossibly elegant. Satin, velvet, chiffon, and mounds of tulle covered the guests from head to toe, flaunting their wealth and prestige.
However, the most striking part of the guests' wardrobe was the fact that no one had bothered to wear black - or any dark colors for that matter. Dominique had suspected that very few people would wear mourning colors, so she herself hadn't worn morning colors either. But she hadn't expected that nobody at all was wearing black. It was almost as if the entire court was trying to ignore the death of the crown prince, trying to block the tragedy out of their minds with bright pastel colors and jewels. Although Dominique truly hated the royal family, and had no sympathy for the late Prince Amir, the thought of nobody mourning for him made her feel sick. It was disgusting, really.
The crowd began to move and still, breaking Dominique from her thoughts. She moved along with the throng as they parted at the base of the grand staircase, waiting for someone. After a moment of thought, she realized that the royal family had yet to enter the party. Dominique positioned herself at the end of row, so she would have a clear view of the nobility that would be making their respective entrances at any moment.
After a few moments of anxious whispering and growing anticipation, a lanky man entered from the double doors at the top of the stairs. He was dressed nicely, but not so much so that he would overshadow anyone else. Dominique then recognized him as the royal announcer as he stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! May I please have your attention? Ladies and Gentlemen! Please be ready to welcome your beloved royal family!" The royal announcer bellowed, filling the room with his resounding voice.
"And stand alert! I hear there is to be a rather important announcement to come!
Dominique frowned. An 'important announcement' could mean a lot of things. It could mean a date for Prince Amir's funeral, court business, or something far worse. Knowing the king, whatever the announcement was, it was sure to be self-serving.
"What do you think the announcement is?"A voice whispered into Dominique's ear, and she whirled around to face a light-haired nobleman dressed in an emerald suit. His voice was playful, but his eyes were all curiosity, a sharp kind of hunger that only saw pretty new things. Dominique, or rather Valerie, was both new to court and rather stunning, which made her of interest to men like him.
The royal announcer began to introduce the first Erikson, the youngest royal. But Dominique drowned it out, her attention now directed at the nobleman before her.
"Well, I must admit I'm rather clueless on matters like these," Dominique whispered meekly, putting on her best impression of a court lady. "I haven't been here terribly long, so I don't know what's old news and what isn't." She giggled, donning a winning smile.
The man grinned. "Well, I might be of some help, if you wish."
"That would be lovely, oh! My name is Valerie by the way, Valerie Morgenstair."
"A pleasure to meet you Mrs. Morgenstair," the man replied, cleverly hiding a question in saying "Mrs." Dominique assessed that this man was either dangerous, or a wonderful source of information to extort. Perhaps he was both.
"Oh! I'm actually just Ms. Morgenstair. I'm not married. And you can call me Valerie if you'd like, my surname is so formal," Dominique responded sweetly, surveying the man's expression.
He grinned slyly, as if her answer pleased him. The thought made her stomach curl into itself, making her feel quite queasy.
"Well, Valerie, it was a pleasure to meet you. Perhaps I'll see you on the dance floor tonight?"
Dominique forced on an eager expression. "Why of course! I'd love to. Perhaps then you'll introduce yourself to me properly?" She asked almost timidly, but there was a slyness in it, an acknowledgement that the man had yet to offer his name.
"Perhaps," the nobleman said, smirking now. He tipped his head to Dominique in a mock-bow before disappearing into the crowd. Dominique clenched his fists into her dress, somehow unnerved by their interaction. This man seemed dangerous and cunning. Perhaps Dominique would eliminate him tonight, perhaps he would be Lyra and Blake's target.
Before Dominique could immerse herself too thoroughly into another murder plot, a thunder of applause echoed through the room. She stared upon the staircase once again, now slightly surprised to see the king standing before the crowd. God, had the other royals already been introduced? Dominique cursed herself for getting so distracted talking with the mysterious nobleman.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGqThC7qbo
The king cleared his throat, looking rather solemn, as if he was about to announce something rather serious- perhaps he really was going to talk of his late son's funeral.156Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8opUVROnT
Dominique's full attention was now on the king, who cleared his throat once more before beginning his speech. As he began to talk, Dominique's jaw dropped. She became lost in a haze of shock and unexpectedness. She hadn't anticipated the king to abdicate the throne, let alone bestow the burden along to his child. The king said more, his speech continued, but Dominique only heard those few, damning words.
Abdicate.
Crown.
My eldest daughter.
Power.
Aliyah.
Her name echoed in Dominique's mind again and again, building to a curse, a reckoning. This would change everything, this would change Dominique's plans-
The grand doors opened, and suddenly there she stood.
Princess Aliyah, standing tall and regal, clad in a military kind of dress.
The future queen of Eldom.
The only mourner amid a sea of pastels, a throng of careless nobles.
A vision in black.
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