Chapter 7: Grand Masquerade Ball
A limousine stops in front of the venue where Riley, Madame Lacey and her husband are inside. She still cannot believe that this is happening and it felt like a dream to her. She felt like a princess that she never imagined. 
There are other royalties that are much more elegant than her. But what's more important is that she didn't look like a maid even just for tonight. She will savour the feeling of becoming a princess or duchess of this family. And no one knows that she's just a maid. Only Madame Lacey knows. 
Riley wanted to ask where her four Masters were because when the make-up artist and hairstylist were done with her to make her gorgeous in this Ball, she didn't saw any shadow of her Masters earlier at the mansion so she assumed that they were already here. 
She put on her mascara that covers her eyes and nose. She savoured the feeling through walking to the aisle on the entrance of this so-called castle that screams royalty and expensive looking. 
"Let's welcome, Madame Lacey Lee and Monsieur Hee Jeong Lee with their duchess, Lady Corinne Lee!" 
Riley felt goosebumps when she heard her name. Madame Lacey and her talk about changing her name and she agrees with it so no one could know her true identity. And besides. She's wearing a mask so she felt a little relieved. 
The moment the bellman announced their arrival at the entrance of the venue, all eyes were on them. Or should she say, to her. She can feel those eyes who raked to her a look from head to toe.  
Am I that awful to see? 
She suddenly felt ashamed. Maybe her make-up is already ruined or her dress is not that good and fit for a maid like her. She looked down and bit her lip to hide her shyness. 
"Hey, chin up, buttercup." Madame Lacey whispered in her ear and cheered her up. "You look gorgeous, dear. There's no need to feel ashamed, okay?" 
She nodded and forced a smile. 
Music filled her ears and when she looked around, all gentlemen were guiding their partner to the dance floor and started to do slow dance. She bit her lower lip when she noticed that she's the only one who has no partner. Madame Lacey is with her husband.
She sat on the vacant chair and watched them dancing on the dance floor. She felt ashamed of herself because she's the only one left seated and all of them were dancing with their partners. 
Riley roams around her gaze. Her brows furrowed when she saw her Master Jake and Hoon dancing with their partner. They're smiling and look happy. Their partners are really stunning and gorgeous. No wonder her two Masters fell for them. 
But in the middle of watching them, she notices that her Master Ethan and Jay are missing. She's sure that they're not on the dance floor. So she stood up to find Ethan and Jay to erase her loneliness. 
She wandered around this so-called huge castle but she didn't notice that someone bumped into her. 
When she looks at the gentleman with blonde hair, she apologises immediately. "I'm sorry."
Her eyes settled on the eyes of this man. His eyes were familiar though. She stared into his eyes like she's hypnotising those deep blue familiar eyes. 
He's like a prince in Disney movies!
She found herself taking off the man's mask that covers his eyes and nose. But before she could take off his mask, the man stops her in her hand. 
"I-I'm sorry, again." She apologises for the second time. 
Riley wanted to pull her hair for that impolite act. The man just stared at her from head to toe without a blink and didn't even say a word before he left her dumbfounded. 
She scoffed. "Huh! Is he a mute person? Or just the same breed as Master Jay who's typically a rude person?" She rolled her eyes and continued finding her two Masters.
It's such a waste that he's handsome and gorgeous but too bad, his attitude turns her off. 
But Riley couldn't forget those eyes. Those deep sharp eyes. It's so familiar and if his hair isn't blonde, then she might mistake him as her Master Jay. 
"He's more than handsome though." she murmured. Referring to Jay. 
I really thought that Jay's only attitude was rude and ruthless but he has this gentleman and caring attitude for others. 
Riley found herself on the second floor. She was in the middle of her thoughts when her eyes caught someone who's leaning  on the balcony. She walks towards the man in a suit and mask that looks like a prince too. 
ETHAN HEARD footsteps and he knew that it was a girl because of the sound of her stiletto. He turned his face on her and parted her mouth when he saw a very beautiful lady. She's like a princess-- no, more like a goddess. 
He was taken aback when she smiled and talked to him. "Hey, why aren't you on the dance floor? Everybody's dancing. You should too." 
He remained silent and couldn't even talk.
Come on, dude. Man up! 
He cleared his throat. "Ahm, I-I have no partner. What about y-you?" 
Shit, why the heck am I stammering? 
The lady stood beside her and looked at the full moon. "I have no partner either. But that's fine to me since I have no talent in dancing." she slightly laughed, making him chuckle.
"Why are you here, by the way? Aren't you bored? I mean, you're here alone." 
He shook his head. "Nope. I used to be alone. It's quiet and peaceful at the same time." 
"So you're more like an introvert?" she asked. 
"Maybe." He answered with a smile while staring at her. 
There's this feeling that is hard to define or understand when he's with her even if it's just a matter of time that they just saw each other. 
"What's your name, by the way?" 
He saw her eyebrow furrowed. "Me? Uhm, Don't you know me or c-can't you recognise me?" 
Now his eyebrows furrowed too. "No. I just saw you now, remember? Or... have we met before?" 
The lady took a minute to speak. "Ahm, n-nothing. Forget about that. By the way, my name is Ri-- C-Corrine." 
"Oh… Corrine. That's a beautiful name." he praised her.
He didn't know if it was just his eyes when he saw her smirking. Well maybe it's just his imagination playing with him. 
"Anyway, now that we both have no partners, why don't we go to the dance floor, Milady?" He offered his hands to her and he slightly bowed. 
Lady Corinne smiled and accepted his hand. "It's my pleasure, Milord." 
Ethan guided Lady Corinne to the dance floor on the first floor where everyone was dancing including his parents and brothers, Jake and Hoon with their partners. 
JAY TIGHTEN his fist when his eyes laid on the two on the dance floor. His eyes were flaming in so much anger, envyness and jealousy. 
He force to calm himself down but it didn't help. 
Fuck this feeling!
Earlier, Jay saw his mother and Ethan's father with a girl and the bellman announced that she's the duchess. He didn't know that girl and why the hell did the bellman announce that she's their duchess?! Maybe her mother had a daughter with another man and he and his brothers didn't know about that. 
He was confused as fuck but then, when he bumped to the girl earlier, he felt his world came alive again. 
His heart suddenly beat faster than at a normal pace. And he knew that there's only one girl who can do that to his heart. She's so beautiful like an angel that came from heaven. He saw her exquisite beauty even if she's wearing a mask. 
He had a suspicion that she's really her. That her mother did something to make her accept that and planned to change her name. But before anything else, he has to make sure. 
Jay brushes his blonde hair backwards. He walks towards the lady who makes his heart beat so damn faster when the music ends. 
He's thankful that he saw her taking the opposite way to Ethan. Maybe she's going to the restroom. That's when he made his move. 
When he reaches her, he softly grabs her arm and pins her on the nearest wall where no one can see them. He knew that she gasped in shock but he the hell he cared. He's doing his wicked plan.
Jay cupped her face. His eyes dropped to her lips and without a blink, his lips were on hers. Kissing her fervently like there's no ending. 
A smile crept to his lips when he felt her kissing him back. 
That's it, baby. Good girl. 
~amph1trite~