Wearing a gold and black silk dress with the same colors as your mask, your heels clicked and clacked along the polished floors. A whetted iron dagger strapped to your thigh unseen beneath the fabric, the weak cold biting into your skin. The Victorian Masquerade ball being filled with masked individuals with unknown identities, the feeling of a presence inside the room lingering in the corners. Your gaze ran along the dozens of different concealed faces behind elegant masks, trying to detect the same black hair and chiseled jawline.

A hand that clasped your shoulder stops you in your tracks, your head rotates towards the figure that had placed their hand on your shoulder. You then see the man slightly bow down with one hand behind his back and one hand reaching out to hold your hand. ”May I have this dance?” The man spoke in a deep and alluring tone, with his face towards the ground. You slid your hand in his, making him kiss the back of your palm before standing up, his height towering over you.

You two began to sway along with the others surrounding the area, the live orchestra playing enchanting tunes, creating an atmosphere of mystery and even romance. The man’s hand laying on your hip, and the other gripping your hand lightly. You tried to pay attention to the masked skin, your eyes widening as realization settled deep in your stomach.

this man being your target. your father's rival’s son, Lucien, whom you had come to assassinate.

Before you could do anything, he spins you around, his free hand sliding underneath your flowing dress. Slipping out the dagger that was attached to your thigh and into his pocket. ”Can't have you walking around with this, right butterfly?” Lucien whispered in a sugar- coated voice, his lips near your ear as you fell in his arms after the spin.