"Ebony!" she called. "Ebony, there you are. Stop eating or people will think you are a glutton." Dame Frow said as she snatched the cookie away from me. Madame Mellie Mott and Beatrice were in tow.

Beatrice was derisively scowling at me while Madame Mellie seemed to be scanning the room for someone. For a second a mourned the loss of my cookie then Madame Mellie declared what, or rather who, she was looking for. "She is nowhere to be found. Oh, Bea, I have already looked in the ballroom and the other side chamber. What if she has gone off with that Addison again like last time? They caused such a fuss four months ago at the Dockett's feast."

"I have told you, Mellie, that you must be much stricter with that wild daughter of yours. Roberta is ruining her future with her antics and you must pound it into that thick skull of hers that she cannot fraternize with people like Addison Dockett. However, I do not think they are together as Lady Dockett has taken to not allowing Addison to attend the balls until she can behave herself." Beatrice stated. It seemed she liked sticking that beak of a nose everywhere it didn't belong. It was not her job to parent Mellie's daughter.

"Have you seen the prince yet?" Duchess Frow asked me. "I hope that you behaved properly like I taught you."

"I only saw him enter. I was just going to find him." I answered and moved to leave. Duchess Frow didn't allow me to leave just yet however.

She and her friends herded me from the room and up the stairs to the balcony. We walked along one side to the far corner of the ballroom near where the orchestra played. Madame Mellie was still searching and worrying for her daughter while Beatrice explained where we were going. "The most influential men are usually found in the small parlor over this way. If we are lucky the prince will be there and we can observe how you interact with him. Your husband is probably there too, Mellie. Maybe he knows where your daughter is and if she is making a fool of herself."

Mellie nodded and I walked a bit faster at the idea of seeing Christian. If they led me to Christian then I would forgive Duchess Frow of taking my treat. Near where the balcony rounded the corner of the ballroom, there was a door between two mirrors. Duchess Frow opened it without hesitation and we entered a room that was occupied mostly by men. I quickly searched the group for Christian but did not see him. I did see Beatrice's brother, Walt. Beatrice went over to talk to him and Madame Mellie went to talk to a man who I assumed was her husband. One face I was not expecting to see in the room was Victoria's. I could not take my eyes away from where she lounged in the center of a group of five men of varying ages. She was sitting in between Sir Brockton of Ghant and Prince Hector. They were talking animatedly about smoking of all things. Prince Hector held a box of cigars which Sir Brockton partook of. Victoria was holding a pipe in her hand instead.

"I have never smoked a pipe before in my life. I always say that it is best to try things once." I did not miss the amused look that Prince Hector gave her when she spoke. Sir Brockton seemed more intent on lighting his own cigar. Victoria raised the pipe and one of the other men was kind enough to offer her some brown leaves to smoke. My eyes widened when she actually put the leaves in her pipe and smoked them. Her first in inhale was greeted by a fit of dainty coughs and she handed the pipe to one of the other men.

Prince Hector smiled. He had not taken his eyes off of her yet. "Not to your taste, Miss Victoria?"

Victoria had one hand held to her chest while she steadied her breathing. I did not catch her response because Duchess Frow had stepped in front of me and blocked my view of them. "It is impolite to stare like that, Ebony." She announced. "Your prince is not here and it is a good thing too. It speaks very poorly of a person to stare so stupidly at other people."

"Perhaps I should return to the ball now." I said and hoped that this time she would let me go.

Duchess Frow huffed. "I suppose you must, you don't quite belong in this room anyway. Run along then and enjoy the ball, but remember your manners!"

I quickly turned and left. The room was much too devoid of music as the walls were thick and did not allow the orchestra's melodies through. I could not get the image of Victoria smoking a pipe out of my head and laughed to myself as I walked along the balcony. She looked so absurd and her coughing fit did not help matters any.

While I was chuckling I nearly ran into a boy who was just standing at the railing. He looked to be only thirteen annuals old. It was quite a young age to attend a ball, but since the youngest princess was attending others of her age were allowed to as well. The boy was wearing a snarling grey wolf mask. He looked up at me and declared. "You look stupid!" Then he hurried away leaving me stunned.

My mouth had dropped open as I watched him dodge though people. I couldn't believe he had said I looked stupid so boldly. I looked down at my dress. It wasn't stupid, was it? Its style was a bit different than the majority of gowns, but it wasn't horrible. I shouldn't have let the biting remark of a little boy get to me, but it still made me self conscious. I looked around to see if anyone had heard and that man from before, Niko I think, was leaning on the balcony railing watching me. He reached up and adjusted his mask before standing and walking away. Great, now I looked like a fool. I had really hoped that no one had heard the boy being so rude and me just standing there. With flaming cheeks I hurried past where the captain's son was leisurely strolling along the balcony. I went down the steps and back to the ball room floor.

I took a deep breath. It didn't matter that someone I didn't know had seen some horrid child call me stupid. I shook my head to clear it of the boy's rude remark and looked at the dancing couples. I noticed Giselle was standing to the side of the dance with a group of girls. I walked over to see what they were talking about. Giselle and I were no great friends, but perhaps some of the other girls would be nicer. At any rate it would be better than just standing alone.

All the girls were listening as Giselle talked. I supposed I should have expected that she was spreading rumors about Duchess Ojera. Giselle had harbored a deep resentment for the ambassador since that day at the shop. "Did you hear that toad was seen heading to her chambers alone with one of Empress Pandia's servants? I do say, that is very near bestiality. I wonder if that's the norm where she comes from and she has a codfish for a suitor at home. With a face like that I can't imagine she would have any men wanting her hand."

Most of the girls looked scandalized at Giselle's obviously false story. I rolled my eyes at the girls who believed such a tale. "Is it true that you are friends with the princess?"A brunette in a grey mask asked eagerly. The other girls leaned in as well.

Giselle basked in the attention and casually answered as if being close to royalty was nothing special. "It is true, Joslynn and I are quite good companions. My sister and I helped her near every day this past month in preparations."

The girls gasped again. Giselle had them eating out of the palm of her hand. By the looks of it she was the leader of her newfound clique. Giselle and Victoria had a way of getting other girls to follow them and doing as they wished. Being close with members of the royal family only made them more popular and everyone else eager to please them. It had been the same in Lyscos. Often girls from the town would come round for tea and my stepsisters would gossip with them for hours. In Lyscos, an invitation to one of their tea parties was coveted and considered an honor. My mother had insisted on me attending one once. I found everyone there to be as shallow as Giselle and Victoria. After one hour of hearing about the most scandalous gossip about people in the town, I decided I was done and left. My departure made mother quite cross and I had to explain to her that I had no desire to sit and listen to lies told about other people. My views had not changed much since then and I still did not want to hear Giselle blatantly lie about Ojera

Giselle had not acknowledged my presence and I was considering wandering the rooms again when I saw a familiar figure striding toward us. The black and white mask did nothing to hide the arrogant way Dewey walked. His costume was flamboyant and had black next to white in stark contrast. He had recognized Giselle and was coming over to greet her. Since he was approaching her from behind, she was not aware of her presence until he cleared his throat. Giselle seemed to be expecting another handsome man wanting to dance with her. The other girls had struck up conversations with each other and seemed to not notice Squire Dewitt. I could not wander away now.