Apologies for the late update. I was a bit under the weather and went to bed x.x I have made the chapters a little long <3

Music Recommendation: Opening- Nathan Barr The Great

She looked at her reflection in the mirror, that now had a more refined appearance. Her soft lips were painted to a light cherry colour as if she had taken a bite from the fruit. Her golden blonde hair was combed and tied with pins in an elegant hairstyle that she couldn't stop looking at. The piece of her hair at the back was let free from the rest of her pinned hair and tied with a ribbon to curl it.

Eve touched the ends of the ribbon and murmured, "How come I have never seen you wear your hair this way, Aunt Aubrey?"

"Call it laziness or lack of interest in dressing up," replied Aunt Aubrey, who stood behind Eve, tying the lace of the corset that the young woman wore. "I tried it only once on myself, after I saw this woman who attended the same soiree as I did and she wore it beautifully. She was quite a looker, who had not only men but also women's heads turn for various reasons."

Eve slipped into the dull pastel blue gown, and Aunt Aubrey helped her tie the shawl-like lace on her back, leaving a trail right above the ground. "It looks so pretty."

"It looks beautiful on you, Eve. Looks like the seamstress offered you something that would go well with your existing appearance," said Lady Aubrey, who stood behind Eve.

Eve couldn't agree less with it. There was a fineness when it came to the gown, which was smooth under her touch. She hadn't transformed into someone else, as she still looked like herself. But the only difference was that previously she was in a shadow, and now, suddenly, the light had fallen on her.

"Your neck looks bare, and so do your ears. Eugene!" Aunt Aubrey called the man, who quickly climbed the stairs and reached the room. "Go get the wooden box that is in the third drawer of my room. Careful while you bring it."

"Yes, Lady Aubrey," Eugene bowed at her order while glancing at Eve and his eyes turned dewy on how pretty the small girl had grown. Once he returned with the box, he handed it to the older woman and asked, "Will you be alright by yourself, Miss Eve?"

Eve nodded and smiled at Eugene, meeting his eyes through the mirror, "There are humans as well as vampires attending the ball. It should be alright."

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She then turned around and watched Aunt Aubrey open her jewellery box. The older woman pulled a small chain that held a small topaz pendant hanging in it. Once Aunt Aubrey put it around Eve's neck, she took a look at Eve and said with a nod, "Now it looks much better."

Aunt Aubrey's hands went to hold Eve's hand and she advised, "Have a good time and try to blend in." Eve nodded, hoping she would be able to do that. "Get the carriage in front of the house, Eugene," ordered Lady Aubrey.

Eve wore the shoes she bought from Hollow Valley, and once she was ready, she took a peek at her reflection in the small, round mirror that only showed a portion of herself at a time.

When Eve reached the town of Skellington in the carriage, as she neared the Moriarty mansion, she noticed several carriages were already stationed inside in a line. The sky had turned dark, but the lights from the lamp posts on the streets and around the mansion were enough to help one see things. And right now, wealthy men and women stepped out of their carriages, making their way inside the Moriarty mansion.

Eugene pulled the reins of the two horses and got down from his seat. He went to the carriage door, pulled it open and announced, "We have arrived at the Moriarty mansion, Lady Eve."

"It sounds strange and distant when you call me Lady Eve, Eugene," Eve lightly scolded him, who leaned forward from her seat and looked at Eugene.

"Oh, that," Eugene looked left and right before he said, "I am just playing the part of being your personal coachman, and you belong to an esteemed house of Dawson and Barlow," he smiled before helping Eve step down from the carriage.

Eve turned to look back inside the carriage, where her umbrella sat next to the seat. Her hand felt empty as she was used to holding her umbrella, especially when in the company of the night creatures.

"I will be right here waiting for you, Miss Eve," Eugene said, patting the carriage.

"Stay safe, Eugene. Most of the wealthy families' coachmans are not humans. Sit inside and if trouble brews, head home," said Eve with her eyebrows slightly knit together.

As much as possible danger waited inside the mansion, the outside wasn't spared from it, and one had to be careful, especially when they were in a different town. She quickly pulled the ribbon that was still tied in her hair and handed it to Eugene.

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"Yes, milady. You take care of yourself too," Eugene replied to Eve with a bow, and he watched Eve leave. He got inside the carriage and closed the door.

When Eve reached near the mansion's entrance, she noticed the guards, who were stationed at the entrance, checking the names written on the invitation the Moriarty family gave to the guests. She straightened her back and made her way there.

One of the guards asked her, "Invitation please."

Eve handed the invitation parchment to the guard, who took a look before letting her pass and said, "Welcome to the Moriarty mansion, milady."

"Thank you," murmured Eve, and on her words, the guard's eyes briefly moved to look at her.

After a second, Eve realised that most of the people who were attending the ball were not the kind who talked to the servants, less thank the guards.

When she stepped inside the mansion, she noticed things she hadn't before when she came to work here. The ceilings were often unlit with candles around and left in slight darkness. But now she saw that the ceiling of the hallways was carved, and it was nothing like she had ever seen before. Lanterns were hung along with tall candles burning inside it where it left a soft golden glow. The place smelt sweet.

Guards were positioned at every end of the corridors to maintain undisturbed peace. Eve sensed some of the guests eye on her, but she didn't deter and continued to keep a calm face as she made her way towards the hall that Lady Marceline had earlier shown this noon.

"Good evening, milady," a person with gold eyes greeted her, who walked past her.

Eve offered a slight nod but didn't dare to open her mouth, believing her voice would crack with the nervousness she felt in her nerves if she were to talk now.

The gown she wore now showed its full potential under the many lights and gazes of people on Eve. On her way, when she came to stand in front of a shiny wall that reflected her reflection from head to toe, she saw the pastel blue dress now looked more bluish-grey. There were subtle imprints of cream, which were small four-petal flowers on the gown.

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Eve had readily agreed to wear the gown from the seamstress as it was passable for a ball like this, not expecting that it could surpass many other gowns here. She muttered to herself, "What have I done?"

"Is everything alright, milady?" She heard a person ask, who walked towards her and when her eyes fell on the person and she paled. It was the same vampire who had bothered her when she had visited the inn, in Hollow Valley.

"Yes. Yes, everything is alright," Eve returned the vampire's smile with a polite one.

"You aren't from here, are you?" Questioned the vampire when his eyes moved to her slender neck and Eve caught it. "Because I would have remembered meeting someone so beautiful before."

In the above floor, not far from where Eve stood with the man, Vincent leaned against the railing, watching them with a faint smile on his lips. He raised his hand and wiped his lips that still had traces of fresh blood that he had drank from the human who now stood next to him.

Vincent's usual dishevelled silver hair was combed back with few strands resting on his forehead. His eyes were not his usual coppery brown but dark red, matching the shirt he wore over the black vest and trousers.

"Mr. Moriarty, did something amuse you?" Asked the woman, her eyes curiously looking at the guests but not knowing where he was looking, as there were many people entering the mansion and some standing and talking to other guests.

Vincent didn't respond to the woman but continued staring at the governess, who seemed to be garnering attention from his guests. The young woman undoubtedly knew how to dress. He read the nervousness in her subtle movements, which many failed to notice, and his lips twisted into a smile.

"Mr. Moriarty, I was wondering if"

"Why don't you go look for someone to spend time with. I am already bored," Vincent dismissed the woman with a smile on his lips that didn't reach his eyes.

The woman didn't dare to question or speak more and decided to find him later when he was in the mood so that she could get close to him. She offered a small bow and left his side.

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