บท 50: The Venomous Snakes

THE DAY OF the celebration arrived much sooner than Alice had anticipated.

Even though the ball was being held at the palace, its splendor still somehow made its way past the doors of the Ragan Estate. The people that inhabited the mansion were dressed in their best, suits and gowns lavishly ready for a night of waltzing.

With the help of two maids, Alice finally put on the heavy dress that Spade had bought for her. She had insisted on paying with the money she earned as Charlie's assistant but he was adamant about purchasing a gift for her. In his words, it was so that he could still be with her even though he wouldn't have the time to spend with her during the ball. As such, after much convincing, Alice ultimately relented. She knew better than to bruise a man's ego when he was trying to pamper her.

Daryl and Deacon had adjusted the dress using the measurements she provided that day at the fitting. Back then, it was a little looser in some areas and tighter in others. After all, Alice didn't have the figure of a mannequin. However, after the Tewalt twins had worked their magic on the beautiful ball gown, it now fit her snugly, clinging onto her skin but not in a cloying manner.

"You look amazing," Charlie gasped in awe when Alice finally descended the steps and appeared in the main hall. Wyatt, Miles, and Charlie were all waiting for her, already dressed and ready to leave at any moment. "I think blue has become your signature color."

"I do feel like a princess in this," Alice remarked, swaying the dress a little. "But it's also awfully heavy. My waist feels like it's about to snap at any given moment."

"You'll eventually get used to it." Waving a hand nonchalantly, Charlie dismissed Alice's worries. "You're stronger than that."

"Shall we?"

Reaching out a hand for Alice to take, Wyatt beamed at the lady. His gloved hand was outstretched, hovering in the air. Alice placed her hand in his palm, allowing him to lead her the rest of the way down, out of the main door, and towards the carriage.

Throughout the ride, Alice could feel her heart in her throat. It was a whole different sensation compared to when she had been on the way to the palace for the very first time. Back then, she was filled with wonderment, awaiting a fairytale experience that she never had the chance to live through. Now that she had been to the palace so many times, gone was the curiosity.

Nevertheless, it still felt like a fairytale to her. And she still felt like Cinderella.

The palace was brilliantly decorated. Each and every lamp down the corridors and into the ballroom was lit so that the guests could easily find their way. Aided by the shimmering illumination, the Ragans quickly found their way to the entrance of the ballroom. Although, Alice was sure that Wyatt would still be able to navigate just fine even if they were in the dark.

This time, Alice didn't take any detours into rose gardens with handsome strangers. Nor did she chase after any white rabbits that were out of their element. She headed straight for the ball, into the heart of the grandeur and the splendor.

Since it wasn't a masquerade ball like the previous time, none of the guests had masks on. Alice could see each and every one of their faces, some she recognized, some she didn't. They all had one thing in common, though— their noses were stuck up so high in the air that pride was a prominent stench in the room.

"This is a true battlefield," Charlie commented under his breath, murmuring. He made sure to keep his voice no louder than a whisper.

"And are you armed?" Wyatt countered in return. The smile he wore was bright, dazzling, and charming. That was his signature, after all. Especially when in front of the noble circle, there wasn't a chance Wyatt would put his guard down. "I'll see you three later. Have fun and stay safe. Especially you, Charlie."

With his reminder and farewells made, Wyatt straightened his suit jacket before calmly strolling off in the direction of the crowd. None of the members of the royal family were present yet, always the last to arrive. Nonetheless, Wyatt still had to wait for them as a sign of respect.

"What's that supposed to mean," Charlie grumbled under his breath. At his side, Alice merely snickered.

"It's just the way your brother shows his concern for you," she remarked.

"Exactly," agreed Miles.

"I just wish he didn't treat me like a child anymore," Charlie complained, exasperated. "I am almost of age. He doesn't have to baby me the entire time."

"No matter how old you are, you'll always remain as his precious baby brother, Charlie," Alice said. Picking up her skirt so that she wouldn't trip over the hem, she nodded her chin towards the snacks table. Hors d'oeuvres were arranged neatly on display. Guests had already flocked to it, picking up small treats for themselves. "I'll get something to nibble on. Want anything?"

When met with silence and a shake of their heads, Alice left the group with the plan to return with her hands stuffed. She marched towards the snacks with purpose, her eyes laying on the various assortments of dishes present. The kitchen staff had outdone themselves, serving all sorts of delicious-looking bite-sized snacks that were easy to eat and not too filling for the stomach.

She started off with a plate of crostini, then reached for the devilled eggs that sat a few rows down. Alice's eyes glittered and shone as she eyed the food with hunger, her mouth watering at the smells that wafted into her nose.

However, just before she could take a bite out of the food, she felt someone shove her from behind. Alice stumbled forward a little, carefully balancing the two dishes she held in hand as she attempted to regain her balance. Thankfully, with her waitressing experience back at home, she survived the shove with ease.

"Hey, watch it!" She exclaimed, turning back to scowl at whoever had so rudely pushed her. Unfortunately, instead of an apologetic expression, she was met with a sneer.

"Oh, look here, ladies. It's the weed," Petunia Devon sniggered, dressed in all her fuschia glory.

The bright neon color of her dress was scalding on Alice's eyes but she hid her thoughts well. She had been warned way too many times beforehand, anyway. It wasn't wise to cause a scene and argue with a noble, much more in the royal palace.

"Lady Petunia," Alice greeted fairly in return. Living in the Ragan's Estate, Alice had learned one or two tricks of her own as well from Wyatt. She plastered a false smile on her lips, beaming brightly as if Petunia was a long-lost best friend. "Please mind your step next time. It would be awful if you had fallen or knocked into the table instead."

Unlike Alice, Petunia wasn't alone. There were a few other girls that were crowded around her, people that Alice couldn't name off the top of her head. She was sure they were all from noble families but perhaps not as high-ranking as those selected to be candidates for the crown prince's future wife. It seemed like the title certainly got to Petunia's head, though, and she acted way more conceited than she should.

"What? Like this?" She asked.

Taking a step forward, Petunia tipped the contents of the glass she held in her hands over. She had been holding onto red wine, the dark liquid drizzling from the glass and down onto Alice's pale blue dress. Unable to keep her mouth shut, Alice finally gasped out loud, eyes going wide as she stared at the ugly irremovable red stain that had sullied her gown.

"Oops," Petunia sang, unfolding her fan to cover her lips, attempting to prevent the crowd from seeing her delighted grin. "Sorry."

Her apology was as half-hearted as ever and it made Alice's blood boil. Beneath her skin, her blood bubbled and roared, ready to burst out at any moment. Slowly, her eyes shifted from the stained splotch on her dress to Petunia's ugly grin. Curses and swears were already on her lips, ready to spill forth. Yet, in a state of shock, Alice didn't relay them out loud. Instead, she continued to glare, still stunned speechless as Petunia basked in the glory of victory.

Even in a well-tended garden, it seemed like snakes were unavoidable. They still slithered all around, hiding under the shelter of taller plants while looking for their next prey, ready to strike. Unfortunately for Petunia, Alice wasn't an innocent bunny rabbit.

Who was the prey and who was the predator was yet to be confirmed.