Hours before I was meant to go into Kassian's house I wanted to go to the market. I found Rana and we both slowly walked to another end of our village.

"I can not believe you are going to the ball," she said putting her hand undermine.
"I am not going on the ball," I said for the hundredth time today.
"Of course you are going. Maybe not formally but you will see it, I am sure."
"Maybe," I whispered looking at some man walking down the street with some scar on his cheek. Rana saw him too.

Silently we moved to the houses walking slower. This street now seemed so quiet. I wished we did not take this path.
"Come," she whispered pulling my white sleeve. Weekends were the only days when we were able to wear our cloth. Every other day, dark dress with a little green and that is it.

"Come," she repeated, but somehow I could not move. I looked at that man. His scar now looked circular. It had some drawings and lines. It went all the way to his left eye. I looked at him. He had a beard and dark cloth. He was not from here. People usually wore white on weekends. We were enough of the black.

"Imrie," Rana pulled my sleeve again and I took one step. My gaze left man's and I lovered my head.
"What was that on his face," I asked her and turned my head again. I could not resist.
"Punishment. That is how Kassian punish upper Town villages. He tried to steal something,"

She caught my head and turned it to the street.
"Do not look," she warned me sharply.

I lowered my head ashamed I looked at him for that long. It was rude.

"Maybe we could take some vegetables," I said trying to bring back to the atmosphere before that man came.
"Oh, for sure. I am dying for some vitamins. My mother did not want to buy me anything. This is my chance," she laughed and I did the same.

As we walked to the market I saw some people talking with a man who had sheep. That was a risky job. We never knew when some animals would show up and people usually did not have them. But the meat on the market was expensive. Few of us could afford it. We had it for dinner last night.

"I wonder how much would be one," Rana asked.
"Why? You want one?"
"Maybe to get it for Ema's birthday, it is in twelve days."
She came a step closer and looked at little sheep. For me, they all looked the same, but the man was telling something to Rana. I did not listen, but I caught myself looking for that man. What was he doing here?

"Kassian have half of my job. Slowly it is killing me," that name attracted my attention and I looked in front of me.

Two men were talking in front of me.
"Tell me. I have a field and every autumn he comes and takes the best plants." He waved with his head to another man and he came closer too.
"He takes my milk. My wife made cheese but he took it."

I knew Kassian is a bad man but I never knew he is that bad. He did sound like an inch better as it seemed. People hated him too.

"He is a thief," said the same man and I felt a hand on mine.
"Let's go. He is a thief." Rana said angry and dragged me to the vegetable section.
"What happened?"
"He said it was his best and he asked for two hundred Fut. I can not believe it. A thief."

She took one bag and filled it with tomatoes. I did not ask anything. It was really expensive.

I took the bag too and picked a few apples. Jasper likes them.

"Imrie we should go home," asked Rana hours later. We walked for hours. I needed some rest.
"Yes, please," I complained and looked at my bags.
Why on earth did I take that many potatoes? I did not need them.

"I will kill myself," I complained.
"Do not even say, I'm horrible, three kilograms of grapes. What do I want? To make vine?!" She yelled and looked at me.

I laughed stopping behind some woman. In my mind crossed a thought of her playing in the grapes and I laughed even harder.
"You would not know how to make that," I said erasing my tears.
"You are right, but I can always learn," she winked at me and I caught her hand.
"You sneaky little mouse. You want to see Cai," I said pointing to the shop.
"What is wrong with you?! Want to kill you?" She grabbed my hands and laughed.
"You are in love," I mocked her and she made her angry face.

"I wish there was someone I could mock to you too,"
"Sorry my bad, I am clean like a glass, there is nothing," I inclined to her. There is nothing.
Blue eyes glimpsed in my mind.
"Oh it will be," she pinched me and I run from her.

I did not watch where I was going and I kicked at someone. I almost fell. Someone's hands caught me.

I punched myself in the stomach and that damn potato kicked me in the leg.
"You okay?" Said someone and I looked up.
I could not believe it. He. The boy from the house.
"You!" I yelled at him and he covered my mouth.
"Shh," he put finger on his lips, "do not destroy fun!" His blue eyes now were covered with black lenses and he looked normal. But I could remember his face. I will recognise him everywhere.
"You," I spit again when he let his hand down.
"What? I helped you! Do not be mad, I will disappear." His hands let me and before I could say anything he disappeared. His shape run in the crowd before I completely lost him.

Damn it.

"Are you okay? Why are you running like that," Rana asked me breathing hard and looking at me.
"Yes," I said looking in the crowd. Is that his hair? Or maybe that?

His hair was dyed in black and he looked unreal. Too dark shade.

God.

"Come one, I have to take this to my mother," we walked past the church when bells rang.
"Oh! It is already twelve! I have to hurry up!" I turned to kiss Rana and run home. I was supposed to go in one hour. Carriage will come to pick up every tailor and take us to the town.

"Go, go!" She pushed me and smiled.
"And do not forget to see the ball!" She yelled behind my back.

I can not believe who I am living with. They are all crazy.

*****

As the carriage moved I was happy that I have someone with me. I could not stand being alone all the time.

There was five of us in this carriage and the next one all dressed and suits. Me, Mia and another girl I did not know and two other men. One is an older guy maybe in his forties and another one is around thirty. They were talking since the moment we entered the carriage.

Girl exchanged a few uncomfortable looks and then Mia asked.
"Imrie, how is Jasper?" I could see she is nervous but I had to smile. An image of her in my brother's hands danced in front of my eyes and I smiled even wider.
"Good, but when I saw him yesterday he had some cut on his hand. Nothing serious, I hope, but he insisted on telling me he is fine."
"Oh, I hope it's nothing serious," her face narrowed like she is thinking about something. I nodded and said.
"Oh, nothing, a boy like a boy. Can not stop practising," she nodded too and the third girl said.
"Your brother is Jasper, right?" I nodded biting my lips.
"I heard Mister Fin telling another man that he did not have a better sword than from your brother," she smiled and I could see a little impression in her eyes.
"He started as a young boy, I think by now he knows every single thing about them." I smiled suddenly uncomfortable.
"And why are you going to the House?" I asked lowering my voice. I did not dare to say Kassian's name out loud.
"I have to make a dress for Gord's daughter, she wanted me to come to the House and then make it." She exhaled looking at her hands.
"Freya, do you know that Imrie is the one who is making Kassain's tuxedo?" Mia asked for me when the silence between me and a girl with blue eyes became too uncomfortable.

She had that tiny nose which if you move it wiggled in some cute way. Her skin was a little darker and she had a long scar on her left hand. Somehow it seemed still fresh, but skin almost covered it and the thin line was all it was left.

"You are that girl? I heard suddenly he decided to push back his usual tailors. He said he wanted some changes." She clapped with her hands and smiled.
"We are going to see a Ball," Mia cheered too and hugged us both.

I smiled too thanking I have someone to be with. And Freya could be a nice girl.

*****

As our carriage moved closer and closer to the gate slowly every conversation we lead in it stopped. Two men one Sam and another Oliv looked at us and then outside.

The curtain from the small window moved and we all looked at the remarkable black house, castle better said, in front of us.

It almost looked like it is made from the ashes. I had a feeling if I touch it, it would fall. But the gate in front of it was decorated with black leaves and red roses on in that in this evening looked scary. Maybe that was his intention.

When a carriage stopped, doors opened and I heard all different voices. One was higher, another deeper, some women's, third from a child. People of different ages and dresses walked around, some of them in small groups others alone.

And then there was five of us in our black and green working uniforms. We looked so poor that they avoided us in a big circle.

We looked at each other not sure where to go. But one butler from the house rushed toward us already yelling something to one guard.

The other two men took off the dresses. I had to go into the room of Mrs Darin and give her the dress and then to a special room to put black diamonds.

I exhaled cursing my ideas and my wish to make something beautiful.
"Come, come," he said showing us to get inside.
One by one we entered the house from the back doors and he somehow leads us to our rooms.

"Girls are on the left, boys on the right," he showed us in two different directions and we just stopped.

The entrance lead to the same main hallway and it looked amazing. A big chandelier from the high ceiling made all different shadows in the air. I could smell all the different perfumes and I took a deep inhale. Under my feet, I felt a big red rug with black details. You could move silently but yelling was abnormal. One man, that I knew very well, he was the cause of my mistake, walked toward a butler and whispered something to him.

Uriah Humphries is in front of us. A Young Warrior. The next ruler. Son of Kassian Humphries.

In a simple white shirt that caused us to share a common look and him to notice us. I felt a strange tingling on my skin when I looked at his shoes.
"So these are the tailors?"
He asked the butler.
"Yes, sir." He answered shortly.
"Do as I told you. I will take them to their rooms," He said looking at us. We looked at each other and Oliv said.
"It is okay, sir. We can go by ourselves."
Buttler coughed uncomfortably and turned to leave.
"Yes sir," he just said and disappeared into some hallway.
"Okay, let's go. We can find two rooms, right?"

None of us dared to say anything.

He lead us to some hallways every more decorated than the previous one. He told us something about the building but one question kept turning upside down in my head. Why is he so nice to us? His father practically made me do his suit and his son is giving us a tour. What is happening to him?

"Here, I knew I could get us here," he told us finally stopping at one door. It was written tailors with some elegant handwriting.

"Okay, these are the boys. Oliv and Sam enjoy, girls, follow me,"

He already turned to leave but we all stopped looking at him.
"You must know I will check everyone who came to my house," he shook his head suddenly serious, his strong arms crossed on his chest.

They greeted us and he continued to lead us.
After a few minutes of silence, we were in front of another room with the same handwriting on the doors and we all rushed to get inside.

"Thank you, sir," Mia said and we get inside.
"Imire, I believe we have a fitting in five minutes," he turned to look at his watch, "four actually," he corrected himself.

I froze looking at him. I can not refuse him. He is a ruler, but I did not want to do that now. I hated it.

I took another exhale and coward as I am I said.
"Just to leave my cloth."