TW: Contains scenes that could be sensitive to certain readers. Read with caution.

~*~*~

74 Years Later...

Aurelia, First-Born Princess of The City of Gold.

I looked out of the high arched window, at the precise, perfect array of roses far below; their colours too bright and vibrant, scent mingling with the breeze and perfuming the air. Artificial, like everything else that grows around here.

I inhaled deeply, identifying the familiar smells with ease; roses, fresh mint, cut grass and a hint of cinnamon buns. I sighed contentedly. Charlene, my personal cook/babysitter/friend, always seems to know exactly what I want at any given moment. It's uncanny really. And sure enough, there was a knock on the door and a shy maid by the name of Ria stepped in with a plate piled high with the sweet smelling buns.

"Princess, Chef Charlene told me to bring these to you." She said softly, placing the buns on a small table near me. "Thank you Ria." I told her as she turned to the door. I reached out and snatched one up before turning back to the window. This time, my gaze travelled over the castle walls, the quaint, dainty houses and tall, imposing manors, to The Gates.

Marking the very edge of our city, The Gates are only a blurry line on the horizon. But I've seen them up close, and I know that the ten inch thick solid iron barriers shouldn't be called 'Gates' at all. No gate I've ever seen looked like that.
But it's for a good reason.

Many years before I was born, a scientist's weather experiment went horribly wrong. It caused an acid rain to fall, killing millions of people and dangerously affecting the climate.
After that, things just got worse.
Every natural disaster you could think of rolled into one and ravaged what was left of the acid burned earth. We called it the Multi-Quake. Not long after, there was a terrible sickness, born of the toxins in the air and from the earth's core.

Somehow, those who survived built this city. But, over the years, humans being human, they started experimenting again, and successfully invented artificial versions of almost everything. Plants, food, drink. Gold. That's the one we pride ourselves on. The abundance of gold that fills our kingdom.
No one is wanting. No one is poor. No one goes hungry, and everyone has a home.

All in all; it's heaven on a ravished earth.

At least that's what they tell us.
I'm not so sure. I want to see the real things, feel the real breezes, smell the real scents- not some artificial perfection. Real might not be perfect, but that's what makes it beautiful. The simplicity of imperfections. Something no one here seems to understand.

I sighed again, taking another bite of the hot bun and burning my tongue. "Agh." I groaned, half in pain, half in relish. She needs to stop making these buns so good, or my tongue is going to suffer.
A soft knock on the door broke into my thoughts, and my lady's maid, Isabelle, walked in, holding a long black bag over her arm.

My stomach sinks. I know that bag. It's only reserved for special occasions, such as the masked winter ball taking place tonight. It undoubtedly holds the gown I'm going to be donning for the nest few hours. And the heels.
I mentally wince.

"La bonne nouvelle Prrrincessa," she purred, "Good news. Ze drress vor tonight was rready earrly, so I picked it up on ze way herre." She placed the black bag down on the bed with a care reserved for newborns.

I eyed it wearily.
The last winter ball, I was forced to wear a horrendous, ridiculously frilly white gown that was meant to look like snow.
Needless to say, I looked more like a snowman wrapped in lace.
But even I gasped when Isabelle unzipped the bag.

The gown was a deep navy, the colour of the night sky, and looked like one too. Brilliant white and silver diamonds coated the bodice before scattering down the layered skirts. Isabelle took out another package from the bag and opened it before handing it to me.

A delicate silver mask with dark blue diamonds on the tipped edges sat upon the navy velvet.
"Wow," I whispered, my voice awed. "Nico really outdid himself."
He was the city's most famous dressmaker and heartbreaker, though I'm not sure which he's more known for.

It's almost a pity I didn't see him, but knowing how tongue tied I sometimes get, that's probably a good thing.

Isabelle seemed unable to speak, so she just nodded fervently, before heading to the marble bathroom and setting me a bath.

~*~*~

"You look beautiful, Prrrincessa." Isabelle said happily, examining my reflection over my shoulder in the mirror while her talented fingers style my hair in an intricate braid. I look at myself critically.

I had a diamond structured face, light green, almond shaped eyes, high cheekbones, and mid-length, golden-bronze curls.
I suppose I was what was naturally considered pretty, or even attractive, but that only made it more clear that I didn't have my mother's dark hair or eyes; something she seemed to blame me for.

Behind me, Isabelle turned and picked up a small black box off the bed.
She opened it and took out something I couldn't see.

"What's that?" I asked curiously. Instead of replying, she clasped a dazzling diamond necklace around my neck and smiled. "Eet is a gift from your mozzer. She as' requested zat you wear eet tonight."
"Oh." I bite my lip, and as my fingers reached up to toy with the diamond, a memory crossed my mind.

"Look, mommy!" I giggled nervously, showing my beautiful mother my dress. It looked exactly like hers.
"I look like you now!" I exclaimed happily, shoving my thumb in my mouth and sucking it. It was a habit that nothing my mother did could break.
She glanced up sharply, her lips turning down at the corners; the way they always did when she looked at me, and she froze.
"What are you wearing, Aurelia?" She finally asked, her voice soft, almost loving.
I took that as a good sign and was overjoyed; she never used a soft tone with me. With my sister Astra, though, it was different.
"Aunty Gillian sewed it for me when I told her I wanted to look pretty like you, mommy." I said, taking my thumb out of my mouth and smiling widely.
Her expression changed so fast that I could barely register it, and then she was pulling me towards her by my arm.
I cried out when her long nails dug into my skin, but she slapped a hand over my mouth and leaned down to touch her lips to my ear.
"You are hideous. I used to think you were incredibly stupid for thinking that you could ever, EVER, be like me in any way, but now you've confirmed you stupidity. You can dress like me, talk like me, act like me, but you will never be anything more than a mistake. And one you will pay dearly for, just like I did."
She released my arm, stood up, and walked away, leaving me to sink to the floor, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Prrrincessa?" A worried voice broke through the clear memory. "Arre you okay?"
From her worried tone, I realised that actual tears were leaking from my eyes. I harshly wiped them away before straightening and brushing my hands over my dress, pretending to smooth it down.
"Yes Isa, I'm fine. I'm sorry, I just..had a panic attack."

She looked doubtful, but thankfully didn't ask questions as she ran to get me a glass of water and some tissues.

My fingers kept unconsciously returning to the necklace my mother had gifted me. She does it every year, giving me a gorgeous piece of her used jewellery, and while that might seem generous to some, I knew what it implied. That even if I wore her own things, I would never be anything close to her.

I sighed. Unfortunately, she's become such that I desperately hope I don't become anything even distinctly like her.

I startled at a sudden, harsh knock on the door, and Isabelle rushed to open it. A hook nosed man in a dark grey suit and matching mask stepped into the room.
It was Hale, my father's newest advisor, who insisted that he escort me to the ball.

"Hello, Princess Aurelia. You look wonderful." He drawled. Something I wasn't sure was true, coming from him. He permanently seemed under the impression that the most wonderful thing on the face of this acid ravaged earth was himself.

"Thank you, Advisor Hale. I'm so glad you could make it." I lied through my teeth, plastering a smile on my face. He held out his arm which I dutifully took, linking our arms together. "Shall we get going?" He asked rather haughtily. Then again, I suppose he did everything that way.

We walked swiftly from my room and I took a deep breath as we began to descend the stairs.

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