NIGHTS OF HALLOW

The day of the grand hallow ball anticipated by everyone finally arrived. Everyone in the kingdom was preparing for the big feast that usually happened once a year.

The people of lower society who were invited were elated to attend the hallow ball that was held at the castle. Every one of them discussed it among themselves.

While the commoners were jubilating and happy to attend the ball that would be a once-in-a-lifetime event for them, the same couldn’t be told about those of high society. They frowned and groaned at the thought of sharing the same space with people who were underneath them. They felt they were dragging their status down by staying near them. But they couldn’t say or disagree with the order of the king.

In the village of Woodbridge, the villagers were all busy trying to look their best so they would appear presentable in the presence of the wealthy men and women who will also be there.

The thought of seeing the wealthy men and women and also about the food that was mentioned in the invitation they would get to eat thrilled them the more as they quickly got ready so they wouldn’t be late or miss out on anything.

As the villagers were getting ready for the hallow ball, the same couldn’t be told about Perdita. She was reluctant in dressing up. As the hallow ball was usually held at night which was stated in the invitation that it would start by 8 pm, she had spent the whole day resting in their home since she didn’t have to go the market as it was the holidays.

Marco feared they would be late and probably miss the royal carriage that would come to carry them to the castle. The time it would take to reach the castle by carriage will be about one and a half hours.

The king had been thoughtful and considerate to provide the villagers who couldn’t afford to buy or hire a carriage that would transport them to the castle one they would use. So if they missed the carriage that would arrive by 6, then they would probably have to hire a local carriage which might be inconvenient since all of them must have been booked.

Perdita was still preparing when they started to hear the sound of moving carriages that had started taking people to the castle. Those impatient people, Perdita sneered in her head.

She took her sweet time in dressing up. Combing her long black hair that reached below her waist, she didn’t bother to style it since her hair was naturally styled by God. Her black hair was curly at the tips and it fell in waves from the back of her head down to the tips. The nice-smelling oil she rubbed on her hair made it glitter under the evening light that slipped in through the open window.

She applied some powder on her face and a little pink liquid to moisten her lips. Done with her making herself more beautiful, she finally stood up to reveal her nice and perfect body shape in her green gown. Her brother had insisted that they will only go to another market in Wallington town to buy her dress since they did not find a suitable dress that fitted her in their village market.

Luckily, they were able to get a beautiful green gown that complimented the green color of her eyes. It was a simple gown with simple designs but that did not make the dress look less attractive on her. The intricate threadwork embroidered on it showed the special workmanship of the tailor.

The gown had a cowl hand and V-neck that showed just the right amount of her cleavage. Perdita admired herself in the mirror as she swirled from side to side to check if her dress was good on all sides.

At the same, Marco walked into Perdita’s room fully dressed in his black attire. Black inner shirt and black coat. His black hair was parted and combed at the side which made it fall over his forehead and covered part of his eyebrows. The rest he combed to the back.

He walked toward his sister who had not noticed him and was still staring at herself in the mirror. ”You’re so beautiful, sister” Marco complimented with a smile on his face.

Perdita equally returned the smile ”So are you, brother. I’m sure with your look, you’re ready to turn the necks of many ladies tonight”

Marco chuckled ”Save that for yourself, sis. Your green eyes are enough to capture the attention of everyone that would come to the ball.”

Perdita laughed at Marco’s words as she looked at herself again in the mirror to fully capture the image of the beautiful woman she was seeing. This was the first time and probably the last time she was going to wear and dress like a wealthy man’s daughter. She smoothened her dress with her hand before they stepped out of her room.

When they came out of their house, they noticed some of the villagers who were all dressed and ready to go to the grand ball they were fortuned to attend.

Almost immediately they stepped out of the house, and the carriage that was arranged to take them to the castle arrived in front of their house.

”The carriage is here, let’s go,” Marco said. The coachman was quick to jump down from his seat and open the door for them. As instructed to all coachmen that would transport people to the castle, they were ordered to treat everyone with respect regardless of their social standing.

Perdita murmured a thank you before entering the carriage with the help of Marco. Once seated inside the carriage, the coachman slapped the horses back to start moving the carriage as they headed to the castle.

Inside the carriage, Perdita noticed how soft the seat of the carriage was compared to the hardwood used to make the local carriage in their village. This one was made with a soft cushion that made one comfortable and the ride to the castle was a smooth one.

Perdita constantly looked out of the window as they neared their destination. She could see a glimpse of the tall castle from afar and some minutes later, they finally arrived at the gates.

The black gates were huge and tall as the castle itself that loomed over them. If not for the lights on the driveway and those that peeked out from many windows of the castle, one would be scared to enter a such big place. The land was vast with many trees and beautiful flowers that made the garden look enchanting in the night light.

Before the carriage could finally make a stop at the entrance of the castle building, Perdita wore her black mask that had soft silver feathers at its edges. She and Marco like several others who arrived with them stepped down from their carriages. The coachmen quickly drove the vehicles away to make way for others that were coming in too.

Perdita clutched her hand and took a deep breath before stepping inside with Marco to celebrate the long-awaited hallow and also enjoy the evening with the others.