The door before her was cracked open. It was a large white door fastened into shining marble.
Cassandra caught her breath as quickly as she could. Her legs were still screaming with pain from the way she had run all the way across the courtyard. The fear of missing the only opportunity she could ever have at making her father look at her with anything close to affection had numbed her senses before but her legs were aching now as she stumbled to the door.
Cassandra smoothed over the red material of her gown. It was gorgeous cerise embroidered with glimmering gold silk. The corset on her chest fitted into her slender body. Her curves peaked slowly from the top, giving her appearance a feminine beauty. Beautiful skirts began from the end of her corset and trailed all the way down to the floor, hiding the delicate shoes she wore on her feet.
Cassandra was beautiful. She had a radiant smile and thick, dark brown hair that cascaded down her back. She would be any father's pride and joy if it were not for the said father's continuance obsession with power and his never-ending ambition.
Cassandra tried to empty her mind of all of her confusing thoughts. The women inside the doors were still laughing and talking among themselves so it was clear that the meeting had not yet started. This was now her chance to slip in and mingle among them before the palace's host appeared.
Pushing open the door slightly with one hand, she walked in.
It was a large room with a high ceiling and several large windows on the opposite wall. Elabarote and heavily, curtains draped around the walls with rich, expensive work on them.
Cassandra closed the door softly behind her and quickly took several steps in. The women within had not noticed her yet.
They were quickly recognizable to Cassandra. About twenty of them stood around with fruit and a drink in their hands as they formed groups of two or three and chatted away. There was nervous energy in the air. Although the girls threw back their heads and laughed and talked to each other in loud voices with exaggerated words, it was clear they were all quite on edge inside. Nervous glances were thrown to a large door at the very end of the room far away from where Cassandra had just entered.
That seemed to be the main entrance to the room and where the girls expected the inviter of this group to emerge from.
Cassandra also sneaked a glance at the large door just in case. No one entered yet but it most definitely was the time for the meeting to commence as per the invitation's instructions.
Looking around, Cassandra caught sight of the face of one of the noble's daughters. Every woman in the room came from only the highest breeding in the kingdom and was dressed in her best.
Their hair was combed until it glowed in the sunlight, and their dresses were the richest that any woman in the kingdom could afford.
Cassandra made her way across the fine room to where a large window stood. Beside it stood three beautiful women chatting together, appearing to not have a care in the world. But the one in the center uttered a rather nervous laugh that Cassandra recognized.
It was her friend Elizabeth Bellet. Elizabeth Bellet was the daughter of a very rich nobleman who had only just received his title and lands. But she was seen as one of the highest families because of the enormous wealth of her father's.
Elizabeth was around Cassandra's age and was extremely awkward around other nobility and social gatherings. She has only just started her etiquette classes and was quite terrified of losing her good reputation around the other women of the judgmental high society.
Cassandra had not been aware that her friend Elizabeth had also received such a highly coveted invitation. It only showed how esteemed her father was.
Cassandra was also sure her friend was about to faint from the pressure of it all.
As Cassandra neared, Elizabeth's eyes caught hers and visible relief showed on Elizabeth's face. Her eyes widened and her nose flared.
Elizabeth cried out, "Cassandra! You have been invited too!"
Cassandra managed to smile at her friend. She knew not to yell so loudly before being introduced to the party and it seemed her friend, Elizabeth needed more etiquette lessons to quell her emotions during such high-stress environments.
The other girls looked annoyed for a moment before their gaze found Cassandra.
"Cassandra," a beautiful blond girl with perfect posture smiled at her graciously, "how are you this evening? I looked around the room for you. If we are all here, you were most likely to be, given you are the grand duke's daughter."
"Charlotte." Cassandra smiled graciously and nodded, feeling a little self-conscious. Charlotte Degreene was one of the most accomplished women in nobility that Cassandra knew of. The woman knew every assigned book and poem by heart. She helped her father's business. Her instrument skills were impeccable, and no hair or garment had ever been out of place when she made her monthly visits to see Cassandra.
"We were just talking about you, actually," said the final lady in Elizabeth's little circle. She had bright red hair swept up into an elegant bun with several curls leaving to encircle her gorgeous oval face. "We knew there was no way you would not have received the invitation with how high up your father is among nobility, Cassandra."
Cassandra smiled and nodded at the redhead as well, "Yes, Phoebe. I received the invitation yesterday. Same as you all, I believe. I was… I was surprised to say the least."
The other two girls nodded trying to keep their own emotions in check before Elizabeth snorted, "I almost died."
The girls burst into giggles, and it took everything in their power to muffle them at the disapproving glances from the others.