The carriage ride to the Duke's estate was quiet.
Kai adjusted the stiff collar of his stolen charcoal coat, making sure the silver half-mask sat securely over his eyes.
Beside him, Eevy smoothed out the wrinkles in the skirts of her green silk dress.
They stepped out onto the driveway and joined the steady flow of wealthy guests heading toward the grand entrance.
Music played out from the open balcony doors.
The evening air carried the rich scent of meats and sweet wine, drowning out the stench of the outer slums they had walked through earlier.
'It is almost funny how ignorant these people choose to be,' Kai thought, looking at the laughing aristocrats lining the walkway.
'There is an army of monsters marching toward their borders, and they are only worried about stepping on each other's expensive shoes.'
They handed their forged invitations to the guard at the door and walked into the main ballroom.
