It was the night of the Royal Ball, a time of unmeasured dreams and decadent opulence where all the rich people of the kingdom and surrounding areas as well as those who desperately thrived off appearances could live out their power fantasies to the max in a world of their own, a bubble of garish fireworks and loud orchestral music. Once inside it, it was even easier than usual to forget there were real men and women with real problems beyond its boundaries, either starving or crying themselves to sleep so they could have their moments of foul glory.

It was also the time for gossip. No matter how much anyone tried to stop them, these massive festivities were always ripe for scandals and inappropriate behaviors, and sharing them either through veiled whispers or downright overt shouting was like having one hundred orgasms simultaneously or more.

The guests started arriving at the palace between two and three hours before the main event, lines of silver and golden carriages driving at snail’s pace across a multitude of prying eyes. Upon arrival, it was up to two Heralds of Arms, clad in red and black tabards to announce each arrival as if they were the most important people to have ever lived, their loud, thundering voices dripping undeniable solemnity:

“The Duke of Ellenmead and his wife, Duchess Mephista.”

“Rachael, Lady of Blackwater Ridge, and her son, Alfred.”

“Her Royal Majesty, King Charles IV, Her Royal Highness, Princess Camilla of England, and their entourage.”

One by one, they all got introduced with applause and aplomb, illustrious visitors enamored by the echo of their own names. As expected of them, the Heralds treated everyone with respect, even those they hated with every fiber of their being, case in point:

“The Lady Tatiana and her daughters, Prudence and Drusilla.”

Tatiana stepped down from her carriage wearing a floor-length black dress made of sequins netting, tulle, and satin lining. It sported a corset with boning, a deep V-neckline, and a thigh-high slit, that was sure to leave no one indifferent no matter what. Even though it was supposed to be their night, both daughter’s attires, similar designs but in more vibrant colors, were obfuscated by their mother’s presence. However, what really made their jaws drop was the size of the castle towering over them as they approached the main gate.

“Oh, my God! It’s even bigger than I imagined.” Prudence gasped.

“Is this happening? Are we really here?” Drusilla felt her knees buckle with each step forward.

“Get a grip, girls!” Tatiana growled. “Now is not the time for you to gawk and marvel as if you don’t belong here. You do. This is where we’re all meant to be. Play your cards right and our family will be set for life after tonight.”

“I’m not sure I can, mother.” Prudence held on to her sister’s right arm. “This is so...”

“This is normal. There’s nothing out of the ordinary about this and the sooner you get this inside your heads the better, so listen carefully: If you ruin everything I’ve worked for, I swear you’ll regret it! Now, fix that posture, straighten your shoulders, look alive and smile, for you have seen nothing yet!”

She was right. The corridor before them with its gorgeous tapestries and candle bouquets that appeared to be floating was just an appetizer for the main hall, lavishly decorated with thousands of freshly cut flowers, crystal ornaments, and more precious stones any mortal had ever laid eyes on. No expense had been spared, and if money ever became a problem, there were always more taxes waiting to be approved.

“Go mingle, girls. I have some businesses to attend to.”

Mistress Tatiana left her descendants to their designs and roamed the hall until she found who she was looking for. Despite having arrived only half an hour earlier, The Count of Montparnasse had already had three lively “conversations” with glasses of red wine and was on his way to the fourth. At the moment, he stood alone by one of the many variegated marble columns sustaining the hall. For the momentous occasion, he had chosen his best platinum curly wig. In his right hand, he held a small tray with cheese and shrimp delicacies.

“Good evening, Count. I don’t see the lovely Princess Ana anywhere so I take it you did as you were told.” Mistress Tatiana whispered in his ear.

“I...” he choked on a bit of shellfish.

“Yes or no?”

“Yes, Mistress. The Princess is indisposed at the moment, and I already informed His Majesty of the... hmmm... unfortunate accident that befell her on her way here.”

“That’s a good bitch. What was it? What did you use to get her out of my way?”

“Chocolate, Mistress. Everyone in the Spanish Court knows the Princess has always had a severe case of sweet tooth. A bit too much and her poor skin... well...”

“Splendid! How I would have loved to see it happen. You did well, Count. When you’re alone in your chambers, I give you permission to jerk off to a painting of me but if you don’t cum in three minutes, you can only have another go next month.”

“Can I please do it now, Mistress?” He begged, his nose red and puffy like a reindeer from another myth.

“In public? Are you so keen on living dangerously?”

“If you come a little closer, I’m sure no one will notice.” The count finished drinking his last glass of wine and kicked it away.

“No! You’ll not make a scene tonight and if you insist, your masturbation privileges will be revoked, effective immediately.”

“As you wish, Mistress,” he returned to his hors d’oeuvres, munching on the cheese bits as if they were the last meal of a condemned man. His weary eyes roved past the game of transparencies in her dress and focused on the two offspring, who were now chit-chatting with two other women next to the eastern staircase. “They seem to be slowly finding their footing,” he said.

“I hope so. They’re still idiots but they’re all I have to work with...” Tatiana scoffed. “Any other threats I should know?”

“I don’t think so. Like I told you, Princess Camilla shouldn’t be much of a hassle.” He pointed at the British noblewoman and her long legs.

“I can see that, but you’re right: she does have great hips. Perhaps, I should get to know her just in case...”

“Good luck, Mistress.” The Count bid his farewell, vanishing into the nearest exit. All the servants that watched him go wondered why all the rush, but the answer was obvious: why wait to return to his chambers when the palace had hundreds of unused rooms and bathrooms that could use a bit of self-gratification? No one would ever know... except his cock.

* * *

Meanwhile, both heralds stationed outside the palace were at a loss how to properly announce the black-panther riding Lady that had just appeared. She looked ravishing in her satin blue dress, crystal heel boots, and a Venetian-style mask covering her face. Multicolored highlights ran through her braided hair. “Skinny” purred gently as she patted him on the head. In silence, she waited for the two men to recover the ability to speak:

“The Lady... hmmm... The Lady...” they mumbled in unison.

“Sin.” Ellen smiled. “You may call me Lady Sin.”

“The Lady Sin and her... unusual mount.”

“You can say that again. Don’t worry, he doesn’t bite unless I tell him to. At least, I think he doesn’t.”

“Skinny” eyed the two men from top to bottom, slick tongue threatening to defy his owner’s orders but ultimately controlling itself. The proud beast wouldn’t say no to a bowl of fresh water, though.

“If you could get him some, I’d be much obliged, thank you.”

“You’re... welcome?” Both heralds trembled as the unexpected guest left her companion behind and headed to the castle. Hovering beside her, invisible to everyone else, Cinderella asked:

“Nervous?”

“A bit, yes, but I think I’m ready.”

“They certainly weren’t.”

“Is Skinny going to be alright on his own out here?”

“I’ll take care of him while you’re at the ball. What do you think of the palace? It’s the first time you’ve ever been this close to it, isn’t it?”

“Other than my dreams, yes. Why is it so big?”

“Good question. Some people will say the King is compensating...”

“Compensating for what?”

“Oh, dear,” Cinderella giggled. “for someone who just called herself Sin, you’re still way too innocent for your own taste but that will change, soon.”

“I don’t know what you mean by that, but okay. Was the castle this big in your reality, too?”

“Actually, I think it was even bigger, but it’s been so long and I’ve been to so many places since then, I don’t even know for sure.” 

“How many worlds have you visited since you became what you are today?”

“I’ve lost count and yet I feel like I only scratched the surface of what’s out there to uncover. However, so far, this is the closest I’ve ever felt to home.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You do. I can’t get enough of saying it, but you’re truly special, Ellen. I feel a connection with you that’s different from anything else I’ve ever experienced with others I’ve helped throughout the years. I know this sounds strange to hear, and it’s even stranger for me to say it but it’s almost as if you’re my daughter.”

“Please, don’t make me blush.”

“I’m sorry if I embarrassed you just now, but I needed to say it. I hope this doesn’t make you feel more pressured or anything.”

“Oh, no... of course not! Why would it?”

“Lying is not your forte dear, though that’s also another thing you’ll learn in time.”

“I don’t want to lie.”

“No good person wants it and yet, sometimes, they must. There’s a thin line between useful and evil deception. You just need to understand what it is.”

Ellen looked around to see if anyone was observing her and then chuckled:

“I understand I should probably stop talking to myself right now otherwise people will think I’m crazy.”

“Good point. Reach me with your mind if you need anything. I’ll be around.”

Cinderella vanished into the space between dimensions as her new protege finally made it inside the dance hall. With a steady pace and newfound resolve, she absorbed the overwhelming luxury all around.

Almost immediately, the gossipers who had been quiet until that point flocked to one another, murmuring between teeth:

“Who’s that?”

“Now, that’s a fabulous dress!”

“What’s up with that strange mask?”

Indifferent to the gathering, Ellen quietly took in all that the Royal Palace offered. It was so much better than her dreams and also a thousand times worse, with too much exaggeration and needless, self-indulgent displays waiting in every corner. 

On the right side of the hall, laid one hundred tables with more than enough food to feed a small army for a month or more. There was venison, ham, ten different types of sausages, small fruit baskets filled with spiky, exotic flavors, a cornucopia of wine, one of fruit punch, and another of mead. There was also bread with caramelized onions and goat cheese, fig tartines, stuffed peppers, sweet-and-sour pork skewers with pineapple, smoked salmon with avocado sauce salsa and prawns, and more, so much more... a feast beyond her wildest dreams, half of which was sure to go to waste instead of being used to feed the poor in the palace’s vicinity. Ellen’s fists clenched as she realized just how deep the injustice ran in the upper echelons of society and darted away from the tables to the other side of the room.

On the left, sat the chamber orchestra, forty-give gifted men and women who lived for the splendors of music more than anything else. She only recognized a handful of instruments on display such as trumpets, horns, a glockenspiel, and a harpsichord, but admired the craftsmanship of the others and the smiles of those holding them. The bombastic riffs were perhaps a bit too much for her delicate ears and yet felt pure, a living embodiment of something greater than the foolishness of humankind. She stopped for a moment to appreciate the harmonic undertones, never taking them for granted, the only person in the room not to do so. She was so lost in the moment she didn’t notice the dozens of ravenous eyes fixated on her, the most dangerous ones being those of her “mother” who had instinctively sensed a new peril for her schemes.

She was about ready to approach her from behind when the royal fanfare played, signaling the arrival of the two most powerful men in the kingdom. 

The King and the Prince were in the room.