@jonathanlee4511

10 months ago

Creative writing part I: The Countess. The Countess sat alone in her carriage, swaying sporadically as it rode over the uneven cobblestone roads. Her coachman was taking a shortcut through the back-alleys as she was late to her event. She knew these roads well, the stench of the brown puddles, the coarseness of the soot-stained buildings, and the hollowed looks of those who wandered these streets were a distant memory of her childhood, but still engrained in her mind. She was one out of a thousand to have escaped the underbelly of the capital, but at what cost. The Countess looked back down at her invitation card. It was smooth and the edges were gilt. Written in ink cursive calligraphy, the invitation read: The esteemed Countess Rosalie von Rhedey is most cordially invited to attend the salon of her Imperial and Royal Highness, the Grand Princess Cecilie. What a world she had now entered. Gone are the days where she had to ration and scavenge the dark alleyways, now she drank champagne and laughed elegantly behind feathered fans in golden ballrooms or silk drawing rooms in front of those who had daggers in their smiles and venom in their eyes. The Countess sighed and looked out the window. She began to see street lights now and electricity from windows. the roads got smoother and more crowded. She could hear laughter and chatter from the pedestrians, now smartly dressed on their evening stroll. She looked out in envy. She would have been perfectly content to be like them. They were not starving and they did not have to deal with the vicious jealousy of others. She had lived the two extremes of wealth, she only wished she could have been in the middle. As she daydreamed, she realised she had arrived at her destination. A line of carriages parked in front of the entrance to Grand Princess Cecilie's vast palace. The Countess' coachman, did the same and helped open the door of the carriage to let his lady out. However, she stayed. The Countess did not move. She wondered if she wanted to be there or change her mind and return home in the safe company of her children. The coachman noticed the hesitance. "Courage Madame," he said, reaching his hand out for her to take. The Countess looked at her coachman. He was middle aged and greying. His face and wrinkles show the hardships he had gone through in his life, yet his eyes were full of encouragement and the fire of life. She smiled, took his hand, and stepped out of the carriage. She inhaled and exhaled and looked up at the palace. It was like a vast greek marble temple with all the light in the world emanating from it. Towards this light, she began to walk towards. As she entered the palace, she felt a shiver down her spine, even though she was still wearing her fur overcoat. The venomous eyes have already began to stare. The footman helped take her jacket off and carry it off to a distant coat room. She wore a stunning silver thread dress, of the latest fashions, that shined under the sparkling chandeliers. The Countess could hear gasps in awe of her choice of clothing. Indeed there were sometimes satisfaction in coming to events like this. She then ascended the steps and down a hall, following the sounds of animated chatter, laughter, and champagne clinking until she entered a brightly lit salon. As she entered she gave her invitation card to the footman at the door who loudly announced her pressence. Silence then descended the salon. A lone spotlight shone over the Countess as she saw every malicious eye turn slowly towards her. The Countess could feel her heart racing and her hand clench her fan. Suddenly, a shriek of excitement shattered the silence, as a young and lively lady came from the adjoining salon. "Rosa!" the lady exclaimed with enthusiasm as she quickly scurried towards the Countess, her hands reaching out to greet her. The Countess smiled, relieved a friend was there to greet her. "It's good to see you Duchess", she said curtseying. "Please, you know you can call me my name, Rosa," the Duchess said, with a smile. The Countess smiled and walked hand in hand with the Duchess towards the doors of the adjoining salon. In there was a smaller more intimate crowd who seemed to gravitate towards one person. Sat on a chez lounge in the middle of the room, surrounded by various admirers was another young lady, dressed in a bright and lively pink. She had pearls cascading down her golden curls and ocean blue eyes that turned to look directly at the Countess. “Rosa, my dear,” the lady said in a sultry and smooth voice, rising from her seat swiftly and glided towards the Countess. “Your highness,” the countess said, deeply curtsying and kissing the ring on the Grand Princess’ hand. “My dear friend, I’m so relieved you have arrived,” the Grand Princess whispered into her ear. “These dandies have become frightfully dull and I needed a wit to keep my senses awake.” “I am always at you beck and call Ceci,” the countess responded. The Grand Princess smiled, and waved over to a footman to bring her a box of cigarets. From the box she plucked two out and lit them both before passing one to the Countess. The Grand Princess took a puff of her cigaret and let the smoke float out of her mouth, to the delight of her admirers that sat at a distance admiring the Grand Princess’ beauty. The Duchess, seeing this, proceeded to shoo the men out of the room, leaving the three ladies alone. “My dear Rosa,” the Grand Princess said, breathing out smoke, “You have to be careful from here on out.” “Why?” The countess said, taking a flute of champagne from a footman’s platter, “is something the matter?” “We hear that Grand Duke is going to be the target of an assassination,” the innocent looking Duchess said. “From whom?” the Countess said, furrowing her brow. “The Captain of the Imperial Guards have informed me that they are doubling the security in Castell for the sake of the Grand Duke’s safety,” the Grand Princess explained. “They have soldiers protecting the boarders of his territories and his residence here in the capital,” the Duchess continued to explained as she fidgeted with her hands. “You may not be able to enter his lands and his residences so easily anymore my dear,” the Grand Princess said, putting her hand on the Countess’ shoulder. The Countess looked down at the intricately designed carpet. She knew that there would come a day where she would be left in the dark by the man she loved, she just wished it had not come so soon. She knew that once he had distanced himself from her, the rest of the aristocratic world was more than ready to pounce on her. But it wasn’t even her own safety that she feared. It was the safety of her children that worried her. Fear soon clouded the Countess’ mind, and she stood silently and motionless as she let the situation settle in her mind Her friends, the only people she could trust amidst the ocean of circling sharks, let her be and waited for her to process in silence. However, amidst the silence of the room, the sound of another guest being announced could be heard. “Announcing the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess von Rhine-Castell have arrived.” The Countess’ ears perked and her friends turned towards her to see what she would do. The Countess hesitated. Should she talk to him? In broad daylight? In the company of those who prayed for her downfall? She put her champagne flute down on the table besides her firmly, and straightened out of her dress and confidently approached the door. The Grand Princess and the Duchess followed closely behind before the three exited the salon together.

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