The white van slowly drove to the asphalt streets. A crowd of reporters and journalists were already standing on the side with their notes, pens, and cameras out. Every one of them came out not to play around. Today was the Royal Court Masquerade, a ball in which only a few lucky people could attend by being personally handed an invitation letter. The rest of the guests, who didn't need to be given invitation cards, were of course, those of who belonged to the royal ancestries and relatives.

Several vans like the one Ran Xueyi was in lined up in front of the tall, metal gate that spread from one end to another. If one were to closely observe it, you wouldn't be able to find where the entire palace would start and end.

"Call me if anything happens. You will be staying in the Palace for a few days so be careful." The palace was already isolated from the outside world, only those who were given permission could stroll around as they wanted. Jian Yiling was worried that something would happen inside and she couldn't go inside when it happened.

Ran Xueyi withdrew her gaze from the crowd and turned to look at her instead. "I know. I'm not foolish enough to offend anyone inside the palace. So, you don't have to worry about me so much."

The true purpose of her attending the ball was to make connections as well as to find out the identity of the person who sent the card to her.

It would be detrimental if she ended up achieving neither and also offend someone inside the party. Ran Xueyi already knew this and didn't think she'd be stupid enough to do that too.

Fortunately, she could look around without exposing her identity for the first night of the Royal Court Masquerade since everyone has to wear their own masks and special attire.

"Make sure to call me, okay?"

"I will. Take care of Xiao Zhanzhan while I'm not there."

"Of course!"

The car soon stopped before the iron gates. Two guards wearing a specialized uniform stepped forward and knocked on the window.

Jian Yiling pulled down the window and showed the invitation card before pointing behind her, where Ran Xueyi was sitting.

The guards who checked that this was indeed an invited guest, slowly nodded their heads before making an okay gesture to the one pulling the gates open. The car drove past the iron gate and the guards as well as the crowds gathered outside. Nobody knew that a certain popular international actress was invited and entered the royal palace as a dignified guest.

If the world found out.. it would make headlines and stay in the hot topic for several weeks for people to talk about.

"This is where we part. Make sure to take care of yourself," Jian Yiling repeatedly told her like a worried hen towards its chick.

Ran Xueyi leaned forward to give the other a kiss on the cheek before she waited for another guard to pull the car door open.

A white, creamy castle that stood in the middle of the grounds looked herculian compared to the castles that Ran Xueyi had been to while filming in some movies. They couldn't even compare to how beautiful and grand the castle appeared. Ivy, roses, and trees of varying names and kinds surrounded the white castle like walls. The rolling greens and forests were too wide that she barely saw the distant line where it ended.

Stifling a gasp, Ran Xueyi was led inside the castle, led by a woman in a maid frilly uniform.

"Welcome to the Palace of Rosa, milady," the maid said as she gestured for Ran Xueyi to follow her inside.

Palace of Roses.. No wonder the surrounding area was too colorful and smelled like flowers. The palace was precisely bathing in roses.

As much as Ran Xueyi wanted to admire the sceneries, the statues, paintings, and other furnishings with prices she might never find out, she had to calm down first and start acting like she was no less than any other guests invited to the ball.

However, even if she wanted to continue her nonchalance, she still feel a bit overwhelmed. After all, after entering the castle, the outside world became a blur. The world inside the palace had a perfect resemblance of what everyone would call – fantasy world.

As Ran Xueyi was led to her room, where she would be resting for a short time while waiting for other guests to arrive, inside a room filled with small television screens that showed the scenes that appeared in different places, several people wearing masks, sat in couches and held a goblet with wine inside.

"Another lovely butterfly entered the spider's web. Brother Francisco, which one do you think will be able to resist not staying in the palace?" a young lady wearing a grand dress with pale skin, said with delight and curiosity.

She turned to look at the man sitting beside her.

However, the man didn't look like he heard her words. His eyes were focused on the screen that showed a long corridor where two figures walked through it.

The young lady furrowed her perfectly trimmed brows, annoyed after being ignored. She wanted to complain to the other man sitting on her other side, but that man was also looking at the screens.

But it wasn't only her brothers who seemed to be enchanted by something in front of them. Each man faced the screens and was looking at one particular screen.

The young lady followed their gaze and found a woman wearing a golden mini dress and golden halo crown. A maid seemed to be leading her to her room.

Gritting her teeth, the princess glared at the screen for a second before turning to look at the seat behind them where lights coming from the screens barely illuminated the masked man sitting there.

Unlike the other men inside that room, the masked man didn't even glance at the screens. He swirled the red wine in his glass as if nothing could interest him at all.

Sighing in relief, Princess Lydia smiled contentedly when she saw this. Thankfully, this man was not interested in admiring that beauty.

Just as Princess Lydia turned around with a smile, the masked man finally looked up.

A thin, devious smile appeared in his lips before it disappeared quickly.

..

Ran Xueyi did not know how the order of the ball would be arranged. The maid told her to wait inside her room, a spacious and beautiful room, which has a touch of modern interior designs.

Looking around the room, Ran Xueyi was glad that it still has some modern touch in it. She would have already assumed that she entered another world had it not appeared.

"Ha.. I'm bored."

Ran Xueyi looked at the golden clock hung up in the wall. The card said that the ball would start at 9 in the evening but it was already past nine-thirty. This could only mean that the ball would officially start at around ten o'clock whether the last few guests arrived or not.

Since she had nothing to do and even if she does, her movements could be limited by her dress, Ran Xueyi explored the room.

Soon, time passed quickly and the clock's hand pointed at ten o'clock.

– Knock, knock..

Ran Xueyi slowly approached the door and turned the knob. The white door slowly opened and revealed the young maid from earlier behind it.

"Has everyone arrived?" Ran Xueyi asked.

The young maid shook her head, "There are two guests who didn't make it. The guards already closed the gates."

Ran Xueyi nodded her head. As she had already expected.

That means only 18 guests made it to the ball.

Well, it didn't matter to her anyway.

"Let's go," the maid uttered.

Ran Xueyi nodded and followed her to the banquet hall.

As she walked along the maid, two men wearing masks and elegant suits stood in the corridor. As soon as they heard their voices, the men turned to the side to glance their way.

Ran Xueyi merely greeted them with a nod when she passed them after seeing the maid bow respectfully towards them while calling them 'Your Highness'.

Ran Xueyi did not need any introductions. She could already guess which one is the prince from the two.

Prince Francisco, still wearing a mask, flashed her a bright and harmless smile.

"Are you leading her to where the ball is?"

The maid nodded and affirmed it.

"A coincidence then.. We were also planning to go there." Prince Francisco still had a soft smile on his lips, but his eyes leered at the woman behind the maid, wearing a golden dress and looked like a real goddess.

The man beside him also shared the same expression on his face.

"Since everyone's heading there, why don't I lead the way instead of this little maid? I know my way here since I lived in the palace for a long time so we will never get lost," Prince Francisco suggested with his tone having finality in it.

Ran Xueyi frowned at his words as she was about to refuse his offer.historical

Just as she was about to open her soft lips to speak, rich sounds of footsteps, slowly and calmly approaching, came from behind her..