Aysha strolled out of the room, her head held up high and proud. Craytia had been waiting at the bottom of the stairs. She had a blue ball gown-like dress, a silver jeweled belt on her waist, and high heeled shoes that looked painful. Her brown hair was pinned back in an elegant bun. The lipgloss on her lips shone and gave her lips a plump look.

Aysha walked down the stairs gracefully to meet Craytia. The butler was standing at the front door, slightly bowed, waiting for them to leave.

Craytia gave her a bright smile. "Well, aren't you beautiful?" She put her arm out and Aysha put her arm in Craytia's.

Aysha stayed quiet. A single action of hers could easily give away everything she planned to do. They walked out together. The butler opened the doors for them before entering the driver's seat and starting the car. It was a long and slow drive to the party. Aysha recounted all the things she needed to do. If possible, she needed to find the old man from before against Craytia's wishes. Afterward, she needed to pretend that she was interested in working with him and silently figure out her own plan to kill Craytia. Everything had to go exactly according to the plan. She still needed to figure out what Craytia and strange woman meant when they were talking about her. It still worried her that they wanted to use her for something.

"We're here, madams," the butler said interrupting the tense silence between Aysha and Craytia.

They exited the limo to see multiple cars behind them with exiting nobles. They were all dressed in formal clothes and had the same air of wealth and power as Craytia. They were standing in front of a huge mansion that was a similar size to Craytia's. There was a stone path in the middle of the perfectly trimmed lawn. Aysha and Craytia walked down it with other nobles in front and behind them.

They walked into to see a similar setting to that of the previous party they had been to. This time around there were small circular tables with two to three chairs seated around the table in the back of the room. Each table had a plate, cutlery, and a wine glass. There was a long table with different types of food and bottles of wine. Classical music was being played. It was loud enough to be heard, but soft enough to not disrupt any conversations.

Aysha and Craytia took a seat at one of the tables. A few other nobles did the same while some relegated to the middle of the room, mingling with each other.

Aysha's eyes searched the crowd eagerly for the old man. She found him sitting in the corner with a woman who looked to be about his age. They both had similar golden bands on their ring fingers. They were speaking to each other with warm smiles and raised brows.

He's married? Aysha thought. She hadn't been expecting that. Most nobles didn't get married and even if they did, it never lasted for long. It was the feeling of having all the power to yourself that drove them to stay alone. Being with someone meant that you would have to share that feeling of power with them, which meant that you in turn would have less.

Aysha crossed one leg over the other and observed everyone. The way they let themselves go through this high to ignore everything else. The amount of blood they must've gotten on their hands to have come this far. Did they ever feel any guilt or remorse? Or were they numb to everything?

When the woman had gotten up to go talk with the other nobles, Aysha caught his eye and walked toward his table. She sat down and he gave her a smile. "I'm glad that you decided to take this opportunity-"

"Let me make something clear," Aysha cut the man off. She wasn't here to work with him, at least not directly. She needed to pretend. If everyone here could pretend, then so could she.

"We can't seem like accomplices, and I already have a plan in place," She said.

He raised a brow at her. "Is that so?"

Aysha nodded, but couldn't reply as a resounding gasp went through the crowd. Craytia had her fists clenched at her sides. Her eyes were narrowed, her attention solely focused on a woman that looked a lot like her. The woman's hair was the same brown as Craytia's. It was in a tight bun with streaks of gray hairs. Her green eyes were colder and sharper than Craytia's had ever been.

Craytia stepped forward toward the mother with pursed lips. "I wasn't expecting you, mother."

Unfortunately for Aysha, Craytia's mother wasn't paying attention to her daughter. Her gaze had landed on Aysha.