It's my party and I'll cry if I want to, cry if I want to.
- Pity Party, Melanie Martinez

It was the night of the masquerade and tons of people had come. Katherine waited nervously in the wings of the castle waiting to be announced.

"Joseph and Mary Pulitzer!"

Everybody clapped as her mother and father stepped out and walked down the stairs.

Her mother looked so regal in her purple dress and crown high on top her head.

"Lucille Pulitzer!"

Lucille came running out blowing kisses much to their mother's disapproval. If anyone loved the attention the most it was Lucille.

"Adam Pulitzer!"

Adam walked out stiffly and waved to the crowd politely before descending down the stairs.

"Katherine Pulitzer!"

Katherine breathes deeply before walking out. She could barely walk in the heels let alone barely breathe in this corset. The masquerade mask was tied too tight around her head giving her a headache. She plastered on the fakest smile she could manage and waved to everyone before curtsying gracefully and descending the stairs.

Her heels made a click clack across the floor as she made her way to the family.

The drinks were passed around and Katherine wrinkled her nose at the champagne that was handed to her. Oh why couldn't it be sparkling cider?

"Let the ball commence!" Joseph yelled raising his glass.

The crowd cheered and everyone took a sip of their drink. Katherine about gagged on her's as the sour liquid made its way down her throat. She quickly put it back on the tray as a butler walked by and walked onto the dance floor looking around nervously.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and saw a man there.

"May I have this dance Your Majesty?"

Katherine grimaced. She didn't want to. She didn't want to at all.

But "A lady must not refuse."

Katherine reluctantly agreed and the older man began to dance with her. He had white hair with a bald spot down the middle. In fact, he almost looked like her father.

"I'm Gerald Smith." He introduced himself.

"Katherine Pulitzer." Katherine smiled as they waltzed to the music.

They spun around and around, Katherine silently begging this dance to end.

"You know, you sure are pretty." He said.

"Oh, thank you."

"I'm very wealthy you know."

"That's nice."

Suddenly another tap on the shoulder interrupted them.

"May I cut in?"

Gerald's face turned dark.

"Fine." He said leaving Katherine.

Katherine turned and grabbed hands with the next man.

"Thanks for that." She said.

"No thanks needed." He said.

"Katherine Pulitzer." She introduced herself.

"Darcy Mellow."

"Didn't we used to go to school together?"

"I believe we did Mrs. Pulitzer."

"Oh please do call me Katherine. Mrs. Pulitzer is my mother."

"Alright Katherine." Darcy smiled.

They waltzed and they waltzed until the song ended and Katherine curtsied as Darcy bowed.

"Mind if I dance?" A voice said.

Katherine turned around to see a man in a blue suit and blue masquerade mask. He had black slicked back hair and dark brown eyes.

"Sure." She said, tired already from the dancing.

The boy held her gently as they began to waltz, Katherine tripping over her heels as he helped hold her up.

"What's your name?" She asked.

A princess does not ask questions! Oi! Stupid!

"Just call me J.K."

"Okay, J.K. I'm Katherine Pulitzer." She said softly.

"Well it's lovely to meet you Katherine." He said.

"You too." Katherine said.

They waltzed for a long time. Until the night ended to be exact. Although many other men wanted to dance with her, they could see that they couldn't take their eyes off eachother.

Finally the last song ended and they bowed to eachother before parting ways.

"Thank you all for coming. I think we have found a suitor for Katherine." Pulitzer announced.

Katherine grimaced. A suitor. Great.

* * *

As the ball was being cleaned by the maids and butlers Katherine was lead into another room to meet with her parents.

"Mother? Father? What is it?" She asked coming in and folding her hands.

"I want you to meet your suitor."

"Oh." She said as her mother shot her a look.

"Katherine," her father said, "Meet the Prince of Manhattan, Jackson Kelly."