The day before the royal ball was much like any other - though anyone could see the excitement in the air around the poorer areas of the city. This was a great event in the lives of the people, who would otherwise be unable to reach such an event without prohibitive expense. The royal family rarely visited this particular city, due to the distance from the heart of the empire. Tailors and seamstresses were working overtime, while the ladies of the house worked with the maids to prepare the best clothing for the event.

Others saw the ball as an opportunity to be themselves, where the anonymity of the crowd allowed them to express themselves without scrutiny. It wasn’t quite a masquerade ball, where everyone would be wearing masks, but it was just as good.

One such person lived in one of the more well to do part of town, based on her father being one of the lords appointed to a seat in government. The man in question seemed to believe that being appointed to the government of a small city on the outskirts of the empire was his rightful place, and entitled him to a number of privileges. 

Anyone more worldly understood that in the grand scheme of the empire, this was a backwater where most of these people would have no meaningful effect on the empire at large, and never leave the city.

Bug was one of these people, having spent most of her life in the entertainment quarter, where the people had come from much further than the end of the street, and had actually experienced some of what the empire had to offer. There she was accepted, and supported. The different styles of dress, culture, and people were everything she could need and more. They spoke of different places and people, telling wonderful tales of large cities, and different animals they’d seen on their travels.

Being the day before the royal ball, there was much fuss being made over outfits and accessories for the event.

Bug, also known as Lady Catelyn Egbaston, formerly Lord Carten Egbaston delighted in the whirlwind of friendly jibes as her best friends gently ribbed each other on the outrageous outfits they were putting together.

She had spent as little time as possible in the house where she lived, wolfing down breakfast while ignoring her parent’s attempts at conversation. Bidding farewell to her younger brother, she’d made a beeline through the excited groups on the pathways for her favourite haunt.

If she didn’t need her family’s house for storing her clothing, sleeping, eating etc she would happily live in the entertainment quarter.

She sat in a comfortable couch, sipping a delicious glass of juice, comfortable in the knowledge that her wardrobe for the royal ball was safely stowed in the cathedral already. She’d gone to the seamstress without her parents to get something a little more … appropriate, made up. The cathedral was stuffed with different hidey holes, one of which held the secret package of clothing she would be changing into as soon as possible. If it wasn’t socially required that she be dressed as a good little lordling for the arrival of the Egbaston family, she wouldn’t need to have a costume change, but that was the price of living in a society. For the moment, at least.

For the moment, though, she existed in the moment, enjoying the byplay of the characters in the room as they mixed and matched to create the perfect outfit.

That night, after she’d returned to the family house for dinner, Bug went upstairs to practise her look for the royal ball. She fondly thanked her supportive family for showing her how to apply makeup to accentuate her features, and do her own hair. She’d been growing it for just such an occasion as this. Once she was finished, she donned a nice comfy dress, hidden at the back of her wardrobe, and grinned into the mirror.

The girl she saw stood in a dress with ruffles at the shoulders, going down into long sleeves with a cuff. The bodice hugged the waist, going down into a loose skirt with a hem above the ankle, and went swish quite satisfyingly. Practising her shy smile, Bug imagined herself at the ball, catching the eye of another beautiful lady as she went.

After a nice long daydream in which she was swept off her feet by a strong young lady, she stood wistfully and turned to the attic window. Stepping out of the window onto the roof, she lay back on the tiles and held her favourite little statuette. It seemed to be a person hunched slightly, while another person’s head and shoulders emerged from their hunched body reaching for the sky. She had seen it once at the markets, and had kept it ever since. Even though she seemed to recall having lost it at one point, it was always there when she wanted it.

Above her, the stars twinkled together, as the sounds of the night life drifted up to her. As much as she wanted to hold onto this happy moment for longer, the siren call of sleep found her back in her bed, to prepare herself for the morrow.

The day dawned bright, a good sign for the weather this afternoon. Inclement weather meant dirty streets and damage to clothing and shoes. That would have made everybody miserable and prevented her from enjoying walking through the city. Despite her parents resolute belief that she was misguided, she was determined to get through the day without letting them get to her. She had the whole day to herself, and she was going to enjoy it.

She sped through breakfast, not wanting to let the food prepared by the housemaid go to waste, and ignoring her parents attempts at conversation. As soon as she was done, Bug sped out the door to the markets. With the ball so close, those who had the inclination were looking for the perfect accessory, if they hadn’t already found one, while those with more realistic, worldly concerns, hawked their produce, artworks, and foods. It was one of the happier places in the city, with quite a lot of different things to smell, see, and touch.

After enjoying some fresh food, and securing a nice necklace, Bug left the area to take a walk. The walkways were studded with people discussing tonights event, and the rumours around the town. Wearing her new necklace, with a pendant of polished, banded rock, Bug walked past unnoticed. She’d learned a great deal by overhearing gossip on her trips through the city, and with her long hair she was inconspicuous enough to not alarm anyone.

As she went, she thought back to the seamstresses shop where she’d tried on her new suit for the first time, and smiled to herself. It was based on the outfits boys were traditionally required to wear, certainly, but the seamstress had artfully tweaked the design to produce a completely different look. The thoughts buoyed her as she went past a group of ladies giving her dirty looks. That kind of look meant they weren’t the sort of people she’d like to deal with, and had no bearing on her own self worth. Her brother supported her, and her real family had her back. With one hand, she stroked the statuette in her pocket, taking solace in its firm presence.

Spending the remainder of the day in the entertainment quarter, once again filled with the energy and laughter of organising for the event, time flew by.

The royal ball would be held in the Great Cathedral, the only venue considered august enough for the royal family to attend. This was not going to be her first royal ball, no no,she had suffered through a number of them in her short life so far, having to be present for her father’s good image. They had each been tedious and dry, without any excitement. It had been a few years since the last, and this promised to be her happiest experience yet.

The cathedral, in the previous months, had been renovated, adding mirrors for guests and restoring the gilding on the carvings and reliefs. Bug couldn’t wait to put on her best outfit and gaze into the mirrors to take in all of the sights and sounds of the best the city had to offer. She would be able to move around as her true self, free to do as she wished, and talk to who she wished. Once the family had been announced (as people of privilege and authority) she would simply move away from her family to get changed and then go about her business.

Noone would be able to stop her.

The hour of the royal ball saw the entrance of the cathedral packed with attendees, filtering their way in slowly. Carriages came and went, having dropped off their passengers, keeping a section of the road clear. Bug approached in her traditional outfit, with plenty of time to spare. Her family wouldn’t be arriving at opening time, being far too important to show up that early, and she was able to look at the wonderful dresses and hairdos assembled for the event.

The butterflies in her belly were sluggish, at the moment, ready to burst into action at the drop of a hat. The time was nearly upon her.

She saw the family carriage round the corner, and went to the drop off point to meet them. The sun was starting to go down, now, with the lamps having been lit after the sun sank below the level of the cathedral roof, casting its shadow across the road and onto the roofs of the houses across the street.

Stepping out of the carriage, her parents did their best impression of important and influential people with their noses firmly pointed into the air. Her brother sheepishly followed them out of the carriage, and caught sight of bug, his expression brightening.

“How was the ride?” she whispered, falling in behind her parents.

"Oh, it was terrible. They kept looking out the windows judging the people who had to walk to the event of the year.” He grimaced from the secondhand embarrassment. “I haven't worked up the courage to walk to events, yet, but i’m going to one day.”

Bug nodded in commiseration.

“Are you ready to be amazed?” she asked slyly.

They had to keep their game faces on, being in public, but nonetheless, Darin grinned fiercely.

“You betcha!”

The sounds of chatter and merriment hit the group as they came to the big wooden doors at the top of the steps. The four of them entered, two abreast, as was proper, and were announced by the seneschal. It was the reason they had arrived this late. Being announced by the seneschal wouldn’t be worthwhile unless there were a lot of less important people there to hear it, after all.

“Lord and Lady Egbaston, with young Masters Carten and Darin.” came the booming voice.

Bug did her best to ignore the feeling of revulsion that came over her, and appear as the polite young lad her father wished she was.

One day soon she would be announced as the lady she truly was.

Having been announced, she was now able to fade into the crowd of merrymakers. Dresses and jewellry, hairpins and hats, scents and sights. They cascaded over the young Lady Bug as she made her way through the crowd. More than once, she found herself stopping to enjoy an outfit as she sipped a drink. The males in the crowd were much less interesting, wearing black coats, with tails, the differences being found in embroidering, and stitching. Her own outfit, for example, was rather plain, with a set of buttons to set off the colour of her eyes. She passed through the crowd unnoticed, as a young lord who was much too young to be anyone important.

She suddenly caught sight of the performer near the stage, who was conjuring orbs from nowhere and throwing them up in the air in an incredible display of dexterity. Stopping in her tracks, Bug watched the person move through their routine. They were in a skintight outfit, reaching from ankle to wrist, decorated with swirling lines which accentuated their movements. Their face had been painted in a similar style, confounding the senses, with glitter and complementary swirls. It was the most beautiful display of movement and colour she had ever seen.

The performance drew to a close, and with a start, Bug realised she had been staring. Looking around she saw that everyone was looking towards the stage.

The crowd around her exchanged furtive glances and gossip, as she hurried towards the hidey hole she’d stashed her other outfit in. The crown prince would be announced soon, and she didn’t have long before everyone’s attention would be on him.

Some of the rumours being traded attempted to address the reason the crown prince had been held out of the public eye since the princess had gone missing. Why someone would believe that the crown prince had been hidden from the public due to a horrible disfigurement was beyond her. The crown prince would be fawned over no matter what. What was even more unexpected was that some of the gossipers seemed to think the royal family, among others, had the resources to employ someone who could change the bodies of people as they wished. If that was the case, Bug herself was quite interested in learning more about it.

Now was not the time, however, and she made a mental note to make enquiries as soon as possible.

She reached her goal as the trumpets on the stage began to blast. She had selected this particular spot because the walls met at a pillar, which increased the space she had to hide behind. Glancing out from behind the rounded edge of the pillar, she saw that everyone was focussed on getting a first glimpse of the heir to the throne.

Ducking down, she lifted aside the grate on the vent near the floor, and lifted out the package within. Well practised in stripping off as quickly as possible, Bug was soon dressed in her new outfit. She stowed her clothing in the package, replacing it in the vent and out of sight as she heard an intake of breath from the assembled crowd. Standing slowly, she moved out from her hidden spot, and moved back towards the crowd.

The curtains across the stage began to part, and the seneschal stepped through the gap. There was a hint of disappointment, thought it was quickly stifled. Once he had taken up his position on the stage next to the stairs leading down to the floor, the senechal, a balding man with a pair of small spectacles in his breast pocket began.

“Announcing his royal highness, Barnsey of house Orkney.” His declaration, preceded by two thunks of his senechal’s staff on the stage, was met with utter silence.

Bug two was caught up in the pageantry of it all, and watched as the curtains began to open once more, to reveal the Queen and her son walking towards the stage stairs.

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The crowd released their breath all at once, breaking into applause.

Bug joined in half heartedly, unimpressed. She’d seen much more involved outfits from her family at the entertainment quarter. Apart from the expensive looking fabrics and embellishments, it was simply another person dressed in male clothing. She had no interest in securing a man. She did, however, take a good long look at the Queen's beautiful outfit. Her hair was pinned up, piled on her head, with various shiny objects perched upon it. Her face was immaculately made up, with shiny jewellery at her ears and neck. No doubt each separate item was worth a fortune. She stood a head above her son, his head coming up to the puffed shoulders of her dress. The sleeves came down from the shoulders in what looked like silk, with a pattern on it Bug couldn’t quite make out. As the royal party descended the stairs, the skirt kicked nicely out in front, showing the petticoat underneath. It was everything Bug could want in a dress. It was her gaze that captivated everyone who looked upon her. Her force of personality seemed to fill the space around her. Those at the bottom of the stairs took a joint step back as the pair approached the bottom step.

Bug was suitably impressed.

Barnsey seemed bemused, though, all the attention on them while the Queen cast her perceptive eyes about the room. To Bug’s rising concern, the Queen’s eyes briefly met hers, and she winked at her subject.

What had just happened!?

Bug stood paralysed, as Lady Danar craned her neck to look at the Crown Prince. Around them all the onlookers had similar designs, but they were restricted by their fancy dress. It would have been comical to see so many people attempting to maintain their composure while also trying mightily to see the object of their curiosity. Bug was rather preoccupied with what had just happened. Rather than flustered or embarrassed, she was instead attempting to come to grips with two related facts. Firstly, the Queen had caught her eye, and secondly, the Queen had thought Bug was worthy of a wink. What could the Queen of the realm have in common with a well, commoner?

“My Lady Bug,” Lady Danar whispered with concern, “are you alright?”

“Hmm?” Bug shook herself inwardly, loosening her grip on her companion's arm. “I was lost in thought.”

“How??” came the urgent whisper, “The prince is walking through the crowd and you got distracted??”

Bug turned her head to look directly at Lady Danar’s incredulous face.

“I can’t be sure,” she began in an equally urgent whisper, “But I think the Queen actually winked at me!”

Lady Danar lost all semblance of composure and openly gaped at her companion. Having had her composure restored by her new friend’s question, Lady Bug turned and swept through the crowd the way they’d come. Noone paid them any attention, with their focus on the dais, and by the time they had reached the refreshments table, Lady Danar appeared to have regained some composure. Extracting a fan from her person, the lady began to fan herself gently as they hovered at the edge of the crowd. Bug, for her part, took the opportunity to abandon caution and take a selection of sweets onto a serviette. There was a certain inevitability to things concerning royalty. While a part of her was certainly running in circles screaming incoherently, another more rational part of her was simply concerned that there had been some mistake and the Queen had merely thought she was someone else. Her family were nowhere to be seen, and her brother was escorting Lady Tahly closer to the dais. There was no reason that the Queen or anybody in particular would recognise her as the son of Lord Egbaston, or the clothing she was wearing currently.

No, it was best to put it out of her mind, and simply ride out the rest of the evening as best she could.

“Have you tried these, my lady?” she said, a small pastry between her gloved fingers, as she offered it to her companion.

“Pardon?” came the reply. Lady Danar had been lost in thought, looking between the dais, where the Queen and her escort had since left, and Lady Bug herself.

“The pastry - yes. Yes, it is quite the delicacy. We have them often, at home.”

“That sounds delightful. I simply must get the recipe.”

“The recipe? What do you mean?”

“For cooking these myself, what else?”

Her companion was now looking at her closely, so she took her glass in hand and sipped, returning the measuring gaze.

“Have you never sneaked out of the house to cook for yourself over a fire? You’re missing out, certainly.” Lady Bug said airily, enjoying her friend's shocked expression.

It seemed that her new companion had never even considered sneaking out of anything, and this new idea appeared to be wreaking havoc on her composure. Before she could get redder in the face, Lady Bug, doing her best to be a suitable escort, suggested they go back into the fray. This had the dual purpose of allowing her companion to put on her game face, regaining a semblance of composure, and also allowing bug to cast her eyes around and see if she could spot anyone she knew. There were benefits to being on the taller side, certainly, and she was feeling it tonight. They made the dais easily, the crowd having split into different groups of gossip in the meantime.

“... he’s very handsome isn’t he? Why I …”

“... such a small lad, nearly the same as the princess, no?”

“... is so gaudy, why that necklace alone …”

Lady Tahly seemed to be enjoying herself, while Rhett gamely tried to keep up. His escort appeared to be deep in two separate conversations at the same time, while Rhett sipped his drink and listened in.

“I return you to the Lady Tahly, my lady. I must take my leave.”

“A pleasure, my lady.” the beautiful lady responded, “we must have lunch together soon, yes?”

Making her farewells, Bug attracted Rhett’s attention and they left the floor to find an alcove at the edge of the cathedral.

“I’m going to have to leave soon, I think.” she said as they drew closer to the wall.

“Oh, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong, I just need to get some air.” She pressed her hand to her brother’s forearm reassuringly. “I’ll be fine, right?”

He nodded grudgingly.

“See you later sis.”

She offered her hand to him so he could demonstrate his best courtly bow, and she was smiling as she left.

The upper level was a simple staircase away, and the balconies were usually limited to the prominent persons who were attending a performance or a sermon. During this celebration, though, they were mostly empty, as anyone of note was doing their best to get as close to the royal family as they could to catch their eye or ear.

Catching her breath in one of the balconies, Bug let herself droop a little. There was an energy that she found waning the more she waded through the different etiquette levels for different people who she had to rub shoulders with. Even having made herself more comfortable with clothing and face paint didn’t completely remove the issue. She was standing with her glass held loosely in her hand when she heard a noise from behind her. She turned her head away from the scene below her and froze. The Queen herself was standing at the edge of the walkway just out of sight from the floor below. The Queen had definitely noted the effect her arrival had had on her subject, but accepted her greeting graciously.

“Hello, my dear. How are you enjoying the festivities?” She asked in her melodious voice.

“I - “ of all the events she had tried to prepare for, an intimate audience with the actual Queen had not been remotely one of them.

“I note you have done well to align your person with your true self. Perhaps you went to a lot of trouble to appear so, tonight.” The woman’s presence was electric, and Bug was tongue tied.

What was she saying?

“Uh…” 

“Your eloquence does you credit, Lady Bug, but I must request you put in a little more effort so as to seem a good conversation partner.”

“Uh- y-yes, your Majesty.” The joking tone of this august personage knocked something loose from the wool which had clogged up her brain, and the young lady regained some of her composure.

“I appreciate your kind words. I am doing my best.” She bowed slightly to emphasise her words, and also reduce the effect of her blush. Her face paint wasn’t magical and wouldn’t prevent the flush from reaching a discerning eye.

“Quite so. In fact, a lady does not bow, as i’m sure a lady such as yourself is fully aware, but I will excuse it, this time.” The Queen was no longer dressed in her petticoats and wide ballgown skirt. Now she was wearing a much more elegant dress with patterns on the puffed shoulders, and a tight bodice leading into a wonderfully pleated skirt.

“Yes, your majesty, thankyou, your majesty.” The Queen did seem to be making this as easy as possible. But she was still the Queen, and Bug was terrified she might do something to raise her ire.

The fact that she’d sought out her in particular was unsettling, but the memory of the wink earlier was all she had to go on. Her Majesty was now looking at her, her gaze seeing everything, and her words from just a moment ago came back.

“If I may, your majesty, You mentioned my uh, true self?”

As she spoke, Bug could feel her hand start to shake, although by some miracle it wasn't’ the one holding her glass. She attempted to smoothly tuck it behind her back out of sight, though she was sure it had been noted. She was so bad at this.

“Quite so. I have some experience with those who discover they are not possessed of that which they feel is right. And I note that you appear to be one of those.”

She raised an elegantly gloved hand, her conspicuously undecorated fingers warding off any protestation.

“There is a certain helplessness in you that I recognise. My son has a similar issue, you see.”

Catching herself before she could move to the balcony railing and give away her thoughts, Lady Bug did her best to maintain her composure while her mental train of thought completely derailed.

“I see, your majesty.”

“Hmmm” the beautiful lady said as if she did not wish to openly express doubt in the face of such obvious falsehood.

“Walk with me, please.”

With nothing else to do but ride the wake of the most powerful woman in the empire, Lady Bug gathered the shattered remnants of her composure and took the Queens offered arm.

“I wish to introduce the prince to a number of people who are in the same situation, and you present and exciting opportunity for me. I have noted that you are indeed a capable woman, and have gone to great lengths to affirm your own feelings despite those who would otherwise be against it.”

She paused, though whether for a response or for not, Bug remained quiet.

“I believe it would be useful for the both of you to get to know each other, and perhaps take lessons together. I feel your family could be persuaded that such a thing would be in their best interests. What do you think?”

By this time, the pair had moved a quarter of the way around the upper level. Only a few of the balconies were occupied, and those who noticed the queens passage bowed or curtseyed as tradition demanded until she had passed. If they knew she was escorting, they made no sign.

“I believe so, Majesty.”

This could very well be the most exciting and scary thing to ever happen to her.

The Queen made a noise of assent, a smile tugging at her expertly painted lips. They were still walking. Where were they going?

“May I expect you at the castle grounds tomorrow then?”

Bug stopped in her tracks, the Queen appearing to have anticipated her halt, and stopping graciously to turn towards her.

“T-tomorrow?” Bug stuttered helplessly.

“No time like the present, I believe.”

“Uhh, sure, I mean, y-yes your majesty.”

“Well then, that’s settled. You needn’t worry about having your things brought to the grounds, that’s all being taken care of as we speak.”

Feeling swept up by a force of nature, the young lady in an outfit of her own specifications could only ride it out until she was released. The two continued around the upper level, passing several guards standing watch at intervals. Their shiny buttons and weapons looked much more dangerous when the royal person herself was holding onto her arm and she felt like she was about to faint. What if they thought she was dangerous, or a bad person?

“Your majesty, I am feeling a little tired, and I beg your forbearance.” Bug said as politely as she could. “May I retire for the night?”

“Certainly, young Lady Bug. Please give my regards to young Rhett, he is a good boy.”

Mindful of her Majesty’s earlier words regarding etiquette, Bug was careful to curtsey before she beat a hasty retreat to the lower level and relative safety. She left the soiree as soon as she could, shedding her special outfit and stowing it in a safe place before making for the rooftops.

The Lady Catelyn Egbaston’s heart took a long long time to slow its rapid beat.

She took deep breaths as she paced on a flat section of roof used to service chimneys. She had found that the calmness of the rooftops was the best place for her to think, and she really needed to think. The Crown Prince was apparently the same as her, and the Queen herself had asked bug to be his friend. She had even referred to her as “Lady Bug” and not her legal name.

Once she realised that her thoughts were simply swirling unhelpfully, bug sat, and leaned up against the sloping roof. With her underclothes, she was in no danger of getting too cold. The night was calm, with a gentle breeze gently moving the air now and again. The night’s events had taken their toll on her, and she needed a rest. She had med Lady Danar and Lady Tahly, eaten a selection of rich foods and then had a one on one with the most powerful lady in the empire. It was enough to tire anyone out.

She fell asleep, up on the rooftops, and felt the happiest she’d felt in a long long time.