Opulence is a funny concept for those familiar with it. In small doses it shows wealth, power and prosperity of those who indulge themselves in it, but like most things, too much of anything corrupts everything. In the case of opulence indulging too much can corrupt the message one wants to send until all that is left is a feeling of poverty, weakness and decadence.

For example, some gold finish and some statues of yourself and your ancestors is a decent show of power and a clear sign of pulence. However, making those statues out of solid gold and ten times as tall as the one they represent is just a bit too much in my opinion, especially when each statue has their own room  with portraits of the person in question throughout their lives.

Yes, the very thing that can showcase your wealth and power when taken to the extreme can also send the opposite impression.  Funny how life goes but that’s what makes life interesting.

Where would the fun be if everything in life was as it first looked ? All would be predictable, everything would go as expected, from the perspective of those with most knowledge at least, and where would be the fun of that?

That’s why I am moving around in search of my prey instead of waiting on the side of the ballroom for when a noble does something stupid. I have a plan, and  waiting on the sidelines is not part of it.

Making and executing a plan is like cooking a steak, the planning and execution are the same, whether it be intrigue or cooking. The amateurs will try to follow the recipe to perfection and despair when the cruel reality shatters their illusions of success while the masters will know how to adapt to reality and make the most of substandard ingredients. That’s why I’m a master, I don’t just follow a ’recipe’ but adapt to it, the adversity of life being the best stepping stone one could hope for in order to advance further in their goals.

That’s why I’m risking my job, my livelihood and possibly my very future in the Imperial Palace to deliver a most important object.

What could be so important, so precious that I would risk what is possibly the best-paid job, a lowly maid like me could have? It is mightily important, I’ll have you know, despite its small size.

I walked through the well-lit ballroom the package carefully held in my hand, making sure that nobody ,ould see it, as I moved on the edges of the room, where none of the decadently dressed nobles would even bother to look at me.

The room was beautifully decorated, with golden chandeliers holding golden lights on the ceiling. illuminating the room, red and gold walls depicting beautiful scenery painted, as one might guess in gold. I didn’t look up any further, to try and look for the color of the ceiling itself, as the light of the chandeliers Mage Lights made that a futile endeavour ,but one can rest assured that it too contained Gold. Yes, even the pair of stairs seemed to be made from the garish metal. The only thing in the room that was gold-free  was the floor, but that was because the red carpets covering the floor were probably worth more than their weight in gold.

‘That’s gonna be a bitch to clean.’ I shuddered as I saw a noble dressed in blue and white spill his strange wine, his blue drink staining the already dirty carpet as he heard the joke of another noble  in similar dress

Well if today went well then cleaning that won’t be my problem for much longer, and if it doesn't work, then in the worst case scenario it won’t be my problem either. So, nothing lost either way!

Well nothing lost except my 7000 frak a month salary, but who cares about that? You can’t live off money alone, and it isn’t like there aren’t other jobs I could take, even if the next-best paid job which isn’t 'being a high class consort' sits at around 4000 frak, but who cares about that? Not this young woman, no sir, because I’ve got a plan.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

I tried to look for my target and, despite the golden light’s best attempts at burning my eyes until they turned into charcoal, I continued  searching for the strange black hair of the one I’ll deliver my package to.

One would think that finding the one black-haired being in the room would be easy, especially among the eye killing atrocity to all that a rainbow should be but wasn’t, due to  the thrice damned gold. Finding a person among hundreds is hard, especially when the one in question is probably trying to remain unseen, but papa did not raise a quitter, so I continued to trudge along even as I felt my eyes beginning to bleed.

' It doesn't matter, the pain will only make victory that much sweeter.'

As I continued my search the music started to play and I couldn't help but thank the Red Moon that the melody was bearable. It also made my search so much easier, as now whoever sa not listening or actively trying to hide themselves would  stand out to those searching for them.

A white cap, which looked more like a fart bag If I was honest, stood out from all others as I looked around. My target always tries to hide his hair, as if there was a reason to be ashamed of it but  all it did right now was making my job infinitely more difficult. It wasn’t like anyone was likely to forget how he looked like just because he dressed in white but the white color was so common here that, if it were to miraculously snow in the ballroom, half of those present would not be distinguishable from the snow covered room.

‘Thought you could escape me little prince?’ I licked my lips in anticipation. Truly hunting was as fun as father said.

I should probably have listened to him and gone into hunting but no way am I spending my days hunting in the cold and the mud. This young woman will spend her days in places where there is plenty of light, warmth and a distinct lack of anything trying to murder her in her sleep.

‘I am a woman of class and a healthy sense of self-esteem, so if something wants to kill me they should come where it’s nice and warm, much nicer for all involved after all.’

It took some effort to sneak near him because there is an art to walking. There is a specific walk for not being disturbed, one for being intimidating, as well as a thousand other walks for whatever needs one might have.

The one I used right now is a personal combination of ‘Diligent Servant’ and ‘Do not talk to me’. It’s a particularly hard one in fact ,as it requires me to make myself unseen, unremarkable and unapproachable, not an easy thing at all but, I being myself ,can still do it…hopefully…

‘Eyes up front but slightly downcast, a stiff posture and measured steps’ I closed in on the prince who had secluded himself in one of the nine corners of the room.

He was away from everybody, which made my mission both more difficult and easier at the same time. On one hand, there’ll be less nobles to interfere, on the other hand there were less bodies to hide myself behind so as to not spook him or one of the guards or other servants who might suddenly decide to notice me.

‚It doesn’t matter.’ I almost bit my lips until they bled as I approached.

Ten meters, still undetected.

Five meters, undetected.

Four meters.’ He’s spotted me! ‘

Two meters, he’s preparing to scream. ‘So close!’

I placed my index finger on his mouth before he could make a word and whispered.

“Let’s not make this more difficult than it has to Your Highness.” Mischievous green eyes met dull black.

I pushed the package into his hand before he could respond. ‘Sweet Victory.’ I beamed with satisfaction.

I could feel him growing resigned, his dull black eyes growing duller and his body going slack, as if resigned to his fate, before widening as he received the ‘package and I closed his hand gently around it, not hard enough to deform it and not so light  he would drop it.

“Go somewhere remote and enjoy your gift Your Highness.” My whispers tickled the young boy’s ears as I lowered myself to his height.

“It’s not fair that only one twin gets to enjoy the cake, after all.” His answer was a barely contained stammering and his eyes widened even further, the previously dull black now full of energy and confusion.

‘Mission Accomplished!’ I thought smugly.

Now what should Illyria Claret, young maid extraordinaire do?

Tomorrow those very expensive carpets will need to be cleaned, and only those on punishment duty will be ordered to do it. Hopefully I’ll be able to wiggle out of it lest I work on the damn things until my soul finally decides to give up on living.

‘Meh, I’ll find a way, I’m me after all!’