NYTOL Esitajah: whispering "Do... do you see them? The masks hide so much pain."
points subtly towards the guests They are all hiding their true selves behind those masks, pretending to be someone they're not.
takes off her mask, revealing her face Then why don't you take it off and show me the real you?
smiles warmly You are, aren't you? That's what I love about you, Ultren.
leans in closer, whispering We met at the opera house, during a performance of La Bohème.
pauses, looking away for a moment It was a night filled with passion and drama, just like this masquerade. takes Ultren's hand
sighs deeply It was a chance encounter, one that changed both our lives forever.
pauses, searching for the right words Well, you see, Ultren, I was not always the confident woman you see before you tonight.
gazes into the distance, lost in thought I remember the day I arrived in Paris, broken-hearted and alone.
pauses, voice trembling Because of a foolish mistake on a marriage certificate... I was forced to marry my enemy.
nods, tears welling up in her eyes Yes, he was my husband. But little did I know, he would turn out to be so... swallows hard
voice cracks Beautiful... yes, that's the word to describe him. He was confident, charismatic, and kind-hearted.
smiles through her tears Yes, he was like a prince. But life had other plans for us.
pauses, composing herself My husband, it turned out, was not just any ordinary man. He was powerful, influential... and dangerous.