Ch. 2 Not What She Asked For
The ball began the moment the sun went down and the moon came up. Guests of all classes filed into the large ball room hoping to get a glimpse of the prince. Young maidens 18 and older were what the king and queen were seeking for their youngest son and were determinded to find one. It was tradition for child of the royal famiy to have a ball and on the last day declare who they are to wed.
It was a stupid tradition. That was Benny's opinion. As the prince he had no choice but adhere to his parents' wishes. When he complained the first day of planning of his birthday ball, he had argued Collins had thought it unnessisary as well. They countered him with the reminder his brother was happy in the end when he had found Angel. "Who knows," his sister-in-law said to him after breakfast, "maybe your true love will show up too." But what did he care about true love? There was no need for him to get married besides image. His brother would inherit the throne not him.
Currently Prince Benny sat on his throne beside an empty seat; Collins was nowhere to be found. His father, who sat a seat away, waved it off as nothing. His mother sat at her husband's right side, as usual, and beside Angel who was ecstatic for the ball to begin. He watched as his mother stood to proclaim the ball to officially commence. A line of girls stood below the steps awaiting their dance. His mother gave him a look that told him to start as well.
Prince Benny stood and walked down to the first woman. She was blonde, as most of them were, in a large pink dress. Nothing he was really attracted to but he knew his duty. With a charming smile, he extended his hand and they moved to the dance floor. The first song was a light, bright tune that involved no time for conversation. After a few moments, the rest of the guests joined them in the dance. It was going to be a long night.
Many girls later, Benny decided to take a break. "You have my word, as a prince, that I will return and dance with the rest of you," he told the girls who gave a sound to show their disappointment. Their faces quickly turned to happiness once again. When he had reached the punch bowl, tossing back a cup, Benny turned to glare at the source of laughter.
Mark, the trusted steward, couldn't help but laugh at Prince Benny. As loyal servent, he was aware the prince wasn't enjoying his own party, to which he sympathized with him. As a friend, however, the look of clear annoyance made it difficult not to make fun of.
"Sorry, your highness," Mark said failing to cover his laughing with a cough. "I just couldn't help but notice that you...seem relieved."
Prince Benny smiled at his friend, offering him a cup of punch of his own."You could say that. See any one interessting here?"
"For you or for me?" Mark asked sheepishly accepting the drink.
"Has someone caught your eye, Mark?" Benny asked with a raised eyebrow.
The prince's question made Mark almost choke on his drink. "O-of course not. This is about you. And no...to both, I suppose."
It was now Benny's turn to laugh. It was always amusing to make Mark turn red. Patting the blonde man on the back, he said "I'm only jesting, Mark. Although, I must say that's disappointing in both cases."
Looking through the crowd, Benny saw his other friend approching them. Sir Davis, or as Mark and Benny called him, "Roger, knight of the assholes."
Roger scowled at the name. "You're lucky you're the prince and we're in public or else I'd hit you so hard you'd wish you-"
"Roger," Mark warned with a fake smile, "You're drawing attention."
Roger turned his head to see some of the girls starring with confused looks on their faces. "Sorry," he finally said looking at Benny again. "But for the record you realize if I'm the king of the assholes, you're the asshole since I work for you, right?"
"Am I denying that accuasation?" Benny replied with a sly smile. Roger just returned one of his own.
Suddenly Roger remembered why he walked over to them in the first place."Have either of you seen Angel's cousin?" he asked.
"You mean Mimi?" Mark asked looking surprised at his friend. He suspected they were secretly courting but recently the two have been arguing alot.
"Yeah, I just need to talk to her." Roger replied rubbing his neck.
"Sorry, Man, I haven't," Benny answered.
Then the clock chimed. 8 o'clock on the dot. Benny sighed taking another sip of his drink. Will this night just en- He stopped mid thought as everyone else in the room froze. It was strange to say the least. Prince Benny followed their gazes up to the entrance steps. There stood the most gorgeous girl he had ever seen. She glowed of beauty. The essence around her made his dreadful night so much more bright.
Maureen stood at the top of the steps smiling from ear to ear. She was finally at her first ball and she couldn't be happier. Everyone's eyes were on her, which was a little uneasy being as she not use to the attention, but she loved it all the same. She decended the stair case with as much grace as a girl who was treated like a servent could. For once in her life, she felt...beautiful.
The room returned to normal again. The moment Maureen reached the marble tiled grey floor, Prince Benny's senses returned. "Who is that?" he asked his friends. Mark shrugged starring at the women as well; watching her make her way across the room.
"I don't know," Roger answered. "Maybe Mimi, knows." His eyes scaned the crowd once more and found the woman he was serching for. "Excuse me, gentlemen."
Mimi stood on the wall watching the couples dance closely on the dance floor. It's been five hours since she last spoke to Roger and she was still angry. All she wanted was one dance but he said no. A straight to the point "no." There was no explaination after the reply so she stormed away. It wasn't until after talking to Angel before the ball that she realized maybe he had a reason to say no. Then again she still didn't want to talk to him yet. So far she had been successful in avoiding the knight. At least until now.
Roger was in clear view walking towards her but it was too late to move in the opposite direction.
"Lady Mimi, wait." Roger grabbed her hand gently before she could go any further away from him. "Please, I just want to talk." The petit girl looked up at him glaring. Her eyes softened at the pleading look in his eyes. "I'm sorry-"
"Sir Davis, do you even know why you are apologizing?" Mimi snapped. She knew he hated when she called him Sir Davis. It was too distant; for both of them.
He leaned in to whisper to her. "Mimi, I'm sorry I said I wouldn't dance with you."
She looked at the floor with a sigh. "I'm not mad because you said no. I'm mad that you couldn't tell me why."
"I know." She looked up once again to find her lover looking guilty. "I said no because...I don't know how to."
Mimi's eyes widened with amusement. "You don't know how to dance?!" she practically shouted giggling.
"Shh. No need to make a big anouncement out of it." Roger suddenly began to turn red in the face. He ran his hand through his short, dirty blonde hair in an effort to hide his embaressment.
"Oh sweetie," Mimi said softly, placing her slender tan hand on his cream colored cheek. "I can teach you. Just give me one dance."
Reluctantly, Roger agreed; showing his acceptance by taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor in a fast waltz. It took a few miss-steps but eventually he got the hand of it. "My, my, Sir Davis," Mimi mocked leading their dance, "if you keep this pace up, you'll be able to lead me by the time the 6th night come to an end."
"I'm sure, Lady Mimi," he chuckled holding her close. "I do have a question for you, though." Mimi looked up at him signaling him to continue. "Where have you been for the past few hours? I've been looking all over for you."
It was her turn to blush. "I only just slipped in to see how the ball was going. I didn't plan on staying long." A faint smile graced her ruby colored lips as she added, "Until now."
A proud smile formed on Roger's face. "I'm glad to hear that. So you don't know who that mysterious woman that entered is?"
Mimi looked at him confused. "What woman?"
Prince Benny had returned, as promied, to dance with the other young women awaiting him. Every time he spun, he strained to see if he could get a glimps of that mysterious angel that entered the room. Then there she was; at the buffet table talking to a group of girls he had been aquainted with tonight.
The song ended, allowing Benny to make his excuse to leave. Smoothly he approched the girl. "Excuse me, Miss?"
Maureen turned at the new voice, curious as the girls around her suddenly began giggling. She blushed when she realized it was the prince himself. "Oh, um, hello," she replied giving a curtesy. She didn't know what else to do. Luckily, he bowed back, thus easing her nerves.
Their eyes met in a moment of pause. Prince Benny felt something he never had before. Maureen, on the other hand, just didn't know what to say. He, however, did. "I couldn't help but notice that I haven't had the pleasure of dancing with you tonight. Would you do me the honor of joining me for a song?"
Maureen watched in slow motion as he offered his hand to her. Truthfully she wasn't one for dancing. These heels were not made for it, nor were they really for walking either. How could you say no to royalty, though? In the end, she gave a curt nod before taking his hand.
For hours, they danced. Two and a half hours to be exact. Her feet hurt yet she didn't mind for some reason. On some level she was enjoying herself. As they danced they smiled at the other, he more longlingly than her. They were currently in a slow waltz; his hand on her hip, her hand on his sholder, their other hands clasped together with their bodies close.
Once the song had concluded, Maureen realized the close proxmitity they were in and blushed. The prince thought this action was cute. "I've enjoyed this," he said as they stood there motionless.
"Me too," she responded. She could see him inching his face closer to hers as he spoke again.
"I'm afraid I don't even know your name." His lips were a breath away from hers.
She wasn't ready for this. The only friends she had was a wig makers daughter and 'niece' whom she hadn't seen in months. She was never the type of girl to drool over guys, although she noticed many of them drooling over her. This would be her first kiss, at 19 years old no less; and she didn't want this. All she wanted was to go to the ball. She did not ask for the Prince to fall for her. Of all people, why her?
A bell chimed. Maureen jumped back to look at the clock. Five minute until midnight. Thank God, she thought. "I-I'm sorry," she said picking up her skirt, preparing to run. "I have to go."
"Wait, please-" But Benny wasn't fast enough for the mysterious woman. He couldn't loose her. He was in love, or so he thought he was. He watched helplessly as she ran up the stairs and out of the palace in all her shimmering glory. He had to find her.
"Mark! Roger!" he called hurrying over to his steward and knight.
"Yes, sir?" Mark asked worriedly. Roger came towards them a few seconds later.
"That girl-the one I was dancing with- I have to find her," the prince explained.
"What happened?" Roger asked not sure what was going on.
"She just ran out. I don't know what happened. She just ran."
The blonde men exchanged looks before nodding towards Benny. "We'll do our best to track her for you," the knight said.
"Thank you," Benny breathed out, relieved.
And so, Mark and Roger left the ball to search for the mysterious woman that had captured their friend's heart. Maureen had a good head start but Mark and Roger wouldn't be far behind. They would find her one way or another.
