Disclaimer: Sailor Moon characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi, everything else belongs to me.

AN: Hello dear readers! Thank you for all of your reviews - they truly inspire me to keep on going. I think my attempt at replying to each review turned futile, so I apologize. I do read each and every one still, though, so please don't stop. Just a few answers I couldn't not give.

petiyaka: bad boys always have sex appeal and rudeness doesn't always imply idiocy :) Come on, Haruka is a bad girl in at least two of my fics and you love her. Many of us do :) And yes, I definitely have read my share of romance novels.

Jenbunny: please do not apologize! As a matter of fact, your review reminded me that I haven't posted the new chapter :( so there you go! I hope the tornadoes are gone and over with.

So, without further adieu (but not without a reminder to review), here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Of Platinum and Heirs

Serenity spent the next day brooding over her predicament. Someone in the past few days told her that she was being childish. She could not remember who it was, nor could she remember the context, but she realized that running away from parties in tears and sulking over her dislikes was, indeed, childish. Yet, Serenity did not know how she could turn people around. The plan was still forming in her mind the day after, when she met Mina, Lady Raye and a young woman she hadn't met before, Lady Amy, for a stroll to the Cathedral.

As they walked down the main avenue, each accompanied by one of Lady Raye's knights, as Serenity termed them since day one, she noticed the attention people were paying Lady Raye. Women curtsied, men bowed, some were even bold enough to attempt a conversation. As they closed up the ranks, Serenity held to Nephrite's sleeve and tried to absorb Lady Raye's body language. She heard her companion chuckle and gave him a sideways glance.

"If I may?" he asked quietly.

"Go ahead," Serenity responded as her eyes returned to her idol.

"Lady D'Mye, you have to believe in yourself."

"What?" She suddenly lost interest in the duchess.

"Lady Raye… she commands those around her because of her upbringing. She has a wild temper, one she controls with grace now, but it wasn't always like that. The respect… it's not because she is beautiful or rich or noble. It's because of who she is. Underneath the titles and the masks of civility. She is a beautiful person and people recognize that. For the most part," he added under his breath. Their pace slowed when he started speaking and they were now a good distance away from the rest of their party. He gave her a thoughtful gaze, void of any teasing or amused smiles. "You are just as beautiful, milady, both on the outside and on the inside. You just have to believe that you are."

Serenity felt her cheeks flush with color, as her heart thundered at the compliment. Then it occurred to her that he may be developing feelings towards her. "Lord Nephrite… I… I thank you for your compliment, but…"

He laughed softly at her reddening cheeks. "Lady Serenity, as beautiful as you are, I am happily married and you are betrothed to one of my best friends."

She immediately felt foolish. "I… was not insinuating anything."

"Of course not." He smiled at her warmly and pulled her faster up the street. "My wife will be arriving tomorrow, she should be of help to you."

"Oh?"

"She's one of the Princess' Ladies."

Serenity's head snapped to the side. "I didn't know the King has a daughter."

"He doesn't. He has a younger sister, though, she is about five years older than you."

"I see."

ooo

The Cathedral did not disappoint. Serenity stood in the middle of the row between the pews and she felt herself an insect inside a mansion. The massive granite columns extended a few stories above her head, supporting the magnificent domes. On the inside they were painted with scenes from the Bible, numerous mosaics and statutes of Saints filled the walls. The light streamed in from windows located just under the domes, but the air remained drastically cooler than the sticky hotness outside. Without a doubt Serenity knew she would be comfortable on her wedding day, irrespective of how long the ceremony lasted and how many layers her dress had.

She walked up to the altar and traced the coolness of its surface with her fingers, fascinated. It was like the magnificence of the place was pumping through her veins, making her feel part of the Cathedral, worthy of being there, worthy of being magnificent. Her lips curled up in a smile and she turned to look at the pews, the isle and the entrance. She noticed that everyone was watching her, but in that moment she did not care. Serenity felt confident, she felt exhilarated. "Mina, Lady Raye, Lady Amy… I want you and Lord Nephrite's wife…" She looked down to him for help.

"Lady Carmelita," he supplied.

"And Lady Carmelita to be my bridesmaids."

"Bridesmaids?" Mina asked the question on everyone's mind.

"Yes," Serenity smiled, completely in another world. "When I was a little girl, my father used to tell me a fairytale when I couldn't fall asleep. In it, the princess got married to her prince and they were surrounded by their closest friends. The princess had four girls stand by her at the wedding, he called them her bridesmaids; the prince had four boys, they were groomsmen. I spent hours upon hours telling my father what my wedding would be like… I'd have a beautiful white gown with a never-ending train and wear a little crown. Four of my closest friends would stand by me… and four of my prince's closest friends would stand by him." Her smile faded as she came back to reality. "I know I'm not a princess and I'm not marrying a prince, nor do I have four closest friends… but it would mean the world to me if you made my fairytale come true."

She watched them with a baited breath. The full weight of how much she just embarrassed herself hit her like a falling dome and she was about to back out into a side entrance when Lady Raye cleared her throat.

"I have never heard of a wedding where… the ceremony is centered around the bride and the groom… it's their spotlight," she reasoned slowly. Everyone was catching her every word and it made Serenity feel a thousand times worse, until Lady Raye spoke again. "But it takes a lot of courage to say what you just did… and to give up your spotlight. It will be my honor to be your… bridesmaid."

Serenity felt a huge smile spread across the lips as the other ladies agreed and Nephrite volunteered an agreement for his wife. She took a step down from the altar podium. "You will stand right here, in a row… we will have to make you matching gowns." Her eyes dashed to the isle. "And I want Calla Lilies at the end of the pews. Just three in a bunch, tied by a gold ribbon. Each groomsman and bridesmaid will walk up the isle," she continued as she danced down the isle, gesturing around her as she spoke. "And then you will part at the front and stand in a straight line on each side. Someone will have to walk me up the isle last… I guess it will have to be my step-father." She stopped suddenly, her spirit deflated by the notion.

"I guess we will need to add a train to that dress," Lady Raye said in amusement, missing Serenity's sudden mood change.

ooo

"I mean you should have seen her, she spoke with such passion!"

Endymion arched an eyebrow, watching four men spar with wooden rods on the mat. "I suggest you turn your own passion towards the weapon in your hand, Nephrite, and not towards my future wife."

"Feeling a bit jealous, are we?" Kinzite asked in retaliation as his opponent, Nephrite, followed Endymion's advice.

"Are you joking?"

"Not at all."

"Why would I be jealous?" Endymion looked at the other pair. "Move faster, Zoi."

"Because she hasn't exchanged one pleasant conversation with you. All you have managed so far is to annoy her."

"It seems as though you are starting to manage the same with me."

Kunzite blocked another blow and signaled for a break. "Why don't you just tell her who you are and let her get to know you before the wedding?"

"Why does she need to know who I am to get to know me?"

"Because as of right now you are nothing more than a nuisance. You are an unbecoming acquaintance, not a betrothed to her. Why would any lady of her stature tolerate advances from a stranger when she is to be married?"

"What advances are you speaking of?"

"The touching," Nephrite offered.

"The waltz," Jadeite remembered.

"The intimate whispering," Zoicite concluded.

Endymion watched them, speechless, before he picked up two wooden swords from the wall. "I believe my counts just turned on me," he spoke slowly as he swiveled the swords in each hand. "Why don't you try it like men, with your weapons instead of words?"

His one-sided grin was as evil as the one Serenity spotted two nights ago. The four men surrounded him, their smiles matching his, before they attacked. Endymion knew it was a losing battle, but they were already tired, so he could keep it going for at least a little while. Twenty minutes later they all lay on the mat, their weapons next to them, discarded, their hair and tunics drained in sweat. As his breath returned to him, Endymion spoke.

"I want to know the kind of person she is. I don't want to only see her from one angle, from when she becomes my wife. I want to know her under other circumstances. The King deprived me of that chance, a chance to meet her without preconceptions or expectations. If she thinks me to be a rogue, she should get her chance to form that opinion too."

"Your Highness, I knew you were our leader for a reason," Jadeite mused.

"Yes, he was born a duke," Kunzite jabbed.

Endymion jumped up to his feet and picked up his weapons. "Halfwits. Go clean up yourselves and meet me in my office in an hour. We have business to discuss."

"Endymion."

"Yes?" He turned around to Jadeite.

"Lady Raye and Lady Serenity planned an outing for this afternoon."

Endymion nodded. "Accompany them and take a few guards to follow at a distance. Stop by my rooms when you return."

ooo

After she returned from her stroll to the Cathedral, Serenity found her new dresses laid out on the bed. She could not care less when the seamstress took her measurements and Lady Raye and Mina outlined the designs, but now she could not hold her excitement at bay. The fabrics were of the highest quality, the designs of the latest fashion, the work immaculate. She sorted through them, piling them according to the time of the day, then sat on the bed, speechless. As a wide grin spread over her face, she jumped up and hastily removed her gown. Realizing that getting into one of those dresses all on her own was impossible, she rang for her maid and picked the one she wanted to wear that afternoon.

She picked a cotton gown, a rarity since the material was forbidden in some European countries. Serenity found the material quite pleasant to touch and light enough not to stifle in the afternoon warmth. It was a pink-shaded fabric, but not a teenage pink, more mature, muted pink. The ruffling of the gown was not excessive and the petticoat that went with it had butterflies in the front. Serenity sighed, content, when she saw her reflection in the mirror. It was strange how something as silly as a dress could change the way one looked.

Serenity picked a miniature umbrella and left her rooms, meeting Lady Raye out on the terrace. The latter gave her an appraising look and smiled in approval. They walked away from the Palace grounds, hands looped, towards the busy street littered with shops.

"I feel we should get some accessories for you and whatever else you wish before the wedding."

"I appreciate the gesture, Lady Raye, but I don't think there is the need."

Raye shrugged it off. She smiled at a couple of older women that approached them from the opposite direction. "Ladies."

"Lady Endymi." They curtsied.

"This is Lady Serenity D'Mye, future Duchess of Endymi," Rei introduced.

The two women curtsied again. After a short conversation, one Serenity was the center of, they parted and Lady Raye pulled the blonde towards a shop.

"Who were they?"

Raye shrugged. "Matrons. They are like a congress of the society, it's good to have them on your side."

"But… I was under the impression that after the wedding we would go to the Duchy of Endymi."

"We will. Well, you and Darien for sure."

"Darien?" Serenity glanced up.

"My brother," Raye explained.

"Oh… how ironic that I don't even know his first name."

Lady Raye felt sorry for the other girl for a moment, but she was not going to defy her brother's wish. "You'll have the rest of your life to know everything about him."

They walked through the shop in silence and left it without buying anything. Serenity looked at the cobblestones in front of her skirts. "What is he like?"

Lady Raye was warming up to Serenity, she really was, but she was not ready to become her friend. Someone who shared intimate things, such as discussing the person she had loved since birth. At the same time, she did not want Serenity to retreat back into her cocoon. "He's different. He doesn't care about the societal structure, but he respects order. When he turned ten, our father put him on a ship with Lord Kunzite's father as a sailor. They sailed to the East, spent a few months in West Indies. When he was fourteen, he was sent to England to study. He has a non-traditional outlook on everything and that's what makes him different. His heart makes him special."

Serenity watched Lady Raye's profile in awe. She had never seen her so serious or so sincere. "You really love him, I can tell."

Lady Raye blushed. "He's the only family I have left."

They entered a jewelry shop and Serenity realized that she had never seen so many pieces of jewelry in one place. She slowly walked the isle, until her eyes found a beautiful sapphire necklace laid out on a cushion. It had five large clusters of darker and lighter sapphires, forming flowers, three smaller ones fastened between them, on a gold chain.

"It would look good with your wedding dress," Lady Raye said over Serenity's shoulder.

Serenity shook her head. "I haven't a clue what my dress looks like… but in any event, this is entirely unnecessary."

"Nonsense." Raye beckoned with her finger over the shoulder. Jadeite materialized with a pouch as the two women moved down the isle.

"Where did he come from?"

Lady Raye looked at her strangely. "He was behind us all along."

"Why?" Serenity paled, remembering all the things he must have overheard with dread.

"He's one of Darien's counts."

"His counts?"

Lady Raye nodded. "The north and east shores of our country are inaccessible because of the rocky mount formation. The west shore is densely populated and is protected by the Royal Army. The south shore has fewer fertile lands, so less people live in the Duchy, even though the territory is larger. We have our own army, the lords who hold the highest titles, the counts, and largest properties have traditionally served as generals in it."

"But why send a general to accompany us?"

"Protection."

It suddenly dawned on Serenity that the 'knights' must have been the counts. It explained why they were always around Lady Raye. "Why not send guards?"

"Because he knows I'd never let him. I don't want to be watched all the time. The counts… they are friends. We grew up together. I don't feel like they have an ulterior motive, even if they do."

"It's nice when someone cares about you us much."

Lady Raye looked at Serenity with a faint smile. "He cares about you too."

"What?" Serenity searched Lady Raye's eyes. "He doesn't even know me.

Lay Raye chuckled. "Well, those three men two shops away are certainly not trailing us for my benefit."

Serenity looked around her shoulder, noting that Jadeite was walking behind them again, holding a package. Two shops away three men dressed in inconspicuous clothing were pretending to look through a shop window. As they continued down the street, Serenity felt something tug at her heart. She had not met her future husband yet, but he already cared enough to have guards watching her. Then another thought occurred to her: were they making sure she was safe or were they making sure she didn't do anything she shouldn't? Serenity did not see a reason why she would be in danger, so the only logical conclusion was that the duke wanted to make sure she was in check.

ooo

The small study was located just to the side of his bedchamber - where Lady Raye's suite had a music room. Endymion sat behind the desk, his head buried in some papers. Jadeite knocked on the open door once more, since he got no reaction the first time. Endymion's eyes came up to him, focusing on his presence. "Come on in."

"Are you alright?"

"Hmm? Yes, I'm fine, just tired."

Unmasked concern entered Jadeite's features. "You haven't been yourself lately. You should rest."

"I will." Endymion gestured to the chair in front of his desk. "How did the shopping go?"

Jadeite grinned. "You may risk becoming poor if those two spend a lot of time together."

Endymion arched an eyebrow. "The future duchess has expensive tastes?"

"Yes, but it is the current duchess who throws money in the wind against objections."

"Interesting. Speaking of money, Zoi's chemists agree that the metal found in East Mines is precious."

"Are you thinking of developing them?"

"I don't know yet. That's what I need your consult for."

Jadeite nodded and took a moment to think. "On one hand you would have another revenue stream, jobs, which God only knows many could use, and yet another bargaining chip. On the other hand, mining a precious metal will lead to confrontations as people become money hungry, as well as call unwanted attention to our coast. We have enough pirate attacks on our ships as it is. Imagine if we had precious metal as cargo."

"That's if we were to export it to other countries."

"What else would you do with it?"

"Barter. Sell it for the crops we are lacking. We can only farm on a small portion of our lands, it leads to both occasional lack of food and constant procrastination. Men need something to do and families need to eat. From that standpoint I see no reason to delay the exploitation."

"Then what is bothering you?"

"The other possibility you mentioned. Gold goes to people's head and they lose it. This metal… it may be more precious than gold."

"What is it?"

"Platinum." Endymion pushed some of the bound volumes towards Jadeite. "Ulloa published the first report, Charles Wood and William Brownrigg have been working on it for a few years now. Brownrigg even presented it to the British Royal Society. Now everyone seems to be interested in what it is, but we have the advantage of having it right under our noses. Zoi thinks we can fuse it with gold. We could make jewelry if exploration doesn't occupy enough men."

Jadeite chuckled. "It seems to me like you already made up your mind, Your Highness. What did you really want me for?"

Endymion's even gaze settled on his friend. "As it stands, part of the mine is on your territory… it will only extend further out."

"Endymion, I have no use for a mountain, dig it away."

"Remember that notion of wealth going to people's heads?"

The insinuation was lost on Jadeite for a minute, then his jaw clenched. "I am appalled you'd even consider that a possibility."

Endymion's gaze did not waver. "Jade, you're like a brother to me… but I've seen families torn apart for lesser reasons."

"Endymion, it's still your Duchy. You can take away my land with a draw of a quill."

"I would never do that to you."

Jadeite's posture relaxed a little, but he sensed that the duke was not done yet.

"I want you to marry Raye."

"What?" Jadeite barely breathed out.

"I want you to marry my sister. That way we will never have to worry about the profits from the mine."

Jadeite got up to his feet, pacing in the small space. "You are doing to me exactly what the King is doing to you! How can you ask me of such thing after insinuating that I would care more about the mine and its profits than my best friend?"

"Jade, you've been in love with my sister since the age of seven. Please don't insult me by comparing this request to that of the King."

"Endymion, I will not marry your sister against her will. Besides, I never thought it to be a possibility. She's a duchess."

"And you're a count. Raye doesn't care about titles, besides, it's not like there's another duke around for her to marry."

"There are dukes in other countries."

Endymion pushed his chair back and leaned against the table with both of his hands. "Why are we arguing about this? We both know what her answer will be. I'm not blind, Jade, and she is my sister."

"To the best of my knowledge, she hasn't taken lovers."

"Of course not, she's a woman! Our society would throw her to the curb if she did, not that it would matter anyway because the first man she'd jump in bed with if she did have the option would be you!"

"I don't feel comfortable with this conversation."

Endymion growled. "Do me a favor, ask my sister for her hand. If she says yes, I'll explore the god damn mine. If she says no, she'll die a spinster."

"You really know how to make a future brother-in-law feel all warm and fuzzy," Jadeite remarked sarcastically.

"Your wife will do that to you." Endymion's face lit up in a sly grin. "And more."

ooo

Dressed in one of her new evening gowns, Serenity embarked on her third ball. As she strolled through the ballroom located inside of one of the townhouses, she noticed a strange pattern. The men she met on previous occasions all acknowledged her presence, while the women barely greeted her. Even the two women from earlier in the day were curt with her as she approached them by herself. Her spirits once again were waning quickly.

As Mina left her side to dance, Serenity made another fruitless attempt at making an acquaintance. Almost ready to give up, she found Lady Amy, who she met earlier that morning making her way over. She was shorter than Serenity, her dark bangs hang in her eyes, an uncommon notion, and her dark blue eyes sparkled in the candlelight.

"Lady Serenity."

"Lady Amy." Serenity smiled at her new acquaintance.

"Walk with me, will you?" Amy asked and the two strolled through the throng of people towards an empty alcove. "I'm not particularly good at making acquaintances just in hopes of finding a friend, but your speech this morning made an impact. So I would like to make a friendly gesture."

They sat down on an empty divan, out of the earshot of the many guests. Serenity watched as more guests arrived and, judging by the commotion, one of those arrivals was important.

"It will take time for you to make friends in the Capital, Lady Serenity. Right now, I'd say that making any friends is outright impossible. You see, you're not a blank slate to anyone. Your arrival was anticipated and you are not liked." Amy noticed the pain that flashed through Serenity's eyes and rushed to explain. "It isn't anything you've done. None of these people, including myself, know you. However, we all know of you. To the women in this room, you are an enemy. The older ones either dislike you because you stole their daughters' chance at marriage to the Duke or because they don't feel that you are worthy of marrying the Duke."

She let the words sink in as the crowd at the entrance cleared and a party made its way through the throng of people. "Then there is her," Amy pointed at the woman in the front with her fan.

Serenity studied said woman. She was a bit plump, her blonde hair devoid of any color, and her face very forgettable. The dress she wore was of exquisite detail, but it did not fit the lady quite right. Serenity turned back to her newfound friend, prompting her to continue.

"This is Princess Katherine and she hates you."

"That is the Princess?" Serenity's eyes darted back to the figure. She did not have anything royal about her. Lady Raye was more a princess than the Princess was and it surprised Serenity.

Amy nodded. "The brunette behind her is Lady Carmelita, the Countess of Less, better known to you as Lord Nephrite's wife. She will be one of your four neighbors."

Serenity studied the countess. She was tall, her hair a rich chestnut brown with natural red undertone. She was wearing a deep green gown that matched her eyes. Somehow Serenity found her very fitting for Nephrite. "She's beautiful."

"You should tell her that, she'd appreciate a compliment so soon after giving birth."

"She just gave birth?"

Amy nodded. "Three weeks ago, that's why she arrived so late."

"I see."

"I will introduce you when she is released from her duty. She's one of the Princess' Ladies, so she must fulfill her obligations first."

"Of course," Serenity replied absently.

"Lady Lita, that's what we call her, she will be the best at introducing you around. She has a lot of political connections, more so than Lady Raye." Amy took a breath as they watched someone lead the Princess to dance.

"The Princess has her impact… unfortunately for you, everyone who wants to be in her good graces has to avoid you."

"But why?"

Amy looked at Serenity and smiled at her innocence. "You're living her dream. She had her eye on the Duke since she first met him."

"But I don't understand," Serenity said slowly. "The King made the arrangement… if he knew of her wishes, why didn't he arrange for her to marry the Duke?"

Amy stared at Serenity for a long moment without blinking. She then looked around to make sure that they were still out of everyone's earshot. "Lady Serenity, do you know how your marriage arrangement came about?"

"Well I… I know that it was arranged while my father was still alive, though I didn't know about it until three years ago. I am fulfilling his wish, I don't know exactly how the King got involved."

"It may not have escaped you that the King is childless."

"Correct."

"It is a common assumption that the King has not bothered to find himself a queen and that at some point he will do so and she will produce him an heir."

"That's a valid assumption," Serenity agreed.

"But it's not. The King cannot have children." Amy ignored Serenity's gasp and continued. "He was sick some years ago and this is one of the effects of the illness. Should something happen to the King, the next in line for the throne would be the Duke of Endymi or Princess Katherine's husband, if she had one."

Serenity never thought of that, but in imperial hierarchy it made sense and her head spun from the notion.

"The King has declined all offers for her hand, making it clear that the Duke of Endymi was his choice for the throne. However, the Duke is not married and has no children. He needs an heir not only for his own title, but because there is a very plausible chance that his son would become the King's heir. That's why the King arranged this marriage. You are to produce that heir."