The girls introduced Joana, who was now wearing a green dress that had been designed by Viveca, to Helene, who smiled warmly "Welcome. I suppose you're here to help with the chores?"'

"Yes Ma'am."

"Good." Helene nodded "Well, girls. You know what to do." Then she walked away.

Joana looked around curiously as they walked down through the halls.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Corinne said.

Joana nodded "I'm used to big, bright, and beautiful, but this is really nice."

Corinne chuckled "The first time I came here, I was fresh from the country. I grew up on a farm in Gascony. I'd never seen anything like this before."

When they reached the supply closet, the four girls pulled out the supplies and everything else they'd need.

"Warning." Renee said to Joana "If you hear someone shout for the musketeers, we will have to run."

Joana nodded. Just the thought of these four girls being fierce fighters was somewhat amusing. She wasn't quite sure she believed it.

Corinne noticed the look on her face and laughed "Hard to believe?"

Joana nodded and Renee patted her shoulder "It's okay. Some people that live in Paris and were there when we were nominated Musketeers, still don't believe it."

Viveca smiled "We're fierce, but beautiful."

"Ooh!" Aramina squealed "Maybe we're tooth fairies!"

The other four girls stared at her blankly, and then continued on their way.

Corinne handed Joana a duster, which she stared at like a cow staring at a new fence.

"What's the matter Joana?"

The girl blushed "Um… I have no idea how to do any sort of housework."

Corinne raised an eyebrow "How did you manage that?"

"Well…" Joana's face turned an even deeper red "I guess you could say I was the companion to a rich girl my whole life. Chores wasn't on my to do list."

"Oh, that's okay." Aramina said happily "We'll teach you!"

After a while, Joana was starting to pick up on the chore thing, and turned out to be quite talkative, which thrilled Aramina beyond measure. They could go on nonstop about the same book for an hour. Viveca just ignored it, Corinne didn't mind, but it about drove Renee up the wall.

"I absolutely LOVE romances!" Aramina said.

"She does." The other three girls chimed in.

Joana nodded "I do to. But my parents don't like me reading them. They say it fills a girl's head with nonsense."

"That's true." Renee grumbled.

Corinne laughed "You're not used to it yet?"

Renee just shot her a look before continuing to wash the window.

"One of the most wonderful things to see is a couple in love." Aramina said dreamily.

Joana sighed "I'm afraid I've never seen it. My parents had an arranged marriage. They hardly tolerate each other."

"That's terrible!" Aramina gasped.

Joana nodded "They want the same for me."

Corinne smiled "My parents were in love. It was so hard when he'd be gone for weeks at a time. And then when he died…" her voice trailed off as the memories of her beloved father came to her.

Joana looked at her sadly "What happened to him?"

"He was a musketeer." Corinne answered "He died in battle when I was twelve. It was the hardest thing my family has ever gone through."

"I love tragic romances." Aramina sighed.

"You hated them two days ago!" Renee cried, throwing her hands in the air.

"Depends on the situation." Aramina answered, the she turned to Joana "Do you have a sweetheart?"

Joana shrugged "My best friend is a boy. But he's just the stable hand."

Aramina looked over at Corinne and giggled "What's his name?"

"Conrad."

"Oh my that's perfect!"

Viveca slid over to Joana and whispered "Have you ever read in books about there being a spark between two people?" Joana nodded "You're about to experience it in real life."

Joana saw a youngish brown haired guy walking towards them, a semi-smile on his face.

"Who's that?" she whispered to Viveca.

"King Louis." Viveca answered "Now watch Corinne."

Joana watched as Louis made a B-line for Corinne, who was dusting off a huge picture, unaware of the approaching man.

"Hey, Corinne." Louis said stepping behind her.

Corinne spun around, not realizing he was six inches behind her. Then she jumped back, hitting the picture she was dusting, causing it to start falling. She spun around and slammed it back up against the wall, stopping its downward descent. Then she slowly removed her hands from the painting and turned to face Louis, her hands on her hips.

"Thank you Your Highness that was most helpful."

Louis chuckled "Sorry."

Corinne smiled, letting her arms drop "What did you need?"

"I made some improvements to the balloon." Louis said "I was wondering if you'd like to join me to test them."

"Does one of them help with the landing?"

"Nope."

Corinne shrugged "Can't blame a girl for tryin'. I'd love too."

"Good. After lunch then." Louis turned to walk away, and then looked up at the massive picture that was behind Corinne.

"What?" Corinne looked up at the picture, but saw nothing wrong.

"Nothing." Louis answered, his face completely amused "It took four men to get that thing up there. It took one girl to keep it from falling." He shook his head smiling, then gently squeezed her hand before walking away.

Corinne smiled slightly, then turned back to resume her chores, but saw her three best friends with smirks on their faces, but Joana's seemed troubled.

"What's wrong?" Corinne asked the raven haired girl.

Joana blinked "Nothing. We'd better get back to work."

Corinne looked at the others who shrugged, but they did as requested. They had been working quietly for fifteen minutes when Corinne suddenly slammed her hand against the wall "No! What am I doing!?"

The other four girls spun around in shock.

"What just happened?" Renee asked slowly.

Corinne turned to her friends "Why am I going on a balloon ride with him?"

"Because he asked you too?" Viveca guessed.

Corinne sighed, slapping her forehead "He's as good as engaged! He doesn't need to be hanging around with the likes of me!"

"Corinne." Renee said, crossing her arms "You have saved his life SO many times, I've lost count."

"We." Corinne corrected.

"Whatever." Renee waved her off "No one's going to mind his 'personal bodyguard' hanging around him 24/7."

"Renee," Corinne said quietly "His, probably, future bride is coming in two months. He needs to spend his time preparing for her. not wasting his time on me."

About that time, the clock struck noon "I have to go." She handed her broom to Joana "I have a long conversation ahead of me." Then she left.

Joana looked at the broom in her hand and sighed "IS it always this complicated?"

Aramina groaned "I hate tragic romances!"