Disclaimer: The world belongs to Gail Carson Levine.

Chapter IV

The blue damask material felt nice as I played with the dress as I sat and waited to be announced to the crowd.

My whole family, as well as Prince Orlando and his elder sister Princess Aubretia, were gathered into this one room on the outside of the ballroom. Princess Aubretia was with her husband, a man who seemed to be quite boring and brooding, so therefore I paid no attention to him. They were to be announced first, then myself and Prince Orlando (as he was to be my escort, unfortunately), and lastly my parents.

I sighed to myself, imagining a much better evening with much better company.

That better company would be Darius of course, as he was the most handsome man on Earth, and he did kiss me after all, I sighed thinking of that chaste kiss.

Prince Orlando noticed and he raised a blond eyebrow at me, and I scowled at him in embarrassment, not wanting him to see my longing for Darius that was clearly written on my face.

Sir Montague came in, looking as dirty and greasy as ever. He went over to Princess Aubretia's side, "Princess, it is time for you and your husband to go down, the footman is about to announce you," he informed her. She steadily got up, and her husband guided her out the door, and onto the balcony that would overlook the crowd, where their names would be read out in a majestic footman's voice.

I could barely hear the rustle of the footman's voice as Prince Orlando joined me at my side, "Are you all right?" he asked, "You looked a little flushed."

I didn't look at him, keenly aware of how close he was and how awkward it would be if he realized at this moment that I was the Mistress Seraphina. Plus, it would totally ruin my plan, "I'm fine. I just hate balls," I informed him, for once telling him the absolute truth with no lies hidden underneath.

"Really? I love them," he informed me with a jovial smile. I made an effort not to roll my eyes. Of course he would love them, I thought to myself, he was perfect.

"I would just rather be outside," I said softly, avoiding the gaze of his green eyes. I was all too aware that Sir Montague was listening in on our conversation, so that just made the whole event more awkward.

"I can understand that. I was just outside in your woods the other day you know," he told me. I could feel that there was more to those words than that. Most likely he was trying to trap me, but I wasn't going to fall for it.

"That's nice," I placed a gloved hand over my mouth as I feigned a yawn.

He smirked at me, "Yes it was nic…" he was cut off, as Sir Montague pulled the two of us.

"C'mon now, it's your turn to be sent down to the wolves," he said with acid dripping in his voice.

I rolled my eyes at him, before placing my gloved hand on Prince Orlando's arm. He looked like he had guided many girls before me to these sorts of events by the confident smirk on his lips.

The footman announced us, and Prince Orlando guided me down the steps. At this point, I was just praying not to fall and make a disgrace of myself and my family.

"You look nervous," Prince Orlando whispered to me out of the corner of his mouth.

I felt foolish, but I nodded at him, too nervous to argue about that fact with my enemy.

"Don't worry every single person here already knows you are a little mad, so there is nothing to worry about," he said with a teasing smile in my direction as we slowly made our way down the steep stairwell.

I wanted to scowl at him but everyone was watching the two of us together, so I smiled brilliantly instead, "Don't remind me of that fact. I would prefer to think that I was starting over," I informed him, speaking out of the corner of my mouth

"Then don't embarrass yourself," he ordered with a phony smile, as we made it to the bottom of the stairs.

The crowd clapped politely as a welcoming to us. I flushed slightly at the amount of attention we were receiving, as the footman announced my parents.

Dinner would begin after the dancing as per usual. Prince Orlando seemed a tad confused by this notion, as he was used to the balls where eating took place during the dancing (as it is in Kyrria) but I had to inform him, as we sat next to each other at the Royal table, that in Bezidel dancing is more important than food.

He seemed to be disgruntled by this, and as we danced the waltz together, I could hear his stomach grumble, much to my delight.

"Oh shush," he ordered as a shadow of a smirk crossed my features, "I can't believe you aren't hungry."

"Of course, I am!" I told him, "I am just used to not being fed until later, when I am practically starving. It's part of my schedule."

He glanced down at me incredulously, "You have a schedule?"

"Yes, why don't you?" I asked curiously.

"No, not really, I am required to go to some lectures and visit some tutors but I arrange it myself," he told me as we spun around the dance floor together.

I closed my eyes in jealousy, "Your mother doesn't arrange everything for you?"

"No, why would she? She knows I can take care of myself."

I felt like cursing like a common rogue, but I knew it would useless and embarrassing to do so. I also felt like crying but that would be just as bad as cursing. Instead I just muttered, "I hate my life."

I barely registered the startled look on Prince Orlando's face as I curtseyed to him and left the ballroom quietly, as to not attract any attention to myself.

Why couldn't I be in charge of my own life? Even for a moment?

I sighed realizing that I could never be in charge of my own life, not even when I will be Queen, because then I would have some oaf of a husband trying to order me around.

I just want freedom; I bit my lip in frustration, causing it to bleed. The blood fell upon my white glove, creating a contrast of white and red.

I watched in fascination as the blood lay upon it, before I was interrupted.

"Princess, are you alright?" a familiar voice asked.

I turned to see Darius, who looked polished in his footman uniform. I had forgotten that most of the servants would be hired on nights such as this.

"I'm as good as I ever will be," I said softly, feeling foolish in this confession.

He just stood there quietly, "Oh."

I just stared at his handsome face, knowing that he would never understand, "Excuse me," I rushed past him, but he grabbed my hand.

"Princess, I am sorry I kissed you before," he told me softly as I glanced into his eyes feeling my breath catch in my throat.

"Oh, well, it was kind of nice actually, although I still don't understand why you did it, I enjoyed it," I blabbered, feeling idiotic as I continued to speak.

"Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it," he said stoically, as he interrupted my tirade, "I just wanted to let you know I just wanted to for no reason. I just felt like you needed it."

Well, that's perfectly normal, I thought to myself, wanting to scowl at him, but instead broke out into a perfect princess smile, "Well, now that that is settled I shall go back to the ball, excuse me."

He let me go that time, but he continued to watch me as I entered the ballroom, creating shivers up and down my spine.

I felt silly for enjoying those shivers. But I did delight in them, just like any foolish girl would. But as the clock struck 7 o'clock, I knew it was time to begin the next phase of my plan and to forget about Darius.

Unfortunately, I didn't feel much like pranking anyone. I was too distracted by my own problems.

But I met Prince Orlando dressed as Mistress Seraphina anyways.

He met me in the music room as he promised; looking very mussed up, as if he had been dancing for the whole time I was thinking and plotting.

"Mistress Seraphina?" he called out softly and I came out dressed up in servant clothes, with my blond curls covered underneath a cloth scarf.

"Yes, Prince Orlando? What do you want; I have many chores to finish up!" I lied to him as he looked curiously at me.

"Why are you dressed in such rags?" he asked with an amused gleam in his eyes.

"Err, well, I was cleaning, so I felt no use for nice clothes," I enlightened him.

He leaned on a piano, "Ah, I see, I am sorry for taking a part of your time just to talk. I suppose you need to go back to work."

No, I couldn't lose him now! The prank had just begun, I thought to myself, desperate for some sort of control, "No, it will be fine, what would you like to talk about?"

He furrowed his brow at me, but answered me anyway, "Well, would you like to hear about the Princess? I'm sure you've met her before."

"Well, actually, no I haven't had the pleasure," I said with a forced smile.

"You're lucky," he informed me as he started to fiddle with a violin that lay on a table, "She's a spoiled brat."

"I've heard she's perfectly lovely," I said, my brown eyes flashing in distaste at his words.

"They only say that because of how frightened they are, they feel that her spies are listening everywhere," he said with a smile in my direction. When I didn't smile he approached me, "Are you alright? I'm sorry I am insulting your monarch. She is just a spoiled, rotten, ugly-"

I felt my temper reach its boiling point, "That's it!" I shouted pointing a finger at his aristocratic nose, "She is not like that!"

My heart continued to pump loudly as he stared at me as if I was mad, "Well, actually Mistress Seraphina, I have to say she is also truly mad thinking that I would fall for her stupid trick of acting like a servant."

Fury rose within me, "Why you!" and I attempted to slap him across the face. Unfortunately he grabbed my hand and pulled me to him softly. I struggled against him, and even though I was in no pain my stomach was twisting and turning due to the lack of food I had received in the past hours.

"Arianna, why do you do these foolish things?" he asked me in a exasperated voice.

I glared at him, and began to hiss, "Because you drive me crazy! I wanted revenge for our childhood! You always teased me and pranked me and the like and STOP SMIRKING!"

He continued to smirk in a handsome manner, "I thought that was all a game to you? Why are you so focused on the past?"

I shot daggers at him with my dark eyes, "Because you are annoying. And I wanted revenge."

He smirked again, letting me go, "Revenge gets you nowhere. And I recognized you from the start, although you did confuse me at first, I figured it out completely by the parade today. You were trying to make a fool out of me. But alas you failed."

I took a step back from him, never stopping my glare, "Well, I'll get you someday, don't you forget it!" I shouted at him, before punching him in the gut.

"Oof!" he cried out in surprise, as I knew he couldn't really be in pain due to the fact he grabbed my hand again.

"Let me go!" I cried, my stomach doing somersaults again. Why don't they ever feed us? I wondered to myself as he smirked at me again.

"Only if you swear on your Father's life that you won't attack me again, and if you don't promise this the war of pranks will begin again," he warned as he pointed a finger at me.

I rolled my eyes, "I swear on my Father's life I won't attack you again," he let me go, "tonight," I continued with a conniving grin as I gallivanted back to my room to get dressed into my proper clothes.

I could hear cursing as I left and I couldn't help but applaud myself for my skill. The war begins, I thought with a grin.

Dinner was finally beginning, and my stomach would finally settle due to the fact food would be in it.

I glanced at the entrees and felt my mouth salivate in anticipation due to the amount of potatoes, corn, and other delicious foods would soon be in my stomach.

I wasn't looking forward to the venison, due to the fact it used to be a deer (and I have conservations with deer), but I was hungry and I knew I needed protein of some sort. I sighed morosely as my Father stood up to make some sort of pronouncement.

He coughed lightly, and his hoarse voice began to speak, "My comrades, countrymen, and guests, I would like to thank you for joining my family in this ball. This has been such an enchanting evening, and I would like to thank my beautiful wife for making it so," he said the last part with a grimace. I had to hold in a laugh.

He continued, "I would just like to make an announcement that will make every in this room delighted and overjoyed. There is a reason that our guests from Granat have come to visit us. A very good reason," he looked around and raised his wine glass to Prince Orlando and his family. His sister looked a tad smug while his brother-in-law was beaming, Orlando just looked confused. Father carried on with his speech, "That reason is that our Princess Arianna Anne Georgiana Elizabeth Seraphina, the Golden Dove of Bezidel, my that is a mouthful," he said with a smile, "will be joined in matrimony with Prince Orlando of Granat within the next year." The crowd began to cheer and applaud this.

I felt all the blood drain out of my face and noticed that Prince Orlando's face had done the same. We looked at one another shocked and dismayed by the news.

We were going to be married?!

I felt like protesting, but I knew it would be no use at all. So I sat there, resigned to my fate, feeling tears slip out of my eyes.

I was crying, I thought to myself, almost wanting to laugh at the ridiculousness that was me. I should not be crying I am a Bezidel royal, I wanted to yell, but I did not. Instead I began to eat the arranged food that was set in front of me by a servant.

My life was always arranged, why did it surprise me that my marriage would be? I asked myself rationally.

As soon as the food left the table and dessert began to be placed down I left the scene excusing myself, as I knew I needed to be outside with nature.

Nature was the only thing that didn't try to control me, I noticed as I walked out in the brisk air right before I began to cry once again.

"I don't want to marry anyone yet! Especially not Prince Orlando!" I cried out into the darkness as I sprinted into the forest, my blue dress getting caught up into the trees.

As I lay upon the grass sobbing for the first time since I was three, I felt the animals come out of their homes to stare at me. I looked up to see an owl hoot at me impatiently.

"What is it now?" I groaned getting off the ground in time for an old woman to stomp into my clearing.

"Well, now, if it isn't the beautiful Princess Arianna," she mocked, her black eyes peering into my soul, making me feel naked and helpless.

I mumbled as I tried to step away from her, "Err, um, well, um yes, you see."

She got closer as the animals formed a circle around us, as if they were anticipating something, "Hmph, you aren't that beautiful now that I get a closer look at you. Your eyes are all red and blotchy. Now why is that?? Were you crying?" she cackled as she placed a pasty white hand on my ruined sleeve.

I tore away from her, fearful of what she was going to do to me, but I was too late.

"From the darker powers of all that is wrong with the world, teach this princess real pain and suffering, by making her prick her finger on a spinning wheel and go into an enchanted sleep that will last a lifetime!!" she cried out in a terrible voice causing my skin to prickle with fear.

"How is pricking my finger going to cause me real pain?" I yelled out to her, but it was too late as she had disappeared into the darkness.

I didn't know what she was, or if I had dreamed her up, but I knew I should probably get out of there before something weirder occurred. The owl that had tried to warn me of her presence before seemed to agree as he hooted at me hurriedly.

So I ran back into the castle, where I would be safe and sound.

As I got ready for bed that night, my governess came into to congratulate me on my awful engagement (my words not hers).

"Oh, my dear, you will have the best husband in the whole world," she sighed like a schoolgirl who had just been told she was pretty by a schoolboy.

I rolled my eyes at her but let her continue fawning over the dim-witted prince.

"Governess Dorothea," I began, and she looked over at me, for once in her life, looking rather motherly and kind, "Yes dear, what is the matter?" she asked me.

"Well, um, I was in the forest today," I started and she groaned.

"Not again! Hopefully Prince Orlando will stop you from doing that!"

"Well actually, he seems to like the forest here too, but that is another story, err, well I met this old lady, she seemed to be a witch," I bit my lip nervously as my governess gave me a strange look.

"Now why would you think that?" she peered into my eyes, as if she were expecting that I had a spell put upon me, which, actually, I did.

I hesitated before speaking, "I believe I had a curse placed upon me."

I winced as she began to curse and yell and scream at me, "How can you be so foolish your highness!?!? You are the only heir to the throne!" her gray hair fell into her tear filled eyes.

She was afraid, I realized, as she began to bawl right in front of me. Hesitantly, I placed a hand on her shoulder as she sobbed into her arms.

"It will be alright," I murmured, patting her awkwardly.

She sniffed, "It's all my fault princess! What are we going to do?"

"I suppose we should let my family know," I stated.

She nodded tearfully at me, and I helped her off the ground.

We gathered ourselves to meet someone scarier than the old witch, my mother and my father.

Tonight was special all right, I thought wryly to myself.

(A/N) I hope you enjoyed this chapter, i knew exactly what I wanted to do so it was relatively easy to write this. The next chapter will get the plot started even more so than this so, so buckle up.

Thank you for the reviews btw, I love getting that review alert in my inbox! =D

Let me know what you think of this chapter.