Title: Masquerade

Author: Lisa

Chapter: 6

Rating: PG

Author's Notes:

Well, I didn't expect to update so soon, but when inspiration hits… Hope you enjoy, and thanks very much to all my lovely reviewers for the last chapter! The feedback only keeps me going strong on this one rather than having it fall to the wayside as I've been known to do with some stories…

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and the others don't belong to me, but this story does.

The silver tray and its contents shook slightly as Serenity fought in vain to steady her traitorously trembling arms. She had been standing in front of the closed double doors to one of Endymion's formal meeting rooms for several minutes now—quite possibly the longest of her life—as she fought to gain control over her shallow breathing and loudly thumping heart (and now, apparently, her limbs).

The princess did not delude herself into thinking that Detriek would be fooled by her façade. They had spent too much time together over the years. In fact, as teenagers, they had even managed to slip past the palace guards one day and paraded about town as commoners, laughing as they stuffed themselves with sweets without the least bit of concern for decorum. Of course, once they had returned, Serenity had received a stern lecture from her mother on her position and the proper behavior that it necessitated, but that was beside the point. That day had been one of her fondest memories, and to this day, she and Detriek brought it up often during bouts of nostalgia for their childhood adventures. If he, in fact, did not recognize her today, then she would question his bold profession, during their last meeting months ago, that he knew her better than anyone in the universe.

The question, then, was how he would react. Would he jump up in anger and expose her without a second's hesitation in front of Endymion and the General, thus making her worst nightmare a reality? Would he then immediately head to the moon and tell her mother what he saw? Or…or would he begrudgingly play along in her masquerade and find a more discrete way to express his disapproval? For Serenity knew he would be very angry; he had always objected vehemently to her interest in the Earth and its aloof prince. Yet, for the sake of their longtime friendship and his claimed love for her, she desperately hoped he would take the latter route. She had neither right nor expectation to drag him into her game, but perhaps…just perhaps…

The princess sighed as her eyes wearily travelled with the thin stream of heat that rose steadily from the full pot of coffee on the tray. There was no point in delaying the inevitable now. She knocked gently until she heard Endymion's muffled voice from the other side bidding her to come in. Drawing in a deep breath of air for borrowed courage, she turned the doorknob and pushed the right door open in one swift movement.

All three men's heads were lowered, staring intently at the documents in front of them, and gave little attention to her entrance. Serenity spotted Detriek immediately and the air promptly whooshed out of her body, leaving her faint. She had been foolish, so foolish to think she could continue without being caught. The princess just did not expect Detriek to be the one to catch her. Fate was certainly having fun at her expense.

Serenity slowly approached the long table and set the tray down before the group as quietly as she could manage so as not to draw undue attention to her presence. They remained immersed in the papers before them, and she felt a small glimmer of hope start to build. Was it possible she could slip away undetected after all…?

Endymion rubbed his neck, trying to relieve the strain from the past hour of negotiations. However productive the meeting was proving to be, he nevertheless could not help the weariness that had slowly begun seeping into his body. He felt his injured side protesting with each movement and gritted his teeth, fighting to tamp down the pain lest he alert Detriek to any sign of his discomfort. He hoped that more coffee would provide the temporary boost he needed to finish the meeting. Endymion looked up from the materials, and his tired eyes were rewarded with the sight of his Sere (was he really thinking of her as his now?) and a tray of steaming coffee and freshly baked biscuits.

"Just in time," he said kindly and couldn't help flashing her a quick smile, "I think all of us will agree that a cup of coffee will be welcome after the past hour." He gestured for her to pour, and the princess felt that tiny shred of hope die promptly with his unsuspecting command.

Wordlessly, Serenity turned over the first cup and went to grab the pot with her other hand just as Detriek peeled his gaze away from the documents at the sound of Endymion's voice. Warm chocolate eyes met the princess' own fearful blue orbs. A second passed, then two, then several. Serenity watched helplessly as recognition, disbelief, anger and, perhaps the most painful of all, sadness flashed in Detriek's eyes like a slideshow, each battling for dominance as he looked at her, the alliance that had consumed his thoughts just moments before now all but forgotten. He opened his mouth to speak, then became racked with coughs like he had choked on air.

Serenity took that momentary distraction to avert her gaze and hurriedly pour a cup of black coffee for Endymion. She closed the distance between them in a few steps before setting the cup next to him, not daring to take a peek at his face. From her new position in the room, however, she did have a clear view of Detriek's face as he sought to contain his coughing, his eyes burning into her all the while.

"General, would you like a cup?" She asked, unable to contain the feeling of defeat growing in the pit her stomach, heavy as stone, from seeping into her voice.

"No, thank you, Sere," the General said back distractedly with a quick wave of his hand. "Prince Detriek, are you alright, or if you are unwell, I can call the doctor to attend to you."

"No, that will not be necessary," Detriek said weakly, as the coughs at last subsided. "Forgive me if I caused any concern. I must be feeling the delayed effects of the teleportation."

"Of course," Endymion supplied, forcing his lips to turn upward even as he feared his own swarming thoughts would drag him into madness. Why had Detriek reacted that way upon laying eyes on Sere? It was almost as if… "We are appreciative that you took the time to meet today. I am confident the meeting will end productively on both our ends today."

"As am I," Detriek returned quietly, his eyes still trained helplessly on the blonde across the table from him. Even dressed in coarse cloth, her petite figure free from any adornment, she was beautiful. She had always been and would always be the most beautiful to him, and it caused him physical agony, in those dark moments when he was truly honest with himself, that she could never return his affections. But that did not stop him from pursuing. Detriek was just like Serenity, stubborn to a fault. "In fact, I think we are done here. I agree to the revised terms as discussed today, and will pledge to sign the final document with our agreements memorialized."

"I am very pleased, Prince Detriek. This will be a defining step for both our kingdoms, I am confident of that." Endymion couldn't help but wonder whether the presence of a certain maid had effectively put a pin to their discussions. His stomach churned at the thought, and he felt a fresh wave of pain hit him, leaving him momentarily stunned. His hands formed into tight fists by his side.

At last unable to contain himself, Detriek addressed Serenity directly. "I will have that cup of coffee now…Sere, is it?" To an outside observer, his words sounded casual and unaffected, but Serenity could hear the slightly bitter undertone, the irony in his words as Detriek was forced to address his oldest friend as if she were a stranger to him.

"Yes, Prince Detriek." When was the last time she had addressed him so formally? Not even at fancy dinners and balls did she have to keep up such pretense, for it seemed that everyone in the universe knew and often gossiped about their longstanding history. Serenity mechanically made her way to his side and heard him draw in a sharp breath at her sudden closeness after months apart. She carefully poured his cup three quarters full, then dropped two cubes of sugar into the dark liquid before filling it almost to the brim with milk, just the way he liked it all these years. It hadn't even occurred to her until after the fact that, by all accounts, she shouldn't have known how he took his coffee.

Endymion felt his chest constrict, his lungs burning as if someone had drained all the air from the room. "You are very presumptuous to prepare the prince's coffee without even asking him first," he said quietly and immediately regretted it when he saw her face fall and turn ashen.

"On the contrary," Detriek interjected, his eyes meeting the Earth Prince's with an almost defiant spark, which darkened them until they turned almost black. "This is exactly how I like it." He smiled up at a now visibly shaking Serenity. "Thank you, Sere."

If he had to play Serenity's sick game, then he might as well derive some twisted pleasure in it, he thought angrily. Not that he wished any pain on the princess, or Endymion for that matter, who he had always respected and found pleasant to deal with even despite his stoic manners. Yet the thought that she had come to Earth disguised as a common maid of all people just to get close to the Earth Prince…that was too much for Detriek to handle, no matter how much it was against his nature to be cruel.

If there was a silver lining to be deduced from this debacle, it was the fact that, for the time being at least, Detriek did not seem intent on revealing Serenity's identity. Taking solace in her friend's generosity, the princess thought it best not to test his resolve to cover for her any longer than necessary.

"My princes, General, I do not wish to be a bother any more than necessary. I will leave you to complete your discussions." She turned and had one foot midair before Detriek's deep voice interjected.

"I don't believe there is anything else remaining to discuss at the time being, if you agree Prince Endymion. Though there is one last favor, if you may…"

"Of course. If there is something within my power to give, just name your ask." Endymion silently hoped his words sounded convincing. It took all his energy at this point to keep from screaming, let alone maintaining this dance of civility.

"Your gardens are very beautiful if I recall, though it has been years since I last visited. Might I take a quick tour this afternoon, so I can admire some pretty blooms before heading back?"

Endymion didn't miss Detriek's quick glance to his Sere as he spoke. "I am sure your gardens are just as marvelous, but I thank you for the compliment. Myself or the General would be happy to accompany you," he replied smoothly.

"I would not want to waste your afternoon, Prince Endymion, or yours, General. I imagine you must have other meetings to attend." Indeed, Endymion had forgotten about the next meeting that was set to begin within the hour. His eyes narrowed, not liking the direction in which Detriek was surely about to take the conversation. "Perhaps Sere could take me."

All three pairs of eyes fell onto the small blonde. She wished the floor would open up and swallow her whole in that moment, as she found herself staring at her worn shoes.

"Sere is very new here," the General supplied as he watched Endymion struggle to maintain composure, "we could surely find you a more suitable companion."

"Yet she was fitting enough to serve us today, was she not?" Detriek smiled innocently as he stood and walked over to offer Endymion a firm hand. "It is always a pleasure, my prince. No need to be so formal as to see me out. I will take my leave once I finish visiting your gardens." His brown eyes next regarded the princess. "Sere, if you may show me the way."

Serenity looked at Endymion helplessly, willing him to hear her silent apology. How utterly messed up things had become in the last day, and it was all her doing. But…what had she expected? There had never been any real chance for a happy ending—the princess could never carry her delusions to that extreme.

"With Prince Endymion's permission," she whispered, which was given with a single, short nod of his head.

"As you said, Prince Detriek, always a pleasure," Endymion said to their retreating forms.

Serenity felt tears beginning to form as she stepped outside of the room, not daring to look back.

The walk toward the gardens was entirely silent as the pair made their way slowly down the halls, attracting curious gazes from everyone who came into their path. Detriek looked older somehow since the last time she had seen him, though logically he shouldn't have. But maybe she did too, weighed down by the anticipation of what was inevitably to come. She pushed open the tall metal gates to the main gardens and slipped inside, thankful to be away from the hustle and bustle of the palace even if briefly. They found a secluded, shaded bench under a large tree and sat down. She closed her eyes for a second, letting the afternoon air warm her cheeks and enjoying the breeze that ended as quickly as it had come. But now was not the time to bask in the simple pleasures of nature.

"Thank you…for…for not saying anything to him," Serenity said hesitantly. By now, she had half expected Detriek to be yelling at her or shaking her back into her senses or some combination of both. This strange, uncharacteristically silent man beside her was hardly recognizable.

"Do you think me a fool?" He replied finally, his voice low, and the princess felt her stomach drop. The warmth of the sun couldn't shield her from the coldness now facing her. Detriek regretted his harsh words as soon as they left his lips. "I would hope you know me better than that. I…I would never do anything to endanger you, Serenity. You should know that by now."

"I know, I…" She what? She was sorry? Sorry for what? Nothing she said could justify what she had done, what she was continuing to do, not to the man who had protected and cared for her above all others time and time again.

"You always were obsessed with him." He laughed, but there was no humor in the sound. It only left the princess feeling colder. "But I never would've thought you would've acted on it. And like this…"

"You're right," she whispered. "You have always been right. You have always been strong and I weak. You have always been the one to give me strength. I couldn't…I couldn't give myself away to a life that I never asked for without at least seeing him…"

"And now that you have seen him, plenty I imagine, if his reactions today are any indication…what now? What now, Sere?" Serenity winced as Detriek continued on his tirade, a decade's worth of frustration now bubbling to the surface with unmatched strength. "The worst part of it is you let them…you let him call you Sere…but you wouldn't let me. What was the excuse you gave, that you're reserving it only for your mother, your senshi, and your future husband? Do you have any idea how much that hurt me when you said that? How much I…" The fight left his body, and he was suddenly that little boy again, chasing after his angel who was always just a hair's distance away from his reach.

"Detriek…" The tears were flowing freely now, and she didn't care enough to wipe them away.

"He is captivated by you too, that much was obvious to me," he conceded slowly. "Which is more than I thought he was capable of. But I suppose even the great Prince Endymion is not immune to your charms. A man like that…attention is all he could ever give you. I have worked with and watched him for years, Serenity, even with his father was still alive…he is brilliant and likely the most powerful ruler that Earth will see for a long time…but he doesn't know how to love, Serenity. I respect him tremendously, but he cannot give you what a normal man can."

"You mean, what you can," she said, "what you are offering me. That's what this is all about, is it not? You, who have spent the last decade beside me, you, who know me better than perhaps even my own mother…you are asking me to choose you at the end of all this, because you are what's best for me."

Detriek grasped her hands without warning, and Serenity gasped at the shock of warmth that buzzed through her body. "I am asking you to choose me because I can love you best, yes." He placed a small kiss on her hand, and she felt her cheeks burn. "But really, Serenity, am I that offensive to you?"

The princess laughed despite herself. "I will not dignify that with an answer."

His eyes grew serious again as he tightened his hold on her slender fingers. "I desperately hope that you do not hate me for this…but…I would not do this if I thought there were any other option. I need…I need to make…" He released a shaky breath, as if silently debating with himself whether to go through with his next words. "I can tell you are…infatuated with him too, to say the least. But you continuing to stay here disguised as a…a maid…I cannot in good conscience allow you to keep doing this without doing my part to put an end to it. I hope you will understand, but I see no other way."

Serenity knew what he was about to say before those words were actually spoken as panic gripped her organs and twisted them painfully. "Detriek…please don't…"

"I am asking you to leave on your own terms by the end of this week, or else…I will tell Queen Serenity, and she will deal with this as she sees fit. That gives you two days to…to find a way to say goodbye to him."

Serenity didn't hate him for issuing the ultimatum; in fact, she felt nothing at all when the words actually hit. She merely felt frozen, as if time itself had stopped, as she wondered how in the universe she could muster the strength to say goodbye to the man who had claimed her heart with his piercing blue eyes.

"I understand," she replied finally. She didn't hate Detriek, but she did not want to see him. All she wanted to do was curl up in her bed and cry until her body could not form any more tears. But wasn't this the sad result that she had been dreading ever since she first stepped foot on Earth? "Forgive me, I am not well. I trust that you will be able to see yourself to the teleportation room. Safe travels home."

"Serenity…"

By then, the princess had already been too far away to hear his final plea.

"Oh Sere, won't you tell me what happened today?" Molly was kneeled beside the blonde, who was presently testing her theory of whether someone truly could cry until no more tears remained. "Please, you're scaring me."

Molly had returned wearily to their room after a long day of fighting with bed sheets only to find her friend buried beneath her blankets, her pillow already half-drenched with tears. Any attempts to ascertain the cause of Serenity's pain went unanswered except for occasional whispers of "it's all my fault," which only made the red-head more alarmed. She had thought about calling over Lucas to help, but given the blonde's current state—all swollen eyes and puffy noses—Molly thought she would save her friend that embarrassment on top of all her current troubles.

"Are you hurt or ill?" After a few moments, Molly was rewarded with a wordless shake of the head. "Is it your family? Your mother?" Another shake. The young maid's patience was beginning to wear thin. "The prince…" A pause, and Molly knew she was headed on the right track.

"He hates me…or will hate me, rather," Serenity managed finally as she struggled to sit up. "I am so very sorry to be in this state and to worry you. I promise, I will be fine in the morning." That was her way of stopping Molly from her desperate need to get to the bottom of her tears, but she was hardly confident that it would work. Instead, it seemed to have the opposite effect.

"What has been happening between you two? I know you have been spending time serving him…but is there…" She didn't dare continue that train of thought.

Serenity opened her mouth to refute any insinuation of indecency on Endymion's part, but a sharp knock at the door left both girls startled. They looked at each other in equal parts confusion and fear, for who would come to their door at this late hour? Molly stood and took the candle with her and opened the door halfway to greet their surprise visitor.

"Head Servant," she curtsied quickly as soon as she recognized his hard features, "is there anything we can do for you?" Serenity slipped out of bed quickly and went to greet him as well.

Head Servant frowned at Molly, then at Serenity when he took note of her disheveled appearance and bloodshot eyes. "The prince has requested you to serve him," he said, "though I recommend you wash your face and change your clothes first."

"I apologize," Serenity responded, half in shock, "do you mean in the morning?"

"No." He frowned again, but she could see the curiosity lingering underneath his outward disapproval. "He would like you to attend to him immediately."

"I…" Serenity hesitated, her thoughts scurrying in every which way imaginable as she tried to come up with plausible reasons for why he would summon her in such an unconventional way. Could it be that Detriek had a change of heart and told him…but he wouldn't betray her like that…he couldn't…

"Are you saying you will not go?" Head Servant lifted an eyebrow, this time no longer even bothering to hide his rapidly peaking curiosity. "That you will disobey a direct order from the prince himself?"

"Of course not," she said hurriedly as she began walking over to the washbasin. "I will go as soon as I can. Thank you, sir."

Satisfied that the prince's message had been successfully received, he turned to leave the girls' room, before hesitating by the doorway. "The prince appeared to be in a strange mood tonight. I hope…" He sighed and shook his head. "Good night, both of you."

Alone again, Molly hurried toward Serenity with a dry towel and a change of clothes. "Well, best not to keep the prince waiting." Her tone was joking, but she could not hide the worry in her eyes.

The door to his chambers was slightly ajar, as if extending her a silent invitation to enter without even knocking. She smoothed out imaginary wrinkles in her dress before she knocked anyway, each knock matching the thump of her heart as it jumped in anticipation of seeing him again. But thanks to the events of this afternoon, everything had changed. He knew that she was hiding something, even if he did not know the extent of her secret. He must doubt her now, especially as he had entrusted her to protect his own secret. Serenity wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry at the irony of it all, of this web of lies that they kept weaving thicker and thicker.

Hearing no affirmative or negative response, she pushed the door further open and slipped inside, the small click of the door as it closed behind her suddenly leaving her feeling very small and trapped.

"You asked to see me, my prince." Her voice sounded steadier than what she was feeling, and she thanked the heavens for that small gift.

Silence answered her for several long minutes before he spoke. "Yes…though I can't for the life of me imagine why at this point, seeing as how your loyalties do not lie with me as you so previously declared."

Serenity had not prepared herself for such anger and spite directed at her. Her chest heaved as she greedily pushed air through her clamoring lungs. "Forgive me," she whispered, "I…"

"Just tell me this, for once…just…please…please…be honest with me. Tell me. Who are you, really? Who are you to have known Prince Detriek, so well in fact you know how he takes his coffee? Who are you that one look at you was enough to get him to blindly agree to the rest of the treaty without having read through the documents in their entirety? Tell me…why did he insist on taking you away using some thinly veiled excuse to see flowers that he couldn't care less about, was it to…to touch you? To say things to you that—"

"Please, stop," she was kneeling beside his bed now, begging him as tears streamed anew from her swollen eyes. "Please. I am sorry…so very sorry for everything…all the trouble I have caused you, just…please don't say anything more. Please, I can't bear it."

"Or what?" In the moonlight, she could clearly see his eyes, could see the torment and agony that shattered her heart. "I know nothing about you. You have given me nothing of yourself, your care and service, yes, but nothing of you personally…your upbringing, your family, your joys, your fears. Were you sent to destroy me? Because since the first night we met…I struggle to stay away from you, yet you seem to have no problem regarding me with little more than indifference…or is it fear? Perhaps you will be the last one laughing, so-called Ice Prince bested by the coldest of them all in the form of a maid." Endymion knew he shouldn't have said all of this, to have revealed so much of his heart and his innermost fears to this girl who he was coming to realize was little more than a stranger to him. Yet it was too late. He was hers, irrevocably hers, but she…

His hands found hers, and she gasped. "Your hands…" She pressed cool fingers to his forehead, and her suspicions were confirmed. "Your forehead is too warm, my prince. You must have a fever…please, let me get some cold cloths…"

"No," he insisted, his hands gripping hers until she bit her lip to keep from crying out at the pain that shot through her wrists and up her arms. "No, you do not get to run away, not this time." One hand reached up to cup her cheek gently in his palm. Her cheek felt even softer than he had imagined. "You still haven't answered my question."

Her bottom lip quivered as she leaned into his touch, his hand burning her skin that sent fire across the length of her body. "Which one?"

Endymion laughed. Blame it on the fever setting in, or the pain from his side, or the way her eyes looked at him just now through her tears, as if he could see into her very soul from those glassy depths. "Tell me what Prince Detriek means to you, to start. Because it was clear, at least to me, what you mean to him. How that came to be I will spare you for tonight if you will just answer me."

"Please, Prince Endymion. You are delirious with fever," she protested still, but he shook his head.

"Again, I am not allowing you to run away this time."

Endymion wanted the truth from her and was breaking her resolve little by little each time his fingers stroked her cheek. She knew this would only make things all the more painful given her impending departure, but, in that moment...she wanted him. She wanted him desperately, wanted him to know that his confessions tonight delighted her, were what she always dreamed of but never dared to hope for. That she felt what he felt tenfold, one-hundredfold.

"You ask me about my history with Prince Detriek…but there is only one thing you need to know. He has not touched me…my body or my heart…no man has, before you. But you…"

That was all that Endymion needed to hear. "Sere…"

He pulled her toward him, and before she could even react, his lips were on hers.

Wow, this chapter turned out to be pretty long! I'm actually decently happy with it, and of course, our favorite couple finally kissed! It was awhile coming in my book. Anyway, rest assured, lots more romance, angst, and drama from yours truly in the chapters to come. Please review, and have a good long weekend!

This story was written and posted September 2017.