Chapter 7

I dropped into a curtsey for Adrian. Everyone in this room knew Adrian was my fiancé, so too not curtsey would be a sign of disrespect and I could not have bad rumours spread about me. My eyes flashed back to Dimitri. He was watching Adrian warily, as if he expected him to do something that would be catastrophic for the three of us. It confused me. Why would Adrian do that? To reveal to the court that his fiancée was in love with his advisor would be to commit social suicide. No. I must have misread Dimitri.

I shook my head to rid myself of the thoughts that were flowing through it. Tonight, I should only concentrate on being a princess of England, a fiancée of a duke and of course, Queen of the Stars. I made eye contact with Lissa and she nodded back at me. Moments later, a roar filled the room. The masque began.

Alfred (Or Alfie) the court jester came running into the hall, surrounded by two of his protégées, Thomas and John. I smiled slightly, Tom was considered very handsome at court, and his dark brown hair was wavy and looked so soft. His eyes were brown and warm and a smile was almost always seen on his lips. Yes Tom was one of the most talked about men at court. Not bad for a noble really. I liked him, he reminded me of Dimitri, but he was just a friend; A good friend. John was as different as chalk is from cheese. He was tall and wiry with ice blue eyes. His hair was blonde and he was ok to look at I suppose, but he was often found in the arms of a prostitute in some dirty pub. He was ridiculous. They were also my personal jesters, while I preferred Tom, John could provide some entertainment and I was very much so looking forward to seeing what they were going to do tonight.

They ran towards us queens as rehearsed, they were snarling and snapping to emphasise that they were the villains. It was really quite comical. Alfie was trying his best to be a werewolf and paused every few seconds to howl at the moon. Tom was a dog and kept barking and pretending to bite Alfie's tail with John bringing up the rear as a snake. Really, nothing could be more comical than seeing this bunch of pranksters. They reached us and Alfie spoke up.

"Good queens of wondrous things! We have captured you for our own delight! Your consorts shall never find you for AWOOOOOOOOOOOO (A/N - That's what I think a howl can be represented as...) you are hidden in our castle!" Giggling slightly I stepped forward.

"That is where you are wrong evil villain! Our consorts shall save us! Your wretched howling shall be your downfall!" I stepped back and pretended to cower into Viktoria.

"Mwah Ha Ha! No fair lady you are mistaken!" John chipped in with an evil smirk.

"Sweet queens – no rescue comes for you, for your consorts are weak!" Tom smirked at me and the other ladies, who all began to swoon. This was perfect timing for our kings to come flying to the rescue.

"Never fear my Queen! I shall rescue you and your fellow queens!" Adrian boomed across to us as he pulled his sword out. "Unhand my Queen you devils!" he roared at Alfie, Tom and John, before feinting a blow at Tom's codpiece. Gasps of horror and squeals filled the hall as it looked for a moment that Adrian might actually slice it off. Tom stepped back daintily, but even his face has gone white with shock and fear. My fiancée really is insane. My brain whispered to me as I watched the drama before me. Please father, choose Dimitri.

The other kings got involved and, very bloodthirstily, they attacked the three jesters with their swords until they all lay on the floor. Adrian laughed and made his way to my side.

"My queen, I have defeated these villains and have now come to take you home. Do you accept?" He raised an eyebrow at me, and I realised, this is my chance. Here, I can admit to all that I love Dimitri. My eyes fell on my father, who, surprisingly, had Dimitri by his side. Dimitri shook his head No and I blinked. Time to come clean.

"I do not accept, for my heart belongs to another. Alas, I am sorry King of Stars; I cannot come home to you." My heart fluttered frantically in my chest. I had just ruined the masque, I had just insulted a Duke of Russia and Lord of England and I'd done it all in front of the royal court, my true love and my father. Way to kick royal ass Rose. I silently congratulated myself as I stared at my father. He frowned at me, and I realised he was waiting for me to ask him something.

"My gracious father, I beg you, release me from my betrothal with Lord Ivashkov, for my one true love is by your side." I sank into a curtsey and stayed there, praying all the time. The room was silent. All eyes rested on the king.

"I told you Rose, I had made my decision. While I had planned to tell you tomorrow, you have pushed it forward slightly and I must respect you for that. I suppose the suspense for you, a weak woman, must have been unbearable. Well. My decision is this. I understand that you love this man, Dimitri Belikov, and that you are still betrothed to Adrian Ivashkov. So, I have decided not to release you, but Belikov- On your knees." I gasped and I was not alone in thinking my father was about to behead my lover, as several others did too and a broad grin appeared on Adrian's face. Dimitri did so, shooting me a look filled with love, he bravely bent onto his knees in front of my father. My heart increased. Father pulled out his sword and suddenly Lissa was at my side, stopping me from running to Dimitri's side.

"Wait!" she whispered in my ear frantically.

"Dimitri..." escaped my lips... my pain filled whimper filled the room and shocked faces turned to me. Adrian's smug grin became a scowl.

"I dub thee Lord Dimitri Belikov of Winchester. Rise Lord Winchester." My father did what he intended to do, but I barely noticed. Dimitri still had a head. He still had his beautiful head and was now a lord... an English lord... Well. God save the King.

"Forgive me Highness... there was a "but"?" Lissa spoke up for me, which was convenient seeing as my eyes were locked with the shocked eyes of the new Lord Winchester.

"There was indeed Lady Dragomir, There was indeed." The king returned his attention to Dimitri. "Lord Belikov, I shall give you a month in Winchester. If you do well there, and deal with the peasants well, bring me lots of profit, and then I shall consider breaking off my daughter's current betrothal. You have one month until we shall see you again. You must leave immediately." With this, my father rose from his throne and left the room.

Uproar rose, no one had expected that response. Hell I hadn't! While the news wasn't too bad... it was still bad, mainly because my monthly course was due... and it currently hadn't arrived...

Hey!

I'm sorry for the slow update; I had a bit of writer's block. :'( Meh.

Anywho... I was tempted not to reveal Edward's decision, but then I decided that was mean- and I didn't want anything thrown at me... lol

I love Winchester. I got it both from BBC's Robin Hood (Mmm... Jonas Armstrong...) and it's the awesome city I was born in. :DDD

Lol I have treacle tart and I'm slightly hyper... you might be able to tell...

Also... I only described the jesters because I based them both on people I know... One being my teacher – who literally half the girls in my history class drooled over! And some guy I know... ;)

Now that I have babbled on aimlessly for a bit... REVIEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

DarkRomanceAddict