Eligible Bachelorette's

"Come on Spartos! Don't you want to spy on some of the pretty girls?"

"No one said they were pretty," He mumbled under his breath. "And as a matter of fact, no. I don't want to spy on them."

The young princess Pisti was dragging who she hoped was Prince Spartos through the grounds of the Kina palace. IN reality it was Spartos, but sometimes she wasn't sure. The masks that his people wore all seemed so alike in her opinion. His was made of silver, covering the left side of his face completely. While all of the masks from his country were formed to look like saints and prophets of the past, his was designed to look specifically like the hero Elijah. With strong cheeks, dark eyes and a small beard it didn't match his young handsome face that always seemed undeterred. Pisti had a mask that went around her eyes, completely covered in light yellow feathers. Some citizens who saw her mask used to wonder if it would really make her fly.

Once when they were little she had convinced him to show her his face if she showed him hers. He'd absolutely hated the idea, because his family was strict on revealing identities. But, in the end he'd given in. After that it was like the two of them shared an inseparable bond. Whenever they happened to be in the same country, if you were looking for one you could find the other. Perhaps it was because they secretly didn't trust the other to keep their secret. The relationships between their countries were so fragile, despite being in an alliance. The way their countries ran were complete opposite. And they never divulged secrets with the others.

At times like that however, Pisti and Spartos liked to pleasantly ignore the caution engraved into them by their predecessors. Sometimes it was just easier to pretend they were just two friends. "Aw, you're no fun! I'd bet this is the first time you've even seen a girl without a mask, isn't it?"

Spartos frowned. "No, it's not." In actuality, the first one he'd seen without a mask outside of family had been Pisti. It was considered vulgar for a lady of the court to show their faces to anyone besides their husband. Sometimes not even then. He'd only seen the faces of children and sometimes citizens from other countries. Many citizens in his country even designed their own masks as a thing of beauty. Pisti had scoffed at the idea.

Right then she just rolled her eyes. "Suuuuree. Come on, it will be fun! We are just going to sneak a peek, see who all is here. I've already made a bet with Sharkkon on which girls we think will win the kings heart, and you've got to put in your bet!" Spartos ignored the stab in his heart when she referred to another prince to casually. But then he had to remind himself that it wasn't the same for her as it was for him.

So he followed with only slight resistance as Pisti tugged him through the halls to the small portion of the palace that had been sealed off for the guests. Spartos had only seen a few of the women as they were being brought in. Other than that most of them had dutifully remained inside the borders they were given over the past two weeks. Some of them tried to escape, but the guards did their jobs at keeping them in.

Pisti however had the clever idea to spy on them from one of the windows on the roof. "No one goes up there because you can't climb there from the inside," She explained. "We can looked down on them, but they won't be able to see us unless they look up. Besides, I can just remind them that I am one of the potential brides so they won't get us in trouble."

Spartos nearly choked on air. "YOU? But you're…you aren't…" He trailed off when Pisti fell over laughing.

"Ha! You are so gullible! Mama made sure that King Sinbad can't pick any of my sisters or I. Besides, why would I want to? I don't want to be tied down by such things. I'd rather just look at all the pretty men than have just one." Pisti shrugged carelessly while Spartos suppressed a shudder. He didn't want to know just how many men she'd like to look at. When she spotted his reaction she grinned. "Oh don't worry. You're one of those pretty men too."

The half of his face that was not covered showed his skin turning bright red.

His embarrassment just got worse as she sneaked him up on the roof. There were a few soldiers guarding the doors but none of them noticed two adults on the roof. "How did you find this window anyway?" He asked as they found a ledge next to the window to sit on.

"I told you I made some bet's with Sharkkon. He was trying to spy on the pretty girls." Ah.

"I'm betting on that one," she told him pointing down. "See her?" Spartos glanced down the window and immediately turned red. Over a hundred girls were sitting in the lobby, chatting, doing their makeup or getting their hair done. He bet that there were more in the other rooms as well, probably having more 'beauty treatment.' He didn't know what that implied and he didn't want to know. What he did know was that absolutely none of them were wearing masks. It was a nightmare! "Oh calm down you big baby," she scoffed when she had to grab his arm so he didn't run away. "They're just girls! Get over your stupid superstitions and take a look." he didn't want to look. It seemed rude, almost disrespectful to see any lady without a mask. They were so exposed!

He hardly noticed the annoyed puff Pisti let out. "You didn't act like this when I showed you my face." He was glad he was able to compose himself before he turned an even brighter shade of red.

"We were just kids then," Spartos naively answered. "Those are women. You were just a girl."

Later he would realize his mistake. At the moment Pisti just grumbled and turned away. "I'm a lady now," She muttered to herself. Out loud she said to him, "You might as well get used to it. They aren't going to be wearing masks when the balls and celebrations happen, and you don't want to go all red and puffy-cheeked with all of the kings and queens of the 12 around, do you?"

Alright. So that did sound like the worse of two evils. Swallowing his pride he forced himself to look again. Once he'd calmed down a bit she pointed again. "Anyway. Look at that one! She looks pretty, right?" the girl she was pointing at had long dark hair with a white band tied around her head. She had dark eyes that absorbed all her surroundings cautiously. Her 'dress' looked more like a suit of armour. The top half was made of pink metal that went down to the waist and framed the brown silk cloth that made the skirt. Her scowl said that she did NOT want to be there. "Her name is Toto. Sharkkon bet that she'd be the first to leave if anyone's given the chance."

"She looks nice," he replied, trying to sound distant. "W-who is that one?" The next girl was one with slightly purple hair tied back. She wore red glasses that matched her red lipstick. But unlike most, she didn't wear a dress or any royal garment the court had given them. She was dressed in the smallest amount of armour Spartos had ever seen. He instantly regretted pointing her out. "S-s-she looks a little old to be thirty."

Pisti giggled at his stutter. "That's Myer's. She's training the girls, not competing with them." She said that to reassure him, but that just horrified him even more. "Alright, you're not interested in that bet. Do you want to make a go at who you think will win?" After a quick scan at the crowd she pointed down again. "Sharkkon thinks she's going to win." A shy girl with dark skin and beautiful dark hair flowed down her back as she politely listened to another blonde girl ramble on about something. Spartos had to admit she was beautiful. Her skin was flawless, and even with the humble attitude he could picture her as a queen.

But a queen for Sinbad? Lady-killer Sinbad? Maybe not.

"Yeah, I didn't think so either," Pisti told him when she saw his reaction. "How about her?" After that there was a women who had a bright smile. She wore a very small brown dress and was smoking a long pipe. Her light brown hair was done up revealing her low neckline and a few freckles on her face. Spartos wasn't sure that amount-or lack of amount-of clothing was suitable in any culture connected to the twelve. Of course Sinbad would like her.

"M-maybe." He was tempted to agree based on the soul fact that he really wanted to leave. As he did his best to try and look anywhere but less conservative girls, he noted the girls who were taken in. "Are...are none of these women from Kou?" Pisti blinked at him, surprised.

"No, of course not. They have to be citizens of Kina. Why?" Spartos shook his head. He knew Pisti wouldn't like his answer.

"It's just…you know the old prophecy. I thought they would try to…" Pisti's eyes filled with understanding, but she didn't look pleased with it either.

"Oh, that. Pff, no. I think they've given up on that old thing." Spartos nodded, but didn't reply. His country held the prophecies of Solomon in high regards. Even if he didn't believe, he'd never dare voice it out loud. "Besides, I'm glad she's not going to be from Kou," Pisti added to his surprise. "Sinbad is really cool and kou is kind of…spooky." He had to agree. Kou was famous for its strict policies and culture, along with the secrets they guarded to their graves. They had been one of the last countries to join the twelve, to suspicious of others to decide join right away. Even when they did join…Sometimes it seemed like they hadn't.

His inner debate was interrupted by Pisti's observation. "That girl is odd."

"Pisti! Don't be rude!"

"No, I mean…look!"

He glanced through the window once again. The girl Pisti was pointing at was sitting far away from the group. She had dark hair that was being cut by a worker wearing a plain black and white mask. They couldn't see her face, but she was wearing a pale blue dress that fit the style of Kina's royalty. It was made of a very light fabric, and had a light transparent layer over top of a bold blue. But unlike the others girls who were dancing around and laughing in their new gowns while giggling in excitement, she was pulling at the dress awkwardly like she wished to be in different clothes. Instead of speaking to others she had a quill and paper in her hands, writing what appeared to be a long letter. Most…just about all of the girls were absolutely thrilled with where they were. The girl sitting there had her shoulders dropped, separated from the crowd and refusing to indulge in the same activities the other girls were.

Pisti was right. She was odd.

"Princess Pisti? Prince Spartos?" Both of them jumped. Below them on the path was Prince Titus staring up at them in awe. "Um…are you two lost?" They glanced at each other. Neither of them knew the new prince very well. He was more vulnerable with others, though still raised as a prince of the twelve. Talking to him was not exactly their list on things to do.

Better him than Sindria's advisor. They did not want to imagine Jafar's face if he found them.

So instead, Pisti put on an innocent smile when he saw them. "Titus! How are you?" Titus blinked in surprise when she used his first name. Spartos felt his cheeks go red, but he ignored it.

"I'm alright," he replied hesitantly. "What were you doing up there?"

"Oh…we were just…um…" Pisti turned to Spartos for help. While Spartos wasn't the best liar, he could come up with answers quick. Pisti would just have to do the convincing.

"We…were looking for King Sinbad." Titus blinked.

Pisti stuck out her tongue, but at least he'd given her something to work with. "Yeah! King Sinbad is the kind of guy who would spy on a bunch of girls so we thought he might be here. Shameless guy, isn't he?" Spartos resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "But now that I think about it," She paused, really considering what she had said. "He might not be in the palace. Rumor has it that Sinbad has been sneaking his mask off to go to the town," Pisti giggled. Spartos recoiled in shock.

"Pisti! Don't spread rumors like that!" Pisti laughed at his reaction while Titus tipped his head to the side.

"Why would he take his mask off?"

"So no one recognizes him," Pisti explained. "That way he could go around and do whatever he wants, and no one would realize it was him!"

Both of them could see the gleam in his eye at her words. "But it's very dangerous if he slipped up and revealed who he was. And it is certainly not encouraged," He added with a glare in Pisti's direction. The girl just winked back.

Unfortunately, Titus hadn't heard the second part. "Uh-huh. Interesting…going into town…" Oh no.

"Titus, I don't think you-"

"Pisti!" A voice called across the crossway. "Spartos." Both of their blood ran cold.

OH NO.

…

They say that there is only two more weeks of this…treatment…then we'll have some celebrations and parties to go to. After that I'll come home right away. Or, I guess we can't go home…Where do you want to go? Perhaps the country of Heliophat? I know you don't like this country brother, so we can leave if you like. We could…

Hakuei lifted her paper form the page. She didn't know what else to write anymore.

Nearly every day since she had been brought to the palace she had written to her brother. Since she was stuck inside she had no idea if her letters were actually getting to him. He hadn't written back, but that didn't mean much. He didn't like writing letters, or he would lose track. That didn't mean she wasn't worried. Or, in general, bored.

Her experience at the palace wasn't exactly…pleasant. They had first forced her to come, only giving her a few minutes to grab some things. Then she along with a few girls from her neighborhood met with girls from the town and were locked into a large building for weeks. There she was forced to take bathes in perfume, was set on a strict food schedule, did ridiculous exercises that she was convinced you'd have to be made of rubber to actually complete, and among other things, share a room with two particularly noisy girls. She would have preferred rooming with Sahsa or the calm girl named Toto, but instead she had been bunked with Edda and Brigit. Both girls who loved nothing more than to talk about the splendor of the palace riches and dream about ho 'wonderful' the lady-killer of the seven seas had to be. Half the girls were like Hakuei and didn't care if they were picked, just enjoyed the fact they were in the palace. But for some reason every girl that did care was convinced she would be the next queen.

Hakuei didn't want to be queen. She didn't want the riches or the servants at her every call. She hated the fact that they had insisted on cutting her hair so it was below her shoulders instead of below her waist. The doors were locked every day making her feel more like a prisoner than a guest. Being stuck in a corner of the palace was the last place she wanted to be. She wanted to be with her brother, deciding what would happen next. Where would they go? She couldn't go back to the orphanage. He would leave the minute she got back, she knew it. Starting new didn't sound that bad…they just weren't sure how to do it. They'd never tried it before. Would they leave the country? Or stay and find a place to work? Maybe with Sahsa…They might hire her brother, he was a good worker…Hakuei could find some other place to work at…

"Miss," Hakuei glanced back when her thought was interrupted. "Please turn your head to the right." Hakuei scowled, but did as she asked. It had taken them a long time to finally convince them to let her hair be cut. She still hated the idea. Her brother was going to freak out when he saw her. But apparently they wanted the king of Sindria to have a variety of looks to choose from, and there were too many girls with hair below their waist. It was the style in Kina. While she loved her hair, she didn't care about following the style. So as long as they kept it below her shoulders she said it was alright.

But it wasn't. She hated it.

She was being put on display for a stranger to pick her out or throw her away.

And some of the girls were thrilled about it.

"Aren't they so cute?" Hakuei had no choice but to watch a group of girls giggling by the window. Toya had unwillingly been dragged over by one of her friends. She looked just as miserable as Hakuei felt. A girl with short pink hair and her friend with flaming red hair were sneaking glances out a window. "I like the one with dark hair."

"Do you know who he is?"

"No, but neither do you. What about the boy with blond hair?"

"How can you even tell it's a boy?"

Toya rolled her eyes. "Toyo thinks that it won't matter since they would never reveal their identities. Can Toya go now?" The girls both rolled her eyes. Out of curiosity, and boredom, Hakuei let the hairdresser finish then went to her rescue. As she walked over Toya didn't smile, but she nodded at her presence. "Nice hair."

"Don't patronize me." Toyo smirked. "What are you doing?"

"Check it out!" She pointed out the window. Three masked characters were talking. Obviously they didn't recognize any of them, but it looked like a man, a younger man or possibly women, and a young girl. "I like the one with dark hair. He's cute, and he looks so mature."

"Do you think they're princes and a princess?" The other girl asked.

"Bah! No way! They might be soldiers."

"Who, the little girl?"

Both Toyo and Hakuei begged for the conversation to end mentally. One of the girls glanced outside again. "Oh wait, there's another one!" The three looked outside. A man with long purple hair came strolling across to the group. At the sight of him, both the girls squealed. "WOW! That one is so handsome!"

"How can you tell?" Toyo mumbled. "You can't even see him." Hakuei gave her a weak smile. Toyo lived on one of the remote parts of the town, so the only person she really knew was a girl who loved the palace more than her own home. Or at least acted like it. Secretly Hakuei wondered how homesick they really were. At the orphanage, some children would pretend to be happy, act as if going there was a dream come true. But then, at night, they would cry themselves to sleep.

Sometimes pretending to be alright was a way of coping. Hakuei decided to humor them and sneak a glance. He wore long white robes Hakuei had never seen before. He was fairly tall with an interesting mask to cover his features. What caught her attention was the long purple hair that hung down his back. For a moment, she thought she knew someone with hair that looked like that.

No, wait. No she didn't.

Yes she did.

No, she…no. No she didn't.

What?

Hakuei blinked. What had she been thinking again?

"I certainly hope that the king will be as handsome as he is," one of the girls sighed. "Do you think he's all they make him out to be? One friend I have from Magnustand told me that girls would faint at the sight of him." How can they faint without seeing his face? Hakuei didn't voice her objections out loud.

"Brigid told me that he's the strongest of the 12. Apparently he's the strongest they've had in years!" How could Brigid know that unless she saw each of them fight?

Hakuei sighed. Rumors were always like this. Vague enough that you couldn't exactly disprove them, but there was no proof either. They were just wild and crazy enough to get people's attention, make them almost hope they were true just to get something interesting added to their boring lives.

Another voice jumped in. "I'd say that the only one who could really tell us that will be whoever he chooses as his wife, wouldn't you say?" They all turned to face a stranger they had seen before, but never spoken to. She was a girl with long blue hair and bright blue eyes. Hakuei remembered the servants asking to cut her hair the day before, but she had kicked her out of the room screaming. Hakuei had decided she'd liked her. Or was slightly afraid of her. She couldn't decide.

"Hi," Hakuei greeted first. "I'm Hakuei." The girl smiled and took her hand.

"It's nice to meet you," she added with an innocent smile. "I'm really nervous about this whole thing. I mean, they make it out that we are all, like, competing against each other or something. I don't want to fight anyone. This whole place is too freaky already, and I don't want to have to be watching my back against my own roommates to!" All of the girls laughed happily, the tension from the awkward meeting disappearing in an instant. They'd all felt that way at one time, but no one had been brave enough to say it. It was easier opening up to someone who was so honest.

And she looked so innocent. She reminded Hakuei of a child at the orphanage, awkwardly waiting in the corner while the other kids played. Too scared to make friends on her own. She'd always been proud when that one kid finally got the courage to go and meet others. Part of her was proud of the girl in front of her as well. She seemed very nice as the continued to talk. Just another one of the girls.

But then why were alarm bells going off in her head?

"I'm sorry, I don't think I got your name," Hakuei realized. The girl shot her back the kindest, most innocent smile Hakuei had ever seen.

"It's Dunya. Just Dunya."