Well, I got into quite the writing mood, since I wrote two updates tonight. This one's a little shorter than the last few updates, because I decided to split the mystery ball into two parts. Get ready for a lot of Keith's attitude!
Please enjoy Chapter 14!
I sigh as I look out the window of the plane. It was already the day of the mystery ball. I spent all of yesterday with Cathy and the other servants. I played a couple songs for her, we played with Duke, went to the garden and helped the gardeners, cooked with the chiefs, and talked some more with Claire, Natalie, Milly, and Sarah while they cleaned.
The day was over far too quickly. Then I had the rude awakening of Milly's upbeat attitude early this morning. After being woken up, the maids got my hair and make-up done because apparently Zain had emailed them exactly what I needed for my look tonight. Also, a parcel arrived at the Manse for me that morning, from Nobel Micheal. Inside, were a beautiful pair of gold lace long fingerless gloves.
I was already wearing them, and the maids gave me a red sweetheart neckline A-line dress with gold designs on it. When I told them I already had a dress at the party waiting for me, they told me that I couldn't be seen wearing civilian clothing when entering the castle. It would get a lot of attention from the reporters, and the fact I'd be escorted by Prince Keith would already be getting me enough attention. So I grudgingly put the dress on.
Now Prince Keith and I were on our way to the ball. He looked at me as I sighed. "What's with the long face?"
"I'm sorry. It's just... I don't know if I can ever get used to these events." I tell him honestly.
"Shouldn't you be happy? A commoner like yourself probably only has a few more to get to go to." Prince Keith says. I flinch when I hear the word 'commoner'. If only I was 'just a commoner'...
"I have a feeling I'll have a lot of them to attend." I say looking out the window.
"A gut feeling of yours or something like that?" He asks.
"Yeah, something like that, Your Highness." I answer him.
"You should at least be happy you're going with me. Because it probably won't happen again." He says lightly with a smile.
I couldn't help the laugh that came out. "I'm sorry. It's just I keep feeling like you tell me this every time. It's the last, and yet here we are again. It's like a never ending dance."
"When did I tell you before this that it was the last time I was taking you to a party?" Prince Keith asks.
"I feel you said something along those lines about Laura's party." I tell him.
"Did I? I don't remember." Prince Keith states, though, it could just be me, but his cheeks looked to have a little more color than before.
I shake my head. "So how is everything going with your country's current issue?" I ask wanting to change the subject, and because I really was concerned.
"The plan was figured out and it's currently in action. Though, it's going slower than expected." Prince Keith answers honestly.
"Well, it's good that you got it settled and started." I encourage him with a smile.
"Liberty was founded on a solid foundation and is a strong nation. It'll bounce back." Prince Keith says. To me, it felt almost like he was talking more to himself. He looked out the window, and I could tell he wanted to be left to his thoughts, so I decided to keep quiet.
I opened a book I had brought along, it was one Cathy lent me. It was supposedly this story like Romeo and Juliet only less tragic. It was a love story between a prince and a common girl, but the girl had a secret; she was a secret princess of his rival nation. Okay...Is it just my paranoia or is Cathy trying to subliminally tell me she knows my secret... Nah. She'd tell me straight up... Right? I suddenly closed the book the more like my current situation it got, and I felt that I should stop before my paranoia was at an all-time high for the party. Because me in paranoia mode is very bad.
When I closed the book, I did it a little too loudly, and Prince Keith looked over at me. "Something wrong?"
"No. Just starting to get tired of reading." I answer.
"What is it?" Prince Keith asks and holds his hand out.
I hand it over to him. He scans the summary of it, then laughs before handing it back. "A prince falling in love with a commoner. Unthinkable."
"Really? Tell me how you really feel." I say sarcastically. "But she's actually a princess." I tell him.
"Really?" He looks at it more intently. "Does the prince know that?"
"Not until after he proposes. Also, she's the princess of his rival nation." I tell him. It's like I'm telling him who I really am, only in a hypothetical concept.
"If it were me... I'd tell her I was joking." Prince Keith smiles, his eyes amused.
"If you were serious enough to marry her when you thought she was a commoner, why would the fact she's a princess of your rival nation matter? You already showed you accepted her as she was before you learned of her title. The title would just make it easier for her to be accepted by everyone." I say getting too into the subject at hand.
"I was kidding, dork." Prince Keith teases me.
"D-d-dork?! I'm not a dork!" I stutter at the surprise name.
"You're right. If I accepted her as a commoner, the fact she was a princess, even of my rival nation, I would still accept her. Though, let's face the fact, that this is a book. Pure fiction. Not real life." Prince Keith hands the book back. "Where'd you get that anyway?"
"Cathy." I tell him, then put the book back into my bag of extra clothes.
Soon after that we were landing. Then we were taken to Nobel Micheal Castle. Prince Keith and I were alone, standing in front of the castle alone, because Luke was with the pilot getting the jet in a hanger, and would come as soon as he could.
I take a deep breath as I look at the grandness of the castle, then notice Prince Keith is offering me his hand. I take it, not questioning it. "Let's go." Prince Keith says, and leads me inside. His hand is warm around mine, and even though my heart is beating fast due to the anxiety I was feeling from being here, there was another feeling altogether that I wasn't sure what it was. Yet, my anxiety lessened from his hand holding mine.
Once inside, we enter a large open hallway near the ballroom where the party would be taking place. I could already hear a small buzz from inside as there were other guests that were early.
I notice Prince Roberto a little ways ahead of us in the hallway. He sees us and approaches us with a friendly smile. Prince Roberto notices me by Prince Keith and a shocked expression comes onto his face. "Oho. I remember you. You were at the last party a couple of weeks ago. Phoenix, right?"
I smile and nod, then make a curtsy to him. "Yes. I'm surprised you remembered my name." I tell him.
"Well, you did make quite the impression last time and left a lot of people wondering if you were engaged to Keithster here." Roberto says looking to Prince Keith who stiffens at the name, and I bite my lip to keep from laughing.
"I told you not to call me that." Prince Keith says with a bit of anger in his tone and eyes.
"Well, it's a pleasure to see you again, Phoenix." Prince Roberto smiles.
"For you as well, Your Highness." I return his smile.
Prince Roberto returns his attention to his fellow prince. "So, what brings the two of you here together? Are you going to formally announce the engagement?"
"No." I say before Prince Keith could answer. "It really wasn't..." I stop talking as I take in Prince Keith's glare directed at me.
"That proposal should be deemed invalid." Prince Keith announces.
"Oh? Is that right? I only asked since you came together." Prince Roberto says, and Prince Keith finally lets go of my hand.
"I told you this would happen." I say quietly to Prince Keith. My hand feels cold, and the anxiety comes back stronger.
"I'm only escorting her! Nothing more!" Prince Keith says harshly. My heart constricted at those words. Why? Don't ask me.
"That's the point, Prince Keith. You are escorting her." Prince Roberto continues to smile. "Even so..." He turns his attention to me. "What a waste." He sighs. Huh? What's a waste?! Prince Roberto's attention returns to Prince Keith. "To refuse the proposal of such a beautiful young lady."
"What?!" I squeak in unison as Prince Keith yells it.
But Prince Roberto pays no mind to our shock. He brings his face closer to mine. "Would you like to be my bride instead?" Prince Roberto whispers to me. He then laughs, "Or not."
"E-excuse me..." I get out confused as I looked into his eyes. Prince Keith suddenly retakes my hand, and gives it a swift tug. "Aah!" I move backwards, stumbling from the sudden tug, and Prince Keith moves between us. It's like he's shielding me from him.
"I will ask you to stop fooling around now." Prince Keith says sternly.
Prince Roberto blinks at him, then chuckles. "I wasn't completely fooling around. But, I am sorry... Well, it would take a bit of courage to marry into a family of Liberty Kingdom now."
Prince Keith completely froze at the last remark. "And what do you mean by that?"
"You know perfectly well what I mean." Prince Roberto tells him, then shrugs.
"I do not know how that brain of yours works Prince Roberto, but something as trivial as that is not a problem!" Prince Keith responds with a strong voice.
"Trivial?" Prince Roberto asks.
Suddenly another voice enters the conversation from behind us. "What's the fuss about?" I look and see it's Prince Joshua. "This is a pathway."
"Oh..." I was about to say something when Princes Glenn and Edward came towards us.
"Your voice is the loudest around, and yet, you are the one warning them?" Prince Glenn asks unimpressed.
Prince Joshua frowns, while Prince Edward smiles bitterly and says, "Now. Now. What seems to be the problem, Joshua?" Prince Edward, then looks at me. "Oh, hello, Phoenix. It's good to see you again. You sure know when to pop up when I'm least expecting it." Prince Edward says to me.
"It's nice to see you again too, Prince Edward. I told you, you'd see me again." I give a small smile, then curtsy to the princes.
"I had heard you were taken in at Prince Keith's manse. But then I saw you again in Charles, so I assumed you were finished there." Prince Edward says.
"When did you two see each other?" Prince Keith asks completely shocked, though I could detect the underlying tone of anger and accusation.
"We bumped into each other at the university I attend in Charles." I say quickly not wanting any of them to get the wrong idea.
"Seeing as there is a lady present, I suggest it best if we continue this discussion in the Hall." Prince Edward offers.
Prince Keith retakes my hand. Prince Joshua sighs, and glances at Prince Keith and says quietly, "I wouldn't even think of attending a party if my country was in trouble."
Prince Keith's hand around mine twitches at his words. I could feel the tension rising again. "Do not try to compare us to the Kingdom of Dres Van." Prince Keith says.
"What do you mean by that?!" Prince Joshua asks.
"Unlike a certain Kingdom that needs a manual for every little thing they do, we act by our own free will and are a truly independent nation!" Prince Keith retorts. Okay this really needs to stop, before they burn bridges between their Kingdoms. Are the others really not going to step in?!
Prince Joshua scowls. "Are you trying to say people of our Kingdom have no independence?"
"Is that how you heard it? I'm sorry for being right then." Prince Keith says with a cruel smile.
"You...your arrogance is beyond belief!" Prince Joshua utters.
They were now staring daggers at each other. Suddenly Prince Edward stood between them. "Stop this now, Prince Joshua. Nobel Micheal is a holy place. Fighting is not permitted." Prince Joshua moves away from Prince Keith. "I must ask you as well, Prince Keith. I understand your getting worked up over your Kingdom, but you must watch that you don't say that will lead to a regrettable dispute." Prince Edward looks at him. Prince Keith doesn't reply, and Prince Edward gives him a warm smile. "All the more if you are to become the leader of a nation." Prince Edward reaches to put a hand on Prince Keith's arm when... SMACK! What?!
Prince Keith let go of my hand to hit Prince Edward's away.
"I do not need you to tell me that. I have been saying all along, our nation is different than yours!" Prince Keith says with anger.
Everyone was shocked and frozen to their spots.
"YOUR HIGHNESS!?" I yell now at my boiling point of taking in his behavior.
But Prince Keith ignores me. "Liberty is the most powerful kingdom in the world! Our people will overcome this financial crisis!" His words resound through the corridor.
There was nothing but silence after that. Until someone sighed, Prince Glenn says quietly, "You're an idiot. If this is their future King, I feel sorry for Liberty's people."
"What?!" Prince Keith is shocked but still has anger etched in his face and tone.
As Prince Keith takes a step toward Prince Glenn, footsteps are heard, and a voice says, " This is pointless." I turn to see Prince Wilfred.
"What do you find pointless, Prince Wilfred?" Prince Edward asks.
"This argument... Each of us should do what we feel is best for our own Kingdom." Prince Wilfred says quietly but loud enough to be heard. Prince Wilfred then glances at me and gives me a smile, before turning to the others with a blank expression. "Excuse me." He then leaves to go to the Hall.
Prince Glenn speaks next, "Prince Wilfred may have a point..." Then follows after him.
Prince Joshua starts to go after Prince Glenn but stops and turns to glare at Prince Keith, "Believe whatever you like, you'll see you are wrong soon enough." Then he left to go to the Hall also.
"He's just spouting sour grapes because his nation is still a poor one." Prince Keith says.
Prince Edward lays a hand on Prince Keith's shoulder. "You shouldn't speak like that, Prince Keith." Prince Edward looked uncharacteristically stern, and Prince Keith actually shrank back a little. "They're all worried for your Kingdom as well as for you. As I am of course."
Prince Keith looks away to avoid eye contact with Prince Edward. "I do not need nor do I care for any of your pity." Prince Keith says through his teeth.
Prince Edward sighs. "If anything happens, do not hesitate to contact me. I will be there to help you." Prince Edward smiles sadly as he spoke, then also leaves to enter the Hall.
I looked at Prince Keith trying sort out my emotions when I feel a hand on my head. I look up to see Prince Roberto's smile. He removes his hand from my head and stops smiling, then looks to Prince Keith. "Prince Keith, it's good that you have so much confidence in your Kingdom, but do not overestimate yourselves."
Prince Keith raises his eyebrows in response. "I do not understand what you mean."
"Oh? I hope you figure it out soon then." Prince Roberto says, claps a hand to Prince Keith's shoulder, then goes to join the others in the Hall.
Prince Keith clicks his tongue, and shakes his shoulders.
I take a deep breath to give him a piece of my mind. "Your Highness?" I say calmly.
He turns to look at me, a moody look on his face. No, not even that look is going to quiet me. "What is it? Are you planning on lecturing me also?"
I sigh. "It's not my intention to lecture you, nor do I think it was the others' either, but you leave me no choice." I say, as I feel my anger start to burn in my eyes, and I can tell Prince Keith is a little surprised, though he opens his mouth to talk, I hold up a hand to stop him. "The way you just behaved was absolutely inexcusable, especially for a prince." I tell him. "Yes, it was good to care for your country and her people, but they were trying to offer you help, and all you did was spit in their faces. There was absolutely no need to speak to them like that." I say.
"Yes... well... they're all just biased and blinded by jealousy of my Kingdom because it is more powerful than theirs." He says once I stop.
"What about me than? Do you feel I am biased also, when I talk to you?" I ask him. My voice started to shake with the emotion welling inside me.
Prince Keith is silent and when he speaks, "That is..."
"Your Highness?" We turn to see Luke has shown up, and so has another man, who is looking at me, "Lady Phoenix?"
"Yes." We say in unison to our respectful person.
"Listening in?" Prince Keith asks Luke.
Luke bows deeply, "I am sorry. I felt if I said anything, I would be cutting into everyone's conversations." Luke raises his head. "The party will be starting soon."
Prince Keith's eyes widen and then he walks off. I start to take some steps after him, when the other man stops me. "Lady Phoenix. We need to finish getting you ready for the party."
I turn to look at the man, "Are you Zain?" I ask.
He smiles and nods. "Yes. Lord Micheal said he wanted to have a word with you before you got ready."
I nod. "Alright." I say and follow Zain to meet this mysterious Lord Micheal.
After being led into the room, there was the old man I had met in the park before the craziness that had became my life started. "You?" I'm completely dumbfounded.
Also in the room is Uncle. "Phoenix, this is Lord Micheal."
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before." Lord Micheal said merrily. "I hope you aren't too shocked."
I shake my head. "Honestly. I should have figured this out." I say.
Lord Micheal laughs. "Yes, well, I thought you should have a proper gown for your first mystery ball, and I couldn't help but be inspired by you and your current relationship with Prince Keith, for the theme." Prince Micheal says.
I hold up my hands. "There is no relationship with Prince Keith. Maybe friendship. And I'm not sure what's left of that after what I said to him." I answer.
"Having a quarrel? Is his country's crisis a part of it?" Lord Micheal asks.
"Lord Micheal, I-" I start.
"Call me, Mike." He offers. "I feel like the girl who saved my life should be on a first name basis."
"Okay. Mike. Yes, that was part of the issue. He just got into quite the heated argument with the other princes and I just told him what I thought of his behavior." I told him.
"Was he acting beastly again?" Mike asks.
"Yeah." I say unsure, feeling like that was important.
"Well, it's a good thing you're the beauty to his beast." Mike says, then motions Zain to come forward. Zain had a gold ballgown in a clear bag.
"What exactly is the theme of this party?!" I ask feeling anxiety well in my heart.
~)~~~~
With the help of the maids, I got into the dress easily enough. It was a gold sweetheart full-skirted ballgown, that I feel even puts Belle's dress to shame. Then my feet were put into gold strappy heels. My make-up had been done to enhance my natural beauty but with bits of gold around my eyes, and my hair had been curled in a half up/half down style similar to Belle's.
I already knew I was on the late side, because of everything I went through to get ready. When I exited the room I had been getting ready in, Uncle was waiting outside the door. "What are you doing here Uncle?" I ask him.
"I have the last piece for your look." He says before presenting a box to me. "Open it." He tells me.
I open the lid. It's a small golden tiara, with ruby roses integrated in it's design. "It's so pretty." I say looking at it.
"It's the smallest tiara you have." Uncle tells me.
"What? I have more?! And this is the smallest?!" I'm a little shocked.
"Yep! I can't wait for you to see your coronation crown!" Uncle smiles.
I sigh. "I guess, they aren't kidding when they say crown jewels." I say.
Uncle laughs. "There. You're ready to make your grand entrance."
"Grand entrance?" I repeat, my throat suddenly feeling dry.
"Of course! Now go get'em!" Uncle pushes me towards the ballroom.
I start taking deep breaths, not wanting to go into hyperventilation mode. As I near the entrance, I can hear the music and numerous people inside. This is my world now. I can't back down. I have to go in there and show them that I'm one of them, without completely giving myself away...
I slowly get myself to the center of the entrance and make a slow descent down the stairs. Right at that moment the music stopped and everyone looked up at me. Oh God! They're all staring at me! What am I going to do?!
This must have been what it was like to be Sam in A Cinderella Story, but I'm not Cinderella tonight. I'm Belle. The Beauty from Beauty and the Beast. I swallow my fear, then continue down the stairs. The closer I get to them, the more I hear them whispering. "Who is that?!" "Where's she from?!" "Who'd she come with?!" etc.
As I neared the bottom, a familiar man was waiting. "Princess, I believe you promised me a dance." Sebastian smiles at me, offering me his hand.
I couldn't be more happy to see someone, and gladly take his hand, completely oblivious to my escort's shocked face and presence from across the ballroom.
I feel evil for doing this cliffhanger to you, but I really wanted to end it there. So hopefully you enjoyed this half of the Mystery Ball! Please leave a review! ;)
Will Sebastian be able to get a full dance in before Keith cuts in? And what will be said?! Will Phoenix and Keith be able to reconcile with each other after everything that went down eariler? And will Phoenix and Keith make it back to Liberty in one piece? Find out next time in Mystery Ball Part II!