September 4 was a month away. The preparations at the castle had already begun. I saw every day as I passed to go to the market that they were stringing garlands all about the place. Outside and in.

Hattie had recovered slightly from her revulsion. Mum Olga had comforted her by telling her that perhaps, if she attended the wedding looking extravagant, Char would change his mind about the princess and marry Hattie.

I laughed at this statement. Really laughed. There was no way Char would choose Hattie. I doubted he even chose the princess of Ayortha. King Jerrold had probably arranged that marriage.

Fortunately, Hattie was too caught up in the marriage to alert Mum Olga of my being Lela. I don't think she would have told her anyway, to save the embarrassment. Because of this, Mum Olga decided that I was behaving well enough to attend the wedding as Hattie's handmaiden.

"After all," she said, "the princess has a handmaiden."

I was not the least bit excited about going to the wedding. I didn't to see my one true love be surrendered to another woman. But Mum Olga was insistant, and when I flat out refused to go, she said, "If you do not go as her handmaiden, you will get a sound lashing."

I accepted, but I was worried that Char would see me with Hattie and demand to speak to me. I then planned to wear a veil.

There was a banquet in honor of Char and his bride held two weeks before the wedding. Mum Olga and Hattie wiggled their way into gaining attendance.

"Ella, this is your first try as a handmaiden," Mum Olga told me the moment she was accepted to the banquet. "Now I expect you to be a good girl and get along with the other servants and handmaidens."

I nodded, and was taken aback when Hattie muttered in an undertone, "And don't even THINK about going near Charmont."

I didn't need telling twice.

*****

The day of the banquet dawned bright and beautiful, quite the opposite of my mood. Hattie's preparations for that day were quite similar to the ball's preparations.

She had me clip all of her nails (including the toes), brush her wig until it shined, and numerous other things that I never wanted to think about doing to anyone ever again.

Mum Olga was worried about my looks as well. "If one does not have a beautiful handmaiden, one will not be a beautiful bride," she told me. I had to climb into a corset in order to fit into the dress she bought for me. I requested to wear a veil, and, thankfully, she said I could.

After hours and hours of primping, we were off. Olive was left at home because she had no desire to attend a banquet where they weren't even serving her favorite food.

When we arrived at the palace, Mum Olga immediately sent me off to stand in line with the other servants. I did so, and kept my head down.

A few servants standing next to me were talking about Char.

"--yes, the prince has gone missing again."

"It's no doubt where he is, that is."

"Obviously doesn't want to be here."

"Or get married, for that matter, even though that princess is a beauty."

I turned away and tried not to listen. Char didn't want to marry, so why was I sad? Maybe it was because he was getting married at all.

A signal was given to the servants to leave the room and eat in the kitchen, and I followed the line out of the dining room. As I was leaving, King Jerrold stood up.

"Char has run off again, it seems," he said, "so we will jsut start without him and await his return. If he DOES return," he added.

when I entered the kitchen, I was surprised to see Char sitting at the rough wooden table eating bread and soup. He looked up.

"Oh, I had forgot about you eating in here," he said to us. Everyone was silent, not sure what to say to the prince. "Do you mind if I continue?"

When no on replied, he laughed and said, "All right, I take your silence as consent."

We sat in the order that we stood, I was at the end, and was just lucky enough to sit by Char.

"Oh, why?" I whispered to no one in particular. "Why am I here?"

Char swallowed a bit of bread and said, "Pardon?"

"Nothing, highness, I'm so sorry for bothering you."

"Don't worry about it." Char extended his hand and shook mine. "What's your name?"

I was lost for words. "M-my name? U-uh i-it's... Clarise."

He narrowed his eyes at me. "Do I know you?"

"I do not think so, highness."

"Call me Char," he said shortly. "But I'm sure I know you. Do you know someone named Lela? You remind me very strongly of her."

A bowl of soup similar to Char's was set in front of me. "Lela? Yes, I know a Lela. She's my cousin." I had no idea what I was doing, but if I could say I was a relative of her, it may excuse my likeness to her.

"Really?" Char seemed interested. "Does she live in Bast?"

"Quite," I said.

Char smiled hugely. I needed to get the subject away from me, or Lela, so I said, "Char, aren't you supposed to be in there with your bride?"

"Oh, she's not my bride yet. I don't want her to be."

I was surprised that he even shared that information with a lowly servant such as myself. "Wait," he said, "If you come in with me, I will go back in."

"The servants are about to go back in anyway, so I will, but I can't sit down with you."

"Of course not," he said.

***************

ok that chapter was a bit strange, dont you think? woah that was weird. anyway, more to come... SORRY IT TOOK TOO LONG!! i was busy with play practice, homework, school... the works. ill try and make it faster next time.

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