A/N: Just a quick author's note before I write this next chapter. I didn't mean to write Ria last chapter, I meant to write Rai, as that is the name I decided on several weeks ago when I began thinking up this story, but when one types a story without rereading it (as I have a habit of doing, because when I reread it, I usually hate it and change it all. Then once it's posted I decide I hate the rewrite), one does miss those mistakes.

Everyone in Petitioners Court looked up as the sound of metal and marble rang as one when the silver pitcher Rai had been holding crashed to the ground. She seemed embarrassed, as she quickly lowered her head, along with the rest of her body, to pick up the silver pitcher and wipe up the wine that had spilt on the floor with the hem of her green dress. As soon as she began to wipe up the mess, the brunette was aware that most people had turned their faces from her. After all, servants were meant to work, but not be seen. To be watched would only make this servants job worse, so as a result, most turned their backs on her. Several thought it rude that she had dropped it, interrupting the important event that was going on, and thought she should be punished somehow. But most, the kind-hearted ones, knew it was only an accident and thought nothing should be done to her. After all, accidents happen. Even to servants who are meant to be invisible.

But one of the people who did not turn away from Rai was Prince Alaraec; after all, he was the cause of the servant's embarrassment. But he did not keep looking at her out of regret for making her bring the pitcher to her. Instead, he merely looked at her with his usual pale face. He watched as she stood up and picked up the pitcher. She was about to turn around when she saw that the prince was looking at her. She wished she could send daggers from her green eyes at him, but she knew if she did, he would have a talk with his sister about her. After all, it was no little known fact that she was the Marquise of Merindar's maid. So rather hearing it from her mistress, Rai decided it would be better of her to go apologize to the Prince. After all, with his blank face, one was never sure what the Prince thought.

So she walked towards the blonde Prince, her head slightly bowed, unaware that the whole court was now currently watching her. They had turned their backs on her, expecting her to leave. But now she was making her way to the Crown Prince. She was either mad or she was incredibly smart, at least, that was what the heir to Savona thought as he leaned over to his father.

"I'll bet you that she throws the remaining contents, if any, into Alec's face," Oren said to his father. Like his father and uncle, the King, Oren had a fondness for betting. And clothing. After all, what Savona didn't love clothing? The Duke of Savona looked at his son with his dark eyes and nearly laughed.

"Oren, that is inappropriate at this time to comment about betting. The Petitioners Court is very important!" he said with a smile on his face.

"Then you are taking my bet?" Oren said, not needing to hear his father's reply. Knowing that the answer, as always, was one of agreement. Oren nearly chuckled, but knew that as silent as the room was, even his quiet bet with his father had been over heard most likely.

The room was silent as Rai reached Alaraec and curtsied as servants had been trained to do. But Oren noticed something odd in Rai's curtsy. It seemed to be much more precise than most servants. He shrugged it off, thinking that it was merely because she had lived with Elestra for so long. But then again, when had Elestra ever learnt to curtsy like that? Elestra herself curtsied at times as well as most servants. Nobody else seemed to notice this, so Oren simply pushed it out of his mind and soon forgot about it.

Alaraec nodded to the servant and looked her in the face. He had seen her many times before, in his sister's house, and before that, in her rooms, yet he had never actually paid any attention to her features. She had a tan face, which was odd, considering Elestra had once told him that her maid was from the frigid north, where there was very little sun and here at the palace, she rarely went outside, few personal maids did. Her brown hair was in a tight chignon, with a single curl of brown hair falling into her green eyes. Alaraec glanced over her and then starred into her green eyes with his gray.

"Have you something to say for yourself?" he said softly, barely audible to even Rai.

She nodded and then once again curtsied. "I am so very sorry your highness," she said softly, even softer than the tone Alaraec had used, which seemed near impossible. But somehow, Rai managed. Whether it was her voice or because of something else, only she truly knew. "It shan't happen again," she curtsied once again and turned her back on the Crown Prince, rapidly making her way once again to the table the servants had been preparing. Only as she reached the table did she realize the prince still wanted more wine. So she turned to the blonde servant who she had spoken with earlier.

"Lis, can you go give the prince some wine? I really have no wish to be embarrassed twice in one night," she said in a slightly irritated tone. Her blue-eyed friend looked at her and let out a small bell-like laugh.

"Only you, Rai, would give up a chance to serve the golden Prince of Remalna. I'll happily serve him!" Lis picked up another pitcher of wine and made her way to Alaraec. As she passed the Duke of Savona and his son, she couldn't help but overhearing a few words.

"I guess you won, Father," Oren said in a grudging voice.

"Never underestimate a servant. They know their place. And it is time you learnt that they know their place," the Duke of Savona said. Lis didn't hear anymore of the conversation between the father and the son but she served the prince his wine.

By the time Lis returned to where the rest of the servants had been standing, the man from Appren had already been awoken by several slaps on the face from a cloth that one of the Stewards had been holding. Now, the King spoke to the mysterious news bringer.

"What is this Kilal you speak of, sir? And who is marching upon us? And a better question, who are you?" Vidanric Renseleaus said calmly. Extraordinarily calm for someone who had only recently heard the news that an army was marching towards the capital. But before the man was able to answer, a sharp whistle was heard. Everyone looked in the direction to see who had whistled. All in the room towards the servants to see a blonde maid pushing a brunette towards the wall, covering her mouth.

"Rai! What are you doing?" Lis spat at her friend. Rai merely smiled in the mysterious way she did. Lis tried pushing her through the servant's entrance and did not notice the Prince walking towards them. She didn't notice until he put his hand on her shoulder at least. Lis turned around to yell at whoever was touching her and let out a small cry of shock as she saw the Prince. Several people around her chuckled slightly, as her cry sounded oddly like a chicken. She took her hand off of Rai and curtsied.

Rai, however, lowered her green eyes to the floor. Alaraec looked at her with his gray eyes. "Why did you whistle?" he demanded in a clam tone.

Rai took a deep breath. "I can easily tell his Majesty the answers to his questions," she said softly. Alaraec urged her on with his eyes, but she would not speak anymore, not in public. "If you would like to hear my information, instead of from a man who should be laying in bed resting, I wish to be heard in private. By no servants or petitioners, including the aforementioned man. Just the Lords and Ladies, as I doubt your parents will grant to see me alone."

Alaraec nodded and motioned for her to stay as he made his way to his parents. He knelt down to his kneeling father and spoke in his ear. Vidanric nodded and stood tall, "Petitioners Court has ended for the day. My fellow courtiers, please feel free to join my family and I in discussing these petitions."

The Courtiers rapidly made their way to the antechamber, interested in hearing what Rai would say. They all stared at the brunette maid as she entered the antechamber. Her green and gold simple dress stood out in the rainbow of expensive and colorful clothes, but she didn't mind. She stood in the front of the room and began to speak.

A/N: So that's the next chapter. It's slightly longer than my first one and I tried to add some more conversation. I've been told often that I don't put in enough detail, so in the first chapter, I realized, I had put too much of it. So I hope everyone likes it, hope people review it, because if they don't, I'll add one chapter and then end it there. I don't know how because I have a good plan on how the story will go, but if people don't like it, why should I bother wasting a great plot on nothing?

Ah yes… I think I need a beta reader, so just contact me to offer your aid.

FelSong: I could never compete with you. I love Pirate Princess. But yes… This shall be an Alaraec/someone fic but also an Oren/someone fic. Well, at least I'm going to try to make it an Oren/someone fic, at least in a few chapters. Who each guy gets, well, I have yet to totally decide. I'm leaning towards one person, but I decided while writing this perhaps I could switch around the couples I had in mind.

Icelands: Sorry for not being fluent enough, why do you think I need a beta reader?