One spring day, as I was wandering through the gardens with the princess Ebonia, she asked me what my dreams were. I answered by saying that I had never thought about it. She could tell I was lying, yet she didn't push me. She knew me well enough. The princess would tell me often about how she wishes she could marry whomever she wanted. Not some stuffy old prince, but a prince from any of the neighboring kingdoms would be more than enough for me. I rarely get annoyed, especially with friends, but Ebony had a tendency to complain. Frequently. About her status, about how she was to marry royalty for alliances, and worst of all, how she has to do a million dress fittings for her bejeweled dresses. I would gladly take it all. Her words snapped me out of my thoughts.

"Tomorrow night is the ball, you know. Is there any man that you have had your eye on?" I could feel myself turning pink.

"Not specifically, what makes you say that?"

"Oh, nothing. Although, I will have you know that I have some connections with the staff." I couldn't help but laugh.I doubt she had more connections with the staff than me. They are their own community, and I knew most of them very well, since I grew up with them. Ebony playfully nudged me,

"I dream for you to find a husband almost as much as I dream for myself to find one."

"Maybe we can have a double wedding." I joked.

"We actually have to find dates first." she said. That would be the hard part.

Later that evening, as I was getting ebony ready for bed, I could have sworn I heard a muffled thud from the corridor. It was as if someone had been watching us, but when I went to investigate there was no one in sight.

Ebony showed no signs of having heard the sound, so I dismissed my theory with enthusiasm. As I turned to the hallway, ready to leave, Ebony called out to me.

"Rose! Thank you."

I turned toward her and smiled, "my pleasure."

I briskly walked out of her humongous bedchamber and started off towards mine, not wanting to take any chances with the mysterious sound. Turning corner after corner, I came upon a large sitting room filled with royal paintings. I saw a painting, one of my favorites, of Queen Umber Sidney III of Mangrail. She had rosy cheeks, long blond hair, teal eyes, and held a book in her hand. Nothing too surprising, but there was a symbol on the cover that made me curious.

A rose as red as blood.