Chapter 7 part 1
Over the next few days, things started to settle down. Sonic didn't see anything more of his uncle. It would please him to never see the traitor again. He and Manic were surprised when Bartleby approached them on Thursday after school.
"Sonic, Manic, I was hoping if I would be able to speak with you about tomorrow's events…" Bartleby asked them. "You know tomorrow is the presentation and the debutante ball. She adores you both and I thought you might like to attend both as my guests of honor." He offered them each a gold-trimmed parchment.
Manic accepted him with a laugh. "Hey, that'll certainly be a switch. From living in the sewers to being guests of honor." He looked it over. "Are you sure? Neither of us has any experience in the ways of the court."
Bartleby nodded with a glint in his eye. "Actually, I'm hoping that by introducing a couple of fresh bloods into the mix, that court life might become less… boring. Less… monotonous."
"Well, you can count on us, Bartleby," Sonic promised.
The prince smiled. "Great. Tomorrow, you'll stand with me while we watch the parade and when the ladies are presented."
The next day was a school holiday and the city was dressed up with white streamers and ribbons all along its many roads. The parade would take place upon the two longest roads in the city.
Lady Wyndermere helped Sonia to get dressed in her long, white, lacy gown with a-line silhouette. The short train trailed the ground to just past her feet with a laced cape draped over her shoulders.
As guests of honor, Sonic and Manic were given dress coats and slacks in the deep emerald green of Dresden county. As promised, they got to watch the parade from a place of privilege, the balcony of the palace where Bartleby stood with Robotnik. From the balcony, they were able to see the majority of the parade. There were dozens upon dozens of white-dressed carriages as celebratory bells rang. White confetti and strings flew with the wind as children popped poppers as the carriages rode past. The poppers were customary favors passed out freely to the children for this parade. The poppers held, not just confetti, but candies and tiny toys. Many people turned out for the parade.
Sonia's open-carriage was in the center of the pack and she waved with gusto at the crowd. The other girls did the same. Her hair was curled and topped with a lacy bonnet. Lady Wyndermere sat beside her with a grin of absolute pride.
"I've always pictured this day…" She said as she stroked Sonia's cheek. "My little girl is no longer so little. Being your mother has been the greatest gift anyone has ever given me." She hugged the girl.
The pink hedgehog hugged her back. "I'm so glad that my biological mother chose you. You've been the best mother for which a girl could ask."
The carriages crossed the long main avenue of the city before circling around the outer perimeter until it started across the second large main avenue. The carriages rode that path to the front of the palace. When they drew near, Robotnik led them down to the front veranda just as the carriages all lined up and the many daughters of this year were led from them by their mothers or grandmothers, in some cases an aunt. If Robotnik were married, his queen would be handling this part but since he was not, Lady Wyndermere left Sonia with a kiss, stepping back as the others did, and went up the stairs.
Robotnik approached the front of the veranda, to a podium made of beautiful, deep walnut veneer and burgundy crushed velvet. "What a grand day this is, not a cloud in sight. Every year, we welcome the young ladies to the world and I must say, it is a pleasure to honor the daughters of this city in such a way. For, while I may be king and Bartleby will someday succeed me, they and the young men are the true future of this city. Now, as usual, I give the floor to Baroness Virginia Wyndermere." He stepped back and bowed politely.
Lady Wyndermere curtsied and smiled at the people. "Every year we do this for our daughters and it is with great joy that today my own daughter is standing in the crowd. When I was thinking of what to say this year, I took that into account. Standing here are the strong, independent women of tomorrow and I imagine your futures. Some of you will be remembered as great poets, writers, and artists. Others may go into politics or medicine. Many of you will one day have daughters of your own. As you enter these last stages of youth, the final stretch between here and adulthood, ask yourself how you want the world to remember you. Figure that part out now, so that you can better decide the best ways to make that happen. Only you can decide your future." She curtsied as the crowd applauded. "Now, we have a big night tonight. It would be a very good idea for you all to go home and rest."
By evening, the debris from the parade was cleaned up by cleaning bots and the palace was alight with millions of little twinkling lights. Sonic and Manic had spent the rest of the day with Bartleby so that they could not see Sonia's gown and give anything away to the young mink. Sonia was insistent that her gown be a complete surprise. Robotnik insisted they be taught the basics of gentlemanly behavior.
"You've nearly got it," Bartleby said. "But don't lower the head. Just like this." He bent his waist just enough to lower his chest at an acute angle, keeping his head straight.
The hedgehogs practiced his demonstration while they heard discussion out in the halls. "Duchess, I assure you that Bartleby is perfectly capable of choosing his own wife."
"Sire, the concern is that he is over eighteen and he is yet unwed. You assured the council that he would be making his decision soon. Yet the only woman he is ever seen with is the adopted daughter of the baroness." A feminine voice could be heard. "And surely, he does not mean to choose her."
Sonic frowned as they heard the conversation. "And, Duchess, if she is his choice, why would that be a bad thing? She is very intelligent, strong and beautiful. He could certainly make a worse choice."
"Yes, and were she the only such woman in existence, then I should agree," The woman said. "But my daughter, Alexandrina has just as many qualifications and there are numerous other ladies for him to choose from and the council feels that choosing Lady Sonia would give the impression that after twenty years we would slide back into the dark times of the former dynasty."
Sonic was tempted to go and give this woman a swift kick but the anger on Bartleby's face stopped them. "They don't like Sonia?"
"Well, naturally, they all want me to marry their daughters. Don't worry about it too much, Sonic. Unfortunately, the politics of court life are fraught with backbiting and backstabbing…" Bartleby said as he heard his uncle put the duchess soundly in her place about her statement. "They've been pushing for him to arrange a marriage for me. Either with one of their children or with the princess of Acorn. She'll be at the ball tonight and you'll meet her there. But he refuses to capitulate to such an outdated custom. I'm glad I'll be able to announce our engagement tonight. That should shut them up."
AN: Will that shut them up? Or will they only crow louder?