Chapter Three

Shall We Dance?

Author's Note: You know I have been thinking of starting a forum for fanfiction writers who just love to write fanfiction. I think it would allow the old more experienced vetrains off to help the new and just give us all a place to chat and hang out. What do you guys think? Well anyways this is the very big chapter where Leon falls for Sora. I hope you all enjoy the third chapter of Masked.

The next day everyone started very early in the morning to get ready for Yuri's ball. Mia Gulliem, the princess of Holland made the final adjustments to her dress. Her dress was vastly decorated in lace. In Hollish culture lace signified great wealth, and Mia was covered from head to toe in lace to show her sovereignty. The sleeves of her dress were long and cuffed at the bottom, and her hem was very long to show her modesty. Her dress was cream colored. A thin black netting covered her dress that was decorated in elaborate flowers. Her collar was very large and pointed, and she wore a pair of Dutch leather boots with a fine finish. She also adorned herself in gold jewelry to show her aristocracy. Mia's mask was decorated in gold with an emerald stone setting.

May Wong, the Chinese princess wore a black yukata made of pure silk with a pattern of a red dragon going up the side. She wore a pair of flats made of pure gold, and her mask looked liked the legendary golden dragon.

Rosetta adorned her hair in silver butterfly barrettes. Her dress was a royal purple wool walking gown covered in black soutache. The dress had been passed down from her grandmother to her mother and now to her. She had waited forever to wear this dress, and now the occasion arose where she could. Her mask was silver and shaped into a butterfly with a amethyst finish. Her cousin Ana would be accompanying her and chose a purple tuxedo to match Rosetta's colors.

Layla wore an elaborate emerald green dress that poofed out at the bottom. She put many shimmering diamonds in her hair and chose a simple gold mask to wear.

"You look amazing your highness!" Sora gasped.

"Why thank you Sora." Layla smiled.

"I have to be going Sora, and I don't know when I will be back. You may read one of my books if you would like to keep yourself busy." Layla told her.

"Okay thank you Miss. Layla." Sora replied.

"Well I'm off, and you know the rules. No intrusion." Layla forewarned her.

"I wouldn't ever disobey you Miss. Layla!" Sora bowed.

"That's a good girl." Layla smiled as she put her mask on and headed for the ball as did the other individuals.

"I will do as Miss. Layla says and just read a book." Sora said to herself as she opened one of Layla's books and began to read. She tried her hardest to concentrate on the book, but she just couldn't because the ball filled her head with excitement and curiosity. The kind of curiosity that a servant should never fill her head with, but she dreamed on. Maybe she could peek? What would one little peek hurt? She would walk in unnoticed dressed up and in a mask just like everyone else, take a look and then leave just to get these badgering thoughts out of her head. Miss. Layla would never know...

Yuri looked dashingly handsome as all the princesses flirted with him shamefully. He wore a royal blue suit with a gold buttons that went up his coat and black leather boots. The men weren't required to wear masks to the ball, only the women. Yuri didn't care about any of the other women, the only woman he was interested in was Layla Hamilton, princess of England and hopefully the new Queen of Russia soon enough. Yuri searched high and low but only found Leon.

"Leon have you seen Princess Layla?" he asked anxiously.

"No do you think I have been scoping her out or something?" he scoffed at his friends persistence.

"Leon you make me wonder sometimes." Yuri shot back.

"What do you mean?" Leon asked snidely.

"Sometimes I wonder if you're interested in women at all. I mean are you gay or something because I for one am not in love with you!" shot Yuri.

Leon began to laugh, "Even if I was "gay" as you say, you are not beautiful enough for me."

"Ha ha very funny..." Yuri said rolling his eyes until the blond woman in the stunning emerald dress caught his eye.

"There she is..." he breathed as he left his friend like a love sick puppy hoping to get lucky tonight.

"Imbecile." Leon sneered at his comrade as he walked off towards the dessert table.

"How are you tonight Miss. Layla?" Yuri greeted her with a kiss on her hand.

"I am wonderful, thank you." she smiled at him.

"Layla will you dance with me?" Yuri requested.

"Yes Yuri I will dance with you." she agreed looking upon him affectionately.

"Wow what a change in her mood." he thought to himself as they danced as all eyes in the room were on the two. All looked upon them with envy...

"Why does Layla get to dance with Yuri?" sneered the princess of Norway.

"Yuri is an Imbecile! Why would anyone want to dance with him!?" Mia shot back angrily.

"Wow what do you have against Yuri!?" asked the German princess.

"Yes what? He's charming and handsome! What more could you ask for!?" they both sighed dreamily.

"A pig is more charming than that." she laughed as she took a sip of her wine.

Rosetta had made her way off with the court jester who was far much older than her, for she was only thirteen.

"Will you do that trick again fool!?" she clapped with enthusiasm at his amazing tricks and stunts.

"Anything for you princess." he smiled as he did the trick again for her.

"Fool I'm glad you're here." sighed Rosetta happily.

"Why is that?" Fool asked.

"Because you warm my heart up and make me smile." she replied coming closer to him.

"Princess I'm afraid I can't let myself take advantage of you. You're but a child." Fool said etching away.

"Nonsense! In my country many girls are married at my age." Rosetta protested.

"It just isn't right though princess...You're royalty and am I am nothing but a court jester..." he sighed.

"I don't care." she said looking down.

"I couldn't let myself be with you. It would complicate things, and I would most likely be hanged for being with you..." he said looking at her hazily.

"Then let's run away together! I'm in love with you Fool! I have enough money that we can live on the rest of our lives, so please don't leave me! You brought my smile back!" she anticipated as she grasped her hand in his.

Fool was rather shocked by this statement, "Fine tomorrow night everyone is going out to see an Opera. Tell your cousin you do not feel well and wish to stay in bed. Take only what is important to you, and meet me right here tomorrow night. We will catch the next train leaving St. Petersburg, and then we will marry..." he sighed happily.

"Oh thank you Fool!" Rosetta smiled as she kissed him intensely as he embraced her lovingly.

Sora found an elaborate purple dress in her luggage that Layla had had one of her other servant girls to pick out for her. That meant that Layla hadn't ever seen it, so it would be safe to wear. Sora had also snuck a mask in her carrying case if an opportunity such as this were to arise...Sora took care in concealing her identity as so anyone was not to notice her. She would be in for it if that happened...She snuck out of Layla's bedroom and looked left and right hoping she wouldn't be noticed. She knew she was close as she heard the sounds of elaborate music and chatter coming from the dining room. Sora walked in heart thudding in her chest as she looked around nervously. Everyone looked so beautiful in their evening gowns and suits. She almost felt like a rag doll compared to how magnificent some of them looked.

"Would you like some champaign madam?" a voice of a caterer offered.

"No thanks!" Sora blushed as she sighed with relief. Maybe she shouldn't have come after all? No it was worth it. She had never been to anything this exquisite in her life and probably never would get a chance like this again. She noticed Layla out of the corner of her eye as she darted behind a column pillar hoping she hadn't seen her, but she was too enthralled with Yuri to notice anyone.

"Where are you going?" a familiar voice asked from behind, and she turned around quickly to meet the face of the French king who she had been humiliated by the previous night.

"I'm not going anywhere." she replied not knowing what else to say.

"You should be dancing...It's a ball after all. How many chances do you get like this anyway?" he asked her.

"Um not many I suppose?" she said nervously.

"Why don't we dance then?" he suggested.

"I really can't you-" but he cut her off.

"Dance with me. I won't let you leave this ball until you do." he retorted.

"Fine I will dance with you." she sighed at his preoccupation.

"Then let us dance." he said bowing as he gracefully took her hand. Leon didn't really know why he was dancing with this woman. He hadn't danced with anyone all night, but when he had seen her from across the room, he wanted her as he was filled with drive and ambition. Why had this woman taken such a hold on him? She was different, he could feel it...

Sora felt her heart begin to flutter as this man, she didn't even know asked her to dance. No one had ever shown an interest in her before. Most people hated her because of the favor Layla had shown her. Sora lost track of time as they twirled and spun around the room a thousand times over again it felt like.

"You are a marvelous dancer." Leon complimented her.

"Thank you." she blushed through the mask until she noticed the clock struck midnight.

"Wow did you see Leon go?" Yuri grinned.

"Who is that girl anyway?" Layla questioned suspiciously.

"I don't know. She must be one of the late arrivals because I haven't ever seen her before." he presumed.

"Then let's go meet her shall we?" Layla suggested becoming rather curious.

"Yes lets." smiled Yuri as he tucked her arm in his as he walked towards the couple.

Sora felt her heart beat in oblivion as she noticed the attention she had gotten.

Yuri and Layla were coming right in her direction.

"I have to go!" Sora told Leon as she tried to run off, but he grabbed her arm.

"But why? What's your name?" he asked.

"It's complicated!" Sora cried tearing away from his grasp as she ran out of the entrance hall and back to her quarters.

"Did you scare her Leon?" laughed Yuri.

"It's not my problem." he said coldly walking away from his friends jeering comments. Why had she ran off like that? Was he frightening? Why hadn't she told him her name? He had to find her. This woman had changed everything for him, and he knew for some reason if he didn't find her he'd be unhappy the rest of his life...

"Wow what's gotten into him?" Yuri said in surprise.

"Who cares? Let's just have us time. Show me the sights...I want to see what your country is really like." she grinned as she drew a heart on his chest.

"Anything you want, and it shall be done." he smirked as they walked away together.

Sora cried into her pillow that night. It wasn't fair! Why had Layla brought her here anyways? She would have been better off staying in England. She knew she could never be with anyone like him. She was a peasant, and he was a prince. He was charming and delightful but far too good for her ranks, and who knew what kind of trouble she might be in now if he found her out...