The nobles had taken the morning after the ball for leisure, which meant that the staff had less to do while they rested. In the afternoon when the Queen had taken the guests to view the gardens surrounding the castle, the servants had cleaned the rooms and begun to prepare for the second ball.
Karalina had worked alongside the other maids as the ballroom floor was scrubbed and polished until its white surface sparkled. The candles were trimmed and the candelabras where shinned and everything was ready for another grand evening of dancing and enjoyment.
Now, as the guests from the kingdom arrived and the nobles who were staying in the castle left their rooms to attend the ball, Karalina took her place with the maids in the balcony to view the events below.
"Her Majesty, the Queen and his Highness, the Prince!" declared the Herald.
The ball had begun.
"Oh but he is handsome," sighed another maid at the sight of the Prince.
Karalina had to admit that the white and gold embroidered suit that he wore tonight did set a stark contrast against his hair and drew attention to the Prince's dark eyes. Thinking of the Prince reminded her of her work last night. Even though it had taken a number of hours, Karalina was content with her organising of the Prince's study. How much more effective will his work be now, with everything in order,Karalina thought. It had also been enjoyable for her to work at a task that required more than her physical skills.
She sighed to herself; oh how I miss reviewing paperwork with Papa.
One of the maids heard her sigh and nudged her; "Who is dreaming over the Prince tonight?"
Karalina blushed slightly at the misinterpretation of her sigh and then rose, saying; "Not I!"
All the maids giggled as Karalina ducked through the wooden panel into the passage behind the walls.
***
Frederick danced a number of dances with his guests and the nobles of his kingdom. Everywhere he turned there was another girl being presented by a hopeful mother, waiting for a chance. As the orchestra took a respite, he joined his mother on the dais watching the nobles mingle.
"Have a drink, Frederick," the Queen offered, noting her son's flushed face. "You seem to be quite on edge this evening."
"Oh?" Frederick asked. "No more than usual at a ball." He sipped his drink. "Are you enjoying yourself Mother?"
"Of course," the Queen replied. "This is a ball!" She looked at her son again, "You're quite sure there is nothing amiss?"
"No, no," replied Frederick, handing his cup to a waiting servant and kissing the Queen's cheek. "Have a wonderful night Mother."
Then he stepped down and slid through the crowds of people and out onto the garden terraces that the ballroom opened to. Despite what he had said to his Mother, Frederic's mind was occupied tonight, though not on the ball.
He had concluded that whoever had cleaned his study so thoroughly last night would have done so while he was at the ball. It stood to reason then, thought Frederick, that they would be back tonight to ensure the job was done well enough to hold, and thus, he was waiting for the perfect moment, when he had spent just enough time at the ball, to be able to slip off and lay in wait for his mysterious helper, or even surprise them, if the case may be.
Knowing that he would be missed if he were away for too long, Frederick only had a small opportunity of time to use. So, after making his getaway to the terrace, where a number of couples and groups of people refreshed themselves with the cool air, he slipped nimbly behind a bush and then away through the secret passages that would lead him back to the East Wing.
***
Karalina had just finished reshuffling a stack of reports when one of the panels in the study wall popped open. Gasping in surprise, she looked up to see the Prince himself stepping out, and found herself in an instant curtsy, with her head bowed and her eyes on the ground.
"Good evening," the Prince greeted her calmly.
"Your Highness," Karalina replied, keeping her eyes to the ground.
"Can I assume," he continued, walking forwards, "that it was you who cleaned this study last night?"
Even though she was a Princess, Karalina knew she was in trouble. She shouldn't have gone through the Prince's things! She could loose her place at the castle for this.
"Your Highness, I saw there was close to no room for you to actually be able to use the desk and I - " Karalina started to explain, but just then a gust of wind from the open passage way blew across the room, scattering the papers on the desk. "Oh!"
In the mess of papers and haste, the Prince and Karalina found themselves both on the floor reaching for the same piece of paper.
"Please forgive me, Highness," Karalina said, taking another piece of paper and putting it in the correct pile.
"There is nothing to forgive," the Prince replied easily, making Karalilna look up in surprise. She was sure he would have more to say than this. "You have done me a service," he continued, not noticing her surprise. "I had no notion that these things could be organised in such a way." He stood and put the papers he had collected on the desk. Karalina automatically reached for them to sort.
"I receive reports everyday that demand my attention," the Prince told her plainly, "and there seemed to be no way of keeping everything together."
Karalina kept her eyes focused on the papers, even though her thoughts raced at what the Prince was saying.
"You are a maid in the castle then?" he asked, though it was more of a statement than a question.
"Yes, your Highness," Karalina replied.
"How is it that you can read?" he inquired, shuffling a stack of papers so they sat neatly again.
"My Father married a woman below his rank," Karalina lied swiftly, though she hated doing so; Princesses should never lie! "He taught me how to read and write." If she made it too complicated, the Prince would spot the lie on her and she would be made to tell the truth. What if they sent me home? Karalina thought horrified; surely it wasn't time for her to leave yet.
"Why have a maid's place then?" the Prince enquired.
"I'd rather not say," Karalina stalled.
"But if you had to give a reason?" the Prince persisted.
"My Father died recently," Karalina invented. "I had to find work or my mother and I would starve."
"Oh, please forgive me," the Prince looked genuinely concerned and Karalina looked down, blushing slightly at the way she was creating lies.
"It's nothing, Highness," she replied bobbing a curtsy and turning to leave, hoping to use the uncomfortable moment to escape.
"One moment," the Prince said, before she could leave. "I would like to use your services."
Karalina stopped and looked up suddenly at the Prince, meeting his coal black eyes with her green ones.
"You are intelligent and possess organisational skills which I cannot ever hope to attain," he continued. "I can employ you as a scribe, or a secretary, whichever you prefer - "
"Oh no," Karalina protested suddenly, "Higness I am flattered by your offer, but…"
"But what?" asked the Prince with one eyebrow raised. He stood in the middle of the room in his white suit glinting with golden embroidery in the candlelight and Karalina wondered if anyone had ever refused him anything in his life.
"People would talk, Highness," she continued. "They would say I don't know my place. It is unbearable to be thought of a such in the serving world, the consequences would be..."
"Indeed," the Prince said thoughtfully as he rubbed his chin with his hand. A glance at the candles told him he needed to be returning to the ball or risk being gone for longer than his planned explanation would suffice. "Then it shall be our secret," he declared. "You shall come here every morning, and work through reports with me. In the afternoon you will be free to attend your normal palace duties. I will see to it with my steward that no one questions this arrangement."
"Your Highness," gasped Karalina in surprise and shock, "my reputation! What would people think if I were alone here with you every morning?"
"We won't be alone," the Prince replied, "my vallet, Tobias, will be in attendance, as will numerous others." He walked confidently towards the wooden panels in the wall from which he had appeared. "There will be nothing to worry about. I will see you here, tomorrow, after the second meal."
Before Karalina could protest again (and perhaps for that reason), the Prince pressed the wooden panel in the right position, quickly ducked through the opening and shut it before the wind could bustle through again. Karalina was left in the silent study all alone with nothing but the papers to voice her thoughts to.
"Well indeed!" she said.