Part One

The next few days made Sae forget all her anxiety over the tasks. Who would worry about future endeavours when the sky was bright and blue, the sun was shining, and her lady's maids were doing all they could to show her the splendours of Fu Naru Palace. For the first time in her life, Sae found herself enjoying the company of fellow women. It was the closest she had ever been to real friendship, even if they were servants. She adored young Phèlie's bright-eyed view of things, like the time they came upon the glistening lake situated near the palace woods. Phèlie ran straight for it, pulling Sae along and declaring it the perfect time for them to cool off and dip their feet into the still glass-like surface. Sae admired Alesia, her beautiful red-haired maid, who seemed to have a witty, sharp mind and a cool head for smoothing over awkward situations. Even Beda, with all her old-fashioned sensibility surprising for a woman still quite young, Sae found herself relating with the most. When Beda scolded Phèlie for being such a child at the sight of the lake, Sae could, perhaps more so than the other two maids, hear the half-heartedness in which Beda spoke, for the servant was also fond of Phèlie in her own fashion.

Those few days of bliss were short and sweet for Sae however. Before she knew it, the day had come when she was to be informed of her next task, though when in the day that would happen was a mystery. She started the day off as usual, breakfasting alone and then off for a morning ride. When she got to the stables the first thing she saw was Condor the stable boy brushing a dark horse's main and Prince Fabian, looking comfortable in loose riding clothes and getting ready to mount the horse. There had been a couple times before when she had caught the younger prince in the stables during the mornings. It seemed that riding was his main form of amusement and Sae couldn't deny he looked more regal, more like his true self, his very best in fact, when he was riding. He rode better than any man she had ever seen, smooth and elegant as if he were part of the horse itself. When his feet were planted on the ground he seemed uncoordinated and fidgety in his princely garb.

Sae approached them offering the custom pleasantries, which were returned to her likewise. Then, without another word, for it seemed to Sae that Fabian was not fond of talking, he was on his horse and commencing with his ride. It didn't take him long to disappear into the distance, and Sae doubted he'd be back for hours. According to the Queen, his mother, he sometimes vanished for almost the whole day riding.

"Ivy's being brushed down as we speak but she should be ready shortly," Condor said with his soft voice, and she followed him to the edge of the stables.

"It seems like a beautiful day for riding." Sae remarked, frowning slightly at the clear sky.

"And yet you say that with a sigh." He laughed lightly. "May I ask why?"

"Today is the day I find out about the next task. Once I am informed I will no longer be able to enjoy this summer weather like I have been doing."

"You did well on the first test." He stated kindly.

"I made two mistakes and probably would have made a third had her highness not called it over when she did."

"But you know," he said after a pause, "it's evitable for anyone to get three wrong, after being asked enough questions. The fact that you held in there for all the ones you were asked, well I call that admirable."

Looking at Condor that moment, Sae couldn't deny there was something about him that made her feel so relaxed, so at ease as if he were someone she had known all her life. His words gave her comfort and she was thankful he had said them.

"You are quite wise." She smiled. "Are you sure you're just a stable boy?"

"Of course I'm not," he grinned, "but I can't tell you that or it would defeat the purpose of my remarkable disguise, don't you think so?"

Sae laughed and one of the stable servants brought out the newly brushed Ivy.

"Well, I suppose I best enjoy the day before it is ruined for me." Sae half-joked.

"In all seriousness though Sae, please do not fret over the tasks. If you are meant to pass you will."

"Ah, so you believe in fate, do you?" She observed as she mounted Ivy.

"I believe that if the future Queen of this country must succeed in these tasks then you will be Queen only if you posses the skills needed for the victory."

"Then that's the question, isn't it? It's really not 'am I meant to be Queen?'. No, it's 'am I capable of passing the tests to become Queen?'"

"Do your best." Condor said, before smacking Ivy's rear.

Without another word exchanged between the two Sae found herself beginning her morning ride.

That afternoon Sae found herself wandering down the many corridors of the palace, avoiding her lady's maids. The truth was all they wanted to do was go out and enjoy themselves but she didn't want to. Not when the news of the next task was looming over her. She knew she was being selfish; their main job was to take care of her, to amuse her during her stay and make sure she was never left alone with nothing to do. Without her around they'd just be assigned back to regular servant duties, something she knew they'd rather evade if they could. However she rather they just go and have fun without having to bring her, she wasn't in the mood. Her palace exploration did not last long however. A quarter of an hour in she met with a particularly handsome, almost hazel brown-eyed man who was walking through the halls as well. This sandy-haired gentleman was quite tall and had a very charming smile, which he bestowed upon her the moment their eyes met.

"Lady Sae, it is a delight to see you again."

"And you as well, Sir Lisario. But please, call me Sae." She said, willing herself not to blush.

"Well Sae, I must say after your performance at the first task I desired quite feverishly to congratulate you personally, but alas you disappeared and I have been busy with knight business."

"Nothing to worry over, I hope." She remarked. "We are not going to war or anything, are we?"

He laughed. "I do not think Fu Naru has been at war for the past two centuries or more, milady, you need not worry. No, no, it is peaceful times. I only speak of small matters that keep me busy. Small but tediously time consuming "

"Then it is my pleasure to have caught you free at present." She said politely.

The truth was Sae didn't feel comfortable around someone like him at all. A charmer, that's how she felt about men like Lisario. They were handsome and knew it and used it to their advantage. At least, by the way he was working his smile on her, and by his alluring pleasant tone she felt as though he was purposely trying to sway her feminine side. She'd have to be careful around him, she realized.

"Having met you here within these palace walls I am ever more happy that I am quite unengaged at present. Should you wish to favour me with a stroll outdoors?"

"Actually, I have been avoiding the outdoors today. I'm afraid I'm rather sick of them after so many days enjoying their splendours."

"What's this? Sick of them?" He cried passionately. "But my lady, surely you cannot be serious. To have such glorious weather that will go away as the dry season changes, you must appreciate it while you have the chance. Here, take my arm and I will reacquaint you with what you are missing."

"No, no, I must decline I am afraid. I've…gotten a bit of a headache from too much sun this morning…during my horse ride."

"Oh." And here he looked genuinely disappointed. "Well, if you insist, we could always spend our time now indoors. Do you play an instrument? This palace has got the most delightful instrument room, filled with every noise maker you can imagine."

"Oh, I play…a little. Only the harp though, I'm afraid. It is my younger sister Mealina, who is the real master of music. She plays the piano and sings you see."

"Come then," he said, ignoring her last words. "I must hear you play."

"If you will please put that off until later," came a sudden voice Sae recognized. "I'm sorry to say that Lady Sae has other business to attend to now."

They both turned to see a very harassed looking Gallagher, the head servant, standing before them.

"Other business?" Sir Lisario raised an eyebrow to that, "but I thought—"

"If you will follow me please," Gallagher cut in, as if he had no time for explanations, "you are being summoned to the Royal Advisor's study. It is time for you to become acquainted with your next test."

Sae felt her stomach drop. She had been happy to see Gallagher, any excuse to get away from the attractive knight, but this was not a reason that made her feel the least bit better.

"Yes, well I suppose I must be going." She turned to Lisario with a small smile. "I am sorry Sir, I must be going though."

"Another time then," he said with an air of defeat, though he grinned on.

She turned away and followed the nervy head servant down the corridors as he muttered words about being a very busy man.

"You do know that I am able to find my way to Roderick's study on my own, don't you?" She asked, unable to listen to his mutterings any longer. "I did after all prepare myself for the first task in his study."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" He demanded. "If that's the case be sure to find the way from here, I must be off. Other pressing matters await me."

Gallagher went off in the opposite direction and Sae continue to make her way to Roderick's study. Really, all the men in this palace confused her. Either they seemed bothered by her very presence, or they were dangerous. After all, she was here trying to become the Crown Prince's wife, so why did the knight think it was okay to be so friendly with her. She must not let herself get off track. Her goal after all was to make Prince Sevastian fall in love with her. It had been a couple of days since she had come to this resolution, and yet she still hadn't figured out how to do it. Since their talk in the ladybug garden she had only seen him once again. One evening he had asked her to spend some time with him in that garden again and they had a light friendly conversation, though it felt very platonic to her. How was she supposed to attract him when she physically wasn't attracted to him herself? She didn't expect any sparks of love, she was incapable of love after all, but still, she had been attracted to men before, like his cousin Sir Lisario.

Roderick sat waiting behind his desk as she opened his door. She sat down across from him and he began.

"It has been dubbed 'the Justice Test'. From the name I am sure you can piece together that this task involves you proving yourself a fair-minded individual. A ruler must always be as just as they can in any situation, whether it be pertaining to the law of the land, or in social or private matters."

"And how will I be tested in this case?"

"The test will be much simpler than the history test. You will be presented with a problem, an everyday village issue, and you must pass your judgement. The decision you come to will decide on whether you pass or fail. You'll have a quarter of an hour to review the situation and make up your mind."

"And how can I prepare for such a thing?" Unlike the history test, there would be no memorization. This relied on practical thinking alone.

"This will involve application Lady Sae. Depending on whom you pick for assistance, they will prepare you in whatever way they seem fit, therefore I can not tell you how you will be prepared."

"And if I were to pick you again?" She asked.

"Then I would prepare you by presenting you with similar issues and situations to the one you will have to face. Should you be able to figure them out, I do not doubt you will pass the second task."

"It's all about application." Sae repeated to herself. "Alright then, I'll designate you as my assistant for this."

"As you wish." He nodded. "If that is the case then, we begin practice tomorrow after your riding. Please come straight to my study after that and I will have something prepared for you."

"Thank you." She said getting up. "Is that all?"

"Yes, that is all. You may now leave."

Just then however Sae was hit with a sudden idea. Sitting back down she cleared her throat and said. "You told me during my first days here that if I had any questions you were the one to go to right?"

"Yes…that is correct." He said, eyeing her curiously.

"Well, I do have something I would like to ask advice on. You are, after all, the Royal Advisor."

He remained silent and waited for her to continue. By now she couldn't look him in the face. Whether it was because his ink blue eyes were turned to her or because she was a little embarrassed about what she was about to ask, she did not know. Was there really a difference though?

"I remember his highness, Prince Sevastian referring to you as his best mate once. This being the case, perhaps you know more about your friend than most people in the palace."

"You could say that I suppose." He said. "We are cousins and we grew up in this palace as close childhood friends, so I do know a thing or two about him."

"Then, has he told you about his wish to find true love?"

Roderick blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"This is what he told me days ago. He does not want to marry just any woman, but he wishes to find true love in the girl who ends up as his Queen. This is why I wanted to ask you Roderick if you could advise me. You, who knows him so well."

"Advise you…how exactly?" It was clear she had caught him quite off guard.

"I have decided that if he is looking for love, then I must make him fall in love with me. If he sees me as his true love, then maybe her highness the Queen won't mind if I fail the tests."

"You are doubting yourself already then?" He said disapprovingly.

"I have already been through one of the tests, I am not ignorant to how hard they are. I will of course continue to try my best, but it is still worth it to see if he can love me. I just need to figure out how to make him love me. Can you advise me on how to accomplish this? What appeals to Prince Sevastian? I suppose I could always try seducing him."

The look of alarm on Roderick's face almost made her laugh.

"I am joking of course." She said at once with a smile. "I am not that kind of woman. Besides, he's not that kind of man either. He wants pure love, and though I am personally not looking for any, I think I should still see if I can get him to love me. It may decide for me if I should be marrying him or not. I do not want to marry a man who is looking for love but cannot find it in me. Then I would feel as if I have taken his one chance away. So Roderick, please, will you help me make him love me, if it's possible?"

Here she willed herself to look at him straight on so he could see her earnestness. He looked back into her pleading eyes and said, "not a chance in hell, milady."

"But aren't you supposed to assist me in whatever it is I need?" She implored.

"There is a limit Lady Sae."

"It's Sae. Sae!"

"In any case," He said, ignoring her, "what you are asking is such a personal matter that I would rather not be involved in. If…Prince Sevastian is to fall in love with you, let him do it on his own accord. Forcing love out of him will do no good."

"I am not asking you to help me force love out of him, only to see if there's a chance that he could love me. I could just wait around and let it happen naturally, but by then I may have already failed one of the tests and have been sent home. If I push things along it could prove to help me succeed."

His gaze bore into hers for a long silent moment, one that seemed to go on forever, though Sae was unable to look away. Then, in a quiet low tone Roderick spoke. "You need to focus on preparing for the next task and winning, not on trying to make the Prince fall in love with you. It's pure nonsense, and further more it is unfair to the Prince to scheme about making him fall in love with you when you yourself are determined you will not love him back. What gives you the right to accept and take his love and not give back any in return?"

"Oh, I will make him happy if that is what you mean." She said, trying not to let his words make her feel ashamed. "I may not love him back, but what is the difference if I make sure he thinks he is loved, or if I do everything in my power to make sure he feels loved and he gets the kind of treatment a girl in love with him would give him. What difference would it really make for him?"

"All the difference in the world." Roderick said. "If he is looking for true love then he deserves to be loved by the woman he marries, should he love her back. It is give and take, and that's what makes it true love to begin with."

"This is silly. He is the crowned prince of Fu Naru, he's not going to find true love in the candidates. He'll be lucky if he finds any woman to marry him who can pass these ridiculous tests!"

Then Sae realized with horror what she had said, and how impassioned she had become. This was not her usual behaviour and that made her all the more embarrassed. She didn't know how, but somehow she had gone from being composed to letting slip how ludicrous she thought the Prince was for wanting true love, and even worse, how preposterous she thought these tasks were. And she had let this all slip to the Royal Advisor. She was doomed.

"I…forget I said anything. I am truly sorry…truly sorry to have disturbed you in any way." Completely mortified and feeling her face growing hot, she got up from her seat across from him.

She was already at the door when she heard his voice from behind.

"Perhaps…you are right," he said with an air of dejection. "Perhaps the Prince is a romantic fool and perhaps these tests are over the top and unnecessary, but regardless of that it is not right for you to try and meddle with the Prince's feelings, nor should you be concentrating your attention on that when you have tasks to worry about. Why do you suppose none of the other ladies were successful? Perhaps because they spent more time worrying about the Prince than focusing on beating the tests…do you think so? I do. I think that's exactly what happened with them, and if you don't want to be the seventh lady to follow in their footsteps, perhaps you had better work out in your head the best plan of action you should be taking."

"And maybe Roderick," she said, opening his door, "you should work out in your head why it is you sound so unhappy, because every time I see you I feel as if you are depressed."

She left his study before anything else could be said. He had made her feel remorseful for thinking it was okay to try and make the Prince love her, and maybe that was why she had lashed out on him as she left. The realization of that only made her feel guiltier though. It was time to put these thoughts behind her and focus on the next task, she decided. Her plan of action would be to take Roderick's advice and do everything she could to succeed. She'd worry about Prince Sevastian later.

When Sae entered her quarters perhaps her expression showed more than she was willing to reveal, for when her ladies-in-waiting beheld her they inquired if anything was the matter, and when asked this Sae immediately tensed up and denied all.

"Are you quite sure Sae?" Alesia pressed. "We've been looking for you all day so we thought maybe something might have happened, and just now when you walked in you seemed distressed."

Sae feigned a nonchalant shrug. "I suppose I am not exactly happy to have found out about the next challenge. It only means it is upon me sooner then I would like."

"What, is it that time already?" Phèlie groaned. "And just when we were all having so much fun. But now I suppose you'll have to begin preparation."

"It's an unfortunate truth," Beda began, "but the sooner you begin it the sooner it will be over and you can enjoy another five days of relaxation in the palace."

For the first time that day Sae felt herself smiling. "Beda, you really have faith in me, don't you?"

Beda noticeably stiffened at the unexpected observation, but said just the same, "you passed the first task, and I see no reason that you should fail this one."

"As long as you choose a good person to assist you." Alesia added. "That is, besides us maids because we will help you any way we can regardless."

Sae subconsciously bit her lip. "Well, I thought the sensible thing would be to choose Roderick again."

Of course, that was before they had that awkward argument back in his study.

"It is." Beda nodded favourably. "I believe all the previous girls who chose him for the second task also passed."

"Well, then I might as well pick him every time and be done with it." Sae said incredulously.

"There is some truth in that," Alesia began in an unusually serious voice, "however, at the same time it may be your undoing. You are not the first lady to have come to the conclusion that picking Roderick every time might be the key to victory over the tasks. Princess Drelinda, I cannot remember if she was the fourth or fifth contender, but she adopted the method of choosing Roderick and it did get her further than any other. However, around the time she was getting ready for the fifth task, there was a sort of incident of sorts between her and Roderick. She insisted she still wanted him to help her prepare even though by then it was clear they had grown to detest each other, and though I would never accuse Roderick of not helping the contender he is asked to assist, I do not think it was a coincidence she failed that fifth test."

Catching Sae's raising brow, Phèlie added, "the Princess wasn't worthy of Prince Sevastian anyway, and I didn't like her either. I do like you though Sae, and I'm sure Roderick does as well, and you two are on good terms so you needn't fret."

Good terms however they weren't, as far as she now knew. What on earth was she going to do? Would he refuse to help her, or would he do all in his power to make sure she lost? She cursed herself for ever saying anything to him about love and Prince Sevastian.

"Are you sure you are well Sae? You do look slightly pale." Alesia said worriedly.

"I am fine, I assure you. Though I know you all wanted to go out today. So how about we forget all about the task for now and go enjoy the outdoors?"

Anything, anything to take her mind off the horrible realization that she may fail this next test.

The maids didn't need telling twice.

"Let's go."

Sae did not know what she was supposed to do after coming back from her horse ride the following morning. The Royal Advisor had told her to report to his office where she would begin her training, but that was before…

A little desperate in wanting someone else's opinion but finding she couldn't bring herself to open up to her ladies-maids, she instead asked Condor for his opinion just as she had finished her ride that morning. Perhaps it was because of his friendly, calm manner and his soft voice, or perhaps because it was leading up to the moment in which she'd have to decide whether to go or not and her anxiety over it had reached its point, nonetheless, she had asked him as he helped her dismount.

"Now I must go to the Royal Advisor's study so he can prepare me for my next task." She began casually enough.

"Oh," he answered simply, gripping Ivy's harness as he helped Sae down.

"I am a little apprehensive about it though."

"And why is that?" He sounded genuinely curious.

"Well you see. The Royal Advisor…Roderick, and I had a bit of an argument yesterday."

Condor looked at her for a moment, his brow furrowing. "And why…is that?"

"I'm not even sure, to be honest. I was asking him for advice of a personal matter, and he seemed to get upset about it. I'm afraid I got defensive and may have said something to offend him before I left."

"Upset really? Roderick?" He said incredulously.

"I know, it seems odd doesn't it? From what I know of the man, he does seem very dull indeed, not someone to give way to any passions. And yet, he was upset."

"Well," here Condor took his time as if choosing his words carefully. "I'm going to confess to you Sae, that I really think it would be in your best interest to stay on his good side. I have not known you for too long, but I do rather think well of you and I would hate to see you go so early. Roderick has…a lot of say in what happens, you'd be surprised. So please, for your own sake, go today to see him anyway and try to make amends."

"If he hates me I do not think it will make a difference though. He may have decided to do all in his power to make me lose, and then I'll never marry his highness Prince Sevastian."

"I know Roderick a little better then you do Sae, and I can tell you now that he is more careful then you are giving him credit for, in bestowing his dislike upon someone. In fact, I doubt there is anyone I can name who he dislikes. He is not a man to form enemies, as quiet and secluded as he is, he really does just keep to himself. You would have to do worse I think for him to be set against you, then get into an argument with him. Go to his study as he asked you, and I am sure you won't be sorry for it."

Sae was relieved to find that in taking Condor's advice he was right. When she entered the Royal Advisor's study it was clear that he had been waiting for her. It was also clear, from the way he gestured for her to sit down and then began discussing the task, he was dead set on being all business and the chance of him mentioning the incident of the day before was not very likely. Only, as he addressed the ways in which they would prepare Sae could not shake the horrible sneaking suspicion that regardless of what Condor said, Roderick could now be working against her by purposely preparing her inadequately.

"I think it best," he mentioned, "we approach this from an angle you will be most comfortable with. Therefore, I want to begin this by reminding you of a parable you'll recognize. King Solomon is what I want you to think of, when you think of tricky situations of justice."

"King who?"

"King Solomon. Surely you've heard of…?" But he broke off at the sight of the clueless expression on her face.

"I thought every child was told the stories of King Solomon. I believe it to be common knowledge." He said wryly.

"Yes well, I wasn't brought up with such stories of kings."

"Then I suppose I will have to tell it to you now. King Solomon was known for his wisdom far and wide, and there are many parables which have passed down through time of his superior good judgment. The parable I am going to tell you is one that he is most famous for. Skipping over poetic, ancient versus to which many people choose to recite, I will simplify it so that there will be no mistake in its meaning Lady Sae."

He cleared his throat as if anticipating a long speech.

"The parable beings are so; two harlots come to stand before the king with a predicament. The first woman begins by telling King Solomon that she and the other woman dwell in the same house, she had given birth several days ago, and the other woman three days after her. There were no other people in the house during that period of time. She them claimed that the other woman's child died in the night and so at midnight the woman came into her room while she slept, and switched the dead son for her living, sleeping one. She awoke the next morning with the dead boy laid upon her bosom, but she knew upon consideration that this baby was not her son.

"Then the other woman spoke. She claimed that the boy in her arms was her living son, and the dead one belonged not to her. Both women began to argue before the king, and in his judgment he ordered for a sword to be brought forward. When the sword was brought forward he told the women that each should receive half of the baby. Then the woman who feared for her child told King Solomon to please give the other woman the baby instead of slaying it, and the other woman said it had better be split in two so neither could have it. In his wisdom King Solomon then said, give the woman who fears for her baby the child, for she is the true mother. And that, is the parable of King Solomon I want you to think on."

Sae was quiet for a moment thinking over the story, then she said, "it was wise of him to figure out who was the mother, though I think in our time and day the other woman would have sense enough to pretend to care about the baby's welfare. I do not think it would work out so well should that problem be brought up again."

"Perhaps you are overestimating the common folk Lady Sae. As a noblewoman you are educated to some degree and so such vulgar sense as the other woman showed may seem idle and foolish to you, but if you suppose the uneducated of this land are any wiser than the harlots of the parable then that only demonstrates your ignorance of the country's villagers."

Sae couldn't help but blush in mortification. "It is true I do not converse with the commoners though I did not think that would be held against me being a lady of noble birth."

Roderick shook his head. "I did not mean any mode of attack when I said that. I was simply pointing out that education in this land, as well as all others, is essential to superior understanding. It is true, there are those who are wise that are perhaps untaught, because experience itself nourishes wisdom more than anything else, but true perceptive and clear understanding is best developed when one has been educated with the world, and a lady like yourself is much more likely to have such education then a common milk maid. Therefore, it is possible that though this parable seems obvious to you, it may be above comprehension for a commoner as to how Solomon arrived at the conclusions to use such a method as he did."

It was clear to Sae that the Royal Advisor had a superior awareness of the subjects of Fu Naru compared with herself. It was not usual however, for noblemen to associate with the villagers, so why should she know any better? Even with this argument in her defence she still could not shake off the embarrassment for her display of ignorance.

"Now, with King Solomon as your model of wisdom, shall we begin with preparation?"

Thus began Sae's next few days of anticipation for the second task.