Part One

Sae could not have hoped for a better excuse in spending more time with the Prince than his suggestion of taking morning rides together. She had asked Condor one morning, before the Prince had shown up, if it was something his majesty had done with any of the previous ladies.

"No," he replied with that soft voice of his. "I can't say that I remember him ever making plans to ride with any of the other ladies. Perhaps, Sae, he is taking to you better than he did to them."

His words had given her hope, and she couldn't let such an opportunity slide. Gloom accompanied this hope however: though they were spending so much time together she could not bring herself to be the least attracted to him. From her first day at the palace she had been telling herself that she couldn't possibly fall for him, so why should it bother her that this had turned out true? Could it be that perhaps deep down she had been hoping she was wrong, and that Lady Kiva's words to her before she left were right? Could she secretly be hoping she would fall in love with the prince? What a contrary feeling it was for her to be so sure that she would never love, and yet hope to be proven wrong, only to find out she was right about herself. She rode with him every day for the next few days, assumed evening walks with him and took care to observe all the things appealing about him, and yet…she felt nothing. He was the prince charming from Mealina's silly fairytales in every way. Wasn't any and every woman supposed to fall for such a prince? One thing was sure; if she could not bring her heart to flutter for this man, she doubted there was anyone else on earth for whom it would beat strongly. There was no man more perfect than his highness; therefore if she could not love him, she really was incapable of romantic love. She had known this all along and yet she still felt empty and miserable at the realization.

One night, desperate to know if she was mad or not, she did something she had never done before and opened up to girls her own age. Her lady's maids were helping her prepare for slumber when she asked them if they would lend her their ears and their minds. Right in the middle of her account Mayah came in to bid Sae goodnight and was invited to hear of her dilemma as well. By the end of it the maids were looking at each other, unsure of what to say, but Phèlie alone looked assuredly at Sae and spoke her opinion without much thought to her words.

"So you are not attracted to him, so what? It is alright Sae because you don't have to marry that man."

Phèlie was right of course, she did not have to marry him. Lady Kiva had said that back at home they would not hold it against her should she resign. Still, she knew her father wished it of her, and she herself was sensible to how great an opportunity this was for her, too great to drop out.

Alesia was shaking her head at Phèlie. "Sae is here for the very reason of marrying him, who else would she marry here?"

It was a question Sae pondered the next day, as she walked from the dining room back to her personal rooms to get ready for her evening with Sevastian. On a couple of occasions he had joined his mother the Queen and herself in the dining room for an evening meal but that day was not one of them. According to her majesty, Sevastian was rarely at home during the day. Most mornings and some evenings yes, but during the day he always seemed to disappear off to somewhere and she knew not what to make of it. Rather than worry she decided to allow him his independence and think nothing more of it.

Walking back to her quarters it was then that Sae unexpectedly met with Sir Lisario. He bestowed his best smile for her as he held out his hand to accept hers and kissed it, saying, "Sae, I have wanted to see you for quite some time now. You were exceptional during the second task."

The way he looked at her after kissing her hand made her blush. She cursed both herself and him for it, but added in a calm voice, "Why thank you Sir. It doesn't seem long however until the next test; tomorrow will be the day when I am informed of task three, and I am dreading it."

Sae noticed the funny way his eyes lit up at her words. "Do not fear this task Sae, for I will tell you now that it is my personal favourite one. I cannot say anymore, lest I get in trouble for dropping any hints, but let's just say it is a task which I really enjoy and I think you may too."

Then he strolled away whistling to himself and she was left to wonder what he could possibly mean. One thing left no doubt in her mind however: Sir Lisario was even more handsome than Prince Sevastian and Sae couldn't help but notice.

To say that Sae was feeling apprehensive the next morning would be putting it lightly. She barely knew how the days had flown by, spending half her time being entertained by her maids and further exploring the wonders of the palace; the amazing art gallery featuring centuries of some of the best talent the country bred, an enchanting conservatory of plants and birds, an airy library with books stacked to the ceiling and squishy armchairs to settle into for a cozy hour or two, even a music and game room where she scarily needed anyone around to entertain her. The other half of her time was spent with Prince Sevastian, attempting to be as agreeable as possible before his glinting green eyes.

That morning as she met with him for her ride, a certain event took place which caused her to think all her efforts towards him had not gone unnoticed. The fact that the prince so regularly went riding with her, a circumstance Condor repeatedly assured Sae had not occurred with the other ladies, had given her some hope, and that morning she was given even more.

Though Condor, as a stable boy, regularly assisted Sae in mounting her horse, as of late Sevastian had stepped in to help her himself. That particular morning after a long ride, when Sae went to dismount the Prince helped her down. He took hold of her hand with one of his and placed his other around her waist to set her gently down, and after doing so he did not let go, but held her still for a moment. He looked down at her, not quite in his usual smiling manner, but rather in earnest contemplation as if he were trying to decide something about her in that moment. Never being held still by a man as such she felt her face growing hot in discomfiture and could not meet his eyes.

"Right," Prince Sevastian said, letting go of her and the moment was gone. "Well, I must be off now. I have pressing business to attend to, but I hope to see you for riding tomorrow morning Sae."

"Yes your highness." She allowed herself to breathe then, and he was off, handing his horse's reigns to Condor.

"I must go and catch my carriage. It is waiting for me at the palace entrance by now, I am sure. I am afraid I may be prevented from taking a stroll with you this evening Sae, but please wait for me tomorrow for I should wish to hear your opinion on the third task."

He went off then and Sae was left to wonder what the third task could possibly be. Instead of just dreading the tasks as she usually did her emotions were now laced with curiosity, for both the Prince and his cousin Sir Lisario had made specific references to this task, as if it were something she might enjoy. Not knowing what they meant was beginning to influence her feelings more than the initial fretfulness of finding out.

"And how was Ivy today?" Condor asked, breaking her train of thought.

"She was a dream as usual, the tamest mare I've ever ridden, and that's saying a lot for her age, considering I have quite an old, well-bred mare back at home."

"Yes, Ivy is the gentlest mare her age to have graced the palace's stables, of that I am sure."

Condor began to unsaddle Ivy, loosening the belt around her belly.

"So," he commented casually enough, "I take it things with his highness are going as planned?"

And that was what Sae really liked about Condor. Whereas a certain sour Royal Advisor refused to give her any advice concerning Prince Sevastian, Condor was always an open ear and he would give her his opinion should she ask him for it.

"I can't say for sure but I think they are." She acknowledged gladly. "He certainly is an attentive gentleman, and sometimes as of late I have caught this look in his eye, different from his cheerful visage, as if he were seriously thinking something over."

"Ah," Condor said. "Well, he does have his deep side, though he is particularly good at hiding it. I will tell you that down to the core he really is a sophisticated, mindful man, however much his pleasant demeanour may give the appearance of his having a head full of air."

"Yes, well I won't deny when I first met with him I was a little unnerved by his carefree disposition, but I think I see what you mean Condor; he certainly does have a serious side hidden in there, underneath that trademark smile of his."

"A serious side, and a very sharp mind to go along with it, Sae. Be cautious, for he is better at reading people then you would think. He may very well know what you are up to, I should warn you."

"No, that is impossible I am sure." She said firmly, as if the idea was ludicrous.

"Just as you please Sae. If you wish to lure the prince in I think he has a right to know what you are on about."

Sae restrained herself from rolling her eyes. "You are beginning to sound like Roderick."

Condor smiled with that gentle expression of his and added in soft tones, "well Roderick is not the Royal Advisor for nothing milady."

"Which reminds me, I am to find out what the third task is soon. I admit his highness has made me wonder with his comment as to what is in store for me."

Condor feigned a shrug and replied, "I am sure whatever it is it must be pleasant to ladies in general or else he wouldn't be asking your opinion on the matter."

Her eyes narrowed at his words. "Condor you sneak, you know what it is too, stop pretending you don't. I am very much aware that everyone in this palace knows more than me and you are all keeping quite the number of secrets from my inquisitive ears; you need not patronize me."

Condor only laughed. "You milady can not even begin to imagine the number of secrets and the significance of said secrets being kept from you."

"If I were not a lady I think I would smack your arm as I do to my younger brothers when they are being nuisances."

"And if I were not your humble stable servant I think I should laugh at whatever weak attempt you hit me with, for I've seen you on a horse and I know you are not that strong."

This time Sae did roll her eyes. "Fine, I can see you are not going to tell me anything. I'll see you tomorrow then Condor."

"Farewell your ladyship." He grinned and waved to her as she left the stables, adding in thought, "a great many secrets indeed, and yet I could not tell you one. Still, there may be a time in the future when you will be able to hit me like you do your brothers and not think it improper. We shall see Sae."

o-o-o

It was not yet noon and Sae found herself being accosted by Gallagher the nervy head servant in the corridors of the palace.

"What are you doing roaming around pointlessly for?" He said the moment he spotted her, stopping her in her tracks. "I have been to your quarters and back in search for you, and for your own benefit too I might add."

"I am sorry for your trouble," Sae said courteously, "may I enquire as to the object behind it?"

"What else could it be but that I am to inform you to go and see his Royal Advisor? You know the way to his study, do no make him wait."

And with a huff the Head Servant was gone, leaving Sae to make her way across the palace half-eagerly for what was to come.

Just as she had expected to find him, Roderick was sitting behind his desk with his papers out. She wondered what he would look like sitting behind a cleared desk, or better yet sitting on a couch in one of the sitting rooms with no paperwork surrounding him. As she sat down the vague thought crossed her mind that she had never seen him at leisure and she wondered if he ever did take time just to relax. Could a human being last without taking time off their duties now and then, even the most dedicated of ones?

"Your third task," he began, "is a social conduct test. It is important that a Queen is refined and thus has an approving appearance throughout her land. To put it bluntly, the people will not trust a ruler who is anti-social. When it comes to ruling a country certainly it matters what you know, but it must not be underestimated the value of whom you know. Being a Queen means you will be expected to attend various social events throughout the year, and you will represent the country and the governing monarchy with every action you carry out. If you can not bring yourself to cope with such public attention then you are not qualified to be Queen."

"So it is a test on my social skills, but what exactly will this test involve?"

"A social event of high magnitude. In other words, a ball Lady Sae."

"It's Sae." She corrected, and then couldn't help but gawk at him. "Pardon me? Did you say…a ball?"

He looked at her a moment as if he didn't know what to make of her and then cleared his throat. "That is exactly what I said. A ball is the perfect setting for you to impress the Queen with your etiquette skills and present yourself as royalty refined to the nobility present."

"And why would Sir Lisario think I would enjoy something like that?" She said more to herself then him.

"What did you say?" He asked her, surprised.

"Sir Lisario," she said almost impatiently, "he told me he thought I would like the third task, but I don't see why he thought so. I dread balls."

"I was not aware you and Lisario were on such friendly terms, Lady Sae." Roderick remarked rather dryly.

"I was not aware I had to inform you," Sae countered, mocking his dryness. "Is that a problem?"

His expression was incredulous. "Of course not, I was merely making an observation."

"Well Sir Lisario is quite the agreeable gentleman," tremendously more so then other gentlemen she could currently name, "but I admit I have only conversed with him a handful of times. Now as for his highness Prince Sevastian," she could not help but boast to the man who was determined not to help her on that score, "he has been quite attentive. Not only has he opted to ride with me every morning and take walks with me some evenings, but today after our ride when he helped me dismount he held onto me a little long than what was necessary. So your Royal Advisorness, what do you make of that?"

Sae could not for one moment miss the curious way in which his expression instantly shadowed, masking any feeling that his face could betray, and Roderick was silent for a moment. Then, as if willing himself to smile, he donned a sort of painful grin as he spoke coolly to her.

"His highness, I am sure you have noticed, is an overly friendly person by character. He is a great lover of riding just as his younger brother Fabian is, however Fabian loves his solitude and so Sevastian is always looking for someone to ride with. The number of times he has tried in vain to get me out and riding with him I can not count, though I rarely ride and when I do I do it alone. As for the crowned prince, he finds partners for his expeditions readily enough, whether it be from his mother the Queen, or any of the maids while they are free. He has ridden before with the past contenders who were willing to ride and he cares little who it is he rides with, he just loves company.

"Now, as for his late evening walks with you, I scarily need tell you now that it is the same case, he simply loves to be around others and is glad of anyone's companionship. Really Lady Sae," and here his voice dipped into something else besides his usual dull tone; "you must not take him seriously for he is the same with everyone, and it would do you no good to count his behaviour towards yourself as anything special."

Sae became so disgruntled by his words she was incapable of forming any intelligible sentences. Instead she rose from her seat muttering something along the lines of, "you're wrong", and stormed out of his study, closing the door perhaps harder then really required.

Roderick forced himself to look away from his door and down at his paperwork, but even after he reached for his quill and began to furiously scribble it was of no use; his silent irritation only boiled and his quill soon found itself both shocked and affronted at being snapped into two.

Sae was so upset by his crushing her hopes that she was not paying the least bit of attention to where she was heading, and soon found herself bumping into the very knight she had spoken of earlier in Roderick's study.

"Why hello there Sae," he said, reaching out to steady her, and Sae thought to herself that if she hadn't been so livid then at this point she would probably be blushing at his touch. But now was not the time to be thinking on such things; she was not in the mood to be shy.

"Something wrong milady?" Lisario asked, getting a good look at her.

"I have just found out my third task," she replied. "I do not know why you think I would enjoy a ball."

He looked at her quizzically. "I was under the impression all ladies enjoyed a good ball."

"Well, I am not "all ladies", now am I?"

He laughed good-naturedly. "No, I suppose you aren't."

"And I think this is the task that will ruin me. I…" then she remembered something. "I didn't even choose an assistant to help me. I mean, before I found out what it was I suppose I was going to pick Roderick as usual but…" but that was before he had said such awful things to her.

Misinterpreting her meaning, Sir Lisario finished for her, "but perhaps to you he does not seem the best choice, as this is a social test, and Roderick has an isolated disposition about him."

"That is true," Sae nodded considering his point.

So perhaps it had been better she hadn't just assumed to ask him this time. After all, had she ever seen Roderick socialize before? Wasn't he always in his study taking care of palace matters? She certainly had never seen him in the evening in the drawing room with her majesty and her two sons. He probably couldn't even dance impressively anyway. The more she thought about it, the more Sae convinced herself that Roderick would not be a good choice for this task.

"But then who am I to ask for assistance from?" She wondered aloud.

Sir Lisario smiled. "I am quite found of balls and dancing, and I flatter myself in claiming to be exceptionally good in socializing. I would be a good advisor for you, should you want it."

He certainly did seem a good at socializing, especially compared to Roderick.

"Alright Sir Lisario, if you would be so kind as to help me then I shall dub you my assistant for the third task."

"I would be honoured." He said, taking her hand suddenly and kissing it. "Now, shall we meet together tomorrow before noon to commence with your social training? I doubt a lady such as yourself needs much help but I have attended the balls held for the previous girls who made it to task three, so I can be of some assistance I am sure."

"Tomorrow would be good." Sae agreed.

"Alright, then in the east sitting room it is. From there I will take you wherever I think we should start. I confess I've never been an assistant to any of the previous ladies but I think you will find you have made a good choice in me."

Sae had thought so too, until later that evening. Her lady's maids had been helping her prepare for bed, making small talk amongst themselves when Phèlie, brought to a sudden recollection said,

"Sae, did you not find out today about the third task?"

It was clear that by the sudden figurative light bulbs which appeared over the heads of her other two ladies in waiting that they had forgotten about it as well.

"I did," she answered quietly.

She hadn't yet decided just how much she was planning on telling them about it, and had been hoping for more time to figure it out.

"So, what do you think about it? Aren't you excited?" Alesia asked.

"Of course I'm not. I dread balls." She protested.

"Dread them, or are afraid of them?" Beda said sardonically.

"Why would I be afraid of balls?" Sae mocked indifference.

"Because you are a very shy young lady and are not too apt in socializing." Beda responded.

Alesia and Phèlie both laughed, Phèlie adding, "Well she does have a point Sae. You said so yourself you do not make friends easily."

"And I suppose Roderick will be assisting you again?" Alesia asked.

Here Sae came to a resolution on how much she would tell them. "Actually no, he will not be. Roderick does not seem the best choice for a social test, don't you agree?"

To her surprise however they weren't so ready to agree with her.

"I've seen him making himself agreeable enough at social gatherings." Alesia said with a slight frown. "For the past lady contenders we were allowed to go with them to the balls so we could wait on them should they need us for anything, and I remember thinking Roderick was quite the dancer."

"He's danced before?" Sae could not imagine such a thing.

"Oh yes, he has!" Phèlie clasped her hands together. "He's so elegant when he's dancing, and when he's not he's either talking business and politics with the gentlemen and discussing family and religion with the ladies"

"The Royal Advisor knows it's his job to socialize on behalf of the Fu Naru monarchy, he takes care to associate with as many people as he can, it's good for royal relations after all."

"But," Sae asserted, "here in the palace he's always alone in his study, tending to some palace business or other. I assumed he was a solitary man by nature."

"The Royal Advisor certainly does like his share of alone time, but he is not always in his study Sae. You only ever see him in his study because that is where he happens to be when he calls for you. In one day Roderick actually covers more ground of the palace than anyone else, and many times he is also off somewhere in the country."

"Well, in any case I did not choose him this time. Even if he would have turned out to be a great assistant as usual, I could not choose him. You see," and here she took a deep breath, "he was most abusive in his words to me earlier today and I stormed out on him."

"What?" They all cried, more upset by the news than Sae thought they would be.

"But this is terrible!" Phèlie cried, her eyes almost watering.

"What? Why are you all so overcome by this? Roderick is just Roderick. Sure, he is the one put in charge of helping me first and foremost, but it is not up to him if I stay or go. That right belongs to the Queen."

"You don't understand Sae," Alesia said. "Without Roderick on your side you are as good as gone. You must win his favour back. What exactly happened in the first place?"

"I simply told him that things between Prince Sevastian and I were going well and that the Prince was really warming up to me. For some reason this news only provoked him to say such unpleasant things. He made me feel like such a simpleton for believing that the prince was partial to me in any way."

The maids all exchanged glances, ones that Sae unfortunately found to be unreadable. After a moment, Beda was the first to speak.

"It was not right of him to crush your hopes, but you must not go and say such things like that to him. You must remember that the Prince is his particular friend; they are very close cousins. Roderick would not like to see his friend being tricked or schemed against, now would he?"

"I suppose not," Sae agreed upon reflection, "though I meant nothing devious of it. Perhaps it is artful of me, but I did not mean to betray or harm his highness in any way. I am most willing to make him a happy man should he choose me."

"I am sure Roderick will get over it in the meantime." Alesia assured. "But whom shall you choose to be your assistant then?"

"I have already chosen," Sae admitted. "Sir Lisario has volunteered his aid and I have accepted."

This time the maids all looked surprised, boarding on slight alarm.

"Whatever would make you think of him?" Phèlie asked at the same time that Alesia said, "I did not know you were on such close terms with that knight, Sae."

They were avoiding her eye and she remembered how earlier Roderick had been surprised when he found out she had been talking with Lisario.

"Something happened, didn't it?" Sae inquired. "With a previous contender, something happened. Am I right?"

"It is nothing you need concern yourself with." Beda said at once, saving the other two from answering "Sir Lisario is also a dear cousin to his highness Prince Sevastian and he is a respectable man. Still, there has in the past been ladies who have come here for the Prince, only to find themselves distracted by his handsome cousin the knight."

"Both are quite agreeable in looks and behaviour," Alesia added, "though there is something to be said about Sir Lisario. He is undeniably more alluring, especially when he speaks with his passionate deep tones, and turns on his charm."

"So I was right." Sae concluded. "Something did happen. Well, you need not fear for me, I am quite capable of controlling myself around men, besides, I have never felt great attraction towards any man alive and as of yet I have been able to resist any charms Sir Lisario emits."

"He is quite enthralling Sae," Phèlie said, "I hope you do not let his flirtatious behaviour detour you away from why you are here."

"You speak as though it were his job to steer unfaithful ladies away from his highness. No matter though, even if it were his job to seduce the easily tempted woman, you need not fear for me. I shall be fine."

"Take care Sae," Alesia sighed. "You anger the one man whom you need more than anyone on your side, and then you choose the man most capable of leading you astray. Take care."

End of Part One