Part Two

As she expected the ballroom was simply exquisite. In contrast with the south ballroom this one was much richer in its colour, and seem much more livelier, filled with people and tables and food. The space in the middle for dancing made her nervous. It was bigger than she had foreseen; she had been to the ballroom before they had set the tables up, but she had supposed those tables would take up much of the space. However, there was plenty of room to dance and the task really began to overwhelm her. When she and Sir Lisario entered the room they were announced in, and heads from every direction turned to get a look at her, the newest contender. How well would she fare, they wondered.

An hour passed in which Lisario guided Sae around the room to be introduced to everyone he knew. She was certainly doing her best, and she smiled at the thought of what her parents would say if they could see her at that moment.

Soon her majesty was announced in, along with her two sons. The Queen had donned herself in white-gold silk that seemed to wash out her already fair skin. Her sons however were radiant in their regal garbs, Prince Fabian having chosen an olive toned royal tunic that suited him quite well. Prince Sevastian dazzled the room in a deep forest green, and though it was much darker than his warm green eyes, the effect was still pleasant, and his tall, board frame was emphasized through the cut of his coat.

Being as appealing to look at as he was, Sae was saddened but not surprised to note that Prince Sevastian was immediately surrounded by a group of ladies, all of whom he accommodated best he could with answers, for they peppered him with many questions. He certainly was treating each and every one of them as gentlemanly as he had her. It would not have bothered her, had he have been more open during their time together; if he had shown that deep side of him that Condor eluded to. Instead, he was chivalrous and obliging, just as he was being with these ladies.

Sir Lisario excused himself as he graciously offered to go and acquire her a goblet of wine. What she didn't know was that he intended to take his time, for she had been following him closely thus far, and though she was making progress in the room it wasn't the way to winning this task. She'd have to learn to socialize without him there. The knight disappeared into the crowd of nobles and Sae was left standing there. With no present Sir Lisario to guide her, and no Lady Kiva for her to hang on to, Sae was left to her own devices. She took the moment to observe the Prince's behaviour and was thus surprised when a well-known deep voice, which she hadn't heard from in days, accosted her from behind.

"You are doing very well Lady Sae, though you do look a little tense." He said.

Sae turned around and her mouth unconsciously unhinged. Though by nature he dressed in a tasteful manner, that evening he was looking exceptionally fine in his velvety, deep cobalt attire. The first thing she noticed was the way it brought out the warm blue tones in his otherwise cold eyes, softening them. The effect was unnerving. Roderick was every bit as handsome as his two cousins.

Just then the sound of Prince Sevastian laughing animatedly with his group of lady admirers broke her attention. It brought back the memory of their last exchange of words. Words that were less than cordial, especially compared to the ones he was applying presently.

Feeling every bit the bitter loser, Sae said quietly, "You were right Roderick, he is the same with all ladies. Perhaps…perhaps it's time I resort to other means."

With a sudden sense of alarm Roderick was just about to ask her what she meant when the man whom they were speaking of appeared out of thin air. His league of admirers followed behind him but stopped when they realized his intention to talk with Roderick and Sae without their accompaniment. He had, after all, properly excused himself when he saw the two people with whom he wished to greet; they just chose to follow. Roderick and Sae had at that moment been engaged by their conversation and had not seen his approach.

"How are you Sae? Cousin?"

"Tolerable." Roderick muttered.

Sae mustered the best smile she could and added her thanks for the roses. Prince Sevastian looked confused and asked her what she was referring to. Roderick looked away as if he wished he were no longer there listening to their cozy little chat, though Sae thought it was better he should know that the Prince sent her flowers. That might give her a point or two over him in this strange game they were playing, trying to find out whether the prince had a preference for her or not. So far it looked as if Roderick was winning, though the flowers had been a small hope. Only…

"What do you mean, your highness?" Now Sae was confused. "You sent me roses and signed the card yourself."

A moment passed and then total comprehension dawned on the Prince's face. "Right, right, the roses. Well, we do take walks in the rose gardens. I thought it would be suitable. Don't you think so Roderick?"

Roderick looked as if he wanted to shoot daggers at the Prince for asking him. Instead he answered monotonously, "I can't say that I do, but then, I was never one for those silly romantic demonstrations."

"Oh, is that so?" Sevastian quirked an eyebrow and laughed at his cousin's words. "Well Sae, I think it is time you and I dance. What do you say to that?"

Again she was caught off guard. "Oh, uh, yes, of course your highness."

"Sevastian." He smiled, presenting his hand.

"Sevastian." She repeated and they were off.

While dancing with the Prince, who was a delightful conversationalist and light on his feet, Sae wondered for a moment where his cousin, Sir Lisario had wandered off too, but decided not to think too much of it. This was her time to focus. Even if it were masked as a social event this was still a task.

After putting up with several dances involving the Prince and other men, Sae decided it would not harm her appearance should she tell the next suitor that she was in need of a little break, and so proceeded to the table where her ladies-in-waiting all sat. After having entered the ballroom, the ladies made their way quickly to the table Sae was expected to sit at with her attendants. The girls knew that they were not there to enjoy themselves, that all the guests would ignore their presence, and that their sole job was to wait on Sae. Since Lisario had taken her around to mingle, all they had to do was wait for her at her table. They sat there and remained as inconspicuous as possible. It wasn't long before Sae did join them however.

"I just wanted a break from all the gentlemen." She admitted, flushed from the dancing. "I am not accustomed to such attention. Being a contender for the throne sure does attract young men."

"So does being beautiful." Alesia smiled in an affectionate, teasing way.

Sae shook her head and the maids laughed. Then a young man who was drawn to their table, either by Sae's fame as a contender or by her beauty, asked her if she cared to dance.

Sae dreaded to do it but knew she had no real excuse other than taking a little break. But how long could she use that lie?

"I'm sorry sir," Alesia said smoothly. "Lady Sae has sore feet from overuse and she will be resting for a bit. I am sure the last thing a gentleman like yourself would like to do is further irritate this lady's feet in any way."

"It is the last thing I would like to do," He assured them all, "but if you are willing to dance later milady?"

"At present her dance card is all filled sir. I am afraid your request comes a little too late." Alesia countered.

The man said his thanks and left feeling slightly dejected. Sae was simply marvelled by Alesia's falsehoods.

"Well, I could tell at once he was the persistent type, and that won't do at all. You are here for his highness Sae."

"I had no idea you were such a quick thinker Alesia. I hardly knew how to answer him and already you were prepared with a counterfeit story."

Phèlie and Beda both snickered, Beda adding dryly, "Quick thinker? More like quick liar. I've never known a servant with a better lying reflex, especially when confronted with a difficult circumstance. She comes up with such convincing tall tales on the spot, no matter the situation. It's really quite deplorable."

Alesia smiled shamelessly.

"Sae!"

The girls' intimate party was broken up by the arrival of a fifth member. A fine lady around Sae's age, dressed quite impeccably in an empire waist ruby gown came to claim an acquaintance with Sae. Sae took a good look at her and realized it was Cataveren, one of the few girls she had associated with at social gatherings over the past two years. She was probably the closest thing Sae had had to a friend outside her own family. Cataveren was certainly more sociable than Sae, being a very friendly girl by nature, and so she had been very anxious to befriend all the ladies coming out the year she did, Sae being one of them. Where most girls thought Sae was a quiet and therefore snotty lady, Cataveren had set aside such presumptions and made the attempt to know Sae. Two years later, though they were not bosom friends, Cataveren did delight in seeing Sae at familiar gatherings and Sae was comforted to know there was always someone around she could speak to at such nerve-wracking affairs. It had been a while since the two had met, but Sae noted immediately that something was different about Cataveren. Not so much in looks as in the air in which she carried herself.

"Oh Sae! It has been long, hasn't it?"

"Far too long." Sae said politely, accepting a hug from the joyous girl.

"You can't believe the shock I had when I heard you were the latest contestant. Oh! So happy was I, for I confess most of the previous ladies I did not know too well. More than half of them were from other countries after all, though knowing now you are a contender is just so exciting."

"That's one way to think of it," Sae answered and then gestured to her table. "Please Cataveren, sit."

"I think I shall. My husband has disserted me for his gentlemen friends and their talks about I know not what!"

"These are my lady servants," Sae said. "Beda, Phèlie and Alesia, and this is Lady Cataveren."

"Pleased to meet you," The ladies-in-waiting promptly responded and Cataveren smiled condescendingly at all of them and said, "my word Sae, you do have pretty maids attending you."

That was when Sae realized something. "Wait!—That is," she checked herself, "did you just say you had a husband?"

"Oh, lords yes, didn't you know? I got married this early spring to the archduke Sir Farth."

"Sir Farth, wow." Sae was surprised, and for good reason.

Being the archduke was a big deal in Fu Naru. Being married to him was just as big. Still, that didn't surprise Sae as much as the fact that Cataveren had actually married him. He was, after all, quite aged. Aged and podgy and not handsome at all.

"Yes, you silly goose." Lady Cataveren smiled. "How else do you think it is possible that I should be here, at the ball so exclusively held for the superior aristocracy? Do you see any other count or baron daughters here? Do you see any of the familiar ladies our age we usually see at balls? This is a grand ball Sae. I have been to four before it, all held for the contenders. Oh, I do hope you last till the end. To have the Prince for a husband, my, what luck would that be!"

"But Cataveren…you can't be serious about Sir Farth…why, he's so…"

"So what? Rich?" Was she being stupid on purpose?

"So…so old! So portly! And his features…they are not appealing in the least. Are you truly happy?"

"I am content." Cataveren said firmly, flicking an invisible piece of lint off the table's silk covering. "Not everyone can have your fortune in getting a chance at Prince Sevastian Sae. I took what was offered and I think I made the right decision. Certainly Farth is getting on in years but he is a good man, a nice husband. Besides, Sae, wasn't it you, when all the girls laughed at me for saying love was not an equation in marriage but rather we must look for a suitable match, wasn't it you who defended me and said I was right? Wasn't it you who claimed that they were all foolish for being so picky about husbands when it was all a matter of chance?"

Avoiding everyone's eye Sae admitted to it. Not that Cataveren noticed her avoiding anyone else's eye but her own. As far as she was concerned the lady's maids were just animate accessories and not really present in their conversation.

"Then you more than anyone agree with my choice, don't you Sae?"

Cataveren hid her desperation for reassure under that cheerful mask of hers, but Sae could hear it. Already the girl doubted her choice.

"Yes Cataveren," Sae assured nevertheless, "I would agree with your decision, it is certainly a match to your benefit."

"Good, I knew you'd see it like that. After all, you would do the same thing, wouldn't you? I mean of course, we can't all have your luck with a chance at the Prince, but regardless, even if he were not so handsome and not so young, I am sure you would do the sensible thing and press on to secure him."

According to Sae's own logic that would be correct. However, there was a strange feeling in Sae's heart which whispered to her that this was not the case. She could pretend all she wanted, but she would never have married the archduke, no matter how good the match was.

"Now then," Cataveren went on. "How taken are you with his highness? He is quite handsome, isn't he? You know, before these balls I really had no idea what the princes of the country looked like; I believe few people did. It really is horrid the way their mother kept them locked inside the castle, away from the eyes of the public. Some of the ridiculous rumours going around were just too much, like the one about them really being princesses and the country having no male heir. Really, such ridiculous nonsense. Oh, there's my husband, see Sae? He's looking over here…and he's beckoning me, well I must be off then. But stay in near sight for I shall be back to speak some more with you."

Cataveren was off and Sae realized in that moment that none of her maids had said a word in a while.

"So…that was my acquaintance Cataveren." Sae interjected.

"I don't like her." Phèlie said at once and both Beda and Alesia shushed her, demanding her to show some respect.

"What? It's the truth. I like to be truthful with Sae as much as I am allowed to be," Phèlie argued. "Lady Cataveren reminds me of half of the previous contenders, looking down on us like servants."

"Well, we are servants." Alesia noted. "And you had best hold your tongue now."

"That is still no reason to look down on us. Perhaps she is superior to us in status and that is why we serve her, not the other way around, but as human beings she could at least have acknowledged our presence more."

"Well, she did call you all pretty." Sae pointed out.

"Yes, as if it were such an impossible thing for a lady's maid to be." Phèlie snorted defiantly. "Anyway, never mind the girl who has become archduchess, let us speak of something else."

"Like the fact that Sir Lisario is coming this way." Beda mentioned.

Sir Lisario, charming to all, including servants, sat for a few minutes when he got there and dazzled them all around. Then he claimed Sae for a dance. The sore foot excuse was out the window and soon Sae was expected to dance more with various gentlemen. It was better this way however. If she sat at her table all night she wouldn't pass the task. It was something she had to keep reminding herself of too; the ball was a task, she was being examined, and she had better be more sociable.

She also noted that Prince Sevastian was doing all in his power to be sociable. He had such a sweet temper, such a friendly countenance and offered such warm words that she almost became cross by his total indifference towards any particular lady, as if he longed after no one. She had tried to encourage him, but it wasn't enough, she knew that now.

That day in Roderick's study when she had joked that maybe seduction would work and Roderick had panicked she had been half serious. It was not something she had ever done before, yet Prince Sevastian was not responding to modest tactics and she was getting desperate. What if she failed this task? And then, even if she were to pass it, three of the four girls who had passed it before had been knocked out by the fourth task. Whatever it was she was already dreading it, whether she even had the chance to experience it or not.

As if by some cruel twist of fate she found herself asked both politely and frigidly by the Royal Advisor to dance, just as she was making up her mind on these matters. She wondered if he did it merely out of obligation to be seen dancing, for he had hardly danced that evening and she was the honoured guest of the ball after all, or maybe he was genuinely trying to help her out in this task by making her dance. In any case, before the night was over and before Sae had made up her mind, she was dancing with Roderick. To her dismay her maids were right; he was a flawless dancer.

"If it is not too impertinent to ask Lady Sae, would you care to tell me what you meant earlier by your words in reference to using other means with his highness?"

It was too impertinent by her standards, but she didn't dare say such a thing to him. "Merely that I must try a different course of action."

"And different how so?" He pressed.

If he thought she would divulge in her plans, he was not in his right mind. However, to get him off her back she did say, "I cannot really say I have thought anything through, only that perhaps where Sevastian is concerned I need to be more assertive and aggressive."

After a pause in which Roderick was collecting his thoughts and Sae thought he looked a little perturbed, he finally answered. "Aggressiveness is not a common trait in women, least of all you, I hazard to say."

"And maybe that's exactly the problem." She dared to look him straight in the eyes and challenge him to say anything else about her reserved character.

Roderick frowned. In the next few minutes of silent dancing a certain scene played about in his head, in which Sae declared 'I suppose I could always try seducing him.' Sae's mistake was that she underestimated Roderick's mental ability. He knew exactly what she was referring to. He hoped he was wrong, but he doubted the possibility of that just the same. As the song ended and the silence became more and more uncomfortable Sae gladly left his side and he began to form a plan.

The ball was coming to an end. Sae was summoned by the Queen, who remained sitting comfortably on a throne chair brought in for her to observe the guests and chat with whomever she should want.

"Lady Sae," she said when Sae came forward. "Yes dear girl, I have decided that you have passed this task."

And just like that, Sae claimed victory over the third task, though the war to winning was still a long shot. Three tasks down, three to go.

After her ladies made sure she was taken care of for the evening, they left Sae tucked in bed and went to claim their own resting places in the servants' quarters. Sae waited a quarter of an hour. When she knew it was safe she threw back her covers and reached for her delicate white robe to put over her sleeping garments. She was feeling reckless after passing the third task. Prince Sevastian she noted had had generous amounts of wine that evening so she was in little doubt of his agreeable spirits. If he should push her away, if he should scold her or be shocked then she would deal with it; it was now or never. She knew that if she didn't try tonight she might never have the courage to try. He was not responding to her in a normal way. Maybe all he needed was a bit of encouragement…

Slipping through the halls she was unnoticed by the patrolling guards who walked through the corridors to keep themselves awake, instead of standing in one spot. This was Sae's advantage over them.

It did not take her long to travel to the south wing of the palace. The grand master bedroom in which the sickly king slept had two guards posted at it. But Fu Naru was a peaceful country and had been for centuries. The guards were surprised to see her but she informed them she was having trouble sleeping and was taking a stroll. There was no danger in her they felt, and so paid no attention as she travelled down the corridors. They remained at their post in front of the king's door. Turning down more passages and hallways she noted the other room she passed with the royal sign over it, and yet this was a smaller crown, one for the younger prince she wagered. She could hear more guards in the distance but they seemed to be walking away from not towards her, and she doubted they would trouble her, as the previous ones did not. Finally she came to the doors with a symbol of a crown over them, not golden like the King's but not small like the other one. It was silver and for some reason she felt as though that confirmed it to be Prince Sevastian's room.

With trembling hands Sae reached for the handles of the doors and took one firmly, turning it slowly and pulling the heavy door back. On the other side of the door, far enough that he was masked in shadow but close enough that she could still see he was facing her with arms crossed, the man looked menacingly at her and said with a scowl, "I knew it."

Sae closed her eyes and wished herself a thousand miles away. Why was he here?

"What do you think you are doing here?" He demanded and she opened her eyes promptly.

"What do you think you are doing here?" She retorted, unable to say anything else.

"I had a feeling you would be coming tonight, so I asked Sevastian to sleep in another part of the castle and I've been here waiting for you…I was hoping you wouldn't turn up, but I knew better than to hope."

"But…how could you possibly have known?"

Roderick looked annoyed that she was still asking the questions, but he answered them patiently. "You said you'd try other means and I just knew. However, that's irrelevant. Now, what do you think you are doing trying to seduce a man in the middle of the night to whom you are not married? Sneaking into his chambers like a common thief. And here I thought you were a lady."

"But he…well, how else can I make him love me when he feels the same for everyone?" It took all her restraint not to sound as frustrated as her words implied.

What happened next frightened her. Roderick was no longer cloaked by shadows. He was beside her suddenly and in another instant the door behind her was closed and she was being pressed back into it.

With a firm grip on her wrists he caged her between himself and the door and said in very serious low murmur. "How do you make him fall in love with you? The honest way. Or else don't bother."

"But I cant…" She struggled to say; startled by the way he was holding her against the door. This was more intimate contact with a man than she had ever had, and it terrified her.

His gaze bore into hers, making it impossible to look away. "Be honest with yourself then Sae. Do you really even want him? You told me yourself, you aren't capable of love. So if you can't love him, do you really want him?"

His words made her forget about the intensity of his eyes. Now all they seemed were deep, so deep she became breathless looking into them. He was reading her like she never thought possible. He knew the dark secret she was carrying in her heart about this whole ordeal. "No," she confessed in a shallow whisper, "I don't."

Her words were a death sentence of the sweetest kind. In that moment Roderick closed the gap between them. Sae felt herself being pressed flatly against the solid door behind her and the pressure of his body as he lowered his lips dangerously close. And then…she experienced something she had never felt before. It was her first kiss…but it was much too fiery for a first kiss. There was nothing sweet about what they were doing. Hot flecks of exhilaration filled her and she couldn't believe this was what it felt like to kiss. She could hardly breath, could hardly find enough of his soft lips to taste, to bite into. His tongue…what a wondrous thing it was…how could she have never noticed it before? His hands, his strong hands holding her, his fingers stroking her and touching her; she couldn't believe these feelings. She hardly thought her poor senses could take a second more of this when he slowed down their kiss to a yielding, sweeter one, and finally taking his hands off her and pulling her hands out of his hair he backed away, looking at her one more time.

They both stepped away from the door as if trying to disassociate themselves from a crime. Sae thought she might go deaf from the sound of her own heart trying madly to flee out of her chest. Its rapid beating was certainly painful. For his part Roderick wasn't looking any more composed. Breathing raggedly, his blue eyes were glossy in the darkness.

In a strange voice he said, "If you don't want him, then what are you doing?"

Then he opened the door, and adding "good night" promptly left her standing there like a statue.

She was still catching her breath when he left. He had asked her what she was doing. What she wanted to know was, what was he doing? He had just taken her first kiss from her…Roderick! How terribly improper! This wasn't right…this was, this was marvellous. No, it wasn't, it was indecent of her as a lady. Sure, she had been meaning to do the same with the Prince, but he was meant to be her husband, it was completely different. And sure, it felt marvellous, but it wasn't, it was wrong, completely wrong. Besides, who ever heard of someone falling in love after just one kiss? What was she, a character in one of Mealina's little fairytales?

As she walked back to her room, almost an hour later after having composed herself, she stubbornly thought ten times over that she was incapable of love. Then she began to make excuses for why he would do such a thing. She decided the most logical reason was that he was testing her. The Prince was his best friend and he needed to herd away the wrong kind of woman. She had once thought of Sir Lisario as the man to distract the fickle woman, but perhaps it was Roderick's actual job to catch promiscuous ladies. Yes, that was most likely it.

The thought didn't sit well with her. The idea that he had done the same thing to the six ladies previous was not at all a comforting thought! To have kissed all those women the way he had just kissed her, with that same intense passion…no the thought was unbearable! In any case, he would not make her out to be some sort of loose lady. She had her morals, he could not prove anything. He had kissed her most likely to draw her out and trick her, but she'd prove to be loyal to Sevastian.

His words repeated in her head then. Did she want the Prince? Truly though, did it even matter? Cataveren was right; this wasn't about want. If it were about want then she'd be back in that room pressed up against that door, between its solid surface and Roderick…no, and not Roderick. That settled the matter. It was Prince Sevastian for her or she'd give up the men of Fu Naru Palace entirely.

Despite whatever it was she told herself, she still went to bed hoping the Royal Advisor hadn't done that to the other contenders. She wasn't sure what she wanted, but that at least was something she knew she far from desired.