Part Three

When Sae heard the hoofs of an approaching rider not three days later she became giddy with anticipation. But alas, it was only a messenger! His letters held no interest for Sae; they were always for her father. Not long after, Count Arland called his wife into his study, and Sae was included in the summons. The count looked uneasy, as he held a letter in his hand and considered his daughter and his wife for a moment.

"What is it, my love?" Lady Kiva asked, fiddling with her bracelet. Her husband's nervousness was contagious.

"I have received a general invitation from the palace, along with a personalized note to the Eldree family."

Sae sucked in her breath. This concerned primarily her. "An invitation for our whole family to stay at the palace?"

"No, it is an invitation to a ball. More specifically, a masquerade, in ten days time."

"What!" Kiva blenched, directing her gaze to Sae. "What could her majesty be thinking? A masquerade, after all the masquerading done against poor Sae! It seems like a cruel joke."

Sae didn't know what to think. She had found peace with their conduct after almost a month's period of reflection, and had long forgiven the prince especially. Mayah had been a big let down to her. Still, she could better understand now why the Queen had done it, and she couldn't so easily forget how caring Mayah had been to her. It had felt genuine and Sae wanted to believe it was.

"There's more," Arlan sighed, holding out the note. "I did say the invitation included a personalized notice for our family. The Queen has written to me personally to inform us that our daughter left without completing the tasks, and so she must come back and finish them or forfeit."

"But that's preposterous. How can I finish the last task when I know who the prince is? The answer has been already been given."

"Here lies your answer." Her father read directly. "The final task for Lady Sae is thus; conceal the face and don the colour of your eyes so all shall know you. Then find your prince; he shall wear his eyes as well. You will have to the end of the ball to discover him."

Lady Kiva clapped her hands together, momentarily forgetting to be affronted. "What a lark it shall be! Sae, you will have to find him, hidden amongst the many masks, and you will have to use your memory of his height and statue. And better yet, they offer you a clue; you must find him dressed in hazel, the colour of all royal family eyes."

"Blue," Sae corrected, looking at the wall. "His eyes are a deep blue like the winter ocean. Not all the royals have hazel eyes."

Concerned by her stepdaughter's apathy, Kiva retracted. "But of course, to make you go back and complete the task is ridiculous. After humiliating you in such a fashion, it's an insult."

"That it is," The count rejoined. "How do you feel about this daughter? You and the Prince seemed to have made amends when he was here, yet her majesty is still pushing this ruse…"

"I do not believe she is trying to insult us," Sae answered after a moment, turning to her parents. "Her intentions are good. She want resolve. She wants me to succeed and put an end to this game, and the only way would be to finish, and be victorious. I think she is doing this for my benefit. It stings a little, that I should have to go back and contend, but at least now everything is out in the open, and we can find closure to this whole business."

"And the prize?" Lady Kiva probed gently. "Should you win, would you still take the Prince for a husband?"

Sae in her blunt fashion responded, "Oh, he has already asked it of me, when he was here. I must give him my answer at the ball."

Thus the troublesome letter turned into hope for her parents, and with that settled Lady Kiva went on the warpath to secure for her elder daughter and herself the best gowns and masks of the season. Her husband would do fine with evening attire purchased last year, but the Eldree ladies were going to make an entrance.

"Though the rest of us are at leisure with colour," Lady Kiva said, "you my dove, have been instructed to wear something to match your eyes. They are such a fine shade of grey, I wonder if we might get away with putting you in silver."

And so Sae donned the elegance of a silver grey gown, clustered with hundreds of little black roses embodied on the bottom. Tiny white diamonds were laid across her throat, and her raven hair was done half up, cascading down her back in soft curls. Her mother admired the maids' handiwork but decided to add a touch of magic. She pierced an ornate hair pin with a tail of sparkling sapphires through the side of Sae's twisted bun, and the jewels glistened as they twined down with her loose dark curls.

"A little blue to help him find you." Kiva winked.

Lady Kiva herself shimmered in a bronze gown. The count met them below and Mealina and the twins bid them adieu. The twins were happy to be young enough to be excluded, but Mealina was in tears.

When the carriage halted at the palace entrance, Lady Kiva pulled out three masks from a velvet box at her side. A silver one for the count, a gold one for the lady, and a pure white one for Sae. It stood out from her black hair and silver dress, the very reason Lady Kiva had chosen it for her.

All three masks had beautiful carvings on them. The count's had a curling border and sharp nose, the gold mask had a sun carved down its middle, with each ray stretching to the edges, and the white one, similar to Sae's dress, was boarded by tiny engraved roses. Placing their masks, they soon joined the masquerade.

o-o-o

Sae felt as though she were drowning in a sea of heated mystery. The grand hall was full to the brim with hardly any room to stand. Off to the side the walls were lined with people socialising and partaking of the little treats nesting on small tables scattered throughout the hall. That space was cozy compared to the enormous room given to the dancers, who filled the balk of the hall, moving together fluidly. The space was so big that Sae could not see from one end to the other.

Her parents had left her early on, with the parting words, "we'll leave you to it then" and they joined the dancers. There must have been over a hundred couples dancing. All of them where strangers to her.

She tackled the room by starting on one end near the walls and socialisers, and walked around looking for him. She encountered her friend Cataveran at one point, who she could recognize despite the mask, and was given encouragement.

"You've almost won Sae," Cataveran trilled. "You're so close!"

When Sae got to one end of the room she was surprised to see the real Queen Ryona with no mask on, standing alone on a spot of raised floor, watching the dancers.

"Sae," she smiled.

"May—I mean, your-your majesty." Sae stuttered, dropping into a bow.

"Dear child, come stand with me a moment."

Sae did as she was bade.

"This has not been easy for you, and I apologize again for putting you through it, but I hope you see why I felt the need to let you finish."

"I do." Sae conceded. "I was distraught about this for a long time, but I have come to peace with it, and I confess I am thankful you have given me the opportunity to win, even now."

"You have won no matter the outcome, Sae. You have my son's heart. He was not in favour of this ball. He wanted to simply come back to you and ask for your hand, again, I am told. But I convinced him that you wanted to finish this. I know you can do it, though pass or fail the outcome, as I said, is the same. He will offer everything he has to you, and you must decide if you want it."

"I would think my coming here and agreeing to finish this speaks volumes of what I truly want."

"That it does." The Queen took Sae's hand and squeezed it between her own. "Well, proceed and find your prince, my dear. He is waiting for you. I dear say he is even out there looking for you, though I gave him specific instructions not to seek you out."

Sae felt her heart completely forgive the Queen then, and she had her Mayah back at last. She thanked the Queen and continued her search.

Soon after a hand seized hers gently and she turned to find a smirking man in rich green beckoning her to dance.

She laughed as she recognized that smirk. "Why, if you insist, Sir Lisario."

They danced and he spun her around the room, speaking of such mundane things as the weather that only made her laugh more.

"But Sae," he interrupted his own bit of fun. "Have you spotted him yet? You cannot waste too much time with me."

"No, she can't," said another voice, and Lisario stepped back, giving a quick bow.

The new masked gentleman took hold of Sae and she smiled, recognizing his stature.

"So, am I to call you Prince Condor now?" She asked the man in gold.

"You recognize me even with this thing on," he laughed, pulling distastefully at his brown feathery mask.

"It makes you look like a bird, but that's how I've always pictured you: one with nature." And Lisario's bowing had helped.

"So, you are to call me Prince Condor then? But I have a better one. How about brother?"

"That has yet to be determined." Sae smiled. "There is something I have long wondered about you. If I may ask, what is there between you and Alesia?"

He sighed. "It is not a light matter for me to speak of, Sae. How did you know?"

"Alesia would often slip out to the fields. At first I thought she was just a lover of the outdoors, until I saw her at dusk in an intimate position with you."

Condor had the decency to blush. "We are not lovers, if that is what you think. I do love her, but…" He sighed. "The unequal class we belong to makes any honest relationship between us out of the question. And it is an honest one that I want."

"You are a true nobleman. I am just sorry life were not more fair. I suppose your mother, kind as she is, will not break with tradition."

"I'm sure she wouldn't." He replied. "Though I confess I hadn't even the courage to tell her."

"What! Oh Prince, you must! Just think…your family is not a conventional one. Your mother has gone months and months pretending to be a servant herself. She knows Alesia well, and maybe, just maybe, she will honour your feelings. It is not tradition, but no one in Fu Naru palace seems to adhere to tradition!"

He smiled down at her. "You are right of course. I shouldn't despair when I have not tried. I will work on my courage and in time ask my mother."

They continued to dance as the song changed tune. Shortly after another man, this one dressed in red, came to claim Sae from the Prince, and Condor readily handed her over.

"I never got a chance to apologize." He began in a low voice.

"I have put my mind and heart at ease over the whole ordeal, so you may now do the same." She said. "I have long forgiven you, Sevastian."

He smiled, and his golden personality shown through his black mask. "You were always my favourite contender. I told the Prince from the first task that you would be a good match for him, though he didn't seem to take me seriously at first."

"I'm flattered you felt so warmly of me from the beginning. And I hear I am to extend you congratulations."

He laughed, pulling a hand free and twirling her around with the other. "You are right, my Princess. I am going to be married soon as well, to a wonderful gentlewoman. I think you two shall become fast friends at the palace."

Sae opened her mouth, preparing to protest that she was not a princess, not yet anyhow, and she was not going to be married soon, at least nothing was confirmed, when he left go of her other hand and she found herself twirling away from him.

She stopped herself and came face to face with a man in deep blue. That he had been watching her was evident, and that he hadn't expected her to be thrown his way was just as such, even though half his face was covered. She met his eyes and though she once imagined them as cold as northern seawater, they felt warmer now. Now they glimmered a tropical deep blue, and their depths were bottomless.

"Found you!" She exclaimed, quite forgetting herself, and throwing her arms around him.

Even with her face buried in his chest she could hear the laughter around them and realized she had just done something very improper!

Sheepishly pulling away, she ducked her head lest he see her blush and dared not look around to the people watching.

He cleared his throat, and said "Sae, look at me."

Face burning, she did, and she melted into that bottomless ocean again.

He took her hands and pulled her into the ring of dancers, guiding her to their own private melody.

Not far off the Queen and Prince Condor remarked at how well the couple looked dancing together, and how relived they were to finally be done with the farce.

Roderick murmured to his dance partner. "You know Sae, you never gave me an answer when I asked you in your room that night, if you would consent to be my—"

"What's the point in asking? I've already won you, fair and square this time." She breathed.

"Yes, you did win me, but that was my mother's game and this is my choice. I want to ask you to marry me, to choose you, not be won."

"You had me the moment I confessed my love and told you I would forfeit this whole competition, thinking you were the Royal Advisor. Of course I'll marry you…as long as you promise me you're really Prince Roderick Sevastian Montagne."

He chuckled and ducked in to kiss her when he thought no one was looking. But of course almost everyone was. And they were happy for them.

o-o-o

Sevastian, Royal Advisor to his Royal Highness, King Roderick, had arrived at the palace that morning excited to finally introduce his bride to her new home, and to the royals living there, especially the Queen. Oh, of course, the two women had already met at the wedding, but there had barely been time for an introduction and small talk, and afterwards the newlyweds had spent the fortnight at his bride's family manor. She had not the chance to see Fu Naru palace or properly break the ice with the royals. But now, finally, they had come to the palace, their new home, and Sevastian had expected to find the newly crowned King and Queen waiting to welcome them. But only the Dowager Queen, with a twinkle in her eye, her younger son, and the head servant Ghallagher had been there to greet them, along with many servants. They made apologizes for the absent monarchs.

Though a calm, pleasantly disposed man, Sevastian was a little annoyed by their behaviour. Since the good old King Basil had died a month ago, it was now their responsibility to lead the country, to set the example for the rest of the palace, and to act accordingly lest they offend.

"Newlywed's can be somewhat careless in their self-absorption." The Dowager soothed. "As I'm sure you and your bride will be. No matter, allowances must be made for those in love."

He and his bride laughed with the others, but still, after four months of marriage the monarchs could hardly still be that absorbed in each other!

Allowances were to be made, true, but feeling sorry for his nervous bride, the Royal Advisor went in stubborn search for them.

He wandered around the palace, keeping an eye out. Their rooms were empty—thank heavens, he didn't want to interrupt that—but he suspected they would still be tucked away somewhere private. Some quick thinking led him to the grand library, but there was no one there.

The only other place he could think of would be the Prince's study. But a quick look there told him it was empty too. He had spent a lot of the past months in this room, pretending to be the prince and so pretending it was his study. He had enjoyed the prince's special collection of books and his desk was bigger than the one in the Royal Advisor's study.

A nagging feeling told him that while he had enjoyed this study for the past few months, Roderick had probably gotten used to using his. But…no, they couldn't be! Surely not!

He had to be sure. In no time he crossed from the Prince's study to his. Opening the door, it looked deserted and untouched, and Sevastian let out a sigh.

He pulled his head back and made to close the room up when he heard the ruffled sound of a moan. He peaked in again and could very distinctively hear a low 'shhhhh' coming from the windows at the far end of the room. He stepped back into his study, and looked at the long, heavy window drapery and noticed it shift slightly.

Clearing his throat, he called out in a loud voice, "Gallagher! I think it's time we aired out these curtains in my study. Would you call the maids here now to see to it?"

There was no Ghallagher out in the halls to hear him, but the moving curtains didn't know that!

As Sevastian expected, by magic King Roderick stepped out from the drapes, both his hair and clothing looking outrageously dishevelled and slightly undone. He was smiling, too satisfied with himself to be properly embarrassed.

"Oh, hullo there Sevastian." He said, clasping his hands together and looking around the room. "I'm sorry, I was just peering out your window. I, uh, became rather fond of….the view from it."

"Ah, Roderick." Sevastian said, offering a slight bow. "Yes, well, I didn't see you there, forgive me. You were behind the drapes it seems."

"I was, wasn't I?" Roderick shrugged. "Well, shall we go then? Since you have arrived I shall want to welcome your new wife."

He motioned to the door but Sevastian felt compelled to stall a moment, saying, "I was hoping Sae would join us."

"And I'm sure she will, once she knows of your arrival. She is around the palace somewhere."

"Somewhere indeed," Sevastian murmured, and allowed the King to usher him out. "But before I bring you to my wife, do me the favour and…forgive me but there is no delicate way to put this your majesty: please make yourself presentable!"

Roderick straightened his clothes and buttoned and laced the places that had somehow gotten loose, but offered no apologizes. His spirits were just too high, and Sevastian could only hope that after four months of marriage his own face looked that foolish. After all, what man wouldn't want to look like an idiot so blissful that he didn't care what others thought? Now that was the ideal.

The King did his duty by welcoming the new inhabitant to his palace and apologizing for his morning absence. Having only met Roderick once, the young woman was quite nervous to speak with him again, but with the subtle reassuring squeeze of her new husband's hand, she began to relax and let him lead the conversation. It took another half hour before the Queen joined them. Unlike her husband, she looked completely in place and groomed, without a blush. Sevastian suspected she had changed gowns and had her maids fix her hair.

The two women had met before but this time they had more freedom to speak, and really took a shine to each other. Sae had more confidence but not nearly as much social skills, and Thea, Sevastian's bride, was full of social grace like her husband, but modest and easily impressed. Sevastian knew they would be a good match as friends and was happy to see them getting along so early on.

As the two ladies walked away from the men, King Roderick remarked. "She seems amiable enough, and I am happy Sae can have another friend in these walls. She is close with her servants but it will be nice for her to have a friend she can go out into society with. Still, maybe it is too soon for them to be together…now I fear I won't see my wife for the rest of the week!"

Sevastian laughed. "You have no right to that complaint! I am just wed a fortnight and you four months. I am in more need of my wife than you are!"

"If you feel that way, why don't you go separate them already?"

"Hah, never come between women! That's a cardinal rule all men know. Besides, a break is good for you. If you keep at it too much you're going to end up with little highnesses running around here before your honeymoon state of mind is even over."

Roderick rolled his eyes. "Yes, that's something my mother is impatient for." His smile became smug. "Not that it's a hardship. We'll see whose wife blossoms with child first though."

Sevastian raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

"Let's call it a friendly wager."

"And the prize?"

"Don't need one. I already got her."

Sevastian laughed. "Oh heaven, you are a sap. I hope I don't get to that state."

"Don't worry, you will."

The End