Part II
Clues, Clues, and More Clues
By the time Tabby was done with the preparations, Anneliese had found three more letters. Each one was the same as the first; a pink envelope addressed to her and a love poem inside. It seemed strange to her, but each letter she found seemed to be drawing her a picture.
The first had been plain mushy, but the ones to follow seemed almost like clues. After all she had read, she was no closer to deciding who her secret admirer was, though she did feel she knew more about him. He was someone she knew, he was shy, and he saw her everyday. It wasn't much to go on and Anneliese could think of several boys she knew that fit that very description, unfortunately, none of the options pleased her.
"Almost done, your highness. My! Don't you look beautiful?"
Anneliese looked into the vanity mirror as Tabitha tugged one last time at her curly tresses. The crown was now in place and the transformation complete. She had turned from a timid princess to a Valentine queen in a matter of hours. She smiled at the reflection, feeling a little too done up for her taste, but pretty just the same. "Thank you, Tabby."
"Aw, your highness. It's what I was hired to do." The maid stepped back for a final look at her creation. "And now you're done. Not a moment too soon I'd say as well."
Anneliese nodded following the maid's gaze to the clock on the wall. Seven-thirty. She still had a half hour before she'd be expected downstairs. She decided to take this time to do a little more science study.
"Well, I'd best be going now. Enjoy the party, Princess. Mister Preminger shall be up shortly to escort you I'm sure."
Anneliese nodded to her maid politely. "Yes. Thank you, Tabby." She watched at the redheaded walked from the room, closing the doors firmly behind her. It's not until she left that Anneliese released the breath she'd been holding and returned to her desk, opening her science book, hoping to jump in at chapter fifteen. Her hopes to study were thwarted however; as her eyes wandered to the small stack of pink envelopes she had nearby. She just couldn't ignore them, she wanted answers.
Slowly, she reached for the stack and laid them out in front of her; revealing each poem as she did so. She read them again and again hoping to find another clue. Serafina soon joined her, leaping up onto the desktop.
"I just don't understand it, Serafina." Anneliese said as she patted the cat on the head, her eyes scanning the poems again one-by-one. "Who could he be?"
Serafina purred, rubbing her head on her master's hand. It is here the princess noticed something stuck beneath the cat's collar. She turned to look, her eyes widening at the sight of another pink envelope. As on all the others, her name was written on front and a poem was inside.
"Where did you get this, you silly girl?" Anneliese asked the cat as she quickly scanned over the poem. Her heart began to beat faster.
Today is a day for valentine wishes,
For secrets to stray from dark lone abysses.
So soon you will learn my identity,
For tonight is the ball and you'll dance with me.
Though all the guest's faces will be cleanly hidden,
A masquerade ball will not leave you ridden.
I won't keep you guessing, nor reason for delves.
My mask I'll remove when 'grandpa' chimes twelve.
The ball that night! He had mentioned the masquerade ball of that night! Anneliese was basically flying. 'My mask I'll remove?' He's going to reveal himself to me tonight. No more guessing, at long last I'll know who he is, even if I may be left disappointed. She couldn't believe it. It felt so good to know that soon her curiosities would finally be put to rest. Finally, she would have some peace.