I was immediately ushered back to my room. No sense, I supposed, for the new princess to see any thing so violent. Indeed, I was shaking horribly, so much that I think a servant could have told me where to go, given me a small shove in the right direction, and I would have eventually made it to my room. As it was one of Patricia's personal guards escorted me, carefully sat me down in a chair, and left.

I didn't even know what to think. Every moment since I had seen Queen Cerise lying on the floor was only half-memorable, events and time blurring together in a mess. Every guest had been in shock and panic, ladies had fainted, and somehow I had been brought to my room without an inkling of what was going on.

As a monkey I would have never received such attention.

I collapsed forward in my chair, my head between my knees as it spun. I had never seen anyone dead before her! If she were dead. Was that the situation? Why was I not being told? The woman was my birth mother, for goodness' sake!

I did not even look up as Gigona scampered into the room, the excitement of the night well-written on her face. "Now that was a ball!"

Now she deserved my attention. I stared at her in amazement.

She pounded onto the bed and drew her tail around her in defense. "Well, it was. Do these types of things commonly happen at human balls? Monkey festivities never have anything of the sort."

"Nothing ever happened at any ball I ever attended," I said breathlessly. My head dropped back between my knees.

"A fairy," Gigona said with obvious impression. "To think a fairy would bother to show herself at a human ball. I'm well aware they like to make themselves as fairy godmothers and other meddlesome things, but this! To think she would show up and kill someone like that. Amazing."

"We don't know if Queen Cerise is dead. I didn't get to see much more of the scene."

"Dead, injured, it's all the same thing." Gigona began to clean her fur. "At least, as far as interest goes." Then she gasped. "Wait… that wasn't… your mother, was it?"

I nodded without looking up.

"Oh, goodness. I'm sorry, Babiole. I really am. I didn't make the connection. Do you like her very much?"

"We've only met twice." Truth be told, I don't think I felt particularly upset over the fact it was my mother—other than a strange sense of privilege to the details which according to everyone else I had certainly not earned. I hadn't much liked her either time. "It's more the blood that terrified me. The action. It's completely out of human cultural norm to attack someone at a ball."

"I was hiding in the rafters," Gigona explained. "It seems that human queen, your mother, attacked first."

That was quite true. I nodded.

"Why?"

"I…" I did not know what to say. I thought over all that had been said. "When I was born, they announced to everyone that I had died at birth. Which I suppose is understandable when your child is a monkey."

For a long time neither of us spoke. I sat with my head in my hands and Gigona remained on the bed, completely silent.

"When you told me that whole story," she said at last, "You mentioned a hemlock branch."

"Yes."

"You were turned into a monkey when your mother touched you with the hemlock branch, correct?"

I had largely forgotten about that. "Do you think it came from Fanferluche?"

"Anything's possible. It would explain why Cerise was so furious at Fanferluche."

I sat up. Goodness, but that was far too much to think about. "Why on earth would my fairy godmother give my mother a branch that would turn me into a monkey?"

"I can think of worse fates," replied Gigona.

A knock sounded at the door, and Gigona dove under the bed. I took a deep breath. "Come in!"

It was Patricia.

I don't know why I was so relieved, but I was. I jumped to my feet and threw my arms around her. That was when the tears came. I still wasn't sure what they meant. I just wanted to cry and cry. And she let me. That was the best part. She put her arms around me, clucked something under her breath, and let me cry.

Though as soon as I regained my composure, she spoke again. "Queen Cerise will recover, my dear."

I sniffed and wiped my eyes with my hand. Not particularly ladylike, but I wasn't sure what else to do at the moment. "She's not dead."

"Hardly. Though a fall like hers certainly did put out a lot of blood. But it was all must a minor scratch. She was even talking. She says the fairy didn't strike her, though she really doesn't remember the details of all that happened."

"That's good."

Patricia straightened the dress I had crumpled with my tears. "Foolish woman, though. If she had been greatly injured if would have been her fault entirely. She's a guest at this palace. A guest! Singette, if you intend to run a proper palace you must keep in mind decorum. A visiting dignitary should already know decorum. As a guest you must respect the other guests of your hosts and Queen Cerise did not!"

"I don't know if my fairy godmother was a guest."

Patricia made a face and waved the phrase away. "She's your fairy godmother and it was truly a delight that she made an appearance. At your ball, of all things. It's truly wonderful, something out of a story. Of course I was going to make sure she was comfortable. At least I was until Cerise exploded as she did. I never did like that woman or her silly husband. And even if we cast away all the notions of propriety and decorum one should be smart enough not to attack a fairy!" She shook her head furiously.

I managed a laugh that surprised even me. To think I was in a laughing mood!

"But you, dear," Patricia continued. "You are the one I'm worried about. I had decided this was going to be the perfect night for you. I had everything planned just so! I can't believe it was ruined."

"It wasn't ruined. It was a lovely night. I can't thank you enough for it. Besides, now that I know Queen Cerise will be all right, I prefer to think of it all as exciting. Quite novel for a ball, if you think about it in the right way."

Patricia seemed surprised that, but smiled. " You're right. I don't think anyone else has ever had such an incident in the ball. It will be talked of for months. Well…" She gave me another small hug. "I do need to assure your guests you are fine. Assuming you are fine."

"Just a little tired," I said with a smile. "I think I'll be going to bed."

"I'll be sure to thank them all on your behalf. At least I can assure those young men of your well-being."

"Young men?"

She opened the door, preparing to leave. "Oh, quite a few are very taken with you, Singette. Prince Bastien is still ridiculously obsessed with you, but I also have worries from Lord Pierre."

The young man who had watched me climb a pillar. I blushed.

"They'll both be thrilled to hear you are doing well."