"Ready Serena?

- Couldn't be more ready. We have been preparing since this morning so let's get this over with.

- Let's go then!"

They jumped on their horses and waved back at Papa Tsukino. They had left a note for Mama Tsukino. They knew it wasn't much but it was enough for their mother. Serena felt her heartbeat racing, she didn't know if it was due to excitement or fear. Naru had told her that they needed to be discreet and fade in the crowd. She even told that if a lord asked her for a dance, that she would have to accept so it wouldn't look suspicious. They trained a lot since this morning with Papa Tsukino: Naru learned pretty fast so she went practicing with Melvin who came to visit. As for Serena, it felt like she wasn't relaxed at all. Papa Tsukino kept telling her " feel the music in your body, and let it guide you. Don't control it, don't try to understand, just feel". But she never got it, she just learned the steps by heart so she wouldn't look like a total fool tonight. It felt like riding a horse was easier. Melvin had laughed when she'd told him that. He told her it was sure the prince wouldn't fall for such an improper lady. She felt somehow insulted at that moment, but then he told her something: " Rena, you don't need to please the prince. Being you is what counts. Somewhere out there, your own prince is waiting so don't force yourself to please this one." She teased him then that to be forgiven he should open the back door for them to get into the palace and not simply compliment her.

"I see him Rena.

- Where? All I see is trees..

- To your right, see the tiny light: that must be his lantern. Let's head there.

- Alright! Naru you realized we aren't far from the meadow right?

- You saw it too huh? I'm guessing we are on the other side… It shouldn't be hard for us to go back then.

- Mhmm… You remember the signal right?

- Open your fan, fan your face twice, then close and fold arms right?

- Okay and what about if we run into trouble, I mean I don't know the castle that well?

- Rena, you try to reach the library. Remember Melvin showed you a few times where it should be and if you can't find it run into the forest. Don't wait for me, you head back and if I can't see you, I'll look in the library and if you still aren't there, I'll join you home. Anyways I don't see how we could get into that much trouble that we'd be separated, we are going to stick together you hear me?

- Yeah, now mask on, let's get my locket back!"

Of course Naru was right. Melvin was waiting for them and as soon as they got there, he secured the horses close to the back doors but still well secured and guided the girls inside. He gave each of them a scroll on which was written their invitation. Then he took her hand fan and drew a small map of the castle on the inside of it (knowing them, he knew they'd lost somehow). He was explaining briefly how the evening would go: speech from the King, a few introductions here and there, the first dance, a few entrees followed by drinks, a circus show is also on the menu and then a few more dances where they have the right to walk around the castle, and he suggested them to leave before the last dance which is a waltz since the prince will ask his future queen to dance then so they shouldn't still be in the room.

By the time he'd finished his sermon, they had reach the enormous door to the ballroom. Serena looked at Naru and saw she was as nervous as her. They held hands while Melvin was handing their invitations to the announcer: "Lady Serenity, Lady Narissa and Master Melvin have arrived!"

They were dazzled by how magnificent the room was: chandeliers were lit up to the very high red velvet roof; paintings of the noble family were attached to the fully covered wall; the wide windows were open to the night sky; a fountain of wine stood opposite to the orchestra; at the end of the room, sided stairs led to a semi-upper level where the King, Queen and the currently missing prince were seated; those who wished to rest would also join the second level sided the royal highnesses; few drapes fell from the roof like a waterfall and tons of white and red roses decorated the rest of the room and the silky white floor. Lastly were the few lords they could see among the whole crowd of young ladies. They either had flower-hats or ribbon-bows in their beautifully combed hair. Their dresses were as long as Serena's and Naru's but they were all of bright colours and very doll like.

"Speechless girls? I have never heard you two quiet that long?

- It's incredible! We have heard Mama talk about balls but seeing it is totally different, right Rena?

- I think I'm going to faint…

- Now stay close to me girls, the King has already made his speech and the first dance is starting so the Prince must be meddling in the crowd with his Sires so talk to no lords.

- Melv, we have to find him. Only he has got the locket.

- Well it's just the beginning of the evening and you too should stay here in case something happens so Naru and Melv why don't you go dance a little bit while I go and look around.

- Rena now isn't the time. Were you even listening to me when I said you could wander in the castle only after the circus show? And we can't get separated in this crowd or —

- Hum Melv she's gone already.

- What?! We have to find her!

- Okay relax and why don't we have this dance first, we might see better from the dance floor, don't you think?

- Alright. Lady Narissa would you do me the honour of having this first dance?

- Of course Master. Oh why those names?

- Well yours is the name of the Queen's horse and Rena's is a name I found on a handkerchief by the meadow so—

- You named me after a horse?! How could…."

And they were off to the dance floor, forgetting for a little while their childhood friend. She had walked through the crowd trying to find any proper lord but none of them gave the vibe Prince Darien owns. Not knowing very much how but she ended up leaving the ballroom. So she open up her fan and cursed: Melvin had wrote the details of the room so small she had to bring the fan right to her eye level. She kept walking straightforward until she hit a hard chest.

"Ouch that hurts", she mumbled to herself.

"Well I could say the same goes for me milady".

Oh she knew that voice. She couldn't forget it even if she wanted to. She despised him so much. But right now, she had to play the game and know more details about where he had hid it. She snapped closed her fan and looked straight up into his dark eyes.

" Well, you deserve it.

- I beg your pardon?

- From where I see it, a lady has just been smashed in the middle of a hallway by a man and he hasn't even said sorry. He should be ashamed of his manners.

- You are right, I did do wrong. I am sorry for having walked into you. Though I must say I'm offended to hear a lady talk in such a way to a man. If you knew who I am, I think you'd take back every single word you just said.

- Well your highness [She curtsied] I am sorry to disappoint you but I won't take away any of my words.

- Wow… I'm impressed milady. I must say I wasn't prepared for a starter like this.

- This is why you deserved it.

- Ahhh and may I know since when you knew it was me? Did you plan into hitting—

- Oh no! I wouldn't dare. I was also distracted. I don't go to a lot of balls so it was a bit too overwhelming for me. But I'm curious about why you aren't in that room when everyone thinks you are among them?

- Aahh, that is because I am not a crowd lover much myself that is basically why it's a masquerade ball so no one wouldn't look for me.

- Oh but then what will happen when you'll give your future fiancée the gift? Wouldn't they find it strange that a different man is asking her hand while she was dancing with someone else or… I am quite lost right now.

- A little secret between you and me. You aren't a loud mouth so I can tell you that I have a friend duplicating me in there: he has my outfit; my mask and well he could be my twin for the night.

- Ha ha, Prince Darien, I do hope your plan works. And what about the locket, he has it?

- Oh no, I wouldn't dare! It's a little treasure to my eyes right now and I have to keep it safe.

- So you don't have it on you right now?

- You sure are curious about the locket aren't you? If I have to choose you, don't worry I would hand it to you safely and —

- Oh no no, it isn't my intention. I wouldn't dream to be your queen. And even if you did choose me, I don't see how I could accept. I barely know you and—

- So you would reject me?

- I'm sorry your highness but I have to say yes, I wouldn't see why you'd choose to marry someone that you met only while dancing on one song. It isn't logical at —

She stopped talking when she saw the four personal guards coming their way. They each had a lady at their arms and they were somehow different that the ladies in the ballroom. They were all wearing the same outfit but in different colors: two of them had long hair just like Serena and the other two looked like Naru. She never saw girls as graceful as them. When they walked, their dresses flew between their legs and their hair moved to the wind. Their eyes sparkled not of admiration but of determination.