DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM
Chrissy soon came upon a huge line of servants and staff outside a single door.
"This must be where Lord Louis is," she said to herself as she managed to sneak herself in.
There she saw Louis working on one of the ktichen staff memebers.
"Perfect," Louis assured her, "and it can still fit under your hair net without worry about messing it up."
"Wow! I'm going to feel almost like a princess during dinner prep," said the cheft as she looked at herself in the mirror.
"As you should my dear," Louis said kindly, "so who's next?"
Chrissy cleared her throat.
"Oh, Miss Chrissy, please have a seat," said Louis, "I was hoping I'd be allowed to styl that lovely hair of yours."
"Actually I've come to get you and take you to the king, he wants to see you in regards to the upcoming ball," Chrissy explained.
"Oh, I see," Louis said, "sorry everyone. You'll have to come back later, duty calls."
The staff in line all moaned in disappointment and scattered about.
"I do apologize for having to take you away from your fun Lord Louis," Chrissy said as she escorted Louis to the ballroom.
"No it's fine, I understand," Louis said, "what does the king need me for?"
"Just to go over some things that he'd like you and Princess Ema to do the night of the party," Chrissy explained, "most likely how you'll enter, how you'll be introduced to the family, dinner and of course the dancing."
"Dancing?" Louis said.
"Yes, there's usually dancing at these things," said Chrissy.
"Hmm, that'll be fun," said Louis, "I do enjoy dancing." He study the serious looking woman walking next to him. "Do you dance madam?"
"No, I'll be too busy keeping gaurd," Chrissy replied.
"No, just in general my dear," said Louis.
"No, not really. I'm too graceful as I am tough. I was always more interested in be tough and taking down bad guys," Chrissy explained, "I had originally sought to be a police officer, but I apparently caught the eye of Richard while in training at the academy and as a result, he recruited me to be a royal guard."
"Is that the only reason he recruited you?" Louis asked.
"Why else would he?" Chrissy asked.
"Well, you and him, always appear to be quite cute together...,"Louis started to explain.
"Oh no!" Chrissy immediately cut him off, "no, let me stop you right there! There is nothing between Richard and I. We are strictly co-workers and that is all."
"Oh, sorry," Louis said, "my mistake." He paused, "but do you think you two would ever work out?"
Chrissy sighed, "who knows," she said, "I think both Richard and I are too focus on our work as security, especially with Robert still lurking about, to think about such things."
"Hmm," Louis hummed.
"And here it is, the grand ballroom," Stephon said with pride as Richard help open two ivory doors with a golden trim. Ema walked through to see a huge ballroom, with ivory walls, and a few paintings among them. A beautiful brass floor that was so polished Ema could see herself in it. And beautiful crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It was almost something out of a movie.
"Wow," Ema said softly as she stood on top of the stair case that led to the floor, looking around in awe.
"Amazing isn't it?" Stephon asked as he came and stood next to her, "this ballroom hasn't changed much since my grandmother's day. She remodeled a lot following the war as a way to show people that we should be looking forward to less miserable, trying times."
"Really?" Ema asked, trying to imagine Queen Katherine in the ballroom, all regal and important looking like in her pictures.
"I found him your majesty," Chrissy suddenly said walking in with Louis.
Louis also gasped at sight of the ballroom.
"Amazing," he said, "can only imagine the kinds of parties they once held here."
"Glad your here my boy," Stephon said, "now we can go over what's to be expected of you and Ema at the ball. First, is how we enter. Ema, you will walk in beside me, and Louis will stand behind Ema, just past her shoulder so that even though you are behind us, you are still seen and acknowledged. Let's try it now."
He stood at the top of the stairs and offered Ema his arm. Richard gently guided Louis behind Ema and help position him behind her shoulder in just the right spot.
"Try and memorize this position because this will be the best place to stand when it's the real thing," he instructed Louis. Louis nodded as he moved his eyes around to make sure he knew where he was.
"Now, what I like would be for Ema and Louis' other brothers to enter first out of everyone. I'd like them all to be seen as men I have come to know and appreciate greatly."
"Of course sir," Richard said, nodding to a butler who was taking notes.
"Then of course we'll allow Robert to make an entrance, with Lady Beatrice no doubt," Stephon muttered. The other staff present all moaned at the king's remarks.
"And then Ema, Louis, that is when we make our entrance," Stephon continued, "we enter, be announced, stay at the top of the stairs for a few moments so that everybody may see you two. Then we make our decent down."
He then started to lead Ema down the stairs, with Louis right behind them.
"They'll be a red carpet that'll lead us to where we need to go," Stephon continued to instruct as Ema let him lead her to a wall and around the corner. She was able to quickly catch a glance at another part of the ballroom with a huge dinging table where some of the staff were already working setting it up.
Soon Ema saw a two thrones and a few other chairs in front of a bare wall that Stephon led her strait to.
He help escort her to one of the the two thrones that Ema stood in front of. Stephon stood in front of the other.
"Louis, you come stand in front of the chair closest to Ema," Stephon told the young man, motioning to the seat, "the one closest to me will be opened for Robert."
Louis quickly went and stood where Stephon had instructed.
"Now before we are allowed to sit, I'll make a quick speech about the two of you being returned to us after all these years," Stephon explained, "then we'll be allowed to sit and welcome some of the guests."
"How many exactly?" Ema asked as she, Stephon and Louis all sat down.
"Just a few a handful that I thought would be important for you to meet," said Stephon, "like some more of your mother's cousins, close friends of mine and hers. Ones I think will be good for you to meet. And of course you'll both be allowed to meet more during the dinner, dancing and mingling time."
"I hope I'm able to make a good impression on them," said Ema said timidly.
"You'll be fine," Stephon assured her, "so then, after the meetings, we'll move on to the dinging table." He stood up and offered Ema his gand again.
Ema took it and walked with her grandfather over to where she had seen the dinging table. Louis came up behind them.
"If Robert tries to go ahead of you, just let him," Richard whispered quickly to him.
"Got it," Louis whispered back.
"Now at the table, Ema will sit next to me at the head of the table," Stephon instructed as he and the other two stood next to the table still being worked on. He used his cane to point where the head of the table would be.
"I hope that doesn't make Robert too mad, me sitting at the head of the table," Ema whispered to Louis.
"Right?" Louis whispered back.
"Don't worry about him," Stephon insisted, Robert will be seated on my side of the table and Louis, you'll be seated on Ema's side."
"I can handle that," said Louis said with a smile. Ema blushed a little.
Then after the meal, the dancing," Stephon quickly said. "I'd like to see you two start the dancing if you think you can."
"I think we can handle that, right Chi?" Louis asked.
"Uh, yes," Ema agreed.
"Good," Stephon said happily, "so then, once we finished our meal, we shall all walk back to the thrones where Louis, you may escort Ema to the dance floor and start the dancing."
He led Ema back to the thrones, along with Louis, then handed Ema over to Louis.
"Don't worry Chi, mother always said I was one of the best dancers among us," Louis assured Ema as the two walked to the dance floor. Ema nodded still a little nervous as Louis put his hand on her waist and the two started to dance around the room.
"The boy's right, he is a good dancer," Stephon said to Richard.
"It'll look even better with music," said Richard.
"Grandfather, am I going to be allowed to dance with you too?" Ema asked.
"Well see, I'm not as light on my feet as I use to be," said Stephon, "but you'll have plenty of opportunities to dance with others at the ball. You as well Louis, and to mingle a little."
"That sounds nice," said Louis.
"Then of course there will be the final dance which you two will be able to either dance together or with someone else special," said Stephon.
Louis and Ema shared a look.
"We'll play it by ear over who we have the last dance with," Louis assured Ema with a wink. Ema nodded with a blush. She did wonder though who she should dance with at the final dance. She also wondered if Louis had someone he might want to dance with at the end.
"Shall we go over it again? Just so we know we've gotten everything covered?" Stephon asked.
"If you think it's a good idea Grandfather," said Ema, "I'd hate it if I did something to make everyone in the royal family hate me."
"Any one who comes to hate you over a little misstep my dear is just a snob who takes their blind luck of being born a member of the royal family too seriously,' Stephon insisted as he headed back to the stairs.
"Well said your majesty," Markus said as he came in with a clothing bag in his hands.
"Marksu, do what do we owe this pleasure?" Stephon asked.
"I have something that I think your granddaughter may like to wear at the ball," Markus said excited.
"Oh?" Ema said as she and Louis approached the stairs.
"I sought this out myself, with a little help from your brother Hikaru," Markus said as he came up to Ema and unzipped the bag.
"Oh," Ema gasped when she saw the dress.
"This was your mother's dress, she wore it to the first ball where she served as the hostess," Markus told her gently.
"This was my mother's dress?" Ema asked as she stared lovingly at the gown.
"It is Yolanda's dress, isn't it?" Stephon said softly as he looked at the old dress.
"It's very beautiful, but a little old, isn't it?" Louis mentioned.
"Hmm, well it has been a while since it was last worn and then kept in storage," said Markus, "but I'm sure we can patch it up before the ball. Don't you agree, your majesty?"
"Yes, just needs a little work," said Stephon.
"That is if you wish to wear it Ema," said Markus.
"I would love to wear my mother's dress," Ema said. A little tear came down her cheek. "If you think it'll fit me and I'll look presentable in it."
"You'll look amazing init Ema, I promise and we will make sure it fits you just perfectly," Stephon assured her.
"You'll look amazing in it Chi," Louis also insisted patting her shoulder. He suddenly realized Markus was studying him intensely.
"Sir, is there a problem?" he asked.
"I was just wondering if we had an old suit of your father's for you to wear," Markus said.
"Oh that's a wonderful idea!" Stephon praised. "We should have a few suits leftover that belong to Walter that Louis could wear."
"A suit that belonged to my father?" Louis repeated, "would there be such a thing?"
"Of course," said Markus, "your father was a very important person even before he was ruled to be Princess Yolanda's successor."
"Oh, then yes, I'd love to wear a suit of my father's," Louis confirmed.
"Very good, back to the storage room. One of you come with me!" Marksu ordered the different servants. A maid hurried after the man.
"But first we'll have to visit the record rooms to find a good photo of Walter," Markus instructed as he hurried along.
"Lord Markus shure seems to get excited easily," said Louis.
"When it comes to things like this, he's very passionate," said Stephon, "get someone working on this dress. I want it to be the best in time for the ball."
"Yes sire," Richard said looking at the remaining staff at hand. A butler claimed the dress bag and hurried out.
"Now back to practicing," said Stephon.
"Yes Grandfather as she joined him at the top of the stairs.
In her mind though, all she could think about was how amazing it was she would be wearing her mother's old gown.
Wataru ran ahead of Subaru to the royal stables excited.
"Hi Wind Storm, I'm here!" he called out.
"Shh, don't spoke the horses Lord Wataru!" Natasha hissed as she led a horse past him.
"Where are you going with that horse?" Wataru asked curious.
"She's going to have her baby soon," Rose explained, "so we're putting her in a safe and peaceful place where she can have her baby without worry."
"Here, want to feel the baby?" Natasha asked as she stopped the horse un front of the boy.
"How?" Wataru asked.
"Just put your hand on her belly gently," Natasha told him, taking Wataru's hand and placing it on the horse's belly.
"Whoa, I felt something move!" Wataru said excited.
"Yep, that's the baby," said Natasha, "the vet says it's very healthy and the mother should have no problem giving birth."
"Oh, I want to see it when it happens," said Wataru.
"We'll make a note of it and see if we can get you down here," Rose promised as Natasha finished leading the horse to the back. Wataru followed and managed to find a window where he could look into the stall Natasha had taken the horse into.
"It was pretty big," Wataru mentioned.
"Well when a horse gives birth, they need a lot of space," Rose explained as she joined Wataru by the window.
"Have you ever had to help give birth to a colt?" Subaru asked as up behind her. Rose blushed as she turned and looked at Subaru.
"A couple of times. Both here and at my family's ranch," she said, "of course it's nothing compared to Natasha. She maybe a little grumpy and mean sometimes but she has a good way of keeping horses clam when they're being treated for medical reasons, be it giving birth or having surgery. Even when it's time to put a horse down, she's the best to keep them calm."
"Really? The mean grumpy lady?" Wataru asked.
"Yeah, really?" asked Subaru.
"Crazy isn't it?" Rose asked.
"What is?" Natasha asked as she came out of the stall.
The other three looked at her shocked.
"Oh, nothing!" Rose insisted.
"Hmm," Natasha said as she walked past all of them back to the main stalls.
"She still seems scary even if she's acting a little nicer," Wataru whispered.
"Yeah, she is acting a little different since that one incident with Princess Ema," said Rose.
"Wonder what happened," Subaru said as he and Rose walked with Wataru back to the main stalls as well. Wataru hurried to Wind Storm's stall.
"Hey, they have his name up front of his door now!" Wataru called over to his brother.
"Oh yeah?" Subaru said.
"Yep, had it put up this morning," said Natasha as she came up to the stall with a saddle and blanket.
"Oh! That is so cool! I really do wish I could keep him somehow!" Wataru said.
"We'll just have to work something out huh?" Rose said kindly.
"I don't know how we'd be able to keep a horse," said Subaru.
"Well something to look into," said Rose, "you could look for a horse Corrale to keep him in. That's what my family does."
"Hmm, well, I guess it'll come down to what mother says," said Subaru, "that and Masaomi."
"Are you ready Wataru?" Natasha suddenly asked as she led Wind Storm out, all set to ride.
"Sure," Wataru said a little cautious as he followed Natasha outside. Both Rose and Subaru followed uneasy. They stood next to the fence as they watched Natasha help Wataru onto his horse and helped him start riding.
"Try not to go too fast," Natasha said.
"But I can go fast just fine!" Wataru insisted.
"Okay, just be careful, the king would be very upset if you were to get hurt. Especially before the ball," said Natasha.
"Oh, right, that's coming up," said Rose. She looked over at Subaru, "you excited?"
"Not really, I don't care for things like that," said Subaru.
"Yeah, you didn't strike me as such," Rose teased.
"Will you be there?" Subaru asked.
"No, not this one. This one is strictly for family only," said Rose.
"Oh," Subaru said sounding a little disappointed, "have you ever been allowed to attend one?"
"A couple as the king's honored guest, me and my family," said Rose.
"Any advice on how to sneak out if need be?" Subaru asked.
"The back door that leads to the kitchen. It's in the left corner of where they have the dinging table," said Rose.
"Thanks," said Subaru.
Rose smirked at him.
"You're acting a little bold trying to get away from the ball even though it's being thrown for your sister," she said.
Subaru just shrugged his shoulders.
"Just be careful Richard doesn't catch you. He'll make you stay," said Rose.
"I'm not scared of him, even if he's an apparent legend on the basketball court or a tough body guard," Subaru insisted.
"Oh yeah, he's still wants to challenge you doesn't he?" Rose said.
"I saw his accomplishments at the university today, very impressive," said Subaru, "but I still think I could take him. You'll still come to that right?"
"Absolutely, heck I'll be there courtside ready to help you with anything you need, water, towel, you name it!" Rose promised.
"Thank you, I could use the support," said Subaru.
"Why don't they just kiss already?" Natasha muttered under her breath.
"What?" Wataru asked as he road past her.
"Your brother and Rose, they like each other. I can tell," said Natasha.
"Oh," said Wataru, "boy, why do all my brothers seem to be finding girlfriends here?"
"Girlfriends?" Natasha, "you mean all your brothers have a girlfriend now?"
"It seems that way!" Wataru muttered, "even Louis, he likes my new teacher!"
"Oh?" said Natasha, "um, you wouldn't know if that includes your brother Azusa would you?"
"I don't know, but probably," said Wataru a he road his horse around more.
Natasha suddenly felt weak in the knees.
'He probably does have someone, one of those fancy ladies or something. Somone not as lowly as me who admitted to be working for his enemy so to speak,' she thought.
"Are you okay?" Wataru asked.
"Yeah I'm fine, why?" Natasha asked.
"You look sad," said Wataru.
"Oh, just a little cold," said Natasha, "you going to be okay real fast? I got to take care of a few things back in the barn."
"I'm going to be great!" Wataru declared still riding happily.
Natasha nodded and hurried back to the barn. However, instead of going to do her work, she went and hid herself in the birthing stall with the expecting stall. She immediately started to cry.
"Why am I upset with the idea that he's got himself a girl? There was never anything between us! If anything he probably hates me for being in league with Lord Robert!" she said to the horse.
"Well, that's his problem isn't it?" Natasha suddenly heard Robert say. She turned and saw him, along with a few of his men walking in, blocking the door and trapping her inside.