The day of ball dancing classes had begun. There were several classes to accommodate all the students that would be attending the dance. These classes lasted from lunch until dining time, for the entire week before the tournament. The three classes after lunch were canceled so that the socialites would be perfect on the dance floor and not humiliate themselves during this prestigious event.
Lenore found herself in a classroom with Santh, Lesatan, and the other advisers. It was no surprise that she was in a room with most of the Royal Party, but it was lightly littered with Mondues and Souchans, but most were of title so she couldn't help but wonder how Santh was placed here.
"Let us see!" The dance instructor looked around the cleared room that once held dining tables for the etiquette classes, but was now simply an empty dance hall. She wore her hair in a bun tied tightly on the back of her head, and her long puffed dress seemed to dance around her when she moved. "If you do not have a partner for the ball as of yet, please step forward and I will pair you with someone."
Lenore stepped forward a long side Santh, and to their surprise they were the only two. They knew exactly what was about to happen in that moment.
"Wonderful, you two may pair together." The gentle instructor pushed the two together. "Now, find a spot on the floor, and let us begin." She began to hum a song and the students all moved together.
Santh cleared his throat, and looked genuinely uncomfortable that he had one hand on her hip and the other holding her hand. Lenore didn't find it to be the ideal situation either.
"Well, I suppose there is no reason why we can not be friendly during classes this week." She wanted to bring some relief to the tension between them considering how very close they were.
Santh did not respond.
"Or uncomfortable silence is another option, if you prefer." Just as Santh was about to speak to her, Lenore looked toward the crowd at the man charging toward her. "Oh, dear."
Lesatan pulled Lenore out of the large man's arms. "Princess Lenore is far too delicate and above the station of a Mondue commoner such as yourself. Here." He shoved his dark haired partner toward the Mondue.
"My Prince," The girl gasped. "I am of the Royal Party, you would have me dance with this brute?"
"Do as I say." He barked before grabbing Lenore's hand and moving her to another place on the dance floor.
In truth, Lenore was rather relieved to be removed from that situation and did not bother to fight her brother as she normally would have.
"You looked frightfully distressed dancing with him." Lesatan informed her as they began to practice their movements. He kept his voice low as to not interrupt the instructor any more than he already had.
Lenore offered a loving but brief smile to her brother. "Was I that obvious?"
"Has he done something to you that I should be made aware of? I have told you time and time again to not sleep in a dorm full of men and no guards to protect you." He was scolding her as he always did, but this time it seemed gentle and less proud. It was the genuine concerns of a brother, something she had not heard from him in a long time.
"Santh would never harm me physically. We are simply having a disagreement or rather what friendship we had has come to it's final conclusion, I believe."
Lenore and Lesatan barely had to listen to the instructors advice as the two had been taught such skills most of their lives. The instructor seemed to know this and ignore their chatter, as she did for most of the older students as well.
"You shouldn't be friends with someone that low of a status, Lenore."
"You will never learn, will you?" She looked into his eyes. "Your place is to rule over your people, but never be seen as above them."
"Preposterous!" He belted the word out but then immediately lowered his head as an apology to the instructor.
She shook her head at him and chuckled lightly. "Your temper is your worst feature."
Across the room, Santh looked down at the woman who was barely even trying to dance with him. It felt like he was dragging her across the dance floor, and he was reminded why he hated Royals so much. However, out of the corner of his eye, he would catch Lenore as she smiled and chatted with her brother. Part of him wished he could retrieve his old partner.
In the arena is where Ophelia and Remus discovered their dance class was being held. A platform was brought out so they wouldn't have to stand in the dirt. Routine was also taking the class along side the two and had paired himself with his sister for the time being.
"Piera Nicoletti." Routine's sister had introduced herself to Remus and Ophelia, before the class began.
"Ophelia Romanus. Are you and your brother attending the ball together?" She questioned before the ever so flamboyant Remus could offer his suave introduction.
Piera giggled, "No, neither of us have a partner as of yet, but we both would like to practice."
"I always wanted a brother or sister." Ophelia informed her, "My parents had great difficulty conceiving me however, so it was not to be."
"It is not as wonderful as many a tale makes it sound, especially when your brother is a walking library with no emotional attachments."
Routine did not look as if he appreciated that analogy, but refused to say anything to his sister on a platform filled with his peers, as they waited for the instructor to arrive. She had come and paired everyone up, but then left and told them she would be back in a few moments. That was nearly ten minutes ago.
"Indeed not." Remus added. "My brother stands to inherit my father's guild master title, but the boy can barely add and I will be his underling the rest of my days."
"Is that Authin?" Ophelia motioned her head toward a man on the fair side of the platform and completely ignored Remus' tale.
Authin was stroking the hair of a brunette who seemed to be his dancing partner. They were both laughing and smiling as they chatted intimately.
"You were present when the instructor paired them." Routine informed her.
"I thought he would have asked the Princess to the ball by now." Ophelia looked worried by the way he was interacting with the girl.
"The Princess has an interest in that man?" Piera looked shocked.
Remus snorted, "Authin is the type of man who enjoys playing games with women, especially cat and mouse. Lenore, however, is no mouse and therefore he must take a different approach to her. No doubt, he is making her wonder if he will indeed ask her at all."
"He doesn't seem to be the sort." She pressed her lips together, "It is strange that Authin is with us and not the other Royals, isn't it?" Her eyes turned to Routine and Piera, "And with a father as powerful as your own shouldn't you be in the cooler dancing hall with the Royals as well?"
Routine looked toward Remus, "I was ensured that I would not suffer that party."
Ophelia looked at her partner, "I see, and I suppose that explains why Santh is not here either." Ophelia turned to Piera, "Do you have someone in mind that you are hoping will ask you?"
She shook her head and then turned to her brother. "I do not suppose you know someone of a matching station that would like to take me?"
Routine shook his head.
"I know several, I am certain." Remus jumped in. "I would be privileged to speak to them on your behalf, if your brother will allow it, of course."
"He must be a complete gentleman." Routine glared at him.
Remus gave a full nod. "Of course, he will do nothing to your sister that she does not wish done." He winked at Piera who smirked slightly. "I will take full responsibility, and I will also ensure his station and that he is someone who you will not feel pained to look upon."
Piera laughed, and Ophelia giggled though Routine did not look amused or certain about this development.
"I don't suppose you can help me find a fiancee that would be to my brother's liking? For him, I mean."
Remus looked his friend over, "I might."
"No need." Routine interrupted. "I have already concluded my search and found someone suitable. I will inform our parents during the tournament."
His younger sister was once again shocked, "Who?"
He waved her question away and then motioned toward the approaching instructor. "Finally, let us be done with this."
Since Jolon and Anton would not be attending the ball, they were sent with any other students to the dining hall for a self study class. Everyone sat at their usual seats and read the scrolls and books that they had brought. Though it was very few people in the dining hall, and they both noticed there were absolutely no females. All had been asked to go.
Normally, it was three classes after lunch but the professors allowed them to leave after two. The two decided that without the safety of their friends that they should return to their dorm for the evening, since the others would be practicing their dancing until dinner.
As they returned, they both entered Jolon's dorm room and sat on the floor to begin studying. They had not planned to do so, but they both wanted to finish the work they had started.
The dorm was extremely quiet, which since Ophelia arrived it seemed that it was always full of life and noise. It made it easy enough for the two boys to finish their work right around the same time.
"Why do they need to practice for five hours a day all week?" Jolon asked as he rolled up his scroll and sat it on Remus' bed. "Do they seriously dance the entire time? That seems like by the time the actual ball arrived that you would be too sore and tired to actually want to do what you have been practicing all week for."
"Ophelia said that it's a large event in which the king and other high standing officials attend. They also go over etiquette for the males, since we take weapons classes instead." His friend seemed satisfied with that explanation and he returned to the book in front of him.
"We have been here for three months already. It seems like we only arrived." Jolon laid his head on the bed next to him.
"Don't remind me. That means it's been three months since I slept with any one, other than Routine but he doesn't seem to be interested in that sort of thing." Anton smirked at his own joke. "Back home there was this girl named Cyma. Pretty little girl from the Servant's Guild, we used to meet out behind the guild house in the shed. Spent many a pleasurable moment in her arms."
"Alright, it seems we are actually having this conversation." Jolon thought for a moment, "I never saw you as someone who would toy with a girl."
"Toy with her? First and foremost, I never promised her anything other then what I gave her. Second of all, aren't you the one seeing a young lady from the Servant's Guild? How do you think you have the moral high ground?" Anton closed the book in front of him.
"I am not seeing her. I..."
"If you want to spout lies, then you needn't bother wasting your breath." Anton opened the book back up and began to read.
Jolon was quiet for several seconds before he cleared his throat. "I've never... done that."
"Done what?"
"The thing you did with Cyma in the shed."
Once more, the book was closed and Anton looked up at his friend. "You must be jesting with me!"
He slowly shook his head. "I spent most of my time studying when I was at home in order to get into this school."
"So you were highly sheltered?"
"It wasn't as if my parents kept me away from the world. Actually, they locked me out of the house on a few occasions to force me to be out, and even held parties in my honor. That is how I learned to flirt with girls, but I was never able to go any further." He began to pick at a piece of string that was hanging off the corner of the blanket.
"Why didn't you?"
He shrugged, "Could never figure the timing out, I guess."
Lesatan and his advisers walked toward his study with purpose. They hadn't even washed themselves of the day's sweat, as the Prince was in a fierce mood. When they stepped inside the room, Lesatan waited for the door to close behind Enoch, before he grabbed books from the shelves and began to throw them at his advisers.
Krius used his hands to bat the books away, while Armand dodged them. However, Enoch was satisfied with allowing them to hit him no matter if it was in the head or other sensitive areas.
"Will someone tell me what happened today?" He shouted at the top of his lungs.
They all shook their heads as they prepared for the inevitable second outburst that they knew would be coming their way.
"Why was my sister dancing with that lowly commoner instead of Authin?" He threw a couple more books toward them, and they did their best to keep from getting hit. Enoch was hit in the knee, but he barely flinched.
Enoch answered. "She was the only one without a partner as was he."
"I know that you baffling idiot! Why was that Mondue commoner in that class and not Authin? Didn't I ask the three of you to handle it?"
Armand began to speak calmly. "I was ensured that this would be the case, milord. It seems either a mistake was made or someone else had their hand in this."
"Who? Who could possibly know our plans and be powerful enough to get in our way?" Lesatan was turning more red the longer he screamed.
Armand and Krius looked between one another, and then back to Lesatan. "The Fox." They both answered in unison.
Lesatan's anger seemed to dissipate and he slid down into his seat. "Why would he bother with this?" He tapped his fingers on the desk. "What could he stand to gain by keeping Lenore and Authin apart?"
"Perhaps, he has plans for her marriage future and Authin does not fill his needs." Armand offered.
Krius added. "Of course, he could want her for himself. Who is to say he is not a man without station? For as long as he has ruled this school, most know that new men take over the mantle over the years."
"Maybe he just likes being a burden." Enoch wanted to be part of the conversation too. "He has been known to play with well laid plans in the past."
The three other men ignored him and sat silently as they thought.
"Whatever happened to Remus checking on that hidden lover of hers? He has never returned with any information." Armand walked over to the desk and sat in one of the chairs, Krius did the same. "Shall I summon him?"
Lesatan shook his head. "No, have Krius exchange seats with Authin."
"Why must I go into the commoners' dancing hall?"
The Prince glared at his adviser, "Because you stare at her the entire day and make her feel uncomfortable even when she is dancing with her own brother, you dolt!" He slammed his hand against the desk. Once he took a couple deep breaths to calm down, he returned to speak to Armand. "Remus will be dealt with after the tournament. I do not want him tipping off the Fox that we are on to him until such a public spectacle is behind us. Understood?"
They all nodded.
"Also, have someone check to see if my sister has a dress for the ball. I would hate for her to appear there in something below her station."
Armand didn't know when the Prince started trusting him more, but assumed that when it came to Lenore he was the one she trusted the most. Lenore loathed Enoch and seemed to fear Krius. That left only him to be the one to check on her.
"It is beautiful, Ophelia." Lenore looked at herself in the full length mirror. The dress that her friend had made for her fit perfectly and though it did not look like a normal ball dress, it was exactly what she had wanted.
Ophelia smiled widely and bounced slightly over to her. "Do you really like it?" She was wearing her own ball dress and also took the moment to check herself over in the mirror.
"I love it." She continued to examine herself in the mirror before turning to her friend and giving her a gentle hug. "This is the best dress that I have ever worn. Do you know why?"
She shook her head.
"Because you actually listened to what I wanted. The queen would always design my clothing, and I never got a dress I wanted. It was the way she wanted me to dress, and not the way I wanted to." Lenore hugged her friend again and then returned to the mirror.
"Has Authin asked you to the dance?" Ophelia's curiosity had to be satiated.
Lenore turned slightly to look at her. "No, did he say something about asking me?" She watched her friend shake her head once more. "It doesn't matter, I already have an escort."
"Who?"
"Byron, of course."
She didn't know why that seemed to be an obvious answer, but the Princess spoke it as if there was no other choice. "He isn't in your dancing class, is he?"
"No, we have not officially announced it as of yet, so shh."
Ophelia briefly smiled and gave a nod. "Is there any last minute adjustments that you want?"
Lenore began to move around in the dress. She twisted and began to dance around the small dorm room in order to see if the dress needed any alterations. Deciding that it was a good idea, Ophelia began to do the same until the two girls met in the center of the room. They held hands and began to dance together as Lenore hummed a song that was barely audible.
"I do believe my breath has been stolen." Remus appeared in the open doorway with Santh standing directly beside him. Anton peeked around the corner as he left Jolon alone in the other room.
Ophelia blushed, and put her hands to her face in embarrassment for being caught dancing with the princess. Lenore didn't bother to look ashamed, and simply reached out. Santh thought she was going to grab his hands, but instead took that of the commoner standing beside him.
"Remus, dance with Ophelia and Anton with me. We need to ensure our dresses are comfortable." Lenore pulled Anton into the center of the confined room.
"I do not know how to dance." Anton admitted as Lenore placed one of his hands on her hip and held the other.
"Then I shall lead." She informed him and they began to move around the room, but continued to stop in order to prevent themselves from bumping into furniture or the other dancing couple in the room.
Santh watched the scene unfold, and for a moment he felt like chuckling at how ridiculous the whole ordeal was. The four of them bouncing around the room unable to really dance at all, though he knew they couldn't go out in the dirt court or the dresses would become filthy. Even if there was no other place they could attempt this at the moment, he still wondered why they didn't go one at a time at the very least.
"Switch with me!" Ophelia laughed.
Remus spun Ophelia toward her new dancing partner, and Lenore simply walked over to him elegantly. "How rare a chance for a commoner such as myself to dance with a princess." He jested when they began to move around the room.
Lenore giggled, "You only consider yourself a commoner when the mood strikes you."
Anton and Ophelia laughed at the comment, and Santh was startled by the sound of another man laughing beside him. He turned to find Jolon standing next to him, watching the events unfold.
"Jolon! We can't leave Jolon out!" Ophelia shouted when she realized that he was standing in the hall. She left her partner and hurried over to Jolon to grab his hands before pulling him into the room.
"It's crowded enough, I think!" Jolon warned but soon found himself partnered with her and Anton moved out of the way to sit on the bed.
Santh could barely contain a smirk as he watched his friends dance about the room like fools, but even if they seemed ridiculous a part of him found it to be endearing while another part felt left out.
The next day, Lenore entered her dance class and began to look for her brother in the crowd of students. Everyone was standing with their partners as they waited for the instructor to arrive, they were all making small talk. A man waved at her from the crowd and she immediately recognized Authin who she knew had not been in the class the day before. A frown came to her lips, as she searched the room and found Lesatan had taken back his partner that he had passed onto Santh the day before, and another girl was standing with her dorm mate. She looked familiar and it took her a matter of moments until she knew that it was the girl that was dancing with Krius the day before.
Approaching her, Authin gave his best and most charming smile. "It appears that we are the only two without partners. Shall we?" He offered out his hand, but she did not take it.
"Why are you here? You weren't in the classroom yesterday. Where is Krius?" The suspicion was all too clear in her voice, and Authin internally cursed the Prince. He knew this was a certainty.
"Krius has asked me to switch with him. Apparently, there is a young lady in the arena class that has caught his attention. I just happened to be her partner, and therefore was the logical choice to ask." He continued to hold his hand out.
Across the room in the corner, Santh cocked his head as he could watch but not hear what was unfolding. He had also thought it was strange when he noticed Authin in place of the large adviser. Of course, things became more odd when Krius' partner was handed to him and Lesatan took back his own. Something was definitely afoot here, but he decided that it was none of his concern. The less he bothered to be part of her life, the easier it would be to remove himself completely.
Authin grabbed Lenore's hand and she pulled it from his grasp. "I find it hard to believe that Krius would turn his attention elsewhere. He nearly falls over himself trying to get into my good graces once more."
"Perhaps, he is done trying to make water into gold, and has chosen to move forward when it comes to matters of the heart." Annoyance covered his own heart, though it was toward the Prince and not the Princess. A woman with intellect like her own would easily began to see through the facade when they so blatantly ignore protocol. He could see all his work falling to ash before his eyes. He had tried to explain all this to the Prince, but the stubborn man refused to see reason.
Lesatan watched the on goings between his sister and her chosen suitor. He could see immediately that she had become suspicious the moment she entered the room.
"I was also thinking..." His partner to the dance could talk of nothing more than what she would wear and who she would socialize with. He knew she was only going with him because he was the Prince, and he was only taking her because she was attractive enough.
"Be silent." He warned her in a low growl as he tried to inch closer and to hear what was being said.
However, the instructor arrived. Lenore took Authin's offered hand, as the teacher began to give instructions on what they would be doing that day.
Authin knew the hours would be long, as Lenore was not in a mood to be toyed with. He knew when he needed to give a woman breathing room, and that was exactly what he planned to do.
The two commoners of the dorm arrived back to an empty dorm room. They were both covered in sweat as they had been practicing for the tournament, but found both of their mentors were unable to assist this week due to the dancing classes. It was difficult to practice without someone watching and explaining where they were going wrong, and both had become nervous over whether or not they were good enough to actually compete this time around.
Both grabbed cloths and headed down to the stream to wipe themselves down. Kneeling down beside the cool flowing water, they dipped their cloths and began to wipe away the sweat and dirt from their face and neck.
"Four days of this, and I already feel like we are living in an abandoned home." Anton started to wash his aching hands. Callouses were forming where he constantly had to pull the strings back.
Jolon gave a brief nod. "The dorm has been very silent lately. Even when they return they seem to be too exhausted to discuss any of the day's events. Routine barely studies at all, have you noticed?"
"I do not understand why they need to practice for such long stretches every day. Although, I will not complain about the slight vacation we receive after lunches." He stood up and began to walk back to the dorm with Jolon following behind him.
"In two days, the tournament begins. That is only three days long, then the ball, correct?" He didn't need his friend to confirm anything as he was already certain. "Five more days and then everything will return as it was."
"Five days seems so far away. I rather miss Ophelia's positive attitude even when we are studying, or Santh randomly shouting out the answers to a problem we are having after we have debated it for an hour." Anton chuckled.
Jolon smirked, "Remus attempting to sell us the answers, or Routine yelling at us to be silent as he is studying."
They entered Jolon's room and both sat down on the floor. Jolon leaned against Remus' bottom bunk, and Anton against Santh's own bed. They stretched out their legs and threw their heads back as they took a moment to relax. Their dorm mates would be returning soon, but they both found themselves bored.
After lunch, all they could do was study and both found it not worth the time to study after the allotted time. They both practiced as much as they could for the tournament, but there would come a time when neither of their bodies could continue on.
"Have you seen Saena since she left you that scarf?" Anton asked with his head still thrown back.
"No." Jolon answered and took a deep breath. "I thought she was one of the girls that brought the basins to our dorm, but she seems to have disappeared."
"Are you going to see her eventually? Thank her for the scarf?"
He was quiet for several seconds before answering. "I was thinking about what Lenore said, and she is right. I shouldn't give her any hopes. It might be for the best that I not see her again, after all it seems to me that she might believe we have something that I was not attempting to create."
Anton snorted, "Yes, you were. Don't play the fool. We both know you knew exactly what she wanted from you when she asked for you to visit her. Besides, what does it matter what Lenore thinks? Don't ever offer Saena more than you can give, and therefore it will never be a lie. She knows what your limits in the relationship are, and you can finally become a man."
Jolon lifted his head to look at his friend sitting across the room. "I have no interest in using her just so that I no longer have to be a virgin in your eyes."
"You are a virgin in everyone's eyes, Jolon."
He quickly kicked the taller man in the calf. Anton immediately reacted by kicking him back, and the two found themselves in a match. After a couple minutes, the boys kicked each other in the foot and came to stop as they both felt searing pain pass throw their bodies.
"Ugh, you bastard!" Anton barked.
"You kicked me too!" Jolon snapped back.
"What exactly was that?" Remus asked as he stood in the doorway of the dorm room, Santh looked on from behind him.
Routine entered his own room and didn't seem to care what the two had been up to.
"Jolon won't see Saena..." Anton began but it caused Jolon to jump up and cover his friend's entire face with his hands.
"Shut up. Shut up." He held onto the struggling man in his arms. "I swear I will crush your skull, Anton."
Anton may have been taller than his friend, but he was not stronger. He stopped struggling and waited for a few moments.
"Are you going to be quiet?" He felt Anton nod, and he realized him.
"Jolon is a virgin!" Anton shouted.
Pulling his arm back, Jolon punched him as hard as he could in the upper arm.
Anton fell over and clutched his arm as he chuckled. "I deserved that!" He laughed.
Remus looked over at Santh, who also seemed flabbergasted by the display. "Commoners, eh?"
"She is still following us." Armand told the Prince as they made their way through the crowd. While the groups of students parted for them, they gave very little room for the woman chasing after them.
The group of four hurried through the Royal Dorms' gate, and quickly made their way to the double doors of the estate. Guards open the doors for them, and they nearly ran up the stairs in hopes of getting to the study and locking themselves inside.
Making it without running into the one after them, Krius was the last one inside and locked the door. Lesatan sat down in his chair, and everyone else found a place to sit as well. Krius and Armand sat in front of the desk, while Enoch turned one of the chairs near the fire around. They were all slightly out of breath from their hurried steps.
"Are we honestly going to avoiding her like this? It has been three days now, and we only make ourselves look more suspicious." Armand leaned back on his seat.
Krius agreed. "Eventually, we will have to confront her. Besides, I do not see a reason why we should avoid her. She barely weighs anything, there is nothing to fear from her."
Lesatan was about to open his mouth to speak, when they all heard a window open. It caused heads to turn, and Lenore entered in through the window after climbing the four story tress up. Guards could be heard below demanding that she climb down. She shut the window behind her and rushed over to stand at the desk in front of her brother.
"Les! What are you attempting to do?" She slammed her hand down on the desk and breathed heavily due to her chase. "I have been trying to speak with you for nearly three days now, and you keep avoiding me!"
Lesatan cleared his throat and was about to inform her that he was not to be spoken to with such familiarity, but she interrupted already knowing he would avoid the answer.
"Quite elaborately, I might add. How much did you pay that boy yesterday to shove me into the bushes and have a terrible time of helping me out?" She looked around the room at the others, and it was Enoch who gave the guilt away by lowering his head and rubbing the back of his neck. Lenore took a deep breath, "Very well, that is not the reason I am here, so no matter." She turned her attention back to her brother. "Why have you put Krius in the lower class and brought Authin in? Are you attempting to create a match between us?"
"I can explain. You see..."
"Be silent, Krius!" Lenore yelled at the top of her lungs, demonstrating behaviors much like her own brother. "When I wish to hear you speak, I will direct my questions to you until then return to your seat and remain silent!"
Krius looked at the Prince with shock in his eyes, and Lesatan waved for him to sit down. When Krius sat, Lesatan began to laugh. "I believe there was a misunderstanding."
She raised both her eyebrows, "Excuse me?"
"Had I known this was about that lowly Royal, I would never have tried to elude you. I truly believed that you heard the news." He continued to grin in hopes that he could fool his sister.
"News? What news?"
"My mother is coming to the tournament, and since you are participating, she will, of course, have plans to dress you and see you around the campus." He giggled and looked to the others to chuckle as well, they took a moment to take the hint but soon began to follow his instructions.
Lenore threw her hands up in the air and they quickly fell back to her side. "Why?" She shouted which startled all the men in the room despite her earlier outburst. "Why does she not leave well enough alone? She has showed me off quiet enough. Everyone believes she is the greatest step-mother who ever lived! Enough already!" She shook her head when she realized that her brother had pulled her off course. "Wait, what of Authin?"
"What of him? Krius asked him to change classes with him, so that he could be with the girl of his choosing. Do you honestly believe I would offer your hand to such a lowly Royal? He would offer me nothing as your suitor."
She watched her brother's face for several moments, "Les, if I discover you are lying to me, I will personally make it my mission to find the ugliest woman in all the lands and ensure that your mother can not say no to the arrangement due to the incredible amount of gold, power, or what have you. The offer will be far too tempting. Do you understand?"
He continued to grin, "I understand. Now, be off with you."
When the door shut after his sister stepped out, Lesatan turned to his advisers. "Authin must be warned not to betray me in this matter... or else."
Remus met Ophelia by the East Gate after she had helped deliver her supplies to the stall. She was carrying her shoes in her hands and allowing her aching feet to step in every muddy puddle she could come across. Of course, Remus was certain most of those puddles were from horses not the light showers they were having lately. He didn't have the heart to tell her however, as in those moments she looked defeated though he didn't know by what.
"Everything go well?" He asked as she stepped through the gates and took her shoes from her.
She nodded her head as they moved away from the guards to keep them from overhearing. "It is all stocked and ready for tomorrow. My mother sent word that the money is helping her pay off a great deal of debts, and she wanted me to thank you personally for helping us."
He watched her for a moment as they walked back to the dorm. "Tell me what ails you, Lady Romanus?"
She shrugged her shoulders and sighed deeply. "I just hope that my mother isn't being over worked by all this. I would hate to think of her working herself to the bone in order to make extra money for me."
"It's for her as well." He reminded and came to a stop. The paths were clear now that it was close to roll call, so he was able to turn her to face him without worry of students bothering them. "I have already informed her that if things become too much for her, I can send more support or we can end the operation entirely. You needn't worry about your mother, I have already made it my priority."
She smiled gently, though some sadness remained in her eyes. "Thank you, Remus."
"Do you realize that if I were to marry you and take your last name that I would be Remus Romanus?"
Ophelia's eyes blinked several times as she tried to wrap her mind around what he was talking about. A smile slowly appeared on her face as she giggled. "That would be odd."
"When you get your father's title back and if then you married Routine, he would be Baron Byron." Remus grinned.
She giggled slightly more heavily. "Baron Byron." She spoke the title out loud which only made her chuckle even more.
A smile came to his face as he watched her bend over with laughter. "I can not conceive anymore out of our group."
Her laughter slowly came to a stop and she stood up with a smile still on her lips. "Thank you, Remus. I needed some humor in my day."
"My pleasure." He held out his arm for her to take and they continued back down the path to their dorm.
"I am worried about what people will say about you if you escort me to the ball. I already hear whispers, and none of them speak of you in a positive light."
"Ah, is that the truth of the matter then?" He could see her nod her head out of the corner of his eye. "People speak of me often and it is not always with an approving tone, but alas I do lend myself to such scrutiny." He pat her hand that was resting on his arm. "Never you mind, what others say. If I so desperately needed their approval then I wouldn't have asked you to begin with. Always remember this, when you take back your father's title, those same people that speak down to you now will be begging for your approval. Their small, weak minds are short sighted and they fail to see a woman of title and repute before them."
Ophelia softly smiled at his words.
"Also, in the future I will be the one standing between them and the Merchant Guild leader, they should watch the lies they spout lest they pay later in life."
She giggled gently and briefly laid her head on his shoulder, as they arrived at the dirt path that would lead them home. "Remus?" She came to a stop before him.
He raised his eyebrows in response.
"There is one more issue that has me bothered, may I speak to you of it?"
He smirked, "What is one more?"
"There are rumors that a girl named Krine will be escorted by Santh to the ball, and Lenore told me that Routine is taking her."
Remus looked impressed, "Ophelia, you are well connected, aren't you?" He jested before he gave any true answer. "Yes, Krine Ricacalen will attend the ball with Santh. It will be their first meeting in truth. Of course, Lenore appearing beside Routine is no surprise, though I had not heard of it yet. Their illusory relationship does appear to be eerily close, does it not?"
"Illusory? Are you suggesting their relationship is a deception?"
He pressed his lips together for a couple moments as he carefully thought of his next words. "Their relationship has an oddity to it, something... not genuine. I could not explain what the oddness is, but only point to it's existence." He waved his hand in front of his face, "No matter, why did you ask after Santh's and Lenore's partners?"
"I worry for the two of them. Santh obviously feels for her, and there are times when I believe Lenore feels for him. However, they seem to have been angry with each other since Santh hit Authin. They..."
Remus cut her sentence off. "Ophelia, the two have been dancing this dance long before you arrived in our merry band. You must allow them to finish it between them, after all you can't waltz with a third."
When Ophelia and Remus approached the dorm, Authin was standing in the dirt court. He gave a brief wave to them and then returned his attention to the dorm where he seemed to be waiting for someone. The Princess was the obvious choice.
Santh and Jolon were standing in the hallway with their arms crossed, and Anton was still on the steps as they were all waiting for the Mondues to appear for roll call. Lenore stepped through the two men and looked down at the man standing before her in the court.
"Authin, roll call is about to begin. Hurry back to your dorm." She warned him much to the surprise of the rest of the dorm, though she hadn't missed a single roll call since she discovered the truth of their anger toward her.
"This will take but a moment of your time, Princess." He stepped up on stair and took her head. "Princess Lenore would you do me the great honor of attending the ball with me?"
Ophelia was about to tell him that Routine was taking her friend, but Remus put his index finger to his lips to inform her to be quiet as this was not her place. Anton and Jolon were both certain that the Princess would agree, while Santh attempted to look disassociated but within his mind he was nearly begging her to not go with the little weasel.
"I am sorry, Authin, but I have already been asked to attend with another. I am afraid you have simply waited too long." Lenore informed him.
Authin looked shocked by her rejection. "Another?"
She gave a firm nod, "Byron Nicoletti will be my escort. Certainly, you must have suspected that I, the Princess, would have multiple suitors ask me to attend. Why you would wait this long seems to be a ploy on your end? Perhaps, you thought I would wait with baited breath in hopes you would ask after me?"
"No, of course, not. I had to gather my courage to ask."
She snorted, "No man fearful of rejection would ask a woman in front of her friends. I take it that you are without a partner for the ball then?"
"I fear so."
"You needn't worry. Byron's sister has been looking for someone to escort her. As you know, it is a privilege to take the equivalent of a princess of the Souchan Guild to the dance." She watched him nod. "Very well, I will inform her. Now, please excuse yourself, roll call begins and I would not appreciate it if our dorm lost points because we have an authorized guest."
Authin looked as if he wasn't quite certain what had just occurred and began to walk down the dirt path without even looking back. He barely made eye contact with Ophelia and Remus who were still standing at the path's mouth.
Routine stepped out of his room, "Do my ears deceive me? You have assigned my sister to be a sacrifice to that philanderer?" He came to stand in front of her as the others looked on.
"I made it clear enough that he will be with a woman of prestige, Byron. Besides, you give your sister too little credit, as there is a reason many fear to approach her. Not even I am as menacing as she is, and it certainly is difficult to be more intimidating to a man than a woman with the highest title in land next to the married Queen." Lenore adjusted his collar on his shirt as she spoke.
Routine did not looked pleased by this decision, but he didn't want to argue with her. After all, he had no true intention of finding his sister an escort, at the very least he was able to have Lenore take over the task that he purposely procrastinated with.
Lenore noticed Santh still standing in the hallway with his arms crossed, but there was a slight smirk on his lips. "I hear you are taking Krine to the ball, Santh."
His smile quickly faded and he turned his attention to Remus, who had made his way to stand in front of the dorm with Ophelia.
"I said nothing." Remus immediately informed him.
Lenore chuckled, "You must remember that girls speak often amongst themselves, and then about others even when the woman is of no consequence to them."
"Roll call!" The man yelled from down the path and they all hurried to line up.
Lenore found herself in a classroom with Santh, Lesatan, and the other advisers. It was no surprise that she was in a room with most of the Royal Party, but it was lightly littered with Mondues and Souchans, but most were of title so she couldn't help but wonder how Santh was placed here.
"Let us see!" The dance instructor looked around the cleared room that once held dining tables for the etiquette classes, but was now simply an empty dance hall. She wore her hair in a bun tied tightly on the back of her head, and her long puffed dress seemed to dance around her when she moved. "If you do not have a partner for the ball as of yet, please step forward and I will pair you with someone."
Lenore stepped forward a long side Santh, and to their surprise they were the only two. They knew exactly what was about to happen in that moment.
"Wonderful, you two may pair together." The gentle instructor pushed the two together. "Now, find a spot on the floor, and let us begin." She began to hum a song and the students all moved together.
Santh cleared his throat, and looked genuinely uncomfortable that he had one hand on her hip and the other holding her hand. Lenore didn't find it to be the ideal situation either.
"Well, I suppose there is no reason why we can not be friendly during classes this week." She wanted to bring some relief to the tension between them considering how very close they were.
Santh did not respond.
"Or uncomfortable silence is another option, if you prefer." Just as Santh was about to speak to her, Lenore looked toward the crowd at the man charging toward her. "Oh, dear."
Lesatan pulled Lenore out of the large man's arms. "Princess Lenore is far too delicate and above the station of a Mondue commoner such as yourself. Here." He shoved his dark haired partner toward the Mondue.
"My Prince," The girl gasped. "I am of the Royal Party, you would have me dance with this brute?"
"Do as I say." He barked before grabbing Lenore's hand and moving her to another place on the dance floor.
In truth, Lenore was rather relieved to be removed from that situation and did not bother to fight her brother as she normally would have.
"You looked frightfully distressed dancing with him." Lesatan informed her as they began to practice their movements. He kept his voice low as to not interrupt the instructor any more than he already had.
Lenore offered a loving but brief smile to her brother. "Was I that obvious?"
"Has he done something to you that I should be made aware of? I have told you time and time again to not sleep in a dorm full of men and no guards to protect you." He was scolding her as he always did, but this time it seemed gentle and less proud. It was the genuine concerns of a brother, something she had not heard from him in a long time.
"Santh would never harm me physically. We are simply having a disagreement or rather what friendship we had has come to it's final conclusion, I believe."
Lenore and Lesatan barely had to listen to the instructors advice as the two had been taught such skills most of their lives. The instructor seemed to know this and ignore their chatter, as she did for most of the older students as well.
"You shouldn't be friends with someone that low of a status, Lenore."
"You will never learn, will you?" She looked into his eyes. "Your place is to rule over your people, but never be seen as above them."
"Preposterous!" He belted the word out but then immediately lowered his head as an apology to the instructor.
She shook her head at him and chuckled lightly. "Your temper is your worst feature."
Across the room, Santh looked down at the woman who was barely even trying to dance with him. It felt like he was dragging her across the dance floor, and he was reminded why he hated Royals so much. However, out of the corner of his eye, he would catch Lenore as she smiled and chatted with her brother. Part of him wished he could retrieve his old partner.
---***---
In the arena is where Ophelia and Remus discovered their dance class was being held. A platform was brought out so they wouldn't have to stand in the dirt. Routine was also taking the class along side the two and had paired himself with his sister for the time being.
"Piera Nicoletti." Routine's sister had introduced herself to Remus and Ophelia, before the class began.
"Ophelia Romanus. Are you and your brother attending the ball together?" She questioned before the ever so flamboyant Remus could offer his suave introduction.
Piera giggled, "No, neither of us have a partner as of yet, but we both would like to practice."
"I always wanted a brother or sister." Ophelia informed her, "My parents had great difficulty conceiving me however, so it was not to be."
"It is not as wonderful as many a tale makes it sound, especially when your brother is a walking library with no emotional attachments."
Routine did not look as if he appreciated that analogy, but refused to say anything to his sister on a platform filled with his peers, as they waited for the instructor to arrive. She had come and paired everyone up, but then left and told them she would be back in a few moments. That was nearly ten minutes ago.
"Indeed not." Remus added. "My brother stands to inherit my father's guild master title, but the boy can barely add and I will be his underling the rest of my days."
"Is that Authin?" Ophelia motioned her head toward a man on the fair side of the platform and completely ignored Remus' tale.
Authin was stroking the hair of a brunette who seemed to be his dancing partner. They were both laughing and smiling as they chatted intimately.
"You were present when the instructor paired them." Routine informed her.
"I thought he would have asked the Princess to the ball by now." Ophelia looked worried by the way he was interacting with the girl.
"The Princess has an interest in that man?" Piera looked shocked.
Remus snorted, "Authin is the type of man who enjoys playing games with women, especially cat and mouse. Lenore, however, is no mouse and therefore he must take a different approach to her. No doubt, he is making her wonder if he will indeed ask her at all."
"He doesn't seem to be the sort." She pressed her lips together, "It is strange that Authin is with us and not the other Royals, isn't it?" Her eyes turned to Routine and Piera, "And with a father as powerful as your own shouldn't you be in the cooler dancing hall with the Royals as well?"
Routine looked toward Remus, "I was ensured that I would not suffer that party."
Ophelia looked at her partner, "I see, and I suppose that explains why Santh is not here either." Ophelia turned to Piera, "Do you have someone in mind that you are hoping will ask you?"
She shook her head and then turned to her brother. "I do not suppose you know someone of a matching station that would like to take me?"
Routine shook his head.
"I know several, I am certain." Remus jumped in. "I would be privileged to speak to them on your behalf, if your brother will allow it, of course."
"He must be a complete gentleman." Routine glared at him.
Remus gave a full nod. "Of course, he will do nothing to your sister that she does not wish done." He winked at Piera who smirked slightly. "I will take full responsibility, and I will also ensure his station and that he is someone who you will not feel pained to look upon."
Piera laughed, and Ophelia giggled though Routine did not look amused or certain about this development.
"I don't suppose you can help me find a fiancee that would be to my brother's liking? For him, I mean."
Remus looked his friend over, "I might."
"No need." Routine interrupted. "I have already concluded my search and found someone suitable. I will inform our parents during the tournament."
His younger sister was once again shocked, "Who?"
He waved her question away and then motioned toward the approaching instructor. "Finally, let us be done with this."
---***---
Since Jolon and Anton would not be attending the ball, they were sent with any other students to the dining hall for a self study class. Everyone sat at their usual seats and read the scrolls and books that they had brought. Though it was very few people in the dining hall, and they both noticed there were absolutely no females. All had been asked to go.
Normally, it was three classes after lunch but the professors allowed them to leave after two. The two decided that without the safety of their friends that they should return to their dorm for the evening, since the others would be practicing their dancing until dinner.
As they returned, they both entered Jolon's dorm room and sat on the floor to begin studying. They had not planned to do so, but they both wanted to finish the work they had started.
The dorm was extremely quiet, which since Ophelia arrived it seemed that it was always full of life and noise. It made it easy enough for the two boys to finish their work right around the same time.
"Why do they need to practice for five hours a day all week?" Jolon asked as he rolled up his scroll and sat it on Remus' bed. "Do they seriously dance the entire time? That seems like by the time the actual ball arrived that you would be too sore and tired to actually want to do what you have been practicing all week for."
"Ophelia said that it's a large event in which the king and other high standing officials attend. They also go over etiquette for the males, since we take weapons classes instead." His friend seemed satisfied with that explanation and he returned to the book in front of him.
"We have been here for three months already. It seems like we only arrived." Jolon laid his head on the bed next to him.
"Don't remind me. That means it's been three months since I slept with any one, other than Routine but he doesn't seem to be interested in that sort of thing." Anton smirked at his own joke. "Back home there was this girl named Cyma. Pretty little girl from the Servant's Guild, we used to meet out behind the guild house in the shed. Spent many a pleasurable moment in her arms."
"Alright, it seems we are actually having this conversation." Jolon thought for a moment, "I never saw you as someone who would toy with a girl."
"Toy with her? First and foremost, I never promised her anything other then what I gave her. Second of all, aren't you the one seeing a young lady from the Servant's Guild? How do you think you have the moral high ground?" Anton closed the book in front of him.
"I am not seeing her. I..."
"If you want to spout lies, then you needn't bother wasting your breath." Anton opened the book back up and began to read.
Jolon was quiet for several seconds before he cleared his throat. "I've never... done that."
"Done what?"
"The thing you did with Cyma in the shed."
Once more, the book was closed and Anton looked up at his friend. "You must be jesting with me!"
He slowly shook his head. "I spent most of my time studying when I was at home in order to get into this school."
"So you were highly sheltered?"
"It wasn't as if my parents kept me away from the world. Actually, they locked me out of the house on a few occasions to force me to be out, and even held parties in my honor. That is how I learned to flirt with girls, but I was never able to go any further." He began to pick at a piece of string that was hanging off the corner of the blanket.
"Why didn't you?"
He shrugged, "Could never figure the timing out, I guess."
---***---
Lesatan and his advisers walked toward his study with purpose. They hadn't even washed themselves of the day's sweat, as the Prince was in a fierce mood. When they stepped inside the room, Lesatan waited for the door to close behind Enoch, before he grabbed books from the shelves and began to throw them at his advisers.
Krius used his hands to bat the books away, while Armand dodged them. However, Enoch was satisfied with allowing them to hit him no matter if it was in the head or other sensitive areas.
"Will someone tell me what happened today?" He shouted at the top of his lungs.
They all shook their heads as they prepared for the inevitable second outburst that they knew would be coming their way.
"Why was my sister dancing with that lowly commoner instead of Authin?" He threw a couple more books toward them, and they did their best to keep from getting hit. Enoch was hit in the knee, but he barely flinched.
Enoch answered. "She was the only one without a partner as was he."
"I know that you baffling idiot! Why was that Mondue commoner in that class and not Authin? Didn't I ask the three of you to handle it?"
Armand began to speak calmly. "I was ensured that this would be the case, milord. It seems either a mistake was made or someone else had their hand in this."
"Who? Who could possibly know our plans and be powerful enough to get in our way?" Lesatan was turning more red the longer he screamed.
Armand and Krius looked between one another, and then back to Lesatan. "The Fox." They both answered in unison.
Lesatan's anger seemed to dissipate and he slid down into his seat. "Why would he bother with this?" He tapped his fingers on the desk. "What could he stand to gain by keeping Lenore and Authin apart?"
"Perhaps, he has plans for her marriage future and Authin does not fill his needs." Armand offered.
Krius added. "Of course, he could want her for himself. Who is to say he is not a man without station? For as long as he has ruled this school, most know that new men take over the mantle over the years."
"Maybe he just likes being a burden." Enoch wanted to be part of the conversation too. "He has been known to play with well laid plans in the past."
The three other men ignored him and sat silently as they thought.
"Whatever happened to Remus checking on that hidden lover of hers? He has never returned with any information." Armand walked over to the desk and sat in one of the chairs, Krius did the same. "Shall I summon him?"
Lesatan shook his head. "No, have Krius exchange seats with Authin."
"Why must I go into the commoners' dancing hall?"
The Prince glared at his adviser, "Because you stare at her the entire day and make her feel uncomfortable even when she is dancing with her own brother, you dolt!" He slammed his hand against the desk. Once he took a couple deep breaths to calm down, he returned to speak to Armand. "Remus will be dealt with after the tournament. I do not want him tipping off the Fox that we are on to him until such a public spectacle is behind us. Understood?"
They all nodded.
"Also, have someone check to see if my sister has a dress for the ball. I would hate for her to appear there in something below her station."
Armand didn't know when the Prince started trusting him more, but assumed that when it came to Lenore he was the one she trusted the most. Lenore loathed Enoch and seemed to fear Krius. That left only him to be the one to check on her.
---***---
"It is beautiful, Ophelia." Lenore looked at herself in the full length mirror. The dress that her friend had made for her fit perfectly and though it did not look like a normal ball dress, it was exactly what she had wanted.
Ophelia smiled widely and bounced slightly over to her. "Do you really like it?" She was wearing her own ball dress and also took the moment to check herself over in the mirror.
"I love it." She continued to examine herself in the mirror before turning to her friend and giving her a gentle hug. "This is the best dress that I have ever worn. Do you know why?"
She shook her head.
"Because you actually listened to what I wanted. The queen would always design my clothing, and I never got a dress I wanted. It was the way she wanted me to dress, and not the way I wanted to." Lenore hugged her friend again and then returned to the mirror.
"Has Authin asked you to the dance?" Ophelia's curiosity had to be satiated.
Lenore turned slightly to look at her. "No, did he say something about asking me?" She watched her friend shake her head once more. "It doesn't matter, I already have an escort."
"Who?"
"Byron, of course."
She didn't know why that seemed to be an obvious answer, but the Princess spoke it as if there was no other choice. "He isn't in your dancing class, is he?"
"No, we have not officially announced it as of yet, so shh."
Ophelia briefly smiled and gave a nod. "Is there any last minute adjustments that you want?"
Lenore began to move around in the dress. She twisted and began to dance around the small dorm room in order to see if the dress needed any alterations. Deciding that it was a good idea, Ophelia began to do the same until the two girls met in the center of the room. They held hands and began to dance together as Lenore hummed a song that was barely audible.
"I do believe my breath has been stolen." Remus appeared in the open doorway with Santh standing directly beside him. Anton peeked around the corner as he left Jolon alone in the other room.
Ophelia blushed, and put her hands to her face in embarrassment for being caught dancing with the princess. Lenore didn't bother to look ashamed, and simply reached out. Santh thought she was going to grab his hands, but instead took that of the commoner standing beside him.
"Remus, dance with Ophelia and Anton with me. We need to ensure our dresses are comfortable." Lenore pulled Anton into the center of the confined room.
"I do not know how to dance." Anton admitted as Lenore placed one of his hands on her hip and held the other.
"Then I shall lead." She informed him and they began to move around the room, but continued to stop in order to prevent themselves from bumping into furniture or the other dancing couple in the room.
Santh watched the scene unfold, and for a moment he felt like chuckling at how ridiculous the whole ordeal was. The four of them bouncing around the room unable to really dance at all, though he knew they couldn't go out in the dirt court or the dresses would become filthy. Even if there was no other place they could attempt this at the moment, he still wondered why they didn't go one at a time at the very least.
"Switch with me!" Ophelia laughed.
Remus spun Ophelia toward her new dancing partner, and Lenore simply walked over to him elegantly. "How rare a chance for a commoner such as myself to dance with a princess." He jested when they began to move around the room.
Lenore giggled, "You only consider yourself a commoner when the mood strikes you."
Anton and Ophelia laughed at the comment, and Santh was startled by the sound of another man laughing beside him. He turned to find Jolon standing next to him, watching the events unfold.
"Jolon! We can't leave Jolon out!" Ophelia shouted when she realized that he was standing in the hall. She left her partner and hurried over to Jolon to grab his hands before pulling him into the room.
"It's crowded enough, I think!" Jolon warned but soon found himself partnered with her and Anton moved out of the way to sit on the bed.
Santh could barely contain a smirk as he watched his friends dance about the room like fools, but even if they seemed ridiculous a part of him found it to be endearing while another part felt left out.
---***---
The next day, Lenore entered her dance class and began to look for her brother in the crowd of students. Everyone was standing with their partners as they waited for the instructor to arrive, they were all making small talk. A man waved at her from the crowd and she immediately recognized Authin who she knew had not been in the class the day before. A frown came to her lips, as she searched the room and found Lesatan had taken back his partner that he had passed onto Santh the day before, and another girl was standing with her dorm mate. She looked familiar and it took her a matter of moments until she knew that it was the girl that was dancing with Krius the day before.
Approaching her, Authin gave his best and most charming smile. "It appears that we are the only two without partners. Shall we?" He offered out his hand, but she did not take it.
"Why are you here? You weren't in the classroom yesterday. Where is Krius?" The suspicion was all too clear in her voice, and Authin internally cursed the Prince. He knew this was a certainty.
"Krius has asked me to switch with him. Apparently, there is a young lady in the arena class that has caught his attention. I just happened to be her partner, and therefore was the logical choice to ask." He continued to hold his hand out.
Across the room in the corner, Santh cocked his head as he could watch but not hear what was unfolding. He had also thought it was strange when he noticed Authin in place of the large adviser. Of course, things became more odd when Krius' partner was handed to him and Lesatan took back his own. Something was definitely afoot here, but he decided that it was none of his concern. The less he bothered to be part of her life, the easier it would be to remove himself completely.
Authin grabbed Lenore's hand and she pulled it from his grasp. "I find it hard to believe that Krius would turn his attention elsewhere. He nearly falls over himself trying to get into my good graces once more."
"Perhaps, he is done trying to make water into gold, and has chosen to move forward when it comes to matters of the heart." Annoyance covered his own heart, though it was toward the Prince and not the Princess. A woman with intellect like her own would easily began to see through the facade when they so blatantly ignore protocol. He could see all his work falling to ash before his eyes. He had tried to explain all this to the Prince, but the stubborn man refused to see reason.
Lesatan watched the on goings between his sister and her chosen suitor. He could see immediately that she had become suspicious the moment she entered the room.
"I was also thinking..." His partner to the dance could talk of nothing more than what she would wear and who she would socialize with. He knew she was only going with him because he was the Prince, and he was only taking her because she was attractive enough.
"Be silent." He warned her in a low growl as he tried to inch closer and to hear what was being said.
However, the instructor arrived. Lenore took Authin's offered hand, as the teacher began to give instructions on what they would be doing that day.
Authin knew the hours would be long, as Lenore was not in a mood to be toyed with. He knew when he needed to give a woman breathing room, and that was exactly what he planned to do.
---***---
The two commoners of the dorm arrived back to an empty dorm room. They were both covered in sweat as they had been practicing for the tournament, but found both of their mentors were unable to assist this week due to the dancing classes. It was difficult to practice without someone watching and explaining where they were going wrong, and both had become nervous over whether or not they were good enough to actually compete this time around.
Both grabbed cloths and headed down to the stream to wipe themselves down. Kneeling down beside the cool flowing water, they dipped their cloths and began to wipe away the sweat and dirt from their face and neck.
"Four days of this, and I already feel like we are living in an abandoned home." Anton started to wash his aching hands. Callouses were forming where he constantly had to pull the strings back.
Jolon gave a brief nod. "The dorm has been very silent lately. Even when they return they seem to be too exhausted to discuss any of the day's events. Routine barely studies at all, have you noticed?"
"I do not understand why they need to practice for such long stretches every day. Although, I will not complain about the slight vacation we receive after lunches." He stood up and began to walk back to the dorm with Jolon following behind him.
"In two days, the tournament begins. That is only three days long, then the ball, correct?" He didn't need his friend to confirm anything as he was already certain. "Five more days and then everything will return as it was."
"Five days seems so far away. I rather miss Ophelia's positive attitude even when we are studying, or Santh randomly shouting out the answers to a problem we are having after we have debated it for an hour." Anton chuckled.
Jolon smirked, "Remus attempting to sell us the answers, or Routine yelling at us to be silent as he is studying."
They entered Jolon's room and both sat down on the floor. Jolon leaned against Remus' bottom bunk, and Anton against Santh's own bed. They stretched out their legs and threw their heads back as they took a moment to relax. Their dorm mates would be returning soon, but they both found themselves bored.
After lunch, all they could do was study and both found it not worth the time to study after the allotted time. They both practiced as much as they could for the tournament, but there would come a time when neither of their bodies could continue on.
"Have you seen Saena since she left you that scarf?" Anton asked with his head still thrown back.
"No." Jolon answered and took a deep breath. "I thought she was one of the girls that brought the basins to our dorm, but she seems to have disappeared."
"Are you going to see her eventually? Thank her for the scarf?"
He was quiet for several seconds before answering. "I was thinking about what Lenore said, and she is right. I shouldn't give her any hopes. It might be for the best that I not see her again, after all it seems to me that she might believe we have something that I was not attempting to create."
Anton snorted, "Yes, you were. Don't play the fool. We both know you knew exactly what she wanted from you when she asked for you to visit her. Besides, what does it matter what Lenore thinks? Don't ever offer Saena more than you can give, and therefore it will never be a lie. She knows what your limits in the relationship are, and you can finally become a man."
Jolon lifted his head to look at his friend sitting across the room. "I have no interest in using her just so that I no longer have to be a virgin in your eyes."
"You are a virgin in everyone's eyes, Jolon."
He quickly kicked the taller man in the calf. Anton immediately reacted by kicking him back, and the two found themselves in a match. After a couple minutes, the boys kicked each other in the foot and came to stop as they both felt searing pain pass throw their bodies.
"Ugh, you bastard!" Anton barked.
"You kicked me too!" Jolon snapped back.
"What exactly was that?" Remus asked as he stood in the doorway of the dorm room, Santh looked on from behind him.
Routine entered his own room and didn't seem to care what the two had been up to.
"Jolon won't see Saena..." Anton began but it caused Jolon to jump up and cover his friend's entire face with his hands.
"Shut up. Shut up." He held onto the struggling man in his arms. "I swear I will crush your skull, Anton."
Anton may have been taller than his friend, but he was not stronger. He stopped struggling and waited for a few moments.
"Are you going to be quiet?" He felt Anton nod, and he realized him.
"Jolon is a virgin!" Anton shouted.
Pulling his arm back, Jolon punched him as hard as he could in the upper arm.
Anton fell over and clutched his arm as he chuckled. "I deserved that!" He laughed.
Remus looked over at Santh, who also seemed flabbergasted by the display. "Commoners, eh?"
---***---
"She is still following us." Armand told the Prince as they made their way through the crowd. While the groups of students parted for them, they gave very little room for the woman chasing after them.
The group of four hurried through the Royal Dorms' gate, and quickly made their way to the double doors of the estate. Guards open the doors for them, and they nearly ran up the stairs in hopes of getting to the study and locking themselves inside.
Making it without running into the one after them, Krius was the last one inside and locked the door. Lesatan sat down in his chair, and everyone else found a place to sit as well. Krius and Armand sat in front of the desk, while Enoch turned one of the chairs near the fire around. They were all slightly out of breath from their hurried steps.
"Are we honestly going to avoiding her like this? It has been three days now, and we only make ourselves look more suspicious." Armand leaned back on his seat.
Krius agreed. "Eventually, we will have to confront her. Besides, I do not see a reason why we should avoid her. She barely weighs anything, there is nothing to fear from her."
Lesatan was about to open his mouth to speak, when they all heard a window open. It caused heads to turn, and Lenore entered in through the window after climbing the four story tress up. Guards could be heard below demanding that she climb down. She shut the window behind her and rushed over to stand at the desk in front of her brother.
"Les! What are you attempting to do?" She slammed her hand down on the desk and breathed heavily due to her chase. "I have been trying to speak with you for nearly three days now, and you keep avoiding me!"
Lesatan cleared his throat and was about to inform her that he was not to be spoken to with such familiarity, but she interrupted already knowing he would avoid the answer.
"Quite elaborately, I might add. How much did you pay that boy yesterday to shove me into the bushes and have a terrible time of helping me out?" She looked around the room at the others, and it was Enoch who gave the guilt away by lowering his head and rubbing the back of his neck. Lenore took a deep breath, "Very well, that is not the reason I am here, so no matter." She turned her attention back to her brother. "Why have you put Krius in the lower class and brought Authin in? Are you attempting to create a match between us?"
"I can explain. You see..."
"Be silent, Krius!" Lenore yelled at the top of her lungs, demonstrating behaviors much like her own brother. "When I wish to hear you speak, I will direct my questions to you until then return to your seat and remain silent!"
Krius looked at the Prince with shock in his eyes, and Lesatan waved for him to sit down. When Krius sat, Lesatan began to laugh. "I believe there was a misunderstanding."
She raised both her eyebrows, "Excuse me?"
"Had I known this was about that lowly Royal, I would never have tried to elude you. I truly believed that you heard the news." He continued to grin in hopes that he could fool his sister.
"News? What news?"
"My mother is coming to the tournament, and since you are participating, she will, of course, have plans to dress you and see you around the campus." He giggled and looked to the others to chuckle as well, they took a moment to take the hint but soon began to follow his instructions.
Lenore threw her hands up in the air and they quickly fell back to her side. "Why?" She shouted which startled all the men in the room despite her earlier outburst. "Why does she not leave well enough alone? She has showed me off quiet enough. Everyone believes she is the greatest step-mother who ever lived! Enough already!" She shook her head when she realized that her brother had pulled her off course. "Wait, what of Authin?"
"What of him? Krius asked him to change classes with him, so that he could be with the girl of his choosing. Do you honestly believe I would offer your hand to such a lowly Royal? He would offer me nothing as your suitor."
She watched her brother's face for several moments, "Les, if I discover you are lying to me, I will personally make it my mission to find the ugliest woman in all the lands and ensure that your mother can not say no to the arrangement due to the incredible amount of gold, power, or what have you. The offer will be far too tempting. Do you understand?"
He continued to grin, "I understand. Now, be off with you."
When the door shut after his sister stepped out, Lesatan turned to his advisers. "Authin must be warned not to betray me in this matter... or else."
---***---
Remus met Ophelia by the East Gate after she had helped deliver her supplies to the stall. She was carrying her shoes in her hands and allowing her aching feet to step in every muddy puddle she could come across. Of course, Remus was certain most of those puddles were from horses not the light showers they were having lately. He didn't have the heart to tell her however, as in those moments she looked defeated though he didn't know by what.
"Everything go well?" He asked as she stepped through the gates and took her shoes from her.
She nodded her head as they moved away from the guards to keep them from overhearing. "It is all stocked and ready for tomorrow. My mother sent word that the money is helping her pay off a great deal of debts, and she wanted me to thank you personally for helping us."
He watched her for a moment as they walked back to the dorm. "Tell me what ails you, Lady Romanus?"
She shrugged her shoulders and sighed deeply. "I just hope that my mother isn't being over worked by all this. I would hate to think of her working herself to the bone in order to make extra money for me."
"It's for her as well." He reminded and came to a stop. The paths were clear now that it was close to roll call, so he was able to turn her to face him without worry of students bothering them. "I have already informed her that if things become too much for her, I can send more support or we can end the operation entirely. You needn't worry about your mother, I have already made it my priority."
She smiled gently, though some sadness remained in her eyes. "Thank you, Remus."
"Do you realize that if I were to marry you and take your last name that I would be Remus Romanus?"
Ophelia's eyes blinked several times as she tried to wrap her mind around what he was talking about. A smile slowly appeared on her face as she giggled. "That would be odd."
"When you get your father's title back and if then you married Routine, he would be Baron Byron." Remus grinned.
She giggled slightly more heavily. "Baron Byron." She spoke the title out loud which only made her chuckle even more.
A smile came to his face as he watched her bend over with laughter. "I can not conceive anymore out of our group."
Her laughter slowly came to a stop and she stood up with a smile still on her lips. "Thank you, Remus. I needed some humor in my day."
"My pleasure." He held out his arm for her to take and they continued back down the path to their dorm.
"I am worried about what people will say about you if you escort me to the ball. I already hear whispers, and none of them speak of you in a positive light."
"Ah, is that the truth of the matter then?" He could see her nod her head out of the corner of his eye. "People speak of me often and it is not always with an approving tone, but alas I do lend myself to such scrutiny." He pat her hand that was resting on his arm. "Never you mind, what others say. If I so desperately needed their approval then I wouldn't have asked you to begin with. Always remember this, when you take back your father's title, those same people that speak down to you now will be begging for your approval. Their small, weak minds are short sighted and they fail to see a woman of title and repute before them."
Ophelia softly smiled at his words.
"Also, in the future I will be the one standing between them and the Merchant Guild leader, they should watch the lies they spout lest they pay later in life."
She giggled gently and briefly laid her head on his shoulder, as they arrived at the dirt path that would lead them home. "Remus?" She came to a stop before him.
He raised his eyebrows in response.
"There is one more issue that has me bothered, may I speak to you of it?"
He smirked, "What is one more?"
"There are rumors that a girl named Krine will be escorted by Santh to the ball, and Lenore told me that Routine is taking her."
Remus looked impressed, "Ophelia, you are well connected, aren't you?" He jested before he gave any true answer. "Yes, Krine Ricacalen will attend the ball with Santh. It will be their first meeting in truth. Of course, Lenore appearing beside Routine is no surprise, though I had not heard of it yet. Their illusory relationship does appear to be eerily close, does it not?"
"Illusory? Are you suggesting their relationship is a deception?"
He pressed his lips together for a couple moments as he carefully thought of his next words. "Their relationship has an oddity to it, something... not genuine. I could not explain what the oddness is, but only point to it's existence." He waved his hand in front of his face, "No matter, why did you ask after Santh's and Lenore's partners?"
"I worry for the two of them. Santh obviously feels for her, and there are times when I believe Lenore feels for him. However, they seem to have been angry with each other since Santh hit Authin. They..."
Remus cut her sentence off. "Ophelia, the two have been dancing this dance long before you arrived in our merry band. You must allow them to finish it between them, after all you can't waltz with a third."
---***---
When Ophelia and Remus approached the dorm, Authin was standing in the dirt court. He gave a brief wave to them and then returned his attention to the dorm where he seemed to be waiting for someone. The Princess was the obvious choice.
Santh and Jolon were standing in the hallway with their arms crossed, and Anton was still on the steps as they were all waiting for the Mondues to appear for roll call. Lenore stepped through the two men and looked down at the man standing before her in the court.
"Authin, roll call is about to begin. Hurry back to your dorm." She warned him much to the surprise of the rest of the dorm, though she hadn't missed a single roll call since she discovered the truth of their anger toward her.
"This will take but a moment of your time, Princess." He stepped up on stair and took her head. "Princess Lenore would you do me the great honor of attending the ball with me?"
Ophelia was about to tell him that Routine was taking her friend, but Remus put his index finger to his lips to inform her to be quiet as this was not her place. Anton and Jolon were both certain that the Princess would agree, while Santh attempted to look disassociated but within his mind he was nearly begging her to not go with the little weasel.
"I am sorry, Authin, but I have already been asked to attend with another. I am afraid you have simply waited too long." Lenore informed him.
Authin looked shocked by her rejection. "Another?"
She gave a firm nod, "Byron Nicoletti will be my escort. Certainly, you must have suspected that I, the Princess, would have multiple suitors ask me to attend. Why you would wait this long seems to be a ploy on your end? Perhaps, you thought I would wait with baited breath in hopes you would ask after me?"
"No, of course, not. I had to gather my courage to ask."
She snorted, "No man fearful of rejection would ask a woman in front of her friends. I take it that you are without a partner for the ball then?"
"I fear so."
"You needn't worry. Byron's sister has been looking for someone to escort her. As you know, it is a privilege to take the equivalent of a princess of the Souchan Guild to the dance." She watched him nod. "Very well, I will inform her. Now, please excuse yourself, roll call begins and I would not appreciate it if our dorm lost points because we have an authorized guest."
Authin looked as if he wasn't quite certain what had just occurred and began to walk down the dirt path without even looking back. He barely made eye contact with Ophelia and Remus who were still standing at the path's mouth.
Routine stepped out of his room, "Do my ears deceive me? You have assigned my sister to be a sacrifice to that philanderer?" He came to stand in front of her as the others looked on.
"I made it clear enough that he will be with a woman of prestige, Byron. Besides, you give your sister too little credit, as there is a reason many fear to approach her. Not even I am as menacing as she is, and it certainly is difficult to be more intimidating to a man than a woman with the highest title in land next to the married Queen." Lenore adjusted his collar on his shirt as she spoke.
Routine did not looked pleased by this decision, but he didn't want to argue with her. After all, he had no true intention of finding his sister an escort, at the very least he was able to have Lenore take over the task that he purposely procrastinated with.
Lenore noticed Santh still standing in the hallway with his arms crossed, but there was a slight smirk on his lips. "I hear you are taking Krine to the ball, Santh."
His smile quickly faded and he turned his attention to Remus, who had made his way to stand in front of the dorm with Ophelia.
"I said nothing." Remus immediately informed him.
Lenore chuckled, "You must remember that girls speak often amongst themselves, and then about others even when the woman is of no consequence to them."
"Roll call!" The man yelled from down the path and they all hurried to line up.