"Gracious heavens!" exclaimed the ladies, "Pray tell, Lady Mirabel, is it true?"
Mira flushed lightly waving her hand in modest denial. "Heavens, no, lady Charlotte. I....I could never claim such credit. The true inspiration came from Her Highness, the Princess herself."
Eli, who had been listening until now, blinked in surprise. "W-what? Me? How so?"
Mirabel smiled sweetly. "Do you not recall, Your Highness? Few weeks ago, you spoke in passing of how lovely it would be if people could meet without titles or burdens. 'A night where masks could level crowns,' you said. I suppose the notion never quite left me."
"Ah… yes. Now that you mention it, I do recall it...Mira." Eli let out a soft laugh that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Me and my big mouth," she mumbled under her breath remembering the day she had foolishly tried to impress the viscountess during her philosophy lesson.
Another lady chimed in, "Oh! I had the pleasure of dancing with a few rather handsome gentlemen. How I long to know who they truly were!"
"How do you know they were handsome if they wore masks?" lady Charlotte teased arching her brow behind her fan.
"Why, Lady Charlotte. It was in their manner, of course," the first replied with a knowing smile. "Grace needs no face."
After the soft ripple of laughter died down Countess Virren leaned forward conspiratorially. "On the subject of the dance… tell me, have any of you heard of the pair dressed in black and silver with feathered mask? It seems the entire court has yet to stop talking about them."
"I heard the lady wore white," Lady Mirabel remarked. At that, Talia's eyes flicked toward Eli.
Eli said nothing, though a flicker of tension crossed her face and her fingers stilled around the edge of her parasol. Instead, she glanced toward her maid, Talia; the only one among them who knew she had worn silver-white.
Talia met her gaze with a look that said, what have you done this time, Your Highness?
Eli closed her fan and lifted it lightly pressing it against her lips using it in place of a finger as a gesture for hush and as a silent plea.
Do not say a word, she thought desperately. Talia, believe me. I did nothing, if not for that man…
Countess Virren clasped her hands together breaking her line of thoughts. "Indeed, their dance was nothing short of breathtaking. I have never seen such grace. I was waltzing with my husband yet even I had to pause to behold them."
"Some say they were a couple. Whaaa.... so romantic!"
Cough-Cough-! Eli let out a startled cough, nearly choking herself after hearing the remark. Mirabel turned toward her with concern. "Your Highness, are you quite well?"
Eli's smiled, tightened.
Romantic, my foot, she thought bitterly. Because of that silver masked black-clad bastard, I had to dance with half the ballroom and then Mother's escort found me. My body still aches from all that 'romance.'
"Oh, yes, quite fine," Eli spluttered out a few more cough before replying under Talia's suspicious gaze. "And really who has been saying they were a couple? I hardly think that's the case."
"Oh, but Your Highness, the way they moved, so attuned to one another. Such harmony can only exist between true partners!"
"Yes, yes! Precisely so!" some nodded in earnest agreement.
Ladies, please ..... chatter less, I beg you, Eli lamented inwardly. If even a whisper of scandal arises, Talia will have my head. I am certain she already has a hundred questions prepared for me by sunset.
Countess Virren sighed. "Have you ever witnessed such a dance before? It was unlike any I've seen; Does it even have a name, I wonder?"
Lady Charlotte shook her head. "Never, Countess Virren. It was mesmerizing. Everyone was spellbound."
Another lady leaned forward in curious sparking. "Your Highness, may I ask, what were you wearing last night? No one seemed to catch even a glimpse of you."
"Ah, I wore yellow… yes, yellow,"
As the ladies murmured approvingly Eli hid a sigh behind her fan and silently thanked the heavens for granting her foresight for the last minute idea to wear that black wig to make the silver stand out more brightly, she mused. Had I not, they'd have uncovered me in an instant.
As the laughter softened into murmurs, the conversation turned once more this time toward the mysterious man in black. Lady Charlotte lifted her chin and inquired. "Pray, do any among you happen to know who he was? There was something most striking about him."
Eli looked at the water, the lake threw her reflection back at her which trembled between sunlight and waves. Who indeed… she thought before biting back another muttered curse.
Countess Virren added. "One might almost think him a foreign dignitary, for no gentleman of our court moves with such mannered ease."
Gentleman? she thought bitterly. That muscle-bound scoundrel knew perfectly well I didn't wish to dance and yet I had to stumble before him not once, but twice. How mortifying. And that scoff of his….... I'm certain he was laughing at me inwardly.
As the other ladies continued their lively chatter about the mysterious stranger and his supposed charms, Eli sighed softly.
I'll never tell Mirabel the truth, she resolved inwardly. If she knew, they'd turn this whole fiasco into another one of the Princess's "notable achievements." And there is no doubt, that the Queen will begin her search for suitors for her daughter now that Callisto is to be wed.
Her fan tapped lightly against her knee. No, it's better to make my quiet exit from this little simulation before any of that begins.
All the while, the sun continued to beam from above as the beautiful scent of flowers added to the charm of the cool spring atmosphere as they continued to chatter but far away in the princess's now-empty chamber a low purring voice broke the stillness.
"Full access acquired."
In the next breath. a flash of light rippled through the room and the little fox plush that had been sitting neatly upon the chair vanished without a trace.
***
The smell hit him first; with the comforting scent of roasted meat, baked bread, mulled wine, and a brave amount of smoke the air was thick with warmth, laughter, and the faint hum of a lute struggling to be heard over it all. Servers weaved swiftly through the crowd balancing trays of mugs and steaming dishes.
At last, Dracye found himself a vacant space by the wall near the counter. He lowered himself onto a bench which creaked under his weight. A mug of ale thudded before him and he raised a brow at the speed of service.
"Well now," he drawled as he set a coin on the table "Quick hands, eh?"
"Aye, sharp an' clean; if the coin's and the view's good." the serving girl said blushing and pocketing the coin.
"Then.... ye best fetch me somethin' to match it. Boar, roasted."
"C'min' right up," she replied already vanishing into the bustle.
The inn was crowded for a place this far off the road. Firelight flickering across mismatched furniture and uneven floorboards was needed, even though the afternoon sun still burned outside due to meagre inlet of natural light. Long tables meant for six now seated a dozen; travelers from every corner of the realm sat there pressing shoulder to shoulder. Every inn was swollen with the crowd drawn by the grand festivities in the capital.
Moments later a plate was set before him. Dracye ate in unhurried motions while his sharp gaze drifted now and then toward the owner behind the counter; the true reason of why he was here.
Flyers were everywhere in the capital and even in this inn they were pinned crooked on wooden beams, plastered beside windows, one was even tucked under a mug as a makeshift coaster. A rough charcoal sketch of a man's face; beaten, bruised, yet smiling stared back from them.
Beneath it, the words read:
CRIMINAL TO BE EXECUTED : IN TWO DAYS.
Attack upon Her Highness, the Princess; apprehended by Her own hand.
To be hanged till death. At Public Square, rear quarters of the Capital. By order of the Royal Guard and His Majesty's decree.
"Let all loyal subjects bear witness — no enemy shall be spared."
END.
"Ain't right t' do it quiet," a man muttered near the hearth. "Should be a public hangin'! Let the folk spit on the bastard."
"Eh, not wi' all them ball festivities still goin'," someone else grumbled. "Too much cheer 'round the capital. Hangin's bad luck, that's what the temple priests say."
"They should've done it days ago," another snorted. "What kinda animal lays hands on the princess?"
"Bandits, they say! Her carriage got caught out past the eastern ridge. He were runnin' with a whole pack o' them. Two o' our brave men died."
"Aye," another bearded man piped up puffing his chest. "Should've been me on that route. I'd have cut the bastard down m'self! Maybe then I would have got an invite t' that grand masquerade everyone's jawin' about.... might've had me a dance wi' the princess, eh?"