BRADEN CONTINUED playing me for several days. I really hoped that he covered up his Albannanise accent. He sounded like me enough and was about my height; he would be fine as long as he kept his eyes down. A few hours after we had established a plan, we put it into action. Braden went to Kieser’s room and knocked on the door, me trailing him to make sure everything went smoothly. Braden looked down a moment before Kieser answered the door. “Vigilius,” Kieser said. “I’ve been thinking,” Braden said, hiding his accent rather well. “And I’ve come to the conclusion that I have been a selfish brute.” There was a look of satisfaction on Kieser’s face. “Good.” “I just wanted to say, that whatever you want to do with me, you can do.” Kieser nodded. “Very well, come inside.” I wasn’t able to hear the rest of their conversation, but several minutes later, Peter entered the room, momentarily opening the door on Kieser and Braden’s conversation. Kieser promptly closed the door the moment Peter was through the door. They chatted for a while, and a few minutes later, muffled screams slid through the cracks around the door. I panicked, but stayed hidden behind a tapestry conveniently hanging across the hall from Kieser’s door. Seconds after, everyone emerged from the door. Braden was looking down, but shot me a glance to let me know he was alright. There was an odd look of fear in his eyes. I wished he could tell me what, but it was better for him to continue playing into their hands. I could swear, Kieser looked straight through the tapestry at me, and knew instantly he had a fake. “This way, Vigilius,” Peter said, leading the group down the hall. I decided to stop following them, knowing that it would be hard to hide from them the rest of the way to… wherever they were going. I waited several minutes until I could hear their feet clomping down the stairs, and started out myself. “Gee, I hope Braden can keep up this act!” I whispered to myself as I walked slowly down the stairs. I walked straight to my room rather than following the rest of the group who turned right at the end of the stairs. I could hear their solemn voices whispering instructions to Braden. I was incredibly grateful that I wasn’t in Braden’s shoes. I heaved a sigh of relief as I flopped onto my bed, a haze of grime rising up from the sheets. I coughed, and fell asleep. The next Saturday was the day of the Servant’s Ball. I still didn’t have anyone to go with. I knew I had to go to see Hana again, and maybe dance with her a few times to see how it feels. My mother had made me take dance lessons because, as she said, “Some princess will like a man who can dance.” The only problem with her statement was that I didn’t want a princess! I just wanted Hana. I had a flashback to the conversation Hana and I had. “I also wanted to tell you that some girls were whispering about you in the hallways. It seems as though they really like you.” That was a good thought. Maybe if I asked one of them to go, I can steal a dance or two with Hana. Maybe I could even tell her how big of a jerk her beau was and put him in the right place! Then she’ll fall instantly for me, and I’ll run away from the palace, and never tell her the truth. That last thought was horrible. I didn’t want to keep her from that. If we were going to have to be able to trust each other, I’d have to tell her the truth sometime or another. Then I could run away and do whatever I want. I heard a cloud of high-pitched giggles coming from the other end of the hallway I was standing in. A crusade of girls turned round the corner, their laughter dying as they took in that I was standing there. “Hi,” one of them said to me. I eyed them cautiously, and answered. “Hello,” “Do you have a belle yet?” I suddenly was stricken with fear. “No,” I answered timidly, afraid of what she would respond like. “Excellent! Do you want to go to the servant’s ball with me?” My thoughts ran wild. No, I only wanted to go with Hana! Yes, I wanted to go to be able to see her, and take a few dances! “Uh… sure?” Her grin spread wider. “Good. Pick me up in my room at 6:55.” “Fine.” It’s for Hana, it’s for Hana, it’s for Hana. I chanted in my mind. That was the only way I could be comfortable with this. Where is her room? I decided to ask Zarola between now and the ball. Back in my room, I tried to decide what I could possibly wear to the ball. I skimmed through the stuffy suits, deciding on my three favorites; a deep blue waistcoat with matching bloomers, embroidered with silvery swirls, with black shoes, a dark green waistcoat with slightly darker pants, embroidered with a bright gold, and a black one, embroidered with more black, but with scattered sapphires inset in the elaborate pattern.
Read ^ First! --------------------------------------------------------------------- I speculated what Peter might be wearing, and how I might be able to upset him by wearing something much grander. But I couldn’t do that, it would make it hard to continue hiding from him ― not that I was frightened of course. The time of the ball soon came. I decided on the black suit, figuring that it would go with whatever Hana ― I mean, whoever I was going with ― decided to wear. “Don’t you look spiffy,” the girl commented when I knocked on her door after many hours of painstakingly searching for Zarola to learn where her room was. I nodded, gulping the bile that had rised in my throat, bidding it to stay down. “So do you.” That was a lie. Her hair was messily put up halfway, leaving most of her straight blonde hair dangling just below her shoulders. She was dressed boldly in pink and gold, her dress bowling in front of her, at least an inch too large. “Thank you,” she mussed. “You’re supposed to offer me your arm, you know.” she pouted. I awkwardly held my arm out, and she took it, giving happy chatter the rest of the way to the great hall. I smiled and nodded when necessary, but kept mostly to myself. We arrived in the hall a minute late, but nobody noticed. Everyone was already packed in it, though there weren’t very many people. Kieser stood up to give an announcement in the middle of the dance. I trailed her by several steps, trembling. My eyes grazed the small crowd for Hana. I smiled when my gaze met hers. The pale yellow she was dressed in brought out her smile nicely. I sighed, glancing at my partner, already making her way to the punchbowl. My gaze rested on Peter when I looked back. I hurriedly rushed after the girl, not wanting to be recognized, instantly giving Braden away. Luckily, he was too busy looking at Hana, a slight look of hatred in his eyes. I just knew it! He was being forced into her. ------------------------------------------------------------------- *coughs* CLIFFHANGER >:) L O L just wait. I'm already done with the next few chapters (all the way up to 27). I'm pushing my 30s. Hopefully most of the plot will come through soon. -OREO
