The kingdom sparkled with candles lit in windows of homes, night was upon it. Carriages, for those who had them, passed through the streets, making their way to the castle, which towered in the distance. From the gates to the doors, guards were stood at equal distances either side of the path way, lighting it for both drivers and those on foot. They looked smart and uniform, and there was little to distinguish one from the next, not that many would be looking at them. At the doorway, guests were greeted and announced to the hall, where a dance was already in swing. At the far end from the steps which allowed access to the room, were 2 occupied thrones, which were that of the queen and the king, both smiling kindly as they watched the merriment. If anyone was looking closely, they would have seen Edward, the eldest crowned prince, dancing away with a striking dark beauty, who was obviously pleased to be the current center of attention. The only other royal child visible was Princess Avril, dressed in a pretty blue dress and talking to several young men. Anyone who knew her could tell she was little interested and looking for a polite way to excuse herself. The last of the royal children, though he was not a child any longer, was not visible. Stephen, quiet and shy, was absent, but there were many places someone like his was likely to seek refuge.
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Alessandra Kent, only daughter of Baron Peter and the late Baroness Calista Kent, stepped out of her horse drawn carriage. Unlike most, she took the time to stop and thank both the footman who assisted her and the driver of her carriage. At her gratitude, both men rewarded her with their smiles.
A smile still lighting up her face, she turned towards the castle. The colors were vibrant and the people all around her buzzed with excitement. She looked around. To her right was an elegantly dressed couple. The woman looked regal in her beige gown while the man looked sharp in his white suit. To her left were a couple of giggling young women, each of them wearing the same dress design but in different vibrant colors. Alessandra, herself, was wearing a pretty white and lavender dress with Juliet sleeves and a sweep train. Small embroidered flowers dot the dress from the waist band down to the train. It was a dress that belonged to her mother.
A dark haired man with soft wrinkles around his bright blue eyes alit the carriage and offered his arm to Alessandra.
Alessandra gladly took her father's arm and looked up at him. Despite the wrinkles and the occasional white hair, Baron Peter Kent still looked younger than his age. Wearing a suit decorated with the family crest, he looked regal and dashing. He smiled back at his daughter and patted her hand. She reached down and raised her skirt a bit and father and daughter made their way up the stairs.
At the door, they were welcomed, announced and ushered into the ballroom.
GM
The dancers moved in neat circles, so the only way to pass was to dodge between them or to skirt the edge.
Men and women chatted to each other as they watched the dancers, some begging for a partner, others just mingling. The parties at the palace were always well attended and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
A couple flashed past them, the girl giving a giggle as she was swept past a little faster than needed. Prince Edward, her partner, was clearly enjoying himself. He didn't seem to notice Alessandra, only having eyes for the occupant of his arms.
However, someone seemed to have spotted her.
Avril had ducked her suitors and made her way to them, giving a curtsy as she reached them.
"I'm so pleased to see you," she said to Alessandra, taking her hands in hers. "I need to be saved."
Behind her, the males who had been talking to her had stayed where they were, though they eyes both girls with interest.
"Please, let me take you to mother" she said, leading the way across the floor, where the dancers had stopped to applaud the musicians as the song stopped.
They approached the throne and Avril gave her mother and father a sweet smile.
The Queen stood, looking pleased to see them, stepping forward and nodding to the Baron before kissing her god daughter. As far as Queen Catherine was concerned, the girl was practically her niece, she and her mother being so close, God rest her soul.
"My darling," she said warmly. "How wonderful it is to see you."
Alessandra scanned the huge room to look for familiar faces. She saw Prince Edward on the dance floor, oblivious to the rest of thew world as he danced with a beautiful woman. Alessandra didn't care too much about him. She had tried to chat with him several times but he had always been distracted. The third time they had been together in a party, he had left her in the middle of a sentence to flirt with a pretty Asian girl.
The second prince was nowhere in sight. Stephen was quiet and shy and often times preferred a quiet garden to a ball like the one she had been invited to. She looked towards the thrones. She would have to greet the king and queen before she could go and try to find the missing Prince.
When Alessandra spotted Avril, the young princess was already on her way towards her, leaving behind several young men staring after her. No doubt they were possible suitors she couldn't wait to escape from. "It's good to see you too, Princess." She chuckled at the obvious look of relief the younger girl gave her. She let her lead her and her father towards the royal couple.
The baron greeted both king and queen and then promptly excused himself, leaving Alessandra to give her greeting. She curtsied politely to the royal couple and then smiled widely when the Queen came forward and kissed her. Although the regal woman didn't resemble her mother, looking at her made Alessandra remember the late Baroness. "It is wonderful to be here, my Queen." She answered.
GM
The Queem gave a hearty laugh as her god daughter spoke.
"I've told you before about that nonsense," she mock scolded. "Darling, you are so formal. I know this is a party but don't you ever forget who you are."
Her eyes stared into hers, as if trying to impose on her the will to understand that, to her, she was an equal.
"You do look so lovely," she said as she stepped back to admire her. "I dare say many young men here may ask you to dance. And quite right too, for no one is more lovely than you and Avril."
The Queen gave her daughter a smile and then a sigh.
"I should not detain you," she said, returning to her seat. "The young should be enjoying themselves, not wasting time with me. You can see me anytime, and there are beau's waiting to be admired and heartbroken."
Avril blushed at this idea but the Queen seemed not to notice.
"Go on, you two," she said to encourage them. "Enjoy."
Avril gave a slight bob, then moved away to the side to await Alessandra. The last thing she wanted was to be left alone again.
Alessandra smiled and nodded at the Queen's word. Although she couldn't think of how else to address her at a formal event. Calling her aunt seemed impolite especially within the hearing range of people she barely knew. But to make up for it, she closed the small distance between them and enveloped the older lady in a big warm hug.
The hug gave Alessandra a nice fuzzy feeling. The perfume the Queen was wearing had the same scent as the one at home, on her mother's vanity table. It was easy to imagine that it was her own mother holding her when she closed her eyes. And for a moment, she did. She tried picturing her mother's face. She had been staring at her old photos so often that it wasn't difficult even though she had never met the woman who gave birth to her.
A few more seconds and she stepped back, smiling sheepishly at the queen for indulging herself too much. When the older woman complemented her, she smiled. "This dress belonged to my mother." She said, running a hand lovingly over the emroidered flowers decorating the waist of the dress.
When she was encouraged to enjoy the ball, she curtsied to the royal couple and joined Avril. "So, the boys that were hanging around you earlier were that boring?" She whispered to Avril, an amused look on her face.
GM
Avril's pulled a face at her friend, before giving a smile.
"I just don't understand why they have to come in groups. It's so.... off putting," she said, shaking her head. "They have the confidence to talk to me only if their friends are there, and how do you get to know someone when his 3 friends are also trying to talk to you."
Avril didn't like being cornered by boys, which was why she was so often in the company of her brother Stephen, as he seemed to put them off coming over. Stephen wasn't scary, but when he was near her the rest stayed away. She'd already lost him in the party. Avril's idea of the perfect man, or at least her dream, consisted of masks in ballrooms and a white horse. She wanted to be swept off her feet, or at least have 1 person take an interest in her without seeing the crown.
She didn't want these boys.
"You look wonderful," she said to her friend, giving her a happy smile. "I am so pleased you are here. I was worried I would not see a single friendly face."
She looked around the room.
"But enough about me," Avril added. "What about you? Anyone turned your head?"
Around the room, the long doors were open to the warm night, allowing a little cool breeze in. There was only a one balcony, up a set of stairs and around the gallery slightly. People were in the gallery, but the balcony was pleasantly quiet with only 2 figures on it, one leaning on the frame and staring out over the lights of the city, the other against the wall, looking partly at attention.
It was a good view to watch the arrival of people, but it was nice just to look out across everything. Both figures wore black, one being the uniform of the guards, and the other a fine set of clothes.
"It's a nice night," said the guard, looking at his Prince's back.
"It is," said Stephen, with a little warmth to the voice. "Are you and the rest of the men to stand on duty all night?"
"Until given leave," said the guard, the looked somewhat more relaxed. "But I'm one of the lucky ones. I might be posted on my own, but it's a good view."
He'd known the Prince before today, having met him whilst he was visiting the barracks. They'd formed conversation and he was surprised to find he rather liked him. The Prince didn't except ceremony and seemed more himself when in the barracks.
"Well, for now atleast, you aren't alone," said Stephen, turning his head to give him a rare smile.
The guard, whose name was Hiro, moved to the Prince's side, and there they stood, looking at the lights in the distance.
Alessandra nodded in agreement at Avril's words. Boys in a ball like the one they were in do tend to flock together. "I suppose the boys have a streak of shyness in them as well." She shrugged and chuckled when her eyes fell on the group who had been surrounding the princess earlier. They were all looking towards both girls. Averting her eyes, she turned her attention to Avril's compliment. "Thank you. You look fantastic yourself." She grinned and then began scanning the dance floor.
"...Anyone turned your head?"
Funny how Alessandra's eyes fell on Edward when his younger sister asked the question. But the prince was busy. He was still engrossed in the woman in his arms as he twirled and swept her across the room. He was, undoubtedly, one of the exceptionally handsome men in the room and several women stared as he danced, their eyes openly envying his partner.
Alessandra realized she was doing exactly the same thing the envious women were doing. She almost laughed out aloud.
"No, not really." Alessandra answered, taking her eyes off the eldest royal son. This time, she looked around in search for a particular face. "Where's Stephen?" She asked when she couldn't find him.
GM
Avril’s eyes followed hers and she smiled at Edward.
“He loves to dance,” she commented, but at her friend’s next words, she frowned.
“I lost Stephen earlier,” she admitted, looking around as if he’d suddenly appear. “You know what he’s like. Probably gone to find somewhere quiet.”
She linked her arm through her friend’s with a grin, “shall we go try and find him?”
She avoided any larger than 2 groups of males, and they made their way around the room. The problem was that Stephen could hide very well. It was a talent.
“My lady,” said a well dressed servant to each of them, offering refreshments on a tray.
“Have you seen my brother, Presley?” she said as she took them.
Since Edward was hard to miss, the servant knew immediately which she was looking for.
“I believe Prince Stephen is taking the night air,” the man said with a bow.
Avril’s eyes looked to the balcony entrance.
“Of course, thank you, Presley,” she said with a sweet smile, changing their direction to the stairs that would lead to the balcony.
“Are you coming tomorrow?” Hiro asked Stephen, his gate somewhat relaxed.
“I will certainly try. I believe Edward intends to hunt. I’ll come down during their preparations.”
Hiro didn't ask why Stephen wasn't joining this escapade. He knew why, because it had been a previous topic of conversation.
“Does the Queen know you sometimes….”
“Mother has flowers to tend,” Stephen said simply. “She doesn't say anything so I doubt she minds. Are you still okay with it?”
Stephen turned his head to look at Hiro.
“You aren't under any obligation,” he said, turning to the other. “If you don’t want….”
Hiro had been surprised by the words, which was why he hadn't responded straight away.
“You’re always welcome,” he interrupted, which would be an uncommon act for a guard to do. Had his general heard, he probably would have received punishment. “Beside, it’s good for you to get some air from time to time.”
Alessandra agreed readily when the princess suggested they go find the second born prince. Like him, she preferred a quiet place. Yet being a female, enjoyed the occasional party and the chance of dressing up and looking pretty. As they weaved in and out of the crowd, she spotted a brown haired boy with spectacles and numerous freckles on his nose. Seeing him, her pace quickened.
It was Lambert Greyson, son of her father's acquaintance. Several times, he had called upon her at home, bringing her chocolates, flowers and fancy baubles. Along with the expensive gifts were his grand stories. Every single visit consisted of him bragging about his many accomplishments. It bore her to no end but each time she politely listened and gave small comments whenever appropriate. But maybe tolerating it gave the boy the false belief that she enjoyed the company and the stories. Seeinh him make his way towards her now gave her the urgency to get away as fast as she could.
When the servant directed them to the balcony, Alessandra hurried towards the stairs. "Hurry." She whispered to Avril urgently.
GM
Avril was surprised by her friend's tone, but didn't look around to see what had caused it. Possible excitement at seeing her brother? She could but hope, but it was something they hadn't discussed, though they had discussed much else.
Moving with some speed and giving a giggle, they reached the doors to see the two figures on the balcony, their backs to them. They were similar in build and in the light it was hard to tell the difference.
"Oh," said her alarm when she realized Stephen wasn't alarm, which caused both young men to turn around, revealing her brother and a young man she'd never met.
Hiro blushed somewhat and mumbled something that was most likely "your highness," as he gave a quick bow and hastily returned to his post. Avril couldn't help but watch him, then realized she was doing so when he looked at her and quickly looked away, approaching Stephen.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
Stephen's smile was soft but on sight of Alessandra he seemed to become a rigid, surprise on his face.
"Lady Kent," he said, giving a stiff bow, causing Avril to give him a shake of the head.
"You know she's Alessandra," she said teasingly.
His cheeks flushed a little and he looked away.
"We came to find you," she said, looking at Alessandra to get some encouragement. "Why are you hiding up here?"
She found herself glancing over to Hiro, who immediately averted his eyes.
"I'm not hiding," he said, his voice kind but still a little stiff. "Allow me to introduce you. Lady Kent, Avril, this is Hiro. Hiro, this is Princess Avril, my sister, and her good friend Lady Alessandra Kent."
The young man gave a deep bow but didn't say something. Clearly he was embarrassed, and what was more, Avril seemed to be too.
"I think you should ask Alessandra to dance," she said quickly, like it had fallen out of her mouth. "It's a ball, not hide and seek."
Alessandra looked relieved when she and Avril was finally out of the balcony and away from the grand ballroom. She glanced back, making sure Lambert didn't follow them and when she saw that he was nowhere on sight, instantly felt silly and a little guilty about how she had avoided the boy. Grinning sheepishly, she turned back and saw two figures on the balcony with their backs turned. When Avril spoke up, the two men turned. The man who appeared to be a guard hurried back to his post, a pink tinge coloring his cheeks. Stephen, on the other hand, looked uncomfortable upon noticing her, despite the smile on his face.
The prince's discomfort was nothing new. He always seemed uncomfortable around her. Nevertheless, she found herself crestfallen. She couldn't help but think that maybe she was to him what Lambert was to her. She kept the smile on her face when he greeted her and gave him a polite curtsy. When he looked away, her smile faltered a bit. "Yes, we came to find you." Was all she could say as encouragement to the princess.
She turned towards Hiro when introduced and gave him a warm smile. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Hiro." In the corner of her eye, she noticed Avril. She turned to her just in time to catch the embarrassed look. She was about to ask the princess what was wrong when the latter suggested that Stephen dance with her. She immediately shook her head, thinking of sparing the prince further discomfort by declining even before he said anything. "No need to obligate yourself, Prince Stephen. I'm not very fond of dancing."
GM
Stephen felt unsure what to do. Avril had pretty much told him to ask her and it would be rude not to, but now she said she didn't care to dance.
No, his thoughts protested. She said she'd not very fond, which means she wants to.
He felt such an idiot. Hiro was on looking as was Avril. What if he asked and she really didn't want to and she refused, or worse, she agreed because it was the crowned prince asking, not because she wanted to.
The inner turmoil wasn't visible on his face and he resolved to be a little brave. He might not get another chance.
"I beg your pardon, Lady... Alessandra . Forgive my rudeness. Please allow me the pleasure to escort you to the ballroom floor."
He offered her his arm. Avril, who now was out of his line of sight, nodded furiously at her friend, gesturing for her to take the hint.
Alessandra, having already given the Prince a way out of his sister's suggestion, felt awkward and ridiculous. She was, in her own way, pretty. With long black hair and bright emerald green eyes, she could turn several heads. But compared to the women that flocked around both royal princes, she was plain. What did she expect in tonight's ball anyway? Edward had always ignored her while Stephen had always been uncomfortable whenever she was in close range of him. Among the siblings, it was only Avril who seemed to delight in her compnay.
Suddenly, she regretted stepping out into the balcony. Maybe it had been better to stay in the ballroom and tolerated Lambert's excessive arrogance after all. The prince might think she was trying too hard to get his attention. She opened her mouth to excuse herself but she immediately clamped it shut when Stephen asked to escort her to the ballroom. She blinked at the offered arm. In the corner of her eyes, she saw Avril nodding furiously.
A warm flush colored her cheek as she took his arm and let him lead her back to the ballroom. "You don't have to push yourself just because your sister told you to do so." She said in a voice soft enough that it can be easily missed amidst the music playing in the ballroom.
GM
He didn't know how to find the words to respond to her. He couldn't explain that his sister telling him to was only a way to give him an excuse, without having to look pathetic. He had been pleased that she'd yes, but his treacherous thoughts told him that she was too polite a young lady to refuse him, especially since he was the prince.
These thoughts had started when he'd reached his teens and seemed to be a constant companion.
He looked over her head at his sister, who was smiling and following behind, though at a little distance. Did he imagine her looking at something, pausing just before she left the balcony?
The descended the stairs that led to the main floor, where a dance was ending.
He swallowed hard. This could be....
The crowd parted as they reached the foot of the stairs and for a second, Stephen was puzzled. He may have been a Prince, but no one ever seemed to notice him. But it became clear as a figure, beaming and wearing finery in red and gold walked over to them. Stephen seemed to freeze.
"Stephen," he said with great enthusiasm. "You found my partner. Thank you so much."
Edward turned a dazzling smile on Alessandra, behind him several girls looked extremely unhappy.
"Alessandra," he said with charm, holding out a hand, "my mother has expressed a great wish to see you dance with me. Will you do me the honor?"
Without waiting for a response, he bowed and took her hand, pulling her away from Stephen and sweeping her onto the floor before a protest could be made. Then the dance had begun and he was swirling her around the floor.
Stephen stood very still, not moving until the crowd closed once more and Alessandra and Edward were lost to the couples.
"Stephen?" said Avril's voice behind him. It was quiet and concerned.
He blinked hard, the spell broken, and turned to her.
"Excuse me," he said, as formally to his sister had she been a stranger. Then he was gone and she knew she wouldn't be able to find him this time.
On the dance floor, Edward was looking very pleased with himself.
"You look so very beautiful tonight," he said charmingly, gazing down at her like she was the most important creature in the world. "It's hard to believe when I remember you playing in the gardens with mud up to your ankles."
He gave a hearty laugh, swirling her around and around. He was strong, but his grip was gentle.
Despite Alessandra's lingering doubt that Stephen really wanted to dance with her, she found herself pleased and a little excited about the whole thing. She looked forward to twirling on the dance floor and seeing her skirt flare around them. A pleased smile worked its way on her lips. She hoped the prince would at least loosen up when they started dancing. He had one of the most charming smile she had ever seen but it was always tinged with some sort of self consciousness. Maybe losing himself in the dance would bring that smile out. She looked up at him and saw him swallow hard.
Blinking, Alessandra looked to dance floor as they descended the last step of the stairs and realized that the music had stopped. The crowd parted, adding more to her confusion. Surely there was nothing special about her descending the stairs. She almost laughed at the idea. But she was on the arm of the second born prince. It was only natural for the people to take notice of that. They were, no doubt, stopping for him.
And then, a tall man in red and gold regalia walked towards them. Edward.
Edward approached with a dazzling smile on his face. It was strange that he was actually looking at her. And what more, here he was, telling his younger brother that SHE was his partner. He continued to explain that the Queen wanted him to dance with her. Upon hearing that, a decline immediately came to her mind. Couldn't she find someone to dance with her just because they wanted to? She saw Lambert in the corner of her eye and she immediately dismissed the thought.
It was downright impolite to decline the heir to the throne. Instead of saying anything, she smiled at him but glanced back at Stephen, half expecting him to tell his brother that she was dancing with him. But he stood frozen on the spot, staring at Edward. And Edward was already sweeping her away.
Alessandra's eyes lingered on Stephen even as Edward swept her away. When he didn't make a move, she sighed inwardly and turned her attention to the prince that was now her unexpected dance partner. She mirrored his smile. "Thank you." She replied politely. "You look handsome yourself." She complimented back as she let Edward's arms lead her to the tune and tempo of the music.
GM
Edward seemed to beam at her words, his movements good and the work of many hours of practice. All the royal children could dance, as could the court, because they knew it would be important.
"You really should dress like this more often," he continued with obvious enjoyment, moving among the other dancers with ease. "It quite becomes you."
At the sides, several young ladies were watching them through narrowed eyes, though if Edward had looked over they would have transformed into smiles and giggles. He liked to be the center of attention, and having Alessandra as a partner was certainly drawing attention, but as future king he expected nothing less.
"Are you having a good time?" he asked as they swirled.
Avril stood at the side of the floor, feeling lost and forlorn. She couldn't be angry at Alessandra, for Edward clearly wasn't waiting for an answer. She just felt disconsolate at Stephen's obvious (at least to her) distressed countenance. It was alright for Edward, who assumed every girl would just at the chance to dance with him. Stephen had finally gotten up the courage to ask someone, okay with her assistance, and Edward had snatched them away.
The problem was that Stephen didn't seem to know what to do when he didn't want to do something, or didn't want something to happen. He was selfless to a fault, which made him easy to overlook.
Avril moved to a seat by a wall and crossed her hands on her lap. Beside her was a guard, who she told that any young man who approached was to be politely told that she was not interested in dancing at this time.
She couldn't see Edward and Alessandra from here and didn't want to, but she couldn't leave the party, as she suspected Stephen had. She was the princess and her best friend was here. To leave would not only have been rude, but against her own nature.
She really wished, sometimes, that she could stamp her foot and just have a moment, but a Princess was to be calm and the only way she could be angry was to be extremely cold and polite to people, which she struggled to do.
So she sat in silence where her parents couldn't see her and silently tried to remember that she loved both her brothers.
Then a thought struck her. If Stephen hadn't left the party, he might have gone back to the balcony. It was a long shot, but she needed to look. She wanted to speak to him.
She stood and headed up the stairs, her back to the merriment of the dancers.
Alessandra's thoughts lingered on Stephen for a while, worried that the earlier encounter with his brother might have embarrassed him, maybe even offended him. Would he be standing to the sides watching them? Or would he return to the balcony? She made a mental note to seek him out later. Meanwhile, the music, the people and all the twirling was making her giddy. Being in the arms of the handsome prince helped lift her mood as well. All thoughts of the shy prince were temporarily pushed out of her mind. "Yes, the festivity is delightful." She replied, her cheeks flushed pink at the further compliment she received.
As Edward swept her across the dance floor, she caught sight of Lambert again. He stood at the sidelines, watching her dance with the prince with a frown on his face. Clearly, he expected her to gravitate towards him given the amount of time he had spent visiting her and of course, the amount of expensive gifts he showered on her. Unknown to him, she had given the chocolates and the flowers to the house servants. The baubles she kept as respect although she rarely wore them. The one time she did, Lambert had assumed they were already a couple and it took her several more visits to convince him that they weren't. But she doubted that she convinced him entirely.
She brought her attention back to her partner and smiled prettily at him. "You're wonderful dancer, Prince Edward. I'm sure all the women will be lining up after me to dance with you."
GM
On reaching the landing with lead to the balcony, she cast a glance over the dancers. She saw the clear pleasure on her friend’s face as she and her elder brother turned around and round. She turned her back to where they swirled and stepped out onto the balcony for the second time that night.
"Stephen?" she called, though she couldn't see anyone out there.
“Are you alright, your highness?”
She jumped at the voice, forgetting that Hiro was posted out there, his dark uniform allowing him to blend so well with the shadow of the wall. “I apologize,” he said, giving a quick bow, though his head was raised again before his body could catch up. “I didn't mean to startle you.”
he caught her breath and then gestured around, saying by explanation, “I thought Stephen would be here.”
The guard looked puzzled. “I’m sorry, your highness, but didn't he just leave in your company?”
“Never mind,” she said quickly as she felt her cheeks flush.
She turned so that she could look at what Stephen had been seeing. Unlike her eldest brother, who often went hunting, she never left the palace unless in the company of someone, which was normally for some formal occasion. She didn't know if Stephen ever left the castle grounds. He'd never mentioned it.
"I lost him," she said, not giving more detail."I thought he might have come back here."
"I'm afraid not, your highness."
If he was even at the party now, she thought a bitterly. He could have slipped away to his room. Their parents wouldn't notice in a crowd like this, but they would if she or Edward were missing long.
Edward gave her a broad smile as she spoke about other women.
"Enjoy the moment," he said to her, not looking at anything but her as he said this. "Don't think about after, or before."
He gave a laugh as he led her with ease, clearly pleased at how she danced.
"This party will be nothing to your birthday, I am sure," he added. "I'm sure mother will want to throw you a grander affair than anything yet seen in the kingdom. How old are you now? I'm sorry, but it's hard to forget you're not 5 anymore."
This was said in a tease.
"I'm sure she'll speak to you soon about what you want, so be sure to have some ideas," he said. "If you don't, she might just plan the whole thing without thinking."
Typical Edward advising her to think only of the moment. He probably said it to all the women he danced with. Alessandra's mind wandered back to Stephen and wondered what he would have said when they had been able to dance earlier. Would he have said the same thing? He was so different from the older prince despite a very close resemblance between them. Her mind took a turn and drifted to who she liked best. She found herself pausing at the thought. Edward was charming but she had no idea what laid beneath all the bravado. Stephen was shy and quiet almost to a fault. She has never been able to talk to him longer than a simple hi or how are you because he had always looked like he didn't want her around. And that makes Stephen a mystery to her as well. In the end, she had no answer to the question she asked herself.
For a few seconds she looked distracted as the thoughts ran through her head. But when Edward asked about her age, she snapped back to the present. "I'll be turning 18 in two months." She promptly replied and gave him a smile to cover for the momentary distraction. She chuckled when he mentioned remembering her at 5 years old. "I must have looked so silly then. Always playing in the garden and always ending up covered in mud from head to toe."
At the mention of the queen planning a party for her, she shook her head. "Oh, no, no. There's no real need to throw me a big party." She stated, personally preferring a small celebration over a big ball like the one they were in now. She glanced towards the Queen and found her watching them both with a big smile on her face. Almost like a mother to her, she realized that the Prince was right, the Queen would insist.
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