"I don't want my best friend to go away." Siv says with teary eyes.
"I know. Who would save you when you get in trouble?" They both chuckle.
It has been three days since the dungeon incident. Siv has regained all her physical health, already. Bodil looks at her friend with guilty eyes. She has decided to keep what she saw in her brother's study a secret. Even though he is shipping her away to the North for no apparent reason, she just can't bring herself to break Siv's heart.
"I can't believe you couldn't stay tonight for the ball, I mean would it have made that big of a difference?" Siv pouts.
"I know, I really wanted to attend." Bodil feels sad because this situation is exactly what her life is like. She can't control anything in it. Others make decisions and she is to travel to the mountains under unfathomable reasons; studying Royal Etiquette. It sounds like there is no one in the whole kingdom who is capable of teaching her that.
"Well, take care of yourself." Siv squeezes her.
"You too." She gets close to her ear. "Don't let your emotions blind you, dear." She can at least give her this much warning. Siv gives her a peculiar look when she pulls away, but she does not say anything.
"Don't get in trouble, sister." Bjarte utters as he hugs Bodil.
"Look who's talking." She ruffles his hair but Bjarte doesn't complain. It makes her smile.
Bodil looks back at the palace feeling a ball in her throat. Her parents could have spared some time to see her off instead of the brief farewell after breakfast.
She sighs.
She waves at Siv and Bjarte one last time before entering her carriage. A whole year away from her home is a bit extreme. She curses at her brother before closing her eyes and deciding to sleep the whole way there.
Brandt watches from the window as the carriage rides away. He knew Bodil didn't want to see him thinking that he was the one sending her away. So he decided to stay away. He also couldn't face her after everything that had happened a few days prior.
"Please, Your Highness, have mercy on her." Earl Vagle pleads.
Brandt stands facing the window for a while. He has his hands locked behind his back and his silence is making the earl break into a sweat. The prince has contemplated exiling the whole family out of the country for what his daughter has done, but his mother begged him not to. Even though he is only a second cousin of hers, family clashes are viewed as division and opportunists would take advantage of the situation.
"I hope that spending three days in the dungeons have taught your daughter a good lesson." Brandt finally looks at the man kneeling in front of him.
"I am sure she has learned her lesson, Your Highness." The earl nods his head frantically.
"You are to take her and withdraw from the Vying. You will not attend any official events for a year. And finally, you are to stay in your estate in Salo and not set foot in the capital until the Vying is over."
"Yes, Your Highness, whatever you wish."
"Now leave." Earl Vagle bows deeply to the prince and rushes out of his study.
"What?" Brandt asks after a moment.
"Nothing, my prince."
"Shelby, I have known you for twenty years. I know when you have something to say." The assistant remains silent. "Was it too harsh of a punishment?"
"Not at all, Your Highness. The punishment is fitting."
"Then what is it?"
"Are you still going through with the Vying?"
"Ah, the Vying." Brandt sits on his chair. "How would it look if the crown prince changed his mind on such a big tradition of the country, Shelby?"
"You are the future king of this country, Your Highness, No one would dare question your decisions."
"Sometimes, you are too gullible, Shelby." Brandt sighs. "There is always someone questioning my decisions." Lord Benson stares at him for a moment.
"My apologies."
"Did you personally deliver the dress to Lady Siv?"
"Yes, Your Highness. She loved the dress and said she will thank you personally at the ball tonight."
"How is she doing?" Brandt asks with knitted brows.
"She is doing well, she is back to her energetic self."
"Good to hear."
"But…" Shelby hesitates.
"But?"
"Well it is not related to lady Siv, but you have received another letter from the Dowager."
"I see."
"Would you like me to put it away with the other three?"
"Yes, please do."
***
"Why is it too loose from the waist?" Siv complains.
"My lady, I am afraid you have lost weight in the last few days." Veda tries her best not to poke Siv with the needle.
"I should have tried it when Lord Benson brought it this morning."
Both Veda and Tove try to alter the dress as best as they can in the little time they have. Siv has to rush to the ballroom after it looks decent enough. She is definitely late.
'Damn dress, damn ball, and damn freaking Vying.'
She was supposed to be there early to enter with the other Rouvas, but that hope was lost hours ago. Now she has to enter a full ballroom on her own.
'Damn dress.'
"Rouva, Siv Holmen." Her name is announced when she arrives. She enters the grand room that holds what looks like hundreds of people. She takes a few steps and curtsies in the direction of the king and queen. Then she walks to where the other four Rouvas were standing.
"What took you so long?" Princess Helga asks.
"A last minute dress alteration." Siv explains with a grimace.
"His Highness, Crown Prince Brandt." The guard announces.
The ball is only to start after the prince arrives. He is supposed to be the last one to enter. But everyone is shocked when the guard clears his throat.
"And His Grace, Gareth Jostad, the Duke of Narvic."
Lady Runa gasps as do a few other people in the room. The ballroom is silent, except for the hushed murmurs that can be heard.
'The Duke of Novic?'
Siv remembers Gary talking about him before she hosted the Afternoon Tea for those ladies. She remembers that he had described him as a disgrace to his family, and a Casanova.
'I guess that is why his sister Runa is shocked to see him.'
Siv turns to the entrance to try to catch a glimpse of the infamous man. When her eyes fall on him she gasps herself.
"Gary?"