Two days before the debut ball and the palace has never looked busier; the maids and butlers seem hell bent on making this one of the grandest of all balls till date and my just as enthusiastic mother hasn't spoken about anything other than the details regarding the ball. Father and everyone else seem to be taking it all in stride so far, I on the other hand was being to get tired of it.
With Celeste being just as busy, she wouldn't be visiting until after the ball. So sword practice went on without her for now, the knights seemed especially depressed that they wouldn't be seeing her for at least the next three day or so. I was returning back to my room after the trial fittings with the royal tailor wondering if there was any work I had pending when I heard someone shout my name, I turned around to see an unruly mess of golden curls bounce as my cousin ran towards me with a grin, I waited till he reached near before greeting, "Lucian, it's been a while since I've last seen you. How are you doing?" Lucian our cousin was older than me by a year, he was taller than me by an inch and has nearly always sported that grin whenever I see. He came closer and brought me into one of his tight hugs grinning, "I'm great, I'm great. And how is my favorite prince doing??"
"You say that for Ares as well Lucian…"
"I have two favorites!!!" he declared. I gave him a look, this was usual for us, we walked to my room as we continued to talk some more. The moment we entered my room we saw both my siblings already there along with Lark; I raised an amused brow at them as the two of us went to sit opposite them. "We heard Lucian came to visit and knew this would be the best place to meet him the quickest." chirped Raven while Ares nodded along with her. " Si, is Lu's favorite after all!"
Lucian chuckled and I followed along, "Is my favorite princess jealous???" he teased Raven, she knew he was just teasing but went along with it, "Very, Ares is too! We'll only forgive you if you brought us presents." she quickly added. Lucian gave her a look of amusement before doing a mock bow to both of my siblings saying, "Of course, Your Highnesses. Lark get Patrick for me please." Lark nodded and quickly went to find Lucian's aide. We waited for a little while until Patrick came following behind Lark, they both bowed again, Patrick immediately reached forward and passed three dark brown boxes sealed with a ribbon on it. Lucian took them his grin widening, he took the one with a turquoise ribbon on it and gave it to Raven, then he handed Ares the box with a white ribbon and the last one he gave it to me, it had a blue ribbon on it. I glanced at my cousin beside me who silently glanced at me with a smile, nodding to the box in my hands. I pulled at the ribbon, untying the knot when a hear a little squeal I lifted my head to see Raven holding a brooch in the shape of a crescent moon and crystals in the shape of drops hanging of it, the sun rays shone on it making it sparkle. I smiled as she proudly showed it around. I then glanced at what Ares was gifted; he got a pair of rose-shaped cufflinks; they were beautiful, the petals had a gold color at the tip that slowly faded to a bright red. Ares seemed pleased with his gift as well, he was careful observing it.
"They're so pretty!!!" Raven exclaimed as she stared at the cufflinks Ares got. Ares glanced at her with small smile and handed them to her, she smiled at him as she held one up to see if it would sparkle like her brooch.
I turned to open my gift, when I opened the cover inside, I saw a pair of white gloves, at the wrist they had a small sapphire pinned. I picked them up, they looked beautiful, I then turned my gaze to my cousin beside me with a bright smile saying, "Thank you Lu, they're beautiful"
Lucian seemed very pleased with himself as he looked around smugly grinning from ear-to-ear as he's emerald eyes sparkled just as much as the jewels did.
After that the three of us sat together as Lucian told us his exploits from the Academy. By the end of our time together, Raven was reduced to a giggling mess, Ares was trying to control her and I watched over them enjoying this time with my family. This was all we wanted for them, to keep having fun, to keep laughing and smiling.
One day more until the day, and soon the ballroom will be filled with those who have or will turn 15 soon along with their parents and family. The servants looked even more anxious today than yesterday and its starting to get to me, so I spent my day away from them as much as possible. I knew tomorrow I'd be facing them as well as my mother at a much of anxious mood than today. I felt exhausted just looking at them. Lucian was a good distraction yesterday; I was almost tempted to go visit him this time just to get away from here.
I was walking in the garden when I caught a glimpse of a silhouette round the corner, at first I thought it was one of the servants so I ignored it and kept walking, thinking how I could pass my time. A while later I noticed a shadow again, this time I kept an eye on it, it never came too close neither did it stray too far and always stayed in the shadows and out of sight. I started getting worried so I walked faster towards the garden maze hoping to lose him or her there. I guess the person noticed and attempted to close in on me before they lost me.
Growing up I forced myself to remember all the routes so that I could escape for the servants or the tutors, I would always go and hide in the maze. I could count the number of people who easily knew their way around it on one hand: my parents, Lark, Ares and the gardener- Alister.
I turned corner after corner and finally lost the stranger, I quickly and carefully made my way out making sure not to accidentally bump into my chaser, for all I know he could be an assassin or something. Once out I immediately informed the guards nearby who rushed towards the maze, right after I found Lark and dragged him along with me to my Father's study.
I knocked on the door and waited until he said we could enter, once we were ordered in Lark bowed in respect while I ratted everything that happened the second he looked up. "We should check up on security, just in case. There will be way too many people and this person could be among any of them."
M y Father nodded agreeing, "You're right, I'll check it with Samuel again. It's time we change things up too. The intruder probably knows how the security works in order to get in so easily." We continued discussing the details further a bit more before I was finally satisfied and left him to continue on whatever he was working on.
Even after we left my mind kept wandering back to the incident, it was weird and for some reason I knew I was forgetting something but, I just couldn't remember what! Just then all to suddenly it came to me, as the realization hit me hard I cried out, "That's RIGHT!!!" it even caused Lark to jump, startled. He looked at me, waiting for me to continue or tell him know what I was thinking. When I didn't say anything he urged me, "Well?? Why did you suddenly shout out like that?"
I glanced at him and questioned, "What do you mean?" There was no way could tell Lark, after all I realized why this whole situation bugged me so much, such an event never happened in the game. Lark gave me an look that told me he knew it was a lie, then shook his head in annoyance I'm sure. He knew I wouldn't say anything else about before.
This was different... The story was changing, bit by bit....
Just maybe... maybe the ending is changing this very second as well, bit... by bit...