"The carriage is ready, Your Grace," Noe informed Caio when the archduke had reached the bottom of the winding staircase that leads to the palace's main foyer.
Caio gave a brief nod as he walked out of the door, and Noe took a moment to thoughtfully observe the archduke. There was nothing amiss in Caio's attire. He was dressed formally as he always did when he went to the palace, although this time he had opted for a black evening suit instead of his military uniform in consideration of the ball he was attending. And that's where Noe's curiosity stemmed from.
He had been Caio's butler years before the young man had assumed the dual role of archduke and military general of the empire. And even then he wasn't sociable, preferring to keep his personal circle small. He had a few close friends, the emperor being one of them, but Caio had always met them in a private setting and very rarely in a social event – especially not a big-scale gathering like a grand ball at the palace.
"May I inquire what got you interested to attend tonight, Your Grace?" Noe politely asked as the footman opened the carriage door for Caio.
"I just need to check on something," Caio replied. The truth was, he had confirmed his attendance to the ball when he found out that the emperor ordered all of his concubines to be there. He had been busy in the past two weeks to have a private meeting with Alessandro, so he wasn't able to ask him about it. But there was no way he was just going to overlook the matter either.
He knew that 20 would be ill at ease to attend such an event, and he couldn't blame her. He was not looking forward to it himself. A major social event like a grand ball at the palace was like a stage play to him – everyone hid behind polite pretenses and fake smiles – which was why he didn't have any patience or time for it. Attendants of such events usually judged other guests by their social ranks, and treated them accordingly. He won't let anyone treat 20 with anything less than respect. He would make sure of it.
In her private dressing room, Lucrezia was almost done getting ready for the ball. "You look so beautiful, Your Highness," a maid gushed as she put on dangling diamond earrings for the princess. "I'm sure you'll outshine all the ladies tonight." As the other maids added their compliments, Lucrezia looked at her reflection in the mirror and debated if there's a need for final touches.
She had ordered a new gown just for tonight, a white flowing dress studded with small crystals. The jewels sparkled with her every movement, shoving off her figure seductively. And she had decided to wear her favorite red shoes, the shade almost the same as her eyes. She knew she was every bit as gorgeous as her maids had pronounced. She didn't see any need for modesty when she was just acknowledging the truth, after all. But something made her a bit unsettled.
The emperor had never invited his lower ranked concubines to an official event in the past. He hadn't even bothered to meet any concubine who wasn't at least a noble lady. But just a week ago he had given orders for all of them to attend – even the palace maids and scullery maids. Lucrezia shuddered at the thought of being a guest alongside other women whose social ranks were so low they were only a little better off than slaves.
If this order from the emperor had somehow deluded them into thinking that they had any chance at all to associate with him after the event, she just had to remind them of their proper place. And it was definitely nowhere near Alessandro. She smiled confidently as she stood up. "I'm ready."
*****
I had thought I didn't look so bad when I was scrutinizing myself in front of my bedroom mirror, but being in the palace ballroom eroded that confidence in just a few seconds. "Can you believe how sophisticated everyone looks?" 19 whispered to me, gawking at the women in evening gowns and men in their tailored evening suits.
I grinned. I definitely felt frumpy standing in a room full of elegantly dressed nobility. I recognized some of the emperor's higher ranked concubines, and they looked even better than they did when I saw them at the gazebo, especially Concubine Number 1. But then again, I wasn't here to make an impression on anyone. I just needed to serve the emperor's command and get through the evening – oh, and yes, definitely enjoy the food as well. I wanted to make the most of this opportunity – it had never happened before, as 19 had constantly reminded me – before shuffling back to my usual chores tomorrow.
"His Grace Archduke Caio Enzo Rinaldi," the usher announced loudly at the door, and everyone bowed as Caio walked into the room, looking absolutely dashing in a midnight black suit. His military insignia was the only thing that broke the dark shade of his attire, and its golden gleam matched his blond hair. 'What's he doing here?' I wondered, joining the rows of people still bowing. According to what I had heard from the other servants, Caio rarely joined events like this. 'Maybe I can ask him the next time we meet.'
I highly doubted I would get the chance to talk to him at the ball, but that assumption was thrown out of the proverbial window when later in the evening, as I was happily sampling a fruit drink served in a crystal glass, I saw Caio approaching me. "It's good to see you tonight, 20," he greeted, smiling at me.
I choked on the beverage and tried to swallow it in order not to unintentionally spit out the fruit drink on Caio. I was sure Monsieur Di Almarati would have me arrested on the spot if I had made such a scene tonight. Caio grabbed a water glass from a passing server and handed it to me. "Here, drink this," he said, helpfully patting me on the back as nearby onlookers gaped.
'Thanks,' I wrote as I bowed to him, keeping my distance.
Caio stepped closer and held my elbows until I stood straight and looked him in the eye. "No need to be formal with me," he chided.
'But we're at a ball,' I replied, keenly aware of the eyes that were laser focused on us.
"It doesn't matter," he countered. "I came here tonight for you."
It was my turn to gape at him. 'Why?'
"I thought you might be uncomfortable at such an event," he replied easily, and for the first time that evening, I gave a genuine smile
'I am,' I admitted. 'But I'm also quite proud.'
At Caio's questioning glance, I pointed at the long buffet table, with the serving plates stacked high on either end of it. 'See those dishes?' I asked. 'I was the one who washed them.'
"And you did a very good job on it," Caio grinned.
'I think so too,' I replied, and he laughed.
After that, I was a lot more relaxed, and I asked Caio not to mind me too much and talk with the other guests. I was sure that many people wanted to talk to him, but they refrained from approaching when he was with me. The last thing I needed was to be regarded as a clingy nobody who stuck to the archduke's side throughout the duration of the ball.
"Let me know if you need anything," he insisted.
'I will,' I assured him, and he reluctantly turned to a group of men in military uniforms.
Then I went on to find 19, who was still glued to the buffet table. 'Aren't you full?' I asked as she heaped up another plate.
"Quite full, yes," she confirmed.
'So why are you still eating?' I countered.
"If I stop now, I know I'll regret it tomorrow," she said with the conviction of a judge, and I laughed.
I had already helped myself to dinner earlier – pasta in tomato sauce, mixed vegetables drizzled in olive oil, and creamy seafood stew – when I was with Caio. But it never hurt to know what options there were for dessert. I had almost reached that section when the usher made another loud announcement, "His Royal Majesty Emperor Alessandro Luca de Rossi."
It was as if the entire room froze. The music stopped playing, all conversations ceased on the spot, and everyone parted like the Red Sea to make way for the man walking into the room. Out of the corner of my eyes I tried to catch a glimpse of the emperor, and I grinned when I saw that 19 was trying to do the same. But of course, with my eyes on the floor as I bowed, I didn't see anything and I temporarily gave up the attempt. 'Maybe I can see him later,' I consoled myself. He was bound to dance with a few of his higher ranked concubines. I bet he would look good with Princess Lucrezia.
Alessandro reached his throne at the far end of the ballroom and he sat down, signaling the musicians to continue. Gradually, the festive air resumed and people mingled about again, but he hardly paid them any mind. Yesterday he had asked Vincenzo to show him the dresses that the lower concubines would wear before the chief steward distributed them. "So I can recognize who they are," he had reasoned.
As he scanned the room, his eyes finally landed on a girl with long brown hair tied in a ponytail. She was in a navy blue dress, and she was looking at the dessert table. Alessandro's breath hitched. That was the dress he saw yesterday, the one intended for Concubine Number 20.
"20, are you at the ball?" I was debating on whether I would get a slice of chocolate cake or lemon cream pie when I heard 1's voice. 'Oh, are you here too?' I asked, looking around the room. This was interesting. If he was also a guest at the event, then we could finally meet. But he never told me he would attend tonight, though. And to think we had talked about it a few times.
"Yes, I'm also here," Alessandro replied as he saw the girl in the navy blue dress search around her. The gesture confirmed what he already knew. "Are you looking for me?" he teased her.
'I am,' I said, moving away from the dessert table and walking to the center of the room where many people were gathered. 'Where are you?'
"Straight ahead," Alessandro said, trying to keep his voice steady.
I continued walking, but none of the men even attempted to catch my eyes. Finally, I realized I was near the throne and I hastily backed away. I wanted to catch a quick look at the emperor, not be caught staring at him like an idiot. But 1's voice called me back. "Look in front."
I lifted my eyes and I saw that the emperor was looking directly at me. "We meet at last, 20." It was definitely 1's voice, but my brain couldn't fully comprehend the situation. There was no one else nearby, only the emperor. My breath caught in my throat. If this was indeed the case, then it would mean that the guy I had been talking to for months now, the only one who could hear me, was none other than the ruling monarch of Luxentfort Empire.