-9-"You ought to join us, Miriel. The meeting would be more joyful if you did." The princess rested her head on her elbow as her fingers twirled a teacup."A baron's daughter beside people who have tea and chatter with a princess often? I would sink to the ground." Miriel replied as she sat across the princess."Feudal baron, and that would be amusing." Elle giggled and Miriel scowled."You may address yourself as Baroness and no one would deny it of you." Elle said."But it would cause me undue trouble." Miriel replied."It just isn't the same..." Elle trailed off.Miriel looked at Niact, standing dutifully beside her master. She shrugged lightly.The scent of the flowers wafted through the air as a breeze gently drifted through the garden. The sky painted a vibrant blue expanse, cloudless, as the gazebo roof hid the sun.Elle hummed a tune as she twirled her teacup."Was the meeting fruitful, your highness?" She asked.Elle sighed."It was, very much so. It is merely so tedious that I might simply return to my palace for the day.""We must indeed return, your highness. Only, to prepare for the night ball.""Must we? I could rest here and have you wake me near then." Elle replied and Niact shook her head."That would distress your maids terribly, your highness." Miriel said. 'And give them more reasons to dislike me.'Elle leaned back, stretched her arms and exhaled."Are you uninterested in what we might have discussed?" She asked Miriel."Is there anything of my interest, your highness?" Miriel replied."From all I have gathered, there may just be." Elle continued. "The wave is ending soon."Miriel paused."This early?" She asked. She raised her teacup and sipped it."Courtesy of a new overly competent commander. Worry not, they have the least casualties this wave." Elle relied."When will they be returning then?" Miriel said."Least for a few weeks, most for a few months. And as much as I regret having to, I must quell your hopes for now." Elle continued. "The place is presently so hectic they hardly have time for a search, much less a headcount. They will need more time to find Mark.""It is no issue, your highness. I shall wait for the news." Miriel replied."Oh, is our betrothed not interested in her pair? Could there have been some fortuitous encounter I am unaware of?" The princess's eyes glistened.Miriel coughed."Your highness Elle, I have hardly spent a day in the Capitol." She said."It is possible you met someone along the way. Perchance, even fostered a connection." Elle replied."I regretfully inform you that my passage was blissfully uneventful.""So boorish." The princess pursed her lips, while Miriel kneaded her brows.The princess rose from her seat. Miriel followed."Let us return then. If I am to suffer through this injustice, they shall be quick about it." She left with Niact in tow."It is mere preparation for the ball, your highness." Miriel sighed and joined them.-Chandeliers brightened the hall, as did the lamps, lampposts and moonlight. At the centre of the hall, boisterous people danced in pairs. The chatter and laughter formed a cacophony no softer than the music played.Miriel stood at her familiar place by the side of the hall, wine glass in hand. The merry folk dancing blurred in her eyes, the sounds obscure to her ears."The wave is ending soon." The words were etched in her head.She finished her wine and seized another wine glass from a table.She scanned the floor and spotted the princess dancing merrily changing from pair to pair. Her white dress mixed with pale gold glistened beneath the light.Miriel was dressed in a dark blue dress that reached her ankles. Her low heels chafed her feet, though she boasted a higher view with them."Lady Lerkester." She straightened as she heard her name called.To her side were two ladies, dressed in green and in blue. They smiled wide with their arms locked."Lady Rillore," Miriel bowed, palm to her chest, "May the sparrow prosper.""May the land abound and flourish." The one dressed in green bowed. Her blonde hair, loosely braided, fell to one shoulder. Dark green irises decorated her eyes."Might I introduce my friend, Lady Ena, daughter of Count Hewery." Lady Rillore said."Lady Hewery." Miriel bowed."Lady Lerkester" Lady Ena bowed in turn."We heard tale of your father's passing and wished to offer our condolences." Lady Rillore said."My father would have been overjoyed." Miriel replied.Miriel heard the music change, from a jovial tune to a slow cadence as the noise dimmed."It has been long, has it not? Since you were last at a ball in the Capitol. Has your stay fared?" Lady Rillore said."With the sun's grace, it has." Miriel replied."My, then you must dance. Are you not here with your pair?"Miriel shook her head. "Unfortunate incidents hold us apart for now.""Oh, not for a night like this, the lout! This we must rectify. Perhaps Lady Hewery could pair you with her cousin." Lady Rillore glanced beside her.Miriel turned to Lady Hewery and met her eyes.Lamplight descended on the grey irises beneath her bangs. Her dark brown hair was braided and reached her ankles."Our Lumpoll, though young, is suave and adept in dancing." Lady Hewery said."Indeed, the boy glides on the floor with any partner he has had." Lady Rillore nodded.Miriel tightened her grip on her wine glass, held her elbow with her hand and smiled."My, that would be unjust to Lady Rillore. Must we not pair any so apt with you, my lady? I dare not hold any calm knowing I have robbed you of such an event."Lady Rillore stiffened. Her mouth and brown eyes wide, yet she uttered no sound."Lumpoll only regards Lady Rillore as a sister. It is ill appropriate to pair them knowingly." Lady Hewery said.Lady Rillore nodded."He is familiar, is he not? Of matters between men and women. They need but a spark and fortune's favour, and what was once intimate will bloom like a rose bud in spring. Must we not grant them the chance?"Miriel's eyes widened for a moment. She saw the faint blush on Lady Rillore's face before it faded, who shook when Lady Hewery tugged her arm."Miriel, Miriel, come. You must join me." Interrupted by a melodic voice, Miriel turned to see the princess twirling with a wine bottle on each hand, her face flushed with wine, laughing merrily.Attendants stood at a distance, their brows furrowed with their hands hanging in the air, some covering their mouths.The dance and music had ended, the oil lamps burned bright but the moonlight had waned. Miriel noticed there were fewer people in the hall.She sighed."I shall escort the princess. Pardon my abrupt exit." She bowed."Worry not, Lady Lerkester. The princess takes precedence." Lady Hewery replied."Yes, definitely. You must care for the princess." Lady Rillore nodded.Miriel left her wine glass on a table and paced to the princess.Handling a drunk princess was a daunting task even for Miriel.