Back at the Ballroom, Kidaya moved around the ballroom with her brother and mother beside her and her cousins. They have not left her side since the Queen had let her go after her proclamation. From the dance floor, many stared, even the men who already had dance partners stared at the Diamond, some even gulping an empty throat as they stared.
"I believe this is our cue to leave the party," Ralph says.
"I was thinking the same too. Come girls, our time here is up." Count Tegha says nodding the girls towards the door.
"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" Lady Agnes asks behind them.
"Trust me, Agnes. I would never jeopardize the girls." Count Tegha reassures her.
~
"Is it morning already, Sirena?" Kidaya asks sitting up in her bed as her maid opens the curtains on her window and sunlight engulfs the entire room.
Smiling. "It is not just morning my Lady, but late into the morning. I have had an earful from Lady Erskine because you are still in bed when the Drawing room is filled with callers for you." Sirena says picking up the rose water bowl and taking it to where her Lady still sat in bed.
"Callers?" Kidaya questions.
"For you," Sirena emphasizes. "I must say you must have made quite an impression for them to show up in that number. From the drawing room to the picture room and even outside, we have callers bearing gifts, all here to see you."
"Callers?" Kidaya questions.
"Gentlemen callers, here to see you," Sirena explains.
Kidaya finally remembers that her Debut had been yesterday and she had been named Diamond of the Season. "Oh, Callers! They are here already? Isn't it quite too early?"
Sirena shakes her head smiling. "It is past mid-morning my Lady. Two more hours of sleep and it would be afternoon."
Gasps. "I slept that long?" She asks getting out of bed.
Sirena goes over and helps her put on her cloak. "I didn't have the heart to wake you up early, especially with the kind of night am hearing you had. You slept as soon as you returned from the Ball."
"I did, didn't I? I am never going to survive the entire season if it happens this way."
Sirena laughs. "If you ask me, you are doing just fine. I heard the Queen boasted with you in the middle of the hall?"
Sighing. "She did. Now hurry up so I can go meet the callers you said are waiting outside."
The door to her room opens, and Count Tegha walks in. "There will be no need for that." The Count says walking towards both ladies. She leans in and hugs Kidaya. "How was your night, dear?"
Sighing. "I had the nightmares," Kidaya told her.
"Leave us, Sirena." The Count says eyes on Kidaya.
"I thought I had callers I had to attend to at the -"
Count Tegha waves her hand cutting off the rest of her statement. "You won't be receiving any today."
Sirena looks back at the Count in confusion.
"Why?" Kidaya asks.
"Do you want to meet them?" Count Tegha asks.
"You know I don't care about all these. Of course, I don't want to, but I will if it is what needs to be done."
Smiling at her. "You will have the entire day to yourself. We shall neither accept any callers today nor accept any invitation to any events today except the opening Ball of the Season which will be held by Lord Greville. You have all morning and afternoon to yourself dearest."
"And the callers?" Kidaya asks.
"Your brother is sending them away as we speak."
"Are you sure we are doing the right thing? It is not only me but Eddna and Joan we also have to worry about. I would be excited if it was just me, but Eddna and Joan really want to get married their very first season and I don't want to be the reason they can't."
Smiling, she places both hands on the girl's cheeks and caresses her. "Trust me Kidaya, I am doing what is best for you and the girls." Taking her hand. "Now come sit and tell me everything about your nightmare."
~
"Is that so?" The first Queen asks the maid who just finished whispering to her.
Head bowed. "Yes, your Majesty." The maid says.
The head maid waves the maid away and she bows before exiting the room.
Smiling. "I guess I didn't just get a pretty one this Season, I also got an interesting one." The Queen says sipping her tea. "It seems that after a long time, I am finally going to have an interesting season again. One I look forward to especially with the Duke of Wethingham also in the city in search of a bride." Smiling. "I wonder who will get my diamond." Turning to her Headmaid. "Find out everything you can about the girl and her family."
With a bow. "Yes your Majesty."
"And tell the Second Prince that I command that he be present at the Greville's Ball this evening, and that he make sure he arrives early this time or I will take matters into my own hands. Is that understood?"
~
She arrived at the Greville's Ball in the company of her brother, her two cousins, and Lady Erskine. She wore a white ball gown with green embroideries and jewelry which made the color of her eyes really stand out. Her hair was made into curls and tied up with just a few curls hanging down her face. Ralph walked in the middle of her and Eddna.
The ball was going on perfectly until Lady Erskine announced that Ralph, who was mostly known as Lord Vanderburgh, Future Count and owner of Centico, would be taking a bride this Season. That sentence alone was enough to send the entire Greville's ballroom into a frenzy. In a matter of seconds, every Mama was dragging off their daughter to introduce to Ralph. That gave Kidaya all the time she needed to slip out of the buzzing crowd to the secluded part of the hall. She stood by the balcony directly opposite the back door of the hall, where everyone and anyone could see her. She leans on the rails and stares outside.
"For a Diamond as rare as yourself, standing out here all alone and by yourself certainly would make most people think the Queen was wrong in her decision of making you a diamond of the Season."
Kidaya turns around to see who is talking to her. With a smile, she responded. "I am sure the Queen would understand that even a rare diamond needs some time alone in seclusion, Lady ?"
"Weatherby." The Lady says with a smile. "My husband is the highest Lord at the Royal court and my daughter Margery is a debutante just like you. She is the one dancing with the Lord on a black hat with purple feathers."
Kidaya turns around and looks into the hall. "Oh! She's beautiful." Kidaya appreciated.
Smiling with pride. "Of course she is, she is a true diamond. One that doesn't need a title to make her stand out. She would shine bright no matter where she is put." Kidaya looks up at the Lady who gives a fake laugh. "Don't mind me, I am like this sometimes."
"I noticed. And you can't help but act this way even when you're just meeting someone for the first time." Also faking a laugh. "It was not a pleasure meeting you at all, Lady Weatherby." She says walking back into the hall.
Her time here was up, Kidaya decided as she walked back inside. She needs to find her brother and get him to take her home soon. In her haste to get away, she failed to notice that the hall had gotten more tensed up and it wasn't just because of her aunt's announcement anymore. Mamas and their daughters were now standing in different groups. There were more whispers now than when she had stepped out, and failing to notice this or where she was headed, she bumped into someone and she fell backward. But just before she could completely fall, the person stretched out his hand and grabs onto her own pulling her towards himself. Their bodies bumped again but this time, he places his hand around her waist to keep her there so she doesn't fall backwards again.
All around the hall, people turned around to look and whispers began again.
For some reason which none of them could tell, when their bodies bumped the second time, their eyes locked with each other's own, and they stared at each other in the eye.
He couldn't help but stare into eyes so green, wild, and mild at the same time. Her very eyes enchanted him. He was still staring into her eyes when he heard someone call his name. Mentally shaking himself out of whatever had gone on, he lets go of the lady whom he was holding with his hand around her -
"Are you alright, Your Grace?" Harlane his guard asks stepping beside him.
Kidaya clears her throat once the Lord has let go of her, and stands straight, with a plastered smile on her face, she bows her head slightly. "I am very sorry I ran into you. I was in such a hurry I didn't see you com-
"Yes, you did." He cuts in.
"What?" She asks looking up at him, confused.
"You saw me coming, and you weren't in a hurry."
She scoffs. "No, I didn't." She looks up at him and noticed that he wasn't smiling. He wasn't serious about this, was he? He wasn't seriously thinking that she had bumped into him on purpose and faked a fall, did he? She looks up at him again and saw he still had the firm look on. "Sir, I didn't... I wasn't -"
"Nice try, but it's outdated."
"What?"
"Someone else already tried the exact thing at the door." He says attempting to walk away.
She moves in his way preventing him from walking away. "Whatever you're thinking, you've got it all wrong. I was in a hurry and I mistakenly ran into you like -"
In the hall, people began to return to their various businesses ignoring the low chatter between the Second Prince and the Diamond.
"In a hurry from where or to where?"
She points behind her at the balcony where Lady Weatherby had been standing but the Lady was gone. "There was this lady I was trying to avoid."
"Lady?"
"Lady -
"The more you try to explain the more desperate for attention it makes you appear. Did your Mama tell you that if you forced a word out of me like this, that it would make other Lords come running for you, or it would make me notice you?" Rolling his eyes. "Truly, you all would try anything and everything to -"
"Who do you -
"Permit me to apologize for my sister's mistake then." Came Ralph's voice from behind Kidaya cutting her off. He stands beside her and bows his head towards the second Prince. "Please forgive her mistake, Your Grace."
He nods and is about to walk away again when Kidaya scoffs, causing him to pause in his steps again.
"Ahh haa! So that's why you are this arrogant. You are royalty. I guess that title gives many a penchant to be this insolent." Kidaya says.
"Kidaya!" Her brother warns.
Turning to face her brother. "The ball ends here for me brother. If it is filled with people just like him, I'd rather have nothing to do here. Let's go home."
And even before the Prince or anyone else could say anything else, she walks away and heads straight for the exit door.
From the stairs, someone else watched with a smile.