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Nicholas Steward took a deep breath.
A full 20 minutes had passed since he arrived and stood by the door of the Starling townhouse in the Upper Artorius, where the members of the royal court and their family lived. He was tired from the trip; he travelled from the Starling mansion in the Duchy of Eselia, a full day’s journey. During the trip, he always thought of spending his day resting, yet somehow found himself lacking the courage of knocking the door.
He had thought of getting a servant’s aid to announce his arrival, yet he found no one outside. ‘Perhaps the household was too busy in preparation of the Crown Prince’s birthday’, he thought. After a few minutes, he finally knocked. Not long after, a servant opened the door, helped him carry his belongings and led him to the guest quarters, which is a short distance from the stairs leading to the second floor of the house, and all the while contemplating how much time he could have saved had he knocked the door upon arrival.
After placing his belongings at the side, Nick lay down in the bed and took his long-awaited nap, but was interrupted by someone knocking at the door. A servant came and announced the presence of a Rosette, the adopted daughter of the Starlings.
“It’s been a while, Rose, I mean, Miss Starling” Nick said after he gently kissed her hand.
“Yes,” Rosette giggled and said, “Nick, you don’t have to be so formal to me. We’ve been friends since our childhood.”
Nick laughed, “And here we are now; you, a daughter of a noble family and I, your humble servant.”
“I don’t really see you that way,” Rose said playfully, “what I always see is the little boy covered so much with soot, and completely surprised me when I found out that the black hair was actually brown.”
“I am shocked, Rose, for you to perceive me that way!” exclaimed Nick, “I take back what I said; I always see you as the skinny, curly redhead covered in dust from head to foot, with a hair so disheveled that the birds could nest in!”
Rosette looked hurt, and there was a brief silence. Suddenly, the two burst into laughter.
“Well, indeed,” she said they calmed down, her cheeks red as tomato, “Look at us now, Nick. Far from our past selves. Things changed greatly.”
“Some of them didn’t, though,” Nick replied, looking at her and smiled.
“Well, you have at least retained your frankness,” Rosette remarked.
“By the way, how’s your preparation for the Prince’s ball?” asked Nick, “Is it alright for you to be in my quarters?”
“Oh, it’s fine,” she answered, “My dress is already in my room, and I think the servants are cleaning the place as fast as they can; I permitted them to go to the grand feast near the marketplace in Lower Artorius, provided that they return before I do.”
“I see.”
“Has mamma any message to me?”
“Lady Starling sends her apologies for not accompanying you,” said Nick, “And hopes that you have fun at the party tonight. I was commanded that I chaperone you to the ball as, ‘a distant relative’, she said.”
Rose gave a quick laugh, and said, ‘I do apologize to her antics, although I am really used to it; quite different from the other families, but kinder. I was really happy she convinced my real mother to trust me to Lady Starling’s care, albeit for a sum of money.”
“Don’t say that.”
“But it’s true,” “I will not sugarcoat what my mother had done; she sold me, but I was glad that I am out of her life and of that life.”
Silence befell them, and then Rosette smiled and remarked, “Well, enough chatting. You must be tired, Nick, please rest for a while. I shall see you by nightfall.”
Nick bowed and Rose gave him a half-curtsey and then leaves.
It was already nightfall. Nick was almost done dressing himself up; he wore his dark green, knee-length coat with light grey trimming over his grey waistcoat and dark green pants. He felt a little uncomfortable wearing the white stockings, but had no choice but to cover his bare legs, as his pants are only below-the-knee in length. After fixing his hair, he went out, locked his door and then waited for Rosette below the stairs.
After standing for a minute, he began to pace back and forth and rubbed his hands together, feeling a bit uneasy. His thoughts ran inside his mind, not minding his surroundings that he had not heard Rosette calling his name.
“Nick!”
Finally hearing her voice, Nick held his breath and turned towards Rosette, who was already halfway down the stairs.
She was wearing a rose pink, off shoulder ball gown with arm-length puffed but slashed sleeves. The gown was adorned with pale pink flower embroideries and ribbons. Her hair tied in a bun, crowned with crystal bead on a silver vine. For jewelry, she wore a pair of pearl earrings and silver necklace with a crystal pendant.
The sight alone took his breath away, and for 27 years of his life nothing ever did; he could only stare at her as she descends from the stairs. He looked at her, and compared her with her past self, wondering if there was indeed a change. Although she now had a curvy build, she was the same rosy-cheeked fair maiden he grew up with. ‘Her name does suit her,’ he thought.
Rosette took notice of Nick’s silence and asked him, “Well, how’s my dress?”
“Very… beautiful.”
“I think you’re staring too much, Nick,” Rosette asked.
Upon hearing this, Nick snapped back to reality and blushed. ““Ah, no, it’s just that…” he said, and then clear his throat and continued, “you really do look lovely, Rose, and well enough to get everyone’s attention later at the ball.”
Rosette’s emerald eyes sparkled at his compliment and was very pleased. She then added,” Not the same skinny little girl you described earlier?”
Nick laughed and then extended his hand and said, “No, my lady.”
Rosette placed her hand on his and then Nick escorted her to the carriage, and then they left for the ball.
Both were silent during the carriage ride. Nick looked outside through the open window and saw several servants in their best attire, walking gaily towards the open carriages that would take them down to Lower Artorius.
“I guess everyone is a little bit too excited for the prince’s birthday,” Nick said.
“Of course,” said Rosette, “The common folk are celebrating for the prince’s 25th year of birth, and the noble families are taking this chance to be closer to other families, and most of all, the young ladies vying for the prince’s attention, especially as his partner for his first dance.”
“But not everyone could have a chance?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said, “Only those younger than him or at the same age are to be presented by the nobility; I guess I was really lucky that I was a year younger.”
“I had a thought, though,” he added, “wouldn’t it be inappropriate for me, a bachelor, to chaperone you to the ball? They might think we are lovers.”
Rose smiled. “Does that really bother you?” she asked.
Nick was surprised by her question. “You… don’t? Wh-what I meant was that you might… have lesser chances with the prince, Rose.”
“You are very kind, Nick,” Rose said and smiled at him gently, “It is true that this ball is a very crucial event for the ladies, nay, for each family. It is, after all, a chance for them to elevate to a higher status, and become part of the royal family. But mamma explained that there would be courtship after, where the prince will visit every family of the potential bride, and after that, he will declare his love in front of the people.”
“But there is also an advantage to the lady that gets to be his first partner, mamma said. It will give the families an idea which lady would be more likely to be chosen as his bride,” she added.
“Like a first impression,” Nick remarked.
“Precisely,” she said, “But even though I would want mamma to come with me, I am quite happy that you accompany me, and I am not bothered by it; you’re more like older brother to me, Nick.”
Nick closed his eyes and smiled. “I see,” he said.
“Besides, Nick, both of us knew that I had a… quite advantage from the others,” Rosette said “we were friends with the prince since our childhood. We knew him very well even before this event came, when we were still living in the streets of the Eselian capital.”
“That is why,” she added, “for me, the prince doesn’t deserve to be with the one who only care about his crown, status, and all that comes from it.”
Nick jokingly asked realized that ever since their encounter with the said royal, Rosette has been in love with the prince, and for so long she wished to be by his side. “So, are saying that this is your way of saving him from such fate?”
“Not really, and I am not entirely assured that I would be chosen. But I could also take this chance,” she replied with a serious tone.
Both of them were once again silent. A few more minutes passed and then the carriage halted. “Oh, we’ve arrived,” Rosette remarked.
“Yes, and no” Nick declared. He looked outside, observing that they were now in the castle grounds but he can’t see the castle entrance easily, as there was a long line of carriages in line near the entrance. “I guess every person is excited for today,” he added.
The two finally arrived inside the castle and were escorted to the ballroom. Rosette gave Nick a quick curtsy and then greeted and chatted her friends. Nick remained in the corner, observing the place.
The ballroom was huge enough to accommodate the sea of people. From his spot, Nick could see the lords with their sons at the side talking, while their wives and daughters chatting. He could easily spot the ‘aspiring candidates’, as he put it. Their gowns were mostly light-colored, from beige to baby blue, with intricate designs; some embroidered with either gold or silver patterns, decorated with ribbons, lace or ruffles. Others sporting sleeves or none at all; their hair either tied up or loose, ornamented with crystals or flowers. Their attire was made exclusively to flatter their appearances.
The musicians at the corner were playing their instruments to entertain the guests while some couples waltzed in the middle of the room. After the music piece was finished, he saw a songtress escorted in front of the musicians, but before she could sing, he spotted Rosette was led by her peers towards the singer. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he assumed that her friends requested a duet, for now Rosette was standing beside the lady and both began to sing.
It had been a while since Nick last heard Rosette sing. It was of the few joys he had in his life; he had always loved her singing. Living in the streets was really rough especially as a child, and it was her voice which saved him, and the same voice which gave him comfort.
Nick always thought before that he and Rosette would be the only ones taking care of each other. Even though she had a mother, she was always left alone; her mother was also an entertainer, a talented singer, but preferred working more in brothels. When she found out the Rosette could sing, she planned to sell her to a barkeep, but was bought by a noblewoman, and treated her as her own.
He thought that he was her only companion, had not another boy arrived, which turned out to be the prince of Grantheim.
The three played in the streets, with the prince disguised as a common folk, and as the days passed he observed that Rosette was more inclined to play with him. He often saw the two of them, alone in their secret hideout, and she herself toured the prince around the city.
Nick knew that Rosette had fallen in love with the prince since then, but he was not deterred and vowed to himself that he will protect her with his life. ‘I was first,’ he always thought. Yet somehow he felt uneasy, as if his chest was as if hollow.
He decided that he needed a walk. Nick looked at Rosette for one last time and, with a heavy heart, left the ballroom.
-END CHAPTER-
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