Kota took off his black cloak as he turned a corner to see a familiar hallway within the castle. He glanced around before placing the cloak on a small table next to him. His hands fixed his red tunic with the white shirt covering his sleeves. Straightening the fabric and the leather straps that lay across his chest and ran onto his right shoulder. He nodded at his appearance, ran his fingers through slicked-back hair, and heard a groan from around the corner.
"Are you still fidgeting with your dress?" asked Kota as he peeked around the corner. "You look beautiful."
Sonya was straightening the fabric of her red dress, which was laced with gold-colored material. Kota moved up to her before grabbing the black cloak from around her shoulders, revealing the back of the dress. She let out another groan and asked him, "Can't I rip the hem of the dress just a bit? I mean, I am wearing armor and, not to mention, I hate gloves."
Kota laughed as he watched her fidget with the short-sleeved dress. A decorative piece of armor plating over her chest that fit her form, and the bodice under the armor added flair to the outfit. He stopped her from fidgeting and grabbed the armor plating around her shoulders. Kota turned her around before tightening the leather straps that went across her back. "You are the one who demanded some armor to help protect you at an elegant dance where no fighting would occur. There, is that better?" he asked as she spun around.
She moved her upper torso and shoulders, feeling the adjustments he had made. "A little, but I still do not wear dresses. I am a fighter, not something to be shown off. You can be a little too revealing in a dress during a fight," exclaimed Sonya as she twirled in her dress, feeling stressed.
Kota reached up to his mask and tightened the laces behind his head before turning to Sonya. "You really look great, Sonya. A genuine spark among those who would wear dresses. Now make sure your mask is secure."
She moved her hands behind her head before tying the straps of the mask under her black ponytail. When she finished, Kota reached out his arm to wrap her arm within his, and they began moving toward the main dining hall of the castle. The two of them admired the walls as they passed many artifacts and paintings of the history of his kingdom. They walked arm in arm until they reached a door on the outside of the main hall, where Sonya froze.
"Remember, we are only here to meet the king when he is alone. Try to relax. Blend in and avoid drawing attention. You are my responsibility, after all." Kota smiled as he watched Sonya's face under the red mask go sour, thinking about the other side of the door. "Smile, please."
Sonya glanced at the guards by the door, forcing a smile. Her face ridged as they reached the doors, where the two of them began hearing elegant music and the sound of guests mingling. She took a deep breath as Kota placed his hand on hers. Kota guided them to the door, with the guards opening it to the ball.
Sonya leaned in and whispered, "Just remember who the dead prince here is. No unnecessary risks."
Kota nodded as the doors fully opened to reveal a massive dining hall, its elegant fabrics stretching from pillar to pillar. Colorful flames flickered around torches on the walls, while people danced to string music in the middle of the room, with tables placed around the perimeter. The room was filled with people in various-colored dresses and outfits, all wearing matching masks to conceal their identities from those around them.
Kota turned his attention to a fire caller dressed in elegant, skintight clothing as she stood by the king's throne, making a dragon out of the flames on the wall. It jumped from one torch to the next, changing colors. "That is quite the spectacle."
Sonya smiled as she turned, watching the dragon as it pranced above them, jumping from flame to flame. "That caller must have practiced for years to perform such an act. Truly splendid."
Lucinda watched Kota enter the dining hall with Sonya's arm in his, the two marveling at the dragon above before moving through the crowds. She reached out as the barkeep handed her two goblets of wine before thanking him. Her attention turned to see Alexis still standing, arms crossed, in her blue dress with golden accents, her brown boots faintly visible under the dress as she leaned against one of the outer pillars.
She waved her way through the crowds and handed her a goblet. Alexis took it with a slight nod before swiftly tipping the wine back, finishing it instantly. Her eyes, under her blue-and-gold mask, stayed stoic. "Wow. Feeling a little nervous, are we?" asked Lucinda before taking a small sip from hers.
"These types of spectacles were always events for Grace and my other brothers. Kota and I love Grace, but her ideas of fun are noticeably different from ours. Kota and I have never sought the throne or the luxuries this life offers." Alexis bent down and placed the goblet on the floor beside her. "Don't misunderstand, luxuries are nice, but we prefer exploring the world."
Lucinda nodded and took a sip of her wine as she turned, watching the elegant party move into full swing. With all the different colors and fabrics sprawled over the walls, she looked down at her attire, seeing the simple green dress with long sleeves and a black leather bodice for added elegance. She laughed as she compared her dress to Alexis's. "I wouldn't think that with the dress you are wearing now. You seem to be fitting in well at this event. The very image of a princess."
Alexis looked down, taking note of her dress. Sonya stood at the room's far end, fidgeting with her dress and tying it at the knee. Her long brown boots, adorned with decorative metal, reached just below her knee. "At least I can hide in plain sight, unlike the fire caller over there. She is like a fish out of water right now. Struggling to breathe in this atmosphere."
She pointed her out in the crowd. Lucinda crossed her arms with the goblet in her left hand as she gave out a small laugh. "Kota will have his hands full trying to keep people's attention away from that one."
"I am still not sure who will have a harder time, Kota or Sonya. Keeping Kota out of trouble has been a constant struggle for me through the years," said Alexis, turning her head toward Lucinda and laughing lightly. "Seems the troubles have not stopped following him."
Kota smiled while examining the well-designed party area crafted by the castle staff. He turned slightly, noticing Sonya tying up the hem of her dress. Shaking his head, he lightly tapped his foot against her own. "Want me to get you a drink to ease your nerves?"
Sonya nodded as she finished tying the hem, freeing up some space for her legs to move more easily in the dress. "I will search for the king or at least your mother... or if anyone looks suspicious." She paused when she noticed him smirking at her, and he gestured down to her dress. "I need movement. You may thank me later if you do anything foolish. Drinks, that's it."
"And what does that mean?"
Sonya laughed, turning away from him without saying another word, while he shook his head. Kota headed around the central area, where everyone danced, to avoid passing through it. He looked at the brown glove around his left wrist and reached to tighten it. Kota was focused on his left glove when he accidentally bumped into a woman in an elegant red-and-black dress, almost knocking her over. He quickly grabbed her black-gloved hand before pulling her to a standing position and holding her at arm's length.
"I apologize. That is not the first time I have almost knocked someone over this week," said Kota, smiling at the woman as she turned around.
Kota froze for a second, recognizing the green eyes under her black-and-gold mask as she moved a loose blond strand out of her face and back behind her ear. She smiled as he asked, quieting his voice a bit, "Grace? I mean, Your Royal Highness, is that you? I would recognize that smile and those golden locks anywhere."
Grace fixed her dress, which featured gold lace in various elegant designs, as his comment took her by surprise. She reached out her hand as Kota reached out and put his hand under hers, shaking it once graciously. "Am I that recognizable? I was hoping to see the party a bit more before people figured out that I had escaped my father's sight," she whispered, leaning in closer. "Do not tell him, please."
"Would not think of it."
Kota stood smiling at her. He then focused on her neck, where he saw a gold chain holding a rose pendant. "Your secret is safe with me, Princess. I meant no alarm. I am a close friend of your older brother, Michael, so I have seen you before," Kota explained.
"I recognize those eyes, but he's been away from the kingdom since last year, so I haven't seen him lately. I was hoping this party would bring our family back together after..." She paused as she reached her right hand up, feeling the rose necklace between her fingers. "What is your name again, sir?"
Kota hesitated for a second, keeping his eyes on her face. After a moment, he bowed slightly, answering her. "Edrei. My name is Edrei."
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She thought for a second about his answer and smiled. "That is a good name. I have read about its meaning. Your parents must have been scholars, or at least fascinated by the sky."
"Not exactly scholars, but they enjoyed the beauty of the sky. Nothing like relaxing against the grass and cloud watching with a good friend."
The two changed their focus as a water serpent jumped from one hanging cauldron to the next above them, dancing in sync with the fire dragon that he had seen earlier. His eyes watched as the two continued to move down the hall. He smiled, witnessing his sister focused on the dragons with her mouth slightly agape.
Kota's gaze shifted to the throne and then returned to the water dragon. "I thought there was a fire caller on stage, not a water caller."
"We were, in fact, able to secure the greatest performers in Eira. A fire caller and water caller sibling duo. They have been nothing but spectacular from what I have seen today," said Grace, smiling as she watched the two elements above mixing and performing as one.
She turned her attention to Kota, smiling as a passing woman with reddish-brown hair and a simple black dress bumped into him. While he regained his composure, the passing woman leaned in and caught his balance. "The woman at the bar," she said calmly.
Kota looked over at the bar and noticed the woman in a black dress with red lace accents around her waist and a brown bodice extending past her shoulders. Her hair was dark brown and braided stylishly down her back, with small red flowers tied into it every few inches. He paused, fixated on her gray eyes. She leaned on the counter, scanning the room for someone.
Grace interjected. "Are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Turning, he realized the woman who had bumped into him was gone. He stood still as he smelled the faint smell of flowers in the air. "There was... never mind."
Grace looked back to see Kota's gaze, but he swiftly took hold of her hand. Kota leaned close and, with a smile, spoke. "I am fine. Just saw an old friend. I wish you a grand birthday, Your Royal Highness. Also, whoever chose that necklace for you has great taste."
Smiling, he walked away from her without saying another word. As she watched him leave, she said something under her breath, but Kota could not hear it as he focused on the woman in the black dress. Passing a table on his right, he grabbed a knife that lay inside a cooked bird and placed it alongside his arm to hide it from sight. He approached the woman from the left side of the attendees at the party. He moved silently until he was a few feet away from her.
She took a sip of her wine, and as she placed the cup against the counter. Her eyes never left the surrounding party. "If it isn't the deceased prince back from the dead. How has your time outside that terrible prison been?"
Kota stopped as he eyed her up and down before leaning against the counter himself. Almost touching arms, he watched as she took another sip of her wine. "Why not kill you now for what you did to my family and me? You caused a great deal of stress for my sister, after all."
She placed her cup down again as she eyed Kota to see the blade only an inch away from her side, underneath her arm. She smiled at him as she leaned in closer, placing her red lips near his ear. "See, that would not be a good idea. Yes, you could kill me with that knife, but what about your friends? Do you think I, as a woman, would come unprepared? I have more people here than you. They will kill the king, Alexis, Grace, and those other two women with you. The redhead and one dressed like a hunter playing dress-up?" She picked up her cup of wine again and moved her finger along the rim of the glass.
Kota glanced around, unsure of her seriousness. He saw through the crowds as Alexis and Lucinda talked closer to the throne, and Sonya moved closer to them. She touched his hand, and he saw her hand waiting for the blade. He thought for a second before spinning the blade between his fingers and placing the hilt in her hand.
"I refuse to find out if you're bluffing after what happened with those soldiers in the forest."
"See, now that's a good boy." Placing the knife on the counter, she took another sip of wine. "What brings you here tonight anyway? I thought you and your group might be a little less desperate than this."
Kota caught the eye of the man working the counter, and he handed Kota a small goblet of ale. Before he took a drink and looked into the party. "Thinking straight is difficult when a year goes by quickly and the world believes you're deceased. Not to mention you talking to me like nothing happened."
The two watched as the party attendees laughed and chatted throughout the room, paying them no attention to their conversation. The woman held a stoic face as she smiled. "In all fairness, you broke out of prison a bit earlier than I had planned. Alexis works fast when she is motivated, doesn't she?"
"Interesting. So, you planned for me to escape with Alexis's help? You could probably have killed us all whenever you wanted. Why not right here, or even when I was locked away in prison for a year?" asked Kota, taking another small drink as he watched her body language while he asked his questions.
Her face and body showed no changes in emotion as she spoke in a calm voice. "I find the idea of this party an interesting one. Your so-called sister is coming of age, so she throws an elaborate masquerade ball to honor herself by getting older."
"You still never actually answer my questions, but I will indulge you in this little game you play. What about it seems interesting? You never celebrated your birth?" asked Kota, showing signs of irritation in his voice as he placed his cup down and turned toward her. "Did you spawn from a pond like a frog?"
"No need to be cheeky. I have celebrated my birth before, but why do you believe she chose a masquerade ball?"
Kota paused for a second as he placed his hand on his chin before putting it back on the counter. "I believe she chose this theme because of the mystery. A chance to hide in plain sight rather than be on display, as a Princess such as herself routinely is."
The woman gave a small laugh as she took another sip of her wine. Kota watched her as he grabbed his drink. She kept her eyes on the crowd as if she were watching someone in particular. "Are you drawing from your own perceptions? Sounds like something you would say with all your hunting trips and secret excursions with Alexis when you were younger."
Placing his cup back on the counter, he turned toward her. "How do you know about my childhood?"
"No need to get angry, Kota. I know more about you than you may know about yourself."
After finishing her wine, she placed the goblet back on the counter and stood from her stool. She moved in front of Kota and held out her hand. "Care to talk more over a dance?"
Kota observed his group, conversing with numerous individuals nearby, while maintaining their positions. He sighed before grabbing her hand. "Do I even have a choice with you?" asked Kota as he begrudgingly followed her to the middle of the room.
"We all may make our choices. We have to live with the consequences, though, but we can be civil here," the woman explained as they moved through the crowds of people toward the countless number of couples and people dancing.
Amidst the crowd, she released his hand and faced him. She placed her left hand on his shoulder as she held out her other hand, awaiting his. "No need to be shy, Kota. I am not here to harm you," she said as he grabbed her hand and placed his other close to her waist.
She sighed as she let go of his shoulder and placed his right hand confidently on her waist, below her bodice. "You appeared to be less nervous when I was attacking you than you do now."
She smiled as the two moved and swayed to the music.
"Well, this is our first dance, and I don't even know the name of the woman who tried to kill me that night many moons ago," said Kota, focusing on her eyes as she led him through the movements.
She smiled as they spun, keeping an eye on each other without missing a beat, and moving between the other dancers on the floor. Kota's face stayed stoic as he watched her dance in front of him. His eyebrow lifted to her as he awaited her answer.
"Oh, the dislocated shoulder? I apologize," she replied. "My name is Cordelia, and I never tried to kill you. Just capture you. Why would I want to kill someone as important as you?"
Kota moved his hands away from her, but she shook her head, and he replaced his hand on her waist. He moved and swayed as she continued the dance. "Okay. Cordelia, what's your purpose here if not to kill me?"
Cordelia led the movements as Kota continued to follow her with every footstep. Leaning her head in a little closer, she smiled as she responded. "If you would believe it, they truly invited me. The people in these halls do not know me as you do."
"I would not believe that for a second, but if you were, then why show your face to me tonight?" asked Kota without a pause after she spoke. "You are wearing a mask and completely hidden in the crowd."
The two moved faster to the rhythm as the music accelerated.
"I did not show my face. You were the one who approached me, remember? I was content with staying in the shadows for this party and enjoying the show to come," said Cordelia as Kota spun her slightly and she moved back into his arms.
"Wait. Then it wasn't you who sent over that woman who told me to look your way?" asked Kota, almost stopping as he glanced around the room for that woman in a black dress.
"Woman? Interesting that someone else knows I am here," Cordelia speculated as she looked at Kota's face, glancing around the room. "What does this woman look like?"
Kota stopped after she asked, then removed his hand from her waist and turned away. "If she is an ally, then I will find her myself," he declared. "What reason do I have to tell you about her? She may be on my side in this conflict."
Kota felt a tight grip on his right hand as she pulled him back to her, spinning him once before she dipped him. He braced himself against her, grabbing around her back as she looked into his eyes.
Smiling, she kept him in that position as she spoke. "Wouldn't you like to know why I kidnapped you and threw your kingdom into chaos? Perhaps the curse on your left hand or even your mother?"
"I have so many questions for you," said Kota, staring straight back into her eyes. "How do I know if you're being truthful with me this time? You lied to me once before."
Cordelia lifted him back up and placed his hand on her hip again before moving to sway with the music. "Why would I ever lie to you, Kota?"
They continued to dance as Kota thought for a second. "What do you know about my mother?"
As the instruments died down, the surrounding dancers came to a halt. She looked around as they dispersed throughout the ballroom. "Let's go somewhere more private and talk. Away from prying ears." She moved away from him, but then she turned his way and held out her hand before placing it back at her side. "To know more, trust and follow my lead."
Kota crossed his arms, tapping his right foot on the ground. "Why would I do that? I enjoy having people around to witness your plans for me. You could certainly take me on by myself."
Lifting her hand, she made to snap her fingers as she looked at his face. "I have no intention of harming you or your friends tonight, but if you do not cooperate on a simple request, I may have to snap my fingers and remove them from the equation. Remember, I am a patient woman, but I will harm those around you for even a simple request, like a conversation with you in private."
Kota uncrossed his arms as he took a step forward and pleaded with her. "Okay, I'll go with you, but your men must refrain from any actions tonight."
Agreeing, she nodded as he followed her out of the central area, across the bar, and through a nearby door.