The Royal Deal

CXXXI - CXLIII

I have an idea! Thought Amethyst. I can do it like that movie! A smile appeared on her face. I can prepare it in that way. It doesn't even take much time! And it will be so mysterious.

"Lunia," she said, "I have an idea."

"Do tell," said Lunia.

"The invites have been sent out already, right?" asked Amethyst.

"Yes."

"Then can you prepare as many masks as the invites?" said Amethyst, "make them all identical."

"Of course, but masks?" asked Lunia.

"Yes," said Amethyst, "Remember that they all need to be identical. No need to make them to cover the entire face, just the eyes and the nose. Mass producing masks with same design shouldn't be difficult."

"Of course," said Lunia, "What do you intend to do with so many masks?"

"It's obvious, isn't it?" said Amethyst, "I intend to distribute them to all the nobles who attend the ball. It will be a pre-requisite of attending the ball so they will be handed a mask from the time they reach here and get out of their carriage. Have everyone informed that they would have to wear the mask or they won't be allowed an entry to the ballroom."

"We are seriously going to do it?" asked Lunia.

"Yes!" said Amethyst, "Wouldn't it be fun? Nobody will recognize the other because everyone will be wearing the same kind of mask. Wouldn't it be thrilling to not know who you are dancing with?"

"I don't think people will be fooled," said Lunia, "They can still recognize their partners even if part of their faces is covered."

Well, true, they might recognize their partners, thought Amethyst, but not everybody. I wonder if they will fight because of it or fall for another. Amethyst played with various possibilities in her head happily. There is no way I wouldn't recognize Alec. But if Alec doesn't recognize me then perhaps, I can trick him into letting me join the hunting match. Amethyst laughed aloud.

"It seems like you have become similar to the duke in mind games," said Lunia.

"That doesn't sound like a compliment," said Amethyst.

"It is," said Lunia, smiling.

"It doesn't seem so," said Amethyst, aghast.

"It is!" insisted Lunia.

Amethyst stared at her with disbelief but Lunia cleared her throat and changed the topic of their discussion. "Then I will make the arrangements and have the masks prepared," she said, "Is there a color that you want the masks to be?"

"Black!" said Amethyst. "It should be black."

***

The meetings continued and while Alexcent was busy handling them, Amethyst spent her time with the other ladies, inviting them for tea or taking a stroll in the garden. Her schedule was manageable.

The days passed in the same manner and the meetings came to a halt after the conflicts and discussions had been resolved. Thanks to Amethyst who had contributed her idea for the biggest problem of them all, the meetings ended earlier than the previous years. A few days later, it was time for the much-awaited ball.

On the fateful day, the ladies didn't step out of their rooms in preparation for the event. Amethyst, too, got up early in the morning in preparation for the busy day ahead. Roman and Lunia were diligently helping her get ready for the big event.

Amethyst was just about done with her bath and massage and was just donning the bathrobe when a maid knocked and rushed inside her room.

"Madam!" cried the maid, "There is a problem."