A Dove's Tale

Chapter 10

I couldn't stop thinking about that. All night, there was that question at the back of my mind: Who had paid the bill? More to the point, why? I kept seeing a picture in my mind from a few days ago, Prince Chevalier's quill poised over blank parchment. He didn't write a word while I was there in his office in the few minutes before my lunch, but later, when I came back from lunch, he was writing constantly without regard to my presence. Was he about to write the letter that morning, and he didn't want me to see it? Why would he do that? Why would he bother himself with my problems?

Should I ask him about it?

I lay perfectly still next to Mother that night, listening to her steady breathing, but I just couldn't relax. This wasn't doing me any good. Maybe if I went out for a short walk, I'd be able to clear my head and get some sleep. I slipped quietly out of bed, got dressed, and headed out into the night.

I walked through the village toward the city, intending to turn around and go back home when I reached the country, but the city was brightly lit up in the distance. Tomorrow would be Rhodolite Foundation Day, and there was always a big festival. Preparations must be going on. I decided it wouldn't do any harm to check it out, but I took a detour around the red-light district. Things got rowdy there during festivals.

I followed the lights and, eventually, music, to the city square. Roses were everywhere, decorating shop fronts, stalls that were being set up, the fountain, the streetlights, even people's hats. Preparations were indeed underway, and it looked like the celebrations were starting early. Sometimes, even the aristocracy came down from the palace to participate in the festivities. I wondered if any of the princes would be there tomorrow. Probably not Prince Chevalier.

"Hey, Ivetta, what are you doing up so late?"

I looked around, startled to hear a familiar voice calling my name, and saw Prince Leon walking up to me. He wore a plain black shirt and black pants, with no sword at his hip.

"Pr-"

"Sh," he said, putting a finger to his lips. "Just Leon." He winked and patted me on the head.

"Oh, okay. Leon," I stammered nervously. "What are you doing here?"

"I asked first," he said, grinning.

I considered asking him about the bill. It definitely seemed like it would be more up his alley to take care of it than it would be for Prince Chevalier to do so. But Prince Leon didn't even know about my mother.

"I couldn't sleep," I said simply, shrugging. "And I noticed the lights, so I came to check it out."

His amber eyes searched my face, but he continued to smile. "Guess it's my turn. I like to sneak out every so often, and what better time to do that than a festival? Let's grab some drinks."

"Are they open yet?" I asked, following him to a stall.

"The shopkeeper's here and the drinks are here. Why wouldn't they be open?" He pounded on the wooden counter. "Hey, how 'bout a couple of drinks here?" he called jovially.

The shopkeeper was adjusting some decorations, and he spun around with a frown.

"We're not-" he started angrily, but his face lit up as soon as he saw Prince Leon. "Leon! You're a bit early for the party, but the bar is always open for you. What'll you have?"

"Whatever you've got ready is fine for me. How about you, Ivetta?" he asked, steering me up to the counter with a hand on my shoulder.

"I don't really know. What would you recommend?" I asked, still trying to wrap my head around Prince Leon's incognito role as a commoner. He must do this pretty frequently, too, for people to be on such friendly terms with him.