Love at First Sight

Chapter 20

Standing on the other side of the room were Lord Charles and Milori! Clarion wanted to run to Milori and ask him how in the world he was here but she couldn't. Instead, she curtsied to Lord Charles and quietly asked Jaina

"How are they here?"

"I pulled a few strings. I wanted to meet him and besides, you've barely been here for two days and you're already miserable without him."

"Dang it! I was hoping you hadn't noticed. That's not what I meant though. I mean how are they here without their wings breaking?"

"Oh, that. Let's just say that when Mom and Raya put their heads together, they can do some pretty crazy stuff with their magic."

Clarion made a mental note to ask Queen Raya how to access this sort of magic and then the formal "introductions" began.

"Lord Charles, thank you for coming on such short notice." Jaina curtsied

"But of course, my dear. I believe you have yet to meet my heir, Prince Milori."

"Prince Milori how lovely to meet you." Jaina curtsied to Milori and offered her hand. Clarion saw the mental debate flash across his eyes for a split second as he locked eyes with her. She gave a small nod, indicating that it was okay if he kissed her hand which he quickly did. After which he said 

"Wonderful to meet you as well princess."

"Might I introduce my colleagues? This is Queen Alya, Queen Raya of the warm side, and Princess Clarion." One by one, each woman went up to meet the two men as bows and curtsies were exchanged. When it was Clarion's turn, she curtsied to Lord Charles and he simply gave her a very cold stare. She took the hint and moved on to Milori. She curtsied and offered her hand. He took and kissed it with a tenderness and a smile that she knew was reserved only for her. She suspected that he was trying to come up with something clever to say to her that wouldn't expose their secret. In the end, he simply settled on "It's lovely to meet you" and they all took their seats at the table. Clarion was quick to sit across from Milori. She wanted to sit next to him but knew that a move like that would raise suspicion. Everyone started talking to each other while they waited for their dinner.

"So, will you be at the ball tonight?" Clarion asked

"Yes we will," answered Lord Charles

"And how long are you here?" She asked Milori

"We leave the day after next," Lord Charles answered again. Clarion really wanted to give him a piece of her mind and was about to say something but then she remembered what had happened the last time she had mouthed back at Lord Charles and decided to keep her mouth shut. Everyone continued to make conversation through dinner with Lord Charles talking mostly to Jaina, while Jaina took the time to get to know Milori a little bit. She also delighted in telling Milori stories about the antics that she and Clarion used to get up to as kids. After dinner, everyone went their separate ways for a little while while they got ready for the ball. The girls put their dresses on and then went to admire each other's dresses. Jaina was wearing a knee-length sleeveless lavender dress with sheer straps that laced up the back and Clarion was wearing a knee-length sleeveless sapphire blue with a high-low skirt and diamond accents. They were supposed to wear floor-length ballgowns but both girls hated floor-length dresses with a passion so they had begged the queens to let them wear knee-length instead and had gotten an agreement. They sat in Clarion's room and did each other's hair and makeup while they listened to music. Once they finished, they met with the queens in the hallway and prepared for their grand entrances. Clarion was set to enter first on one staircase while Jaina was to enter on the other staircase. Clarion would then meet Milori (who was her escort thanks to more of Jaina's string pulling) and the two would wait for the queens to enter and take their escorts. The four would then perform a waltz on display for everyone to see before dancing was opened to everyone. At that point, the four women were allowed to dance with anyone that they wanted or choose not to dance at all. Jaina also had the privilege of being escorted by her boyfriend while Queen Raya was (unfortunately) being escorted by Lord Charles. Queen Alya, meanwhile was escorted by someone that Clarion didn't know. She assumed that he was some high-ranking government official. The trumpets announced their entrance and the double doors were opened.