A Dove's Tale

Chapter 57

It was hectic behind the scenes. Servants were everywhere, bringing more alcohol up from the wine cellar; rushing platters of food from the kitchen to the refreshment tables in the ballroom and the parlor next door to it, where people could sit down to rest; carrying empty bottles, glasses, and plates back to the kitchens; cleaning up messes; meeting the demands of individual guests; and doing it all while staying mostly out of sight from the partygoers.

I didn't get to stay out of the ballroom. There was always something to do, and I had to help wherever needed. A nice thing about my brief forays into the ballroom was the chance to admire the elaborate ball gowns the women wore and the formal attire donned by the men. The princes didn't have to dress up at all. Their normal, everyday clothes easily passed for formalwear. Prince Luke was the only exception, but he dressed up for this, and he looked even more handsome than usual in his shockingly white pants, long white coat edged in black and gold over a green dress shirt, and white dress gloves. He also looked a little uncomfortable. I felt a twinge of sympathy for the commoner turned prince, two or so months into his new position as royalty and already having to play the part in front of a massive international audience.

Prince Chevalier and Prince Leon took their positions on either side of the dance floor, as Theresa said, holding court. Prince Clavis was at Prince Chevalier's right hand. The subdued line of men waiting their turn to talk to Prince Chevalier was a violent contrast to the jovial crowd surrounding Prince Leon, who laughed and talked with them like they were all old friends. Except there was something in his amber eyes that didn't look as cheerful and carefree as usual, and I knew why. He and Prince Chevalier were watching Prince Gilbert constantly. And I always knew where Prince Gilbert was by the silence and the deathly chill that followed him everywhere. I tried not to look at him, but whenever I did, he was always looking back at me.

Prince Chevalier kept looking at me, too.

It was unnerving. I stayed out of the ballroom as much as possible.

The hours flew by, eaten up by a constant stream of busyness. There was a point when the line in front of Prince Chevalier ended and the crowd around Prince Leon dispersed, but Prince Chevalier didn't leave the ballroom. He didn't join the dancing, either. He remained on the periphery, his piercing blue eyes watching everything, while Prince Leon joined the dancing. I'd spotted most of the other princes among the dancers over the long evening, with Prince Jin and Prince Silvio taking frequent breaks to grab a drink at the refreshment table. Prince Nokto hadn't left the dancefloor once, to my knowledge. It was past eleven o'clock now, and I was fairly certain he'd danced with every beautiful young woman by this point. Prince Licht was the only prince I hadn't seen all night.

The exhaustion was settling in. I blame that for my lack of resistance when Prince Clavis caught my arm and led me toward an empty balcony.

"Prince Clavis-" I protested, but I didn't put up much of a fight.

"It's time for a break," he said lightly, opening the glass door and tugging me toward the railing.

"I can't take a break yet, your highness. Not when everybody else is still working."

But the cool night breeze was so refreshing on my face, and I knew he wouldn't let me leave right away, anyway. I rested my hands on the smooth white railing and leaned forward, closing my eyes for just a moment while the scent of roses drifting up from the gardens below wrapped around me.

And then his arm wrapped around me. Sort of. I opened my eyes and looked down at his right hand next to mine.

He wasn't supposed to be part of my trouble tonight.

"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" he asked, smiling down at me with glittering golden eyes.

"I think I should go, your highness," I said firmly, stepping as far away from him as his arm would allow.