The Midnight Ball

10

Note: Anushka
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Next came an intellectual challenge, the princesses were tested all night on their knowledge of various subjects

They spent the night thinking so hard, they ended up with headaches, even though not mild, they got better considerably after resting

That night, Navid started speaking more with the other princesses, heeding Ismie's advice and spending less one on one time with her, to his sister's relief

He also tried more to catch Ramonda's attention and admiration

Ismie was glad to see his endeavors were likely to succeed. Ramonda did seem to like him more than most, even if she didn't like him as much as he liked her

Ismie wasn't left to her own devices though

Margarette still targeted her, having nothing better to do

Ismie tried her best to ignore her, and her protective circle of new friends, especially Ramonda, deterred her a lot

Ismie was surprised even Anushka and Mariko intervened once or twice

Upon seeing her surprise, Anushka replied that Margarette and her followers' behaviour wasn't proper for princesses, besides Ismie was her brother's good friend

Mariko only replied she aborred bullying

Ferdinand still made advances and was getting slightly frustrated she didn't respond the way he wanted

He even enlisted Nikolai's aid to help his case, but it didn't work

There was an additional attention she found puzzling. Ever since Keijirou heard her humming that song, she've been catching the twins' gaze landing on her from time to time

Their nightly tests continued

One night they were told to plant whole fields, and spent the next nights taking care of these plants

Another they were brewing herbal medicines, for some contrived maladies

Other nights, they washed clothes, scrubbed floors and raised animals, both farm animals and wild ones

One night they were even kept cooking and baking till dawn

They would always go back to the castle bone wary, and still with no memory of their nightly activities

The only one who seemed to be having faint feelings about what they did was Ismie

There was a night they spent at archery, both on still and moving targets

They were puzzled yet again, what was the purpose of it?

Not all the princesses practiced it as well, Ramonda, Mariko and Anushka did, as well as Margarette and Santana

The others did not

But they all obeyed, some even trying to teach the others, finding they were not allowed to stop, and come dawn, their arms and upper backs were sore

The next day, Keijirou, who had been called by his nickname for a while now, upon watching his sister moving, announced that the girls have been practicing archery through the night

Nyong'o and Navid agreed with him

Again they were asked if they remembered anything, and they seemed puzzled

Ismie looked thoughtful, her arm twitched

Kei looked at her sharply

Navid asked: What is it Ismeralda, can you remember anything?

Ismie: There's a feeling.. But I am not sure

Ramonda: Now that you mention it, there is something vague there.. If anything, even if we don't remember, the way it feels, is correspondent with a hard session of archery practice

Margarette approached her when they were leaving: What game are you playing?

Ismie: What do you mean?

Margarette: Are you in league with whatever is controlling this?

Ismie frowned: What are you saying? I have to do this just like the rest of you. How can I be involved?

Anastasia: She's right. Everytime it seems you remember something. You're never as confused as the rest of us..

Ismie: I have no explanation for that. I don't know how it is so, but it is

Margarette: What a weak argument

Freja was nodding her assent

Elinore couldn't stand it anymore. She had her supicions that Margarette was treating Ismie unkindly, then she was kept from interfering by the difference in rank. She didn't want to cause trouble for her husband and father in law, but enough is enough

Elinore: That is no counduct of a princess, your highness

Margarette turned on her: And who are you, to tell me so? A mere lady..

Ramonda who'd seen them congregating came to intervene: Her ladyship is right, princess Margarette. And it is a grave offence accusing Ismie of such a thing. What proof do you have?

Margarette: She can remember.. No one else can. How do you think that is?

Mariko: That is no proof

Anushka: We don't know anything of what's really been going on

Marie: She doesn't remember everything

Santana: They're right. So back off, you're not winning anyone over by doing this

The others nodded

Ismie looked at Margarette as if she just realized something: You're afraid..

Margarette: What?! That's ridoculous

Ismie sighed: You are not the only one. It's alright to admit it

She stood there tight lipped

The others sighed and left

Only Margarette, Anastasia and Freja remained

Anastasia touched Margarette's shoulder: If anyone should be scared, it should be her, because if she is blameless, then she has been singled out, and in this case, that can never be good