The Lady Knight

My head was already pounding.

The surroundings were too familiar, too painful to watch and to recollect everything. Truly, the double doors in front of me currently felt like the gateway to hell.

"Julie," Nick gazed down at me, concerned, "you look a little pale."

I forced my lips up in a smile at once. "Worry not, I am all right, Nick. If I am pale, it must be because of the weather. Rue the cold." I scowled at the snow-covered grounds outside.

He chuckled, taking my word for it. "Shall we make an entrance, then, Commander General Ma'am?" he offered me his arm.

I glanced at the rest of the Captains behind us, and took a deep, staggering breath.

"All right, let us go," I slipped my tiny hand into the crook of his offered arm, and nodded at the heralds to announce us and open the doors.

The first thing I saw when we entered was the grand, shiny emblem of two blood-red dragons facing each other, bordered in bright gold that was painted on the wall above the thrones on the dais.

My lips pulled up in a bitter smile.

It was the ducal crest of Roche - of the De Beauharnais family. The crest that I had learned to dislike together with the rest of the De Beauharnaises over the years.

My gaze travelled down from the emblem to find the dais rather crowded. On the two thrones sat Lord Thomas and Lady Rosanna De Beauharnais of Roche, and they were surrounded by seven Corporals, and two Ladies.

My eyes, however, focused on one of the Ladies in particular.

Waist length of wavy, rich golden blonde hair framed her flawless heart-shaped face. Truly, there was not a blemish in sight on her countenance. Her large, ocean blue eyes seemed to sparkle with the rays from the Sun, as her cheeks glowed pink with health.

Adorned in minimal jewels, dressed in a pale lilac gown that subtly emphasized her curves as she stood upright with her hands clasped at her waist, complete with a gentle, happy smile gracing her rosebud lips, she was quite the portrait of a regal, almost angelic goddess divine.

She had only grown more beautiful over the years - and it would appear her hatred for me had grown no less over the years, either.

Despite the happy smile still on her lips, her blue eyes blazed at me with a viciousness that truly unnerved me. She made Lady Olivia look like a jest next to the threat she was posing to my sanity.

Indeed, Lady Olivia was nothing in comparison to Tess. She was the one to be watched, to be truly wary of.

Sighing slightly, I glanced up at Nick, who was also staring at her with interest.

I shook my head, wryly amused. Men were drawn to beauty as ants were drawn to a pot of honey.

"She is Tess, Nick," I murmured, as we strolled down the red carpet, "do you remember her now?"

"Aye, she looks very familiar," he nodded slowly, smiling, "I think I am beginning to remember."

I knew not why, but his happy tone stuck an odd, painful chord in my heart. My head began to pound more insistently, making my migraine worse.

Lady Rosanna was smiling directly at me, but unlike her friend Lady Françoise in Tessensohn, her smile was not openly false. In fact, one could not even call her out for insincerity unless he or she had known her as long as I had.

Thus, I was able to discern the underlying malice beneath that tender, loving smile.

And it seemed as if I was the only one who had.

I glanced at Oncle Thomas next, whose gaze was genuinely joyful as it landed on me.

I felt my first, true smile blossom on my face since my arrival in Roche. My Uncle was the exact opposite of his wife in nature. He was one of the purest, kindest souls I had ever met, and he always believed the best of everyone.

Sadly, that also meant that he was little informed of Lady Rosanna's true nature.

Nevertheless, he had always loved and considered me as his own daughter. Indeed, he had been at loggerheads with Papa for as long as I could remember over how I was being treated.

It was unfortunate that the latter steadily refused to listen to him.

Oncle Thomas was a true blessing in my life. I would forever be grateful to him for showering me with love and kindness, and offering me advice and guidance whenever I needed it - even when my own father was unable to.

I grinned at him now, before I looked through the rest of the men and women who were standing beside the couple. However, I could not find the one woman I had been looking forward to seeing among them.

I grew worried. Where was she? Why was she not on the dais with the other two Potentials?

By this time, we had already reached the dais, and my attention was diverted. Oncle Thomas and Lady Rosanna rose, and the whole lot of them on the dais bowed and curtsied respectively, with murmurs of 'Your Royal Highness' and 'Commander General Ma'am'.

"You may all rise," Nick commanded, smiling.

Oncle Thomas was the first to rise, but before he could say anything, Lady Rosanna had stepped forward.

He graciously let her, hiding an amused smile.

"Good morning, Your Royal Highness, Commander General Ma'am, Captains," she addressed each one of us, beaming all the while, "my husband and I are most delighted to welcome you to Roche. I trust your journey here was bearable and you are all well?"

I had to hand it to her. She was careful to include the Captains and me in her well wishes, especially so that she appeared a wholly concerned hostess, and not a selective one like Lady Françoise.

Mayhap I sounded a little biased, and mayhap I indeed was. It was only that I knew her too well to be deceived by her honeyed tones.

"I am well, thank you, Lady Roche." I could tell Nick took a liking to her at once.

"We are well, too. The journey here was all right," I answered for myself and the rest of the Captains.

"What happened to your cheek, my dear?" Oncle Thomas noticed the healing burn on my cheek, and went deathly pale.

I shuffled on my feet, uncomfortable, as I felt eighteen pairs of eyes in the room, including Nick's solemn ones, focus on my face.

"It was merely an accident," I assured him with a small smile, "but I am fine now. The scars only look worse than they truly are."

Lady Rosanna's smile only widened at the sight of my scars. "I am glad you are all right now, Ma'am," her voice was deceptively soft, "do take care."

How utterly insincere.

She then turned to Nick. "Your Royal Highness, may I introduce you to my two daughters, Lady Therese and Lady Clarisse," she gestured her two daughters forward - the ever beautiful, manipulative Tess, and her kinder, younger replica Clara.

Tess sunk into a curtsey. "Your Royal Highness," her voice was soft, "I am so pleased to meet you again after all these years."

Nick took her hand, and brushed his lips across it. "The pleasure is all mine, Lady Therese," he grinned, "it is indeed wonderful to see you well and happy." His eyes lingered on her countenance for a touch too long.

What irritated me the most, strangely, was the fact that he meant every word of what he had said. Mayhap Richard spoke correctly, and Nick would inevitably end up picking Tess for a bride.

The thought merely intensified the migraine that was already plaguing my mind.

"Lady Clarisse," he turned to kiss Clara's hand next, "it is a joy to make your acquaintance."

Clara smiled at him, and inclined her head in greeting.

"All of you must be tired after the journey here," Tess glanced around at us, smiling a little too brightly, "if I may show you to your chambers - "

"I apologise for the interruption, my Lady," I cut her off, truly worried now, "but there is one more Potential to be introduced to His Royal Highness. Where is Kat?"

My hand on Nick's arm tightened out of its own accord in worry.

Tess's eyes darkened, no doubt irritated at my interruption, but her countenance betrayed no trace of dissatisfaction or annoyance. She was a master at the game of pretence, and I would gladly salute her for it.

"I am here, poppet. I was delayed because I had to escort Lisa from her carriage," a wry voice spoke behind me, "worry not, De Beauharnais will never murder me without letting the whole world know about it first."

Releasing Nick's arm, I turned around to see Kat standing on the threshold of the receiving hall - with a beaming Lisa by her side.

I felt my spirits rise to the skies, as I gazed at my best friends. At long last. After seven, long years, we had gathered in one place together.

I broke into a sprint at once, speeding along the red carpet as I never had before with tremendous energy, and ran straight into their open arms. They stumbled slightly with the force I had rushed towards them with, but their arms came tightly around me at once, laughing.

"If Tess had murdered you, I would have had murdered her without a second thought, cousin or not," I whispered to Kat, "by the Lord, 'tis marvellous to see you again, old girl. And you brought Lisa with you too!"

"If you had truly missed me, then why did you not visit me? Roche is only a two-day ride from Bordeux," I could almost hear Kat smirk, "or at least bother to stay behind in Bordeux whenever we came to visit?"

"That is what I told her when she appeared in Louvre after so many years," Lisa spoke up lightly at that moment.

"All right, all right, I am very sorry," I groaned, "I was too involved in my training and in my job, and I am a pig for not visiting you both over the last few years. Happy?"

"Not quite, poppet. Perhaps I will consider forgiving you if you have more insults for yourself," Kat chuckled.

I punched her back lightly, not deigning to reply to that.

The both of them pulled back to look at me, with huge grins on their faces. Kat had braided her brunette curls into a side braid, instead of leaving it unbound like she had when she was younger, and she had grown slightly taller.

Otherwise, she had changed very little. The bold glint in her grey eyes still persisted over the years.

But their grins faded when their eyes reached my cheek.

"I do not mean to be rude, poppet," Kat drawled, with a layer of concern underlying her sardonic tone, "but from where did you get those beautiful burns?"

"That is what I would like to know," Lisa was anxious, as she reached out to touch my cheek gently.

"'Tis a long story," a deep voice spoke behind me, "and I hope she will tell you the truth regarding her injuries, at least." It sounded dry in the end.

Kat glanced up, as I turned around to see Nick standing before the three of us, frowning. Lisa smiled up at him out of courtesy, but Kat maintained a neutral expression.

My forehead creased, immensely worried. Once upon a time, Kat had despised Nick as much as I had. Most of the bruises and wounds that used to adorn his face during our childhood were due to her fists instead of mine.

Every punch for every insult for me that left his lips, and every kick for every tear that left my eyes because of him, she used to reason.

Was she going to call him out for it today? Was she going to lose her temper, and point out everything he had done ten years ago? In front of all of the others present?

She noticed my anxious expression at that moment, and she peered at me queerly. Are you trying to defend him, poppet? I could almost hear her question me.

I shrugged nonchalantly. Do what you will.

She merely winked at me, much to my surprise, and turned to Nick. "Your Royal Highness," she held out her hand brusquely for a handshake, "a pleasure."

I raised an eyebrow, as he shook her hand, clearly puzzled by the informal greeting. "A pleasure to meet you too, my Lady..." he trailed off.

I shook my head, amused. "May I present to you the third Potential of Roche, Lady Katherine," I gestured to her proudly, "and if you still do not remember who she is, then try and recall the day Richard broke your nose."

Kat burst into laughter, as the both of us remembered the day she had taught Richard self-defence, and the gullible boy had immediately tried his lessons on his twin.

Recognition flashed in Nick's eyes, as a wry smile unfolded on his lips. "Ah, Kat," he grinned, "the girl who taught my twin how to throw a good punch."

"The one and only," she bowed, and just like that, I knew all was going to be well between them.

***

"Say, have you tasted these sweetmeats yet, poppet?" Kat grinned, gesturing to the piled plate on the dining table, "no one makes them better than Cook does in Roche Manor."

"Jules," Lisa warned, chuckling, "you know those are for the Ball later. Be a good girl, and keep your hands off them."

"She has always been a good girl. Allow her to be a bad girl for once," Kat argued impishly, "go on, poppet, you know you want them."

I glanced at the two in amusement. "You know, Lisa could be my angel's advocate and Kat could be my devil's advocate, looking at you two," I observed, "but this time, I shall side with the devil. I have always followed my stomach rather than my mind when it comes to food."

"That, at least, has not changed over the years," a waspish voice spoke behind me, "if this addiction continues, you will grow corpulent."

I internally groaned, but I knew I should have expected this sooner.

I turned around to face Tess, who was smirking at me with an expression that was quite the opposite of the pleasant countenance she had worn earlier in the morning. This was her true face, the one that I had to handle as a child, and now, as an adult.

Lisa and Kat stepped up to my side, but I knew they would remain silent unless I needed their aid.

And I was not planning to ask them for it.

"Good morrow to you too, Tess," I rolled my eyes, "pray, tell me why am I not surprised that you have nothing else to do than to observe my size?"

"Because you are an eyesore. It is hard to ignore something that stands out so blatantly."

I burst out into derisive laughter. "Ouch," I pretended to hold a fluttering hand to my heart, "I am so upset that I am so unattractive, and am running to fat. Aye, my dearest cousin, I simply despair every day that I would never be able to find a rich husband for myself, and would die an old maid."

I felt Kat and Lisa snigger silently beside me.

She smiled sadly at me. "For the first time, you have spoken the truth about yourself, Jules," she answered, "and you should despair. If you will not marry, and marry well, you will not be able to hold on to your position in the Society. It is power, after all, that keeps us alive among them."

"And am I supposed to care?" I raised an eyebrow.

"You should, dear cousin. Our family is going to rise to prominence very, very soon," she seemed rather mild, although her eyes watched me closely for a reaction, "and as a part of my family, you will be constantly watched and judged and criticised by society. You would do well to remain above their scrutiny. Their tongues can be very cruel when they wish to be."

I smiled lifelessly, as I took her meaning. She meant that she was going to marry Nick very soon.

Unlike Olivia, Tess was not boasting for the sake of the Potential Quest. Olivia had tried to force me and threaten me to see that Nick and she would be a good match, along with the rest of her family, because she was desperate to become the Crown Princess Consort.

She had tried to appear confident, but within, she had been insecure, afraid, that she may not be chosen because I was the advisor, and that my decision, which partly influenced Nick's, may not be in her favour.

The very same I whom she had treated badly during our childhood.

Tess, however? She was confident, she was certain, and she knew that she was going to marry Nick one day. She did not care about what I, or anyone else, thought about that. She only went along with what she thought and what she felt, and at this moment, she was determined to secure the Crown Princess Consort position for herself.

It was why Lady Rosanna and Tess treated everyone equally, without giving Nick any special treatment, or trying to butter up to me. It was because they believed, with all their hearts, that it was Tess who was destined to become Crown Princess Consort.

Truth be told, I admired them for their determination and confidence. Grudgingly, I might add.

But at the moment, I was rather tired of it all. "Pray, do not twist your words. Tell me what you want and be done with it, Tess," I sighed, crossing my arms, "it would save both your energy and time, as well as mine."

Her fixed smile remained on her face. "I am aware that Mama has sent out the invites, but I simply wanted to personally invite you - all three of you, in fact - for the ball this evening," her voice was still dangerously soft, "I understand that Her Majesty Queen Eleanor wishes Jules to attend at least one Ball in these three months, and I would be delighted if she attended this one with her family. With me."

There was so much double-meaning, venom and malice hidden in her innocent smile that I was beginning to grow quite sick.

She clearly had something up her sleeves for the Ball.

And how did she know that the Queen had made me promise to attend at least one Ball? Had Her Majesty written to Lady Rosanna?

She must have. By God, when we returned to Bordeux, I was going to throttle her.

I saw Kat and Lisa gape beside me, but I was focused on Tess's triumphant grin.

She knew. She still remembered, as well as I did, why I refused to attend another Ball after what happened the last time round.

Mayhap it was a little childish of me, but I was still unable to let go of that particular incident.

"I have yet to decide, but thank you for inviting me," I gazed into her eyes, emotionless, "Kat will be attending, I am certain, as a Potential, and Lisa may choose to come with her as well."

Tess nodded, apparently satisfied that she had achieved her aim in unnerving me today, and excused herself. The moment she was out of sight and hearing range, Kat and Lisa rounded on me.

"What does she mean about the Queen wanting you to go to the Ball?" Kat demanded, with her hands on her hips.

"And why are we hearing about this for the first time?" Lisa narrowed her eyes.

"Must we speak here?" I glanced around the open dining hall, uneasy.

Kat tilted her head, musing for a moment, before she took Lisa's hand and mine and began to drag us up the spiral stairs beside the dining hall.

"Where are we going?" Lisa frowned, not liking the way she was being manhandled.

"My bedchamber," Kat answered vaguely, "it is in a deserted corner of this Manor, and it is the one place we will not be overheard. Lady Rosanna allotted me the room furthest away from the Prince's, in case I tried anything on him, and stole him away from her precious daughters." She rolled her eyes.

Soon enough, we had reached Kat's bedchamber, and Kat flung open the door, rushing us into the warm room, before firmly shutting the door behind her and locking it. She then sat me and Lisa down on her huge bed, and lit a fire in the fireplace.

"Now, down to business, poppet," Kat crossed her arms, "what is this about a Ball?"

"Her Majesty made me promise her that I would attend at least one Potential Quest ball in these three months - as a Lady instead of a Knight," I made a wry face, crossing my legs on the bed, "apparently, I have now reached the grand old age of two and twenty, and it is high time I went husband-hunting." I made a face.

"Does she mean for you to find your husband at a Ball?" Kat wrinkled her nose, as she passed around a tin of sweetmeats, "like the rest of the empty-headed nobility?"

"I believe so," I shrugged, rolling my eyes, "she seems to be certain that I would find a gem of a man among those aristocrats - one who does not think women belong only in the kitchens and the birthing chambers."

"'Tis almost as if she is punishing you along with the Crown Prince," she chuckled, "this is a Potential Quest of sorts for you too. Mayhap the both of you will get married by spring next year - Crown Prince to De Beauharnais, and you to mystery man."

I threw a pillow at her, scowling heavily. Even then, I felt a tinge of unease when I heard her words.

"How can you be so certain that the Crown Prince will wed Tess?" Lisa argued, munching on a biscuit, "he is much nicer now, while she is...still the same, cruel witch."

Kat stared at her, disbelieving. "Are you dense, Lisa?" she flicked her forehead, "De Beauharnais and the Crown Prince have met after ten years. They will fall in love. He will choose her as his bride. They will get married. It is fate."

I did not understand why, but I truly hated fate at the moment. The very thought of Nick marrying Tess made me extremely frustrated and uncomfortable, although I knew it was inevitable.

"Jules?" I felt someone shake my shoulder then.

I jerked, and I focused on my friends, who were gazing at me, disturbed.

"Are you all right?" Lisa murmured, "you seemed rather lost."

I did not answer her question. "Truth be told, this entire Potential Quest is a waste of time," I mused with unusual bitterness, even for me, "when it has been so clear whom he is going to wed, from the very beginning, then why? Why waste three, precious months? So much could have been accomplished. So much could have been avoided."

An awkward silence reigned for a long while.

"Jules..." Lisa seemed alarmed.

However, Kat said nothing. Instead, she continued to gaze at me with a thoughtful look on her face, as if I was a new, unpredictable species that was recently discovered.

"Cease staring at me in that manner," I snapped, growing uncomfortable under her gaze, "I merely spoke the truth. I am sorry if it is not what you wanted to hear."

"Oh, worry not. 'Tis exactly what I wanted to hear," Kat smiled wryly.

"And why is that?"

She met my troubled gaze with a steady one. "You forget that I have known you all my life, poppet," her voice was unusually soft, "and it is rather clear, at least to me, that you are enamoured of the Crown Prince."

I had once heard that our best friends had a knack of knowing when you kept things from them. But I had not truly believed it until Kat made that statement.

I looked away from them both, hugging my knees to my chest, as Lisa broke into incredulous laughter.

"That is ridiculous! Surely you jest, Kat..." she stopped when she looked at our unsmiling faces, "Jules! Is she telling the truth?"

"I know not," I whispered, utterly and completely bewildered.

"Mayhap you should start from the beginning," Kat advised kindly, "we could help you."

"I doubt it."

"Nevertheless, it will make you feel better if you get it off your chest."

I gazed at them. Neither of them looked ready to give up.

I turned my eyes towards the flames in the fireplace, as I began to recall all that happened in Louvre. Evoric's visit. Lisa and Evoric wanting to marry. Lady Arabella's stubbornness. Nick's poisoning. And the truce we made.

As I had expected, Lisa grew angry when she heard that I had asked Nick for help. "Why did you need to go to the Crown Prince?" she hissed, "I could have managed Mama myself - "

"Are we speaking of the same girl who used to faint merely upon hearing her mother's name?" Kat cut her an amused look.

Lisa's expression softened. "I would do anything to be with Evoric. If it meant that I had to fight with Mama, I would have done it in a heartbeat."

Looking at her, I did not doubt it.

"However, you would have hurt your mother in the process," Kat pointed out wisely, "the Crown Prince's intervention ensured that your engagement had your mother's approval. Jules did right in approaching him. It must not have been easy to put aside her pride to do it." She shot me a sympathetic glance.

I shrugged nonchalantly.

Lisa sighed, seeing reason. "I suppose you speak true..."

Kat rolled her eyes, but motioned for me to continue.

I stared hard at the flames once more, as I recounted everything that had unfolded after that. The words tumbled out of my mouth on their own accord, tinged with a strange desperation. I focused more on what had happened between Nick and me, rather than the main events regarding the murder case.

I also chose not to go into too much detail over the blanket incident. It felt too personal, too confusing.

This time, they did not stop me as I ranted. I was aware that they knew, as well as I did, that if I were to pause one more time, I would not be able to go on.

When I finished, they said nothing, and continued to watch me thoughtfully.

I glanced at them, more uncertain than I had ever been in my life. "I know I care for him. Deeply," I admitted tiredly, "but I should not, yes? It makes no sense. Not after we had hated each other for almost all our lives before this."

In truth, I was more worried, terrified in fact, that these feelings most definitely had the potential to grow into something more.

Lisa scooted next to me, and put an arm around my shoulders. "It need not make sense, Jules. It never does," she smiled gently, "if it is meant to work out, it will. Please do not badger yourself over it."

Kat, however, seemed in deep thought. "We cannot leave it to chance like that," she muttered, "De Beauharnais is well able to manipulate circumstances to her own advantage. She is the main problem here - "

"Kat," I interrupted quietly, "if Nick indeed wishes to marry Tess, then I will not stand in their way. I will not spoil his happiness. Besides, at least she is certain about what she feels for him. I, on the other hand - " I shook my head, disgusted with myself.

Kat tilted her head. "What does she feel for him? Power hunger? Desperation for the crown?" she let out mirthless laughter, "nay, poppet. Today, we need to find out exactly what the Crown Prince thinks of you if we are to help you out of this mess. And for that, we need a plan."

I knew that glint in her eyes well. "You already have one."

Kat crossed her arms, satisfied. "Of course. You are coming to the ball this evening with us."

***

"Are you out of your mind?"

I stood before Kat in my sleeveless knee-length chemise, attempting to turn around to glare at her, but she firmly turned my head back front.

"Arms up, woman," she commanded instead, ignoring me.

I held up my arms as instructed, as she approached me with a white garment with strings attached to its back.

"What is that?" I asked fearfully, but she ignored me again, proceeding to pull it around my midsection, and lace it up.

"Exhale hard," she ordered next.

"Why in the world - ouch!" I gasped, as she yanked on my laces tightly to the point of breathlessness, "by God, Kat - "

My hands flew to my chest, unable to breathe.

"Calm down. 'Tis only a corset. Take shallow breaths, and you will become accustomed to it in a while," Kat chuckled in amusement, "worry not, you will not die. Generations of women before you have worn it."

I swayed slightly on my feet for a while, dizzy, as I focused on taking short breaths. "It is no wonder they die young if they wear such monstrosities on a daily basis."

"You need not wear it all the time," she chirped, pulling a white camisole over my head, "most of the gowns these days have corset backs. However, this being a formal event, I thought it necessary. Now come, step into your gown."

She held up a slightly faded, but still beautiful, forest green evening gown - a gown that had once belonged to Mama.

"You have been going through Mama's belongings," I narrowed my eyes at her.

Roche was Mama's birthplace. After her death, her bedchambers here had been left untouched on Papa's firm orders.

And no one, absolutely no one, dared to defy the Lord President.

Kat shrugged, not in the least guilty. "I knew you would want to wear one of her gowns for your first Ball," she smiled faintly, "out of them all, I thought this one would look best with your eyes."

Sighing, I stepped into it, allowing Kat to work on the laces behind, making the smooth fabric cling to my form rather uncomfortably tightly. When she finished, she beamed, apparently satisfied.

"Lisa! Are you ready?" she then yelled in the direction of the bathroom in her bedchamber.

"Give me a few moments!"

True to her word, she emerged soon, looking absolutely beautiful in her ocean blue gown that complemented her green eyes perfectly. Her silvery blonde hair was neatly swept to one side, and a simple, silver coronet rested on her head.

I grinned at her. "'Tis a good thing Evoric is not here. He would not let you out of his sight otherwise."

She strode towards me, rolling her eyes. "You have a strange way of complimenting people," she answered dryly, "but thank you. However, my job is to ensure that the Crown Prince is unable to take his eyes off you tonight."

"Frankly, I care not," I muttered, "the corset is killing me -"

"Hush, poppet," Kat called out, as she strode towards the bathing chamber to get dressed, "and do not give Lisa too much trouble. If it helps, simply close your eyes and sleep."

I decided to do just that. As Lisa began to work on my unruly golden locks, I closed my eyes and drifted off to a dreamless sleep, exhausted from riding all morning to Roche.

"Jules," a soft voice shook me awake, "open your eyes and look up for a moment."

My eyes flew open groggily, sensing the pain caused by my corset first. Before I knew what was happening, I felt something scratch around both my eyes. It was not painful, but it was not very comfortable either. My eyes began to water.

"There," I saw Lisa sigh dreamily above me, "oh, you are such a beautiful darling, Jules. Kat will never believe her eyes. And the Crown Prince definitely will not know what hit him."

I sat up straight, sighing in relief. "Thank the Lord that is over - "

"Come, see for yourself," she pulled me up to my feet, and guided me towards the looking glass at the other end of the room.

When I peered in the looking glass, I could hardly recognise the woman I saw in there.

Springy golden curls framed her small, heart-shaped face and were swept to one side as they cascaded down to her waist. A thin, silver coronet rested on her head, standing out against her gold hair. Her huge brown eyes were lined with black kohl, causing them to look bigger than they already were, and some emerald powder was dabbed on her eyelids, giving her eyes a smoky look. Her cheeks were slightly coloured, no doubt from the exertion from breathing due to the corset, momentarily giving her countenance a rather feminine appearance, but the healed burns on her left cheek were solid proof that there was more to her than meets the eye.

She was wearing a forest green formal silk gown, which clung to her torso, emphasizing her curves, before flaring out from her waist in subtle waves. Little white roses were meticulously stitched in a diagonal manner across her skirts, and a length of black lace bordered the hem of her sleeves and the edges of her gown. That woman in the looking glass looked young, beautiful and so full of life.

And that woman in the looking glass was not me.

"What have you done to me?" I looked on in absolute horror.

The bathroom door flung open then, as Kat loped towards the looking glass, dressed in a cream coloured gown that rounded up the three of our gowns very nicely. She had her brunette curls styled like the both of us, with a silver coronet identical to ours on her head. She paused for a moment, surprised, before a goofy grin spread across her face.

"Wonderfully done, Lisa," she grinned, "I am very proud of you."

With that, she clapped Lisa's shoulder, before she put an arm around me. "What do you think of yourself now, poppet?"

"You have...you have made me into one of them!"

"One of them?" Kat observed in amusement, "you mean the angels in heaven? Because you would be absolutely correct."

"I meant the Ladies of the Society," I corrected her, exasperated.

Kat and Lisa laughed in amusement, as they took each of my bare arms and slipped a white, superfine silk evening gloves onto each of them. They successfully covered the healing burns on my hands.

"Must I truly go?" I tried once more, "I mean, this is the same place - "

"- that you last went to a Ball and were humiliated at," Lisa finished, rolling her eyes, "aye, we know that. And that is precisely why we want you to go."

"Why in the world - " I began.

"This was the very place you were wronged in ten years ago, and now, it may be the place everything becomes all right again," Kat seemed rather excited, "you may put Tess in her place, and who knows, you may even teach the Crown Prince a thing or two about respect while you are at it." Her expression became impish.

"Besides, it would be a good time," Lisa grinned, catching up on her mood, "this is the first time in a very long time that all three of us will be able to go to a Ball. Together. Come now, Jules, if not for the Prince, come for our sake. Please?"

I sighed. I knew well that I could not refuse them.

Assuming that I had accepted my defeat, Lisa then proceeded to hand me a pair of glittering, heeled black shoes, which I slipped on reluctantly. I barely managed to balance in them, by God.

"Now, we are ready to go," Kat beamed, as Lisa and she linked their arms with either of mine.