à la belle étoile

The next morning, right after breakfast, The emperor called everyone back in the great hall.

"The challenge begins tonight." announced the emperor. "There will be a grand ball which will be attended by royal families and nobles from other kingdoms. You will be tested for your interaction with the guests. They, in turn, will bestow upon you a lotus card for their favors. Therefore, your victory for this task will rest on the number of lotus cards you've acquired. As for the knights, Knight Xander will be the main competitor. However, The knghts' cards will be counted individually and not as a whole. That will be all. I trust that you play well."

"Yes, your majesty." came the synchronized reply.

The palace was bustling with servants preparing, the whole day for the ball. And by dusk, the grand ball room was already sparkling with exquisite decorations and the air is filled with delicious aroma from the feast. 

Guests began arriving in pairs and in groups, ladened with extravagant wardrobes. The herald was busy introducing them as they  entered the hall.

"Kingdom of Velit, Sire Kyuhyun and Lady Damaris!"
"Kingdom of Fidem, Sire Sho and Lady Ruby!"
"Kingdom of Scire, Sire Xiah and Lady Charmine!"
"Kingdom of Munere, Sire Changmin and Lady Aline!"
"Kingdom of Sapor, Sire Yonghwa and Lady Tracey!"
"Kingdom of Piscari, Sire Satoshi and Lady Liezel!"
"Kingdom of Ludus, Sire Sungyeol and Lady Elle!"
"Kingdom of Pueritia, Sire Yuuri and Lady Helena!"

The herald continued announcing 'til all guests have entered. Then it was time for the three challengers.
Heads were turned as the herald introduced the three and a few whisperings were to be heard.
The sound of trumpets erupted and the crowd became silent once again as the knights entered escorting the heiress followed by the emperor and his Lady.

The emperor made a brief welcoming speech before the feast began. Then, the heiress went to her special spot, an open chamber with a balcony.

"For every sigh, a minute of your life escapes your lips." Knight Jo kwon remarked. The heiress had been watching the dance floor with a gloomy expression.

"In that case, I'd rather shorten my life than end up with those three strangers." The heiress sighed yet again.

"Now what made thee say that?"

"Just look. The Three challengers seem to be doing so well while he one the other hand..." she referred to Knight Xander who was chatting with a fair maiden at the moment.

"Do I sense a hint of jealousy there, my lady?" Knight Tegoshi appeared carrying some sweets. He offered her a macaroon.  The heiress pouted but took the treat.

"I'm worried because my knights---" she was cut off by Knight Tegoshi waving  four lotus cards in front of her.
"I got this on my way here to bring you these sweets." he explained.

"Ha! You only got four?" Knight Xander had joined them, He was showing off by fanning seven lotus cards.

"Don't get cocky." Knight Yuu interrupted taking his seat followed by Knight Shun.

"Why? Pray tell, how many did YOU get?" Knight Xander challenged.

Knight Yuu smirked and fan-spread nine lotus cards. Knight Xander was taken aback. While Knight Tegoshi and the heiress tried to stifle their laughter.

"How about you?" Knight Xander turned to Knight Shun.

"About the same as him, not sure, wasn't counting, probably more." Knight Shun replied showing his set of cards. With that the heiress could not hold her delight and laughed merrily with Knight Tegoshi. Knight Yuu and Knight Shun both had triumphant smiles.

"You're one to laugh, you only got four." Knight Xander pointed at the youngest knight.

"I don't mind, I'm happily contented being beside my lady also, I got those four just by walking from the kitchen going here." Came knight Tegoshi's confident reply.

"Has anyone of you seen Knight Jo Kwon? He was here a moment ago." The heiress looked around wiping her eyes from tears that came with too much laughing.

"He's gone to get some cards himself." Knight Yuu replied, at the same time Knight Xander had stormed back to the party.

The heiress ate merrily. The knights were relieved to see her happy once again.

"Seems like the bride-to-be is very happy." The heiress hadn't noticed Lady Ruby approached followed by Lady Damaris, Lady Charmine, Lady Aline, Lady Tracey and Lady Liezel. The knights made room for them to sit and excused themselves.

"Very happy, yes. Bride-to-be, definitely No." replied the heiress passing around the sweets.

"You're still against it?" Lady Charmine asked taking a bit of a chocolate, her delight over the treat obvious on her face at first bite.

"Of course. Why do you keep insisting on this whole marriage thing when I'm perfectly happy with the way things were in my life."

"You're parents just want you to be settled down while they're still around." Lady Tracey chimed in.

"They also probably would love to rest and get to go on a trip together." Lady Damaris added dreamily.

"Like what your parents did to you?" Lady Aline rebutted with raised eyebrow.

"It wasn't the same, her parents didn't make a fuss like having challenges and all this choosing stuff." The heiress complained.

"Yeah, they just let her have all of them." Lady Liezel's comment made everyone laughed.

"That's not true. They're busy with a lot of other things as well. and I want them to enjoy their vacation" defended Lady Damaris, blushing.

"Really? You seem to be enjoying the delay though." Lady Charmine peered at her.

"True true. Why, If you were to choose right there and then, would you choose Sire Kyuhyun or is it just for this occasion?" Lady Aline teased.

Lady Damaris got flustered and couldn't defend herself properly so the rest went on with the teasing, The heiress on the other hand was glad about the subject change but was apologetic towards her friend.

"Well, we won't be surprised if we find Sire Jonghun the next day." Lady Ruby continued.

"How can that be when he's in Thesauri right now." Lady Damaris replied automatically before she realized it, the rest had been laughing again.

"Oh, there you all are. We were looking for you." Lady Elle joined in followed by Lady Helena, who gave a curtsy.

"We were just chatting." Lady Tracey motioned for the two to sit.

"What were you chatting about? You seem to be having fun." Lady Helena, the youngest, asked eagerly.

"Oh, we were talking about the challenge for the heiress' hand in marriage." Replied Lady Damaris hastily.
The heiress sighed. The others merely shook their heads, some giggled.

"Really? I met one of the challengers, the one from thesauri kingdom. He seems to be interesting." Lady Elle said thoughtfully.

"He was the first to arrive."

"Hmm...The heiress seems to be taking proper note of her Sires." Lady Ruby eyed her closely.

"Know thy enemies." came the brief reply.

"So you've talked to them already?" Lady Liezel asked.

"Why should I?" with that retort, everyone sighed. "I told you I'm---"

"Perfectly fine with your knights." The Ladies finished for her.

"Then are you going to marry all of your knights?" asked Lady Charmine.

"Of course not, I'm not her." The heiress looked towards Lady Damaris who looked indignant.

"I beg to defer. I am NOT married to any of them." Lady Damaris hissed.

"Not yet." Lady Aline added under her breath. The ladies who heard her chuckled.

"I wish Ryo was here." The heiress muttered weakly.

Just then Sire Yuuri turned up. With a quick look, he found Lady Helena. He walked towards her and bowed.

"If you would, it is time for the last set of dance." He stuttered a bit as he offered his hand to her.

Lady Helena shyly reached out her hand. and with a last curtsy to everyone, they sauntered off to the dance floor.

"We do exist right?" Lady Elle pinched her cheeks.

"He didn't seem to notice our presence." Lady Tracey blinked a couple of times.

"He was probably just nervous." Lady Ruby added.

"Well, they did curtsy before they left." Lady Liezel pointed out.
Then every one turned to the heiress.

"What?"

"Even our youngest has found romance." Lady Ruby stated.

The heiress wasn't able to give an answer, Sire Changmin arrived followed by Sire Junsu, Sire Sho, Sire Kyuhyun, Sire Yonghwa, Sire Satoshi and Sire Seungyeol. They came to ask their respective lady to dance. Though everyone, stifled their laugh when they saw Sire Kyuhyun, and Lady Damaris pulled him hastily towards the dance floor.

The heiress watched them leave one by one. Knight Shun came to ask her to dance when they've left.
As was agreed before, the knights took turns dancing with the heiress according to the number of lotus cards they've acquired. So after Knight Shun, Knight Yuu followed, then Knight Xander, Knight Jo kwon who had managed to catch up, finally Knight Tegoshi who was happy being the last dance among the knights.
After the final beat of the song and a final twirl, the heiress found herself with a different partner just as another song began.

It was one of the challengers, the first to have arrived, Sire Hongki.
He smiled as he gently led her in dancing.
She stole quick glances around for her knights but the lights had been dim except for the dance floor. The heiress gave up searching and tried to put on a stern persona which she later found harder to maintain every time he smiles.
"Can I ask you something?" Sire Hongki broke the silence between them.
"Aren't you already asking?"
He was surprised by her retort but it turned into amusement.
"You're right." he chuckled.

The heiress peered at him curiously but then Sire Heechul took over and she was left wondering what it was that Sire Hongki wanted to ask her until she noticed that her new partner had been watching her intently. She tried to stare back, fiercely as she could but it seems to only amuse him. She finally looked away when his eyes weren't the only ones smiling. What is he thinking of? She was relieved when she was made to change partners again.

"Pleased to finally meet you." The third challenger greeted as they twirled together.

"What do you mean? We've already seen each other when you first arrived." the heiress went back to defense mode. She had been distracted by the two already.

"I wouldn't call that a meeting. You've barely looked at me or any of us for that matter. Is the book that interesting?"  Sire Kazunari studied her reaction.

"Well, it was, for me, more fascinating than any of you." This one's acting rather familiar. she thought.

"Is it? I should get myself a copy of that book then. What is it called?" he smiled.

Just what is this person interested in? me or the book? she racked her brain for the title.

"A series of unfortunate events."

"What's so interesting about it?" he tried to hide his surprise.

"A series of unfortunate events, three to be exact, befell upon me that day." she secretly praised herself for coming up with that.

"Unfortunate events can easily become a blessing depending on how you look at it. It (and by it, I mean me) could be the best thing that ever happened to you."

Just when she was about to retort, she was whisked away by another partner. She barely heard his previous partner muttering, "I though I was her last dance." She was also annoyed by the fact that he got the final say in their conversation.

She brought her attention to her current partner who happened to be a masked one.

"I don't remember this being a masked ball." the heiress told him.

"I don't remember anyone saying masks aren't allowed either."

touché .
It was when he spoke that the heiress realized the familiarity of the masked one. He peered closely at his eyes behind the mask. When he smiled, she knew.

"Is it really you?" she asked, keeping herself from taking off the mask.

"Depends on who you mean by YOU." he chuckled.

"Oh, You are!" she exclaimed delightedly, at that moment the last song ended and she was free to embrace him. The lights were turned on once again. The emperor spoke when the heiress returned to her throne, with the masked person beside her.

"I thank you all for coming to this celebration, if you would all join me in welcoming back my son, Ryo!" the emperor gestured towards the masked person.

Sire Ryo took his mask off and bowed to the crowd. everyone applauded while a few ladies gasped. The three challengers were relieved when their queries about the heiress dance partner were answered.

The heiress was beaming at the return of her twin.

After Sire Ryo had given reverence to his parents, the emperor moved on.

"Now, let me introduce a couple of important guests." the emperor motioned for the herald.

"Sire Kyuhyun and Lady Damaris!"
"Sire Sho and Lady Ruby!"
"Sire Xiah and Lady Charmine!"
"Sire Changmin and Lady Aline!"
"Sire Yonghwa and Lady Tracey!"
"Sire Satoshi and Lady Liezel!"
"Sire Sungyeol and Lady Elle!"
"Sire Yuuri and Lady Helena!"

The heiress was surprised at every mention of the name.

"They, are the Royal courtiers. They, along with my son, will be the members of the Royal court for this challenge." the emperor finished. It took all the heiress' effort to hold herself up.

"What is the meaning of this? I'm not a judge anymore? Isn't this supposed to be my choice? Is that why you came back?" the heiress was sending telepathic message to her twin, just one of their shared abilities.

"They know you're against any of this. Well, this is one of the reasons. Honestly, I fear that they're going to do the same to me. Didn't you also call for me earlier?" Sire Ryo replied, feeling uneasy.

"We'll talk later." The heiress then shifted her gaze towards her friends. At first, they tried looking elsewhere pretending to not see her but some of them gave in and looked at her apologetically.

She turned to her knights who also didn't seem to know and was just as surprised.
"They know your knights are loyal to you." her twin read her thoughts.




***~~~~***
She wasn't able to finish her story when she noticed that her sons are already fast asleep except for Dongwoon.

"Mama, How about my father?" he asked looking a bit crestfallen. Having not heard about his father along the story.

"Hmm?  Your father? Well, it was when the heiress ran away and went on a voyage. She was captured by a bunch of bad pirates. These pirates got into a fight with another pirate crew, where your father was the captain. He's known as Captain Sparrow. He rescued the heiress and they sailed on together until the knights came to take the heiress back."

"Oh. So that's how you met him." Dongwoon seemed more happy knowing how amazing his father had been. He yawned and finally gave in to sleep.

She wished her sons goodnight as she tucked them all in.


END for now.

A/N: well, finally it's sort of finished! I can sleep peacefully for a while till I take on CTC again.
the original story flow, changed drastically but I guess this is good too. the ending was erm embarrassing I guess. haha! honestly, I'd choose Sire Kazunari! kkekekeke this is basically a story I would tell my musuko(s) haha! but as of this moment I won't know what to tell them when they ask why they're wizards.lol okay, enough fooling around and fantasizing, this setting is absurd even for me. lol... thanks for reading anyways and as always, have  a wishful heart! ^_._^
p.s. for those of my royal courtiers feel free to add your own version of the rest of the challenge. I'll try to add some as well, just trying. kekekeke my writing skills are getting really rusty and my vocabulary is depleting~ -.-"