Arrival at the Ball

In the girl's dormitory of the Royal Patch Academy...

Princess Pirika twirled in front of the looking glass. Her father had her ball gown sewn by the most famous seamstress of the land or so he claimed in his letter while her king brother had sent her a pair of shoes, a tiara and a mask encrusted with little blue crystals. She had thought that they were diamonds at first but she shook the idea off. There's no way Kouri could have afford such extravagance. She wanted to look perfect tonight especially for her date.

It did not sink in immediately that the Prince of Kaminari had actually asked her to accompany him to the Royal Friendship Ball. She was relieved when she got a telegram from her brother that he could not come. He might declare a war with the other two kingdoms if he found out who her date was. As if the universe had conspired to ensure that tonight's ball would be a peaceful one, her father had wrote to her earlier that he was preoccupied with business matters so he couldn't drop by to spy on her.

Nevertheless, it's the Asakuras she was worrying about. If they found out that she had befriended the heir of an enemy kingdom, they would definitely report it to her brother. Maybe she could talk Yoh into keeping her secret. After all he was the softer twin. The case was different for Hao. Tamao had informed her during her visit that the evil brother had come back to Kasai. Then again, Horo-Horo and Hao weren't the best of friends. She shook her hands to drive away the nervousness. She could get away with this after all. She would just avoid them entirely especially when it's time to remove the masks.

"Pirika?" a familiar impatient voice came from behind her bedroom door.

She almost jumped. She took one quick look at herself in the mirror before rushing to meet her date.

"You look gorgeous Pirika!" Chocolove's voice exclaimed behind the most odd-looking mask she had ever seen.

"Thank you Chocolove! You look quite… unique as well."

"Let's save the compliments for later." Prince Ren offered his arm to the Kouri princess. "We need to go. The sun is beginning to set. The ball will be starting anytime soon."

The trio promenaded downstairs to the visitors' lounge where they found Lyserg, Jeanne and a grim-looking Duke Liam Diethel. They ended their serious conversation when they spotted the group with the chief of the Royal Police instantaneously changing his expression to a lighter one.

"Regal as always Prince Ren and company," he stood up to shake hands. "I guess everyone is already here. Come, children. We don't want to be late for the ball."

The sun had already set and stars began to dot the sky when they left the academy. The duke helped the royal passengers unto their assigned transport before boarding it himself.

"I feel so secure, Lyserg." Chocolove whispered audibly to his friend. "Your father's the one escorting us to the venue."

Lyserg shrugged his shoulders. "One of the perks of being the son of the Royal Police chief."

The ride to the Queen's Hall was short, smooth and uneventful. By the time they have arrived, a lot of students and guests from other kingdoms had already lined up at the entrance. Master Silva and a Royal Police official were standing on each side of the huge oak doors, checking the invitation letters of every ball attendee.

Pirika spotted Tamao among the crowd. There was no mistaking the pink hair, pink gown, pink shoes and pink mask. Next to her could be the absent-minded Yoh and the pair ahead of them must be the self-absorbed Hao and his mysterious blond date.

"Who are you looking at Pirika?" the Tao heir sitting beside her asked.

"Amm… I think I saw the Kasai delegation arrive."

"Oh? Where?" Prince Ren grew curious at what the Asakuras looked like. He leaned forward almost touching Princess Pirika's cheek with his own to get a better view from the carriage window.

The Kouri princess felt her heart pound as loud as the stomping of their horses. She didn't notice how Lyserg and Jeanne who were sitting across them pursed their lips in annoyance almost at the same time. "They're gone," she murmured as soon as their vehicle had come to a stop. The group must have already been admitted into the ballroom.

"I wish everyone would get along well..." Pirika whispered to herself.