A Night of Heart Breaks

"Would you mind if I just go freshen up in the powder room?" Tamao wrapped her arms around her belly as it began to grumble.

"Go ahead. I won't mind. Would you like me to accompany you?" Pirika gave her a concerned look.

"No, no need. I can manage. Better go back to your school friends. I'll just look for you afterwards." The pink-haired girl's attempt to smile only resulted to a grimace.

"Alright. See you later." The Kouri princess waved at her as she proceeded to leave.

Tamao dashed towards the powder room as soon as Pirika was gone. Tonight was becoming a nightmare for her.

On the other side of the ballroom...

"What's wrong with you, Lyserg? You've been acting weird lately," the Kaminari prince finally confronted his friend.

Lyserg raised an eyebrow. "It's you who have been acting weird. What's the big idea being suddenly all too cozy with Pirika?"

"Guys, this is supposed to be a fun time," Chocolove tried to talk some sense into his two best friends.

"Nothing. Shouldn't you just be happy I'm being nice to an enemy kingdom's princess?" The Tao heir pushed Chocolove aside so that he could face Lyserg.

"There you go. You just said it that she's an enemy. You have been openly expressive of your hatred to your kingdom's enemies so why the sudden change of heart? What's your real motive, Ren? Are you just treating her like a replacement for your dead fiancée?"

A chord has been struck.

"Lyserg, I think you shouldn't - - -" Chocolove began but he was cut off by the Kaminari prince.

"I'm warning you, Lyserg. Don't drag Anna into this."

"So it's true isn't it? You still love your dead fiancée and Pirika is just a fall back. You do NOT care for her at all. You are just using her!"

At that moment, the Kouri princess appeared behind Prince Ren. She looked disconcerted upon hearing her name in their argument.

Lyserg took this as an opportunity to squeeze the truth out of the Tao prince. Pirika must hear everything.

"Admit it Ren, you are just using Pirika for your own advantage. What could she possibly offer for you to befriend her out-of-the-blue? Say it, Anna is dead after all. She wouldn't be able to do anything about your schemes."

Jeanne arrived at the scene carrying two brimming goblets. She almost spilled the contents in shock when the Kaminari heir seized her cousin by his tuxedo's lapels. Chocolove tried to pull them apart.

"Guys, let's keep it cool okay?"

"Anna is NOT dead! Do you really want me to answer your question? Yes, I only made friends with Pirika so that she could help me find her in the other two kingdoms!" Ren admitted angrily, oblivious of the person behind him.

"So it's true," the subject of the argument sobbed. "I also thought that it was too good to be true for us to be friends but I shook off my apprehensions after getting to know you more. Please tell me that you are only lying… That you only befriended me because I could do you a favour…"

Prince Ren lowered his head and let go of Lyserg. "It's all true. I'm sorry…" he mumbled without facing her.

"I'm so stupid, so stupid!" the Kouri princess darted away in tears.

"Pirika, wait!" Lyserg dashed after her.

"This is going to be a night of heart breaks…" Chocolove sighed.

The Tao heir slumped into a nearby bench to take a rest. His well-thought out plan wouldn't push through now that Pirika was furious at him. How could he find Anna? Everything he had worked hard for went down the drain all thanks to a person whom he considered a friend throughout the years. Despite his anger, he couldn't blame Lyserg.

Jeanne sat beside him and wrapped her arm around his shoulder to comfort him. The prince was surprised at the unexpected gesture from her but did not mind. Perhaps all he needed now was a consoling embrace. Besides, his temple had begun throbbing during the quarrel.

"Don't worry Renny. I'm sure Lyserg and Pirika would get over this and we would all become friends again," Chocolove assured him.

"Shut up, Chocolove! My headache's getting worse with you speaking."

"Maybe we should go back to the academy so that you could take a rest," Jeanne suggested.

"Yes, maybe I just need some sleep." The prince eyes were starting to droop.

Jean motioned for one of the waiters to help her lift Prince Ren. They assisted him into a waiting carriage outside. The prince was already groggy.

"I will accompany Ren to the academy, Chocolove. Please stay here and look for my cousin and Pirika. Kindly tell Lyserg that we are already on our way."

"Awwww... You guys need to leave? But you haven't seen everything and everyone yet..." The future Duke of Comedia sounded his disappointment. He was looking forward to the unmasking towards the end of the ball. Well, maybe it's better this way. His friends were not in party mood anymore after tensions had arisen earlier.

"Shame... I thought we're having a blast..."