Ball

I smiled as I watched the carriages from the different towns of Astrae and carriages of nobles from our neighboring kingdoms arrive in front of the Palace, it's delighting to see the people wearing their colorful winter clothes put life to the cold white theme of the surrounding.

"Your majesty," I smiled when I looked at Dame Maia and Dame Therese

Dame Therese wore a light blue [1]peplos made of thick leather over her dark gray long sleeved cotton shirt and black leather pants, on the other hand, Dame Maia is wearing a dark blue thick leather [2]chiton over her white leather long sleeve shirt and gray leather pants, they're wearing contrasting color. They're wearing a thick white fur coat with gold linings at the front and the kingdom's crest as lock and both look beautiful.

"Wow, you both look beautiful." I commented and they flushed

"Thank you for the compliment, your majesty." Dame Therese said

"Your majesty, your hair is still not yet done," I looked at the maid who looked so reluctant to speak up and walked to the chair

"How are the guests doing?" I asked them and sat in front of the vanity mirror

"They are doing alright, your majesty, the nobles from the different kingdoms are amazed on how beautiful winter had become in Astrae," Dame Maia answered and I smiled

"Her majesty, the Queen Mother of Arcadia, and the king along with the Duke Nitense and Duchess Vel Corentine of Arcadia have arrived and have been escorted to the ball." Dame The maids braided my hair to a neat crown braid and adorned it with diamond-studded hair pins with sapphire hair clips to lock my braided hair. Half of my hair is braided whilst the remaining is falling. My golden streaks became more noticeable now that it's braided.

Therese informed me and I nodded

"His majesty, the King Skylark Sel Primavera, and the Baron Tariq Carter of Holland has arrived as well, your majesty." Dame Maia added

"They are entertained and given the appropriate treatment, your majesty." Dame Therese said

"How about our guests in the White Palace, are they ready?" I asked after recalling that Zairo and the young prince are in the White Palace

"His majesty, the king of Arcadia had his servants bring clothes for the young prince, your majesty, before heading here, the knights of the White Palace had said that the king of Arcadia had left to the scene of the ball." Dame Therese answered and I nodded

"You're ready, your majesty," the maids said and I stood up

"Thank you," I said and smiled

My attention shifted to the door when I heard someone knocking from the outside. I decided to prepare for the ball in a room here in the Palace instead of my room in the tower as it is too far from the venue of the event.

"Your majesty," Sir Charles and Sir Stephen arrived

"Rise, what had brought you here, Sir Charles, Sir Stephen?" I asked and the stood up

"We've come to escort the young prince to her majesty, your majesty, he requested an audience with her majesty before heading to the ball." Sir Stephen answered and I nodded

"Come in," I said and the young prince went inside then bowed

"Greetings to her majesty, the glistening moonlight of Astrae." He said and stood up

"Are you feeling well now?" I asked as he had just woken up

"Do not worry, your majesty, I am alright, I've recovered my strength." He answered

"I see, but do not force yourself, alright?" I reminded and he nodded

"Come here," I said then he walked towards me

I fixed his coat's collar, I chuckled when I saw how he frowned when I fixed the crest of Arcadia on his chest to be seen as it's been covered by the coat's pleat.

"Hmm, do you have any complains?" I asked with a smile and he nodded

"I'd like to wear this instead," he said and took out another crest from his pocket

"Where did you get this?" I asked after he handed a crest of Astrae to me

I looked at my personal knights and showed them the crest, they smiled and looked at the young prince before chuckling.

"I think her majesty has forgotten about her former near guard," Sir Charles said and I couldn't help but chuckle as well in the realization

Of course, Zairo would have one.

"You prefer to have an Astraeian knight's crest than your kingdom's crest?" I asked the young prince and it took a while before he nodded

"You must ask the queen mother's permission before I do pin this instead of your kingdom's crest." I said and gave it back to him

"If I get her permission will you pin it to me personally, Queen?" he asked and I smiled while nodding, I saw how his eyes glittered

"Sir Charles, Sir Stephen, please accompany me to the Queen Mother," he turned to my personal knights

"I will go ahead, your majesty," he seem really in delight as he bowed

"Alright, I'll see you at the ball, Malika." I said and he bowed before heading out of the door

Sir Charles and Sir Stephen bowed before they left to follow the young prince's exit.

"The young prince seems lively like before, it must mean that he has recovered, doesn't it, your majesty?" Dame Therese asked and I smiled before nodding

"I do hope so." I said and smiled

I went out of the room and sauntered the hallways with Dame Maia and Dame Therese in trail to the ball. Dame Therese headed to the presenter to inform them of my arrival. I looked at Dame Maia, her chiton is a bit loose, if one is not aware, one will not notice unless one had taken time to scrutinize.

"Is there a problem, your majesty?" Dame Maia asked

"Nothing, I am just wondering what your plan is." I said and she smiled

"Her majesty does not have to worry, I am very grateful for her majesty's suggestions." She replied and I smiled at her response

"Her majesty, the glistening moonlight of Astrae, Queen Patrice Astrae!"

With that announcement, the large double doors opened and the sound of trumpets and lyres resounded all throughout the place as I take a step to enter the venue of the ball, series of applaud reverberated in the air. I smiled as I take every step, the knights knelt on their one knee and would raise their swords after I walk pass.

"Good evening, everyone, I am delighted to have your presence here." I smiled at them

"Tonight, we celebrate the reconstruction and my successful reclamation of Astrae, please, my beloved guests, enjoy the evening ball." I said and they applauded once again

"Good evening, Queen Patrice," King Skylark greeted

"Good evening, King Skylark," I greeted back

"Astrae has recovered quite swiftly, I must commend such great progress." He said

"And I must express my gratitude as that may have not been the case if Holland had not given their support in Astrae reconstruction and my retaliation." I replied and he chuckled

"Our alliance has been beneficial to both of our kingdoms, Queen Patrice, no need to express gratitude as it was all your people's hard work, as I merely provided the materials." He said

"I have seen the young prince, I take it that he has awaken his gift?" he added and I smiled

"Indeed, the process, however, has been quite a scare for me." I said and he smiled

"Awakening our gifts had always been quite a scare to those who care about us, your majesty, and that is an inevitable situation." He said and I nodded

"Your majesty," I looked at Duchess Cassandra and her husband who approached me

"I will go ahead, Queen Patrice." King Skylark politely excused himself

"Enjoy the evening, King Skylark," I told him

"Good evening, Duchess Cassandra, Duke of Corentine," I greeted them and they curtsied

"Good evening, your majesty." They greeted

"Hmm, how have you been doing, Duchess Cassandra? It seems you are expecting." I said and she looked up with a smile

"Oh, yes, your majesty," she smiled and caressed her stomach

"I take it that her majesty if familiar with my duchess?" the duke of Corentine asked

"We've got acquainted during my stay in their kingdom." I said and smiled

"Queen,"

"Young prince,"

"Please do not run,"

I covered my lips when a chuckle escaped from my lips at the sight. The young prince ran to our direction, hence, Sir Charles and Sir Stephen had to fasten their pace to catch up to him. Sir Charles and Sir Stephen seem worried, I understand where they are coming from as the young prince has just woken up, but there is also sign of relief in their eyes.

"It seems like you're giving Sir Charles and Sir Stephen a hard time looking over you." I said and looked at Sir Charles and Sir Stephen who just shook their heads

"It's alright, your majesty, we prefer the young prince running lively." Sir Charles said

"Also, I told you not to overexert yourself, running is tiring." I looked at the young prince while speaking and he smiled then he looked at the direction of whom I was talking to before he approached me and his eyes widened

"Duchess Cassandra, Duke Nitense," he said and bowed his head

"Good evening, Reagan," Duchess Cassandra greeted him

"Good evening, young prince." The Duke of Corentine said

"I apologize if I may have disrupted your conversation." He apologized and bowed his head

"It's alright, what has got you running to our direction anyway?" I asked and I gently ruffled his hair while smiling

"Her majesty, the Queen Mother of Arcadia has given her permission." Sir Stephen said and I looked at the young prince who is smiling widely

"Is that so?" I asked and he nodded with his eyes glittering with excitement

"You've asked permission for what, young prince?" Duchess Cassandra asked

"I've asked her majesty if I may use the crest of Astrae as well." He said and showed the crest

"How did you obtain such crest and why would you like to wear the crest of Astrae instead of that of your own kingdom, young prince?" the Duke of Corentine asked

"My duke, that crest, if I am not mistake was in my brother, the King Zachary's possession and it seems he has decided to give it to the young prince." Duchess Cassandra answered

"King gave it to me earlier," he said and I smiled when he looked up to me hopefully

"Well then, I did promise to personally pin it on your chest, didn't I, Malika?" I asked

I knelt down to reach his level and pinned the crest on his chest next to the crest of Arcadia and gently ruffled his hair afterwards.

"Thank you, Queen," he said and kissed my cheek

"You're welcome, Malika," I said and stood up

"I'll go ahead, your majesty, your graces," he looks so delighted and immediately showed it to Sir Charles and Sir Stephen after he bowed to us

"It seems that Reagan is already close to you as well, your majesty." Duchess Cassandra said

"He is a sweet child," I said and smiled

"Your majesty," I saw how Duchess Cassandra and the Duke of Corentine bowed upon seeing the Queen Mother of Arcadia

"Your majesty," I slightly curtsied in front of the Queen Mother of Arcadia

"Are you having a nice evening, your majesty?" I asked politely

"I am, Queen Patrice, the surrounding looks livelier and lovelier in the winter." She replied and I smiled

***

[1] A peplos is a body-length garment established as typical attire for women in ancient Greece by circa 500 BC, during the late Archaic and Classical period.

[2] A chiton is a form of tunic that fastens at the shoulder, worn by men and women of ancient Greece and Rome. There are two forms of chiton. One is the Doric chiton and the later Ionic chiton.