Royal Masquerade Ball

Will and Francis II had narrowed the field of eligible wives to a handful. They hoped by working together they could quell the rumors of civil war.

Noble single women from across Terra were invited to the Tirana Palace to attend a masquerade ball held in honor of King Roland's 50th birthday. Guests at the Royal Masquerade Ball would be treated to three sets of Fermion dancing, all of which involve very intricate steps which required agility and an eye for precision.

Guests were also encouraged to wear black masks, making it difficult to distinguish one individual from one to the next. Will proposed the masks as an opportunity to hide the identity of the king. The king wanted a chance to meet his future suitors without them knowing his true position or power.

It was common knowledge that the king needed a queen so the ladies would be taking every advantage possible to meet with him and put their "best" foot forward. Unfortunately, that "best" foot was often a mask like the ones being used for the masquerade ball.

After being king for a little over a decade, the king was tired of women catering to him and presenting what they thought he wanted in a queen. What the king wanted was a woman capable of being herself without needing to appease others.

Along with wearing masks, Roland suggested that several of the knights dress in formal attire worthy of a king to mingle with the ladies and throw off the ladies attending the ball. As each knight entered the ladies became more and more confused and began to chat amongst themselves as to which one could be the true king.

Beautiful young ladies adorned in silk and muslin embroidered with perfect stitching and topped with elaborately constructed masks for this masquerade ball fought to leave a lasting impression on the king. When each would curtsy upon being introduced to the man, they thought was the king, their scandalously low décolletage, emphasized their delicate blossoms.

King Roland was having a good laugh enjoying the scene from afar. He had decided to enter the ballroom unannounced from a nearby terrace. He had been there since before the ball began, watching and waiting for an opportunity to enter the ball.

He had noticed many ladies dressed to impress him and found it all the more annoying. He was happy he suggested the knights function as decoys. King Roland himself was dressed modestly and would not have stood out from the other noblemen in attendance.

Just as he was reaching to open the door and enter the ballroom, it flew open, and he was pushed behind the door into a perfect hiding spot behind a potted plant.

The woman closed the door and immediately ripped off her mask and took a deep breath as though she was suffocating. She raised her head to look towards the night sky, muttering to herself. Roland could only make out a few words here and there. He repeatedly heard "annoying" and "pompous." When he could hold back his laughter no more, he decided to reveal himself to the woman.

He stepped out and said, "I'm sorry to interrupt you my lady, but are you okay?" At his voice, she jumped and turned to him. She placed her hand over her mouth and gasped. As Roland stepped forward, he was thankful she had removed her mask.

While she was dressed beautifully, her face was magnificently elegant. She had beautiful eyes, and her cheeks were flushed from surprise.

"I apologize..." she paused to look him over and gauge his peerage. She must have considered him a lowly noble and not a king because she relaxed and said "dear sir."

As he stepped toward her, she relaxed all the more because she could see he was dressed quite plainly and could not be the king.

"I was simply taking a moment to breathe, the ball was quite suffocating," she stated.

"You would come out here to hide and miss your opportunity to meet the king?" he asked.

She turned back to her view of the night sky and sighed, "I have met several kings tonight."

Roland chuckled.

"I'm not sure I understand you, my lady. There is but one king," he replied.

She looked at him and said, "How long have you been hiding out here? Have you not noticed the several different men dressed elaborately like the king? I have been introduced and curtsied to them all and I am tired.

Do you think the king is mad? Why would he play such a trick on these simple ladies? They have driven each other mad. One says the king will wear red. Another swearing he is in white."

She takes a breath and begins again, "I find none of this entertaining. I am only here because my family begged me to attend. I have no desire to be queen!"

"If this pertinent man may ask, what is your name?" he wondered.

"I am Angelique von Boell. My father, Earl Matthias von Boell, is the Governor of Azures Island and Warden of the Great Eastern Imperial Islands," she announced.

At this King, Roland perked up at hearing the name. Marriage to her would greatly improve his international standing. Moreover, she was one of the ladies Will had suggested he marry.

"Why? You are beautiful. You seem intelligent enough to catch on to the king's scheme and find it annoying. You…" King Roland started to say before he was interrupted.

"Absolutely not! The king is pompous to have this elaborate ball and games while we are headed towards civil war. He has better ways to spend his time. Don't you think?" she demanded.

"He has obligations to provide a successor," King Roland replied.

"I understand his obligations however his people must come first. Is having a son that important over securing his populace's well-being? The citizens should be his most important obligation. Would you agree your majesty?"

At this, she broke from her star gazing and looked at him rather pointedly. As if she knew who he was.

"At what point did I give it away?" King Roland laughed.

"You have gone to great lengths to hide, your majesty. No one here tonight is dressed as plainly. And upon hearing my family name your interest was piqued.

You are also on a terrace in the middle of a ball full of people any real nobleman would be chomping at the bit to greet and mingle with. I supposed you are correct in your assessment that I am intelligent," she said flippantly.

"I meant no harm, my lady, I was simply trying to meet the ladies and see them as they are truly. Am I not entitled to a queen who is truly chosen by myself? One that I find truly intriguing. One such as you." At this last word, he grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes. "Let me introduce myself. I am King Roland…."

She curtsied and gave him a small smile. The irritation was still there but as he looked at her. He could tell she wanted to laugh. She turned back to the stars.

"Tell me about the stars," she said curiously.

"Well, my father always told me that great Fermion kings become stars after they die, watching over us, guiding our fate. Before he died, he told me to look up to the stars whenever I felt alone and remember that he and the other kings were watching over me," he reminisced.

"I believe they are all beautiful. Shining brilliantly on their own but creating a wonderous view together."

"I hope to find my own star to shine brilliantly near me," he said romantically.

She smiled at him and began to walk back to the ballroom. "I wish you the best of luck on your search King Roland" She curtsied and left him on the terrace.

King Roland was left in awe. Will was correct that he should seek her out. She was beautiful, intelligent, and full of fire.

Upon entering the ballroom, King Roland was completely ignored. Perhaps he had done too well at hiding himself. He almost felt as though he were invisible. He smiled and bowed to guests as they walked by, but he didn't get far before he met her again.

This time she was sitting alone by herself. She looked very beautiful but all the more irritated with her arms crossed and piercing eyes rolling at each lady curtsying to the decoy kings.

He sat down beside her.

"I see you have joined your subjects," she laughed.

He gave her a pointed look as though to silence her while looking around to make sure no one heard. But she just laughed.

"You are having too much fun, my lady," King Roland said jokingly.

"I could say the same for you," she said smiling back.

He was enjoying their back-and-forth banter. He was sure he would enjoy it for a while.

"No one has made an effort to meet me. Not one," he facetiously complained.

"You have done well to hide yourself. No one would think to look at you with the other "kings" present," she congratulated him.

"And yet, here you are staring at me rather openly," he smiled.

She laughed again. "Because I find you more entertaining than the ball. Something I would not have guessed before meeting you. You have a rather approachability to you I had not imagined."

"I am just a man. I am glad you can see me as just that. Many of the ladies here see me as the clothes, title, and power. They find that attractive. Why are you not with them, my lady?" he asked curiously.

"I had only wanted to meet a man that would look at the stars with me. I can care for myself; I need no one's help. But I want a companion," she said earnestly.

"And have I proven myself to be a worthy companion my lady?"

She smiled at him and raised her hand, "Take me back to the terrace and tell me more about the stars."