1.4 Nightly Encounters

The night was quiet after the prince took his leave, he'd offered to escort Setia back to her rooms, but she had politely declined. She said she wanted to stay out under the moon and enjoy the night for a little longer. The grounds were quiet, as most of the palace dwellers were asleep for the night. Guards patrolled along the edges of the property.

Setia started making her way back into the palace, eager for the comfort of the enormous bed waiting in her suite. She tried to memorize the twists and turns along the way, so she could find her way around later.

Setia wrapped her arms around herself as she walked. She had the eerie feeling of being watched. A twig snapped behind her; she spun around. A shadowy figure stilled around the corner behind her.

"Who's there?" Setia called, keeping her voice firm. The figure stepped forward. Slippered feet padded on the marble walkway. A woman came into the moonlight, her long black hair hung in shimmering waves down her back, her skin was pale as the moonlight, with eyes a bright blue. She looked young, perhaps a year or two younger than Setia.

"Who are you?" Setia asked again. The girl blinked, and her face wrinkled into a sneer.

"Lina Drianis, your highness." The way she spat "your highness," like an insult.

"Why are you skulking about in the shadows, following me?" Setia asked with a raised brow. Her eyes met Lina's bravely. She straightened her posture. Think like a princess, she chided to herself.

"I think you should leave the prince alone. He doesn't want you here." She scolded. Setia sighed and crossed her arms. All of this over jealousy?

"The prince and king can send me away themselves, if that is the case. I doubt they need a court subject trifling in the affairs of politics." She said sternly. She saw Lina look down and swallow.

"We-We're in love!" She said, clenching her small fists at her side. Setia plastered a look of sympathy on her face.

"Lina, this really sounds like a problem you have with the prince, not with me." She whispered. Lina sputtered and her face was going red. She growled and spat on the ground at Setia's feet.

"Stay away, dark whore." She said and turned on her heel, strutting off down the hallway. Setia sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. So this was the second lead she had to stop from getting together with the prince. She nibbled on her lower lip. She never wanted to step on someone else's feelings, but it is her purpose in being here…

As she stepped into the bright, warm comfort of her suite, she shut the door behind her and leaned against it. It sounded like Lina was already really insecure in their relationship, and the prince seems sworn to his duty. But how does she go from being the prince's duty to being someone he loves? She looked down at her wrist cuff.

"Eli? I'm back home." She said out loud to herself. The bracelet glowed and Eli appeared, sitting on the gigantic bed.

"Have a nice frolic about the grounds?" Eli said smugly. Setia groaned and sat down on the edge of the bed.

"What can you tell me about Lina?" She asked.

"Lina Drianis is a twenty-one-year-old daughter of palace courtiers. She has had her eye on the prince and the throne since she was a young girl." Eli recited.

"How much influence does she have on the court?"

"She is well-liked, and is treated with respect as the assumed Queen of Prince Niall. She uses said position to her advantage." Eli's voice dripped with disapproval.

"I assume she'll be making an appearance tomorrow evening. I guess we'll have to see what happens." Setia sighed, lying casually across the bed and putting her arm over her eyes. She felt tiny dragon claws pat her arm.

"There, there. You survived your first day!" Eli said with a smile. She grunted and rolled over.

"Day one of potentially the rest of my life." She sighed and turned out the lights and dressed down for bed. One day down, only forever to go.

The morning was bustling with activity about the palace. Servants and courtiers flooded the halls, flitting about to accomplish one task or another. Setia could hear the noise from her room and it awoke her. She groaned and sat up in bed, staring at the morning light drifting through the open windows.

She dressed in a pale pink silk dress that flowed to the floor. Her metal cuff glinted in her reflection. She spent most of her day in the company of the Queen, who was arranging the ballrooms and various halls with decoration for the feast this evening. Setia helped the servants climb the walls and hang various flowers and ribbons, all under the watchful eye of the royal family.

{Ding! Court approval meter has raised to 20%} The noise came from her cuff. She smiled. The people watching her mill about and work with them were working. A few people stopped to stare at the princess as she worked, whispering amongst themselves.

The day passed in a blur and before she knew it; she was back in her suites, thinking about what she should wear to the ball this evening. She was about to talk to Eli, who was lounging on the bed, eating snacks that the staff had left, when a small knock sounded at the door. Eli jumped up and turned toward the door. Setia smoothed her hands down the front of her desk and plastered a smile on her face, opening the door.

A tall female elf stood there with flowing ruby red hair and a brilliant smile. Her brown eyes twinkled in the light. She clapped her hands together and smiled as Setia opened the door, and she bounced through the entryway without invitation.

"Hello! We have so much to do! Ladies, come on!" She shouted out the door and a trail of three girls shuffled into the room, arms full of various cloths and gowns, carrying cases full of jewels and accessories. Setia stood to the side and gaped as she saw all the articles they were carrying into her rooms.

"Um, hello?" She mumbled. The woman giggled and winked.

"Hello, princess. I'm Mei, and I'm here to get you ready for the ball!"