The day was light and airy. Pollen was floating through the air giving the gardens a magical feeling. The triplets had wanted to capitalize on the atmosphere and had dragged Chammielle off with them to explore the gardens surrounding the Pink Palace. Their exuberant chatter filled the air with hushed and delighted tones. She could not warn them of potential dangers, but she could at least instruct them to be prudent.

Chammielle had never been one to avoid a garden, but with the possibility of spies around them she was tentatively cautious. Even paranoid of unseen villains hiding in every bit of shrubbery. Not that her closest companions could see it in her face or mannerisms. They were too busy catching up.

"The Dowager Queen was so much more agreeable in person, don't you think?"

She gave Chryssia a querying glance.

"Why do you say that?"

"She seemed so natural, talking about doing the sorts of things we ourselves enjoy. It was very relatable, and it put my mind to good ease should I be chosen as the Prince's intended."

Chammielle thought back to the Queen's words at dinner. Almost everything she'd said was some sort of test or trap setup for the ladies. For her part she'd kept herself out of the conversation except to praise Garten at the beginning. And then she'd carefully extricated herself from the spotlight to not gain any attention, or further glares from Veronica Phlox.

It reminded her... She did need to speak with Lady Gladys Rosenblum at some point. Her behavior had been remarkably different, though it could have been from nerves. Perhaps she could discover her reason for hiding her expertise in front of the Royal family. Discover who had intimidated her.

She decided to tune back into the conversation and smiled to her sister.

"I'm glad you'd get on so nicely. Perhaps just take care only to speak well for the good of Garten."

Chryssia smiled but was already off in her head picturing what her royal children might look like if she became queen. Chammielle listened in to the other two as she kept an eye on the flowers and any attendants nearby. She felt ill at ease.

"You know I couldn't believe it. Those blue stones were absolutely dazzling, and I had no idea how they'd gotten inside."

"Mine were yellow! Marvelous aren't they! A pair of aquamarine earrings for you and citrine bracelets for me and no idea where they've come from. This secret admirer game is quite interesting. Do you suppose we'll ever meet them?"

Their words were enticing but Chammielle stayed silent. Secret admirers. She should have guessed that's where her choker and ring had come from. Belladonna clearly knew the game, but until she'd heard it from her sisters she had no idea how wide spread it was.

"I asked my maid Tilly if she knew the young man's name, and apparently no one is allowed to say a word until the Princess is chosen. I almost would rather marry whoever is sending these, they are absolutely darling!"

Ianthe showed off the pale blue earrings and Chammielle noticed them for the first time. They were in the shape of water lilies and she immediately recognized them. It seemed the Duke of Wells had his eye on Ianthe. Aster's bracelets had apple blossoms stamped into the gold and she guessed they were from Lord Applebaum of the Medicinal Trades. They were both rumored to be elegant gentlemen, and were it not for the Prince they'd be very suitable. Of course...

"You do realize that the Dowager Queen would have to arrange such a match. What do you think she would say if she knew that both of you were considering other prospects in the face of the future King of Garten?"

They waved her off and Aster had a slight blush as she worried her lip. Ianthe spoke with a wistful tone.

"I know for my part the Prince shall not choose me, Chammielle. Whoever this man of mystery is I feel very drawn to him. He must be very handsome. The poem that accompanied it spoke to my soul..."

"A poem?"

Ianthe nodded and then Aster.

"Yes, and my note was so eloquent... Though the handwriting was hard to read, but I gave it my best go. Unsigned, of course."

She looked between the two and then to Chryssia.

"Have you also received jewels and secret letters from an admirer?"

She brightened further in an instant, her cheeks pink.

"Why yes. These came this morning."

She produced two ruby rings from her drawstring purse, one clearly meant to be worn with with the first as it complemented the shape. They swept together to form a rose and rosebud. The rose was clearly ambiguous, Rose being the most common name in the empire, but the rosebud was telling. Perhaps her admirer was a commoner who'd risen in social status. Perhaps he was a nobles' bastard. At the very least his position could afford him these rubies.

"Very lovely...you've always had such a love of red roses, too."

Chryssia smiled, enamored with her sparkling rubies. Whoever the young man was she was sure he'd be blushing to see her so happy. The three young women were the picture of maidens in love.

It brought to mind her own jewelry. Whoever had given that necklace to Belladonna had wanted it to seem like a gift from her own family. But the ring in the tea really pushed it over the top. Whoever had her eye on her was in a powerful position to pull off a stunt like that. Unless of course they simply were well acquainted with what was going on inside the Pink Palace. She wondered briefly if it was Alfrina's brother she'd mentioned before.

"Where did you all find these trinkets and letters? Were they hidden somewhere?"

The girls looked to each other.

"Not mine, my maid brought it to me."

"Jonquilla delivered it to me this morning with tea."

"Same, the maid brought it before dinner with the Queen last night."

Chammielle sighed at that. No note had come with hers, and she wondered if it was alright for her to continue wearing the gems. She worried if it was inappropriate to wear another man's gift while technically a candidate for the crown. But she also had no idea who it was that had given her hers.

She heard voices as they approached the lavender hedges, a wall of purple roses climbing around it to give it an entirely private section of the larger garden.

The girls became quiet.

"Black pearls! Who on God's green Earth would give me black pearls? I ought to send them back. They might be the rarest but they are so ugly! Listen to this! ...'to a treasure beyond the measure of the sea, a small token I ask you receive from me...' who does he think he is giving me such garbage?"

Chammielle felt sorry for the man who had his eye on Petulia. She could tell her who he was, but supposed it would do the man no service. She might change her tune when she discovered how incredibly rich he was. It was better for the Earl of Bayland to discover her nasty nature for himself.

The girls giggled quietly to themselves as they passed. They didn't want to be caught by an irate Lady Clarendine.

It seemed everyone was receiving gifts from secret admirers.

...

It was nearly time to meet with Alfrina in the piano room. The day had been spent with other ladies and no royals as a sort of break in activities. The young women had pined after his highness all afternoon, but Chammielle knew he was busy and tried to cheer her sisters that he was most likely handling affairs of the kingdom. Sadly such news dampened their spirits.

Belladonna was combing her hair now and putting pins through small pieces and weaving it all together behind her head.

"Belladonna, is it appropriate for the candidates to wear jewels from secret admirers?"

She chuckled at that and kept up her monotonous pinning.

"Why yes, my lady. It's a tradition that goes back nearly two hundred years. A few trinkets here and there to let the young ladies know that if the Prince does not choose them they have options. Frankly Queen Magnolia herself is rumored to have received two gifts from two different suitors. And I can attest to the truth behind it, I can."

She finished with her hair and then slipped on the new dress fresh from the dressmaker. It was quite possibly the most exquisite gown Chammielle had ever seen. Pale rose pink fabric with all sorts of three dimensional tulle and satin flowers that covered the bodice entirely and nearly halfway down the skirts. The capped sleeves were dainty and she wore white satin gloves above her elbows.

"Oh my...this is too much..."

"Nonsense. It's just right for dinner with the Royal family. My lady it suits you perfectly. And I do believe that necklace goes with it nicely as well."

She looked at the pink and diamond choker with pearls and glanced in the mirror. It seemed far too much.

"Why not let the dress speak for itself this evening? It's a statement all in its own. If the jewels were simpler maybe, but I think they're too elaborate."

The older maid held it up to her and then took it away.

"Oh well, you are right. Seems your suitor will have to be satisfied that you wore his gift the one time."

Chammielle glanced at the ring and decided it too would remain in her room.

"I think I'm quite ready now. Shall we head to the piano room?"

The two walked silently through the hall and not a soul was in sight. They came to the door and Belladonna remained outside after glancing in to be safe. Chammielle walked to the piano and recalled the morning birdsong... Perhaps she could listen out the window for new songs this evening.

She opened the window a crack and heard just the lightest chirping. Sunset wouldn't be for another hour, and it seemed the song was not as strong at this time. Still, it was light and lovely. Perhaps good enough to inspire some faint playing. She turned back to look at the piano when it caught her eye.

Sitting on the keys was a slender strand of pink gems. It was a fine chain of them linked together, and she picked them up before she'd realized she'd walked over. It was two ever so tiny bracelets. Just the jewels and no elaborate filigree or larger pendants. They were tiny and perfect. She slipped them both over her right wrist and watched them sparkle in waning afternoon light.

"Good, you're on time. And you look stunning. Wherever did you get that dress?"

Alfrina came in and Chammielle did her best to not show she'd been startled.

"Belladonna had it made for me. Apparently I am hopeless when it comes to formal attire."

Alfrina frowned a moment but nodded and smiled once more.

"She knows her stuff. Alright, today there was a small scuffle at the training grounds. I'd say it was nothing but tomorrow the Prince is going to show off his swordsmanship. The ladies will all be attending and then are scheduled to have lunch with him on the veranda overlooking the garden. Traditionally the sword fight begins with one of the ladies presenting his highness's sword to him, and it's supposed to be Lady Aconia. The Prince picked her for the presentation, it's supposed to be a telling role. But it's not as significant as the afternoon stroll after lunch. William is scheduled to pick two ladies and only two. He wants to keep all the ladies guessing even to the last minute, so one of them will not be Lady Aconia. You can prepare to hear some moaning from her. I recommend bringing some whiskey liqueur bon bons for a sweet after lunch. They're supposedly her favorite when she's in a mood and will endear her to you. Though do share them with everyone so as not to appear suspicious."

Chammielle smirked.

"Whiskey bon bons... interesting. I think I'll try my hand at making them from scratch if the kitchen will allow me. Now, what was the scuffle?"

"A knight fought with a gate guard. Apparently the guard was speaking flippantly about one of your sisters and he didn't care for it. The guard would have lost his life if it weren't for my brother being there."

The mysterious brother...

"What was he doing there?"

She massaged her temple and she guessed the Duchess had mixed feelings about her sibling.

"My twin is friends with Sir Jacob. Since we were children actually. Those two and William would run around the garden together pretending to be vagabonds that snuck in past the guards. It even got them kicked out once and Alfric and the crown prince were free to run rampant around the city and try their hand at being street urchins. The whole palace was in an uproar for hours of course."

Chammielle giggled at that.

"Boys will be boys, I suppose. I suppose they stayed in touch all these years and that's how he rose to become a knight."

Alfrina gave her a funny look.

"Sir Jacob Rose became a knight because he was a squire and worked at it his whole life. William took full responsibility for ordering him to show them around the city and not say a word about his identity. He's very loyal and was knighted by the King when he was only eighteen and saved Princess Violet."

Chammielle's eyes went wide.

"How did she find herself in need of saving?"

"A delegation had come from a neighboring country, but it was all a ruse. Jacob suspected them and followed at a distance. They tried to kidnap her and he cut them down."

"How is it such news never reaches Kuchen..."

"It never left the palace. Hushed up so we wouldn't go to war with the alleged country the false delegation claimed was theirs. You may be surprised to hear it, but such things do happen."

Chammielle listened intently to her instructions, wanting to circumvent any unfortunate ordeals. Belladonna came to the door a while later and announced they should return for dinner. It was time to put her good training to use.

For the Crown.