"Did you know you are scheduled to be escorted by Prince Luke himself tomorrow night?" Jade spoke in lieu of a greeting as she firmly planted herself in a leather library chair. Her fair haired friend was startled by the sudden appearance and dropped her pen.

"Me? How? Why?" Emma questioned the secretary as she blinked incessantly at the news.

"I just penned this particular tit bit in his diary today. That's all I know!" Jade raised her hand in surrender.

"My father will not be pleased," The younger girl bit her lip after she spoke.

"How strange! I would have thought it an honour," The secretary exclaimed.

"I've told you before that my father likes to maintain a consistency of status. He thinks it unseemly to be a centre of attention at our social status. Besides I have a potential suitor to meet at the ball. Any man would be intimidated by such high ranking company," Emma explained. Her sentence was punctuated with a heavy hearted sigh. She closed her book as a lost cause.

"Shouldn't they be pleased you come with such prestigious contacts," The older girl scrunched her face in confusion.

"I am much too divorced from the world of men to have a significant impact on my future husband's dealings. My contacts would only incite gossip in my husband's social circle," The fair haired girl explained impatiently.

"What a load of rubbish," Jade groused. They started at each other with growing frustration and it seemed prudent to change the subject ,"I suppose your chosen gown hangs in your wardrobe by now."

"Of course, pretty boy! My father was alarmed I refused to go my regular modiste; my late mother's favourite, but I decided it was time for a change. I visited Mr. Gepetto instead during my last trip to the capital. He was very obliging even before I introduced myself to him," Emma answered, regaining the twinkle that usually danced in her eyes.

"I've written to him about you," Jade nodded with satisfaction. She looked down at the book Harry had lended her but was interrupted by Emma who decided she was now much too distracted to continue her reading.

"Is it just me or do you feel there are more people frequenting the library than usual?" The girl hissed to her companion. Jade glanced around and made the same observation. She surmised it was the new guards added for her friend's protection.

Just as Jade opened her mouth to verbalise her assumptions the Crown Prince marched forward from behind them and thew himself in a chair facing the pair as if it were a common occurrence.

"I hope I am not interrupting," The man asked with fraying politeness. He looked uncomfortable enough that Jade shook her head in negation. The seated pair jumped to their feet to give the Crown Prince an appropriate welcome. Unusually enough the Prince waved their attempts at propriety away.

"No interruption at all, your Highness. We were merely discussing our outfits for tomorrow's Ball. After all Emma shall be escorted to the Ball by Prince Luke," The secretary answered serenely not waiting for Emma's input. Her friend stared at her as if she'd gone mad.

"I see," Edward's dark blue eyes narrowed at Jade's twitching lips. Her glee did not need a physical form to be read.

"You should have told him it was unnecessary, your Highness. My father would have escorted me as he has always done before," Emma protested after a pregnant pause. She looked like she could no longer contain the words bubbling forth.

"Yes, I too deem it quite unnecessary. I have positioned guards all around you. You would have been safe enough. Lady Josephine's punishment has all but been announced and no one would dare touch a single strand on your head while in the presence of the Royal family," The tall Prince announced with conviction.

"L-lady... Josephine.." Emma voice stuttered as she inhaled sharply. Jade could vaguely remember the lady in question.

"Your attacker... Has your father not written to you about the arrest?" The Crown Prince asked, curiously.

"Yes, he has written about the trial. He writes to me periodically but he has never mentioned anyone in particular. He thinks I do not have the constitution to digest such information," Emma mentioned with a defiant jerk of her chin. Jade marveled at the change in her friend in the few months she had known her.

"Her accomplices too have been apprehended. Her maid is the only one expected to be given a lenient punishment since she was acting under duress," The dark haired man informed her, in a clipped and formal tone.

The shorter girl nodded slowly. Her pink lips were a firm, thin, line. She gazed at her clasped hands before forcing her watery pale blue eyes up to the Crown Prince's richer cerulean gaze.

"I had throught I would be eager to figure out why I was targeted but now I am uncertain whether I wish to know. Perhaps my father was correct about my lack of fortitude," The younger girl's defeated words belied the strength in her shoulders.

"I could enlighten you about their insipid ramblings?" Prince Edward's asked, cautiously.

"We have already mused over the reasons but they were too ridiculous to be given any notice. I do not wish to give them any more importance, Sire," Emma uttered softly. Her eyes were now fixed on her lap. She hid a tremble in her chin with a hand on her mouth. There was a poignant silence before the Prince interrupted it.

"Have you received the dancing card for the ball?" Edward's tone was curt, "I believe we mailed them along with the invitations."

"Yes," The fair haired girl looked up in surprise. This was the last topic of discussion she had expected.

"I- I-" The Prince was uncharacteristically hesitant to contine but he straightened his shoulders and blustered ahead, "I wished to ask you for the first dance but it seems my brother has made his intentions clear."

"I thank you for the honour, your Highness. I would have thought you would apply to my father to fill in my dancing card," Emma asked with an arched brow and Jade restrained herself from whistling. She was not expecting her friend to be so bold to throw the taunt this way.

"Not about this. I do not fear my father as much as I do yours," Edward's smile was genuine. He had not taken the bait to start an argument.

"Is he really that strict?" Jade couldn't contain her curiosity.

"Would we be talking in the library if my father was at the helm?" Emma asked the Prince, with mischief lacing her eyes.

"Absolutely not. I would not dare," The Crown Prince agreed.

"He's a sweet man once out of his place of work," The short girl tried to weakly defend her father but ended up shrugging instead.

"I pity your suitors and am grateful I am not," Jade revealed uncouthly while her friend glared at her for bringing up a private conversation.

The secretary knew she was being mean to her companions but she felt it was necessary to push if she wanted to get the required results. Her plan was working because the Prince was instantly discomfited and made his excuse to leave.

"You are a menace!" Emma exclaimed, gaining a pained look from the librarian, "He must think me a tart."

"Let him. Who cares about what he thinks, right?" Jade shrugged with a cultivated air of nonchalance.

"Right," The younger of the pair did not seem too sure of her statement.

.......

"You look... Royal," Jade muttered to herself. Her employer just snorted at her vocabulary while adjusting his gold cufflinks.

Prince Luke stood before her wearing a light grey, jacquard dress coat which was covered in thick bands of gold embroidery. Ruffles peeked out from behind his waistcoat and sleeves adding to the grandeur of the look. The queen had certainly made a great effort designing the outfit for her son.

"I should've stopped mother when I had the chance," The man uttered, giving his reflection a pained look.

"It's a good choice. There's something about this suit that brings out your eyes. They look very grey," Jade leaned in close to get a better look but the Prince batted her away.

"Your eloquence is outstanding today. I hope you have not partaken any more spirits tonight. My shoes will not be able to bear it," The man remarked with an easy grin.

"It wasn't my fault. I was drugged!" His secretary protested. She was also dressed for the ball but her outfit was appropriately sedate according to her position. Beneath a black, velvet dress coat she wore a paisley print, brown vest. Mr. Gepetto had taken great pains to match the colour with her hair.

"The quantity of the stomach contents you unleashed on me makes me certain you would have still been completely sloshed, drugged or not," The Prince insisted.

"Ugh, don't remind me," The tall girl shook her head as if fending off nightmares.

"I will remind you till the day either of us dies," Luke retorted, smugly.

"You have seniority in age. I suppose you shall go first, your Highness," Jade's mocked the man.

"Me? You're the one who'll die trying to save my life at some point," The long haired man said as if the matter was long decided.

"Me? Your Highness, you really think I will let you drag me down into foolishness. I have much to do like fight back for my home and estate," The girl scoffed. She fixed her own cravat before ambling out of the Royal rooms after the Prince who was already being led out by the Royal guards.

"If you get back your estate will you leave me?" Luke asked in Jade's ear.

"No... it's not like my estate needs me on guard. My father had a squire working for us. He was a good man. I wonder if my stepmother has run him off by now," The girl wondered.

"Will your stepmother be attending the ball?" Luke queried.

"Perhaps. I do not keep track of her," Jade had a vision of her stepmother telling the guards to arrest her for impersonating a man. She nearly stumbled at the thought but Luke caught by the shoulder.

"Do you think the plan wiill work. Will she attend the ball?" The secretary murmured changing the disturbing topic.

"I don't know," The Prince replied gruffly.

"She's sent you no letter or card or even a strand of her hair?" Jade asked impatiently. She couldn't understand what one meeting had done to the man who seemed so sensible most of the time.

"No, none, I have nothing of her except her shoe," The man uttered with no emotion.

"Which she left behind on accident when the clock struck twelve. Hardly a token of love," Jade muttered with derision. She wanted to slap the Prince for being so pigeonheaded.

"What are you trying to imply," Luke's tone was stern and Jade understood she was being too impertinent.

"Sire, I don't want you to get your hopes up. I'm not as enthusiastic about this plan and I fear it failing would wound you more than it working," Jade explained her convoluted thoughts.

"Stop being a busy body. In fact I insist you enjoy yourself at the ball instead of following me around like a blood hound," Luke declared, sounding like his brother when he was ordering people about.

"I have two left feet. Why would any fair maiden enjoy my company," The secretary rolled her eyes none too discreetly.

"You have charms enough to entice a Lady or two. I distinctly remember Lady Elena cooing over you," The Prince recalled the last time they met the woman.

"Charms? Hah! Lady Elena's only ambition in life is to have your ring on her finger and a tiara on her mop of hair. She flatters me to get to you," Jade declared.

"She's not the only one I've heard gushing about your appealing face," Luke revealed with a smug smile.

"Now you're making me blush," Jade said flatly with no hint of flushed cheeks. The man was far too amused with the situation.

Luke leaned his head back and let out an honest, brilliant laugh. Jade coughed to cover her own stare. He was one to talk about her face when he himself had been blessed with abundant beauty. It did not help that the Prince possessed a friendly disposition which made him even more attractive.

The pair, surrounded by guards, stopped at the private entrance hall. Emma already stood there with her father, waiting for them to arrive. The girl's face was pale with nervousness.

"Let me introduce you to my father, Sir Munroe," The girl said, formally.

Her father was a tall, sallow man quite unlike his daughter in stature and looks. He had a long, grey streaked beard and sharp eyes. Jade gave him an elaborate bow, hoping to impress.

"Pleased to meet you, Sir. Your daughter does you credit," The girl gratefully took his offered hand.

"I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I too have heard much about you. My daughter has been complimentary, The man's voice was very soft and Jade had to lean in to hear.

"We are honoured to have been invited to your birthday," The librarian uttered with a watery smile. The Prince's reply was drowned out by Jade's meandering thoughts. What birthday was the man celebrating? In all the plans there hadn't been any mention of anything being celebrated.

The grand, ceiling length doors opened and there was pitch silence. Luke offered his arm to Emma who immediately gripped on tightly and they began descending the staircase. Sir Monroe and Jade trailed behind them and entered the vast hall. The group walked from one end to the other where the King and Queen sat on their thrones. Ceremonial bows were performed and the king raised his goblet. The opening strains of music began immediately and Luke led his partner to the middle of the hall.

To Emma's credit she showed no sign of nervousness as the dance started. She followed the Prince's lead deftly and showed off her school's training. Her green and silver, ruffles gown swayed with her delicate movements.

Jade idly scanned the room and noticed the ballroom was covered with water features. There was water cascading from many false walls and even the floors had streams dividing the room into sections. The dancefloor was all but surrounded by water. On the left were the round tables set up for dinner while on the right were the card tables for extra entertainment.

She glanced around to see the Crown Prince's reaction to the dance but to her horror found herself staring at her Stepmother.